I continue to work my way through the sermons of the old Presbyterian preacher De Witt Talmage. In one volume of his collected works I came across a sweet sermon in which he lauds mothers and encourages their children—especially adult children—to give them the honor they deserve.

There is no emotion so completely unselfish as maternal affection. Conjugal love expects the return of many kindnesses and attentions. Filial love expects parental care, or is helped by the memory of past watchfulness. But the strength of a mother’s love is entirely independent of the past and the future, and is, of all emotions, the purest.
The child has done nothing in the past to earn kindness, and in the future it may grow up to maltreat its parent; but still from the mother’s heart there goes forth inconsumable affection. Abuse cannot offend it; neglect cannot chill it; time cannot efface it; death cannot destroy it. For harsh words it has gentle chiding; for the blow it has beneficent ministry; for neglect it has increasing watchfulness. It weeps at the prison door over the incarcerated prodigal, and pleads for pardon at the Governor’s feet, and is forced away by compassionate friends from witnessing the struggles of the gallows. Other lights go out, but this burns on without extinguishment, as in a gloom-struck night you may see a single star, one of God’s pickets, with gleaming bayonet of light guarding the outposts of heaven.
Oh, despise not a mother’s love. If heretofore you have been negligent of such a one, and you have still opportunity for reparation, make haste. If you could only just look in for an hour’s visit to her you would rouse up in the aged one a whole world of blissful memories.
What if she does sit without talking much: she watched you for many months when you knew not how to talk at all. What if she has many ailments to tell about: during fifteen years you ran to her with every little scratch and bruise, and she doctored your little finger as carefully as a surgeon would bind the worst fracture. You say she is childish now: I wonder if she ever saw you when you were childish. You have no patience to walk with her on the street; she moves so slowly: I wonder if she remembers the time when you were glad enough to go slowly. You complain at the expense of providing for her now: I wonder what your financial income was from one year to ten years of age.
Do not begrudge what you do for the old folks. I care not how much you did for them, they have done more for you.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I’m the only person in the world who reads through back issues of the Ann Arbor Baptist, a periodical from the late 1800s. But periodicals like that were the blogs of their era and within their pages I find such interesting articles and poems. One that I spotted recently (though I’ve spotted it in other works as well, sometimes adapted into a hymn) is Mary Brainard’s “I Know Not What Shall Befall Me,” a poem of trust in God’s character and his providence. It is well worth a read—aloud, of course, as poems are meant to be read.

I know not what shall befall me,God hangs a mist o’er my eyes,And each step in my onward pathHe makes new scenes to rise,And every joy He sends to meComes as a sweet surprise.
I see not a step before meAs I tread on another year,But the past is still in God’s keeping,The future His mercy shall clear,And what looks dark in the distanceMay brighten as I draw near.
For perhaps the dreaded futureHas less bitter than I think;The Lord may sweeten the watersBefore I stoop to drink;Or, if Marah must be Marah,He will stand beside its brink.
It may be He has, waitingFor the coming of my feet,Some gift of such rare value,Some joy so strangely sweet,That my lips shall only trembleWith the thanks they cannot speak.
O, restful blissful ignorance!’Tis blessed not to know:It keeps me still in those armsWhich will not let me go,And hushes my soul to restIn the bosom that loved me so!
So I go on—not knowing;I would not if I might,Rather walking with God in the darkThan going alone in the light;Rather walking with Him by faithThan walking alone by sight.
My heart shrinks back from trialsWhich the future may disclose,Yet I never had a sorrowBut what the dear Lord chose;So I send the coming tears backWith the whispered word, “He knows!”
(It’s also fun to come across old advertisements like this one, which you find in the old periodicals. Between you and me, I kind of think this cure is over-promising…)

May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Those who hunt for Kindle deals will find another small collection today.
(Yesterday on the blog: How Joni Eareckson Tada Blessed Me (Forty Years Ago))
The Joy of Knowledge
Have you ever noticed that greater knowledge is often the key that unlocks greater enjoyment? This article explains it well.
‘No’ to Trans, ‘Yes’ to Gay Marriage: Will This Be the New Normal?
Glen Scrivener: “More and more, public aspects of British society are expressing a skeptical no to key aspects of the trans movement. And yet, however much people might feel it to be a return to ‘common sense,’ this isn’t a return to a Christian vision. Not yet.”
Random Thoughts About Unity In The Church
Kyle offers some helpful thoughts here about unity in the church. “As a churchman, it breaks my heart to see brothers separated and divided over issues in many of our congregations, presbyteries, and denominations. I have friends from all over the Reformed World and many of us are dealing with issues. I want to give some general thoughts about our present needs.”
Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Confronting a Brother or Sister in Christ
Somewhat related, here are ten questions to ask yourself before you confront another person about their sin.
“Did Jesus and the apostles preach the right doctrine from the wrong Old Testament texts?” (Video)
You’ve probably heard before that Jesus and the Apostles preached sound doctrine but did so from texts they misused. G.K. Beale responds to that idea in this short video.
You Are Not Invisible to God
Sylvia Schroeder writes poignantly here. “My daughter, in her power chair changes how I look at others. People once invisible to me, catch my eye now. I can see them with my heart.” She describes an example of that very thing.
Flashback: Positive Purity
Sexual purity is not ultimately about what to avoid, but what to pursue and what to enjoy. It’s about putting those old and ugly behaviors to death in order to free yourself to pursue the better ones. God wants to free you from sin so you can enjoy his gifts.

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. —C.T. Studd