N01226:13
Elizabeth in her holy retirement. An essay to prepare a pious woman for her…
Elizabeth in her holy retirement. An essay to prepare a pious woman for her lying in. Or, Maxims and methods of piety, to direct and support an handmaid of the Lord, who expects a time of travail. : [Three lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Nicholas Boone, 1710
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Duties and the Supports OF One Expecting an Hour of Travail.
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.
An Excellent Gentlewoman, who had a Strong presage, which proved a True One, of her Dying by her Travail, yet you read in her Legacy Written for her unborn Child, her Desire of God, that she might be a Mother to One of His Children. I add, You are to bring forth a Creature of Excellent Faculties; and One from whom the Lord will have glory for Eternal Ages. You don't know, what an Instrument of Good this Child may ⟨image ?⟩prove in the World. As mean a Mother as you, has brought forth an Hero. Nor do you know, what a Possession, what an Enjoyment, this Child may prove unto You particularly. Who can foresee, how far, This Same shall comfort you! This is the first Lessen of Piety, to be urged upon you: Whatever Sickness you now labour under, be not Sick of your present State. Rebuke, Repress, Restrain, all Disquiet of Mind; Why art thou cast down, O my Soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God! It is all for the best. O Builder up of the Church of God in the World; Say, and Pray, O my God, Help me always to like the State, wherein thou performest the thing, that is appointed for me.
An Excellent Gentlewoman, who had a Strong presage, which prov'd a True One, of her Dying by her Travail, yet you read in her Legacy Written for her unborn Child, her Desire of God, that she might be a Mother to One of His Children. I add, You are to bring forth a Creature of Excellent Faculties; and One from whom the Lord will have glory for Eternal Ages. You don't know, what an Instrument of Good this Child may ⟨image ?⟩prove in the World. As mean a Mother as you, has brought forth an Hero. Nor do you know, what a Possession, what an Enjoyment, this Child may prove unto You particularly. Who can foresee, how far, This Same shall comfort you! This is the first Lessen of Piety, to be urged upon you: Whatever Sickness you now labour under, be not Sick of your present State. Rebuke, Repress, Restrain, all Disquiet of Mind; Why art thou cast down, O my Soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God! It is all for the best. O Builder up of the Church of God in the World; Say, and Pray, O my God, Help me always to like the State, wherein thou performest the thing, that is appointed for me.