roml Contemplations. LIB. XI. Jinallligl t m awind, to hide it\vith our lap,or hand, that it may notg~our. If the A .rife be a Vine, the husband fhould bean Elme toup·hold het in all worthy enterpriCes, elfe fhe fals to the ground and proves frYitldf<. . . The yeare ts now come about; and Elkanah cals hiS family to ;hetr holy jo~rnev to goe up to Jerufalcm, for the annivctfnry folemnity of their fJcrifice: .An,,,;.; heart is with them, but fhe hath a good e<cufeto !hyat home, the charaeof Iter Samuel: he' fi•ccelfe in the Temple, keeps her happily from the Templet that her de"otion may be doubled, becaufe tt was rcfpned. God knowes how to difpence with necdlities; but if we fuffer idle and ncedlelfe occafions to hold us from the Tcbern,;clc ofGod,@lur hearts are but hollow to lleligion. Now,or !all, when the cbildwas weaned from her hand, fhe goes up and payes her vow, and with it, paycs the intcrell of her intermillion.Never did Annagoeup B with fo gl.1d a heart ;to ~hilo,as now that the carries God this reafonablc prefent, which lumfelfc ga\e to her, and fhe vowed to him; accompa11ied with the bounty ofother facnfices, more in number and meafure, than the law of God requiredof her;aRd al tbis is too little for herGod,that fo mercifully remembred her affiietion anl miraculouily remedied it. Thofe hearts which are truly thankful!, doe no Ielfe rejoyce in their repayment, than in their receit ; and doe as much lludy, how to (hew their humble and fervent affeCtions, for what they have, as how to compalfe favours when they want them; the(r dcb1 is their burthen, which when they have difchargcd, they arc at cafe. , If .Anna had repented of.htr vow, and not prefented her fon to the Tabernacle, E/icouldnot have challongcd him; He had only feene her lips llirre, nor hearino- C the promifc of her heart.lpyas enough that her own foule knew !~er vow,and G~ which was greater than it. The obligation of a fecret vow, is no lelfe, than if it had ten thoufandwttnelfes. • · Old Eli could not chufe but much rejpyce,to fee tllis frUlt ofchofe Iips,w!Jich he thought moved withwine; and this good proofe, both of the mercifull audience of God, <nd the thankful! fideiity ofhis hand-maid; this figltt cals him downe eo his knees (HeworfiJipped the Lord.) We are unprofjtable wjtne!fesofthemerciesof God,and the graces pfmcn,ifwe doe not glorifie ltim for others fakos,no Ielfe than for Our ownc. Eli and Anna grew now better acq~ainred;~either had he fo much ca_uf~ topraife God for her, as fhe aftenvards forlum. For 1f herowne prayers obtamed her firft D child; his blctling inriched her with five more. Iffhe had nor given her firll: fonne to God ere ibe had him; I doubtwhether !he had not been ever barren ; or if fhe had kept her Samuel at home, whether ever lhe had conceived :tgaine; now, chat piety which I\ ripped her of her only child forthe ferviceof her God, bath multiplied the fruit of her wombc; and gave he"r fi,e for that one, which was ll:ill no lelfe hers, becaufe he wa~ Gods. There is no focertaine way of increafc, as to lend, or give uRtO the owner ofall thinl,IS· E L I and hr3 Sonner. 0 F the conveyance of Grace were natural!, holy Parents would not be fo ill futed with children. What !~opd man· would not rather wilh bis loynes dry, thaq fruitful! of wtckednelfc I Now, we can neither tr,tducc goodnclfc,not clmfc but traduce finne. Ifvertuc were as well entailed' upon us, as tinne, one might fervc to checke the other in our d•ildren ; but nOI\', fince Grace is derived from heaven, o,, whomfoevu it j pleafes t!~e Giver, and that evil! which ours receive heredirarily from us, is • mult iplyedby their owne corruption, it can be sowonder, that good nien 'have ill I children; it isratherawonder thata~y children are not evill. The fonncs ofE/i are -----~------------------------~------------------------~·~·--
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