N01142:60
Corderius americanus. An essay upon the good education of children. And what may hopefully be attempted, for the hope of the flock. In a funeral sermon upon Mr. Ezekiel Cheever. The ancient and Honourable master of the Free-School in Boston. Who left off, but when mortality took him off, in August, 1708. the ninety fourth year of his age. : With an elegy and an epitaph upon him. / By one that was once a scholar to him. ; [One line epigram in Latin]
Boston: printed by John Allen for Nicholas Boone, 1708
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Will not this be to make the Children, Take the Name of the Lord in vain? Would it not be more Discretion, to stay till the Children are themselves come to some Years of Discretion?
It is Easily Answered. Will you never Teach the Children, till you see them have the Grace, that will keep them from Taking the Name of the Lord in vain? Rather Teach them, to Keep them from it. And let our Discretion Teach us to manage the matter wisely, in Teaching our Children. Teach them with all possible Gravity; And Teach them to be Gra•e, in every thing, that relates to God, and their Souls. Consider also the Capacity of the Children: Teach them, what shall be Good for Them; And forbear the Rest, until they shall be more Able to Bear it:
We will, Secondly, Enquire, and Declare, WHAT is that Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, which we are to Teach our Children?
Truly, AS MUCH as ever WE CAN help them to; All the Knowledge, that they can Take in, still as we find them Able to Take it in. More particularly▪
First; The HISTORIES of the Holy Scriptures; We are to Teach Them unto our Children. Children are naturally taken with Histories. Now, instead of Corrupt Stories, and Idle-Fables, Why should we not single out the Histories in the Holy Scriptures for them? Only, It would be advisable always to clench the Histories, with some Admonitions of Piety, which are to be gathered from them. There are none of those Histories, but it may be said upon them; Psal. 19.11. Thy Servant is warned by them.
First; The HISTORIES of the Holy Scriptures; We are to Teach Them unto our Children. Children are naturally taken with Histories. Now, instead of Corrupt Stories, and Idle-Fables, Why should we not single out the Histories in the Holy Scriptures for them? Only, It would be adviseable always to clench the Histories, with some Admonitions of Piety, which are to be gathered from them. There are none of those Histories, but it may be said upon them; Psal. 19.11. Thy Servant is warned by them.
Secondly; We are to Teach our Children the PRINCIPLES of the Holy Scriptures. Tell the Children, What the Holy Scriptures have Taught us to Believe thou GOD, and ⟨p. 10⟩His Perfections, and His Works: About the Fall of Man, and the Method of his Recovery out of that miserable Fall; About the Lord Jesus Christ, Who He is, & what He has done, and what He will do, for His Chosen People. We read, That the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ; are the Milk for Babes. That these things may be the better taught, an Orthodox CATECHISM, is to be Employed. They should say their Catechism, and be Rewarded when they can say it. But then, we should put Lesser Questions unto them; unto which, their YES, or NO, will give us to perceive, Whether they understand what they say. Canvas• the matter with them. Ask them several things about it. Cause them to take much Notice of it. See whether they have taken a Right Notion of it. We read, 2 Tim. 1.13. There is a Form of sound words, which they must hear from us.
Secondly; We are to Teach our Children the PRINCIPLES of the Holy Scriptures. Tell the Children, What the Holy Scriptures have Taught us to Believe thou GOD, and ⟨p. 10⟩His Perfections, and His Works: About the Fall of Man, and the Method of his Recovery out of that miserable Fall; About the Lord Jesus Christ, Who He is, & what He has done, and what He will do, for His Chosen People. We read, That the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ; are the Milk for Babes. That these things may be the better taught, an Orthodox CATECHISM, is to be Employ'd. They should say their Catechism, and be Rewarded when they can say it. But then, we should put Lesser Questions unto them; unto which, their YES, or NO, will give us to perceive, Whether they understand what they say. Canvas• the matter with them. Ask them several things about it. Cause them to take much Notice of it. See whether they have tak'n a Right Notion of it. We read, 2 Tim. 1.13. There is a Form of sound words, which they must hear from us.
Thirdly; We are to Teach our Children the COMMANDMENTS of the Holy Scriptures. There are the TEN Commandments. The Children should be made to know, What is Implied in them, What is Forbidden, What is Required. How, as it has been of old noted, the First Table of the Commandments, is a Lodestone of the Second; the Second is a Touchstone for the First. There are many LESSONS, which are to be inculcated on them; Lessons by which their Manners are to be regulated▪ GOOD LESSONS FOR CHILDREN may be the Title for them.
Thirdly; We are to Teach our Children the COMMANDMENTS of the Holy Scriptures. There are the TEN Commandments. The Children should be made to know, What is Implied in them, What is Forbidden, What is Required. How, as it has been of old noted, the First Table of the Commandments, is a Loadstone of the Second; the Second is a Touchstone for the First. There are many LESSONS, which are to be inculcated on them; Lessons by which their Manners are to be regulated▪ GOOD LESSONS FOR CHILDREN may be the Title for them.
But there is one very Great Article, which is often to be insisted on. The Children have, mostly, been Baptised. O make 'em know the Intent and Meaning of their BAPTISM. As soon as ever you can, inform them, that they have been Baptised! and beget in them an awful Sense of their Baptismal Obligations▪ Tell them, Now, my Child, you must be a Servant of a Glorious CHRIST, and be afraid of Defiling your self with […] Sin, since you have been wasted in the Name, of the most Holy Lord. Say to them; as he, 1 Chron. 2•.9. My Child, Know thou the God of thy Father, and serve Him with a perfect Heart, and a willing Mind; If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou Forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever. You cannot imagine, how much Efficacy this Teaching may have upon them.
But there is one very Great Article, which is often to be insisted on. The Children have, mostly, been Baptised. O make 'em know the Intent and Meaning of their BAPTISM. As soon as ever you can, inform them, that they have been Baptised! and beget in them an awful Sense of their Baptismal Obligations▪ Tell them, Now, my Child, you must be a Servant of a Glorious CHRIST, and be afraid of Defiling your self with 〈…〉 Sin, since you have been wasted in the Name, of the most Holy Lord. Say to them; as he, 1 Chron. 2•.9. My Child, Know thou the God of thy Father, and serve Him with a perfect Heart, and a willing Mind; If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou Forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever. You cannot imagine, how much Efficacy this Teaching may have upon them.
Fourthly; The Children should LEARN TO READ the Holy Scriptures; and this, as Early as may be. To School therefore with them. Let them not be Loitering at home, or playing abroad, when they should be at School. Be more concerned for their Schooling, than for their Clothing. If there be any, as I suppose there cannot be many, so necessitous, as to call for it, let us in this Town go on with our CHARITY-SCHOOLS. When the Children can Read, the Holy Scriptures, charge them, and cause them, every day to Read that Book of Life. Hire them to Remember what they Read; To get Select Sentences of the Holy Scriptures into their Memories. And then; Show them, how to make PRAYERS out of what they Read. Help them to turn all into Prayers, That they may be Wise unto Salvation, Oh, Teach them to Pray! When once it comes to be said, Behold they Pray! 'tis likely, that it may quickly be said, They are wise unto Salvation. The Bible was well called, by one of the Ancients, Epistola Omnipoten•is Dei ad Creaturam suam. A Letter from the Almighty GOD, unto His Creatures, It should be considered as a Letter from the Almighty God unto our Children. They should be taught accordingly to Read it, and Reverence it, and Answer it.
Fourthly; The Children should LEARN TO READ the Holy Scriptures; and this, as Early as may be. To School therefore with them. Let them not be Loitering at home, or playing abroad, when they should be at School. Be more concerned for their Schooling, than for their Cloathing. If there be any, as I suppose there cannot be many, so necessitous, as to call for it, let us in this Town go on with our CHARITY-SCHOOLS. When the Children can Read, the Holy Scriptures, charge them, and cause them, every day to Read that Book of Life. Hire them to Remember what they Read; To get Select Sentences of the Holy Scriptures into their Memories. And then; Show them, how to make PRAYERS out of what they Read. Help them to turn all into Prayers, That they may be Wise unto Salvation, Oh, Teach them to Pray! When once it comes to be said, Behold they Pray! t'is likely, that it may quickly be said, They are wise unto Salvation. The Bible was well called, by one of the Ancients, Epistola Omnipoten•is Dei ad Creaturam suam. A Letter from the Almighty GOD, unto His Creatures, It should be considered as a Letter from the Almighty God unto our Children. They should be taught accordingly to Read it, and Reverence it, and Answer it.
This it will be, for the Children to know the Holy Scriptures.
We will, Thirdly, Enquire and Declare, WHO it is, that it to Teach the Children, the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Come ALL HANDS to the Work.
In particular; The PASTORS of the Flock; They must not neglect the Children of the Flock. The Charge of our Lord unto them, is that; Joh. 21.15. Feed my Lambs. It seems proposed, as if it were, at least, one Third part of the Pastoral Charge. O men of God, How many ways may you Devise Good, in this Great Affair; to make the Children under your Charge, Wise unto Salvation! In the midst of many such Devices, I will mention one, which the Excellent Mr. White, in his Manual for Parents, has proposed; That Ministers would sometimes Preach at the Schools, as well as Catechise; Because as he says, The Preaching of the Word, is the Converting Ordinance. And when Sermons are brought unto the Schools, the Children must needs hear ⟨p. 12⟩with more Attention, and […] of such Things as do more immediately concern them, which, in the Public Assemblies, are not so much meddled withal; and the Ministers should condescend unto such Expressions as might work most with them, which would not be so fit for a larger Congregation.
In particular; The PASTORS of the Flock; They must not neglect the Children of the Flock. The Charge of our Lord unto them, is that; Joh. 21.15. Feed my Lambs. It seems proposed, as if it were, at least, one Third part of the Pastoral Charge. O men of God, How many ways may you Devise Good, in this Great Affair; to make the Children under your Charge, Wise unto Salvation! In the midst of many such Devices, I will mention one, which the Excellent Mr. White, in his Manual for Parents, has proposed; That Ministers would sometimes Preach at the Schools, as well as Catechise; Because as he says, The Preaching of the Word, is the Converting Ordinance. And when Sermons are brought unto the Schools, the Children must needs hear ⟨p. 12⟩with more Attention, and 〈…〉 of such Things as do more immediately concern them, which, in the Publick Assemblies, are not so much medled withal; and the Ministers should condescend unto such Expressions as might work most with them, which would not be so fit for a larger Congregation.
The MASTER and MISTRESS, in the SCHOOL, may do much in this Noble Work. We read, The Little Ones have their Angels. Truly, to Teach the Little Ones, the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and make them Wise unto Salvation, it is a stately work; I had almost called it; A Work for Angels. It is an Hard Work to keep a School: and hardly ever duly Recompensed. I suppose, It is easier to be at the Plough all day than in the School. But it is a Good Work: It is Gods Plough; and God speed it! I would not have you weary of it. Melchior Adam did well to call it; Molestissimam, sed Deo longe gratissimam Functionem; A• work, tho' very Tiresome, and Troublesome to the Flesh, yet most highly Acceptable to God. Go on with it Cheerfully; And often Teach the Children something of the Holy Scriptures; often drop some Honey out of that Rock upon them. Who can tell, but you may Teach them the Things that shall save their Souls, and they shall bless God for you and with you, throughout Eternal Ages? Every time a New Child comes to the School, Oh! why should you not think! Here my Glorious LORD sends me another Object, on which I may do something, to advance His Kingdom in the World!
The MASTER and MISTRESS, in the SCHOOL, may do much in this Noble Work. We read, The Little Ones have their Angels. Truly, to Teach the Little Ones, the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and make them Wise unto Salvation, it is a stately work; I had almost call'd it; A Work for Angels. It is an Hard Work to keep a School: and hardly ever duly Recompensed. I suppose, It is easier to be at the Plough all day than in the School. But it is a Good Work: It is Gods Plough; and God speed it! I would not have you weary of it. Melchior Adam did well to call it; Molestissimam, sed Deo longe gratissimam Functionem; A• work, tho' very Tiresome, and Troublesome to the Flesh, yet most highly Acceptable to God. Go on with it Chearfully; And often Teach the Children something of the Holy Scriptures; often drop some Honey out of that Rock upon them. Who can tell, but you may Teach them the Things that shall save their Souls, and they shall bless God for you and with you, throughout Eternal Ages? Every time a New Child comes to the School, Oh! why should you not think! Here my Glorious LORD sends me another Object, on which I may do something, to advance His Kingdom in the World!
No, nor will we Excuse the very SERVANTS in the Family, from this Blessed Work; Even the Handmaids in the Family, as they are Dressing and Feeding the Children, O Handmaids of the Lord How much may you do, to instil the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures into the Children! If our Servants would once come to take pleasure in such a thing, to keep Teaching the Children something from the Holy Scriptures, O my Children, [for such Servants are worthy to be called, Children!] How much would you Adorn the Doctrine of God your Saviour! It was certainly a good Speech, which I find written by a Person of Quality. It is certainly, the Highest Dignity, if not the Greatest Happiness, ⟨p. 13⟩that Humane Nature is capable of, here in this Vale below, to have a Soul so far Enlightened, as to become the Mirror, or Conduit or Conveyer of Gods Truth to others. Now, even a Domestic Servant, may arrive to this Dignity, this Happiness. Yea, Let all Ranks of men aspire of […] it.
No, nor will we Excuse the very SERVANTS in the Family, from this Blessed Work; Even the Handmaids in the Family, as they are Dressing and Feeding the Children, O Handmaids of the Lord How much may you do, to instlil the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures into the Children! If our Servants would once come to take pleasure in such a thing, to keep Teaching the Children something from the Holy Scriptures, O my Children, [for such Servants are worthy to be called, Children!] How much would you Adorn the Doctrine of God your Saviour! It was certainly a good Speech, which I find written by a Person of Quality. It is certainly, the Highest Dignity, if not the Greatest Happiness, ⟨p. 13⟩that Humane Nature is capable of, here in this Vale below, to have a Soul so far Enlightened, as to become the Mirror, or Conduit or Conveyer of Gods Truth to others. Now, even a Domestick Servant, may arrive to this Dignity, this Happiness. Yea, Let all Ranks of men aspire of 〈…〉 it.
But; Lastly, and yet First of all, O PARENTS Arise; This matter chiefly belongs unto you; we also will be with you. None, I say, None are so much concerned, as Parents to look after it, that their Children be taught the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Our famous King Elfred, procured a […], That every man who had but as much as Two Hides of La•d; should bring up his Children to Learning, till Fifteen-Years of Age at least; that so they might Know Christ, and Live Happily; Else he said, They were but Beasts and […] press it, That Parents give their Children all the Learning they can; especially that which will bring them to Know Christ and Live Happily.
But; Lastly, and yet First of all, O PARENTS Arise; This matter chiefly belongs unto you; we also will be with you. None, I say, None are so much concerned, as Parents to look after it, that their Children be taught the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Our famous King Elfred, procured a 〈…〉, That every man who had but as much as Two Hides of La•d; should bring up his Children to Learning, till Fifteen-Years of Age at least; that so they might Know Christ, and Live Happily; Else he said, They were but Beasts and 〈…〉 press it, That Parents give their Children all the Learning they can; especially that which will bring them to Know Christ and Live Happily.
Parents, What Motive can you desire more than this? 'Tis the way to make the Children Wise unto Salvation. Certainly you Desire the Salvation of your Children. You have had your share among the Causes of it, that they are by N• […] Children of Wrath. And would you not see them Saved from that Wrath? Did you duly Teach your Children the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, there would be a likelihood of their being those Children; 1 Joh. 2.13. Little Children ye have known the Father. And, Oh! what would be the Fruit of this Knowledge? Truly, This is Life Eternal. You Lodge in the little Souls of your Children, the Seeds of Life Eternal; if God please to make them so. What a charming word is that? Gen. 18.19. He will command his Children, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. But if the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures be withheld from the Children, they perish, they perish dreadfully. If the Understandings of the Children be Darkened, they will be Alienated from the Life of God; They will be Slaves to the Power of Darkness; They are in the Broad Way to Eternal Darkness: if they Know not God & the Lord Jesus Christ, their Doom from the Lord will be, Depart from me, I know your not. Oh, Look upon the Children, which you ⟨p. 14⟩have so often set on your knees, which always lie so very near to your Hearts; How can you bear to have them thrown into the place of Dragons? They infallibly go thither, if by the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, you do not Save them from thence. Austin says of his Excellent Mother, Toties Filios par•uri•bat, quoties a Deo eor deviar• •••nebat; She fell into Travail for them, as often as she saw them fall into Folly▪ Oh! Parents, Be continually in Travail for your Children, that you may Save them from all Sinful Folly. We read of a Child; 2 King. 4.19. He said unto his Father, my Head, My Head!
Parents, What Motive can you desire more than this? 'Tis the way to make the Children Wise unto Salvation. Certainly you Desire the Salvation of your Children. You have had your share among the Causes of it, that they are by N Children of Wrath. And would you not see them Saved from that Wrath? Did you duly Teach your Children the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, there would be a likelihood of their being those Children;
