The excellent woman a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott ...…

IV. As she was careful in performing all those duties that concerned her self, so also those concerning her family, resolving with Joshua, that she and hers would serve the Lord. As soon as her children came to any understanding ⟨p. 112⟩she made them learn the Catechisms, first Mr. Wilsons, and Mr. Bal's Catechisms, and from the year 1653. the Assemblies lesser Catechism, and God did so bless her endeavours, that when her children were very young, yet could they soon give her an account of their whole Catechism without book; and as soon as any of them could read, she caused them diligently to read and would exercise their memories by calling them to an account of what they could remember of that they had read in the Bible or other good Books, and of what they had heard when they had been at Church; and it was wonderful to hear what a large account they would give of what they remembered: Surely God did much bless her prayers for them, else I know not how possibly they could do so: She would make all ⟨p. 113⟩children pray privately by themselves before they went to bed, and in the mornings when they did rise. Also she would instruct in repetitions of what they could remember, what had bin preached, telling them oft they must give account to God of their time, and what they had read and heard, exhorting them to walk in the ways of God, when she should not be; by setting before them the good to be found in Gods service, and the miseries that would fall on them if they walked not in his ways, She would not keep any servant that was profanely wicked, saying she would not have such, if they would give her their service: she would have no servant of an erroneous opinion; I have heard her several times say, she would rather have those, that were profane then such, because there is little hope of convincing the erroneous, ⟨p. 114⟩but more hope to convince the profane: she was very willing her servants should go to Lectures and to the fasts, at the end of the morning exercises which were once a month; she would afford them time, and encourage them to go to them, and if she had a servant that could not read, she would cause her children to teach such, and her self also would do it as she could spare time to encourage them, and buy books for them.