Spirit, first of all, shall be given to all who ask.  They who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.  He has never said to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain.  There are on almost every page of the sacred word, these precious promises.  By them you are encouraged daily in your onward struggle, Christian friend.  What shall hinder you now from taking them to your heart as a mother with the same faith?  If God is able to secure your soul against all evil influences, yes, even against the arch enemy himself, and if he has made the character of your child to depend upon your own in any degree, why may you not plead the promises of His word with double power, when your prayers ascend not merely for yourself, but for another immortal being whom he has so intimately associated with you.  You are accustomed daily to seek from Him holy influences; you pray that you may grow in grace and knowledge, and be kept from the evil that is in the world, and from dishonoring your Savior.  Can you not offer these same petitions as a mother, and beg all these blessings in behalf of your child, who is to take character from you?  Can you not consecrate yourself in a peculiarly solemn manner to the Lord, and viewing the thousand influences which may affect you, pray to be kept from all which would be adverse to the best good of the precious soul to be intrusted to you, and believe by all you know of your Heavenly Father and of his plan of grace, that you will be accepted and your petitions answered?  And then can you not act upon that faith?  Desiring your child to be a man of prayer, will you not, during the years in which you are acting directly on him, give yourself much to prayer?  Hoping that he may not be slothful, but an active and diligent servant of his Lord, will you not give your earnest soul and busy hands to the work which you find to do?  Wishing him to be gentle and lovely, will you not strive to clothe yourself with meekness?  In short, will you not cultivate every characteristic that is desirable for the devoted Christian, in order that, at least, your child may enter on life with every possible advantage which you can give him?  And since a sane mind, and rightly-moving heart, are greatly dependent on a sound body, will you not study to be yourself, by temperance and moderation, and self-denial and activity, in the most perfect health which you can by any effort gain?

Who does not believe that if all Christian mothers would thus believe and act, most blessed results would be secured?  The subject appeals to fathers also, and equal responsibility rests upon them.

Some will doubtless be ready to say, “This would require us to live in the spirit of a Nazarite’s vow all the time.  You have drawn for us a plan of life which is difficult to follow, and demands all our vigilance, constant striving, and unwearied labors.”  True, friends; but the end to be gained is worth the cost, and you have “God all-sufficient” for your helper.