The vertuous wife: or, the holy life of Mrs. Elizabth Walker, late wife of A. Walker, D.D. sometime Rector of Fyfield in Essex: Giving a modest and short account of her exemplary piety and charity. Published for the glory of God, and provoking others to the like graces and vertues. With some useful papers and letters writ by her on several occasions.

SECT. XXII. Of the Marriage of our onely Daughter, and her Death in Childbirth the same Year, yet leaving a Son.

IT is not to be wondred at, that she should write so many Pages of this Come-Trage∣dy (as I called another Providence mentioned before, a Trage-Comedy) whose Pious Kind∣ness was so mindful in Holy Prayers and Prai∣ses, not of her self alone, but of her Honour∣ed Friends. I shall touch but one or two for Instance, and I cannot single out any more sui∣table than of those Right Honourable Ladies, whose sweet Condescension not only vouch∣safed to give this our Dear Daughter frequently their kindest and familiar Conversation, but borrowed, and desired hers almost whole Sum∣mers divers Years. Concerning these young Ladies thus her Pen speaks:

The Lady Ann, the Lady Mary, and the Lady Essex Rich had a Pious Education, under ••he tender Care of the Right Honourable the Countess of Warwick, their Aunt, whose great Care of them, and Kindness and Love to them, supplied and over-shot the measures of what could be expressed to them by the tenderest Mother. Of two of their Marri∣ages she writes thus:

December the 11th, 1673. The Vertuous and Right Honourable the Lady Mary Rich was Married to Mr. Henry St. John, the El∣dest Son of Sir Walter St. John, a Pious, good Family, and an ancient Barronet, and great Estate. Blessed Lord thou hast abun∣dantly enriched them with the Blessings of the Nether Springs, full streams in the good things of this Life, let it not be their all, but turn these Waters into Wine; give them the Bles∣sings of the Ʋpper Springs, the plentifull Ef∣fusions of thy Spirit flowing into their Hearts and Souls, that they may build up each other in their most Holy Faith, as Heirs together of the Grace of Life.

June 16. 1674. The Honourable Lady Essex Rich was Married to Mr. Daniel Finch, Eldest Son to his Father, then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England. Good Lord give them the Blessings of thy Right-hand, and continue to them the Blessings of thy Left-hand also. But let not their Portion be only in this Life; let thine own Prerogative have the Supremacy in their Hearts, and accelerate and quicken them to thy Service, that Glorify∣ing thee on Earth, they may be in Everlasting Glory with thee in Heaven. Amen, Amen.

I will mention no more like Instances, and humbly beg Pardon if I have been too bold in touching these.

I now come to the Title of this Section, and shall add nothing of my own, only tran∣scribe, and that with Abbreviation, what her Pious Pen hath left me; not that one Word need to be retrenched upon other accounts, but only to avoid Prolixity.

January 17. 1675. My Dear Husband, and my Dear Child Margaret Walker, went to Lon∣don, in reference to our great Concern, her Marriage, our onely one, so dear to us. She was Married February the 1st, 1675. to Mr. John Cox, Barrister of Grays-Inn. His Father lived at Coggshall; his Relations very honest good People, and very well to live in the World. God hath graciously provided for her a loving Husband, a sober Person, and I hope, a good Man. God consummated their Choice by Mr. Gifford, a worthy good Man, Minister of St. Dunstan's in the East, in London; whither she was accompanied by the Right Honourable the Countess of War∣wick, with the chief of the Family, from Warwick-House, and with many other mani∣festations of Kindness God shined upon her, and in all respects gave her a comfortable Day.

I draw the Curtain of a modest, &c. over the rest, lest the Thankfulness of her who was so truly humble, should incurr the unkind cen∣sure or suspicion of Vanity, and concluding what I have omitted, with these Words:

And

with many other Favours God hath honoured them.

She proceeds:

Lord, I desire to own thy Goodness, as the Fountain Head from whence flows all Good, to be enjoyed in the things of this Life and concerns of a better, and more endura∣ble Estate for their Souls advantage.

For which, I beseech thee give them a ca∣pacious Heart to know, love, serve, and en∣joy thy self, and vouchsafe them of the good things of this World, what thou seest con∣venient for them, and help them to be con∣tented to be without what in mercy thou de∣niest them.

Good Lord keep both them and theirs in∣offensive in this World; and when they shall go hence, and be no more in this Life, Lord grant that where thou art they may be also, in Eternal Glory. Amen, Amen.

Thus far the pleasant and more lightsome part: Now fol∣lows what's more dark, and dolefull.

I have now a very smarty, afflictive Dis∣pensation from God to record, very pressing by his afflictive Hand on us.

I acknowledge, very deservedly for my Sins the Lord hath taken from us out of this Life our onely One, the most dearly Belo∣ved Daughter, and Child of my choice A••¦fections, Mrs. Margaret Cox; she was m••••¦ried February the first, 1675. The 19th 〈◊〉〈◊〉

November following she was Delivered of a Son, Lord's Day seven a Clock in the Morn∣ing. She continued pretty well two or three Days; Tuesday following sickned of a Fever, and dyed December the 5th, 1675. But God in the midst of his just Judgments remembred his Mercy to us, hath spared the little one to us, Blessed be God for it, and received the Mo∣therless Babe into Covenant with himself by Baptism. I Bless God he is the Son of good Parents, his Father a very sober and a good Man, his dear deceased Mother was a fine, lovely, handsome, well accomplished Wo∣man, both in Nature and Grace, to God's Praise I do make my Acknowledgments, let it have no other Censure. She was of a quick Ap∣prehension, modest, humble, discreet, and of a good Judgment, and well fitted for Fa∣mily-Government and Imployment. She had a sweet amicable Deportment, and gracefull Behaviour; these Endowments through God's Kindness to her, rendred her very desirable to all that knew her.

God was pleased to give her much Honour and Esteem in this World, with which she re∣tained a lowly Mind, with much sweet obli∣ging Kindness to all acquainted with her. She was very Friendly to the meaner sort, ve∣ry kind and charitable to poor People, to whom she had a very compassionate Heart, and

bountifull Hand in relieving of them, which she did with great Privacy, though God hath been pleased since her Death to make it known by them in their Acknowledgments, and be∣wailing their loss of her. I bless God she lived very desirable, and dyed much lamented; she was a very loving, dutifull Child to her Parents, a very endearing Wife to her Hus∣band, and very sweet in all her Relations; she was very acceptable to all her Husband's Kindred, by whom the loss of her was much bewailed. God was pleased to make her married condition very Satisfactory to herself, and all concerned; and though God was pleased to conclude it in so short a time, taking her out of this Life scarce eleven Months from her Marriage, which was accompanied with great Joy and Kindness of Friends; yet God filled it with the close crouded manifesta∣tions of his Love and Favour to her; yea, her whole Life, from her Cradle to her Grave, to which she went with much Decency and Ho∣nour, and which is much more valuable, un∣blemished, free from the gross defilements of this World. The Lord was pleased to fit her for himself by a tender crazy Constitution of Body, she was much afflicted with Head-Ach, and other Illness, which she bore with much quietness and submission under God's Hand, by which he led her to the consideration of a better Life.

About four Years of Age, on days of Pray∣er and Fasting, she would sit by me the whole Day, and at Prayer hold up her little Hands, which in her riper Age, with continuance from her Childhood, she performed more un∣derstandingly.

She was constant in Religious Duties, con∣versant in God's Word, the Holy Bible; which whilst she was a Child she oft read through, and got much Scripture by Heart. Also read many good Authors, several good Books her Dear Father or my self commended to her, which Practice she did not decline, neither be∣fore nor since her Marriage. She constantly, at least twice a Day, made her Addresses to the Throne of Grace in Prayer.

When she was very young she would give an account of a Sermon, and repeat most of the Particulars, or Heads of it; and as she was religiously habituated from her Childhood, I do humbly hope, God confirmed her by his Grace to Perseverance in the Ways of God.

She would excite others, not only in her own Practice, but by her Counsels as to their Souls Concerns.

Amongst other her good Advices, as her Dear Husband since her Death hath informed me, she said to him; 'That she did not que∣stion but he Prayed alone before he had her, and said, so did she; and desired him to con∣tinue

the same, that one Prayer might not be lost by their Joint-Prayer, which they u∣sed once a day, going together alone to seek God, besides publick and Family-Worship. They oft said, that nothing should more o∣blige them to each other, than their mutual Love to each others Souls, in their helping one another in their way to Heaven. I bless God for his signal kindness to her in him so near and dear to her; not only making them one Flesh, but one Soul, and both one Spirit in himself.

In the time of her Travail, and following Sickness, she was very Meek and Patient, as in all her former Sicknesses, and Pain: The Disease took her Head, which deprived her of her Understanding; but I bless God, that so guarded her Tongue, that she did not dis∣honour him. The Lord was pleased to give her some little relaxation of her Disease, in which Intervals she exprest her self Pi∣ously: And desired of her Relations the carefull and good Education of her Child; said she had oft begged of God in the behalf of her Relations by Marriage, and for those who were not disposed of, that God would fix them so, as might be their best ad∣vantage both for Soul and Body, and desired there might continue a Loving Respect be∣tween both Families; which I do beseech God to preserve.

Her Disease did not give her leave to express herself, as otherwise she might have done, much more to God's Glory, and the Comfort of her Friends. But Blessed be God for his Grace bestowed on her, that her Evidences for her Eternal Happiness were not to seek upon her Dying-Bed, but were in the safe Hand of our Saviour, and sealed with the Signet of God's Right-hand, with an indeli∣ble Character and Inscription of God's Holy Image and Law on her Heart, by his Holy Spirit, as a Title to those Eternal Mansions of Glory purchased for her with the precious Blood of her dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ; in which Blessed Estate I humbly hope she is, in the Everlasting Fruition, and Enjoyment of God, his Elect Angels, and those Blessed Spirits of the Just made perfect. Her Flesh also shall rest in hope of a glorious Resurrection; when Mortality shall be swallowed up of Im∣mortality, God will joyn Soul and Body in an indissoluble Union with himself, in that a∣bundant Entrance, into the Everlasting King∣dom of our Lord Jesus Christ; so shall she be for ever with her Lord in thy Eternal Praises. In which Persuasion, good Lord quiet my Heart, that I may acquiesce in thy unerring Wisdom. Good Lord scatter the Foggs and Mists of my unruly Passions, that hinder the sight and view of thy reconciled Face, and Favour to me. I

beseech thee Pardon my Sins and Offences, which have provoked thee to this manifesta∣tion of thy displeasure against us, bereaving us of our Children, that of eleven none re∣mains; and of this, the loss more grievous than any of the rest, though they, with her, through thy Kindness very desirable to us, but she our last, one and all. Lord, shouldst thou take my Forfeitures, how destitute should I be, not only of Children, but of all thy sustaining Mercies, and above all, in the ir∣reparable loss of thy self, who art abundantly better to me than Sons and Daughters.

Good Lord sanctifie to me this Dispensati∣on, and help me to find out the accursed thing which provoked thee to smite with so heavy a Blow. I beseech thee, with this correcting Hand beat off the busie Flies of Sin and Tem∣ptation, that they may not corrupt my Soul. Good Lord cleanse me from all filthiness of Flesh, and Spirit, that I may perfect Holiness in thy Fear, run with Patience the Race thou hast yet set before me, finish my Course in thy Service, and conclude my Life in this World to thy Glory, in the Salvation of my Soul, for Christ's Sake.

Lord, as for my self; I beg of thee to be very Gracious to those related to us by the Marriage of our Dear Child; though thou hast loosed the Knot that so nearly joyned our

Families, I beseech thee do not untie those Affections that should continue Mutual Love. Good Lord let that dear Chid she hath left behind her, cement and joyn our Hearts in joynt Thankfulness unto thee, and unite us one to another. Lord, give them thy choice Favours in Jesus Christ, pardon of Sin, with the Graces of thy Holy Spirit, and order and dispose for the best whatever may concern them and theirs, as to a happy tendency to their well-being in this World, and attaining of thy self in endless Glory.

I beseech thee be very gracious unto him whom thou hadst united so nearly to her in a sweet Conjugal Relation: Lord, I have sin∣ned, and he also suffered. Good Lord, let all Grace abound to him in all concerns in this Life, and for a better; and let her gain be his great Advantage, joyning his Heart more closely to thy self.

Good Lord bless that single Posterity of his and ours, left of her who was his dear Wife, and our dearly Beloved Child. I beseech thee be his God in Covenant with him; and, Lord, give him the Efficacy of his Baptism, that he may be thine by Grace and Adoption. I beseech thee take full and early Possession of his Heart. Good Lord keep out the Vanities and Follies of Childhood, and Youth, that while he is Young he may be a Beloved Disci∣ple

of Jesus Christ. If thou seest it good to continue him in this Life, I beseech thee grant that he may in his dear Mothers room Honour God in this World, with an exempla∣ry, holy Life, a choice Instrument of thy Glo∣ry. Good Lord, charge thy Providence with him in the whole course of his Life, and make up all Relations to him in thy self: Graciously support him in, and through this World. Good Lord preserve him from the Soul-ruin∣ing Evils of it, and when thou wilt take him hence, I beseech thee receive him to thy self, in thy Everlasting Kingdom, in the full Frui∣tion of God in Glory.

Lord, though thou was pleased to clip off so great a piece of the Comfort of my Life in this World, denying my Vehement Desires and Requests, with the many Prayers of thy People, and our Christian Friends, for the lon∣ger stay of our Dear Child with us in this World; yet thou art not the less a God hearing Prayer, but hast heard, and granted to an higher End, not here on Earth with us, but in Heaven with thee, received in the Arms of Everlasting Mercies, to which Blessed Estate I beseech thee bring me, and those Relatives very dear to me. Good Lord sanctifie to us this Chastening Hand; and though thou cut∣test off the Streams, my Comforts of this Life, let not my Soul be as a parched Heath,

that receives no good, but draw me to thy self, the Fountain of durable Mercies; give me those Living Waters from the Wells of thy Salvation, the Light of thy Countenance, with thy reconciled Face and Favour, those Rivers that make glad the City of God. Good Lord vouchsafe me the sweet refreshing gales and incomes of thy Spirit, and with thy Grace conduct me off these ruff Seas of Sins and Sorrows, to my desired Haven and Port, in those Eternal Mansions of Glory, where all in thee shall meet with full Enjoyments of God, and one another, with sweet acclamations of Thankfulness and Praises to thee our God, for Ever, for Ever. Amen, Amen, Amen.

I have transcribed this long Paragraph, with∣out altering, or changing the order of a Word; if some may account it tedious, who either have not been exercised with such Tryals, or have o∣ther shorter and cheaper ways to relieve them∣selves against them, let them use their own Methods, without censuring, or despising hers. This was her Heart's Ease when she was over∣whelmed, pouring out her Complaints to God in secret was her best Anodine; but I hope it will need no Apology with most, and if it doth with any, I'll not run the risque of losing my Labour by attempting it, where the Suc∣cess is so doubtfull and unpromising.

I shall venture to enlarge this Section a little farther, for three Reasons; First, To shew the ardour of her Zeal for the Spiritual good of this Child, so exceeding dear to her, which may be an Instructive Example to some Mo∣thers or Grand-mothers to stir up the like to∣wards their Descendants, as nearly Related to them as this Child to her. Secondly, Because I foresee I shall not in the Body of this Book have much farther occasion to trouble the Rea∣der with any long transcripts out of her Wri∣tings, what remains being designed for the Appendix, which will be entirely her own. Lastly, To imprint upon the Child due Senti∣ments of Gratitude to God and her.

I meet with many Expressions of most Pa∣thetick Tenderness towards this dear Child, who now, next to my self, was the Center, in which all the lines of her strong Affections terminated.

July 14. 1679. Our dear sweet Child went to Coggshall to his Father's House, the Lord preserve him from all Evil, and Bless him, and comfortably restore him to us again. A∣bout a quarter of a Year after he returned well to us again: Blessed be God for it.

We went four Miles from Home to visit a Friend; our dear Child was preserved in an apparent Danger. The hinder Wheel of the Coach was very like to have borne him down,

and gone over him, as he was going into the Coach, the Horses being disturbed by a strange Horse, went away; but through God's preventing Goodness I had a quick ap∣prehension of the danger. I suddenly pulled him away: Blessed be our good God for this Deliverance of our dear Child; he had no harm, the Wheel durtied his Hat and Coat; good Lord help me to live thy Praises, who art the God of our Mercies.

Some may say these are small Matters, but I say they are no small Evidences of a very thankfull sense of God's Mercies, and will leave them inexcusa∣ble who are not thankfull for greater.

In the Year 1682. God was pleased to put me in fear of the speedy dissolution of our dear∣ly beloved Grand-child. He was in a lan∣guishing, consumptive condition, with other symptoms of the Disease: His Breath was very short; had lost his Appetite; he looked very Pale; was very Lean; which imprest on my Thoughts that God would take him from me. To his Righteous Will I laboured to submit, but God was pleased to reverse the Sentence, with a Blessing on means used; the Prescriptions of Dr. H. whom we sent for from London to him, and with my own great Care of him, he recovered Strength, to God's Blessing I ascribe the Praise, who did not cast out my Petition. Good Lord, let this pledge

of thy compassionating Mercy to me, streng∣then my Faith in the grant of my more Ear∣nest Request, that I may assure my self, a∣greeable to thy Will, of his Sanctification. I beseech thee season his tender Mind with the savoury Knowledge of thy Blessed self. Lord, I do not ask of thee the Excesses and great things of this World; not Earth, but Hea∣ven, thy Blessed self: I beseech thee put him not off with any thing less than thy self. No Lord, I beg thou wilt with-hold the gran∣deur of this Life from him, farther than thou wilt give him an Heart to lay it out to the best advantage of thy Glory on Earth, the pro∣curing a better Estate in Heaven, those Ever∣lasting Mansions, where are durable Riches, an Eternal weight of Glory, purchased with the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, which good Lord grant unto him. Amen, Amen, Amen.

June 19. 1688. My dear Grand-Child es∣caped, by God's gracious Providence, a very terrible Danger of being Wounded, or sud∣den Death, (which danger she describes) had not God's watchfull Compassion interposed, I cannot express the terrible Consequence which might have happened. I am not able to recount thy multiplied Mercies in delivering us from present Dangers, and many we know not of. For this, and all, good Lord, accept

as I would render them, from a Heart sensi∣ble of thy Mercies, my most gratefull Ac∣knowledgments; and in consideration of this, I beseech thee make deep Impressions on the Heart of my poor Child, and us his Parents concerned for him, that he and we may live thy Praises. Amen, Amen.

I will satisfie my self with the Perusal of the rest, and not trouble the Reader by transcribing more, though all improved to Holy Purposes, and the Reflections made with such warm Ex∣pressions, as I conceive might be very apt to kindle the Flames of Devoutest Thankfulness in those who read them, no words being more likely to affect the Hearts of others than those which so evidently proceed from the Hearts of those who Speak or Write them, and feel what they ut∣ter; according to the Advice good Bishop Felton used to give his Chaplains (of which the Ex∣cellent Bishop Brownwrig was sometime one) to steep their Sermons in their Hearts before they Preached them.