N29515:233
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.
Daugh. But, pray Sir, doth not God allow some things for Ornaments?
Fa· Yea, doubtless God hath allowed of some Ornament, Gen. 24. 23. Isai. 61.10. But whatever pretends to Ornament, which is inconsistent with Modesty, Gravity and Sobriety, or is not according to Godliness, is instead of an Ornament, a Defilement. Modesty will teach you not to expose those parts to view, which no necessity, no good end nor use can justify: Who dares plead for that which exposeth persons to S•ares and Temptations, and Religion to shame and reproach? Some now-a-days that attend on Sermons in Christian Assemblies, do more become Play Houses, and yet brazen it out in the face of the Preacher! O horrid Impudence! Godliness teaches not to lay out so much Money to adorn the Body, ⟨p. 44⟩when so many poor Families want Bread; and not to expend foolishly on Superfluities on the Carcass, when some poor Children of Christian People want necessary Clothing. Besides, all Children should be contented to go in Apparel, according to the Degree, Quality and Ability of their Parents. My Daughters, and such of you that fear God, pray consider the Rule laid down by the Apostle, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3, 4. for Regulating Ornaments, is, That they be consistent with a chaste Conversation; may, visibly consistent: Whilst they behold your chaste Conversation, &c. That pure vestal fire (saith one) of Chastity, that burns upon the Altar of a holy Heart, must flame out and shine in Chastity of Words, Actions, Clothings, and Ornaments: For when God commands Chastity, he commands whatsoever ⟨p. 45⟩may feed and nourish it, manifest or declare it, and forbids whatsoever may endanger it.