so especiallie in regarde of that hope which they had conceiued of the Childe by the relation of the Angell vnto Zacharias both therefore for the benefit as it respected Elizabeth and her Husband particularlie and for the blessing which hereby the Church of GOD shoulde receiue generallie did they thus at this birth reioyce In the former they perfourmed the duetie of kinde Neighbours and kindred and in the latter the part of good and godlie Christians For to speake of the former it is the duetie of good Neighbours and kinsfolke to be glad and to reioyce at the good of their Kindred and Neighbours So did as the last yeare vppon like occasion I shewed the Neighbours of Naomie in the booke of Ruth for when Ruth her Daughter in Lawe was deliuered of a Childe by Obed Ruth 4.14 The Women her Neighbours saieth the text saide vnto her in reioycing manner Blessed be God which hath not left thee this day without a kinseman this shall bring thy life againe and cherrish thine old age for thy daughter in law which loueth thee hath borne vnto him c. Thus also did Iob his bretheren friends and acquaintance Iob. 42.11 for they after the Lorde had turned the captiuitie of Iob came vnto him and brought presents with them to comfort him ouer the euill that the Lord had brought vpon him and to reioyce with him for his recouerie there from Rom. 12.15 This is to Reioyce with them that reioyce and to weepe with them that weep like as the Apostle commandeth whereby it appeareth that such good Neighbourhoode was then and that it ought to be also now for which cause their example and this commaundement is left vnto vs. But good neighbourhoode is now gone the common complaint in euery place is and Cousins kindnes is such that euen the name it selfe through Cousins that are Cousiners is growne to bee odious and a name of reproach for so farre are men in these daies from reioycing at the good of each others though they bee Neighbours the next doore together or kinsemen of the néerest bloud that they rather repine and grudge that any fat should fall besides their owne beards and as for the weeping with them that are in affliction thereby to comfort them it may bée saide as Iob saide of his friends in the same respect that in his behalfe men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie Iob. 6.14 for whereas Hee that is in miserie should bee comforted of his Neighbour all his friends and neighbours as Salomon saith of the bretheren of the poore do hate him if not reuile him as Iobs friends did him This is a complainte more fitte for another place Prou. 19.7 yet not amisse here for that by the churlishnes and vnnaturalnes of men in these daies the loue of these Neighbours Kinsfolkes may the better appeare For how euer men in these daies malice and grudge they reioyced and were glad at the great blessing of the Lord bestowed vpon Zacharias and Elizabeth and would no doubt if occasion had béen haue also comforted them as manie of the Iewes did comfort Marie Martha for the death of their broher Lazarus Ioh. 11.19 But as men faile in this dutie so doe they no lesse in that other which is to reioyce for the good which generallie befalleth the Church of God for so careles are they of such spirituall things that for the most part they see them not or seeing them they regard them not for though an hundreth Ihon Baptists were borne that is though an hundreth or a thousand such who were able to preach vnto vs the Gospell of Christ for the remission of sinnes were sent foorth by the Lord of the haruest to furnish our own Churches such other as want their ministerie yet farre would many bee from reioycing thereat and from praysing and blessing the Lord for so visiting of his people which also they would be as they are in respect of sundrie other good blessings as for the blessing of good Magistrats of peace of plentie c. whereby the Church of God is made to flourish For though these thinges done they doe well like and chiefelie desire yet it is onelie in respect of their owns priuate commoditie and for the bodie sake for that they thereby also receaue benefite and pleasure for otherwise they would not respect them in regard of the good that commeth thereby eyther to their owne soules or to the Church of GOD for whose cause yet and not for their owne they doe inioye them This their corruption appeareth manifestly hereby for that though they heare of neuer so great distresse of the Church of God beyonde the Seas they are thereby no more affected to weepe quam si dura silex aut stet marpesia mutis than is the hardest flint nor though they heare of neuer so good the successe thereof are they at all more affected to reioyce than was Timon of Athens whereby they shew them selues not to be of the communion of Saints nor members of the mystical bodie of Christ betwixt whom is the like or greater Sympathie than is betwixt the members of this our naturall bodie wherein if one member suffer all suffer with it and if one member be had in honor 1. Cor. 1 26. all the other members reioyce with it This fellow feeling of the good of the church of God in general by the birth of Iohn Baptist had these neighbours and Cousins of Elizabeth for which cause at her deliuerance of him they reioyced And the like haue all they that are in deede of the communion of Saints neyther can any truely say that hee is a member of the bodie of Christ vntill in some measure he be partaker of the same And this may suffice for the parties that reioyced The manner of their reioycing followeth to be considered which though heere it be not expressed yet in what sorte the Godlie haue vsed to reioyce we cannot be ignorant since else-where it is often and at large declared Simeon reioyced in singing Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Marie in singing My soule doth magnifie the Lord. Luk. 1.46 This Zacharias in singing Luk. 1.64 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel that hath visited and redeemed his people And the women that were at Ruths labour in saying Ruth 4.14 Blessed bee God which hath not left thee this day without a kinseman By these and sundrie others as by that song of Anna 1. Sam. 2 1 2. c. we may gather 1. Sa. 2.1.2 c. that the spirituall manner of reioycing either for this or any other benefit is in yeelding thankes vnto the Lord and praise vnto his name For this the Lord requireth of vs and this the Godlie hath bound themselues as it were by solemne promise to performe vnto him Psa 116.12 13 What shal I render vnto the Lord saith the Prophet Dauid for all
his benefites towards me 〈◊〉 118. I will take the Cup of saluation and call vpon or praise the name of the Lord. And againe Open ye vnto me the gates of righteousnesse that I may enter in and prayse the Lord. And why because though he hath chastened me sore as iustlie I haue deserued yet hath he not deliuered me to death as in iustice hee might Lea when she had conceaued borne her fourth sonne she saide Now will I praise the Lord And that she might the better bee put in minde of her promise in this behalfe she called his name Iudah that is in English 〈◊〉 29.35 praise Thus to alleadge no moe examples wee see how our manner of reioycing as for other benefites so namely for this great blessing of God in giuing vnto vs an happie encrease of Children consisteth in rendring praise and thankes vnto him This if it goeth before not in hipocrisie for a fashion and shew but in the sinceritie of heart and simplicitie of minde then may other reioycinges follow after Gen. 21.8 then may we wich Abraham make a feast and vse such other semblances of ioye which the Godlie in the feare of God haue vsed for by that these are sanctified and made holie vnto vs and without that these are very prophane and heathenish howe glittering a shew soeuer they make in the eyes of the world Our first care therefore must be if wee be true neighbours and kindred to giue thankes vnto the Lord to blesse his name to yeelde praises vnto him for his benefites and blessings bestowed vpoÌ„ him or them by whom we dwell and with whom we are alied for in such sorte no doubt as all the Godlie haue vsed to doe so the Godlie neighbours Cousins of Elizabeth reioyced and were glad wherein they shewed themselues rightly religious towards God and hartie not fained neighbours and friends to their good neighbour and Cousin Elizabeth But not onely they as I should haue noted in the former part reioyced but she also for it is heere saide that they reioyced with her Elizabeth her selfe as shee was the chiefe vpon whom this mercie was bestowed so was she the chiefe and as it were the ring leader in giuing of thankes for she both stirred vp her selfe in thankefulnesse to reioyce and also vsed meanes to declare vnto her neighbours her Cousins what the Lord had done for her that they also for it with her might reioyce For thus much doe these words declare wherein it is saide that her neighbours and Cousins heard tell how the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her For by whome shold they heare it especially her husband being dumb but by her or her meanes who had receaued it and therefore could best tell how to expresse it For not onelie outwardlie as others but inwardlie also did she see caâ—â— and feele this great mercie of the Lord bestowed vpâ—â— her According therefore to that which in euerie respect more than others she knew could she as no doubt shee did expresse each thing more fullie to the glorie of God And this hath been the practise of the godly alwaies in this behalfe to be blabs as we say to blab foorth and declare what mercies the Lord hath powred foorth vpon them Come vnto me saith the Prophet and I will tel you what the Lord hath done for my Soule Psal 66.16 So Peter when by the Angel of the Lord hee was deliuered out of prison he tolde the manner therof to them that were gathered together at Maries house Act. 12.17 and willed them to shew the same things vnto Iames and other the brethren The like at our Sauiour Christ his commaundement did the man out of whome the diuel was cast Luk. 8.27 He went and preached saith the Euangelist verse 39. thoroughout al the Citie what great things Iesus had done vnto him Luke 8.27 For this euen as by this one exaÌ„ple it is manifest the Lord requireth of vs that wee should doe both concerning priuate and publique benefites to rehearse and to shew theÌ„ foorth vnto others least the remembraÌ„ce of them should die and be forgotten and so the Lord lose his honour due vnto him for them This was most carefully obserued by the Israelites so long as among them remained any eyther care or conscience of the true seruice of God Psal 78 2.3 c. as is manifest by the 78. Psalme wherein is shewed both how the Lord commaunded and they perfourmed vnto him this duetie by shewing foorth his prayses his power and wonderfull workes vnto their Children according as he established it for a testimonie in Iaacob and ordained it for a law in Israel But when they began to be careles of his seruice and to wax wearie of his religion then decayed likewise in them this duetie of remembring each other of the benefites of God towards them insomuch that it is said in the 2. of Iudges Iudg. 2.10 that Iosuah being dead and that generation there followed a generation which neyther knew the Lord nor the workes which he had done for Israel yea euen that miraculous worke of bringing them foorth of Aegipt was quite buried in obliuion as if it had neuer been And thus it is to be doubted it will fare or ere it be long with vs for whereas the Lord hath bestowed vpon euerie one of vs particularly and vpon this land generally as great blessings in respect both of the things of this life of the things concerning the life to come as euer he bestowed vpon that people of Israel yet so careles is both preacher and people one and other that I feare mee shortly all will be forgotten and not so much as that our miraculous deliuerance from the Spanish inuasion bee kept in remembrance we can talk and prate fast enough of vanitie and of the idle conceites of our own heart and braine Yea we can readely blabbe and tell foorth what may iniurie one another in his goods or good name for to one of these endes tendeth most of our communication in these dayos saue that much of it also is wanton and vnbeseeming Christians such as corrupteth good manners and grieueth the holy spirite of God by whom we are sealed vnto the day of redemption Ephe. 4.39 But to tell forth what the Lord hath done for our soules as did Dauid Psal 66.16 what great things Iesus hath done for vs as did the possessed what great mercies he hath shewed vpon vs Luke 8.39 as Elizabeth here did or what deliuerances benefites and blessings he hath and still dayly doth bestowe vpon vs and our land that thereby we might the rather stirre vp our selues and others to praise the Lord to pray for the continuance of his louing kindnes towardes vs in these cases and such like wee are mute as a fish or as the dumb that openeth not his mouth This corruption howsoeuer it hath ouertaken vs yet now let vs bee
taken away according to that with Elizabeth here saieth of her selfe and their mouthes as Anna saith enlarged ouer their enemies Thus then wee see what a blessing this was to Elizabeth that shee was made fruitefull and brought foorth a sonne and how generallie the fruite of the wombe Psal 127.3 is an inheritance and blessing that commeth of the Lord. And this that it is so is a most necessarie doctrine in these daies to be taught in respect of two sortes of people the one who thinketh Children to be a charge and therefore if they might haue their choise had rather to bee without them than haue them Prou. 17.6 How farre are such from the knowledge of Gods trueth in this behalfe which teacheth vs that Children are a blessing an inheritance a reward and a crowne vnto vs from the Lord this if such would duely consider it would both reforme their corrupt and wicked iudgement in this behalfe and it would also comfort them in their distresse being ouercharged in their owne eyes with a charge of Children for what greater comfort can there bee than with our eyes sensibly to see the Lordes blessings and signes of his fauour before vs which because many in their Children cannot see by reason of their ignorant hearts which neuer were instructed in Gods schoole they take more comfort in the increase of their swine than they doo in the increase of sonnes and of daughters The other sort for whom the knowledge of this doctrine is necessarie are they who taking delight and that great as great may bee in their Children they yet sound not to the deapth of this blessing they perceiue it not to be a blessing from the Lord but doo take it to be a naturall and ordinarie worke of nature whereby they both robbe the Lord of that honour and thankes which is due vnto him and depriue themselues also of that inward ioye which in the consideration thereof the godlie doo coonceiue who thereby perceaue the Lord to haue a speciall regarde vnto them according as Elizabeth did as it is manifest by these her owne words Luke 1.25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the daies that he looked vpon me Where we see that by her sonne that she had conceaued afterwards brought foorth she maketh an argument vnto her selfe that the Lord looked down vpon her or as the Virgin Marie saith Luke 1.48 regarded her estate than which assuredlie to knowe as she knew it perfectly hereby what greater ioye could her heart conceiue But least by this generall speach it shoulde bee thought that children are vnto all a token of God his fauour and that from them they may reason as did Elizabeth Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the daies that hee looked vpon me It must bee vnderstoode as partlie in the beginning I signified that these temporal things which the Lord bestoweth indifferentlie both vpon the good and the bad are then vnto vs blessings and signes and assurances of the Lordes fauour and louing kindenes towards vs when as wee vppon whome they are bestowed are such who doo from our hearts loue serue and feare him For otherwise if he who receiueth them from the Lord is wicked and vngodlie and doo continue therein without repentance they are not vnto him blessings but cursings not pledges of his saluation thorough the grace and fauour of God in Christ but heauie tokens and certaine of his more grieuous condemnation The Scripture therefore to put a difference it thus speaketh Blessed is euerie one that serueth the Lord Psal 128. and walketh in his waies And thereupon reckoning God his blessings vpon such in respect of the labors of their hands in respect of the fruitefulnes of their Wiues in respect of the towardlines of their Children it thus concludeth Loe thus shall the man bee blessed that feareth the Lord. The feare therefore of the Lord which is manifested by a carefull watching in his waies is it that sanctifieth to vs the fruite of the womb the fruite of the ground which halloweth our basket and our store and which blesseth our goings out and our commings in and maketh what euer we haue be it smal or great to be an exceeding blessing vnto vs. But with the wicked it is nothing so Iob. 21.7 c. for though to vse againe the words of holy Iob They liue waxe olde and growe in wealth though their seede be established in their sight with them and their generation before their eyes though their houses be peaceable and without feare and the rod of God be not vpon them though their Bullock gendereth and falleth not their cow calueth and casteth not her calfe though they send foorth their Children like sheepe and their sonnes daunce though they take the Tabret and Harpe and reioyce in the sounde of the Organes though they want nothing that their heart wisheth or their eye lusteth after In which case thus laded with the things of this life we like as did Iob doo often see the most vngodlie men according to that the Psalmist saith Loe these are the wicked they prosper increase in riches their eyes stand out for fatnes Though I say all these things and al other good things of this life befall them according to their owne hearts desire yet neither Children nor any other thing else though they haue gathered golde as dust and siluer as the stones of the streat is or can be a crowne or a blessing vnto them For notwithstanding all those things the increase of their house saith Iob Iob. 20.7 shall goe away it shall flowe away in the day of the Lords wrath they shall perish for euer like their dung and they that haue seene them shall see them no more Thus it is apparant how that to the godlie onelie Children and all things are a blessing as was this Sonne to Elizabeth which shee brought foorth for that she together with her husband feared the Lord walking in all his waies and ordinances without reproofe So that to conclude this first part we see how in euerie circumstance which the Euangelist here noteth the Lorde his mercie towardes her appeareth â—uke 1 as it dooth also to all them to whome hee sheweth the like fauour to conceaue to fulfill their time to bee deliuered and to bring foorth their issue whether it bee Sonne or Daughter Now followeth the second part which sheweth how her Neighbours â—uke 1 and Cousins reioyced thereat And herein these circumstances are to bee obserued first who they were that reioyced secondlie how and thirdly for what They that reioyced were her Neighbours and Cousins that is kinsfolke in generall And here in parte began to bee fulfilled that which the Angell foreshewed to Zacharias himselfe Luke 1.14 to wit that manie shoulde reioyce at his birth Which they did as in respect of Elizabeth whose reproache hereby they sawe to bee done away whereof they could not but bee right glad
THE Child-birth or Womans Lecture That is A Lecture vpon Chap. 1. ver 57 58. of the holie Gospell according to Luke very necessarie to bee read and knowne of all young married and teeming Women and not vnprofitable for men of all sortes By Chr. H. Esay 66.7 Before shee trauailed shee brought foorth and before her paine came shee was deliuered of a man Childe BY WISDOME PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY TO AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin for Henry Hooke and are to be sold in Paules Churchyard by Raphe Iackson at the signe of the Swanne 1590. To the right Worshipfull and vertuous Gentlewoman Mistres Elizabeth Sauel grace mercie and peace from Iesus Christ the fountaine of all heauenlie graces be multiplied THis Lecture right Worshipfull whereof I presume to make you the Patronesse is compact of the notes obserued in my reading at the birthes of your two most sweet iewels Master Henry and Master Edward Sauels and now published as for the common good of all that please to reade it so to performe my promise made long since vnto you and to bee a testimonie of the godlie care which your Honorable Lady-mother the Lady Paget your selfe had to shew all thankfulnes vnto the Lord for his great mercie towards you For no sooner were you thorough the goodnes of God deliuered but that both the one time and the other I was sent vnto from her Ladyship and your selfe to giue thankes vnto the Lord on your behalfe so that the sunne had not shewed his beames before such time as the same mornings wherein you receaued those blessings We had the whole familie together the right Worshipfull your Father and your Husband being also present like as was her Ladiship her selfe with your Worshipfull sister Mistres Baeshe performed this exercise and sang Psalmes of thankesgiuing J wish as I nothing doubt of your good continuance in this so holy a course that all others who are partakers of the same mercies would also imitate follow your godly example and president herein which they should the rather do if they could or would consider aright how many singular blessings in this one thing doo concurre for nothing hindreth so much our thankefulnes vnto the Lod as the want of a right consideratiō of his great benefits wherewith he ladeth vs which either for lack of insight into them or for that they seeme ordinarie and befall vs euerie daie and others aswell as vs are therefore the lesse of the greater sorte regarded but were we affected as wee should the more ordinarie that they are the more thankefull we should be since our sinnes euerie day deserue to break the ordinarie course of them Dani. 4.24 for that we breake not off our sinnes by righteousnes nor our iniquities by mercie toward the poore And since we see dailie many to faile of thē whom we may iustifie in respect of our selues for not to speak of holy Rahel and Ely his daughter in lawe how many right godly and vertuous women do daily in Childe-bed miscarrie They therefore who haue the good successe which you now thrise the Lord be blessed for it haue had alwaies may haue ought with Elizabeth and you acknowledge his great mercies to them For though it were ordinarie to all in safetie to bee deliuered which wee see is not yet therein they shall finde many extraordinarie blessings as by this lecture they may partlie conceaue but most plainelie may vnderstand of themselues and by themselues if themselues they will call to remembrance of their owne deliuerances and not forget al their former distres whereout without the Lords hand it had been impossible for them to haue been deliuered through ioy of a mā child whom they haue brought into the world Leauing therefore the further consideration hereof vnto your Worship and to all other godly and vertuous Matrons that haue tasted herein how sweet and bountifull the Lord is I end beseeching you to accept of this my poore labour and praying the Lord that it may be profitable vnto al in stirring them vp to a greater thankefulnes vnto the Lord for his so great mercies bestowed vpon them Your Worships to God for you and yours in his praiers Chr. H. Luke 1.57 58. ¶ Now Elizabeths time was fulfilled that she should be deliuered and she brought foorth a sonne And her neighbours and Cosins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercy vpon her and they reioyced with her WHo this Elizabeth was whom here we haue mentioned none I suppose to be so ignorant Luk. 1.6 but that he knoweth She was saith this Euangelist of the daughters of Aaron her husbād was Zacharias a Priest and both he and she iust before GOD walking in all his comaundements and ordinances without reproofe A notable patterne and example not onely for ministers and their wiues whose blameles conuersation in all things and at all times ought to be a second instruction vnto the people but for all couples as we tearme them of what degree or calling soeuer they bee that they themselues fearing the Lord and walking in his wayes Iob. 1.5 Gen. 18.19 they may not onely teach as did Iob but commaund also as did Abraham their sonnes and their houshold to knowe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnes and iudgement For this the godly whome any care of religion hath touched haue alwayes according to his commaundement done and this of his mercie towards them he hath not left vnrewarded Abraham his reward with God was exceeding great being made for this as it were one of his priuie councell For shall I conceale or keepe any thing from Abraham saith God since he wil teach his sonnes and his housholde Gen. 18.17 Iob who vsed euery day to sanctifie his sonnes that is to prepare them vnto sanctification by teaching them how though for his triall our example in the chiefest of his prosperous felicitie he was humbled cast down Iob. 42.12 yet the Lord restored him againe and blessed his latter dayes Psal 101. Iosu 24.15 Gen. 35.2 Act. 10.2 more than his former The like may be said of Dauid of Iosua of Iaacob of Cornelius the Italian Captaine and such like whose carefull obedience to the commaundements of the Lorde with the no lesse diligēt information of their housholds therin is set downe their reward from the Lord by his singular blessings in great aboundance bestowed vpon them is as it were particularly noted Zacharias therefore and Elizabeth as no doubt they performed this duetie so they are not alone neither is the rewarde of their holy conuersation the least for whereas Elizabeth was barren and long without a childe wherby she was a reproach among women the Lord for a reward maketh her fruitfull and the mother not of a meane babe but of such a one as a greater before him of a woman was neuer borne This blessing that the Lord bestowed vpon Zacharias and Elizabeth his wife
Matt. 12.11 the Euangelist S. Luke here sheweth in these two verses and withall declareth how her neighbours and Cosins with her reioyced thereat The blessing is heere amplified by three circumstances First of the time It was fulfilled Secondly of the deliuerance for at her full time shee was deliuered Thirdly of the fruite it selfe which was a sonne To accomplish and fulfill the full and the iust time before the deliuerance how exceeding great a blessing it is may best be considered by the contrarie which is when women bring foorth vntimely fruite such which as the Prophet saith neuer seeth the sunne Psal 58.8 For this besides that it is a great griefe to the mother to haue her womb to be her childes Graue and withall bringeth her to exteame darnger of her owne life if not to death it selfe is a curse which the Lord threatneth to punish them with who doe rebelliously transgresse against him Hose 9.11 Their glorie saith the Prophet Hoseah that is their Children which mē accoūt their glory shal flie away frō the birth from the wombe and from the concedtion that is either being conceiued they shall not be quickned or being quickned they shall not in the wombe accomplish the iust time the birth wherby for glorie they receiue a kinde of dishonour and for comfort and ioy sorrow and griefe Examples of this iudgement among the Iewes no doubt but there were many though they are not recorded for that as now so then children in such sorte borne were hid and not spoken of as appeareth by this that Iob wished vnto himselfe Iob. 3.16 Why was I not hid as an vntimely fruite either as infants which haue not seene the light which manner of secret and close hiding of them sheweth also how fearefull a curse it is when as thereby it is signified that both the mother is ashamed of and loatheth the fruit of her own bodie that the eies of others are not able to endure the sight thereof Now though the wicked are not alwayes ouertaken with this curse but are made partakers of the contrarie blessing in such great measure that not onely themselues doe accomplish the dayes of their deliuerance but their beasts also Iob. 21.10.11 c. according to that which Iob saith Their bullock gendreth and faileth not their Cow calueth and casteth not her calfe they send foorth their children like sheepe signifying thereby the great number of their Children Yet is this the special blessing promised vnto the children of God to them that serue him and hearken to his lawes to heare and doe them according as we read Exod. 23. If thou hearken to his voice and doe all that I speake Exo. 23 26. there shall none cast their fruit or be barren in the land the number of thy dayes will I fulfill This promise then we see the Lord maketh vnto his children which he also performeth vnto them as here vnto Elizabeth vnles their sinnes as they hinder many other good things doe also hinder it Ier. 5.25 And when he performeth it to them it is a blessing from him and a most sure token of his fauour and louing kindnes towards them wheras to the wicked though they commonly enioy the commoditie thereof as they doe of the sunne and the raine which shineth and falleth vpon the good and the bad Mat. 5.45 the iust and vniust Yet it is to them as are all other things of this life which they vsurp but as a curse heaping coales vpon their heads and making their condemnation more grieuous The next circumstance whereby this blessing is amplified is that she was deliuered which of it selfe howe great a mercy it is may be considered also by the contrarie which is when either a woman who hath fulfilled her time cannot be deliuered or in such sorte after long and gieuous trauaile is deliuered as therewith in the anguish and panges thereof she endeth her life This is saith Hezechias a day of tribulation the Children are come to the birth 2. Kin. 19.3 there is no strength to bring forth comparing the estate of Ierusalem besieged by Zenacherib and not able of it selfe to defend it selfe to a woman trauailing of Childe at the full ende of her tearme and yet wanting strength to bring it foorth as though hee should say if a woman in such a case is most miserable then most miserable is our estate This then sufficiently declareth the lamentable condition of a woman in such distresse But consider we it further by examples what a day of tribulation was it to Rachel when after many grieuous pangs and great difficultie being deliuered her sorrowes decreased neither in hearing nor seeing that she had brought foorth a man childe into the worlde but encreased to the taking away of her life in so much that yeelding vp the ghost shee called her Child Ben-noni Gen. 35.18 the sonne of my sorrow In like manner what a day of tribulation was it to Phinehas wife mentioned 1. Sam. 4.19 1. Sa. 4.19 when not answering the women that stoode about her who bad her not feare for that she had borne a sonne nor regarding at all the fruite of her wombe she named him Ica-bod saying The glorie of GOD is departed from Israel and so with griefe of heart repeating the words againe The glorie is departed from Israel shee departed also left her life giuing the women standing by to vnderstand that the glory of God being gone out of the land which is when his true religion and seruice is taken away as it was then from them the Arke being taken by the Philistines that there can no comfort be receiued by Children nor by life it selfe A notable example for the women to make them carefull of the true religion of God who now together with their husbands are so carelesse thereof that whether it depart from them or tarrie with them they make no reckoning for they account not the gospell the glorie of England as Phinehas wife accounted the Arke the glorie of Israel to the therfore we must preach Esay 32.9 as Esay preached to the women of his time Rise vp ye women that are at ease heare my voice ye careles daughters hearken vnto my words For assure your selues that what day the gospell which now ye neglect and doe not regarde respecting onely your pride pleasure and profite be taken from you the fame day shall be taken from you the ornaments of your pride as your high corked slippers your golden Calls c. yea your husbands who haue cherished you and your Children whome in great sorrow ye haue brought foorth Esay 3.24 and the Lord shall giue you for husbands widowhead for children disolutenes for swéete sauour stinck for a girdle a rent for dressing of the haire baldnes for a fine stomacher sack-cloth and for beautie burning Thus it befell to the women of Siloh and thus the Lord threatneth to doe as he did vnto
them and to all other that are careles of his seruice and rebellious against him And therefore he sendeth vs to Siloh saying Goe ye now to my place which was in Siloh Ierem. 7.12 where I set my name at the beginning and beholde what I did to it for the wickednes of my people Israel But to returne from this digression vnto Phinehas wife she is a patterne as I said in whome we may sée the great distresse and miserie of a woman lying in such plight that though at length she be deliuered of her childe yet she is not deliuered from her paines vntill she be deliuered of her life Yet this case in comparison of theirs who hauing accomplished their full time and cannot be deliuered at all séemeth somewhat tollerable And of such histories record some and women no doubt are priuie to many mo from these perils and daungers when the Lord deliuereth a woman that not onely she bringeth forth with the safegard of her life but that before the trauaile shee bringeth foorth and before her paine come shee bee deliuered of her Child howe great mercie doth the Lord shew vnto that woman Esay 66.7 This the Lord speaketh of the sodain restawration of the Church Before shee trauailed shee brought foorth and before her paines came she was deliuered of a man Childe declaring thereby that as he pleaseth to giue such a speedy and easie deliuerance to some whome it pleaseth him that as it were before their paines come they are deliuered so he can and will when his Church is by al likelyhood in greatest danger euen as a woman is when shee boweth her selfe to trauaile of Child vpon the sodaine deliuer it without paine and trouble in the turning of an hand This is more manifestly shewed in the Reuela Apoc. 12.2 12. where the great danger of the Church of God and the miraculous deliuerance thereof is set foorth vnder the similitude of a womaÌ„ trauailing in birth readie to be deliuered Let women therefore who are partakers of this mercy as was Elizabeth namely to be both deliuered and that without the dolefull continuing in labour and trauaile many dayes as many doe acknowledge that the Lord bestoweth vpon them an extraordinarie blessing to be wondred at as it is in the former place of Esay Who hath heard such a thing Esay 66.8 Who hath seen such things assoone as Sion trauailed she brought forth her children For what is one woman in comparison of the whole Church of God men and women and what greater mercie doth or can the Lord in this life bestow vpon them than spéedelie in such distresse when they call to heare and deliuer to them The last circumstance in this first verse obserued is that she brought forth a SoÌ„ne diuers we know bring forth monsters Luk. 16 â— which can haue the name neither of sonnes nor of daughters In that therefore the Lord fréeeth Elizabeth from this curse and graunteth her to bring foorth a childe and he a man child and such a childe who should be filled with the holy ghost eueÌ„ froÌ„ his mothers womb to be the Prophet of the most high and to goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias it is the summe and the perfection of the former benefites and that which maketh ordinarily euen in ordinarie births the sorrowes in trauaile to be forgotten This women know to be true by their own experience Ioh. 16.21 And our Sauiour Christ from whom nothing is hid teacheth vs also the same saying A woman when shee trauaileth hath sorrow because her howre is come but so soone as she is deliuered of her Childe she remembreth no more the anguish for ioy that a man is borne into the worlde Where by Man hee meaneth aswell the woman Childe as the man Childe both being the great blessings of the Lord though in some respects the man childe is preferred to the woman as by whom the name which men and godly men most of all earthly blessings do desire is the longest in remembrance continued And therfore the Godly men and women in the Scripture who haue béen barren haue especially asked of the Lord a sonne Gen. 15.2 so Abraham desired a sonne that Eliezer the steward of his house might not be his heire 1. Sa. 1.11 And Anna prayed for a man child that she might dedicate him to the seruice of the Lorde in his Temple In which respect also it appeareth that the godly then desired rather sonnes than daughters howsoeuer to serue the Lord in that office seemeth now a thing so coÌ„temptible though the ministrie of the gospel be farre more glorious as the Apostle notably sheweth to the Corinth 2. Cor. 3.8 than was the ministrie of the law That euerie man be he neuer so meane disdaineth saue that necessity for want of other maintenaÌ„ce constraineth him to train vp his Sonne as Anna did her Samuel to serue the Lord in that vocation No maruaile therfore though the Lord disdaine to giue them sonnes who doe disdaine to consecrate them vnto him or if he giue such sonnes no maruaile though as commonly we see his blessing be not vpon them since of many they wil not spare him one but if all other meane faile they will rather bestow them vpon * 〈…〉 at is to 〈◊〉 Phisitiâ—â—s ciuill or â—â—mmon â—â—wyers â—â—rchants c. Hose 9.14 Galen Iustinian Littleton and commit them to the windes and the Seas to aduenture thereupon their wittes their goods and their liues and to other handiecraftes than that they should serue him to his glorie in his Church But to leaue complaining of such to whom the Lord for this cause I doubt not giueth oftentimes barren wombes and drye breastes The issue whether it bee of Sonnes or daughters it is a singular blessing and the cheefe blessing of this life for to bee blessed in the fruite of the wombe excelleth the blessing in the fruite of the ground 〈◊〉 128.3 the wife to bee as the fruitefull Vine Iudg. 9.9 13. and the Children to bee as the Oliue branches round about the table surmounteth the fatnes of the oliue wherewith are honored and the red bloud of the Grape whereby are chéered both God and men for sonnes are more pleasing than pleasant plants daughters are more louely and glorious in parents eyes than are the polished corners of a temple The Prophet Dauid in the 127. Psalme Psal 127.4 compareth Children to arrowes in the hand of a strong man and pronounceth him blessed that hath his quiuer full of them shewing also wherein that blessednes dooth consist namelie in this that they whome the Lord hath thus blessed shall not bée ashamed when they speake with their enemies in the gate 1. Sam. 1.6 for whereas their enemies would haue vpbraided them as accursed by reason of their barrennes like as Peninnah did Anna 1. Sam. 2.1 this their opprobrie by their hauing of Children is