The true interest of families, or, Directions how parents may be happy in their children, and children in their parents to which is annexed a discourse about the right way of improving our time / by a divine of the Church of England ; with a preface by A. Horneck.

THE CONTENTS Of Advice to Parents.

PART I.

• THE Introduction, shewing the great Importance of the right Educati∣on 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 per∣formed 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 accu∣stom 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 Chil∣dren 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 bet∣ter. 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 wor∣thy of the utmost care and pains of Parents. 49
• ...

• 3. Motive, from the Rewards which at∣tend 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 out∣ward Estate of their Children.

• 1. Duty, about chusing a fit trade for their Children. 61
• 2. Duty, about disposing of them in Mar∣riage. 62
• 3. Duty, about providing somewhat that may be the foundation for their com∣fortable 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 Chil∣dren 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 gi∣ving way to excessive grief and mourn∣ing, can do no good, but will certain∣ly do a great deal of hurt. 88
  • Some Forms of Prayer, which Parents may teach their Children, according to their Age. 93