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The Jews have a saying worth remembering: Whoever doesn't teach his son some trade or business, teaches him to be a thief. As soon as ever I can, I will make my children apprehensive of the main end for which they are to live; that so they may as soon as may be, begin to live; and their youth not be nothing but vanity. I will show them, that their main end must be, to, acknowledge the great God, and His glorious Christ; and bring others to acknowledge Him: and that they are never wise nor well, but when they are doing so. I will make them able to answer the grand question of why they live; and what is the end of the actions that fill their lives? I will teach them that their Creator and Redeemer is to be obeyed in everything, and everything is to be done in obedience to Him. I will teach them how even their diversions, and their ornaments, and the tasks of their education, must all be to fit them for the further service of Him to whom I have devoted them; and how in these also, His commandments must be the rule of all they do. I will sometimes therefore surprise them with an inquiry, Child, what is this for? Give me a good account of why you do it? How comfortably shall I see them walking in the light, if I may bring them wisely to answer this inquiry. - A Father's Resolutions

Quote by Cotton Mather

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I find, that renouncing all other Hope to be forgiven and accepted of God, I depend on a Glorious CHRIST, as my only Atonement and Advocate. And that which encourages me to venture upon this Dependence, is not the Sight…

Cotton Mather · Diary of Cotton Mather, vol. 1, 1681-1708, Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 7th ser., vol. 7 (Boston: Published by the Society, 1911), entry for "2 d. 4 m." (Saturday, June 2), 1705, p. 515.
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