The School of GRACE Or A Book of Good Nurture for the Admonition and Instruction of Youth and Age in the fear of the Lord. With Godly Instructions Graces Prayâ—rs describing the whole Duty of a Christian By I. Hart B. B. The 19th Edition Fear God Honour the King. Printed for W. Thackeray and I. Par singer Come ye Children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear oâ— the Lord Psalm 34.11 Ephes 6.1 2 3 4 5 6. â—hildren obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right â—onour thy Father and Mother Which is the first Commandment with promise â—…t it is may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth â—…l ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. THe Blessed Apostle in the former Chapter having laid down several Chistian duties in the general comes here to assert and lay down the several Duties 1. Of Husbands and Wives 2. Of Children and Parents 3. Of Masters and Servants These words contain the particular Duties of Children and Parents Children obey your Parent here is the Childrens Duty Secondly here is the manner of performance of this Duty in the Lord Children obey your Parents in the Lord. In the next place the Apostle does lay down several Reasons and motives to encourage Christian Children to this Chistian Duty 1. It is GODS Commandment so to do Honour thy Father and Mother 2. It is very beneficial for Children so to do for first it shall be well with them if they do so and secondly their days shall be long upon the Earth In the second place we have here the duty of Parents First Negatively what Parents should not by And then secondly Affirmatively what they should do 1. Negatively they should not provoke their Children to Wrath. And 2. Affirmatively They must bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. From the words thus opened I gather these two Observations 1. That it is the duty of Children to obey their Parents in the Lord. 2. That it is the duty of Parents to Educate instruct and bring up their Children in the fear of the Lord. Hearken to thy Father that begat thee with Solomon and despise not thy Mother when she is old Prov. 23.22 Train up a Child in his Youth saith Solomon in the way he should go and he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 Now that I may the better enforce this Duty I shall a little open the particular duties of both For one main reason why Children do so much neglect their Duty is because Parents are so negligent of their own Duties for it Parents did take more care as their Duty is to bring up their Children in the fear of God surely Children would make more Conscience of performing their duty to their Parents And that Children and Parents for the time to come may the better perform their Duties I shall say down sundry Christian and Bodly Directions suitable to all persons upon all occasions and so conclude with some few patierns of Prayers and Graces for the better benesit and Instruction of Children in the seat of God. The first Duty of Parents is That they give their Children Christian Baptism and thereby to Dedicate them unto the Lord. Secondly Give unto your Children good Examples for Children are prone by nature to follow the had Example of any more especially their Parents Thirdly Pray unto God for a Blessing upon thy Children that God would make them his Children by enriching their Souls with Grace Fourthly Learn to instruct them be times by some good Catechisms in the Principles of Christian Religion and to Instruction wisely and Correction For he that spareth the Rod saith Solomon hateth his Child but he that loveth him Chastneth him Fifthly Keep a constant and awful Authority over them not suffeting them to be irrevetent for this end according to antient and laudible custom teech them reverently to ask thee blessing on their Knees Sixthly Labour to suppress all Sin and wickedness in thy Children and to this end suffer them not to lye swear curse or prophane the Lords day else will thy Children have cause to curse thee to all Eternity We find it recorded in Scripture of Goodly Parents Educating their Children in the fear of the Lord Abraham commanded his Children and Servants Gen. 8.16 So likewise Joshua and holy David Job and others The Godly Life of the Child discovers the Godliness of the Parents and thus if thou labourest to bring up thy Children in the fear of God that thy Children may be Gods Children how Gloriously then have you provided for them God is their Father and they that have God for their Father shall never want for as the Apostle saith Godliness is profitable having the promise of the Life that now is and the Life to come Though thou leavess but a little of this World yet remember God hath provided a Kingdom for them that serve him Lastly Cause thy Children friquently to frequent the Ordinances of Christ both publique and private do not only pray with them and for them but cause them to pray for themselves and one for another bring them constantly to hear the publick Preaching of the word of God and be assured by the blessing of God your Children may be inriched with Grace here and filled with glory hereafter and in so doing thou may'st have joy and comfort God may have Glory and honour and thy Children Everlasting life through Iesus Christ Now the Duty of Children to their Parents in the first place you see is Obedience Children obey your Parents in the Lord And this obedience of Children to their Parents you see it must be in the Lord and only in the Lord for if Parents command their Children to do any thing contrary to the Word of God then hey are not to obey them they sin in so doing for remember we must obey God rather than Man. Children are to learn good Instructions from their Parents My Son saith Solomon hear the Instruction of thy Father and forfake not the law of thy Mother Prov. 1.1 c. 3. Children are to honour and reverence their Parents Honour thy Father and thy Mâ—…her saith the Lord Honour thy Parents by thy modest silent humble and respective carriage towards them Fourthly Children ought to be thankful to their Parents endeavouting if need be to requite them for their Fatherly love and care towards them honouring relieving and supplying them in all their several needs and necessities And thus much briefly of the Duries of Parents and Children I come now in the next place to give you some directions and instructions for the better performance of those several Duties And my first advice to Children is that they make daily Prayers to God. How precious a thing is it to hear Children praying and low dreadful a thing to hear them Swearing and Cursing as soon as they can speak God loves
They are cast into Hell there to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels Application ANd so I now come in the last place to wind up all in a word of Application both to Parents and Children and then in the first place if it be the duty of Parents to instruct their Children in the fear of God then you may observe from hence the great wickedness of such wicked Parents who instead of instructing their Children in the fear of God bring them up in all manner of sin and wickedness How many such wicked Parents are there in the World who forbid their Children to hear Sermons and to read good Books but on the contrary teach their Children to despise Holiness and encourage them in all manner of wickedness Oh wretcked Sinner hadst thou rather have thy Child the Devils Child then Gods Child will you neither be Holy your selves nor suffer your Children to be Holy Will it not one day he miserable enough think you to damn your own Soul but must you also drive your Children to Hell before you The Lord awaken all such Parents Is it not enough that you have made your Children the Children of Wrath as all Men Women and Children are by nature for as holy David said so may we all We are conceived in sin and in Iniquity were we brought forth But will ye also hinder them from being made Children of Grace are not your Children prone enought to sin of themselves but must you also help on their Damnation are there not Devils enough to tempt them to sin but must you also prove Devils incarnate to them your selves are not your Children always near enough even at the brink of Hell and will ye also seek to tumble them into the Lake of Fire do you think the way to Heaven is to despise Preaching and to mock at Holiness ought not you to be nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to your Children and will you nurse them up for the Devil Let wicked Parents consider and tremble Secondly Here is also a use of comfort for all Gods Children they that fear God and spend their time in Reading and Praying they shall for ever be Singing Praises and Hallelujahs to God in Heaven where thou shalt be with God and Christ Saints and Angels to all Eternity when those Wicked Children who delight in nothing but Swearing and Lying who despise Holiness and would not walk in thy ways of God shall be sent to Hell with a Go ye Cursed into Everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Ah! poor Creatures they delighted in Cursing and now they are Cursed they despised Holiness but now they are despised themselves this shall he the portion of all the wicked they shall be tumbled into Hell when Gods Children shall be received into Heaven I beseith you then as you love your own precious Souls if you would escape this Hell. if you would enjoy this Heaven then for the Lords sake Children be Holy pray Morning and Evening obey your Parents love God serve him with all your Souls if ye do thus and he thus then blessed shall ye be for Christ shall say unto you Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world unto which Kingdom the Lord bring us all Amen Now for the fuctlerance of Holiness I have here thought fit to insert a very Godly Morning and Evening Prayer to be used in Families A Morning Prayer for a Family ALmighty God most merciful Father we do not present our selves here before thy Majesty trusting in our own meries or Worthiness but in thy manifold mercies which hast promised to hear our Prayers and grant our requests which we shall make to thee in the Name of thy beloved Son Iesus Christ our Lord who hath also commanded us to assemble our selves together in his Name with full assurance that he will not only be amongst us but also be our Mediator and Advocate towards thy Majesty that he may obtain all things which shall seem expedient to thy blessed will for our Necessities Therefore we beseech thee most merciful Father to turn thy loving Countenance towards us and impute not to us our manifold sins and Offences where we may justly deserve the wrath and sharp punishment but rather receive us to thy mercy for Iesus Christ's sake accepting his Death and Passion as a just recompence for all our Offences in whom onely thou art pleased and through whom thou canst not be offended with us and seeing of thy great Mercies we have quietly passed this night grant O Heavenly Father that we may bestow this day wholly in thy service so that our thoughts words and deeds may redound to the glory of thy name and good example of all Men who seeing our good works may glorifie thee our Heavenly Father And forasmuch as of thy meer favour and love thouhast not only treated us in thy own similitude and likeness but also hast chosen us to be Heirs with thy dear Son Iesus Christ of that immortal Kingdom which thou preparedst for us before the beginning of the world we beseech thee to increase our faith and knowledge and to enlighten our hearts with thy holy Spirit that we may in the mean time live in Godly Conversation and integrity of life knowing that Idolators Adulterers covetous men contentious persons Drunkards Gluttons and such like shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. And because thou hast commanded us to Pray one for another we do not only make request O Lord for our selves and for them that thou hast already called to the true understanding of thy Heavenly Will but for all people and nations of the world who as they know by the wonderful works thou art God over all so they may be instituted by thy Holy Spirit to believe in thee their only Saviour and Redeemer But forasmuch as they cannot believe except they hear nor cannot hear but by Preaching and none can Preach except they be sent therefore O Lord raise up faithful distributers of thy Mysteries who setting apart all worldly respects may both in their life and Doctrine only seek thy Glory Contrarily confound Satan Antichrist with all Hirelings who thou hast already cast off into a Reprobate sense that they may not by Seas and Schisms Heresies and Errors disquiet thy little flock O Lord thy people Israel many times by their Sins provoked thine anger and thou punishedst them by thy just Judgement yet though their Sins were never so grievous if they once returned from their iniquity thou recervedst them to Mercy We therefore most wretched Sinners bewail our manifold sins and earnestly Repent us of our former wickedness and ngodly behaviour towards thee and whereas we cannot of our seves purchase us our Pardon yet we humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christ's sake to shew thy mercy upon us and receive us again to thy favour Grant us dear Father these our requests and all other things which are
third day he arose again from the Dead he ascended into Heaven and sirteth at the Right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge both the quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins the Resurrection of the Body and the life Everlasting Amen Certain Graces fit to be learned of every Child that desires to be a Child of God. Grace before Meat VVHether ye eat or drink saith St. Paul do all to the Glory of God Amen BLessed Lord in whom we live move and have our being we do most humbly beseech thee to bless these thy Creatures to the use of our Bodies sanctifie them to us and sanctifie us to thy self forgive us our sins and make us partakers of thy heavenly Table Amen God save his Church our King Queen and Realm and send peace and Truth in Christ our Lord Amen Grace after Meat CHrist which at his Last Supper gave himself unto us promising his Body to he Crucified and his blood to be shed for our sins bless us and our Meat Amen Grace before Meat O Father of mercy and God of all consolation which hast Created us for thy Glory and these thy good Creatures for our use bless and sanctifie them we beseech thee that by the moderate receiving thereof our Bodies may be nourished and thy name thermore be praised through Iesus Christ our only Lord and blessed Saviour Amen Grace before Meat O Merciful Lord Iesus Christ which didst take the five Loaves and two Fishes and lifting up thine Eyes unto Heaven didst distribute them unto the People and they all did eat and were satisfied being above the thousand Men beside Women and Children we beseech thee both to bless these Gifts which we are about to receive at thy hands and us also that they may be to the comfort and health of our Bodys and we may for them and other thy benefits be evermore thankful unto thee To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory for ever Amen Grace after Meat O Lord God Almighty and most dear Father thou hast not only given unto us meat and drink to sustain our mortal bodies but thou hast likewise given unto us thy blessed VVord which is the only food of our immortal Souls through our blessed Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ to whom therefore with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour praise and thanks for ever Amen Grace after Meat O Lord which art the Creator of all Creatures and hast prepared Food for them according to the nature of their Creation We most heartily thank thee for these thy Creatures which at this time we have received in thy Name beseeching thee O Father that as our Bodies are now by these Gifts refreshed our Souls may be also nourished with the Food of Everlastings Life in the most Holy Testament confirmed with the blood and death of Iesus Christ thy Son our Saviour to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Glory and praise for ever Amen Grace after Meat BLessed be thy name O Lord our God for all thy mercies and favours continually bestowed upon us thou that hast at this time fed our weak Bodies with thy good creatures we pray thee likewise to feed our Souls with the Heavenly food of thy word that we receiving at thy Merciful Hands food both for our Bodies and Souls may live and grow in all Godliness through Iesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen Another after Meat THe King of Eternal Glory who hath at this time fed our Corporal Bodies make us partakers of thy Heavenly Table Amen Grace after Meat VVHatsoever you do in word or deed do all in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ give thanks unto God the Father by him to whom all blessing glory wisdom thanks honour power and might be tendred for evermore Amen Certain QVESTIONS with their ANSWERS Necessary for Parents to ask and teach their children for their instruction in the Holy Scriptures Q VVHo was the first man A. Adam Q. Who was the first Woman A. Eve. Q. Of what did God make man A. God made man of the dust of the earth Q. Of what did God make the Woman A. Of one of the Mans Ribs Q. Where did Adam and Eve dwell A. In Paradice Q. What cast Adam out of Paradice A. Sin. Q. Who was the best man A. The Man Christ Iesus Q. Who slew his Brother A. Tain Q. Who was the first Martyr A. Abel Q. Who was the Oldest Man A. Methusaleth Q. Who was the man that God saved when he drowned the World A. Noah Q. Who wrestled with God A. Jacob. Q. What was his name called after he had wrestled with God A. Israel Q. How many Sons had Jacob A. Twelve of whom came the twelve Trives of Israel Q. VVhat were their names A. Reuben and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Isachar and Zebulun and Joseph and Benjamin Dan and Napthali Gad and Ashur These were the twelve Patriarchs Q. Who was the Faithfulest Man that ever lived A. Abraham who is called the Father of the faithful Q. Who was the meekest Man A. Moses Q. Who was the hard-heartedst man A. Pharaoh Q. Who was the patientest man A. Iob. Q. Who was the man after Gods own heart A. David Q. Who was the Wisest man A. Solomon Q. Who was the strongest man A. Sampson Q. Who wrote the Scriptures A. Holy Men of God inspired by the Holy Ghost Q. Who was it that came before Jesus Christ A. John the Baptist Q. Who was the first Martyr after Christ A. Stephen Q. What death did he dye A. He was Stoned Q. Where was Christ born A. In Bethelem Q. Who was the Mother of our Lord Iesus Christ A. The Uirgin Mary Q. Who was the reputed Father of our Lord Jesus Christ A. Joseph a Carpenter Q. Who betrayed his Lord Master A. Iudas Q. What did he betray him for A. For the love of Money which is the root of all evil Q. For how much money did Judas sell his master A. For thirty pieces of Silver Q. What became of Iudas after he had betrayed Christ A. He went and Hanged himself Q. Who denyed Christ A. Peter Q. What became of Peter after he had denyed Christ A. He went out and wept bitterly Q. Who Condemned Christ A. Pontius Pilate Q. Who Crucified Jesus Christ A. The Bloddy Jews Q. Out of whom did Christ cast seven Devils A. Mary Magdalen Q. Which was the beloved Disciple of Jesus Christ A. John. Q. Who forsook Christ for the love of the World A. Demas Q. Who are the best Children A. They that fear God and keep his Commandments and obey their Parents Q. Who are the worst Children A. They that Lye and Swear Steal and break the Sabbath and dispise God and break his Holy and Righteous Commandements Q. What become of the Wicked when they dye A.