N29515:224
Instructions for children: or, The child's & youth's delight, teaching an easy way to…Instructions for children: or, The child's & youth's delight, teaching an easie way to…
Instructions for children: or, The child's & youth's delight, teaching an easy way to spell & read true English. : Containing the father's godly advice; directing parents in a right and spiritual manner to educate their children. : With a Christian catechism, wherein all the chief principles of true Christianity are clearly opened. : Together with many other things both pleasant and useful for the education of children. / Written by Benj. Keach.Instructions for children: or, The child's & youth's delight, teaching an easie way to spell & read true English. : Containing the father's godly advice; directing parents in a right and spiritual manner to educate their children. : With a Christian catechism, wherein all the chief principles of true Christianity are clearly opened. : Together with many other things both pleasant and useful for the education of children. / Written by Benj. Keach.
New York: printed by Will. Bradford, 1695
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.
Fa. Yes, Child, and younger too, than thou art: Worth Mr. Janeway tells us of a Poor Child, not above five years old, who minded the good of his Soul more then all things in the World; and was greatly affected, by Considering what would become of him when he should die; and his Discourse made Christians stand astonished: He was wonderfully swallowed up with t•e love of Christ, in dying for Sinners, and with Tears would speak of it; before he was six years old, he made Conscience of secret Duties. And when he prayed, it was with such extraordinary meltings, that his Eve• looked red and sore with weeping for his Sins. The same Minister gives us an account of another Child, who ⟨p. 31⟩when she was about four years old had a great sense of her Duty to her Parents, because the Commandment saith, Honour thy Father and thy Mother. She would weep if she saw her Parents troubled, (though her self had been no occasion of it) and would often get into one hole or another to pray, with Tears in his Eyes: She said she believed in Christ, and desired and longed to be with him. Moreover, He tells us of another Child about nine years old whom God graciously wrought upon; her name was Sarah Huml•y: She was very much in secret Prayer; she could scarce speak of sin (or be spoken to abou• it) b•t her Heart was ready to me•t. •he spent much time in reading, and was exceeding dutiful to her parents; She abhorred Lying •nd allowed her self in no know• ⟨p. 32⟩Sin: After she had long waited for an Answer of Prayer, she said, Well, I will venture my Soul upon Christ. Nay, He speaks of one that God wrought upon, that was not above three or four years old: This Child, he saith, would oftentimes complain of the naughtiness of his Heart, and was troubled for his w•nd•ing thoughts: He was very fearful• of wicked Company: When he had committed a Fault, he was easily convinced of it, and would get in some corner or secret place, and with Tears beg pardon of God. This Child also abhorred Lying with his Soul: When other Children were a playing, he would many times and oft be a Praying. One Charles Bredgman, saith our Author, had no soone learn to speak, but he betook himself