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 God’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. xxxi. 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 foolish! 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 God 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.