that is, with the fame care and diligence (if not a greater) as in her own peculiar Concern. I do not fay that fhe fhall confound the property, and make it indeed her own, by applying it to her peculiar ufe, a thing 1 fear which is often done, especially by the gayer fort of Widows, who, to keep up their own Equipage, do fometimes encroach upon their Son's peculiar. And I wish even that (tho' bad enough) were the only cafe wherein it were done, but 'tis fometimes to make her a better prize to a fecond Husband. She go's into another Family, and as if he were a Colony fent out by her Son, he must pay for the planting her there: indeed the oft repeating this injury, has advanc'd it now into a custom, and the management of the Minor's Eftate is reckon'd on as part of the Widow's Fortune. But, I confefs, I fee not what there is in the title of a Mother, that can Legitimate her defrauding her Child; it rather Envenoms the Crime, and adds unnaturalness to deceit. Befides, 'tis a prepofterous fort of Guilt. Orphans and Widows are in Scripture link'd together as objects of God's and good Men's Pity, and of ill Men's Oppreffion; and how ill alas! do's Civil War look among Fellow-fufferers? The Widow to injure the Orphan, is like the uncouth Oppreffion Solomon fpeaks of, Prov. 28. 3. A poor man that oppreßeth the poor, is like is like a freeping rain which leaveth no food. Such kind of Rapines are as exceffive in their degrees, as prodigious in their kind; and I believe there are many inftances of Sons, who have fuffer'd more by the Guardian-fhip of their Mothers, than they could probably have done by the outrages of strangers. ; 9. How fuch Mothers will answer their obligations to their dead Husbands, I muft leave it to their own Confciences to difcufs I fhall only offer them these steps of gradation by which to proceed. First, that injuftice of any fort is a great fin. Secondly, that when 'tis in a matter of Truft, 'tis complicated with Treachery alfo. Thirdly, that of all Trufts thofe to the dead have always been efteem'd the moft Sacred. If they can find any allay to thefe by the two remaining circumftances, that 'tis the truft of a Husband, and the intereft of a Child, I fhall confefs them very fubtile Cafuifts. 10. I have hitherto spoke of what the Widow ows to her dead Husbands but there is also fomewhat of peculiar Obligation in relation to her felf. God who has plac'd us in this World to pursue the interefts of a better, directs all the fignal Acts of his Providence to that end, and intends we fhould fo interpret them. So that every great change that occurs, is defign'd either to recall us from a wrong way, or to quicken our pace in the right; and a Widow may more than fhe fhe pleas'd: her Piety has no restraint from any other inconfiftent Obligation, but may fwell as high as it can. Those hours which were before her Husband's right, seem now to devolve on God the grand Proprietour of our time: that Difcourfe and free Converse wherewith fhe entertain'd him, fhe may now convert into Colloquies and Spiritual entercourse with her Maker; and that Love which was only Human before, by the change of it's Object acquires a fublimity, is exalted into Divine: from Loyal Duty and Conjugal Affection becomes the Eternal work and Happinefs of Angels, the Ardour of a Cherubim. Thus may fhe in a higher sense verify Samson's Riddle, Judg. 14. 14. fetch hony out of a carcass. make her Husband's afhes (like thofe of the Heifer under the Law, Heb. 9. 13.) her purification: his Corruption may help her to put on Incorruption, and her loss of a Temporary comfort may inftate her in an Eternal. II. AND as her felf, fo her Fortune may alfo be Confecrated: and indeed if fhe be, that will also if he have made an escape out of Egypt, there shall not an hoof be left behind her, Exod. 10. 26. no part of her poffeffions will be affign'd to Vanity and Excefs. She who hath really devoted her felf to Piety, fafted and prayed with Anna, Luke 2. 37. will also be full of good works and alms-deeds with Tabitha, Acts 9. 36. Thus fhe may be a Mo a Mother when fhe ceases to bear; and tho' she no more encrease one Family, fhe may fupport many. And certainly the fertility of the Womb is not fo valuable as this of the Bowels: Fruitfulness can be but an happiness, Compaffion is a Virtue. Nay indeed "tis a greater and more certain Happiness: a Child is not brought forth but with Pangs and Anguifh, but a work of Mercy is produc'd not only with ease but delight. Befides, fhe that bears a Child, knows not whether it may prove a Bleffing or a Curfe; but Charity gives a certain title to a Bleffing, and engages the moft folvent Pay-mafter, even God himself, who owns all fuch disbursements, as a loan to him. He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again, Prov. 19. 17. I 12. THERE was in the primitive times an Ecclefiaftical Order of Widows, which Saint Paul mentions, 1 Tim. 5. whose whole Miniftry was devoted to Charity. They were indeed of the poorer fort, fit rather to receive than give Alms; yet the lefs they could do with their Purfes, the more was requir'd of their Perfons, the humbler Offices of washing the Saints feet, the careful task of bringing up Children, and a diligent attendance on every good work. And fure there is parity of realon, that those who upon the score of their Wealth, exempt themselves from those laborious Hh |