N00727:13
A family well-ordered. Or An essay to render parents and children happy in one…
A family well-ordered. Or An essay to render parents and children happy in one another. Handling two very important cases. I. What are the duties to be done by pious parents, for the promoting of piety in their children. II. What are the duties that must be paid by children to their parents, that they may obtain the blessings of the dutiful. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Three lines from Malachi]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1699
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.
AS the Great God, who at the Beginning said, Let US make man after our Image, hath made man a Sociable Creature, so it is evident, That Families are the Nurseries of all Societies; and the ⟨p. 4⟩First Combinations of mankind. Well-ordered Families naturally produce a Good Order in other Societies. When Families are under an Ill Discipline, all other Societies being therefore Ill Disciplined, will feel that Error in the First concoction. To Serve the Families of our Neighbourhood, will be a Service to all our Interests. Every serious Christian is concerned, That he may be Serviceable in the World; And many a serious Christian is concerned, because he sees himself to be furnished with no more Opportunities to be Serviceable. Bu• art thou not a Member of some Family? If that Family may by thy means, O Christian, become a Well-regulated Family, in that point thou wilt become Serviceable; I had almost said, Incomprehensibly Serviceable. They that have the Government of some Family, do make up no Little part of this Great Assembly▪ And, Sirs, are there any of you, that would forfeit that Honourable Title, of all the Faithful, The Children of Abraham. Give your Attention, ye Children of Abraham, while I set before you, the Example of your Father, for your Imitation.
AS the Great God, who at the Beginning said, Let US make man after our Image, hath made man a Sociable Creature, so it is evident, That Families are the Nurseries of all Societies; and the ⟨p. 4⟩First Combinations of mankind. Well-ordered Families naturally produce a Good Order in other Societies. When Families are under an Ill Discipline, all other Societies being therefore Ill Disciplined, will feel that Error in the First •oncoction. To Serve the Families of our Neighbourhood, will be a Service to all our Interests. Every serious Christian is concerned, That he may be Serviceable in the World; And many a serious Christian is concerned, because he sees himself to be furnished with no more Opportunities to be Serviceable. Bu• art thou not a Member of some Family? If that Family may by thy means, O Christian, become a Well-regulated Family, in that point thou wilt become Serviceable; I had almost said, Incomprehensibly Serviceable. They that have the Government of some Family, do make up no Little part of this Great Assembly And, Syrs, are there any of you, that would forfeit that Honourable Title, of all the Faithful, The Children of Abraham. Give your Attention, ye Children of Abraham, while I set before you, the Example of your Father, for your Imitation.