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By the influence of her prayers, her training, her example, the Christian mother may expect to bring a blessing upon her child which shall control his life and lead to his salvation. The proof of this is to be found in the following considerations:

I. THE TIE OF NATURE MAKES THE INFLUENCE OF A PIOUS MOTHER ALMOST IRRESISTIBLE. A mother's love is the first blessing which greets the newborn heir of immortality. Deeper and more lasting even than a father's love, the mother's yearning and compassionate affection realises the description of the apostle. "It believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." With such a natural tie to hold her child, the pious mother wields a mighty influence. Her life, if it be well adorned with Christian graces, becomes a shining demonstration of the truth of God. Prayer from her lips is music; the Bible is her book. as well as God's. All that is winning in the promises becomes more winning as she utters them. This is his influence and power. Many a pious mother does not realise it. On such a basis of deep natural affection does the mother's nurture stand. The child is plastic to her touch. His heart is in her hand if she is faithful to her trust. Oh, what encouragement is this for her to train her children in the nurture of the Lord!

II. BUT WE SHOULD FURTHER NOTICE THAT THE AFFECTION OF A MOTHER FOR HER CHILD MAKES HER PRAYERS IN HIS BEHALF ESPECIALLY EFFECTUAL. What depths of meaning, what revelation of the earnestness of human intercession, lies in these words of Hannah, which might be the utterance of multitudes! — "For this child I prayed" Upon all other subjects prayer may be restrained when it has been long time unanswered, but for her children's sake she will stand and knock until the gate of hope and life is opened, or until she dies.

III. AND THIS LEADS US TO THE POINT THAT THE EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM THE PAST EXPERIENCE OF PIOUS, PRAYING MOTHERS CONFIRMS THIS PROSPECT OF SUCCESS AS THE RESULT OF FAITHFULNESS. Take another fact. In a certain theological seminary several young men who were preparing for the Christian ministry were interested to discover what proportion of their number had praying mothers. The result of this inquiry proved that, out of one hundred and twenty present, more than one hundred had been blessed by a mother's prayers and directed by a mother's counsel to the Saviour. Such evidence might be greatly multiplied. The grace of God brings salvation as the reward of a mother's faithful labours for her children of what amazing importance is it that parents and all who have to do with children should realise their trust, and fulfil it in the fear of God! When the sculptor Bacon was erecting the monument to Lord Chatham in Westminster Abbey, an observer said to him, "Take care what you are doing, for you are working for eternity." In a far higher sense should it be said ofttimes to those who train the young — Take care how you act toward the children, for you work for eternity." Receive them in the name of Christ, to take them unto Him, in never-wearying prayer.

(R. R. Booth, D. D.)

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KJV: For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

WEB: For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.