76. Devotions for Women in Childhood
The Woman in Childhood thanks God for her safe
Delivery.
EXHORTATION.
" A woman, as soon as she is delivered of the child, remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world."—John xvi.
21. This is the blessing bestowed by God upon
THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED THANKS GOD pious mothers. After their delivery, they forget all sorrow, and think only of praising God.
1. They praise him for the omnipotence which has preserved them, the aid he has extended, confessing that without the wonderful help of God all their efforts would have been idle. 2. They praise the goodness of God, in having shortened and alleviated their sufferings.
3. They thank God for having permitted them joyfully to look upon their child;—or, if it is dead, for having taken it away to the joys of heaven, and, in his mercy, exchanged its earthly life for the life of heavenly transports. 4. They must not deprive themselves of the rest which God has given them from forwardness or avarice, or unnecessary exercise and fatigue, but must accept and enjoy it. Many women in childbed, desire to obtain renown by walking in and out in the days assigned to them by God for rest, and thereby incur some dangerous illness, some permanent injury, or deplorable accident. They have to thank themselves and their own forwardness, in having thought to be wiser than God, and despising the rest which he has ordained for them. For the same reason, husbands must not disturb this rest of their wives, but give them a full measure of all that God has enjoined upon women in their purification Leviticus xxii. never FOR HER SAFE DELIVERY.
aging them to labor, or prematurely to quit their childbed.
5. They must daily cry to God to protect them and their children from all evil, and commend them and themselves to God in assiduous prayer.
6. They must beseech the Lord to give them health and renewed strength, and in due time, a glad and happy churching.
Strong and almighty God! I appear with joy before thy most holy face, and praise thee for the great benefits with which thou hast honored me. I praise thee for having alleviated the pains of my labor, joyfully deliverd me, and held thy hand over me in the hour of birth. Lord how great is thy omnipotence, how glorious thy power; thou didst hold me when I was ready to sink, thou didst refresh me when I was weak and impotent, thou didst strengthen me when all my powers were gone. Thou hast gloriously fulfilled all things, thou hast given me my child, preserved my life, averted all misfortune, and made me glad according to thy wish. Praise the Lord O my Soul, and what is in me praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits. The THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED THANKS GOD
Lord hath done great things in me, whereof I am glad. Praised be the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my supplication; the Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart hopes in him, and my heart is glad, and I will thank him with my song. Thank the Lord for he is lovely, and his mercy endureth for ever; ye that have been saved by the Lord, declare that his mercy endureth for ever; ye whom he has redeemed from tribulation, who cried to the Lord in their trouble shall praise the Lord for his goodness and his miracles, which he doth unto the children of men, and bring thanks and tell of his works with joy. Yes, my God, this day I recount thy work with joy and say, How shall I recompense the Lord for all his benefits? O my God, magnify thy mercy in me. Guard, strengthen, and sustain me on this childbed. Protect me and my child from all accident, from sickness and untoward casualties, Restore my lost powers quickly, and let me gain strength from day to day. O God of all grace and mercy! spread out the wings of thy grace over my house, keep it from fire and water, and let me pass the time of my confinement happy in prayer and in the fear of thee. Preserve my child for thy praise and glory; let me hold my churching in good health and with renewed strength, and make my offering of thanks and praise before thy face and in FOR HER SAFE DELIVERY.
thy holy temple. Give thanks to God with hearts and lips and mouths, who does great things in us and everywhere, who from the mother's womb, and the cradle of infancy has bestowed upon us innumerable benefits, and does so still. Amen. 1. Praised be the mighty God above,
Who heard my supplication,
Who graciously assuaged, and turned
My heavy tribulation.
Who pitied when I cried and raved,
And granted what my spirit craved.
His mercy lasts forever.
2. He was my comfort and my aid
At every time, but double
When he so tempered and removed
My last distress and trouble.
O look upon his works of grace,
And sink before his holy face.
His mercy lasts forever.
3. Though I was sorely terrified
I never was forsaken;
It seemed the time was very long
That I was rent and shaken.
Yet now all grief is turned to joy,
To happiness what did annoy;
His mercy lasts forever.
THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED
4. Yes, of his puisant arm of strength
I now have apprehension.
When all the help of man was gone,
God ended the contention.
He came with all his conquering aid
And on a bed of roses laid—
His mercy lasts forever.
5. Therefore, I never will forget,
Great God, thy power and glory,
And of thy goodness unto all
Proclaim the wondrous story.
I rest beneath thy folded wings
Securely as a bird that sings;
Thy mercies lasts forever.
The Woman in Childhood offers up her Morning Prayer.
EXHORTATION.
Prayer is the daily task of every pious christian; how much more, then should a woman in childbed begin and end the day with prayer? Especially when she and her child, during that time, are liable to so many casualties. But when she has resigned herself and her child into the hand of God, she can look with entire confidence to God for his divine aid and protection. OFFERS UP HER MORNING PRAYER.
1. At every morning, therefore, a woman in childbed should thank the Lord for the night's rest she has been permitted to enjoy.
2. She should commend herself and her child to the guardian care and providence of God.
3. She must spend the day in good thoughts, and enjoy her portion of rest with thanksgiving.
4. If sufferings show themselves after birth, she must bear them with patience, assured that the God who has so mercifully delivered her from the pangs of labor, will also avert every other trouble. Merciful God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! In this morning hour I raise my heart to thee, and thank thee for the gracious protection this night extended to me. Thy angel held watch over my bed, so that no evil came nigh me; thou hast protected me and my child, and permitted me once more to behold the face of the sun this morning. Lord, Lord, how great is thy goodness which is new every morning! Thy grace encompassed me this night, thy watch and ward were over me, thy mercy covered me, and I was kept unharmed. Therefore arise, O my spirit, and my soul, and praise the Lord for all his benefits. Lord, Lord, thou wert ever my aid, and THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED this night also, thou didst hold thy hand over me, I have experienced thy grace, thy power, thy omnipotence, thy love, and thy goodness. Lord, Lord, I will never forget thy benefits. I will extol the Lord at all time, his praise shall ever be in my mouth. My soul shall glory in the Lord; the wretched shall hear it, and rejoice. Praise the Lord with me, and let us together extol his name. When I sought the Lord, he answerd me, and delivered me from all fear. When I cried in my wretchedness, the Lord heard me, and helped me out of all my troubles. Therefore my mouth shall be filled with his praise, and my heart thank him; yea, with folded hands I will praise his mercy. But O Lord, Lord, let me be commended to thy fatherly guidance this day also. I commend to thee my body and my soul. O keep my soul and mind from evil thoughts, dread and trouble. But let thy holy spirit dwell in my heart, sanctify it, fill it with heavenly comfort and joy, and enable me to pass the day in thy fear, in inward spiritual bliss, in the love of Jesus, and in childlike contentment. Restore also to my body the powers it has lost, increase them every day, and restore me soon to perfect health. Avert all pains, casualties, disease, and misfortune, and alleviate the sufferings which thy wisdom may still impose upon me. Preserve my child according to OFFERS UP HER MORNING PRAYER.
thy grace, and let it grow and prosper to thy praise. Triune God, I resign myself wholly into thy keeping. Lord God, father in heaven, have mercy upon me, be gracious unto me and unto my child, forgive my sins, bless and keep me from all evil! Lord God Son, the Saviour of the World, have mercy upon me, be my mediator and advocate, my Jesus and beatifier, and let thy grace refresh me this morning like a refreshing dew; stand by me, strengthen me and keep me. Lord God Holy Ghost, have mercy upon me, pray in me, and bear testimony unto my spirit, that I am truly a child of God. The Lord bless me and keep me; the Lord make his face shine upon me, and be gracious unto me; the Lord lift up his countenance over me, and give me peace. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep my heart, soul, and mind, in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 1. Night's shades no longer bound me,
Again I see around me
The light, the day, the morning,
And Jesus, all adorning.
2. Jesus kept watch, and harkened,
When the sun's face was darkened;
He has not yet departed,
His presence, still imparted.
THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED
3. Soft in thine arms I slumbered,
My every hair is numbered
By thy enduring kindness,
In spite of all my blindness.
4. The day has fairly broken.
Lord, let it be a token
That thou, who hast defended,
Thy care hast not yet ended.
5. Jesus, my hope and gladness,
My spell against all sadness,
In all things be above me,
Protect, and guide, and love me.
The Woman in Childhood offers up her Evening Prayer.
EXHORTATION.
When the two disciples had spent the day with Jesus, they were loath to part with him at night, but said, "Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." Luke 24, 29. In the same manner a woman in childled must begin and end the day with prayer, and implore the gracious presence of her God for the approaching night. 1. She must thank God for having preserved her from pains and casualties, and her child from uneasiness throughout the day.
OFFERS UP HER EVENING PRAYER.
2. If God in his wisdom should impose some further suffering, she must praise God for assisting her to bear it, and that he has permitted her to live till night. 3. She must commend herself and child to the protection of the triune God for the night.
4. After her prayer, without giving way to anxiety, trepidation, fear or fright, which would interfere with her rest, she must go to sleep in the arms of her God, and think of God with joyful resignation when she wakes. Lord, Almighty God, how shall I sufficiently thank thee for the love and truth extended to me this day? I have spent this day in safety under thy protection, I have lived to behold the return of evening, thou hast aided me to bear and overcome the troubles of my condition, thou hast screened and guarded me, thou hast been the gracious father, protector and aid, of myself and friend. Lord, when I called upon thee, thou didst make me whole. Thou hast turned my lamentation into a dance, thou hast taken off my sackcloth and robed me with delight, that my praise may sing thy name, and never cease. Lord, my God, I will thank thee in eternity. But if, in thy mercy thou hast covered me 51*
THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED throughout the day with the wings of thy grace,
O spread thy loving kindness over me this night also, keep me, my house, and mine from misfortune, danger and harm. Forgive me, in mercy, all I have done this day to offend thee in thought, word, or deed. I will now lay myself in thy arms, O God of all grace and mercy, and will say, I lie and sleep in peace, for thou, O
Lord, wilt help me to live in safety. Command thy angels to come and watch over thine own;
give us the sentinels to make us secure against
Satan; thus shall we sleep in thy name because the angels shall be with us. O wake thyself at my bedside, and drive away whatever can disturb my rest. Lord God Father, let thy Father's heart be open to me this night. Lord Jesus, thou light of my soul, shine around me this night with the lustre of thy heavenly grace. O most precious Holy Ghost, awake in my soul holy desires and wishes; sing and pray in my heart, and seal the consolation that I am a child of God. O thou triune God, let me fall asleep in thy love, and rest gently in thy grace, so that, when I awake I may be with thee still. Let me gladly behold the morrow, when I will thank and praise thee for all thy benefits extended to my body and my soul. May the love of the father shield me, the grace of Jesus cover me, and the assistance of the Holy Ghost strengthen
OFFERS UP HER EVENING PRAYER.
and comfort me. The day is gone, O Jesus remain with me; light of my soul, dispel the darkness of sin; rise with me, splendor of righteousness, enlighten me, Lord, for it is time. Thou dost not sleep when feeble limbs slumber; O let my soul grow in good gifts even in sleep. Sun of Life refresh my mind, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Amen. 1. Jesus, eternal light! The day is past and over,
A mantle dark the sun's replendency does cover;
Jesus, thou light of life, never depart from me,
With thee throughout the night united let me be.
2. While yet I live, I live to thee, for thou hast given
Life, happiness, and peace, all for which I have striven;
For thee, O friend of souls, for thee I live alone;
My heart still lingers round the footsteps of thy throne.
3. Lord Jesus, while I sleep give me thy kind protection,
Cover me with the wings of thy benign affection;
Jesus, abide with me, the night comes on apace,
Look to my body and soul, and guard their resting place.
4. Gladly for thee I die, for then I shall inherit
The happiness thy death and sufferings did merit;
For thee I die each day, in casting off my sin,
Dying I live for thee, by having thee within.
THE WOMAN IN CHILDBED PRAYS BEFORE
5. Day and night I am thine, I wake and sleep before thee,
At night, Lord, from my side depart not, I implore thee;
In comfort and distress, in poverty and wealth,
Lord, I am always thine, in sickness and in health.
The Woman in Childhood prays before and after the Baptism of her Child.
EXHORTATION.
Christian parents, to whom God has given children, lose not a moment which can be saved to have their children received into the communion of Christ in holy baptism. The baptismal covenant is of the last importance for time and eternity. 1. A pious mother will therefore present her child assiduously to God before it is baptized, praying him to permit it to be baptized, and in mercy to adopt it as his child. 2. After the baptism she must thank the Lord for the great favor thus awarded, and commend the child to the continued protection of God.
AND AFTER THE BAPTISM OF HER CHILD.
PRAYER,