The True Interest of Families, Table of contents 1 – Table of contents 3
THE CONTENTS Of Advice to Parents.
PART I.
THE Introduction, ſhewing the great Importance of the right Education of Children. Pag. 1
How Parents ought to be affected, while Children are yet in the Womb. 2
How they ought to he affected when their Children are born. 3
The Duties of Parents for their Childrens Souls.
1. Duty, To Conſecrate them to God in Baptiſm. 4
2. Duty, to ſeaſon their minds betimes with good Impreſſions. 7
3 Duty, to teach them to pray. 9
4. Duty, to obſerve carefully their Temper and Diſpoſition, and to endeavour to reform what is amiſs therein. 12
5. Duty, to ſee that they be taught to read. 18
Great care ought to be taken, what Books they read. 20
6. Duty, to bring them to the place of publick Worſhip, ſo ſoon as they are fit for it. 23
7. Duty, to make them underſtand their Baptiſmal Covenant. 24
The Benefit of Confirmation, if performed in a right manner. 25
8. Duty, to encourage them to come to the Lord's Table. 28
9. Duty, to take care that they accuſtom themſelves to ſelf-Examination. 30
Some plain and eaſie Directions how to Examin themſelves. 31, 32, &c.
10. Duty, to obſerve what Providences they meet with, and to acquaint them therewith in due time. 36
Some Directions to Parents, how to render their Endeavours Effectual.
1. Direction. They muſt give their Children good Example. 37
2. They muſt chuſe good Company for them. 38
Advice to Parents, who ſend their Children abroad to Travel. 31
3 They muſt, as need requires, reprove and chaſten their Children, and how? 42
The Evil of too great Severity. 44.
4. They muſt carefully improve the time of their Childrens ſickneſs, or of any other afflictions they meet with, towards the making of them wiſer and better. 45
5. They muſt daily pray to God for them. 47
Some Motives to excite Parents to do theſe things.
1. Motive, from the Divine Command. 48
2. Motive, from its being a Work worthy of the utmoſt care and pains of Parents. 49
3. Motive, from the Rewards which attend thoſe who faithfully do theſe things. 51
4. Motive, from the ſad effects which attend the neglect of theſe Duties. 52.
PART II.
The Duties of Parents, as to their Childrens Bodies.
1. Duty, it belongs to the Mother to give ſuck to her Children. 56
2. Duty, about Childrens dyet. 58
3. Duty, about Childrens Apparel. 59
The Duty of Parents, as to the outward Eſtate of their Children.
1. Duty, about chuſing a fit trade for their Children. 61
2. Duty, about diſpoſing of them in Marriage. 62
3. Duty, about providing ſomewhat that may be the foundation for their comfortable ſubſiſtence in the World. 65
The above mentioned particulars earneſtly recommended to Parents. 68
An Appendix concerning the Duty of Parents when God removeth their Children by Death.
1. They ought to conſider that it is the Lord who does it. 75
2. They ought to conſider that their Children were born mortal. 76
3. They ſhould conſider from whence and whither they are gone. 81
4. They ſhould conſider that there will be a Reſurrection. 86
5. They ſhould conſider, that their giving way to exceſſive grief and mourning, can do no good, but will certainly do a great deal of hurt. 88
Some Forms of Prayer, which Parents may teach their Children, according to their Age. 93
THE CONTENTS OF Advice to Children.
THE Introduction. 103
1. Duty of Children, to honour their Parents. And how they are to honour them. 104
Againſt thoſe who diſhonour their rents. 107
2. Duty of Children, to obey their Parents. 110
Againſt Stubborn and diſobedient Children. 112
3. Duty of Children, to be determined by their Parents as to their Calling. 114
Againſt Children who neglect this Duty. 116
4. Duty of Children, not to ſuffer themſelves to be beſtowed in marriage againſt their Parents will. 118
Againſt thoſe Children who neglect this Duty. 120
5. Duty of Children, to ſubmit to their Parents Reproofs and chaſtenings. 120
Againſt Rebellious Children. 122
6. Duty of Children, to love their Parents; and how they are to expreſs their Love? 124
Againſt unkind and unnatural Children. 127
7. Duty of Children, to pray for their Parents. 128
Againſt Curſers of Parents. 129
Motives to excite Children to do theſe things.
1. Motive, from the Authority of him who commands them to do theſe things. 131
2. Motive, from the Promiſe made to thoſe who do their Duty. 133
3. Motive, from the Example of our Bleſſed Maſter. 136
4. Motive, from the Examples of ſome Heathens. 139
The Concluſion, ſhewing how Children ought to improve what hath been ſaid. 142
The Contents OF The Diſcourſe about the Right Way of Improving our Time.
THE Introduction. 155
The Text explained. 156
How Time is to be redeemed.
1. Time is to be redeemed from ſleep. 158
2. It is to be redeemed from dreſſing and adorning the Body. 162
3. It is to be redeemed from eating and drinking. 165
4. It is to be redeemed from gaming. 168
5. It is to be redeemed from viſuing. 172
6. Time is to be redeemed from worldly buſineſs. 179
7. It is to be redeemed from idleneſs. 183
8. It is to be redeemed in ſacred and religious Performances, by doing them in the beſt manner. 186
Some Motives to Excite you to do theſe things.
1. Motive, from the ſhortneſs of your Time. 197
2 Motive, from the uncertainty of your Time. 201
3. Motive, from the greatneſs and difficulty of the work you have to do. 209
4. Motive, from the account you muſt give how you ſpend your Time. 216
The Concluſion. 223