A65276:132
The Art of Divine Contentment
Autarkeia, or, The art of divine contentment by Thomas Watson.
London: printed by T.M. for Ralph Smith, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Your child was not given,1 but lent. I have, saith Hanna, lent my son to the Lord*. She lent him? the ⟨p. 61⟩Lord had but lent him to her. Mercies are not entailed upon us, but lent; what a man lends, he may call for again when he please. God hath put out a child to thee a while to nurse, wilt thou be displeased if he takes his child home again? O be not discontented, that a mercy is taken away from you; but rather be thankful, that it was lent you so long.
3. Your childe was not given,1 but lent. I have, saith Hanna, lent my son to the Lord*. She lent him? the ⟨p. 61⟩Lord had but lent him to her. Mercies are not entailed upon us, but lent; what a man lends, he may call for againe when he please. God hath put out a child to thee a while to nurse, wilt thou be displeased if he takes his childe home againe? O be not discontented, that a mercy is taken away from you; but rather be thankfull, that it was lent you so long.
- 13. Reply.
- *1 Sam. 1. 21.
4. Suppose your child be taken from you,1 either he was good or bad; if he was Rebellious, you have not so much parted with a child, as a burden; you grieve for that which might have been a greater grief to you: if he was Religious, then remember, he is taken from the evil to come