Book Title: Des menschen begin, midden en einde : vertoonende het kinderlyk bedryf en aanwasch in eenenvyftig konstige figuuren, met goddelyke spreuken en stichtelyke verzen / door Joannes Luiken ; met het leven van den autheur

Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712

Image Title: The Cradle

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 12 (further images / scripture text)

Description: The infant lying in a cradle with her eyes wide open is rocked to sleep by her mother sitting next to her in a quiet room. A busy city scene with various people can be seen through the open door. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712) was responsible for drawing and etching this emblem and for the brief poem that accompanies it (below). The attendant Scripture texts are Luke 12:37-38 and 1 Peter 5:8-9.

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Motto:
Rocking may be good for the Child,
But not for him who must not sleep.

Poem:
He who rocks the little Child, for comfort,
Should stay with the little Child,
But watch out, for his Own Heart;
So that it would not, by the World’s Nurse,
Through the rocking of scattered wits,
Be kept in sinful sleep.

(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)

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