73. The Pregnant Woman remembers the Divine Covenant Promise
EXHORTATION.
As sad and painful as is at times the condition of pregnant women, so glorious and glad are the promises God has made them, in assuring them of his assistance in times of need, and declaring that he will not leave them, nor forget them, but will help them, save them, carry them upon his hands, and do all that is contained in so many sayings of pith and power. 1. Every godly pregnant married woman should make herself acquainted with these sayings, and derive comfort from them. 2. If the desired help, the promised rescue, and the expected assistance, should not come at the moment she asks for it, she must not despair, or suppose that there is an end of the promise, and that it will not be fulfilled. 3. On the contrary, she must set her firm reliance upon the promises of God, who will faithfully keep what he has vouchsafed, when his hour of help arrives. 4. In the meantime, she must persevere in prayer, trust and hope, until the coming of the glad hour when the now afflicted one will say with joy, in praise of the Highest, "Hitherto THE PREGNANT WOMAN REMEMBERS the Lord hath helped me; the Lord hath done me great good, whereof I am glad."
My God! my heart reminds thee of thy words, Ye shall seek my face; therefore, Lord, I seek thy face. Thou knowest, my God, that without thee I am nothing, and can do nothing; who can help me but thou alone? Therefore I come to thee, and cling to thy word of promise. Thou sayest that thou wilt not forsake thy people; O forsake not me! Thou sayest that thou wilt be with them in the hour of need; my hour of need approaches. Thou sayest thou wilt help them; O help me. O be with me! Thou sayest that thou wilt give them strength; O give me strength. Thou sayest thou wilt rescue them; O rescue me. Lord, in my condition, I know not whither to fly, except to thee alone. I have much care and trouble, and disquietude in my heart, but thy consolations rejoice my soul, thy word of promise raises me up. Knowing thus that thou art the patron of thy faithful, the help of the deserted, the refuge of the afflicted, I am of good cheer, and cling to thee. I will cling to thee, and to thy word, when my sorrows and the agonies of my heart increase; then I will cry, Lord, I will not let thee go, except thou help me. If thou dost delay help, it will at last appear to the comfort THE COVENANT PROMISE.
of the wretched; thou wilt help them gloriously.
Thou, Lord, imposest a burden, but thou also helpest to bear it; therefore, if thou wilt help me to bear my burden, it will not be too heavy for me. God is my reliance and my strength— a help in the troubles which have befallen me;
therefore I am not afraid; and why should I be afraid? The Lord is with me. The Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom should I be afraid? The Lord is the vigor of my life, whom should I dread? With God I will cheerfully go about my coming labor; with God's assistance,
I will labor and will conquer. O thou gracious
God! strengthen my faith, rivet my reliance upon thy promises. Let me, secure against all mishap, reach my time in safety. Meantime I will pray and sing, will trust in thee, until, joyfully, delivered, I shall thank and praise thee for thy benefits in thy temple, and, while I live, in my heart. Amen. Yea, I will believe, for here I have God's word; of this no fiend can rob me. I will forever and forever repose on this firm foundation, and grasp the anchor of hope with the strong hand of faith. Amen.
1. I shall not be forsaken
Though I may suffer now.
God in his care has taken
My health, and made his vow
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That those who love and fear him,
And in him put their trust,
Shall rest securely near him,
His mercy ne'er shall rust.
2. Although at times me seemeth
There is no end to pain,
Still bright his promise gleameth,
And makes me glad again.
He knows the fitting period
For coming to my aid,
And when, what me has wearied
Forever must be staid.
3. He nevermore can leave me,
For am I not his child?
How could he hate or grieve me
That am so reconciled
To him and to his keeping?
Could he look down and see
His child distressed and weeping,
And fail to set it free?
4. I never was forsaken
While I on earth remain,
Though often I have taken
My fill of throes and pain.
Why now should my preserver
Withhold his helping hand?
What could abate his fervor?
His word runs not to sand.
THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD.
5. In God is my dependance,
For he is true and just;
My heart, with all its tendons,
Shall clasp the faultless trust.
The hour comes ever nearer
When what me now annoys,
Will set my spirit clearer
And fill my heart with joys.
The Pregnant Woman remembers the Omnipotence of God.
EXHORTATION.
When we reflect upon the conception, preservation, growth, and birth of a child, we are at a loss how sufficiently to praise the omnipotence of God; without God's omnipotence, no child can be born; and when one is born, it is always a miracle in the eyes of the faithful. 1. Knowing this, a godly married woman must rely on the omnipotence of God; the more children she sees born, the more miracles of the omnipotence of God does she behold. 2. As the almighty hand of God has helped others, she may rest assured that God will help her also. THE PREGNANT WOMAN REMEMBERS
3. If despondency would intrude itself, she must remember the words of the angel, who says, "With God nothing is impossible."—Luke, i. 37. As nothing is impossible with God, a pregnant woman may also rejoice in the omnipotence of God. 4. If circumstances should arise which do not occur to others, she must not lose her reliance upon the omnipotence of God; for it is because God is almighty that he can heal the most dangerous wounds, relieve the heaviest burdens, and ward off every casualty. 5. Though human beings are present at the birth of a child, yet the almighty hand of God is there also, though unseen; it regulates all things, and brings everything to a happy end by its divine power. My God! how my heart rejoices when I think of thy omnipotence—of thy almighty hands which lift and carry all things, and save us from all affliction. If I regard my present condition, I see that all depends on thy omnipotence alone; it must carry me in its arms, or I shall fall. Thy omnipotence must alleviate my ailments—aye, in the coming throes it must accomplish all things alone. If I regard the fruit of my body, it is again thy omnipetence which must THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD.
preserve it, strengthen it, guard it, and bring it to see the light of day. Therefore, it is my greatest consolation, now and throughout my life, that thou art an almighty God; if I am weak, thou art strong; if I am wretched, thou art omnipotent; if I am powerless, thou canst do all things. This consolation no one shall take from me. We have a God who aids, and a Lord who rescues from death. Therefore, Almighty
God! I commit myself wholly unto thee; watch over me, preserve me during my pregnancy;
may thy omnipotence assist me to reach my time in peace. May thy omnipotence strengthen me, when the hour of birth draws nigh; may thy omnipotence stand by me when it has come.
May thy omnipotence attend me at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of my labor, until I shall be a happy mother. Therefore, happen what will, I will not fear, for I have an almighty God; I will not despair when troubles swell, for I have an almighty God; I will be of good cheer when called upon to labor, for I have an almighty God; in my throes I will cry, O thou Almighty God, help me! Lo, I depend upon thee, I hope in thee; thy child awaits the hour of thy coming. Hasten, then merciful father! to me, with thy omnipotence; let me hear joy and happiness—let the frame rejoice which thou hast shattered. May thy omnipo tence sustain the fruit of my body; may thy omnipotence give me strength, yea, may thy omnipotence make me rejoice by a happy delivery, and I will praise this thy omnipotence, while I live, and say, Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. I called upon the Lord in my woes, O Lord, hear the voice of my cry! Then my helper saved me from death, and gave me peace; therefore I thank thee, O God! O thank the Lord with me!
Give honor unto our God! Amen.
1. We have a God on high, who fails not to defend us
When trouble and despair most pitilessly shend us.
However much we bear, however great our woe,
Our God is ever near, him shall we not forego.
2 We have a God on high: in sorrow and disaster,
He holds the balance still, of life and death the master.
And were they sore beyond the tension of belief,
God's power is yet more vast, and surely gives relief.
3. We have a God on high! In sorrow and in anguish
He helps. Hard though it be, my faith shall never languish.
THE ASSISTANCE OF GOD.
My Lord, I will be thine! To thee 'tis easy all,
To bid my torments cease, and make my anguish small.
4. We have a God on high! He hears the poor implorer,
That piteous to him calls, and comes as his restorer
God loves the poor in heart; he hears, he sees, he gives,
When his own time is ripe, the happiness that lives.
5 We have a God on high! Should any one be froward,
And say, No help is here, there is no mercy toward:—
I will the presence and the help of God proclaim;
Yes, God is surely here, give honor to his name
The Pregnant Woman takes comfort at the thought of the Assistance of God.
EXHORTATION.
When persons in need of help see great dangers, manifold sufferings, heavy burdens, and hard labor before them, it is encouraging to have some one to stand by them in the times of danger, to help them through their sufferings, and to lend
THE ASSISTANCE OF GOD.
a hand in furtherance of their labors. Such also is the comfort of the pregnant.
1. If they learn that dangers may attend the time of birth, they say, "The Lord is with me, I am not afraid." 2. If they experience manifold sufferings they say to God, "Thou art my help and my salvation, my God! do not depart." 3. If their burden becomes heavier from day to day, they remember that the Lord, who imposes the burden, will also help to bear it. 4. If they dread their approaching labor, they know that the Lord will bless it, and will help them through with it. Should not this encourage them, the more so as God in Holy Writ calls himself a helper? But if God helps, they are well and rightly helpen. Men often would fain help, but cannot; but God both can and will help; therefore, how dark and dangerous soever the time may seem, it should still be graven on their hearts, "The Lord is my helper." Wherefore dost thou grieve, O my Soul, and art so ill at ease within me? Look to God, for I shall yet have to thank him, that he is the help of my sight, and my God. Yea, my God! this is my comfort in my present condition, that thou THE ASSISTANCE OF GOD.
art the help of my sight. If my face is pale with fear, thou canst dispel all fear with thy glorious assistance. If my face is wet with tears thou canst wipe them away, when thou appearest with thy gracious assistance. Therefore I will rely upon thee, and to all things that might cause me fear, dread, or fright, I will oppose the comforting thought that God is my helper, and will be and remain my helper. But thou, Almighty God! hasten to my side with thy merciful succour, when I need succour. Lord I wait for thy salvation, and invoke thy help, I rely upon thy help; if thou wilt not help me, I am lost. If my sufferings increase, O Lord! do not withdraw thy merciful assistance. When the hour of birth arrives, do thou arrive also with thy sustaining favor. Thou art my only refuge, my God, and my help, I know no other. If thou wilt not help me, who can save me? Help me, O God of my Salvation! when I pray, hear me, help me when troubles set in, help me when dangers threaten, help me when my hour arrives, then will I sigh, in joyous confidence, with my Jesus: Father, help me out of this hour of trouble If then I have thee with me, I shall conquer, my sadness shall be converted into joy. O how gloriously hast thou helped others! Help me too; thou art still the same strong, merciful, almighty God that thou hast ever been, Lord! I perse THE ASSISTANCE OF GOD.
vere in prayer like the Canaanitish woman, and say, Lord help me! yea, I will not let thee go except thou help me. Come, O Father of grace and mercy! and help thy child, for which, without thee, there is no help. Come, O Jesus, thou Saviour of mankind! and help me, stay with me, until I am happily delivered. Come and help me, O Holy Ghost! and set thy seal upon my consoling hope that my help will soon arrive. Triune God! to thee I resign my self; triune God, to thee I cry; on thee I rely Help me when thou wilt, but in delaying help assist me with thy mercy; help me in my need rescue me from my troubles, and I will thank thee with joyous lips. Meanwhile, be of good cheer my heart! despair not, God will have mercy upon thee; Counsel and help will he bestow upon thee, he is the protection of the wretched; not even can we sit in a garden or roses; whoso relies upon God is well-served; God will forever guard him. Yea, I will constantly place my reliance upon thee, thou wilt rejoice me with thy help, when help is needed. Meantime I will quietly await the coming help, and praise the name of the Lord. Amen. 1. Is not my God with me? Then fare ye well and leave me,
Ye terrors of the night! Ye can no more deceive me.
God answers to my cry; his help and gracious aid
Seek me in my distress, and I am not afraid.
2. Is not my God with me? If some uncouth annoyer
Crosses my path unwares, he cannot turn destroyer,
For as he comes, comes God; mishap is not alone,
For every evil one, an angel leaves God's throne.
3. Is not my God with me? If I must taste the savor
Of sorrow and of care, I shall not lack his favor;
To rescue me from all, and by what I have borne,
To teach me that without his love I'm quite forlorn.
4. Is not my God with me? and if an inundation
Of wrath should o'er me pass, I have the consolation;
Were evil ne'er so great, it none the less must yield,
For God is with me still, and o'er me spreads his shield.
5. Is not my God with me? And if the welkin darkens,
The word must be fulfilled to which my spirit hearkens;
DEVOTION AT THE APPROACH
His goodness and his truth are every morning new;
Be faithful then to him who is to you so true.