The Rules and Precepts that were observed at Harvard University
September 26, 1642
(Quoted verbatim)
1. “When any Schollar…is able to make [write] and speak true Latine in Verse and Prose…and decline perfectly the paradigms of Nounes and Verbes in the Greek tongue...[he is capable] of admission into the college.”
2. “Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies, is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal! life, John 17:3 and therefore, to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdome, Let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seeke it of him, Prov. 2, 3.”
3. “Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day, that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein, both in Theoreticall observations of Language and Logick, and in practical! And spiritual! truths, as his Tutor shall require, according to his ability; seeing the entrance of the word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple, Psalm, 119:130.”
4. “That they eschewing all profanation of God’s name, Attributes, Word, Ordinances, and times of Worship, do studie with good conscience carefully to retaine God, and the love of his truth in their minces, else let them know, that (notwithstanding their Learning) God may give them up to strong delusions, and in the end to a reprobate mince, 2 Thes. 2:11, 12. Rom. 1:28.”
“1636 Old South Leaflets” Peter G. Mode, “Sourcebook and Biographical Guide for American Church History” (Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing Co., 1991) pp. 74-75
September 26, 1642
(Quoted verbatim)
1. “When any Schollar…is able to make [write] and speak true Latine in Verse and Prose…and decline perfectly the paradigms of Nounes and Verbes in the Greek tongue...[he is capable] of admission into the college.”
2. “Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies, is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal! life, John 17:3 and therefore, to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdome, Let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seeke it of him, Prov. 2, 3.”
3. “Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day, that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein, both in Theoreticall observations of Language and Logick, and in practical! And spiritual! truths, as his Tutor shall require, according to his ability; seeing the entrance of the word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple, Psalm, 119:130.”
4. “That they eschewing all profanation of God’s name, Attributes, Word, Ordinances, and times of Worship, do studie with good conscience carefully to retaine God, and the love of his truth in their minces, else let them know, that (notwithstanding their Learning) God may give them up to strong delusions, and in the end to a reprobate mince, 2 Thes. 2:11, 12. Rom. 1:28.”
“1636 Old South Leaflets” Peter G. Mode, “Sourcebook and Biographical Guide for American Church History” (Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing Co., 1991) pp. 74-75
