The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

For the corrupt example of the one, fighteth with the good instruction of the other, which is so much the more dangerous, because that corrupt walking is armed with nature, and therefore more forcibly inclineth the affections of children to that side. And further, experience teacheth us, that children like or mislike more by countenance,¹ gesture and behaviour, than by any rule, doctrine, precept, or instruction whatsoever. Some there be also, that will not have their children taught, until they be ten or twelve years old: because (as they say) before that age, they have but an apish imitation. To whom I answer, that although indeed they cannot then deeply discern, nor profoundly conceive things; yet how many things before those years both will they receive and remember? And I demand, if children being apish in imitating evil whilst they be young, which they will have the habit of when they be old, why may they not much more better do apishly good when they are young, which they may do carefully when they are old? Besides, let them so go untaught, and they will grow so headstrong, that they will sooner be broken than bended. And sure it is, that one stripe or two words will do more good to a child in the beginning, than an hundred stripes afterward. And here let parents be admonished of their undiscreete correction, who do their children more harm in showing a merry countenance after their discipline used, than they do good by their chastising, although in their anger they be corrected. Neither do I purpose to take away natural² affections and a Christian kind of compassion in all our censures: for it is my great complaint of the brutish unmercifulness of many parents herein; but I would wish Christians to correct their undiscreete affections herein by heavenly wisdom. Neither am I so Stoical as to deny a more mild and affable kind of speech, to be both lawfully and conveniently used to children: but yet I wish it to be void of all unseemly levity, and without all show of foolish, vain and unnecessary behaviour. To be brief, how needful³ household government is towards our children, it may appear by the slender thriving and small profiting of religion and virtue, either in the Church or Common-wealth.

For the corrupt example of the one, fighteth with the good instruction of the other, which is so much the more dangerous, because that corrupt walking is armed with nature, and therefore more forceably inclineth the affections of children to that side. And further, experience teacheth vs, that children like or mislike more by countenance,