A26892:8215
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 4 › Chapter 6: Directions to School-masters, about their duty for Childrens souls.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 3. Direct. 3. Labour to take pleasure in your work, and make it as a recreation, and take heed 1of a weary or diverted mind. 1. To this end consider often of what is said above; Think on the excellency of your ends, and of the worth of souls, and of the greatness of your advantages. 2. Take2 all your Scholars as committed to your charge by Jesus Christ: As if he had said to you; Take these whom I have so dearly bought, and train them up for my Church and Service. 3. Remember what good one Scholar may do, when he cometh to be ripe for the service of the Church or Common-wealth! How many souls some of them may be a means to save. Or if they be but fitted for a private life, what blessings they may be to their Families and Neighbours! And remember what a joyful thing it will be, to see them in Heaven with Christ for ever! How cheerfully should such excellent things be sought? If you take pleasure in your work, it will not only be an ease and happiness to your selves, but greatly further your diligence and success. But when men have a base esteem of their employment, and look at Children as so many Swine or Sheep, or have some higher matters in their eye, and make their Schools but the way to some preferment, or more desired life, then usually they do their work deceitfully, and any thing will serve the turn, because they are aweary of it, and because their hearts are somewhere else.
- 1Direct. 3.
- 2Many of the greatest Divines have given God great thanks for their Schoolmasters, and lest their names on record with honour, as Calvin did by Corderius, Beza by Melchior Volmarius, &c.
§. 4. Direct. 4. Seeing it is Divinity that teacheth them the Beginning, and the End of all their other 1studies, let it never be omitted nor lightly slubbered over, and thrust into a corner: but give it the precedency, and teach it them with greater care and diligence, than any other part of learning: Especially teach them the Catechism and the Holy Scriptures. If you think that this is no part of your work, few wise men will choose such Teachers for their Children. If you say as some Sectaries, that Children should not be taught to speak holy words, till they e more capable to understand the sense, because it is hypocrisy, or taking the Name of God in vain; I have answered this before; and showed that words being the signs, must be learned in order to the understanding of the sense, or thing that is