The Christian Mother Part 5

Give your children something to do.

Remember, they must be _set to work_, though it is often more trouble to you to teach _them_ to do it, than to do it _yourself_-yet persevere.

V. If not slothful in your temporal affairs, above all be not slothful concerning the salvation of your souls.

Heb. vi. 11, 12. 2 Pet. i. 10.

XIII. THE WATCHFUL MOTHER.

 

No eye should be so wakeful and watchful as a mother's.

I. Watch over your children _in infancy_.

Exod. ii. 8. 1 Sam. i. 23.

It is described as next to impossible for a woman to forget her sucking child. Isa. xlix. 15.

A well-watched infancy, under G.o.d's blessing, avoids many future ills.

II. Watch over your children's _education_.

Judg. xiii. 8.

In every minute particular.

Learning-clothing, &c. 1 Sam. ii. 19. Prov. x.x.xi. 21, 23.

Contrast the dirty, unmended clothes of the poor, uncared-for child, with the clean and neatly mended garments of him whose childhood is guarded by the watchful eye of a mother.

III. Watch them in times of sickness and death.

No eye so quick to discover a hidden ill.

2 Kings, iv. 19, 20. John, xix. 25.

IV. Above all watch over the precious soul.

Never lose sight of the soul, in care for the body.

1. _Watch_, as those that must give account. Heb. xiii. 17.

2. _Watch_, to detect sin, and check its growth.

Mark first sign of the plague spot.

3. _Watch_, for opportunity to lead to Christ. Prov. xv. 23. Deut.

vi. 6, 9. Mark, x. 13.

XIV. THE HASTY MOTHER.

I. How common! Yet the Bible commands us not to be hasty. Eccles. vii.

9.

A woman's ornament should be a meek, and quiet spirit (1 Pet. iii. 4), and a nurse is mentioned as being especially gentle to the little ones.

1 Thess. ii. 7.

II. Observe the angry woman,

How foolis.h.!.+ Prov. xiv. 29; xxix. 20.

How provoking! Prov. xv. 1.

How wearing! Prov. xix. 13; xxvii. 15; xxi. 19.

Drives the husband from his fireside.

Sets an evil example to the children.

Often does in her haste, what she heartily repents at leisure.

III. Therefore,

1. Put away anger. Eph. iv. 31.

Do not be _soon_ angry. Prov. xiv. 17. Jam. i. 19.

'Meekness gives smooth answers to rough questions.'

2. Exercise self-control. Prov. xxv. 28; xvi. 32.

3. Teach it to your children.

III. Remember, a hasty temper is a _fault_, not a _misfortune_.

Accustom yourself, and your children, to view it in its right light.

IV. Ask help from G.o.d to subdue it, for temper is hard to conquer, and meekness is a fruit of the Spirit. Gal. v. 22. Matt. v. 5.

You _need help_, for there is much to provoke a wife, and mother.

You _need help_, for you are very weak, but you can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth you. Phil. iv. 13.