1.I pour out continual prayers and cries to the God of all grace for them, that He will be a Father to my children, and bestow His Christ and His grace upon them, and guide them with His councils, and bring them to His glory.

And in this action, I mention them distinctly, every one by name unto the Lord.

2.I begin betimes to entertain them with delightful stories, especially Scriptural ones. And still conclude with some lesson in piety; bidding them to learn that lesson from the story.

And thus, every day at the table, I have used myself to tell a story before I rise, and make the story useful to the "olive plants about the table".

3.When the children at any time accidentally come in my way, it is my custom to let fall some sentence or other, that may be admonitory and profitable to them.

This matter proves to me, a matter of some study and labor, and contrivance. But who can tell, what may be the effect of "a continual dropping?"

4.I essay betimes, to engage the children in exercises of piety, and especially secret prayer, for which I give them very plain and brief directions, and suggest unto them the petitions, which I would have them to make before the Lord, and which I therefore, explain to their apprehension and capacity. And I often call upon them, "Child, don't you forget every day, to go alone, and pray as I have directed you!"

5.Betimes I try to form in the children a temper of benignity. I put them upon doing services of kindnesses for one another, and for other children. I applaud them when I see them delight in it. I upbraid all aversion to it. I caution them exquisitely against all revenges of injuries. I instruct them to return good offices for evil ones. I show them, how they will by this goodness become like the Good God, and His Glorious Christ. I let them discern, that I am not satisfied, except when they have sweetness of temper shining in them.

6.As soon as it is possible, I make the children learn to write. And when they can write, I employ them in writing out the most agreeable and profitable things that I can invent for them. In this way, I propose to stock their minds with excellent things, and have a deep impression made upon their minds by such things.

7.I mightily endeavor it, that the children may betimes, act upon principles of reason and honor.

I first beget in them a high opinion of their father's love to them, and of his being best able to judge what is best for them.

Then I make them sensible that it is a folly for them to pretend unto any wit and will of their own; they must resign all to me, who will be sure to do what is best. My word must be law.

I cause them to understand that it is a hurtful and shameful thing to do amiss. I aggravate this, on all occasions, and let them see how amiable they will render themselves by well doing.

The first chastisement which I inflict for an ordinary fault is to let the child see and hear in me an astonishment, and hardly able to believe that the child could do such a base thing, but believing that they will never do it again.

I would never come to give a child a blow, except in cases of obstinacy or some gross enormity.

To be chased, for a while, out of my presence, I would make to be looked upon, as the sorest punishment in the family.

I would by all insinuations gain this point upon them, that for them to learn all the brave things in the world is the bravest thing in the world. I am not fond of proposing play to them, as a reward of any diligent application to learn what is good, lest they should think that diversion to be a better and nobler thing than diligence.

I would have them come to propound and expect, at this rate, "I have done well, and now I will go to my father; he will teach me some new thing for it". I must have them count it a privilege to be taught; and I sometimes manage the matter so, that my refusing to teach them something, is their punishment.

The slavish way of education, carried on with raving and kicking and scourging (in schools as well as families) is abominable, and a dreadful judgment of God upon the world.

8.Though I find it a marvelous advantage to have the children biased by the principles of reason and honor (which, I find children will feel sooner than is commonly thought), yet I would neglect no endeavors, to have higher principles infused into them.

I therefore, betimes, awe them with the eye of God upon them.

I show them how they must love Jesus Christ, and show it by doing what their parents require of them.

Heaven and hell I set before them, as the consequences of their behavior here.

9.When the children are capable of it, I take them alone, one by one; and after my charges unto them, to fear God, and serve Christ, and shun sin, I pray with them in my study and make them the witnesses of the agonies, with which I address the Throne of Grace on their behalf.

The answers of the catechism I still explain with abundance of brief questions, which I make them to take in the meaning of it, and I see that they do.

And when the sermons are to be repeated, I choose to put every truth into a question, to be answered still, with "yes" or "no". In this way I awaken their attention, as well as enlighten their understanding. And in this way I have an opportunity to ask "Do you desire such, or such a grace from God?" and the like. Yea, I have an opportunity to demand, and perhaps, to obtain their consent unto the glorious articles of the New Covenant.

The Spirit of Grace may fall upon them in this action; and they may be seized by Him, and held as His temples, through eternal ages.