From The Life and Works of Christopher Dock (Brumbaugh, 1908); pages 202–224. (Internet Archive)

Includes Part 1: A Hundred Necessary Rules of Conduct for Children and Part Two: A Hundred Christian Rules for Children.

— Part One —

A Hundred Necessary Rules of Conduct for Children

I. Rules for the Conduct of a Child in the house of Its Parents

a. In the morning, during and after rising

1. Dear child, as soon as you are called in the morning, arise; indeed, accustom yourself to “awaken” at the proper time without being called, and to rise without loitering.

2. When you have left your bed, turn back the covers.

3. Let your first thoughts be turned toward God, after the example of David, who (Psalm cxxxix, 18) saith: “When I awake, I am still with Thee,” and (Psalm Ixiii, 6) “I remember Thee upon my bed and meditate on Thee in the night watches.”

4. Bid a good morning to those whom you meet first and to your parents, sisters and brothers; not from mere habit, but do it out of true love.

5. Accustom yourself to dress quickly, but at the same time neatly.

6. Instead of idle talk with your sisters and brothers, seek while dressing to have good thoughts. Remember the garb of righteousness in Jesus that has come to you through Jesus, and resolve this day not to sully it by deliberate sinning.

7. When you wash your face and hands, do not splash water about the room.

8. Rinsing the mouth with water each morning and rubbing the teeth with the fingers serves to preserve the teeth.

9. In combing your hair do not stand in the middle of the room, but in a corner.

10. Your morning prayer should be said, not as a matter of an indifferent habit, but in fervent gratitude to God, who has guarded you during the night; pray him humbly to bless your actions this day; neither forget to sing, and to read the Bible.

11. Do not eat your breakfast on the street or in school; but ask your parents to give it to you at home.

12. Then gather up your books and come to school in proper time.

b. In the evening, on retiring

13. After supper do not sit down in a corner to sleep, but attend to your evening devotions—song, prayer and reading, before retiring.

14. Undress in a private place; or if it must be done in the presence of others, be modest and retiring.

15. Examine occasionally the clothing you take off, for possible rents, that they may be mended betimes.

16. Do not scatter your clothes about the room, but lay them together in a definite place, that you may readily find them in the morning.

17. Lie down decently and straight, and cover yourself up well.

18. Before you go to sleep, consider how you have spent the day; thank God for His blessings; pray for the forgiveness of your sins and commend yourself to His gracious care.

19. If you should wake during the night, think of God and His omnipresence, and cherish not evil thoughts.

c. At meals

20. When you go to the table, especially among strangers, first wash, and comb your hair.

21. During grace, do not let your hands dangle, or move them otherwise, but let them, with your eyes, be raised to God.

22. Do not lean during grace, and do not let your eyes roam about, but be attentive and reverent before the holy majesty of God.

23. After grace wait until others older than yourself sit down, then be seated quietly and modestly.

24. During the meal, sit straight and still, do not wiggle your chair, and do not put your arms on the table. Place your knife and fork at the right side, bread at the left of your plate.

25. Avoid everything that indicates excessive hunger, such as looking greedily at food; being the first one in the dish; cutting one’s bread all into pieces at once; eating fast and greedily; asking for another piece of bread before the first is eaten; cutting too large pieces; taking one’s spoon too full; filling the mouth too full; &c.

26. Keep to your side of the dish, and be satisfied with that which is given you; do not want some of everything.

27. Do not look at some other person’s plate, to see if he has more than you, but enjoy your own with gratitude.

28. Do not eat more meat and butter than bread. Do not bite the bread with your teeth, but cut proper mouthfuls with your knife; do not, however, cut them in front of your mouth.

29. Take proper hold of your knife and spoon, and be careful not to soil your clothes or the tablecloth.

30. Do not lick your greasy fingers, but wipe them on a cloth. Use your fork instead of your fingers whenever possible.

31. Chew your food with closed lips, and do not make a noise by scraping your plate.

32. Do not lick your plate with your tongue or finger, nor lick the outside of your mouth. Do not rest your elbow on the table when you carry your spoon to your mouth.

33. Take the salt from the salt cellar, not with your fingers, but with the tip of your knife.

34. Do not throw bones or other remains under the table, nor push them on the tablecloth; but leave them on the edge of your plate.

35. Picking your teeth with a knife or fork is illbred, and injurious to the gums.

36. Avoid if possible blowing your nose at the table. If it is necessary turn your face from the table or hold your hand or napkin before it. The same when you sneeze or cough.

37. Do not form the habit of being dainty or choice, or of imagining you cannot eat this or that. Many are forced to eat abroad what they could not eat at home.

38. It is bad form to look too carefully at the food put upon your plate, or worse yet, to smell it. If you should find a hair or anything else in your food, put it away quietly that others may not be disgusted.

39. As often as something is put upon your plate, acknowledge it by a nod of the head.

40. Do not gnaw bones with your teeth, neither make a noise trying to knock the marrow out of them.

41. It is not proper to replace in the dish what is already on your plate.

42. When you reach across the table for something, be careful not to dip your sleeve in the dishes or upset a glass.

43. At the table do not speak until you are asked, but if you have learned something desirable at church or school, or if you think of a passage of Scripture relevant to the subject, you may tell it; but if others discuss something good, listen attentively.

44. When you drink, you must have no food in your mouth, and must incline your head politely before you drink.

45. It is very bad form: (1) To drink such large draughts that one must snort or take a deep breath. (2) To look from one person to another while drinking. (3) To begin drinking before one’s parents or distinguished persons have drunk. (4) To drink simultaneously with a distinguished person. (5) To drink while some one is addressing you. (6) To put the glass to the lips several times in succession.

46. Before and after drinking it is customary to wipe the mouth, not with the hand, but with a napkin or cloth.

47. At the table be willing to fetch things into the room or do other services that you can.

48. When you are satisfied, rise without clatter, pick up your chair, wish a “blessed repast” and step aside to wait for commands. But in this matter we must be guided by custom.

49. The bread that is left over, do not put into your pocket. Let it lie on the table.

50. Before proceeding to anything else, after eating, give thanks to your Creator who has fed and satisfied you.

II. Rules of Conduct for a Child at School

51. Dear child, when you enter the school, bow respectfully and taking your place quietly, think of the presence of God.

52. During prayers, and at the mention of God’s word, remember that God speaks with you, and be reverent and attentive.

53. If you are called upon to pray aloud, speak slowly and thoughtfully, and in singing do not try to outscream the others or have the first word.

54. Always be obedient to your teacher and do not cause him to remind you of the same thing many times.

55. If you are punished for your naughtiness do not express impatience in words or manner, but accept your punishment for your improvement.

56. At school avoid this scandalous talking, by which you make your teacher’s work more difficult, annoy other pupils and disturb the attention of yourself and others.

57. Attend to all that is told, sit up straight and look at your teacher.

58. If you are to recite your lesson, open your book without noise, read loudly, slowly and distinctly, that every word and syllable may be understood.

59. Attend more to yourself than to others unless you are appointed monitor.

60. If you are not asked, keep quiet and do not prompt others. Let them speak and answer for themselves.

61. Toward your fellows act lovingly and peacefully; do not quarrel with them, hit them, dirty their clothes with your shoes or ink nor give them nick-names. Act toward them always as you would have them act toward you.

62. Avoid all improper, vulgar habits or actions at school. Such as, (1) Stretching with laziness the hands or the whole body. (2) Eating fruit or other things in school. (3) Leaning one’s hand or arm on a neighbor’s shoulder, leaning the head on the hand or laying it on the desk. (4) Putting one’s feet on the bench or letting them dangle or scrape, crossing the legs or spreading them too far apart in sitting or standing. (5) Scratching the head. (6) Playing with the fingers or chewing them. (7) Turning the head in all directions. (8) Sitting and sleeping. (9) Crawling under benches or desks. (10) Turning the back upon the teacher. (11) Changing one’s clothes in school. (12) Acting indecently in school.

63. Keep your books clean inside and out; do not scribble or draw in them; do not lose or tear them.

64. In writing do not soil your hands and face with ink, and do not spatter the ink on the desk or on your or other children’s clothes.

65. When school is out do not make a clatter. In going down stairs do not jump two or three steps at a time, lest you hurt yourself. Go quietly home.

III. Conduct of a Child on the Street

 66. Dear child, although when out of school you are beyond the observation of your teacher, remember that God is everywhere, and that you must even on the street fear Him and His holy angels.

67. Therefore do not run about wildly on the street and shout, but walk quietly and demurely.

68. Act modestly, and do not do before other people what it is customary to do privately.

69. It is improper to eat on the street.

 70. Do not walk along looking at the sky, do not run against people, do not tread where the mud is thickest or in puddles.

71. When you see a wagon coining, step aside and avoid danger. Never hang on the back of a wagon.

72. In the winter do not go upon the ice, do not snow-ball others, and do not go sledding with disorderly boys.

73. In summer do not bathe in the water or go too near it. Do not take pleasure in pranks or indecent games.

74. Do not stop where people are quarreling or fighting or doing other wicked things. Do not associate with bad boys who will lead you astray. Do not run about at fairs, nor stand before mountebanks, nor watch lewd dancing, for you can learn only wickedness.

75. Do not join hands with other children on the street and block the way. Neither put your arm on another’s shoulder.

76. When you meet some one you know, step aside and bow politely, but do not wait until he is beside you or past you. Show your respect while a few steps in front of him.

IV. Conduct in Meeting or Church

77. Dear child, in meeting or church think of the sacred presence of God, and remember that you shall be judged according to the word you have heard that day.

78. Bring your Bible and hymn book with you and pray and sing attentively, for from the mouths of young children God will perfect praise.

 79. Listen carefully to the sermon. Note the text and the divisions. These you may also write on your slate. Open your Bible quietly to the references given and mark the place with a narrow strip of paper, of which you should always have several in your Bible.

80. Do not talk during the sermon, and if others talk to you, do not answer. If you are sleepy, stand up a little while and try to keep it off.

81. When the name of Jesus is mentioned uncover or incline your head and show yourself reverent.

82. Do not gaze about you at church, but keep your eyes under good discipline and control.

83. All improper habits that you must avoid at school, as given in No. 62, you must avoid still more diligently at church.

84. If you enter or leave church in couples you must not purposely elbow, push, or stare at others, but walk out quietly and modestly.

V. General Rules of Conduct

85. Dear child, live in peace and unity with every one, and let all your politeness emanate from pure love of your neighbor.

86. Practice order in all things; lay your books and other belongings in their proper places and do not let them lie carelessly about.

87. When you are sent on errands by your parents, pay attention, that you may discharge your errand properly. When you have done your errand, come straight home and report the answer.

88. Be never idle, and either help your parents or study your lessons. But beware of reading in indecent or idle books, or wasting the time, for which you are accountable to God, with cards or dice.

89. When you are given money, hand it to some one to save for you, that you may not lose or squander it. Cheerfully give alms with your money.

90. When you are given anything, take it with your right hand, and thank the giver politely.

91. When you happen to go where some one has left money or other things lying on the table, do not go too close and do not remain alone in the room.

92. Do not listen at the door (Sirach xxi, 26). Do not run in quickly, but knock modestly, and wait until you are asked in, then bow as you enter, and do not slam the door.

93. Do not distort your face before people with frowning or sour looks. Do not be sulky when you are asked a question, but let others finish talking and do not interrupt them. Do not answer by shaking or nodding your head, but with distinct, modest words.

94. Make your bow somewhat slowly and deep, with uplifted face. Do not thrust your feet too far behind. Turn your face toward people, not your back.

95. When a stranger or friend comes to the house, be polite, offer him a chair, bid him welcome, and wait upon him.

96. In sneezing, blowing your nose, spitting and yawning, exercise all possible decency. Turn your face aside, hold your hand before it, take the discharge from the nose into a handkerchief and do not look at it long; spit straight down, and put your foot on it, &c. Do not form a habit of constantly clearing the throat, digging the nose, violent panting, and other disgusting and indecent ways.

97. Never appear among people looking indecent or dirty. Cut your nails at the proper time, and keep your clothes, shoes, and stockings neat and clean.

98. In laughing be moderate and civil. Do not laugh at everything, but especially not at the wickedness or misfortune of others.

99. When you have made a promise, try to keep it, and beware of all lying and untruth.

100. Whatever you see in other Christian people that is good and proper, let it serve you as a model. If there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil, iv, 8.)

— Part Two —

A Hundred Christian Rules for Children

I. Rules Concerning Conduct Towards God

1. Consider that between thee and the triune God there is a covenant established in which he hath promised to love and bless thee, but that thou also art bound to love and obey Him implicitly.

2. Take time to consider alone and in the presence of God whether thou hast faithfully and constantly observed what thy baptismal covenant requires of thee: whether thou hast loved God simply, feared and obeyed Him.

3. If such meditation convinces thee that thou hast tom thyself from God through conscious sin, that stubbornness, laziness, disobedience, lying, impudence and other such misdemeanors have been allowed to rule thee, do not neglect renewing thy covenant.

4. Admit thy sinful acts and inborn deep-seated corruption most heartily before thy Creator: turn with a contrite heart to Jesus Christ thine only mercy seat, seek through faith forgiveness of sin in his blood, and make a new resolve to sin no more, but to serve Jesus Christ and be ruled by His spirit.

5. But being convinced that thou hast not broken thy covenant consciously and intentionally, yet that thou hast occasionally been slow and careless in thy Christian duties, and hast frequently failed here and there, then seek also with repentant and believing heart to wash in the blood of Jesus and henceforth to be more earnest in following him.

6. But do not consider that thou canst do all this of thine own power. Pray God daily to strengthen thy good intent and to preserve thee sinless.

7. Beside such daily prayers, watch constantly over thyself. Do not trust thy heart too much, for it is very deceiving. Be careful which way thy thoughts and desires tend, and keep eyes, ears and tongue in good control.

8. Take particular care that the sin to which thou art most prone shall not conquer thee. Flee every opportunity of committing it, and seek by the help of God to weaken it constantly.

9. Never lie down at night before thou hast examined thy conscience and reconciled thyself with God for thy errors, through Jesus Christ.

10. Be diligent to fear God uprightly: not from slavish fear of future punishment, but from filial love that avoids doing anything to displease the beloved.

11. But to love God aright, thou must know Him, and for this Holy Script is thy guide.

12. Let not a day pass without reading and considering some part of Scripture, as thou wouldst not go a day without food or drink.

13. But never read God’s word excepting with great reverence, for in it the highest majesty speaketh to thee, a poor sinner.

14. Thine honest purpose in reading the Bible must be to believe implicitly all that it tells, to do all that it commands, and to hope all that it promises.

15. Approach Scripture as one wholly ignorant of spiritual things, and thou wilt learn most, for to the untutored the Father in Heaven win reveal Himself.

16. Learn especially through Scripture to know Jesus Christ, thy dear Savior, that thou mayest believe in Him and understand Him.

17. Impress deeply upon thy heart the divine qualities taught in the Scriptures.

18. As God is a spirit, serve Him in spirit and in truth, and seek to unify His spirit and thine through faith and love.

19. Because God is eternal and immutable, cleave to Him with unchanging faith, and gladly give up for Him temporal and perishable things.

20. Because He is holy, thou must guard thyself from taint if thou wouldst have communion with Him.

21. Because He is merciful and good, trust Him in all thy trouble, and be thou also good and merciful to the wretched.

22. Because He is just, and rewards righteousness, pursue thou righteousness. But because He also punishes sin, avoid sin, which merits punishment.

23. Because He is truthful, believe His promises and fear His warnings.

24. Because He is omnipotent, trust His help, for He will help thee to overcome difficulty.

25. Because He alone is wise, depend on Him alone for pure wisdom, and abandon thyself wholly to His guidance.

26. Because He is omniscient, do not dare to deceive Him by simulation, and beware of secret sin.

27. Because He is omnipresent, know that in solitude thou art not alone; that the future Judge seeth and heareth all that thou thinkest and doest.

28. As the omnipresent God loveth to dwell in thy heart, let it be cleansed by thy faith and ruled by His Spirit. Then will He reveal Himself to thee.

29. Walk ever in the sacred presence of God, constantly remembering his. love. Whenever thy thoughts and desires turn from Him, turn them back to Him, even if it is a thousand times in one day.

30. Never speak the sacred name of God or Jesus except with reverence, and let all careless swearing and cursing be far from thy thoughts.

31. Never dare to turn passages of Holy Script to idle or laughable use. God will not leave this sacrilege unpunished.

32. Not only esteem God highly in thy heart for His infinite power, goodness and wisdom, but seek also to express thy esteem in words and deeds.

33. Employ thy mouth to call for His help in trouble, to praise His love, and to thank Him for all His benefits.

34. But so shape thy deeds also, that God may be glorified in them.

35. Sanctify the Lord’s day with great care, and do not spend it in games and idling, but in sacred exercises.

36. Love to go to school and church, that thou mayest learn what is good for thy peace, and show thyself quiet, attentive and respectful in the sacred presence of God.

II. Rules of Conduct Toward One’s Neighbor

37. Dear child, in thy intercourse with thy neighbor, be he friend or foe, keep ever the teachings before thee of St. Paul: Owe no man anything, but to love one another. (Rom. xiii, 8.)

38. All that thou wouldst have others do to thee, do also to them. And what thou wouldst not have others do to thee, do not to them. (Luke vi, 31.)

39. Next to God thou art owing none more love and honor than thy parents, from whom thou hast obtained life.

40. But thy love for thy parents cannot be better expressed than by a willing obedience, doing their bidding, accepting their punishments, bearing their weaknesses with patience, and never intentionally offending them. All this thou also owest to thy grandparents, step-parents, guardians and other superiors.

41. Thy teachers’ trouble and faithfulness thou canst never fully repay. Love and honor them therefore, as thy own father, and seek to lighten their heavy burden by obedience, diligence and attention.

42. Between thee and thy sisters and brothers never allow quarrel and enmity to arise.

43. Seek to be pleasant and helpful to thy fellow pupils. But seek as thy friends only those that fear God and set others a good example.

44. Avoid all bad company, as a very dangerous wile of Satan, and pray God daily to preserve thy soul from evil.

45. Toward the aged and distinguished persons be respectful and polite, and seek daily to put aside all coarse and improper conduct.

46. Guard against offending strangers, the poor and the helpless, and do not mock them, but treat them with sympathy and helpfulness.

47. At every opportunity exhibit toward thy friends and benefactors a grateful heart.

48. To your enemies who laugh at thee or otherwise offend thee, do not return evil for evil, nor insult for insult, but pray God rather to forgive their sin and to convert them, and miss no opportunity of doing them good.

49. Consider it an undeserved honor to be despised and hated for thy quiet and God-fearing way. Learn from thy youth to esteem the disgrace of Christ.

50. If an angry or revengeful thought tries to arise in thee, subdue it by the thought of the love and gentleness of Jesus Christ.

51. Do not let wrath induce thee to rebuke any one who has done thee wrong, to wish him ill, to strike him or in any other way to avenge thyself. For God hath said: Vengeance is mine: I will repay. (Romans xii, 19.)

52. Let not the fear of man prevent thee from punishing evil. But punish it out of love, with great care and modesty.

53. Be not sad and morose among strangers, but friendly and cheerful, and that from an inward sense of the friendliness and grace of God.

54. If thou hast offended some one, be not ashamed humbly to admit it and to apologize.

55. Offend no one by wrong actions, ugly manners or unchaste, nasty speeches. Never repeat such things when thou hast heard them from others, and be ashamed to take such filth of Satan into thy mouth.

56. Be satisfied with that which God gives thee through thy parents, and begrudge no one his own.

57. Yield to no temptation to take the last thing from thy parents or fellow pupils, or to appropriate money given thee to do an errand for thy own use. Such beginnings have shown many the way to the gallows.

58. If thou hast been tempted to take from others fruit or other things, admit thy fault in true penitence, seek to replace it, and guard thyself all thy life against this abominable vice.

59. Practice true uprightness, do not learn to lie, for the Devil is the father of lies. Speak the truth from thy heart, even if it bring thee loss and annoyance.

60. In repeating what others have told thee, add nothing, lest thou enter the net of the spirit of lies.

61. Judge and censure no one. Do not reveal thy friend’s secrets. Be no slanderer, flatterer or tell-tale: speak well of thy neighbor and excuse his weaknesses.

62. When others boast of their sins at school and elsewhere, and laugh at foolish pranks, beware of participating in their sin and compromising thyself.

63. Seeing something wicked in others, sigh over it, think meanwhile of thine own faults, and pray God to deliver thee from such sins.

64. Give every one his due and let the wholesome grace of God chasten thee to live justly.

III. Rules of Conduct of a Child Toward Himself

65. Dear child, learn to know thyself aright.

66. All the good thou findest in thyself is of God: but all the wicked is thy own.

67. If thou observe thyself without self-love or flattery thou shalt find that thy heart is by nature an abyss of sin, and that the seed of all vice lies hidden within thee only awaiting the chance of breaking loose.

68. Therefore flee all opportunities of wrong as the Devil himself, for they are all go-betweens that deliver thee into his power.

69. Thy immortal soul is the noblest part of thy being, therefore thou must take more care of it than of thy mortal body.

70. The nobility of thy soul consists in its union with God, for which thou must strive with all thy strength.

71. But to be and remain united with God thou must earnestly hate sin, and dampen the sinful inclinations of thy heart with daily penitence, for prevailing sin separates thee from God.

72. But as God, who is a consuming fire, can have nothing in common with a sinner, thou must turn to the Mediator in full faith and take Him into thy heart.

73. Where the Mediator, Jesus Christ, dwelleth, there is also His Spirit, that is ever renewing the soul into an image of God.

74. Let this Holy Ghost work in thy spirit, and it will ever enlighten thy understanding, turn thy will to God, and fill thy conscience with peace and joy.

75. In this order must thou seek ever to renew the strength of thy spirit.

76. Employ thy understanding and memory to grasp and retain something useful.

77. First of all gather a treasure of learning from the word of God, that shows thee the way to reconciliation with God. Besides this, endeavor to learn other useful knowledge.

78. Accustom thy will ever to choose what is good, and to discard what is evil.

79. Accustom thy imagination to proper form. Do not imagine the joys of the world lovelier and true Christianity more difficult than they really are.

80. Learn betimes to curb thy affections and emotions that they do not enslave thee.

81. Do not disturb thine emotions by a desire for earthly things, vain hopes, unprofitable fear, neither by worldly sorrow nor excessive joy.

82. Anger, envy and jealousy are tormentors of the soul. Beware of their power.

83. Let no rank or improper lusts arise in thy heart, for they destroy body and soul.

84. From wicked self-love arise three chief vices, ambition, avarice and lust. Discover to which of these thou art most inclined, and seek to suppress such tendency betimes.

85. The more thou dost flatter thy natural inclination, give it its own free will, and pamper it, the more tyrannical will it become.

86. Thy soul can find rest nowhere except in God. The closer thou dost approach Him in faith and love, the more peaceful it will become.

87. But God has given thee beside a soul, also a body, and has wisely endowed it with members and senses. Therefore thou art bound to keep it sound and untainted.

88. Be therefore careful, and do not expose thyself to dangers that menace body and health.

89. Do not accustom thyself to luxury and do not pamper thy body, or thou shalt be a wretched and sickly being all thy life.

90. Never be ashamed even of the lowliest work, and flee idleness as thou wouldst flee from the plague.

91. Do not love sleep too much, lest thou become lazy.

92. Do not fill thyself with too much food and drink, for moderation preserves health.

93. Avoid especially drunkenness, which is more than beastly, and never allow thyself to be led to drink more than is needed.

94. Carry thy body decently and modestly, and cover what nature meant to be covered, for thy members are Christ’s members, and thy body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.

95. If God sends a visitation to thy body, bear thy pains with patience, and believe that God loveth thee because he chasteneth.

96. If God wills that thou shalt be poor, sick and despised in the world, think, “He is the Lord, may He do as it pleaseth Him.”

97. Remember thou shalt not always live in this world, and prepare betimes for thy departure.

98. Look upon each day as thy last, then the last day will not find thee unprepared.

99. Pray God to give thee a definite conviction of the certainty of resurrection, judgment and eternal life.

100. Fear not death, for if thou hast lived a Christian life, thou canst die blessed and happy.

— The End —