1Further in respect of her son Isaac, she was a very loving Mother and nursed him with her own breasts, and thought it a duty for her so to do, for so it is noted of her that she said by way of thankful wondering at the benefit, who would have said to Abraham that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have borne him a son in his old age, as if she confessed, that giving a child suck should not be separated from bearing him. And indeed nature doth manifestly call upon women for this duty, for to what purpose hath God given them breasts? as it were bottles, at that time replenished with such a fit and well pleasing food for the babe, surely not to milk out on the ground, not to draw it back by medicines and devices, but to give it to the new inhabitant of the world, with whom it came into the world. So soon as a woman hath a child in her womb ready to bring forth, she hath also milk in her breasts fit for its feeding, and is not this as much, as if the Lord should speak unto her and say, I would have you take care to bring up this child which thou hast brought forth, with this nourishment, which I have laid up in store for it, for surely God and nature make nothing in vain. This loving part of Sarah is more considerable in respect of her age and her greatness of estate and household, for she was ninety years old, and might in that respect have seemed warranted to have given her self a dispensation from this service, and to have said, should a woman of mine age endure the labour of watching and waking and looking to a child, and enduring all its froward fits and a number of attendance? why may I not set it to a younger woman stronger and better able to do it then my self? She was wife to Abraham, a man of great place and state, fellow to a King, with whom Kings sought to be in covenant, and should such a woman as I? might she have objected, submit my self to this mean and laborious office, may not I hire another to do it for me? mine husband, might, she have said; is a great man and withal hospital. If he bring in men of place and fashion, must I be hindered from entertaining ⟨p. 141⟩them by dandling a child and being made unhandsome and unfit for company with tending a babe? might not another do this as well as I? of whom such entertaining would not be expected. Again, have I not a very great household?
1Further in respect of her sonne Isaac, shee was a very loving Mother and nursed him with her owne breasts, and thought it a duty for her so to doe, for so it is noted of her that shee said by way of thankefull wondering at the benefit, who would have said to Abraham that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have borne him a sonne in his old age, as if shee confessed, that giving a childe sucke should not be separated from bearing him. And indeed nature doth manifestly call upon women for this duty, for to what purpose hath God given them brests? as it were bottles, at that time replenished with such a fit and well pleasing foode for the babe, surely not to milke out on the ground, not to draw it backe by medicines and devices, but to give it to the new inhabitant of the world, with whom it came into the world. So soone as a woman hath a childe in her wombe ready to bring forth, shee hath also milke in her brests fit for its feeding, and is not this as much, as if the Lord should speake unto her and say, I would have you take care to bring up this childe which thou hast brought forth, with this nourishment, which I have laid up in store for it, for surely God and nature make nothing in vaine. This loving part of Sarah is more considerable in respect of her age and her greatnesse of estate and household, for shee was ninety yeares old, and might in that respect have seemed warranted to have given her selfe a dispensation from this service, and to have said, should a woman of mine age endure the labour of watching and waking and looking to a childe, and induring all its froward fits and a number of attendance? why may I not set it to a younger woman stronger and better able to doe it then my selfe? Shee was wife to Abraham, a man of great place and state, fellow to a King, with whom Kings sought to be in covenant, and should such a woman as I? might shee have objected, submit my selfe to this meane and laborious office, may not I hire another to doe it for mee? mine husband, might, shee have said; is a great man and withall hospitall. If he bring in men of place and fashion, must I be hindred from intertaining ⟨p. 141⟩them by dandling a childe and being made unhandsome and unfit for company with tending a babe? might not another doe this as well as I? of whom such intertaining would not be expected. Againe, have I not a very great household?
- 1• She was a loving Mother and nursed Isaac her self. Gen. 21.7.• Shee was a loving Mother and nursed Isaac her selfe. Gen. 21.7.
