PRINCIPLES OF LIVING

John Colet (1467-1519) was an English churchman, scholar and educational leader who wrote Principles (catechism) of Living for children:

Love God.
Thrust down pride.
Forgive gladly.
Be sober of meat and drink.
Use honest company.
Reverence thy elders.
Trust in God’s mercy.
Be always well occupied.
Lose no time.
Falling down, despair not.
Ever take a fresh, new, good purpose.
Persevere constantly.
Wash clean.
Be no sluggard.
Awake quickly.
Enrich thee with virtue.
Learn diligently.
Teach that thou hast learned, lovingly.

(Now that’s a way to reform society! We just need to put this into ourselves so we might put it into our children and others.)

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Jesus