THE Blessing and Honour OF Fruitful Mothers.
And he lift up his Eyes and saw the Women and the Children, and said, Who are these with thee? And he said, The Children which God hath graciously given thy Servant.
IN the beginning of this Chapter we have the Account of the Brotherly Affectionate Meeting of Jacob and Esau. It was a singular Proof of Gods Empire over the hearts of Men, and of His gracious Care of good Men and anfwering their Prayers. Jacob had been Wrestling in Prayer for this favour of Providence. His fears of his Brothers resentments had been very Great. In his great Prudence and Wisdom he had taken the most likely measures to Soften his Brothers heart towards him. He sent his Presents before him, and now put his Wives and their Children into the most Moving Order that could be, and himself as the [Page 2]head of them. Seven times he bowed himself to the Ground before his Brother; He did Obeysance to him as his Elder Brother, and his Temporal Lord; He remembred also its very likely the Injury and Provocation he had on his part given tho' the thing was of God. This Humility and Respect of Jacob turn'd Esau's heart within him, or rather GOD chang'd it in that Instant; and Esan ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his Neck and kissed him, and they both wept.
THE Natural Affection which had been so long Suppress'd, now returned in the Full Tyde thereof. How good is it to see Brethren that have been at Enmity so reconciled! A Brother offended is hard to be won. He that offends is hardly bro't to submit like Jacob. When God touches a Mans heart his Enmity to his Brother vanishes. When shall we see Brethren at distance meet again like these in our Context, and Emulate — I will not say the temper of Profane Esau, — that would be a reproach — but the humility and affection of good Jacob.
THEY meet and say not a Word of their old differences: that would have soon broke the Peace again; had Esau remembred how Jacob had Supplanted him with a Lye, or Jacob repeated Esau's threaning to Murder him. ‘'Tis the Repeating a Matter that Separates Friends, and Perpetuates their Separation. A submissive Carriage will go a great way to conquer a very Esau and turn away Wrath. The Bullet flies over him that stoops:’ Sayes Mr. Henry.
[Page 3] I'M afraid, tho' Charity obliges us to think the best; yet I'm afraid that Esan's carnal tho'ts of the Birthright and of the Blessing helpt to preserve Jacob. He was born the Prince of the Family, and saw now that Birthright secure; Jacob with his Children lying at his Feet. This might help to make him Easie. His Arming and Contest might be for a Temporal Dominion; that's the Blessing that most People desire. The Case was the same as that in the beginning between Cain & Abel; ‘and God told Cain that Abels Preference in the Divine Acceptance did no ways release him from the Duty and Respect which was owing from him as a Younger Brother: To thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt reign over him.’ Jacob understood this well, and accordingly he did in Duty and Loyalty submit to my Lord Esau.
BUT the thing was of God, who turns Mens Hearts by a Secret, Silent, Resistless Power, as He pleases. The Brethren both wept: how pleasant are the Tears of Joy after those of Anger, Grief and Fear? The Discord of Brethren occasion the One, their Reconciliation the Other.
TO come to our Text.
ESAU begins the kind Discourse, after they had Embrac'd and Wept a while. He lift up his Eyes and saw the Women and the Children, and said— Who are these with thee? How pleasant was it to them to see the Brothers meet so? In their Peace their Families had Peace and Safety. With what Joy came they forward to how themselves also.
[Page 4] " JACOB had now Eleven or Twelve Little Ones in his Retinue, the Eldest of them not Fourteen Years Old. Esau had seen his Servants and the Droves before, but heard nothing of this Fair Troop and Flock. Who are these, sayes he?
TO this common Question Jacob return'd a very Serious Answer: They are the Children which God hath graciously, &c. Observe in this Answer, the Devotion to God in it, and the Humility to Man.
1. THE Religion and Devotion toward God in it. This was as became Jacob, the Inheritor of the Spiritual Blessing. He spake after a Godly sort. The Holy Patriarchs most common Words and Actions were ordinarily thus framed. ‘He looks upon his Children, and speaks of them, (1.) As Gods Gift. (2.) The Choice Gifts of His Free Grace: which God has Graciously given me.’ This is Speech seasoned with Grace, to minister Grace to others.
2. THE Humility toward Man in this Answer: The Children which God has graciously given thy Servant. Under the Outward Favours of Providence we should be the more Meek and Lowly in Heart, in Words, in Behaviour. And Note, that such Forms of Speech among Men, are no vain Modes of Compliment. Jacob in a very serious manner sayes to his Brother, I am thy Servant. As Abraham before him was very Gentile in Behaviour, rising up and bowing to the Children of Heth: So Jacob that Plain and Good Man was very [Page 5]Sincere in Professing himself ready to Serve his Brother. The better Children of God we are the more humble shall we be to Men; and the Servant of God is the readiest to become the Servant of all Men; 2 Cor. 4.5. Our selves your Servants for Jesus sake.
HAVING thus descanted on the Text; I would ask leave to make Three Observations from it.
[I.] That a Mother with a Train of Children after her is One of the most admirable and lovely Sights in the Visible Creation of God. And Esau lift up his Eyes and saw the Women and the Children, and said who are these with thee.
[II.] That Children are among the Choice Favours and Gifts of Providence, and we should have a high Sense of the Gracious Favour of God to us in them. They are the Children which God has graciously given me.
[III.] Under the Outward Smiles of Providence on us and our Families, it well becomes us to be the more Humble, Meek and Lowly before God and Man. They are the Family which God has Graciously given thy Servant.
I. Obser. That a Mother with a Train of Children after her, is One of the most lovely and admirable Sights in the Visible Creation of God.
A very Superious Part of it in our Eyes to be sure, if we at all honour Our Selves. But because we may be Partial to our Selves, let us judge only by the Honour that God has put upon us. [Page 6]The Earth and all the Creatures in it were made for the Comfort, Service and Dominion of Man: Gen. 1.26. And God said, let us make Man in our Image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion over, &c. So God Created Man in his own Image, in the Image of God created He him, Male and Female created He them: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth and subdue it. It was the Honour of Man, and in Token of his Dignity and Pre-eminence above the other Creatures, that he was made Last; for the Method of the Creation was to advance from that which was least perfect to that which is more so; and thus Man the Lord of the lower World and the Image of the Creator in it was made the Crown of it; and as the Top-stone in the Noble Structure was bro't in with shouting; Grace, Grace unto it. The Flights of Birds in the Air are a fine and curious Spectacle, when they sometimes cloud and cover the Skies from our Eye: The Shoals of Fish in the Sea are a very admirable Sight, when now and then a few only of those Innumerable Inhabitants of the Waters shew themselves to the Eyes of Men. Again, the Flocks and Herds and Droves of Cattel; such as these which Jacob sent before him, the Lambs playing about their careful bleating Dams, are a very beautiful sight on the Plains and Pastures where they feed: But how much more the Families and Tribes of Men, We and our Children, the Flock of God that should be, the People of his Pasture and the Sheep of his hand.
[Page 7] MALE and Female Created He them; and blessed them, and said, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth. Equal in this tho Women and the Men: for tho' Adam was first formed and then Eve, yet Both in the Image of God alike; Eve as well as Adam. ‘Angels were not made Male and Female, for they were not to Propagate their Kind. In the next World we shall be as the Angels which neither Marry, &c.’ But Man an Earthly Creature, an Imbodied Angel, was ‘created Male and Female that their Nature may be Propagated and the Race continued. Thus (sayes Mr. Henry) Fires and Candles, the Luminaries of this lower World, because they waste and go out, have a power to Light more; but it is not so with the Lights of Heaven; Stars do not Kindle Stars.’
WHEN GOD had Created our First Parents, and Look'd upon them with Love and Pleasure then He Blessed them, with the Promise of a Numerous and Long Posterity. Be Fruitful and Multiply. This was the Honour of our first Mother Eve, that She was the Mother of all Living, Gen. 3.20. The Word Adam signifies Earth, Mans Original; but the Name Eve signifies Life, because by Her Life is Propagated to the many Generations that have been and are to come. " Adam bore the Name of the Dying Body, Eve of the Living Soul. It was because She was to be the Mother, that She was called Life. And doubtless it had respect to that Blessed Seed of "the Woman, the Redeemer, the Life of all the Living, the Author of Everlasting Life unto us.
[Page 8] NOW the USE of this first Meditation might have been,
1. TO Congratulate some of You whom God has blessed with very Amiable and Lovely Consorts, and a Numerous hopeful Family of Children. Hail you my highly favoured Friends! the Lord is with you, and blessed are you among Women; if together with this Outward favour of Providence you do but secure a Better Name than of Sons and Dau'ters; and be sure you are among the Children of God your Selves.
2. IT should direct Christian Husbands how to prize, esteem and value such a Blessing of Providence; both the Mother and her Train. Rejoyce in the Good you have found, the Favour you have obtained of the Lord. Happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee; thy Wife a fruitful Vine by the sides of thy House; thy Children as Olive-branches, &c. May you live to see your Childrens Children and Peace upon Israel. But it may be you will be too apt to Dote on the Creature and Idolize what you should only Love, and thank God for; It may be therefore needful rather to insist on a Third Reflection.
3. WHICH is of Caution and Restraint: And that,
1. To Fruitful Parents, Not to be Proud of the Favours of Heaven to them. No; be humble yet; you neither Made your Selves Parents, nor can you be Sure of the Comfort you ought to hope for in your Children, nor can you say how long they shall Live to be your Honour or your Joy if they shall do well.
[Page 9] 2. LET it Caution Poorer Parents not to grow into Fears, Distrusts or Anxious Cares how to Provide for and subsist their Numerous Families. GOD that feeds the Ravens, will feed thine. These are thy Portion upon Earth, and many a Rich and Greater Nei'bour would give half his Estate and all his Honours for Half thy Family. Jacobs Family were his distressing Care in this day, wherein he owns them the gracious Gift and Favour of Providence to him.
3. LET me add a Caution to the Barren; Not to be dejected for want of Children; as Rachel and poor Hannah were too much. For tho' it be such a favour to be the Mother of many, yet there are Greater favours than this to set our Hearts upon; and it may be you in your Espousals to Christ have much more to satisfie your Soul in; or at least thither let me direct you. Or indeed even our present Life Consists not in a Numerous Posterity; that we should say Sinfully and Extreamly foolishly with Rachel, Give we Children or I dye. No; you may with Hannah Pray; but you must be Content if you are even denied; which She was not.
4. THOSE of us that have but a Single Branch or Two, an only One (it may be) the Siender Hope and Prop of our House, must be very Thankful to God for the single Lamp in our House. If We were meet for more; as meet as our better Nei'bours, God would have given us more, it may be. Let humility preserve us, and let us be thankful for the least, when we deserve Nothing.
[Page 10] AND then in the [...] Place,
5. A Word to them that have had many but have buried all: Our Mournful Mothers that have Sorrow upon Sorrow, those of Burying upon those of Bearing; Be comforted in the Hopes of the Children you have in Heaven, in Glory; gathered into the Saviours Arms and laid in His Bosom. Suffer your Little Ones to go to Him; He'll take them up and bless them; as He has said of them — That of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Believe it, (where is your Faith? And O thou of little, wherefore dost thou Weep? believe it). That it is well worth the Sorrows and Pains of bearing and of burying too, to have a Child in Heaven: While so many have their Families Growing up and Branching out, of whom God only knows what they will be and prove in this Evil World.
BUT so I dismiss my First Observation; That a Mother with a Train of Children after her is One of the most Lovely Sights in the Visible Creation of GOD.
II. Obser. THE Second Observation which I would make is; That Children are among the Choice Favours and Gifts of Providence, and we should have a high Sense of the gracious Regards of GOD unto us herein.
They are the Children which God has graciously given me.
[Page 11] I. THEY are among the Choice Favours and Gifts of Providence to a Person. Let Nature decide this; Or if that in its present Affections and Judgment is apt to err, let the Scripture determine it: Psal. 127.3. Lo, Children are an Heritage, and the fruit of the Womb is his Reward. They are their Parents best Inheritance, and the Gift of Free Grace. Psal. 113.9. He maketh the barren Woman to keep house, and to be a joyful Mother of Children; praise ye the Lord. Psal. 107.41. He setteth the Poor on High from Affliction, and maketh him Families like a Flock. To be sure if Providence concerns itself in any thing here below, it is in the Matters of our Life and Death; Who, How many shall be born into the World, and Where and by Whom, &c.
YET Children are by no Means to be put among or equal'd to the Saving Gifts of Gods Grace. There is a better Name than of Sons and Dau'ters. A Numerous Posterity is the Portion of many a Wicked Person. Psal. 17.14, 15. They are full of Children, and leave their Substance to their Babes; as for me I will behold thy face in Righteousness, &c. Nevertheless Children are a very Gracious Gift of God to us in this Life. They are so,
1. IN the Formation of them in the Womb. For who knoweth the way of the Spirit, or how the bones do grow within Her that is with Child? It is not at all owing to the Parents care that there is a perfect Child formed, and quickened by a Living Soul. God that formed Adams Body out of the Ground, forms our Bodies in [Page 14]are their Names for ever in the Church on that Account! But could Pious Hannah or Ruth receive their Sons without their Solemn Offerings of Praises to God? No: Ruth 4.14. And the Women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord which has not left thee this day without a Name in Israel: and Naomi took the Child and laid it in her Bosom. Read also Hannah: transport of Devotion at the Dedication of her Little Nazarite, and Her Song: 1 Sam. 2. Chap.
3. IF Children are Gods Gift to us, Then they should be given to God again: Dedicated to Him as His Propriety and Resigned to His disposal; to be bro't up for Him, and to Live to Him and Serve Him for ever. So Abraham Circumcis'd his Isaac, and Hannah devoted her Samuel, and we in Baptism Consecrate our Children unto CHRIST.
4. CHILDREN should remember themselves to be the LORD's, and their Bonds to Live to Him. God gave thee thy Being and thy Life; and gave thee to thy Parents who have given thee back to Him again. Be His, My Child; and so Gods gracious Gift to Us, and Ours and thine Own to Him again.
5. IF Children are the gracious Gift of God, then it is Lawful and a Duty to Mourn under the Holy and Awful hand of God in their Death; or in their Sinful Courses which may be worse than Death. Sorrow is Natural, and may be Gracious in such Cases; but it must be in Moderation [Page 15]and with Resignation. Even Jacob himself was an Intemperate Mourner for Joseph; and bitter was his Grief and deep his Shame when some others of his Sons stain'd their hands with blood, shed treacherously and cuelly. Our Dead Sorrows are often very heavy ones; like the shrieks at Rama, Rachel Mourning for her Children, not to be Comforted. But our Living Sorrows may be heavier far, as well as more Lasting: Prov. 10.1. A wise Son maketh a glad Father, but a foolish Son is the heaviness of his Mother.
THIS is the First Thing under the Second Observation; That Children are among the Special Favours and Gifts of Providence.
II. WE ought to have a high Sense of the Grace of God expressed towards us in the hopeful Children which He gives us. They are Graciously given to us. The Gift of free Grace; without and against our deserts.
THEY are a Visible and Sensible Expression of the Divine Favour to us. So we read, 1 Chron. 26.5. That Obed-Edom had Eight Sons, for God blessed him. Many Children are the Divine Blessing on a Family.
THEY are a great Pleasure and Delight to Parents: an Honour and Reputation also among Men; and a Safe-guard and Protection to us as they grow up. Psal. 127.4, 5. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty Man, so are Children of the Youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver [Page 16]full of them: — they shall speak with the Enemies in the gate. Good Children are so many faithful "Zealous Seconds to their Parents, in the vigour of their Youth to stand up in Their defence, when They are Injuriously run down in Age. "As arrows in the hand of a Mi'ty man, who knows how to use them for his own safety, And as a giver full of them; so is his [...] suppli'd, and under the favour of Providence abides in strength.
CHILDREN are more than Riches: they are the Heirs of it: and which is, Greater, the Earth or its Owners? Moreover, we may and ought to hope well concerning our Children with respect to the Spiritual and Everlasting Blessings of the Life to come. As Jacob here look'd upon his Children as Graciously given him because they were Heirs of the Covenant Blessing; they were to build up the Church of God, and be the Patriarchs, the Fathers of the People of God. He Hop'd too that they were or would be Gracious, that they did belong to the Election of Grace; and so were Heirs of Everlasting Life.
IN a Word; the least Token of Gods favour is free Grace to a Sinful Creature. Our Sins daily forfeit our best Mercies, and might for ever keep good things from us. It is of Gods Free, and Rich, and Sovereign Grace that He does not call our Sins to Remembrance so as to Slay our "Children. When God Removes our Comforts He Remembers our Sins; while He continues them to us He graciously Overlooks our Sinfulness: i. e. This is the Face and Language of His Providence:
[Page 17] TO Improve this Head a little.
1. PARENTS take Pleasure in your Children, be very Tender of them, and look on 'em alwayes with Complacency and Esteem. A very needless Exhortation you may be ready to think; for alas Parents are ready to be but too fond of their Offspring. But however, Love them and Delight in them they ought; and may not be without Natural Affection, which were to be worse than Insidels. Let us receive our Children with great Pleasure from the Hand of God; Study their Interests, and Promote them, Temporal and Eternal.
Yet,
2. BEWARE of Inordinate Love. Do not give them thy heart. Make 'em not Idols. And don't Love 'em to death; by provoking God to Jealousy by giving that Love to any Creature which is due to Him alone. Love them in Obedience to God, and as His more than thine. Mat. 10.37. He that loveth Son or Dau'ter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
3. CARRY and behave thy self graciously under this favour of Providence; if God has filled, or is filling thy House with Children.
AND therefore,
1. BE the more Devoted to God thy Self, every Child He gives thee. Renew then the Consecration of thy Self, and thy Covenant Engagements to the Lord: it is a very Proper season to do it Solemnly.
[Page 18] 2. INSTRUCT and Educate well the Children that God gives thee. Bring them up for Him; in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; this is the Grateful Offering which He requires.
3. PRAY much for them, and Over them, and Charge them to Know the God of their Fathers, & to Serve Him with a Perfect Heart and Willing Mind, &c. Pray with Abraham, O that Ishmael may live in thy Sight! Bless them as Isaac and Israel did. And Charge them as David did Solomon; and as his Mother too did; What my Son, and what the Son of my Womb? and what the Son of my Vows?
4. BE not Proud or Elated on this Account before Men; if God blesses thee with Children and builds up thy Family. Do not despise the Nei'bour who is not blessed in this Instance as you are. Hagar had no sooner Conceived, but Sarah her Mistress was despised in her Eyes. Hannahs Enemy vexed her because she was barren. Leah gloried over poor fretful Rachel; having so many Sons to show and her Sister none. Alas, tho' Childrens Children are the Crown of Old Men, yet are they nothing to be Proud of; for who knows but they may be our grief and our shame; as very often the Idoliz'd Child proves? Or how soon may the most fruitful Parents, that have Families like a Flock, be Written Childless?
BUT I seem to forget that I am run into the Third Observation Propounded from the Text, and which I would but Name.
III. Obser. THAT under the Outward Smiles of Providence on us and our Families, it well becomes us to be the more Humble, Meek and Lowly before God and Man.
THEY are the Children which God has given thy Servant. It may be Esau had not then so fair a Troop to show; yet they with their Father were Esau's humble Servants. Together they were ready to Prostrate and lye at his feet. Humility is a lovely Grace and Vertue in the sight of God and Man. It charms down Pride and Wrath together. And its beauty is Greatest under the Smiles of Providence. It is the Ornament of the Soul that is of Great price in Gods Eyes, and as it exalts the Soul in His Sight, so it procures Exaltation in the Kingdom both of Providence and Grace. He that humbleth himself shall be Exalted. He giveth Grace to the lowly.
BE ye clothed with Humility: sayes the Apostle, 1 Pet. 5.5. This is our glorious but decent Array whether we be in Prosperity or Adversity-Without it the Nakedness of the Soul is discovered, and its Shame is seen.
WHAT is there on Earth, I beseech you, to be Vain or Proud of? What in a corrupt and dying World! Or if we so vainly abuse any Enjoyment, and fall into the Condemnation of the Devil, how sadly do we forfeit it?
[Page 20] SOME under the visible favours of Providence grow vain and hau'ty, and forget their Rise, that they are like others of the dust, and turning apace to it again, that they or their Fathers were Poor and low once in outward State, and in this uncertain World may suddenly be so again: The Upstart and Mean Spirit is ready to forget the Rock whence he was hewn, and to scorn and upbraid the Poor, the Needy and the Afflicted. But not so Good Jacob, who looking over his Servants and his Flocks, and his Children cried out; O God of my Fathers, I am not worthy of the least of all the Mercies, and of all the Truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant; for with my Staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two Bands. Job also in his Prosperity and in the Months when God preserv'd him; when the Candle of the Lord shined on his Head and by His light he walked thro' darkness; while his Children were about him, and he washed his steps in butter, &c. Even then he did not despise the Canse of his Servant, but remembred; — He that made Him in the Womb made me, and One God fashioned us both.
O 'tis a little and Mean Vice, but of Great Guilt, to swell upon a few Worldly Advantages, and bear our selves above Others on that Account; the King of Israel remembred humbly his Original and said before God, Lord who am I and what is my Fathers house that thou hast bro't me hitherto! and that thou shouldest speak of the House of thy Servant for a great while to come!
[Page 21] WHEN Jacob Pointed to his Children, and Spake of them to Esau with so much Humility; think not that he Complemented his Brother, in calling himself His Servant: No, that Patriarchal Age was full of Simplicity as well as Courtesie: He spake the Words of Truth and Soberness; his Heart went with his Lips; He Spake as he tho't and as he felt; the Inward Sense of his Soul; and as became an Inferior in Outward State, and Natural Relation. He was ready and inclined to Serve him. His Fears were Great, but he had the real Love of a Brother, and the Respect of a Junior. And just now he was especially Oblig'd by Esau's Kindness, and full of Gratitude both to GOD and Him.
TO Conclude, We should least of all be Proud of our Children, because our Saviour has made a Little Child the Emblem of Humility to us. Mat. 18.2, 3. He took a little Child and set in the midst of his Disciples, and said to them, Whosoever shall humble himself as this Little Child, the same is Greatest in the Kingdom of God: And except ye be Converted and become as Little Children ye add in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. It seems then that Converting Grace make us as Little Children. As One sayes, ‘Not Foolish as Children, nor Fickle, nor See Mr. Newy in Lac. Playful; but as Children ready to Learn, and desirous of the Sincere Milk of the Word; as Children Careful for Nothing but Depending on the Care of our Heavenly Father; As Children Harmless [Page 22]and Inoffensive and void of Malice. As Children. Governable and under Command; and finally, as Children Humble and not taking State upon them. As they are Little in Body and Low in Stature; so Christians should be Low in Spirit and Little in their own Tho'ts.’ It would therefore be a most absurd thing for us to be Proud of our Children, when Christ has made them the sign of Humility to us. We are to look on them and learn Humility.
HAPPY the Man that can Say and Sing Davids Psalm and Profession of Humility, Psal. 131.
UNDER the Favours of Providence our Heart should not be hau'ty nor our Eyes loftly; we must neither court our own Shadow, nor envy nor despise Others; And under the Frowns of Providence, Surely we must behave, and quiet our selves as a weaned Child.
‘THE Child at the Age of Weaning is not come to the Acting of Pride; or the Child may take on at first when it is Weaned from the Breast; but when Once weaned it grows quiet.’ So Sanctifying Grace weans us from Worldly things, and Quiets us in the Possession or in the Loss of them. We must Learn to ‘Live upon God and the Covenant of Grace, when Creatures prove Dry Breasts to us; or when Providence puts Wormwood on the Breast to Wean us from it.’