Family and Education.
James Dodson
A Christian family at mealtime.
THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY AND EDUCATION HOMEPAGE.
“Contrary to good nurture is too much liberty: which oft bringeth much woe, and utter ruine upon children: it is the greatest enemy that can be of good education, and the nurse of all vice.”—William Gouge, Of Domesticall Duties. (1622)
Works Relating to the Christian Family:
The Directory for Family-Worship, Approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for Piety and Uniformity in Secret and Private Worship, and Mutual Edification.-1647-Westminster Assembly.-A series of directives issued by the Westminster Assembly on how to conduct family worship complete with a list of things to do and things to avoid.
Family Worship.-ca. 1740s-Philip Doddridge (1702-1751).-A letter to encourage the use of family worship together with the reasonableness of this practice for Christian families and warnings concerning its neglect.
Inattention to the Training Up of Children. in A Testimony and Warning Against Some Prevailing Sins and Immoralities: Addressed to Christians in General.-1805-Reformed Presbytery, of Scotland.-In this section of their Testimony, the Reformed Presbytery addresses the common neglect of proper religious instruction among the youth of the church and its detrimental effect.
Classical Literature.-1812-James Renwick Willson.-In this address, Willson, who was a young school teacher at the Bedford Academy, explains to his young scholars the value of learning Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He was himself a trained classical scholar and hoped to instill in his students a love for the classics.
Some considerations explanatory of the promise of long life in the fifth commandment of the Decalogue,-1818-Alexander McLeod.-This article traces the consequences of the promise of the Fifth commandment into the life of a nation. It warns that civil order begins in the home and is nurtured through the piety of families. To this, he joins considerations on the warning found in the Second commandment.
Family Worship.-1827-J.H. Merle d’Aubigne (1794-1872).-A discourse delivered with the purpose of encouraging the maintenance of family religion together with some excellent directions for improving the growth of true religion in the family.
On the Amusements of Youth.-1839-William Symington.-In this essay, Symington warns youth against the vanity of amusements. He singles out several, including theatre, fairs and games of chance. He admonishes Christians to consistency of behavior and circumspection in walk.
The Publication of the Banns of Marriage.-1840-Anonymous.-This article from the May, 1840, issue of the Reformed Presbyterian magazine shows that the proclamation of marriage banns was a concern of the “Old Light” Reformed Presbyterian Church prior to the division of June, 1840. Not only is this a matter of our covenanted uniformity, it is shown, in this article, to be a matter of deep moral interest to both church and civil society that marriages be conducted publicly and with the approval of ecclesiastic or civil authority.
The Importance of Family Religion.-1840-Samuel Grover Winchester (1805-1841).-A thorough discussion of the relation of families to the interests of promoting the true religion.
The Heathen Classics Dangerous School Books.-1847-James Renwick Willson.-In this article, Willson decries the immorality which abounds in the literature of the heathen and the unsound principles which they might inculcate. Although a proponent of learning and mastering Latin, Greek and Hebrew, Willson does not wish to see the heathen classics made into schoolbooks corrupting the morals of the youth.
Heathen Literature.-1848-Anonymous.-Probably written by J.M. Willson, following the lead of his father, this article speaks to the issue of using the productions of heathen authors in the education of the youth.
The Christian College.-1848-James Renwick Willson.-In this article, Willson sets forth his vision for a truly Christian college. This is a college wherein both faculty and students are Christians striving together to improve their minds without sacrificing their spirits. Building on his desire to exclude heathen classics as textbooks, Willson advocates the use of Christian texts for better acquisition of Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
A Sad But Instructive History.-ca. 1850s-William S. Plumer (1802-1880).-In this tract, Plumer examines the case of a covenant child gone bad and derives several lessons replete with warning to all children to heed the call and close with Christ.
Life Insurance.-1868-John Black Williams and Anonymous.-Two short pieces joined together in the pages of The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter magazine which defend the older position of eschewing life insurance against the charges and claims of proponents of life insurance. The arguments may be applied to all forms of insurance.
Secular Versus Christian Education.-1879-John McAuley.-A short article on the duty of the nation to see that education is conducted with submission to the principles of true religion and, conversely, the consequences of ignoring Christian principles in national education.
Family Religion.-1885-John L. Girardeau (1825-1898).-A warm warning of the danger of neglecting family religion with many practical pieces of advice for maintain family worship as a daily routine together with a careful regard for the religious instruction of children.
Family Worship a Term of Communion in the Reformed Presbyterian Church.-1908-Robert James George (1844-1911).-An interesting defense of family worship being a term of communion amongst Reformed Presbyterians.
An Old-Fashioned Home.-1918-J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918).-A tract written to stress the importance of family piety and parental concern in the formation of children because it has eternal consequences for all.