Homilist Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yes, they may forget… I. A MOTHER'S LOVE FOR HER CHILD IS BUT A FRACTION DERIVED FROM GOD'S LOVE FOR MAN. II. THE STRONGEST AFFECTION OF A MOTHER IS SUBJECT TO MUTATIONS. 1. The conduct of the mother may cool or even quench this spark within her. In some cases debauchery, intemperance, and vice have extinguished this sacred fire, and the parent has become unnatural and cruel to her offspring. 2. The conduct of the child may cool or even quench this spark within her. But the affection of the Eternal is subject to no such mutation. "Who, then, shall separate us from the love of God," &c. III. THE OBJECT OF THE MOTHER'S LOVE IS NOT SO NEAR TO HER AS THE OBJECT OF THE DIVINE AFFECTION. 1. The mother is not the owner of the child. His limbs, faculties, being, are not hers. But God is the absolute proprietor of man. "All souls are His." 2. The mother is not the life of the child. Her life is distinct from that of her offspring. But God is the very life of man. IV. THE FAILURE OF THE MOTHER'S AFFECTION TOWARDS HER OFFSPRING WOULD NOT BE SO TERRIBLE AS THE FAILURE OF GOD'S AFFECTION TOWARDS THE GOOD. If God forsakes a man, he is ruined inevitably, and for ever. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. |
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