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CHRISTOPHER DOCK AND HIS WORKS.
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A HUNDRED NECESSARY RULES OF CONDUCT FOR CHILDREN.[1]


I. Rules for the Behavior of a Child in the House of its Parents.

A. At and after getting up in the mornings.

1. Dear child, accustom yourself to awaken at the right time in the morning without being called, and as soon as you are awake get out of bed without delay.

2. On leaving the bed fix the cover in a nice, orderly way.

3. Let your first thoughts be directed to God, according to the example of David, who says, Psalms cxxxix, 18, “When I am awake I am still with Thee,” and Psalms lxiii, 7, “When I am awake I speak of Thee.”

4. Offer to those who first meet you, and your parents, brothers and sisters, a good-morning, not from habit simply, but from true love.

5. Learn to dress yourself quickly but neatly.

6. Instead of idle talk with your brothers and sisters or others, seek also, while dressing, to have good thoughts. Remember the clothing of righteousness which was earned for you through Jesus, and form the resolution not to soil it on this day by intentional sin.

7. When you wash your face and hands do not scatter the water about in the room.

8. To wash out the mouth every morning with water, and to rub off the teeth with the finger, tends to preserve the teeth.

  1. These Rules of Conduct were published about 1764, in Saur's Geistliches Magazien.