Chapter 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. 17.

II. Daily Scripture reading. Acts, xvii. 11. Ps. cxix. 103.

III. Family prayer.

Judgment pronounced on those who neglect family religion. Jer. x. 25.

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. If you are careless in this respect, it is because there is no
real hunger, no craving of soul for heavenly food.