Maria Eliza Hoare

“ Promise to united prayer. Matt. xviii. 19, 20.
IV. Attendance on the public means of grace.
Observe the command. Deut. xii. 12, 18. Heb. x. 25.
What a blessing rested on it in the case of Lydia. Acts, xvi. 13, 15.
There are great difficulties to the mother of a young family in going to Church on Sunday, but make an effort to overcome them. This can generally be done if husband and wife make a united effort.
If you are truly hungering and thirsting after righteousness, you will earnestly use every means for obtaining the bread and the water of life. ”

“ 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.
XV. THE WEARY MOTHER.
Many things below make a mother weary.
The blessing of rest is chiefly future. ”

“ Thus we pray, ‘In the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver us.’
His rod and staff alone can help you. Ps. xxiii. 4.
He alone can take away the sting from death. 1 Cor. xv. 55, 57. Rom. viii. 38, 39. Isa. xliii. 2.
It is only if washed in His blood, and clothed in His righteousness, that you need not fear to appear before God.
XXVIII. NEW YEAR’S DAY.
‘I must work the work of Him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.’—John, ix. 4. ”

“ Perhaps you do not care for it. You do not seek first for them the kingdom of God. Matt. vi. 33. Be honest to yourselves in this matter. Are you ready to give up for them anything that keeps them from Christ? ”

“ II. Because the night cometh when no man can work. John, ix. 4.
The night of your death—your husband’s death—your children’s death.
Perhaps this sentence has gone forth against you, or yours, ‘This year thou shalt die.’ Jer. xxviii. 16.
Luke, xii. 20; xiii. 7.
Mothers, awake! to your own, and your children’s danger.
p. 57Awake to the importance of safety in Christ.
Mothers, work! for yourselves, for your families.
‘Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.’ John, vi. 27. ”

“ It will be a cause for thankfulness, if these short notes may be the means of leading any mothers to search the Scriptures more diligently with reference to their own especial duties.
Whether rich or poor—educated or uneducated—mothers all need, in the great essentials, the same help, the same warnings, the same encouragements. ”

“ He sympathises in every sorrow. Heb. iv. 15.
And has borne your griefs. Isa. liii. 4.
XXIII. HELPS FOR MOTHERS.
1.
A mother has many hindrances in seeking Christ. She needs much help from the means of grace. To obtain this is often difficult, and requires much effort. Outward means are, therefore, too often neglected. If you would grow in grace this must not be.
Be diligent, therefore, in the use of—
I. Daily prayer. Matt. vi. 6, 11.
No business should prevent this. David had the business of a kingdom upon him, nevertheless, he says, ‘Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray.’ Ps. lv. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Especially may Christian friends help each other by prayer. 2 Cor. i. 11. Jam. v. 16, 18. Matt. xviii. 19.
How valuable is a Prayer Union, such as we have connected with our Mothers’ Meeting.
III. But lastly remember that these ‘helps’ are worth nothing unless you have the Lord for your Helper. Ps. liv. 4. Heb. xiii. 6. Exod. xviii. 4.
He is different to any earthly helper, for He is a Helper at all times, and in all circumstances. ”

“ Both inward and outward trials. 2 Kings, xx. 5. Ps. cxlii. 3. Acts, vii. 34.
There are many sorrows it is not well for a wife and mother to speak of to others, but take comfort! Your Saviour knows each grief—each trouble—each tear for your own sins or the sins of others.
4. The mother’s need. Matt. vi. 8, 32.
And He promises to supply it. Ps. xxiii. 1. Philip, iv. 19.
XXII. JESUS THE MOTHER’S FRIEND.
I. Mothers need a friend!
In joy and in sorrow, in dark hours and in light, in life and in death, they p. ”

“ Pray this night for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon yourselves—your husbands—your children. Matt. vii. 11.
Remember, ‘except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt. xviii. 3.
p. 43XXI. THOU, GOD, SEEST ME.
God’s penetrating eye. Rev. i 14.
I. He sees all. Prov. v. 21.
Bad and good. Prov. xv. 3.
II. Where does He see you?
1. He sees the mother in secret. Matt. vi. 6.
Each secret prayer—each sigh—each tear.
No privacy from Him. Eccles. xii. 14. Ps. xix. 12. Jer. xxiii. 24.
Many would give worlds to hide from God. ”

“ You need not be rich to be charitable.
The poorest may give. 2 Cor. viii. 2.
God looks not at the size, or value of the gift, but the motive from which it springs. 2 Cor. viii. 12.
The widow’s mite. Mark, xii. 42, 44.
The cup of cold water. Matt. x. 42; xxv. 35.
Nursing a sick neighbour. 1 Tim. v. 10.
IX. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi.
Her Reward.
I. Her children regard her with grateful love, and look back with thankfulness to her care and teaching. Verse 28. e.g. Timothy, 2 Tim. i. 5, and David, Ps. lxxxvi. 16; cxvi. 16.
p. 23II. Her husband confides in her, blesses her, honours her. ”

“ One bad companion corrupts many. ‘A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.’ 1 Cor. v. 6.
‘Evil communications corrupt good manners.’ 1 Cor. xv. 33.
Eph. v. 11. Prov. xxii. 24, 25.
You are warned in the Scriptures against making companions of:
1. Fools. Prov. xiii. 20.
2. Riotous. Prov. xxviii. 7.
3. Thieves. Isa. i. 23.
4. Depraved. Prov. xxix. 3. 1 Cor. v. 9.
5. Irreligious. 2 Thess. iii. 14. Jam. iv. 4.
p. 27If important for yourselves, doubly so for the young, unformed minds of your children. ”

“ December, 1862.
p. viiCONTENTS. p. 9I. IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN.
‘Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones.’ Matt. xviii. 10.
I. They are important to Society.
Our future soldiers, sailors, servants, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, &c., &c.
II. Important to yourselves.
The babe—the child—the young man—the young woman.
A gift (Gen. xxxiii. 5; xlviii. 9) which p. 10must prove either your crown (Prov. xvii. 6; Ps. cxxvii. 3) or your bitterness. Prov. xvii. 25; Gen. xlii. 38.
III. Important to themselves.
That child must live for ever.
A living soul committed to your care. ”