fignifie~-: and that c~is is not to u~e fuc.h. words in vain, how h~ly focver, but to the _proper end for which they are appomted. Both mD1vme and humane lcarnmg, the MemCiries of Children mull: firfi be furni!hed in order to the furnifhing of their underflandings afterwards. And this is a,chief point of the Mafic:rs skill, that Time be not tofi, nor Labour frufl:ratcd. Fnr the mc:rnotics of Chil· dren are as capdcious as mens of riper age .; and therefore they fhould be fiored early, with that which will be ufeful to them afterwards: but u\1 they come to fame._maturity of age, their judgments are not ripe for information, about any high or difli:ult points. Therefore teach dHm Detimes rbe words of Catechi[m.s, and fame Chapters of the Bible ; and teach them the meaning by degrees aS they are Clpable. And make them percdve that you take this for the befi of all their learning. ~· ~· Direct. 5· Befides tbe form! of Catechi{m, which you teacb tlwn, [p~"'"- rfttn to t6em {ome fo- Dirtlf. $• rioJM word!, about thrir[oul1 and the life to cume in fuch a plain fami/i.Jr maltner ai tendeth mcjf to th~ aw 11 k.,ening of tbtir Confc~cncu,. ~nd n:aJ:jng t.b~m perceive hon' greaJJy wb:Jt J'.oll foy concernet~ them. A Jittlefuch familiar fenous d1fcourh:, m an mterlocutory way, may go to the1r hc:arrs, and never b:: forgotten ; when meer forms alone are lifde~s and unprofitable. . Abun~ance. of good might be done 00 Children, if· Parents and Schoolrnafiers did well perform then parts m th1s. p. 6. Diw~l:. 6. 1ak! ]/rill acc,unt of tbrir fpmding tbt Lords d•y ! How they hear, and what they Dirrll· $" remember ; and how they fpend the reil of the day. For the right fpending ofthat day, is of great importance to their fouls! And a cufiome of play and idlenefs on that day, doth ufually debauch them, and prepare them for much worfe. Though they arc from under your eye on the Lords day, yet ifon Muoday they be ~alled to account, it will leave an ~we upon t~ern in your abfc:n~X. • 9· 7 . Direfr. 7• Praywtth thtm and for them. If God gtve not the mcreafc by the dews of ft<aven, Dmll. 7• and Chine not on your labours, your planting and watering will be all in Y.1in. Therefore pr:~ytr is as fuirable a means as Teaching, to do them good ; and they mull go togetber. He that hath a heart to pray urmjlly for his Scholar<, fhall «rtainly have himfelf moll comfort in his labours ; and it is likely that he thall do mofi good to them. ~· 8. DireCl:. 8. r.Yiltch ovtr !he.m ~y one anothtr rr:hen they are bchi~d your back.f, at their {porlJ .or Dire8. g, converfe with each other. for it IS abundance of W1ckednefs that Ch1ldren ufe to learn and praCbfe which never cometh to their Mafiers cars: efpecially in fomc great and publick Schools. They that came thither to learn fobriety and piety of their Mafiefs, do ofrentimcs leun, profanenefs, and ribaldry, and curfing, and fwearing, and fcorning, deriding and reviling one another, of their ungracious School-fellows. And rhofe kffons are fo eafily learnt, that there are few Children bur are infected with fome fuch debauchery, though their Parents and M•fiers watch againfl ir ; and perhaps it never comtth to their knowledge. So alfo for gameing, and robbing Orchards, and lighting with one another, and reading Play-books and Romances, and lying, and abundance other vices which muft be carefully watch! againfi. §. il· Direct. il• Correli tbemmorr jharplyfor jint againj! God, tban for tbeir dulne{t and f•iling at tbt~ Direll. !J• bool>J•Though negligence in their ltarning is not to be indulged, ytt (mart fhould teach them, efpecially · to rake heed of finning: that they may underHand that fin is the greattfi evil. ~· IO· DireCt. 10. E[peciaUy cstrb or cajhier the leaJersof impiety and rebeUion, who corrupt the reft. DireO. I Of. There are few great Schools but have fome that are notorioufly debauched ; that glory in their wickednefs ; that In filthy talking, and lighting, and <urfing and reviling words, are the inftd:ers of the refi: And ufually they are fome of the bigger fort, that are the greatefi fighters, and ma!ler the rcfi, and by domineering over them and abufing them, force them both to follow them in thei.r fin, and to conceal it. Th~ corretling of fuch, or expelling them if incorrigible, is of great neceffity to preferve the refi : For if they are fu.ffered, the refi will be fecrcdy infected and undone, betore the Mafier is aware. This caufcth many that have a care of their Childrcns fouls, to be very fearful of fending them to great and publick Schools, and rather choofe private Schools that are freer from that danger: It being almofl of as great concernment to Children, what their companions be, as what their Mafier is. ugggggg CHAP;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=