The Christian Mother; or, Notes for Mothers' Meetings

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Christian Mother, by Maria Eliza Hoare This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Christian Mother or, Notes for Mothers' Meetings Author: Maria Eliza Hoare Release Date: March 10, 2013 [eBook #42291] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER*** Transcribed from the 1876 Hatchards edition by David Price, email [email protected] THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER: OR, NOTES FOR MOTHERS’ MEETINGS. * * * * * BY THE LATE MRS E. HOARE. * * * * * Second Edition. * * * * * LONDON: HATCHARDS, PICCADILLY. 1876. * * * * * LONDON: Printed by JOHN STRANGEWAYS, Castle St. Leicester Sq. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. THE following Notes were prepared and published some years ago, by one who has since realised in Heaven the unspeakable value of those precious truths which she most diligently taught on earth. The little book has been for a long time out of print, but it appears so calculated to be useful in the Lord’s service that I have thought it well to publish another edition. It was said of Abel, ‘He being dead yet speaketh.’ May the admirable mother by whom these notes were prepared so speak in these pages to those who know a mother’s care, that they may be assisted to enjoy the full experience of a mother’s joy! E. HOARE. TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _April_, 1876. PREFACE. THE following notes have been used by the writer in conducting Mothers’ Meetings amongst the poorer classes, and it has been suggested that they may be useful to other ladies engaged in a similar work. With this view, she has ventured to publish them in the present concise form. It will be seen that they are merely skeletons, and will require to be filled up by each person who makes use of them. Thus it will be necessary to _turn to the texts referred to_, and to enlarge on each head as familiarly as possible, illustrating it by simple, and telling facts. If this is done, and the subjects well studied, it will often be found, that, although each subject has been generally compressed into one chapter, it is better to take one, two, or three heads, as affording sufficient matter for the conversation of a single evening, rather than too hastily to go over the whole section. 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. They want to be comforted, both in duty and trial, by the _same_ word of promise, and to ‘go boldly to the _same_ throne of grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ It is earnestly desired that the study of the following pages, which are, in fact, only a compilation of Scripture, may be the means of leading many to listen more closely to _His_ voice, who knows so well the mother’s heart, the mother’s sins, the mother’s sorrows, and the mother’s need. M. E. H. TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _December_, 1862. CONTENTS. PAGE Importance of Children 9 The Temper of the Wife, and Mother 11 Truth—part I. 12 Truth—part II. 13 The Excellent Woman—as a Wife 15 „ „—in her Home 17 „ „—in her Conversation 19 „ „—her Religion 21 „ „—her Reward 22 How to spend Sunday 24 Companions 26 Sloth 28 The Watchful Mother 29 The Hasty Mother 31 The Weary Mother 32 The Careless Mother 35 The Careful Mother 37 The Patient Mother 38 The Firm Mother 39 Conversion 41 Thou, God, seest me 43 Jesus the Mother’s Friend 44 Helps for Mothers—part I. 46 Helps for Mothers—part II. 48 Teach your Children 50 The Parting Place, and the Meeting Place 51 The Mother’s Death-bed 54 New Year’s Day 55 First Meeting in the Year 57 Last Meeting in the Year. The Cradle and the Grave 59 I. 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 must 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. That child must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Rev. xx. 12. IV. Important in the sight of _their Father who is in heaven_. So important—that for them He gave His only Son to shed His blood. So important—that He especially calls, ‘Suffer little children,’ &c. Mark, x. 14. So important—that He gives His angels special charge over them. Matt. xviii. 10. ‘Take heed then that ye despise not one of these little ones.’ No jewel so precious as the soul of your child, but how far more do parents often prize the casket containing it, than the gem itself! No plant so needing watchful care and culture; Oh! neglect it not! What have YOU done with your jewel, your plant? II. THE TEMPER OF THE WIFE, AND MOTHER. I. What she should _not_ be. 1. Provoking. Eph. vi. 4. Prov. xv. 1. Gal. v. 26. 2. Easily provoked. 1 Cor. xiii. 5. Jam. i. 19. 3. Brawling. Prov. xxi. 9; xxv. 24. 4. Contentious. Prov. xix. 13; xxi. 19; xxvii. 15. II. What she _should_ be. 1. Gentle. 1 Thess. ii. 7. 1 Pet. iii. 4. Children are soon frightened by rough words, or rough treatment. 2. Forbearing. Eph. iv. 2. Col. iii. 13. If _you_ cannot bear with your children, who will? 3. Patient. 1 Thess. v. 14. Eccles. vii. 8. A mother has need of great patience. 4. Loving. Tit. ii. 4. III. In your daily temper take Christ as your example. ‘_Consider Him_ who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary, and faint in your minds.’ Heb. xii. 3. III. TRUTH. 1. Importance of truth. Prov. xii. 19. The liar’s portion. Rev. xxi. 8; xxii. 15. How can you enforce the necessity of truth, and the sin of lying upon your children? I. You must enforce it by _example_. 1. Never deceive them. The word passed must never be broken. Be careful, then, how you promise or threaten. 2. Always adhere yourself closely to truth. In _little_ things as well as _great_, in _deed_ as well as _word_. What a warning is Rebecca (Gen. xxvii.) of the danger of the first downward step, and the baneful influence of a mother’s evil example! 3. Let them see that you cling closely to truth, even when it is to your own disadvantage. Ps. xv. 5, Prayer-book version. 4. Never get out of a difficulty by an untruth. II. To do this be ever— Watchful. Ps. cxli. 3. Prayerful. Ps. cxix. 29. IV. TRUTH. 2. Last meeting we found that it is useless to enforce the necessity of truth, unless the mother is consistent in her _example_. Besides this: II. Enforce it by instruction and by precept. Tell—how God hates lying. Prov. vi. 16, 17; xii. 22. Tell—histories from Scripture to show how God hates it. Satan, Gen. iii. 4. Gehazi, 2 Kings, v. 25. Ananias, Acts, v. 1–11. Tell—who is the father of lies. John, viii. 44. Tell—the consequences of lying. Ps. v. 6; lv. 23. Rev. xxi. 8. III. Avoid severity. Children are often frightened into deceit by fear of their parents’ severity. IV. Do not put temptations to lie in a child’s way. Do not encourage them to conceal anything from their father, schoolmaster, master, or mistress, if in service. V. Correct for a lie. It is a false love which dispenses with a needful chastisement. Prov. xiii. 24; xix. 18. But always with prayer. VI. Let the child see that you are grieved for his sin. That it gives you _sorrow_, not only causes _anger_. Ps. cxix. 158. VII. Make it a subject of prayer with your child that the way of lying may be removed from him. Ps. cxix. 29. Prov. xxx. 8. V. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi. AS A WIFE. I. A wife _ought_ to be a chief blessing; a good wife _is_ so. Verse 10. Prov. xii. 4; xviii. 22; xix. 14. II. Her husband can safely trust her. Ver. 11. Money—children—sure of her affection—no secrets. III. She does him good, and not evil all the days of her life. Verse 12. Not like Eve. Gen. iii. 6. Or Samson’s wife. Enticing—coaxing—teazing—weeping—betraying. Judg. xiv. 16. IV. She cares for his bodily wants. Verses 15, 23. To do this must be a ‘keeper at home.’ Tit. ii. 5. V. She submits if wills clash. Not often the case in a happy home. Yields cheerfully, not grudgingly, when in accordance with God’s will. Col. iii. 18. Eph. v. 22. VI. She endeavours to _win_ her husband, does not try to _drive_. 1 Pet. iii. 1. 1 Cor. vii. 16. Win to religion by displaying its beauty and brightness in your lives. VII. She is a spiritual help to her husband. 1 Pet. iii. 7. ‘Mutual help and comfort.’ Marriage Service. Not a hindrance. Luke, xiv. 20. A wife has more opportunity than any one of seeing her husband’s faults. Do not _talk_ about them, but _pray_ about them. VI. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi. IN HER HOME. I. She is diligent. Verses 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27. So 1 Tim. v. 10. Rom. xii. 8. No gossiping; standing at doors; idling at neighbours. Observe what is said of the diligent in the Book of Proverbs. Maketh rich. Prov. x. 4. Prospered (Prov. xii. 24, 27; xiii. 4; xxi. 5.) Sometimes worldly diligence leads to spiritual sloth. Let it not be so with you; but whilst you are ‘not slothful in business,’ be also ‘fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.’ Rom. xii. 11. II. She is prudent. Verses 13, 14, 15. Looks well to her goings. Prov. xiv. 15. Looks forward. Prov. xxii. 3; xxvii. 12. Enjoys a special blessing. Prov. xix. 14. III. Overlooks her household. Verses 15, 21, 27. Children, servants, if she has any. Your household, of whomsoever it may consist, should share your blessings and privileges. Gen. xviii. 19. Lev. xvi. 17. Acts, xvi. 15. Important to impress this upon your girls going to service. A _good_ mistress _ought_, and _will_, look after them. No kindness in lax discipline. Look back to your own days of service. Who was the best mistress? 1 Tim. v. 14. VII. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi. IN HER CONVERSATION. I. ‘She openeth her mouth with _wisdom_,’ verse 26. 1. No foolish talking, or jesting. Job, xv. 3. Eph. v. 4. 2. No chattering or gossip, which tends to penury. Prov. xiv. 23. Eccles. x. 11, 14. 3. No deception. Prov. xxiv. 28; xx. 17. II. ‘In her tongue is the law of _kindness_,’ verse 26. 1. No tale-bearing or back-biting. Prov. xxv. 23; xxvi. 22. Ps. xv. 3. How mischievous. Prov. xxiv. 2. 2. No flattering, like wicked woman. Prov. v. 3; vi. 24. Ps. v. 9. III. How important to bridle the tongue. Jam. i. 26. There is often much wisdom in silence. Ps. xxxiv. 13. Prov. xvii. 28; xxix. 11. Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. Philip, i. 27. Ps. lxxvii. 12. Prov. xv. 4. 1 Pet. iii. 1. 2 Pet. iii. 11. Col. iii. 16. Make this your prayer. Ps. xix. 14; cxli. 3. Blessing promised. Ps. l. 23. IV. Three good rules. 1. So speak to your husband and children, that should these be your _last_ words, you would not regret them. 2. Never say anything of your neighbours you would dislike them to overhear. 3. In all your conversation, remember that the Lord is nigh, and hears each word. VIII. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi. HER RELIGION. I. The secret of her many excellencies here portrayed. It did not consist in _beauty_. Verse 30. A pretty face often leads to ruin. Prov. xi. 22. Ezek. xxviii. 17. Never make much of a child’s beauty. But it was this, she was a _religious_ woman, actuated in all she did by the _fear of the Lord_. Verse 30. The woman who fears the Lord. 1. Hates evil. Prov. viii. 13. 2. It is her moving principle, ‘all the day long.’ Prov. xxiii. 17. 3. She is happy, though poor. Prov. xv. 16. 4. It is her confidence and refuge in trial. Prov. xiv. 26. 5. It is _well_ with her. Eccles. viii. 12. II. She shows her love to Christ, by her love to His people. Verse 20. Acts, ix. 36. Heb. xiii. 16. 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. II. Her husband confides in her, blesses her, honours her. Verse 28. Eph. v. 25, 31. 1 Pet. iii. 7. III. She reaps the fruit of her labours. Verse 31. Deut. iv. 40. Prov. xx. 7; xxii. 6; xxix. 17. 2 John, 4. IV. She shall rejoice in time to come. Verse 25. Not only in this world (Ps. cxviii. 15), but in the life to come. In the future kingdom, will not her children, for whom she prayed and laboured, be to her, as St. Paul says his spiritual children will be to him, ‘Her joy, her crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?’ 1 Thess. ii. 19. Let this cheer the faint-hearted and discouraged Christian mother; she sows perhaps now with bitter tears, but she shall ‘reap in joy.’ X. HOW TO SPEND SUNDAY. ‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.’ Mothers can effect much by domestic arrangement, and forethought. I. Make Saturday a ‘day of preparation.’ ‘Bake that which ye will bake to-day,’ &c. Exod. xvi. 5, 23. Mark, xv. 42. Luke, xxiii. 54. II. Endeavour to make the Sunday 1. A _holy_ day. Exod. xx. 10, 11. Deut. v. 12. Gen. ii. 3. To sanctify, signifies to set apart for a holy purpose. Thus in the New Testament the Sabbath is called ‘the Lord’s day.’ Rev. i. 10, because a day devoted to His service. 2. A _resting_ day. Gen. ii. 3. Lev. xxiii. 3. Matt. xxiii. 56. Called ‘the Sabbath of _rest_.’ Lev. xxiii. 3. And ‘the _rest_ of the holy Sabbath.’ Exod. xvi. 23. _Sabbath_ signifies _rest_, and heaven, of which it is a type, is called, ‘the keeping of a _Sabbath_.’ Heb. iv. 9. 3. A _happy_ day. It is a _gift_, a _privilege_, not a task. Exod. xvi. 29. Isa. lviii. 13. Not esteemed to be such, unless God’s service felt to be a _delight_. Others say, ‘When will the Sabbath be gone?’ Amos, viii. 5. Let there be no gloom in the home, but a cheerful sobriety. 4. A _profitable_ day. Though _rest_, not _idleness_. Children are always happiest when their minds are employed. To profit pay great attention to Public Worship, Deut. xxxi. 12, 13. Acts, xiii. 42; xvi. 13; xviii. 4. Heb. x. 25. Observe our Lord’s example. Luke, iv. 16. The Sunday School is a great help to the poor mother. Cultivate religious occupation. _e.g._ Find texts—repeat hymns—sing hymns, &c. III. Observe the promise. Isa. lvi. 2–7: lviii. 13, 14. XI. COMPANIONS. I. Danger of bad companions. 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. If important for yourselves, doubly so for the young, unformed minds of your children. II. Form good friendships. ‘The friendship of the world is enmity with God.’ Jam. iv. 4. David chose his friends from those who feared God. Ps. cxix. 63. Heb. x. 33. III. Observe three rules for the sake of your _children_, as well as _yourselves_. 1. Never harbour bad guests. Lodgers—workpeople. 2. Never associate with the wicked, unless obliged to do so, or with a view to doing them good. Even this needs caution. 3. Remember, ‘A man is known by his friends.’ You and your children will be judged by the company you keep. XII. SLOTH. I. The command to be diligent is plain. Rom. xii. 11. 2 Thess. iii. 10, 11. II. See the miserable results of sloth. 1. It leads to tattling. 1 Tim. v. 13. 2. Decay. Eccles. x. 18. 3. Difficulties. Prov. xv. 19. 4. Waste. Prov. xviii. 9. 5. Want. Prov. xx. 4; xxiv. 30, 34. III. Contrast excellent woman (Prov. xxxi. 27) with the slothful person. Prov. xix. 24; xxiv. 30; x. 26. IV. Learn a lesson from the ant for yourselves—for your children. Prov. vi. 6, &c. Give your children something to do. Remember, they must be _set to work_, though it is often more trouble to you to teach _them_ to do it, than to do it _yourself_—yet persevere. V. If not slothful in your temporal affairs, above all be not slothful concerning the salvation of your souls. Heb. vi. 11, 12. 2 Pet. i. 10. 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. XV. THE WEARY MOTHER. Many things below make a mother weary. The blessing of _rest_ is chiefly future. Notice various things that often make mothers weary, and the remedy for them. CAUSE. REMEDY. I. Weary with cares and I. Do not carry your burden sorrows—ready to exclaim, ‘My alone. Ps. lv. 22. burden is greater than I can bear.’ 1 Pet. v. 7. Jer. xxxi. 25. _Hereafter_ rest. Psa. xciv. 13. Isa. xiv. 3. II. Weary with work. II. Make more use of the rest of the Sabbath. Exod. xx. 8. Called ‘Sabbath of _rest_.’ Lev. xxiii. 3. _Hereafter_. Heb. iv. 9. III. Weary with sickness. III. Comfort in time of sickness. Ps. xli. 3. Job, vii. 3, 4. Isa. xxxviii. 12, 14. Great alleviation in true spirit of submission. May be your own, your husband’s, your children’s. _Hereafter_. Isa. xxxiii. 24. Rev. xxi. 4. Wearisome nights of pain, or watching. IV. Weary of your sins. IV. Come with your sins to Christ. Ps. vi. 6; xxxviii. 4. Matt. xi. 28, 29. Oft repented. _Hereafter_. Rev. xxi. 27. Oft repeated. V. Weary with your children’s V. Correct, and they shall give sins. you rest. Prov. xxix. 17. Consider Christ, _lest ye be weary_. Heb. xii. 3. Do you know where to go for rest? Jer. vi. 16. Or are you wandering hither and thither in vain, having forgotten your resting-place? Jer. l. 6. Remember, it is only to those who are in Christ that these promises of rest apply. It is only His own sheep who can say, ‘He maketh me to _lie down in green pastures_.’ To others there is no rest here, or hereafter, for, ‘The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it _cannot rest_. . . . There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.’ Isa. lvii. 20, 21. XVI. THE CARELESS MOTHER. Isa. xxxii. 9–13. Motherless children are often uncared for. No one ‘_naturally_ cares for their state.’ No child with a mother _ought_ to be so. But too often mothers are careless about— I. Their _minds_. No schooling—no teaching—no training—no Sunday School. Cares not whether in time, or too late—regular or truant, &c., &c. II. Their _respectability_, and _associates_. Will take in bad lodgers, hire bad characters to help at the wash-tub because they can be had cheaper than the respectable, forgetting that ‘a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.’ Prov. xxii. 1. Eccles. vii. 1. What guilty carelessness! III. Their _happiness_. What misery here awaits a neglected child! What woe hereafter! IV. Their _souls_. To a parent guilty of this carelessness, it is said, ‘His blood will I require at thine hand.’ Ezek. iii. 18, 19; xxxiii. 6. Have you ever lost a child, for whose soul you never cared? Pray Ps. li. 14. _This_ arises from want of real religion. You do not know the immense value of a soul. Would you be thus careless of an earthly treasure? Would you not watch it—lock it up—guard it with a jealous eye? Your child’s soul a treasure passing all price. Yet you allow Satan to steal it—bad companions to corrupt it—ruin it yourself by neglect. A thing neglected is ruined. Keep in view the judgment day. Will your child then say, ‘No man cared for my soul’—‘even my _mother_ cared not that I perished!’ XVII. THE CAREFUL MOTHER. I. Careful in her _house_. No waste. Prov. xviii. 9. John, vi. 12. Yet not stingy. No needless expense—makes a little go a long way. II. Careful over her _children_. Their _bodies_—health—clothes—future. 1 Tim. v. 8. 2 Cor. xii. 14. Provident Club. Penny Bank, &c. Their _minds_. Gives education suitable to their station. No fortune so good. What a disgrace in these days to a mother, if a child cannot read and write! Their _souls_. Above all, let not care for the body choke this. Mark, iv. 19. Lay up treasure in heaven. Matt. vi. 20. III. Let not careful mother be _too full of care_. Not _overcharged_. Luke, xxi. 34; x. 41, 42. ‘Live not in careful suspense.’ Luke, xii. 29 (margin). Cast your care on One who can bear it. 1 Pet. v. 7. Phil. iv. 6. He will not despise it, ‘_for He careth for you_.’ For the future, take this for your motto when over-pressed by cares and trials, ‘The Lord will provide.’ Gen. xxii, 14. Philip, iv. 19. Ps. xxiii. 1. XVIII. THE PATIENT MOTHER. A mother has, in a peculiar degree, ‘need of patience.’ Heb. x. 36. I. In trials of temper. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5, 7. Prov. xiv. 17. II. With your children’s faults. Matt. xviii. 22, 35. Look back to the days of your childhood. Were not you equally trying to your mother? Remember your own faults, and God’s patience with you. He bears long with you. III. It may be you need patience in bearing with unjust tempers, and unkind treatment. 1 Pet. ii. 19, 23. Ps. xxxvii. 7. IV. For answers to prayer. Syro-Phenician mother. Matt. xv. 22, 28. Jam. v. 7, 8. ‘Tarry thou the Lord’s leisure.’ V. In tribulation, sickness, and poverty. Rom. xii. 12. Jam. v. 10, 11. Luke, xxi. 19. XIX. THE FIRM MOTHER. I. To obey is a child’s duty. Exod. xx. 12. Eph. vi. 1. Col. iii. 20. II. This obedience should be— 1. Implicit. 2. Unquestioning. 3. Immediate. 4. In manner, and spirit. 5. From love. 6. In absence, as well as presence. 7. To the _mother_ as well as the _father_. Prov. i. 8; vi. 20; xv. 20. Lev. xix. 3. _e.g._ Luke, ii. 51. This is most important. In the Bible no difference is drawn between the authority of the father and mother. III. A promise attached to obedience. Exod. xx. 12. Eph. vi. 2. Jer. xxxv. 18, 19. IV. To disobey is sin. Deut. xxi. 18, 21. Ezek. xxii. 7. Rom. i. 30. 2 Tim. iii. 2. 1 Sam. ii. 25. V. A punishment attached to disobedience. Deut. xxvii. 16. Prov. xxx. 17. VI. It is a parent’s _duty_ to enforce obedience. Allowed disobedience brings misery into the home. 1 Tim. iii. 4; v. 4. Eli. 1 Sam. ii. 23. David. 1 Kings, i. 6. How solemn then, Mothers, is your responsibility. How earnest should be your prayers that _your_ commands may agree with _God’s_. Gen. xviii. 19. Deut. xxxii. 46. Eph. vi. 1. * * * * * Seek for wisdom in commanding. Firmness in insisting. XX. CONVERSION. We meet time after time at our Mothers’ Meeting, but how few of us are truly converted, and changed in heart. Ask yourselves this night two questions. I. Do you earnestly seek your own conversion? ‘What shall it profit you, if you gain the whole world, and lose your own soul?’ Mark, viii. 36, 37. Delay not. Isa. lix. 1. II. Do you earnestly seek for the conversion of your children?## 1. 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? Matt. v. 29, 30. 2. Perhaps you do not _pray_ for it. Observe how the mother prayed. Matt. xv. 22, 28. David. 1 Chron. xxix. 19. Job, i. 5. 3. Perhaps you place _hindrances_ in the way. You draw them to the world instead of to Christ. Matt. xviii. 6. 4. Perhaps you forget the necessity of the _Holy Spirit’s power_. Isa. xliv. 3, 4, 5. 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. XXI. 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. 2. In her _daily path_. Job, xxxiv. 21. Ps. cxxxix. 3. 3. In _every circumstance_. 2 Chron. xvi. 9. III. _What_ does He see? 1. The mother’s _heart_. Jer. xx. 12. 1 Sam. xvi. 7. Her motives—desires—yearnings. You may deceive _others_. You may even deceive _yourselves_, ‘but all things are naked, and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.’ Heb. iv. 13. Luke, xvi. 15. 2. The mother’s _sins_. Ps. xix. 12; xc. 8. Isa. lvii. 18. Amos, v. 12. Sins of omission and commission. 3. The mother’s _sorrows_. Exod. iii. 7. 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 need a Friend who is always the same—even ‘the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.’ II. You may have such a Friend. 1. Even Jesus. Prov. xviii. 24. John, xv. 15. The Friend of sinners. Matt. xi. 19. 2. He loveth always. Prov. xvii. 17. 3. He is faithful. Prov. xviii. 24. John, xiii. 1. III. Is He _your_ Friend? Can you point to Jesus and say, ‘This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend?’ Cant. v. 16. If not, do not rest until you can say so. IV. If Jesus _is_ your Friend. 1. Go to Him in _trouble_. ‘Pour out your heart before Him.’ John, xi. 3, 11. In sorrow lean on His bosom, as John did. John, xiii. 23. ‘He weeps with those who weep.’ 2. Go to Him in _joy_, for He ‘rejoices with those who do rejoice.’ 3. Do not have hard thoughts of Him because He afflicts. ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend.’ Prov. xxvii. 6. Ps. cxli. 5. 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. 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. XXIV. HELPS FOR MOTHERS. 2. We will notice this evening three more things which are, or ought to be, ‘helps’ to mothers on the heavenly race. I. Husbands and wives should be _mutual_ helps, (see Marriage Service) ‘for the mutual help and comfort the one of the other.’ Gen. ii. 18. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Eph. v. 28, 29. Fellow-pilgrims, fellow-sufferers, fellow-travellers they _must be_; but what an unspeakable joy is it when they are also fellow-helpers, fellow-labourers, fellow-heirs, fellow-citizens! * * * * * ‘O happy house, where man and wife are one, Thro’ love of Thee, in spirit, heart, and mind; Together joined by holy bands, which none, Not death itself, can sever or unbind; Where both on thee unfailingly depend, In weal and woe, in good and evil days, And hope with Thee eternity to spend; In sweet communion and eternal praise.’ II. Christian friends. 2 Cor. i. 24. Rom. xvi. 3. What comfort and _help_ may be derived from the visits, counsels, and sympathy of a Christian neighbour, a kind and devoted district visitor, or minister. 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. In trouble. Ps. xlvi. 1. To the widow. Ps. lxviii. 5. To the fatherless. Ps. x. 14. Take, therefore, this short prayer and use it in your daily life, ‘Lord, be _Thou_ my helper.’ Lift up this prayer in the midst of your work—of temptation—of trial, and you will be enabled to add, ‘My heart trusted in Him, and _I am helped_!’ Ps. xxviii. 7. XXV. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN. A mother may not have much time for instruction, or be very capable of teaching, but she should make it her daily duty to give her children some instruction in the Scriptures. She may know but little herself, but let not this discourage her; for in watering others she shall herself be watered. Prov. xi. 25. I. Teach, seeking the help of the Holy Spirit. Isa. liv. 13. John, xvi. 13. Luke, xii. 12. Job, xxxvi. 22. Ps. xciv. 12. II. Teach in the spirit of prayer. Eph. vi. 18, 19. Remembering these words, ‘Without Me ye can do nothing.’ John, xv. 5. III. Teach, leaning on the promise. Isa. lv. 10, 11. Eccles. xi. 1, 6. IV. Teach, expecting a result. Ps. cxxvi. 6. Prov. xxii. 6. Gen. xviii. 19. 2 Tim. i. 5; iii. 15. XXVI. THE PARTING PLACE, AND THE MEETING PLACE. The following circumstance took place not long after the last meeting. Two mothers, who were both present at the Class, about a fortnight after met in the Cemetery, sorrowing at their children’s graves. Each had during that interval lost a child, but not having heard of each other’s trouble, the meeting was unexpected. On this occasion the following subject was taken. I. The parting place—the child’s death-bed. This is, 1. A parting place. All must die alone. The mother may have watched over her child with untiring care during its years of infancy, the trials of youth, and the snares and cares of riper years, but here they _must part_. 2 Sam. xii. 15, 23. 2. A weeping place. Gen. xxi. 16. 2 Sam. xii. 21. Jer. xxxi. 15. Mark, v. 38. Luke, vii. 13. Not _wrong_, for Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. John, xi. 35. 3. A birth place To a new and heavenly life. But not so to _all_. To _some_, namely, to those who have indeed been born again. Luke, xvi. 22; and to babes. Isa. xl. 11. Contrast David’s sorrow for his infant, (2 Sam. xii. 23) with his sorrow for Absalom, 2 Sam. xix. 4. To one death was the door of _life_, to the other of _death_. II. The meeting place—the judgment-seat. Rev. xx. 12. Rom. xiv. 10. You cannot avoid it. It will be. 1. To all a place of recognition. The child you led to Christ—the child you led astray. The child you trained for heaven—the child you trained for hell. _All_ will be there. 2. To many a place of weeping. Matt. xxv. 30. Luke, vi. 25. 3. To many a place of rejoicing. Matt. xxv. 34. Believing mother! Your night of weeping will then be over, your morning of joy will dawn, of which the sun will never set! Ps. xxx. 5. Which will it be to you—a meeting-place of joy or sorrow? May you and your children be so united in Christ here, that you may both part and meet in peace! XXVII. THE MOTHER’S DEATH-BED. On the occasion of the death of a young mother, which took place not long after the first meeting in the new year. I. How near it may be. 1 Sam. xx. 3. Job, xxi. 13. In the midst of life we are in death. We have had a solemn lesson. Almost the youngest in our class cut down the first. II. The hour of death is an hour 1. Of deep solemnity. It is a dark valley. Ps. xxiii. 4. Job. x. 21. 2. Of much regret. Conscience awake, looks back on duties undone—things done—words spoken—words unsaid, &c. 3. Often of great suffering. Ps. cxvi. 3. Not the time to begin to seek the Lord. 4. Of parting. Philip, i. 23, 24. Must die alone. Must leave husband and children. They may go with you to the edge of the river, but no further. 5. Of weeping. Gen. xxxv. 18; xxiii. 2. John, xi. 31. 2 Sam. xix. 4. 6. It is an hour when Christ, and _Christ alone_, can save you. 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. Time _past_—is gone, thou canst not it recall. Time _is_—thou hast, improve the portion small. Time_ future_—is not, and may never be. Time _present_—is the only time for thee! Therefore, I. _Hear to-day_. (Ps. xcv. 7.) ‘See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.’ _Exhort to-day_ your children. (Heb. iii. 13.) _Work to-day_ (John, ix. 4) for your children’s souls. Never postpone. Jam. iv. 13. 2 Cor. vi. 2. _Now_ it is high time to wake out of sleep. Rom. xiii. 11. 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. _Awake_ 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. XXIX. FIRST MEETING IN THE YEAR. I. Look backwards on the past year. 1. On your _sins_. They are many—great—mighty. You need forgiveness, and Christ is _ready_ to forgive. Neh. ix. 17. Make this your prayer for the past year, ‘Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for _it is great_.’ Ps. xxv. 11. On your sins towards your _husbands_. Provocation—temper—carelessness of their comfort—an unyielding spirit. Again must you say, ‘Pardon mine iniquity, for it is _great_.’ On your sins towards your _children_. Neglect—bad example—prayerlessness—cross tempers—hasty slaps. Again you must say, ‘Pardon mine iniquity, for it is _great_.’ 2. On your _sorrows_. Poverty—sickness—death. Yet your sorrows not so many as your sins. How have you been helped through them! Have you _profited_? Heb. xii. 10. God has been teaching you, have you learnt the lesson? 3. On your mercies. You can count your sorrows. Try and count your mercies, they are more than can be numbered. Ps. xl. 5. How undeserved they were! You have counted your days of sickness—have you those of health? Your hours of mourning—have you those of joy? Your children taken—have you counted your children spared? &c., &c. Were you thankful? Gen. xxxii. 10. II. Look forward on the opening year. On what? Can you tell? How uncertain, you know not what will be even on the morrow. Jam. iv. 4. Prov. xxvii. 1. Who will be taken? Whose husband? Whose child? You know not. Therefore, ‘be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye _think not_ the Son of Man cometh.’ Matt. xxiv. 44. Can _you_ say, ‘Even so come, Lord Jesus, _come quickly_?’ XXX. LAST MEETING IN THE YEAR. THE CRADLE AND THE GRAVE. God has been speaking to us during the past year. Two mothers have gone to their long home, and ten of our children. Let us reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.’ 1 Sam. iii. 9. God speaks to us from the cradle, and the grave. I. From the _cradle_, and says, 1. ‘Take this child, and nurse it for _me_.’ Exod. ii. 9. 2. Pray for it—train it—love it—comfort it. 3. He speaks in a voice of _comfort_ from our cradles to our souls, if we are His people. ‘Mother, can you forget this sucking child? Yea, you _may_ forget, yet will not I forget you.’ Isa. xlix. 15. Again—Do you comfort your babe—do you soothe its fears? do you wipe its tears? Even so, believing mother, will God comfort you. Isa. lxvi. 13. Yes, even ‘wipe away all tears from your eyes.’ Oh! precious voice from the cradle to your soul! II. God speaks from the _grave_—and says, 1. ‘Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayst be no longer steward.’ Luke, xvi. 2. 2. ‘Time is short.’ 1 Cor. vii. 29. 1 Pet. iv. 7. What a little life—gone as a spark! You may die—your children may die—or Christ may come. Do not say, ‘to-morrow.’ Jam. iv. 13. 3. ‘Be ye also ready.’ Matt. xxiv. 44. 4. Your child shall rise again. ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ John, xi. 25. (See Burial Service.) Jer. xxxi. 16, 17. If both parent and child are in Christ, what a blessed reunion, for He adds, ‘Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall _never die_!’ If it should be the Lord’s will during the coming year again to take many of our little ones from their mothers’ arms, and to lay them in His own bosom, may each sorrowing one amongst us be enabled to say in the spirit of true and loving submission, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; _blessed be the name of the Lord_!’ * * * * * LONDON: Printed by JOHN STRANGEWAYS, Castle St. Leicester Sq. By the same Author, _Short Tracts for Mothers_. No. 1. Give an Account of thy Stewardship. 2. Praying Mothers. 3. In the Morning Sow thy Seed. 4. Shine as Lights in your Families. 5. Parental Affection. 6. Cast thy Burden upon the Lord. THE SIX TRACTS IN A PACKET, 4_d._ By the Rev. E. HOARE, _Vicar of Trinity_, _Tunbridge Wells_, _& Hon. Canon of Canterbury_. 1. ROME AND TURKEY. Lectures in Connection with the Second Advent. 16mo. cloth, 1_s._ 6_d._; paper, 1_s._ ‘Short, to the point, clear and forcible.’—_Christian_. 2. SANCTIFICATION: Second Edition, enlarged. Square fcap. 8vo. cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._ 3. THE COMMUNION AND COMMUNICANT. Fourth Edition, revised and enlarged. Fcap. 8vo. sewed, 6_d._ 4. BAPTISM. As Taught in the Bible and Prayer-book. Sixth Edition. Fcap. 8vo. sewed, 4_d._ 5. INSPIRATION: its Nature and Extent. Sewed, 6_d._ 6. SERMONS FOR THE DAY. Fcap. 8vo. sewed, 6_d._ * * * * * HATCHARDS, 187 PICCADILLY, LONDON. H. COLBRAN, Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells. ***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER*** ******* This file should be named 42291-0.txt or 42291-0.zip ******* This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/2/9/42291 Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United States. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg-tm License. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 1.F. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact For additional contact information: Dr. Gregory B. Newby Chief Executive and Director [email protected] Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.