5 FEBRUARY
Just wages
‘And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.’ Exodus 2:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 2 Samuel 18:24–33
If you conscientiously endeavour to bring up your children for the Lord he will pay you your wages—you shall not lose your reward. Let us begin with the lowest first. Your children will love and reverence you. Even though you should not be so successful as you could wish, yet if you thus honour the Lord, he will honour you in your children’s eyes. You will generally see them preserved from those excesses which so often wound the hearts of parents. For though it is a true and common observation that grace does not run in the blood and good people have often wicked children, yet it will generally appear that when they break out very bad and profligate in youth, they have been spoiled and neglected in childhood. Who knows but you may be made instruments of the Lord to save your children’s soul—then with what joy will you meet at the great day. But if you will not bring them up for the Lord, you will bring them up for Satan—and what wages do you think you will receive (by God’s righteous judgement) from that hard master? You must expect they will despise your authority, fly in your face and wound your hearts by their disobedience. O what a heartbreaking hour will that be. Think what David felt for Absalom [2 Samuel 18:33].
FOR MEDITATION: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6).
My dear Eliza is still spared to me, and in her attention and affection I find the best substitute (in the removal of my dear wife) that the nature of the case can possibly admit. But it is to thy mercy and blessing that I owe her attention and kindness. Accept my praise. Above all I thank thee for the causes and tokens I have to believe that thou hast called her by thy grace. Lord, keep her as the pupil of thine eye, hide her under the shadow of thy wings, reward her for her attention to me in my old age, and after a short separation, at thine appointed time, may we meet in thy presence above to part no more.
Diary, 2 February 1801 [re his adopted daughter]
SERMON: EXODUS 2:9 [3/3]
