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A Help to Domestic Happiness
John Angell James, (1785?1859) was a decided Calvinist in doctrine and beautifully balanced his convictions with practical piety in his life and his ministry. He preached and wrote to the common man and woman of every age group and station in life. He was held in high esteem as a preacher and author, yet he was a humble and unpretentious man.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 1828
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85 people want to read
About the author
John Angell James
290 books14 followersJohn Angell James (1785 - 1859), was an English Nonconformist clergyman and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2021
Every chapter in this book is a sobering reminder of the eternal nature of what takes place in the home, whether it is between a husband and wife, parents and their children, siblings, or those hired to serve the family in some capacity. This is rich, timeless, soul-deep, yet practical instruction... a must-read for the Christian family! It very much compliments James's other book Female Piety, which is, as you can imagine, more specific to the woman and her role in the home.
August 16, 2024
This is my favorite book on marriage and home life! In my opinion, too many marriage books fail to communicate with sobriety and gravitas, perhaps hoping to not frighten today’s emotionally fragile and unstable reader. Others deal in gospel generalities to the point that success in the home is over-simplified to the point that it dies at the hands of a few reductionistic biblical principles.
John Angell James avoids both extremes and shepherds the reader through various nuances in marriage, parenting, childhood, and industry in the home. (A great example of JAJ’s thoroughness is his comments to ministers about choosing a spouse and regarding considering the age of potential mates.) This is a great book through and through, one I love to purchase now for newlyweds.
John Angell James avoids both extremes and shepherds the reader through various nuances in marriage, parenting, childhood, and industry in the home. (A great example of JAJ’s thoroughness is his comments to ministers about choosing a spouse and regarding considering the age of potential mates.) This is a great book through and through, one I love to purchase now for newlyweds.
December 13, 2024
A wonderful book that was as devotional as it was instructive on godly households. James explains both the eternal weight of the task as well as the means of cultivating a godly, happy home.
“Family happiness, in many respects, resembles the manna which was granted to the Israelites…it must be religiously sought in God’s own way of bestowing it; and is granted to man as a refreshment during his pilgrimage, through the wilderness, to the Celestial Canaan.”
“Family happiness, in many respects, resembles the manna which was granted to the Israelites…it must be religiously sought in God’s own way of bestowing it; and is granted to man as a refreshment during his pilgrimage, through the wilderness, to the Celestial Canaan.”
July 2, 2021
There is no other book I could recommend to another woman as highly as this one. The truths and practical wisdom in this book are long forgotten by our society, and even sometimes in our churches! John Angell James does not shy away from the overwhelming weight and responsibilities of being a wife, homemaker and mother. He, using scripture, implies the true standard of excellence we should be striving for! This book is overall deep, challenging and convicting! I will definitely be reading it again and again.
January 15, 2016
Brilliant as always. This is the third time I have read it. Each time I read it with trepidation, fearing that it will fail to live up to my memories, but it never does. It doesn't lose anything with re-reading but always retains its impact and feeling of freshness and vigour.
It's one of my favourite Christian books of all time (along with James's Anxious Inquirer and Female Piety) and one that I would like to see become standard and compulsory reading for all Christians, especially youths on the cusp of adulthood, who need to be inspired and learn how to mature into godly adults and spouses and parents. So many young Christians are allowed to drift through life and take things as they come, with no clear purpose or aim, and that seems so sad.
Whenever a young man marries, he has the potential to do something amazing, to be the godly head of his own household and to be pastor of his own little flock. But too few people ever prepare seriously for marriage, or for parenthood, and by the time they read such books as this it is too late and the most crucial years have passed, and an opportunity for good has been missed - it is too late to govern their household and raise their family as they ought to have done.
Focus and good discipline from an early age might raise a generation who excel in their service of God. As it is, people embark on marriage without being ready to lead the family in religious instruction and in worship. Where it would be good to see children grow up with family worship being considered the norm, the opportunity passes until both parents and children feel too uncomfortable with introducing any such novelties, and another generation drifts past without family worship being reinstituted as a basic and essential element of the Christian way of life.
This book deals with the relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees, dealing with the responsibilities of each in turn. It's been beautifully done. James always speaks to the heart and you will need a tough skin (or an unrelenting heart) to not be softened by his language. He is gripping and moving. No one should be able to read this book and not be moved or impressed.
I can imagine some young zealots finding fault with it because it doesn't quote Scripture enough, and they might like to see a Scripture reference to support every statement he makes. But such references would disrupt the flow and readability of the text, and reduce its effectiveness in impacting upon the heart. And in most instances, it's not hard for a Christian reader to think of Biblical examples for himself, which illustrate the behaviour and qualities and characteristics which James is anxious to promote.
Feminists would probably take exception to his distinction of the male and female roles, and some people might take exception to his desire to preserve the class distinctions of his day, but they would be missing the point. The last two chapters are address to masters and to servants. While domestic servants might generally have disappeared in the first half of the 20th Century, the lessons are still thoroughly applicable to employers and employees generally.
This is the sort of book that you will want to give away to everyone. It would certainly make the perfect wedding present.
It's one of my favourite Christian books of all time (along with James's Anxious Inquirer and Female Piety) and one that I would like to see become standard and compulsory reading for all Christians, especially youths on the cusp of adulthood, who need to be inspired and learn how to mature into godly adults and spouses and parents. So many young Christians are allowed to drift through life and take things as they come, with no clear purpose or aim, and that seems so sad.
Whenever a young man marries, he has the potential to do something amazing, to be the godly head of his own household and to be pastor of his own little flock. But too few people ever prepare seriously for marriage, or for parenthood, and by the time they read such books as this it is too late and the most crucial years have passed, and an opportunity for good has been missed - it is too late to govern their household and raise their family as they ought to have done.
Focus and good discipline from an early age might raise a generation who excel in their service of God. As it is, people embark on marriage without being ready to lead the family in religious instruction and in worship. Where it would be good to see children grow up with family worship being considered the norm, the opportunity passes until both parents and children feel too uncomfortable with introducing any such novelties, and another generation drifts past without family worship being reinstituted as a basic and essential element of the Christian way of life.
This book deals with the relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees, dealing with the responsibilities of each in turn. It's been beautifully done. James always speaks to the heart and you will need a tough skin (or an unrelenting heart) to not be softened by his language. He is gripping and moving. No one should be able to read this book and not be moved or impressed.
I can imagine some young zealots finding fault with it because it doesn't quote Scripture enough, and they might like to see a Scripture reference to support every statement he makes. But such references would disrupt the flow and readability of the text, and reduce its effectiveness in impacting upon the heart. And in most instances, it's not hard for a Christian reader to think of Biblical examples for himself, which illustrate the behaviour and qualities and characteristics which James is anxious to promote.
Feminists would probably take exception to his distinction of the male and female roles, and some people might take exception to his desire to preserve the class distinctions of his day, but they would be missing the point. The last two chapters are address to masters and to servants. While domestic servants might generally have disappeared in the first half of the 20th Century, the lessons are still thoroughly applicable to employers and employees generally.
This is the sort of book that you will want to give away to everyone. It would certainly make the perfect wedding present.
January 8, 2021
The best Christian parenting book!
It's from 1830 and still so up-to-date, I've read it many times and I still do it when I need to refresh my memory on parenting, it's a simple guiding light.
The way he explains parents' and children's duties and relationships is really amazing. Right words in the right orders, covering all the aspects of parenting from both parent and child's points of view.
Reading it with the whole family together would be so beneficial, I've read it with my oldest daughter and it has been one of the best help in our relationship, big improvement in my daughter's behavior (and my parenting) ...it's not always all sunshine and rainbows, but now she is aware of what is right, what true Christianity is and the essential necessity of obedience, much more understanding of the fair reasons behind the parents' requests, monitoring, restrictions and corrections, just for her well-being.
This is a real godly book , it lets both parents and children to know the way to bring happiness in the family, both of us have just got our happiness back!
It's from 1830 and still so up-to-date, I've read it many times and I still do it when I need to refresh my memory on parenting, it's a simple guiding light.
The way he explains parents' and children's duties and relationships is really amazing. Right words in the right orders, covering all the aspects of parenting from both parent and child's points of view.
Reading it with the whole family together would be so beneficial, I've read it with my oldest daughter and it has been one of the best help in our relationship, big improvement in my daughter's behavior (and my parenting) ...it's not always all sunshine and rainbows, but now she is aware of what is right, what true Christianity is and the essential necessity of obedience, much more understanding of the fair reasons behind the parents' requests, monitoring, restrictions and corrections, just for her well-being.
This is a real godly book , it lets both parents and children to know the way to bring happiness in the family, both of us have just got our happiness back!
December 18, 2019
An amazing book that covers the main areas of life in the home. How should a husband treat his wife, and a wife her husband. How do the two relate to the outside world. How do they relate to their children and how do their children relate to the parents and one another. How should servants relate to employers and vice versa. This book takes all these relationships and shows how the gospel affects them. It shows how the first battle ground for the life of society is the home and so we should take domestic affairs and life seriously. This is something that can only be done under the authority of the bible and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Well worth the read
Well worth the read
February 23, 2025
*I didn’t read the last two chapters (written to masters and servants) because I didn’t think they’d apply to me much.* Really enjoyed this one. It made me appreciate my own family and look forward to growing my future one. It was also pretty easy to read.
February 4, 2015
This is a provisional rating; I remember being utterly charmed by it; but as I read this book so long ago, I really ought to read it again before reviewing it!
My copy possesses a charmingly romantic handwritten (in pen)dedication, opposing the title page:
“To my ever dear Anne; my best earthly blessing from a gracious God, the wife of my bosom, the mother of my children; this little volume is presented by her most affectionate husband, as a memorial of hallowed wedded love, with the fervent prayer, that from its pages, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, we may mutually desire instruction for the regulation of our house, and the bringing up of our little ones in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Fitzwilliam Square “
Could "Fitzwilliam Square," the name of a famous square in Dublin, REALLY be the gentleman's name? The title page of the book states that amongst other retailers it was sold through Westley & Tyrrell, of Dublin.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews