mother2020childGrace Gems is a ministry that sends devotions to your email account on a daily basis.  Each entry includes a short sound bite of an old Puritan sermon and a snippet of a book.  I have posted  one here and you can read another about prayer at The Simple Front Porch. 

This week’s devotions included an especially relevant book excerpt that truly hit home.  Please take a moment to read it and let me know your thoughts.

Those are not mothers–but monsters!(William Secker, “The Wedding Ring” 1658)

 

“Train up a child in the way he should go–and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

The goal of the godly mother, is that her children in the flesh–may be God‘s children in the spirit. A mother should be more careful of her children’s pious breeding–than she should be fearful of her children’s worldly bearing.

Take heed, lest these flowers grow in the devil’s garden! Take heed, that though you bring them out in corruption–yet do not bring them down to damnation! Those are not mothers–but monsters–who while they are teaching their children the way to heaven with their lips–are leading them to hell with their lives!

You let out your efforts to make them great–lift up your prayers to make them godly; that before you die from them–you may see Christ live in them. While these twigs are green and tender–they should be bowed towards God.

Children are in a family–as passengers are in a boat. The husband and wife are as a pair of oars to row them to their desired haven!

Let these small pieces of timber be hewed and squared for the celestial building.

By putting a scepter of grace into their hands–you will set a crown of glory upon their heads! “Train up a child in the way he should go–and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

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