Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…

Now by this fruit of Sarahs obedience which the Holy Ghost hath noted, it is proved that Sarah was housewifely in her house, even as a woman that could stir about in her family, and look to the dispatching of necessary affairs by her servants and them in her family. For had she been a coy and nice or idle and slothful dame, she would neither have dressed meal, nor kneaded it, nor made cakes of it, nor seen to the baking of them, nor yet have followed her maid-servants, and looked that they should have been diligent in this business.

Now by this fruit of Sarahs obedience which the Holy Ghost hath noted, it is prooved that Sarah was huswifely in her house, even as a woman that could stirre about in her family, and looke to the dispatching of necessary affaires by her servants and them in her family. For had shee beene a coy and nice or idle and sloathfull dame, shee would neither have dressed meale, nor kneaded it, nor made cakes of it, nor seene to the baking of them, nor yet have followed her maid-servants, and looked that they should have beene diligent in this businesse.

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