And view the infant conscious of his birth,
Smiling bespeak salvation to the earth!
For when the important Aera first drew near
In which the great Messiah should appear
And to accomplish His redeeming love
Resign a while his glorious throne above.
Beneath our form every woe sustain
And by triumphant suffering fix His reign
Should for lost man in tortures yield his breath,
Dying to save us from eternal death!
Oh mystick Union! Salutary grace!
Incarnate God our nature should embrace!
That Deity should stoop to our disguise!
That man recovered should regain the skies!
Dejected Adam! From thy Grave ascend
And view the Serpent’s Deadly Malice end,
Adorring bless th’ Almighty’s boundless grace
That gave his son a ransome for thy race!
Oh never let my soul this Day forget,
But pay in grateful praise her annual debt
To Him whom ’tis my trust I shall [adore(?)—illegible.]
When time and sin and death [shall be no more.(?)—illegible.]38
Based on this traditional Christian childhood education, Washington’s adult writings show that he maintained a deep joy in the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ.39
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S “RULES OF CIVILITY”
Virtually all scholars, even those who believe Washington was not a Christian, agree that a set of sayings, originally composed by a Jesuit priest from a century before and often embellished thereafter, was very influential in George Washington’s education.40 This set of 110 sayings contains many biblical precepts. They are the “ Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation”41 and are viewed as a blueprint that Washington followed his entire life. They are given in their entirety in appendix One.42
They were, in fact, very important in the training of students at the Appleby School where George’s father and stepbrothers had attended. William Wilbur writes,
George’s father was very familiar with these rules, for they were used at Appleby Grammar School. Among English educators they were generally referred to as Hawkins’ rules. They had wide acceptance in English schoolrooms and were so popular that eleven editions were printed between 1640 and 1672. . . the correct title is: “Youth’s Behaviour or Decency in Conversation Amongst Men.” The title page runs on, “Composed in French by grave persons for the use and benefit of their Youth. Now newly turned into English by Francis Hawkins.”43
Although we will list only a few of them here, these remarkable and at times humorous rules, as William Wilbur suggests, all fall into the following categories:
RULES Which Taught Character.
Christmas poem reflecting a rich understanding of the doctrine of salvation in Christ written in Washington’s hand
RULES Which Counseled Consideration for Others.
RULES That Urged Modesty.
RULES That Advised Compassion.
RULES That Enjoined Respect for Elders and Persons in Positions of Responsibility and Authority.
RULES Which Concern Conduct.
RULES Governing Table Manners and Cleanliness.44
Here are a few of the rules. Immediately following, we have supplied a biblical text, of which this maxim is an echo:
RULES OF CIVILITY: 43d Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion will aggravate his Misery.
BIBLE: Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15, NKJV).
RULES OF CIVILITY: 48th Wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts.
BIBLE: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged” (Jesus in Matthew 7:1-2, NKJV).
RULES OF CIVILITY: 56th Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad Company.
BIBLE: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NKJV).
RULES OF CIVILITY: 82d Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Carefull to keep your Promise.
BIBLE: When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—Better not to vow than to vow and not pay (Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5 NKJV).
RULES OF CIVILITY: 108th When you Speak of God or his Atributes, let it be Seriously & [wt.] Reverence. Honour & Obey your Natural Parents altho they be Poor.
BIBLE: Holy, holy holy is the LORD of hosts (Isaiah 6:3).
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain....Honor your father and your mother... (Exodus 20:7, 12, NKJV).
RULES OF CIVILITY: 109th Let your Recreations be Manfull not Sinfull.
