N00425:254
Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…
Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ... To which may be added, a short scriptural catechism, accommodated unto their capacities. / By Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce for Nicholas Buttolph, 1690
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.
Thirdly, Have you no Regard for your own Credit and Comfort? It is said in Prov. 23. 24. The father of the Righteous shall greatly Rejoice: Truly, if you had gracious little Children, you might, you would Rejoice exceedingly. Which of you had not rather have a Joseph than an Esau, for his Age to lean upon? And when you leave your Children, or your Children leave you, how much would you give to have just Hopes, of having their Company in the sweet Joys, of the Third Heaven for-ever? Besides, it will be a blessed mark upon your Souls, it will be a sign that you are among the Children of Abraham, if you Command your Children to keep the way of the Lord.
Thirdly, Have you no Regard for your own Credit and Comfort? It is said in Prov. 23. 24. The father of the Righteous shall greatly Rejoyce: Truly, if you had gracious little Children, you might, you would Rejoyce exceedingly. Which of you had not rather have a Joseph than an Esau, for his Age to lean upon? And when you leave your Children, or your Children leave you, how much would you give to have just Hopes, of having their Company in the sweet Joyes, of the Third Heaven for-ever? Besides, it will be a blessed mark upon your Souls, it will be a sign that you are among the Children of Abraham, if you Command your Children to keep the way of the Lord.
Would you be informed then, what you may do for your poor Children? Do you ask, as Manoah of old, How shall we order the child, and what shall we do unto him? There are four things by which you may save the Souls of your little Children; yea, there are five things to be observed, that God may be a Father to them.
The first thing necessary for your poor Children, is, your Authority. 'Twas said in