The Rev. John Willison [1680-1750] wrote extensively and in particular wrote a number of catechetical works. Among them is found his “Advice to Parents and Children”. It is interesting to compare this piece with the previously posted introduction by Joseph Engles.
Advices by John Willison.
To Parents.
Christian Parents,
The laws of God and nature, and your engagements at baptism, bind you to be faithful in the education of your young ones. Do you love your children? Are you careful to provide for the maintenance of their dying bodies,—provide also for their souls that must live eternally. Do you learn them to speak and go, teach them also how to escape the flames of hell? O parents! Would you be free of your children’s blood? Then pray for them in secret, and pray with them, and let them see how earnest you are for their souls’ well-being; curb every vile thing in them as soon as it appears. Instruct them that God is the author of all their mercies; and that therefore they must ask a blessing on their food; and give thanks to him for it. Teach them to pray; and put them to it, both morning and evening every day, but more frequently on the Lord’s day. Provide Bibles for them, Confessions of Faith, and other good books. When they come to years, tell them of the vows you took on you at baptism in their name, and put them to renew them personally. Warn them against restricting themselves to their forms of prayer; but tell them to be adding and using new words and expressions of their own framing, because God loves those words best that come from the heart.To Children.
Dear Children,
Remember you Creator and Redeemer in the days of your youth : make your acquaintance timeously with God and Christ by prayer; bring all your wants and complaints to him, and pour out your hearts into his bosom.
Study to get the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, and some of the sweet Psalms of David by heart, as soon as you can; and likewise the Shorter Catechism, which is an excellent compend of Christian doctrine. Far better is it to store your memories with these things, than with ballads, songs, and idle stories.
Dear children, the time of youth is a choice season, improve it well; you are the hope and comfort of ministers, as well as your parents; O hearken to their counsels, and not to the devil’s temptations. Shun the company of all lying, swearing, and wicked children; and delight in the company of those that are piously inclined. Beware of cards and dice, and other bewitching games; especially, remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; take heed to your thoughts, words and actions; and attend to sermons carefully, and be ready to give some account to your parents, and mind what wise Solomon saith, Prov. xxii, 22. “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. A wise son maketh a glad father.” Your parents indeed must be accountable to God for you, but remember, if you do not obey their instructions, your blood will be upon your own heads. Do not think that justice will spare you because you are young, if it find you Christless, prayerless, and living in sin. No, no, you may see graves of your own length, and sculls of your own size in the churchyard, and hell fire will burn green trees as well as old stocks. O then! Would you be saved from hell and be happy for ever? Flee from the devil and sin, to our Lord Jesus Christ your Saviour, that saith of little children, “Suffer them to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God:” And when once you have fled to Christ, see that you abide with him all your days, and never go back to sin again. Entreat him to give you his Spirit to guide and lead you through the world, and to help you to look up and cry, “Abba Father.” It is only the Spirit of God that can teach you best what to pray for, and how to pray.
