Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton,…

§. 30. His Command over his own Spirit, was ⟨p. 61⟩particularly Observable in his Government of his Family, where he would never Correct any thing in a Passion; but, first, with much Deliberation show what Rule, in the Holy Word of God, had been Violated, by the Fault lately committed. He was, indeed, one that Ruled well his own House! He therein Morning and Evening, Read a Chapter, with a Little Applicatory Exposition, before and after which, he made a Prayer; but he was very Short in all, accounting as Mr. Dod, Mr. Bins, and other great Saints ••id before him, That it was a Thing inconvenient […] ways to be Tedious in Family Duties. He also Read constantly a Portion of the Scripture alone, and he Prayed over what he Read; Prayed, I say; For he was very much in Prayer, a very Man of Prayer; he would rarely sit down to Study; without a Prayer over it, referring to the Presence of God, accompanying what he did. It was the Advice of the Ancient, Si vis esse Semper […] De•, Semper Ora, Semper Lege; and agreeably hereunto, Mr. Cotton might say with David, Lord, I am still with Thee! But he that was with God, all the Week, was more Intimately with Him, on His Own Day, the Chief Day of the Week; which he Observed most Conscientiously. The Sabbath, he began, the Evening Before; for which Keeping of the Sabbath from Evening to Evening, he Wrote Arguments before his coming to New-England; and I Suppose, 'twas from his Reason ⟨p. 62⟩and Practice, that the Christians of New-England have Generally done so too. When that Evening arrived, he was usually Larger in his Exposition in his Family, than at other times; He then Catechised his Children and Servants, and Prayed with them, and S•ng a Psalm; from thence he Retired unto Study, and Secret Prayer, till the Time of his going unto his Repose. The next Morning, after his Usual Family-Worship, he betook himself to the Devotions of his Retirements […] so unto the Public. From thence tow••• Noon, he Repaired again to the like Devotions, not permitting the Interruption of any other Dinner, than that of a small Repast carried up unto him. Then to the Public, once more; from whence Returning, his first Work was Closet-Prayer, then Prayer with Repetitions of the Sermons in the Family. After Supper he still Sang a Psalm; which he would conclude with Uplifted Eyes and Hands, uttering this Doxology,—Blessed e God in Christ, our Saviour!