Both my father and grandfather graduated from Harvard, the college built by the Puritans for the training of the clergy. (In the case of my grandfather, he graduated both from Harvard undergrad and from Harvard Medical School.) Dad and I are going back to Harvard in a few weeks to walk the old grounds. I am spending the better part of a week interviewing Dad and recording reminiscences from his youth. I also hope to glean from Dad new stories and insights which will help me to disciple my own sons.

I realize my time with my sons is not forever. As my own boys grow into noble manhood, the focus of many of my prayers is to seek the wisdom of God to train them to be honorable men of Christian vision. Apart from the Bible, this cannot be done. When filtered through the presuppositions of Holy Scripture, history is a also a tutor. History provides perspective. It allows us to think beyond the palsied secular American Christianity of the present generation to the victorious, visionary (though imperfect) Christianity of the Mathers and other great men who not only founded Harvard, but gave America our richest spiritual heritage. Today, Harvard is at war with God. Its religion is the worship of man. But once upon a time, some generationally-minded thinkers at Harvard College set noble Christian requirements for the young men under their care. The following are the rules required of such men upon entering Harvard.

1. When any scholar is able to understand Tully or such like classical author EXTEMPORE, and make and speak true Latin in verse and prose, SUO UT AIUNT MARTE, and decline perfectly the paradigms of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue: let him then, and not before, be capable of admission into the College.
2. Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main 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 bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek 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 theoretical observations of the language, and logic, and inpractical 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 study with good conscience, carefully to retain God, and the love of His truth in their minds. Else, let them know that (notwithstanding their learning) God may give them up “to strong delusions,” and in the end “to a reprobate mind,” 2Thes.2:11, 12; Rom. 1:28.
5. That they studiously redeem the time; observe the general hours appointed for all the students, and the special hours for their own classes; and then diligently attend the lectures, without any disturbance by word or gesture. And if in anything they doubt, they shall inquire, as of their fellows, so (in the case of “nonsatisfaction”), modestly of their tutors.
6. None shall, under any pretense whatsoever, frequent the company and society of such men as lead an unfit and dissolute life. Nor shall any without his tutor’s leave, or (in his absence) the call of parents or guardians, go abroad to other towns.
7. Every scholar shall be present in his tutor’s chamber at the seventh hour in the morninng, immediately after the sound of the bell, at his opening the scripture and prayer; so also at the fifth hour of the night, and then give account of his own private reading, as aforesaid in particular the third, and constantly attend lectures in the hall at the hours appointed. But if any (without necessary impediment) shall absent himself from prayer or lectures, he shall be liable to admonition, if he offend above once a week.
8. If any scholar shall be found to transgress any of the laws of God, or the school, after twice admonition, he shall be liable, if not ADULTUS, to correction; if ADULTUS, his name shall be given up to the overseers of the College, that he may be admonished at the public monthly act.