On another track, a couple weeks ago I discovered a few books in our local antique shop. The first, Illustrious Americans: Their Lives and Great Achievements, (Edward Everett Hale) is dated 1896. It contains 730 pages plus (some are missing) full of biographies and stories of great Americans. Here’s an excerpt from the introduction.
The history of mankind is made up of the biographies of men. This is a simple enough thing to say, and yet it would seem, from a good many histories, that it never occurred to their writers. It is quite certain, however, that we appreciate and understand the history of our race most thoroughly, in those periods where we know the personal lives of many of the actors…Careful readers, again, will observe one distinguishing mark of American Life, in the youth of many of the actors of our great dramas, so much younger are they than most of the men distinguished in similar work in the Old World. Thus, when the war of the Revolution began, Washington Hamilton New York Washington
Although so far it does not seem to be written from a Christian perspective, I believe I will learn much more than if I read a similar book from the polluted library history section!
I found an even greater jewel! The Altar of the Household was written by Rev. Dr. Harris. Sadly, the front cover is missing so it does not have a publishing date. This 743 page book (I have to note the measurements are around 11’ by 9’- a giant book) contains devotions for family worship twice a day, 52 weeks a year. Each devotion has a fitting hymn, a daily bible reading, an exposition of the text, and a prayer. The date is found in a Irish newspaper January, 1853. (The copy I have was more likely published in 1862.) Rev. John Harris also wrote Mammon, The Pre-Adamite earth, and The Great Teacher. John Harris lived March 8, 1802 – December 21, 1856.
Here's an exerpt from the introduction...
"God is the author of Households. Not only is the family relation that to which he has adapted the original constitution of man, and on which He has pronounced His blessings while man was yet
in the state of innocence-a blessing which still rests upon it...In the first place, we would ask, has God not made parents responsible to Him for the religious instruction and training of their children? Has He not made this a work for which parents are specially adapted by that united influence of affection and authority which belongs to the parental relation, and belongs in the same degree to no other? Has he not, in His word, solemnly enjoined upon parents sedulous attention to this duty; teaching them to regard themselves in this relation as stewards of a very precious part of God's property, and their management of which He will take strict account; and expressly commanding them to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Here's an exerpt from the introduction...
"God is the author of Households. Not only is the family relation that to which he has adapted the original constitution of man, and on which He has pronounced His blessings while man was yet
in the state of innocence-a blessing which still rests upon it...In the first place, we would ask, has God not made parents responsible to Him for the religious instruction and training of their children? Has He not made this a work for which parents are specially adapted by that united influence of affection and authority which belongs to the parental relation, and belongs in the same degree to no other? Has he not, in His word, solemnly enjoined upon parents sedulous attention to this duty; teaching them to regard themselves in this relation as stewards of a very precious part of God's property, and their management of which He will take strict account; and expressly commanding them to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
