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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	good_a	read_v	write_v	2,874	5	5.1956	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47513	A new family-book, or, The true interest of families being directions to parents and children, and to those who are instead of parents : shewing them their several duties, and how they may be happy in one another : together with several prayers for families and children, and graces before and after meat : to which is annexed a discourse about the right way of improving our time / by James Kirkwood ... ; with a preface, by Dr. Horneck.	Kirkwood, James, 1650?-1709.; Horneck, Anthony, 1641-1697.	1693 (1693)	Wing K647; ESTC R15399	107,616	291

be got by heart for this will do more hurt than good A few things well understood do better than a great many by rote Be careful lest they read any Books which tend to poyson their minds to fill them with false Opinions or to lead them to bad practices Their tender minds are apt very quickly to be corrupted by such Treatises Even they who are of a more fixed and solid Virtue are in danger of receiving hurt by reading such Books especially when they are writ with great Art and when their Notions are represented in fair and Beautiful Colours They are apt to impress on the Fancy some Images of no good consequence to the Soul How great need therefore have Parents to restrain their Children from reading such Books as tend to pollute their innocent and chaste minds which are capable of receiving any sort of impressions either good or bad As for Books of Devotion great care is to be taken that only such be put into their hands as are writ in a plain and easie style which treat of things fit and needful to be known by them and which are most likely to make them Wise and Good They are to be accustomed to the Writings of those who are Men of greatest Moderation who do not impose their own conceits as necessary Rules of Devotion who do not require such things as absolutely needful to be done which God hath not declared to be so nor yet who shorten the Rule by cutting off such things as God hath injoyned us All Books which lead Men to extreams are carefully to be avoided and such Treatises are to be made use of as contain the plain and necessary Doctrines of Christianity which tend to inspire Men with the Spirit of Purity of Truth of Peace and Love which promote Sincerity Justice Temperance Charity Meekness Humility Patience Resignation to the Will of God in all things Zeal for his Honour and Glory a firm Belief and Trust in him c. When it is requisite to acquaint them with the different Opinions amongst Protestants that their minds may not be unfixed and unsettled when they go abroad into the World be sure not to put into their hands such Tracts as are writ with a fiery uncharitable Spirit and in a Dogmatick and Magisterial manner but such as are writ with great Temper and Moderation which tend to heal the Church of all Contentions and Divisions and not to kindle and increase them which do not load Mens Opinions with unjust extravagant and impious consequences which never entred into the minds of those who vouched them but such as make fair and favourable Constructions and just allowances Such Treatises are chiefly to be chosen for them which dispose Men to be humble and modest not to be stiff and pertinacious in their own private Sentiments not rashly and severely to condemn others who have different thoughts and never on the account of any such particular Opinions to break the Peace of Christian Society nor to grow more cold in their respect and affection towards those who have not the same thoughts with themselves in lesser matters They are as it were to feed upon Books of this sort and carefully to digest them 6. Duty to bring them to the place of publick Worship so soon as they are fit for it Sixthly You are to bring them to the place of publick Worship so soon as they are fit for it that they may have the benefit of the Prayers of God's People and may learn as they are capable somewhat that may make them wiser and better Thus we find when Joshua read the Law before the Congregation the little Ones are mentioned as present amongst the Men and Women Josh. 8. 35. Teach them to pray to God before they go to Church and to beg of him that he would fit them and assist them to joyn in the publick Worship with unfeigned Devotion and to hear the Word in a right manner Teach them also to pray for all those whom God employs to Preach his Word and particularly for his Servant whom they are to hear that he would Sanctifie him and direct and enable him to teach others the true way to Life and Blessedness And as you ought to direct them what to do before they go to Church so you must take heed how they carry themselves in the House of God that it be with all possible silence and reverence and that they perform their publick Devotions in a decent manner See that they do not spend their time in gazing upon others in observing their Dresses and Modes their looks and Gestures nor yet in bowing and making Courtesies to every body of their Acquaintance they happen to see in the midst of their Prayers Though this be too common a Practice yet it ought carefully to be avoided as unsuitable to that seriousness that fear and Reverence that Fervency and Devotion which true Worshippers of God ought to be possessed with when in the most Solemn manner they are or ought to be employed either in paying their Homage to the King of Heaven and Earth their Lord their Maker and Saviour or in hearing the Message that is delivered in his Name by his Ambassadors When they come from Church see what they remember if they have got any thing by heart encourage them If they remember nothing you may tell them somewhat or other of the Sermon which is fit for them to learn Stir them up so soon as their Years are fit for it to meditate more or less on what they have heard that so the Word of God may profit them Shew them that as their Food cannot nourish them if their Stomach do not concoct and digest what they Eat and Drink so neither will the Word of God nourish quicken and strengthen their Souls if they do not by serious Meditation digest what they read and hear Endeavour by their constant attendance on the publick Worship to beget in them a mighty regard thereto as being one great means appointed of God to increase in them true Knowledge and Piety Let them not spend the rest of the Lords Day in rambling about but so far as their Age can bear it let them be imployed usefully Shew them why they should observe this Day to wit because on it Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ rose from the Grave Triumphed over Death and finished the work of Our Redemption As He was delivered and died for our Offences so He was raised again for our justification Rom. 4. 25. To us the Lord's Day saith One of the Ancients is therefore venerable and to be observed in a Solemn manner because thereon Our Saviour as the rising Sun having dispelled the darkness of Death shone forth by the Light of His Resurrection 'T will not be unfit to acquaint them with some instances of God's righteous and dreadful judgments against prophaners of this Day and particularly how a great many who have come to an untimely

as their natural life must begin from you Ye are Magistrates in your Families and it is your Province to be a terrour to evil-doers and Encouragers of those that do well If by your indulgence they sin and by your connivence they grow wicked will not the supreme Judge be avenged on such Officers You blame Governours of a Commonwealth if they do not animadvert on Offenders or are regardless of the reins of Justice and do not you blame your selves who are Commanders in your Families for suffering the fear of God to decay there which is the only thing that can make them happy How is it that you will not understand your Interest Is it not your interest to educate them into the Practice of Virtue and Goodness and Self denial If they love God they must needs love you that love will constrain them to express their Duty to you The Presence of God will over-awe them and they 'll obey you not with eye-service but when your eye is off from them The fear of God will make them conscientious of obeying your Commands in secret and if your good Counsels and Examples prevail with them they will be not only your Children but the Children of God and you will have this satisfaction that you do not only love them but that God loves them and dwells in them and they in him Remember this ye that are Children and let this encourage you to a faithful discharge of your Duty Your Parents that under God gave you life have a just Right to your Services and Obedience You are born Servants to them and to be at their beck and Command is the obligation you bring with you into the World As the Authority of Parents was the first Government in the World so your subjection to them is the first Service that was ever known in the World Can you think any thing too good for them who are the great Instruments of conveying to you all the goods you possess and all the endowments you are invested with If you follow not their good Instructions and Admonitions ye are the greatest Rebels in the World and the sin is as great a Treason in the Family you live in as Sedition in a Kingdom is against the State You have the noblest Promises made you to reward your Obedience and though it is a natural Duty bound up with your very Being yet God will reward it as if it were a deliberate self-denial and because you shall not stay for the recompence God will bless you here and your lives shall be comfortable on this side Heaven It is the first Commandment in the Law with Promise and to let you see how God delights in your honouring your Parents and obeying their wholsom Counsels he hath singled out that Precept and dress'd it with more than ordinary encouragements But then the Honour you shew them must not spend it self in some outward Civilities but must be expressed in Actions in Speeches and in Patience according to the Advice of the Son of Syrach Ecclesiastic 3. 12 13 14. In Actions so as to execute their lawful Commands with great alacrity and fidelity to labour and to take pains for their mainnteance and support if they are fallen to decay and to relieve their necessities according to your ability In Words and Speeches so as to speak honourably of them to answer them with humility to comfort them when they are in trouble and to pacifie them with soft language when they are angry and displeased In Patience so as to bear their anger patiently and to endure their frowardness and pettishness without contradiction to receive their severer Commands and such as are contrary to your genius and inclination with gentleness and to do them without murmuring These are Duties which draw more than ordinary Blessings upon you God that sees you do so will have thoughts of peace towards you he will be concerned for you and you may be confident he will not leave you nor forsake you In honouring your Parents you honour your selves It 's that which will not only procure you favour with God but with Men too It 's upon this account that Wise Men have recorded the Dutifulness of some excellent Children and make them Immortal by their Writings and there are such Examples of this filial Respect even among the Heathen that it would be odious and dreadful if the Children of Christians should fall short of their Duty God lays so great a stress upon it that as he promises the kindest things to it so he threatens as severe punishments where it is neglected and that he doth not only threaten but execute these Judgments any Man may see that will take notice of his Providences But all this the Reader will be more fully convinced of by reading the following Discourse which that God may bless with success and edification shall be my hearty Prayer A. Horneck 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 be 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 The Right of Children to Baptism 8 2. Duty to season their Minds betimes with good Impressions 13 Children are to be acquainted with Scripture Histories 14 3. Duty to teach them to pray 18 4. Duty to observe carefully their Temper and Disposition and to endeavour to reform what is amiss therein 22 What is to be done if they are sturdy and proud 22 If they be given to lying 23 If they are Cunning and Deceitful 24 If they are peevish and passionate 25 If they are Revengeful and Malicious 26 If they are Jealous and Suspicious 28 If they are too Credulous 28 If they are Envious 29 If they are very Impatient 30 If they love their Belly too well 32 If they discover any tendency to Vnchast and Immodest actions 33 If they are very Changeable and Vnconstant 36 If they are surly and morose 37 If they are disrespectful to Aged Persons 39 If they quarrel much with one another 40 If they are over curious to know their Lot and Fortune in the World 42 If they are unthankful to those who do them good and kind Offices 46 If they are of too Prodigal a Temper 49 If they are Covetous 50 If they are naturally melancholly 51 If they are of too gay and airy a Temper 51 If they are Rash and Froward 52 5. Duty to see that they be taught to Read 55 About keeping them at School 56 Great care ought to be taken what Books they read 61 6. Duty to bring them to the place of publick Worship so soon as they are fit for it 64 What they should do before they go to Church 65 How they should carry themselves at Church ib. What they should do when they come

to remove them Teach them to yield and to condescend to one another to take pleasure in gratifying rather than in overcoming one another to rejoice in the Company of one another to be mightily concerned for one another's Happiness and Welfare to be upon all occasions ready to help and assist one another to sympathize very tenderly with one another in any Pain Grief or Loss and in a Loving and Friendly manner to tell one another of their Faults without publishing of them Do not encourage them to speak ill of one another and to report every little thing whereby they think to lessen one another in your Esteem and Affection Such things use to be the Seeds of Discord and Contention amongst Children and therefore Wise Parents ought to prevent them as much as may be If you find them over Curious to know what may be their Lot and Fortune as 't is called in the World and therefore apt to hearken to Gypsies and Fortune-Tellers to consult with Divinatory Books and to use such other Wicked tho' but too common Arts for gratifying their Curiosity do what in your lyes to deliver them from such dangerous and unlawful Practices Shew them what is written Levit. 20. 6. The Soul that turneth after such as have familiar Spirits and after Wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my fave against that Soul and will ●ut him off from among his People And Isa. 8. 19. When they shall say unto you seek unto them that have familiar Spirits and unto Wizards that peep and that mutter should not a people seek unto their God Likewise Deut. 18. 10 11. There shall not be found among you any one that useth Divination or an observer of times or an Inchanter or a Witch or a Charmer or a Consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard or a Necromancer For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord. Shew them that they who follow such courses do thereby provoke God to leave them and to deliver them over to the Wicked one that he may bring upon them those Calamities and Judgments which they deserve and which perhaps they were told should happen to them Not as if those Pretenders to Prophecy did infallibl● know what would come to pass which most certainly they do not but God in his Righteous Judgment doth often punish with some remarkable stroke such curious Persons who presume to enquire into those things which he has thought fit to conceal from them 'T is said of Saul 1 Chron. 10. 13 14. That he died for his Transgression and also for asking Counsel of one that had a familiar Spirit to enquire of it and enquired not of the Lord Therefore he slew him And tho' they who have been guilty of such impious Enquiries shall be delivered from Eternal Condemnation and possibly from some great punishments in this Life if they sincerely Repent of their Sin and Folly yet oftentimes they suffer not a little from the impressions which are made on their fancy by their having heard that some Tragical thing or other should befall them How many even good People having found unspeakable uneasiness almost all their Life time only by having heard it said without their own asking by such impious pretenders to Divination that thus or thus it should happen to them Tho' they abhorred and despised such things and did what they could to be delivered from having any Reflections upon them yet now and then of a sudden their fancy has been struck therewith which did not a little disquiet and disturb them From all which it appears how necessary it is for Parents to prevent their Childrens doing such things Shew them that their only safe way is to be always careful to do what is good and right to make the Laws of God their Rule to seek his Glory as their chief end to depend on him for direction and assistance never to be anxious about what is to come but to leave all Events to his Wise and Good Providence humbly to resign themselves to his Holy Will and Pleasure and to be always ready to be disposed of as he shall see fit Tell them which you may do with great assurance that if they do these things they may be confident that all shall be well for God will not fail according to his Promise to make all things even the greatest Afflictions work together for good to them that Love him Rom. 8. 28. If you perceive them to be unthankful for Favours and Benefits so as not to take notice of those who help and assist them and who have done them or are always ready to do them good Offices endeavour to cure them of this very ill Quality Cause them to thank those who are kind and serviceable to them strive to make them retain a lasting Sense of Kindnesses and to be ready when there is an opportunity to make some fit acknowledgment and return For which end 't will be convenient now and then to give them some small matter according to your Quality for a present to those who have been at some pains to serve them or who have been very Bountiful or Generous to them And when they make an acknowledgment for Favors received advise them to do it with a chearful Countenance so as to express thereby the inward Sense of their Minds that they to whom they make the return of Kindness may see how hearty and real they are that they do it not grudgingly but very willingly There is the greater need to instil into your Childrens Minds Principles of Gratitude because 't is so very common amongst Men to be unthankful For what is there more common than to see those neglected and slighted who have been very kind and serviceable How many root up those by whom themselves have been planted How many basely betray their truest Friends and greatest Benefactors How many think it a disparagement to be so much as thought to be beholden to others tho' their Obligations be very great Now what can there be more base and abominable than such a Temper as this What Villany and Wickedness seem they not likely to commit who have no Sense of Benefits The Apostle Paul reckoneth unthankfulness amongst the great Sins which make the last days perilous and difficult 2 Tim. 3. 2. To excite your Children to be thankful shew them how great an abhorrence the very Heathens had of Ingratitude they thought it one of the worst things you could say of them to call them unthankful they reckoned that this Name included all the bad things that could be imagined that unthankfulness was the Fountain from whence the greatest Vices did spring See Sen. de Benef. l. 1. c. 10. 'T was a very Excellent and Commendable Custom amongst the Persians * that they who were over their Children amongst other things taught them Gratitude so that if any of the Boys was able to make a grateful return