the immoral; therefore (5) that He ought to be feared, always to be invoked and loved as a father; and (6) that all things ought to be done which He commands; (7) and that, if we be good and righteous, He will take us to heaven. I maintain that an infant may be led on in these exercises until the sixth year of his age.
7. Children ought to be instructed in morals and virtue, especially in the following: 1. In temperance, that they may learn to eat and drink according to the wants of nature; not too greedily, or cram themselves with food and drink beyond what is sufficient. 2. In cleanliness and decorum, so that, as concerns food, dress, and care of the body, they may be accustomed to observe decency. 3. In respect towards superiors, whose actions, conversations, and instructions they should learn to revere. 4. In complaisance, so that they may be prompt to execute all things immediately at the nod and voice of their superiors. 5. It is especially necessary that they be accustomed to speak truth, so that all their words may be in accordance with the teaching of Christ, “that which is, is; that which is not, is not.” They should on no account be accustomed to utter falsehood, or to speak of anything otherwise than it really is, either seriously or in mirth. 6. They must likewise be trained to justice,[1] so as not to touch, move stealthily, withdraw, or hide anything belonging to another, or to wrong another in any respect. 7. Benignity ought also to be instilled into them, and a love of pleasing others, so that they may be generous, and neither niggardly nor envious. 8. It is especially profitable for them to be accustomed to labor, as to acquire an aversion for indolence. 9. They should be taught not only to speak, but also to be silent
- ↑ In the Great Didactic Comenius says: “Justice will be learned by doing harm to no one, by giving to each his own, by avoiding lying and deceit, by being generally serviceable and amiable.”
