N00727:44
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.
VI. Parents, Be Exemplary: Your Example may do much towards the Salvation of your Children, Your Works ⟨p. 31⟩will more Work upon your Children, than your Words; Your Patterns will do more than your Precepts; your Copies than your Counsels. What was then said unto Pastors, may very fitly be said unto Parents, in Tit. 2.2. In all Things show thy self a pattern of good works; & in 1 Tim. 4.12. Be thou an Example in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity. 'Twill be impossible for you to infuse any Good, into your Children, if you appear void of that Good your selves. If the Old Crab go backward, it is to no purpose, for the Young One to be directed unto going forward: Sirs, Young Ones, will Crawl after the Old Ones. Would you have your Children, well principled with the Fear and Faith of God? Mind that passage, in Act. 10.2. Cornelius was a devout man, and one that Feared God, with all his House. Mind that passage, in Act. 18.8. Crispus Believed on the Lord, with all his House. It seems, the whole House, is like to do, as the Parents do. 'Tis, as Austin expresses it, the usual Cry, Nolumus esse meliores quam patres, We will be no Better than our Parents. If the Parents will make their ⟨p. 32⟩Cakes to the Queen of Heaven, the Children will kindle their Fires for them. Justin Martyr somewhere Enquires why the Prophet Elisha imprecated the Revenges of Heaven upon the Children that mocked him, when they hardly understood what they did? And he answers, The Children Learnt their wicked Language from their Parents, and now God punished both of them together. Parents, Let your Children see nothing by you, but what shall be commendable and imitable. Be able to say unto your Children, My Child, Follow me, as you have seen me follow Christ. Let them from your Seriousness, and your Prayerfulness, and your Watchfulness, and your Sanctification of the Lords-Day, be taught, how they should walk and please God.