Care in Infancy

The first age of a childe is the infancie thereof. I will therefore first shew how therein parents must procure the temporall good of their children, and then their spirituall good.

The first part of a childs infancie is while it remaineth in the mothers wombe. Here therefore the dutie lieth principally vpon the mother: who so soone as she perceiueth a childe to be conceiued in her wombe, ought to haue an especiall care thereof, that (so much as in her lieth) the childe may be safely brought forth. ( [Note 1] The heathen Philosophen, by light of nature, obserued this to be a dutie; and prescribed it to mothers.) A mother then must haue a tender care ouer her selfe when shee is with childe: for the childe being lodged in her, and receiuing nourishment from her (as plants from the earth) her well-being tendeth much to the good and safetie of the childe: but the hurt that commeth to her, maketh the childe the worse, if it be not a meanes to destroy it. Why was the charge of [Note 2] abstaining from wine, strong drinke, and vncleane things, giuen to Manoahs wife, but because of the childe which she conceiued?

In this case there is a double bond to make mothers carefull of themselues.

1.Their owne,;#

2.Their childs good.#

Husbands also in this case must be very tender ouer their wiues, and helpfull to them in all things needfull, both in regard of that dutie which they owe to their wiues, and also of that they [Note 3] owe to their children. Why was Manoah so desirous to heare himselfe the forenamed direction which the Angell gaue to his wife? and why did the Angell againe repeat it to him, but to shew it belonged to him to see her obserue it?

They who through violence of passion, whether of griefe, or [Note 4] anger, or through violent motion of the bodie, as by dancing, striuing, [Note 5] running, galloping on horsebacke, or the like: or through distemper of the bodie, by eating things hurtfull, by eating too much, by too much abstinence, by too much bashfulnesse in concealing their desires and longings (as we speake) cause any abortion or miscariage, fall into the offence contrary to the forenamed dutie. If women were perswaded that in conscience they are bound to the forenamed dutie, they would, I thinke, be more carefull of themselues. For if through their default, they themselues or their childe miscarry, they make themselues guilty of that miscariage: if both miscarry, they make themselues guiltie of the bloud of both; at least in the court of conscience before God.

But they who purposely take things to make away their children [Note 6] in their wombe, are in farre higher degree guiltie of bloud: yea euen of wilfull murther. For that which hath receiued a soule formed in it by God, if it be vniustly cast away, shall be reuenged.

So farre forth as husbands are carelesse of their wiues being with childe, denying them things needfull, they are accessarie to the hurt, which the woman, or childe taketh, guiltie of the sin, and liable to the iudgement.

The next degree of a childs infancie, is while it is in the swadling bands, and remaineth a sucking childe. In this also the care especially lieth vpon the mother: yet so as the father must afford what helpe he can.

The first dutie here required is, that sufficient prouision of all things needfull for a childe in that weaknesse be before hand prouided. What the particulars be, women better know, then I can expresse. For me, it is sufficient, to lay downe the dutie in generall: which is commended vnto vs in that worthy patterne of the Virgin Marie, who though she were very poore, and forced to trauell farre, and brought to bed in a strange place, where she was so little respected, as she was not afforded a place meet for a woman in her case, but was faine to content her selfe with a stable in a common Inne, yet she prouided for her childe. For it is said, She wrapped him in swadling clothes, Luk

2.7.#

Contrary is the practise of such lewd and vnnaturall women, as leaue their new-borne children vnder stalls, at mens doores, in Church porches, yea many times in open field. It is noted as a point of vnnaturalnesse in the Ostrich, to leaue her eggs in the earth, and in the dust: in which respect she is said to be hardned against her young ones, as though they were not hers, Iob

39.14,#

16.Much more hardned are the foresaid lewd women. The Eagle is [Note 7] counted an vnnaturall bird, because she thrusteth her young ones, which she hath brought forth, out of her nest. Are not then such mothers much more vnnaturall? They oft lay their children forth in publike places, for others to shew that mercy, which they themselues haue not. The Ciuill Law iudgeth this to be a kinde of further.#

Among other needfull things, the milke of the breast is fit for ⟦G1⟧oung babes, and with it they are to be nourished. I thinke none ⟦G2⟧oubt of the equitie of this. It hath in all ages, and in all coun ⟦G3⟧ies, beene accounted the bestfood that can be for young babes. The metaphor, which S. Peter vseth, taken from young infants in these words, As new-borne babes desire the sincere milke of the ⟦G4⟧ord) confirmeth as much. So doth also the desire which such ⟦G5⟧nfants haue to the milke of the breasts: and the abilitie, and ⟦G6⟧omptnesse which is in them to sucke: and Gods prouidence in ⟦G7⟧using a womans breasts to yeeld forth such milke: and the constant manner of nourishing little infants after this manner, commended in the Scriptures: and (to conclude) the naturall instinct which many vnreasonable creatures haue thus to nourish their young ones.

They who on meere curiositie (where no vrgent necessitie requireth) try whether their children may not as birds be nourished without sucke, offend contrary to this dutie; and reiect that meanes which God hath ordained as the best: and so oppose their shallow wit to his vnsearchable wisdome.

Of nourishing children with brest-milke, there is no great question: therefore I haue with a touch passed it ouer. The chiefest question of doubt is concerning the partie who is bound to this dutie; namely, whether the mother be bound to doe it her selfe or no.

Many strong arguments there be to presse it vpon the consciences [Note 8] of mothers, and to shew that (so farre as they are able) they are bound to giue sucke to their owne children. Some are taken from the light of Gods word; and some from the light of nature.

Gods word doth in many places by iust consequence imply, that it is a bounden dutie: in other places it doth expresly commend it by the practise of holy women: and againe in other places it taketh it for a granted truth, and ruled case, not to be denied.

1.The consequences whereby the word implieth this dutie are these:#

1.In the blessing giuen to Ioseph thus speaketh old Iaakob, God shall blesse thee with the blessing of the breasts, and of the [Note 9] wombe. By the blessing of the wombe, what can be meant, but children? By the blessing of the breasts, what, but milke, whereby those children are nourished? As if he had said; I will blesse thee with such women, as shall both beare thee children, and also giue sucke to them which they beare. The consequence then is this: As it is a blessing to haue children of a true lawfull wife; so to haue those children nursed of the same wife their mother.#

Obiect. They haue the blessing of breasts that haue other women to nurse their children. Answ. By the same reason it may be said, they haue the blessing of the wombe who haue strange women to beare them children. But the ioyning of these two branches of blessing together, sheweth that both must be taken in the same kinde: so that as the blessing of the wombe is to haue children of a mans wife, so the blessing of the breasts is to haue them nursed of his wife. If it be a blessing for the woman which beareth the childe to giue it sucke, then mothers are bound to performe this dutie.

2.It is denounced as a curse, that women shall haue a barren [Note 10] wombe and drie breasts. If it be a curse for women to haue drie breasts, then may not women wittingly make them drie: which all mothers doe, that giue not sucke to their children.#

3.Manoahs wife being promised to beare a sonne, had this charge giuen her, Drinke no wine, nor strong drinke. &c. those things were especially hurtfull for her milke. It is therefore implied thereby, that she should so order her diet, as she might well nurse her childe, and haue good milke for him.#

4.God by his good prouidence brought it to passe, that the mother of Moses (though she were forced to cast out her [Note 11] childe) should nurse her owne childe. Yea the mother her selfe was desirous to doe it, and therefore appointed her daughter ⟦G8⟧o watch who should take it vp. These two circumstances ⟦G9⟧mplie that it appertaineth to a mother to nurse her children.#

5.The Apostle layeth this downe as a note of a good woman, [Note 12] who in her place hath beene carefull to doe her dutie, ⟦G10⟧nd thereupon fit to doe seruice in Gods Church (If she haue [Note 13] ⟦G12⟧ourished her children, or word for word, If she haue fed her children.) Now the proper food for young babes is breast-milk, which, by the Apostles rule, the mother must giue.#

6.The same Apostle commandeth mothers to loue their [Note 14] children. How can a mother better expresse her loue to her ⟦G13⟧oung babe, then by letting it sucke of her owne breasts? As his is a testimony of loue, so it is a meanes of preseruing and increasing loue: for daily experience sheweth that mothers ⟦G14⟧ue those children best to whom they themselues giue sucke. Summe these seuerall consequences together, and we ⟦G15⟧all finde the dutie in question to be very strongly inforced hereby.#

1.As a blessing it is promised, that mothers shall giue sucke to the children that they beare.;#

2.As a curse it is threatned, that women shall not be able to giue sucke.;#

3.An Angell gaue direction to a mother so to carrie her selfe as she might haue store of good milke for the childe which she should beare.;#

4.God by his speciall prouidence manifested that the proper mother was the best nurse for a childe.;#

5.It is the note of a good woman to performe this part of her particular calling, namely to nurse her owne childe.;#

6.Women ought to doe all the best duties of loue that they can to their children. Therefore mothers ought to nurse their owne children.#

II.Some of the most worthy patternes, in whose example this dutie is commended to mothers, are these.#

1.Sarah gaue sucke to Isaak. This example is to be noted [Note 15] especially of the greater sort: as rich mens wiues, honourable mens wiues, and the like. For Sarah was an honourable woman, a princesse, a rich mans wife, a beautifull woman, aged and well growne in yeeres, and a mistresse of a family. Are not these excuses pretended by many mothers for not nursing children themselues?#

2.The virgin Mary gaue sucke to Iesus. This example is to be noted especially of the meaner sort, for the virgin Man was young, poore, persecuted, forced to remoue and flie with her childe from countrie to countrie. Are not these excuses pretended by other mothers? These two patternes doe not only commend the duty, but also strippe all mothers that are negligent therein, of all excuse. To these may be added the examples of [Note 16] Annah, of [Note 17] Dauids mother, and of many others. What if also I adde the example of that true, naturall, affectionate mother who stood before Salomons throne to plead for her childe? she thus saith of her selfe, [Note 18] I arose to giue my sonne sucke, &c. If this had not beene a good motherly dutie, she would not then and there haue pleaded it.#

III.The places of Scripture which take this dutie for a matter granted, and for a ruled case, are such as these.#

1.Where Sarah saith, Who would haue said to Abram that [Note 19] Sarah should haue giuen children sucke? In this phrase she setteth forth Gods blessing in giuing Abram a sonne by her. Now in that she expresseth the blessing vnder this phrase of giuing sucke, she taketh it for grant, that the mother which beareth children must giue them sucke.#

2.Where Dauid saith, thou diddest make me hope vpon my [Note 20] mothers breasts, he doth not onely imply that his mother gaue him sucke, but by the phrase maketh it a ruled case that the childe which suckes must hang vpon the mothers breast.#

3.Where Salomon saith, O that thou wert as my brother that [Note 21] sucked the breasts of my mother, he taketh if also for grant, that brothers and sisters, as they come out of the same wombe, so they should sucke the same breasts, euen the breasts of her out of whose wombe they came, their owne mothers breasts.#

4.Where the woman said to Christ, Blessed is the wombe that [Note 22] bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked, she taketh it for grant (as it was an vsuall practise in those daies) that the ⟦G16⟧aps of that woman, whose wombe beare him, gaue him [Note 23] ⟦G17⟧ucke. These arguments we haue from the light of Gods word: other we may haue from Gods workes and the light of nature, as#

1.God hath giuen to women two breasts fit to containe ⟦G18⟧nd hold milke: and nipples vnto them fit to haue milke drawne from them. Why are these thus giuen? to lay them ⟦G19⟧rth for ostentation? There is no warrant for that in all Gods ⟦G20⟧ord. They are directly giuen for the childs food that commeth out of the wombe; for till the childe be borne, there is ⟦G21⟧o milke in the breasts: anon after it is borne, milke ordinari ⟦G22⟧ floweth into the breasts: yea a great part of the meat which ⟦G23⟧ey eat turneth into milke. They make this admirable worke ⟦G24⟧f Gods prouidence to be in vaine, that drie vp this spring, ⟦G25⟧d suffer not their children to partake of the benefit of it.#

2.That nourishment whereon the childe fed in the mo ⟦G26⟧ers wombe, and whereby it was there sustained, turneth into milke, and commeth into the breasts when the childe commeth out of the wombe. Whence we may gather, that of all womens milke, that womans milke is fittest for the childe, out of whose wombe the childe came.#

3.Together with the milke passeth some smacke of the [Note 24] affection and disposition of the mother: which maketh mothers to loue such children best as they haue giuen sucke vnto: yea and oft times such children as haue sucked their mothers breasts, loue their mothers best: yea we may obserue many who haue sucked others milke, to loue those nurses all the daies of their life.#

4.Other things are nourished by the same that they are bred. The earth out of which plants grow, ministreth nourishment to the said plants: trees that bring forth fruit yeeld sap to that fruit, whereby it groweth to ripenesse: vnreasonable creatures, and among them the most sauage wilde beasts, as Tigers and Dragons, yea sea-monsters giue sucke to their young ones; whereupon the Prophet saith of women that giue not sucke [Note 25] to their Children, that they are more cruell then those seamonsters, Like the Ostriches in the wildernesse: for the cruell Ostrich, and the hatefull Cucco are the two kinde of creatures which are noted to leaue their young ones for others to nourish; the Ostrich leaueth her eggs in the dust: the Cucco leaueth hers in other birds nests. Other creatures (if nature afford them not milke and dugges, as to birds it doth not) feed their young ones other waies, yet by themselues.#

5.Shall I adde another argument which daily experience confirmeth, namely Gods blessing vpon this motherly dutie: [Note 26] commonly such children as are nursed by their mothers, prosper best. Mothers are most tender ouer them, and cannot indure to let them lie crying out, without taking them vp. and stilling them; as nurses will let them crie and crie againe, if they be about any businesse of their owne. For who are commonly chosen to be nurses? euen poore countrie women which haue much worke to doe, and little helpe; and so are forced to let the childe lie and crie, many times till it burst againe. Children nursed by their mothers are for the most part more cleanly, and neatly brought vp, freer from diseases; not so many die; I am sure not so many through negligence cast away. The number of nurse children that die euery yeere is very great. It hath beene obserued in many countrie villages, that the most part, that from time to time die there, are nurse children. Are not mothers that might haue nursed their owne children if they would, accessary to the death of those that are cast away by the nurses negligence? On these and other like reasons heathen women, and very [Note 27] sauages, haue in all ages beene moued to nurse their owne children: and some heathen Philosophers haue vrged and pressed the necessitie of this dutie. Neuer was it more neglected, then among those that beare the name of Christians. Let mothers know of what ranke or degree so euer they be, that (out of the case of necessitie) they haue no warrant to put forth their children to others to nurse. We read not in all the Scripture of any holy women that euer did it.#

Obiect. Many nurses are mentioned in Scripture, as Rebekahs [Note 28] nurse, Mephibosheths nurse, Ioash his nurse, and others.

1.Answ. Such nurses mentioned in Scripture were commonly drie nurses. Rebekahs nurse went with her before she was maried: how can it be thought that she was a milch nurse? Could they tell when Rebekah should haue a childe? or when [Note 29] he had one, that Deborah (the nurse there mentioned) should haue milke for her? It is said that Naomi became nurse to Ruths [Note 30] ⟦G27⟧hilde: now Naomi was old, long before this she was past ⟦G28⟧hild-bearing, without an husband for many yeeres: how then was it possible that she should giue sucke? She was therefore a ⟦G29⟧rie nurse, as other nurses mentioned in Scripture.#

2.Answ. The mothers of those children which are said to ⟦G30⟧aue nurses (if those nurses were milch-nurses) might be ⟦G31⟧ead: or if liuing, not able to giue sucke for want of milke, ⟦G32⟧ipple, or for some other like defect: or if able, sinne in putting forth their children.#

3.Answ. Though it be said that there were nurses, yet is no where said, that a mother put forth her childe to sucke.#

2.Obiect. Pharohs daughter put forth the childe which she [Note 31] ⟦G33⟧oke for her owne to nurse. Answ. She bare not this childe, nor was the naturall mother of it, so as this is nothing to the purpose. Yea it maketh against the obiectors, in that the true mother of this childe nursed it.#

3.Obiect. The metaphor taken from nurses is oft vsed, [Note 32] and applied to God, and to Gods ministers.#

1.Answ. The vsing of a thing by way of comparison and resemblance doth not simply iustifie it: instance the parable of the vniust steward, and of a theefe. [Note 33]#

2.Answ. The metaphor may be taken from a drie nurse as well as a milch nurse: for the comparisons are not vsed of giuing sucke, but of bearing and carrying in armes, as drie nurses vse to carry children.#

3.Answ. The metaphors are most fitly taken from mothers that are nurses to their owne children.#

4.Obiect. Many mothers haue not such skill in giuing sucke as nurses haue. Answ. Let them learne seeing it is their dutie.#

5.Obiect. Mothers that are of great wealth and high place cannot endure the paine of nursing, nor take the paines in handling young children as they must be handled.#

1.Answ. The greatest that be must set themselues to doe that duty which God requireth at their hands, though it be with paine and paines. Note Sarahs example before recorded.#

2.Answ. By this it appeareth, that if other women could beare their children in the wombe nine moneths, and endure the paine of trauell for them, they would hire them to doe it. But seeing they doe the one (namely beare and bring forth their owne children with hard labour) why should they not doe the other? If they say there is an vnauoidable necessity of bearing and bringing forth their children; I answer, that conscience ought to moue them to nurse those children, which necessity forceth them to bring forth. God by this latter o⟦G34⟧ nursing children maketh triall of women whether they will for conscience sake, doe that duty which they may if they will put off. But because God knew that many will doe no more then necessity laieth vpon them, he hath made it a matter o⟦G35⟧ impossibility for women to beare and bring forth their children by another.#

3.Answ. If women would with cheerefulnesse set themselues to performe this duty, much of the supposed paine and paines would be lessened.#

4.Answ. Though they put not forth their children to nurse, they may for their ease entertaine a nurse, so they giue sucke themselues.#

6.Obiect. A mother that hath a trade, or that hath the care of an house, will neglect much businesse by nursing her childe: and her husband will saue more by giuing halfe a crowne a weeke to a nurse, then if his wife gaue the childe sucke. Answ. No outward businesse appertaining to a mother can be more acceptable to God then the nursing of her childe: this is the most proper worke of her speciall calling, therefore all other businesses must giue place to this, and this must not be left for any other businesse. As for the husbands sauing by putting the childe forth to nurse, no gaine may giue a dispensation against a bounden duty.#

7.Obiect. It will breake tender faire women, and make them looke old too soone.#

1.Answ. Gods ordinance must not giue place to womens ⟦G36⟧icenesse. Sarah was faire and old: The Virgin Mary was faire and young.#

2.Answ. Drying vp a womans milke will more breake her, then her childes sucking of it: for it is a meanes both of better health, and also of greater strength, as to beare children, so to giue them sucke. Barren women and bearing women which put forth their children to sucke, are most subiect to sicknesse and weaknesse. The drawing forth of a womans milke by her childe is a meanes to get and preserue a good stomach, which is a great preseruatiue of good health.#

8.Obiect. Husbands are disturbed in the night time, and hindred of their sleepe by their wiues giuing sucke to their children.#

1.Answ. By this reason neither mothers nor other nurses which haue husbands, should giue sucke to children.#

2.Answ. Seeing children come from the loines of the father, as well as out of the wombe of the mother, they must be content to endure some disturbance as well as their wiues, and so much the rather that they may the more pitty their wiues, and afford vnto them what helpe they can.#

9.Obiect. Many husbands will not suffer their wiues to nurse their children themselues. Answ. Because it is a bounden duty, wiues must vse all the meanes they can by themselues or others to perswade their husbands to let them performe it: they must take heede that they make not this a pretext to couer their owne sloth, and lothnesse to this duty: they may not make themselues accessarie to their husbands fault by prouiding a nurse, and sending the childe away themselues: if their husbands will stand vpon their authority, and be perswaded by no meanes to the contrary, they must be meere patients in suffering the childe to be taken away.#

10.Obiect. Many poore women maintaine their house by nursing other folkes children. Answ. If they were not that way imployed, they might take paines in some other thing. But the gaine of one may not make another neglect her duty.#

11.Obiect. Some mothers cannot giue sucke, they haue no milke: others cannot very well, in that they haue no nipples, or they haue sore breasts, or are sickly, or it may be that they haue such a disease, as the childe, if it should sucke of their milke, would draw to it selfe, and so the sucking might proue very dangerous to the childe.#

1.Answ. God requireth no impossibilities: wherefore in propounding the duty I put in this caution (so far as they are able.)#

2.God requireth mercie, and not sacrifice: if therefore in [Note 34] truth it be so that the mothers giuing sucke to the childe will be dangerous to her selfe or to the childe, she may and ought to forbeare: for giuing sucke is but as sacrifice to preuenting of danger, which is mercie. But women must take heed that they pretend not inability, and danger without iust cause. Some are themselues the cause of wanting milke because they will not let it be drawne downe; or because they will not vse meanes (for meanes there are) to get and increase milke. There are meanes also to raise nipples where the breasts are very flat. Refusing to giue sucke many times causeth some sickishnesse in a woman, and sore breasts, which might be preuented with the childes sucking. If the forenesse be only in the nipples, a mother with enduring a little more paine may safely giue the childe sucke. Many mothers haue giuen their children sucke when bloud hath runne by the mouth of the childe by reason of sore nipples, and yet both mother and childe done very well.#

12.Obiect. Diuers children being nursed by the mother haue died one after another. Answ. Due and thorow search must be made by those that are skilfull: and if any cause be found in the mother, then the rule holdeth, Mercy and not sacrifice: but if none can be found, the issue must be referred to Gods prouidence: and the vncertaine euen must not be an hinderance to a knowne dutie. Thus the answering of the forenamed obiections maketh the point so much the more cleere.#

The dutie which on a fathers part in this respect is required, is that he incourage his wife, and helpe her with all needfull things for the performance of this dutie. It is noted of Elka ⟦G37⟧ah, that he suffered his wife to tarry at home while she gaue sucke to her sonne, and would not force her to goe vp to the tabernacle as his other wife did, but gaue her all the ease and content he could, saying to her, Doe what seemeth thee good. [Note 35] And of Abraham it is noted, that after Sarah had done giuing the childe sucke, he made a great feast, euen the day that [Note 36] Isaak was weined: one end whereof was to testifie his reioycing for Gods blessing on her motherly dutie so well performed.

Contrary to this dutie doe all such mothers offend, as for any by-respects when no necessity requireth put forth their children to be nursed by others.

1.Some doe it for ease and quiet, because they cannot endure to haue their sleepe broken, or to heare their childe wrangle and crie.;#

2.Others doe it for nicenesse, because they are loth to open their breasts, or to soile their cloathes.;#

3.Others vpon pride, conceiting that their beauty would be impaired, and they looke old too soone.;#

4.Others vpon gaine, because they can haue a childe cheaper nursed abroad then at home, where, at least, they must hire a maid the more.;#

5.Others vpon pleasure, that they might more freely ride abroad, and meet their Gossips.;#

6.Others vpon other by-respects: all which doe argue much selfe-loue: little loue to their childe, and little respect to God. They can be counted but halfe-mothers: for nursing a childe is as much as bearing and bringing it forth.#

To the forenamed fault of mothers doe all such fathers make themselues accessary, as forbid their wiues to nurse their children, or are a griefe to them by their complaints of trouble, disquiet and expence: or afford not things needfull, or doe not incourage them all they can to doe it. The mothers both paine and paines is the greatest: it is in comparison but a small thing that fathers can endure therein. Their fault therefore must needs be the greater, if any way they be an occasion of their childes putting forth to nurse: which I haue the rather noted, because husbands for the most part are the cause that their wiues nurse not their owne children: and that partly by suffering, and partly by egging them on to put out their children. If husbands were willing that their wiues should performe this dutie, and would perswade and incourage them thereto, and afford them what helpes they could, where one mother now nurseth her childe, twenty would doe it.