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Gen. 18.19. Compare Philip Henry’s Life, pp. 82-86. Cotton Mather’s family picture is less known. He prayed for each of his children distinctly, and interested them early with engaging stories from Scripture, as the vehicle of inculcating lessons of practical usefulness. He always had a word for them when they fell in his way. Their habits of secret prayer were formed early, and often brought to mind—‘Child, don’t forget every day to go alone and pray, as you have been taught.’ He endeavoured to enlarge their minds in Christian love by engaging them daily in some ‘essay to do good’ for one another. He encouraged and commended them when he saw them take pleasure in it; and he let them know that backwardness in it was highly displeasing to him. When they were old enough, he would take them alone, one by one; and after many affectionate and solemn charges to fear God, to love Christ, and to hate sin, he would let them witness his earnest melting prayers on their account. He catechised them on every part of the Gospel, turning every truth into a question as the best way of gaining their attention, informing their minds about it, and applying it to their hearts. It is no wonder that such diligence in the domestic Ministry were associated with uncommon power in his public work. The pattern expounded the doctrine with irresistible force of application and encouragement.