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. XXIII. Acts and Kinds of her great Charity.

THough the Title-page gives this Section a Right and Claim to one moiety of the whole I write concerning her; yet, I would have it interpreted with some grains of Allow∣ance; for, alass! how could any thing she gave be called her Charity, who was a Wife? or how could it be called great, when all we both possessed, had the whole been given, could not in rigour bear that Epithete. I will there∣fore account for both in a few words. First therefore, though a Wife, she had a freedom of my little All, where I was Cajus, she was tru∣ly Caia, according to the old Roman Phrase; she had free access to whatever I was Master of, so abundantly was I satisfied in her Integrity and Prudence; (and to touch so small a thing as a Testimony of her wise Care, and our mu∣tual Confidence to avoid the clog of many Keys, she contrived to have five Locks open with one Key, and had two made, one for each of us, that upon no occasion of the others Absence, either of us might be shut out from what was kept under them; and so for a few other Locks she provided double Keys, one of which she kept, the other hung up in my Stu∣dy.)

Now when any object of Charity offered it self, she would, serve the occasion, as she al∣so did for her own Expence out of my Store; but would after, always tell me to a Penny what she took, which I have, times without number, not only excused her from, but almost chid her for; but she would not be perswaded to mend that Fault, so tender was she. Where∣upon I told her, I would ease us both of that need∣less and uneasie Trouble, by allowing her a fixed certain Sum, that she might have no shaddow of a Scruple left in using of it as she pleased.

I may indeed be ashamed to name it, and it had been a niggardly, and indecent Proporti∣on, had I had more than one competent Living; but being as it was, she would have no more; only said merrily, My Friend, this shall not de∣barr me of my former Freedom; which on my part it never did, though on her part never was made use of. The Summ was the rents of a small Farm of Nineteen Pound a Year, which was always called hers, and I used to call her my Landlady chearfully, when I duly paid her Nine Pound, ten Shillings on the half-years day, and some little Perquisites about the Yard, more than were spent in the Family, which were also her Propriety, and which might together amount to about Twenty two, or Twenty three Pound a Year in the whole. Out of which she cloathed herself very decently,

and many Poor, very warmly, and did much other good, as I shall convinsingly evidence in what follows. So true is the Saying, Nullum numen doest si sit Prudentia, Wise Contrivance will supply all other Defects. And as an ob∣serving Gentlewoman said, She never knew any had the Art so perfectly as Mrs. Walker, of ma∣king a little shew a great deal, or going a great way. This small Pittance being absolutely her own, her scrupulous Tenderness was freed from giving me account what she did with it, and I from the irksome trouble of receiving it; and what she spared out of it was properly her own Charity.

Now, though to give more than her whole Allowance, would be a lean and starvling Charity from those who have more than they know well what to do with; yet, our graci∣ous Lord, the most unexceptionable Judge of these Matters, tells us, the poor Widdow's two Mites was more than the bulky Summs which the Rich cast into the Treasuries of God out of their Abundance, who rather squander their Su∣perfluities than retrench from their Necessities, to help the wants of the Indigent; (though I wish there were not too few even of such Squanderers.) And the Holy Apostle tells us, If there be a willing Mind it is accepted according to what a Man hath, and not according to what he hath not, 2 Cor. 8.12. And I bear her Re∣cord,

that to her Power, yea, beyond her Power, she was always willing and ready to communicate to the Wants of others; for how strait soever her Ability might be, she was not straitned in her own Bowels.

And though what she did from her own al∣lowance was in strictest Sence her Charity on∣ly, yet this only was not all her Charity; for she having a joint Interest in what was mine, she was sharer with me in the disposing or re∣taining of it; and I can with Truth and Com∣fort testifie, she never disswaded me from giving, often encouraged me to give, and would say to me on such occasions, My Dear, I think none of our Estate laid out so well as what is laid out so, nor any part kept so safe as what is deposited in God's Hand, and committed to his keeping.

But this is not all, she would be over-bal∣lanced against her own Inclination, if there were Charity in the case. She was not more averse from any thing than the enlarging our Family, loved to have it as small as might be, that it might be still and private, free from di∣sturbing Noise, and distracting Diversions, which unavoidably attend the increased numbers in an House; yet, was chearfully content when Cha∣rity opened the Door, made the Fire and the Bed. As in the Case of Dr. Tongue, whom we entertained so many Months; and Monsieur Barnaby Gennays, who was sent to me but for

four Weeks, and left to my sole Charge (five Pounds only allowed towards his admitting into St. John's Colledge in Cambridge,) for six whole Years; two in my Family to be Cloathed, Fed, and Taught, till fitted for the University, and four there, till he had his Degree of Batchellor; and yet she never repined or grudged the Cost; yea, took daily Pains to hear him read English, and teach him to pronounce it right. I'll touch no more Instances, lest I be suspected to borrow my own Praise under the disguise of paying hers, only adding the last, which is not liable to that suspition, because it rather tends as much to my own Reproach as to her Honour. My Curate dying in my Family of a Consum∣ption, and other Infirmities, September last, which had occasioned to us both much Charge and Trouble, and who had been attended with as kind Diligence and Care as if he had been our own Child. After some little time I told her that I would forbear taking a young Man, at least for the present, into the Family, because the publick Charges were so great; and I thank∣ed God I was able to perform my Work my self, to whch she presently replied:

Nay, My Dear, whatever thou sparest in, spare it not in that. Thou never keptest them for thy own Ease, but for their Benefit, to train them up to be fit for God's Service, and usefull in the Church, and seeing they have all proved so well, and

been so well preferred and provided for, and so approved of in their Ministry, continue to do as thou hast done so successfully so many Years; there is as much need still, as ever, of so assisting Young-Men, and let not that Pra∣ctice cease, the reason of which is not ceased.

I yielded, took her wise and honest Advice, and wrote immediately to a worthy Friend in Cambridge, who provided me one whose Cha∣racter answered my Desires. But his Mind al∣tered since my Wife's Death, by prospect of Preferment in the Colledge, and I wish he may never have cause to repent it, by being worse disposed of. And if so mean, and so obscure a Person as my self may have leave to speak out, and declare my Sentiments in this Affair, with∣out imputation of Vanity, or Offence to my Betters; if every Minister of my Ability, (not to say of double to mine,) would please to take a poor Schollar into his House as soon as they have commenced Batchellors in Arts, and then are forced to leave the Colledge very raw, be∣cause they can no longer have subsistence as Si∣zers, and would lend or give them Books, di∣rect them in the reading them, and assist and inspect their Studies, (to say no more) there would not so many young Students be at loss for Maintenance, and be forced so Callow, and Pin-feather'd, (I borrow that Expression from my Dear, which she was often heard by others,

as well as by my self, to use,) and like young Par∣tridges, to run with the Shell upon their Heads; and to get Bread, be constrained to under∣take the teaching others, what themselves have so imperfectly learned.

But to return to what was properly and purely her own, the acts of her Charity were more than the kinds, and both as many as she met with Objects that wanted it, both in giving and forgiving, and both proportioned to the Necessities of those who needed; that before her Rent-day came, she was often near, or quite exhausted; and would pleasantly tell me; Thou must expect no hoard of Money when I am Dead, for I am almost Bankrupt. Then I would tell her, I would supply, or if she would, advance some part before-hand; which I never remember she accepted more than once, three Pounds.

She used, as soon as she had taken her Al∣lowance, to separate nine Shillings six pence out of it, into her poor Man's Box, to be ready for smaller common Charities. But though this was her first Quota, this was far from being all; for I find twenty six Pound, three Shillings, Four-pence set down in two Years given away; besides what she might forget, or omit, though some small part I confess was rather Courtesie than strictly Charity, as given to Friends, Ser∣vants, or the like. And she would give liberal

Summs; I find twice five Pounds, ten Shil∣lings given to the French Protestants, for whom she had a great Compassion, one year after ano∣ther; and I have been informed by an Ho∣nourable Lady that she left five Guineys at a time with her for their Relief; but it may be these might be the same, and I would not make it more than it was in Truth.

She also gave twenty Shillings a time to the Briefs, for both French and Irish Sufferers, and other Guineys at a time I find set down in her Paper, and know of by other means. Also, ten Shillings, five Shillings, and very oft, Half-Crowns. I find also twenty Shillings in a Year given at Tunbridge-Wells, which she distributed to the Poor in smaller Pieces, Shillings, Six-pences, and Farthings, besides the Books she gave.

But besides what she gave in Money, she both bought good Cloth to cloath poor Wo∣men and Children; the day but one before she sickned, she enquired of the Taylor what poor Children he had made the last Cloaths for, that she might order the rest, which then remained in the House to some other. And a little before she bought that whole Piece of Cloth from London, she caused Wool to be spun, and strong Linsy-Woolsy to be made, to supply many poor Childrens wants; and she was as carefull of their Bellies as their Backs; to feed the one,

as warm the other, as wants no Proof nor Instance. She used also to buy Primmers, Psalters, Testaments, Bibles to give away, and other good Books, Crook's Guide especially, to give to poor Children and Families. She much delighted and abounded in that kind of Chari∣ty, giving usefull Books; and before she was prevented by settling a School to teach all the Poor, that not a Boy or Girl in all the Parish, but may be taught to read perfectly, unless it be their own, or Parents fault, she used to pay for the Schooling of poor Children.

And being put together, it amounted to a pretty considerable Summ; what she yearly gave to poor Women when with-Child, not only old Linnen, but a good new Blanket every Ly∣ing-in, which was so customary and constant, that it was almost claimable as a due Debt; and not only the Parish poor Women, but some Borderers have been Partakers of it. And I have been told already by one in that conditi∣on, Now her Mistress is dead she must come to me, so unwilling they are to let so known a Custom dye with her; with which freedom, as I was not offended, so I discourage not o∣thers from making use of the like. She would be also ready to supply the Poor with Work when she heard they wanted, though she had no present need or use of what they wrought in, and sometimes gave it away, and so made

at once a double Charity; yet, would never take advantage of their Necessity, to make them work the Cheaper. And she had learned a commendable Rule of her Father when she was young, which was, Never to buy too good a Penny-worth of poor People, or higgle too much with them; which she would do with others, and would buy very prudently, of which I could give a pleasant Instance; but never forgot her Father's Rule in Practice.

I esteem it no reproach to her Memory to acknowledge that some of her Relations were fallen into a mean and low condition; especially seeing they had fair and decent Portions left them, equal, or very near what I at first received with her; and although their straits were the effect of their own Folly and Indis∣cretion, which might have been a plausible Ex∣cuse for neglecting them, yet, she rather pit∣tied than upbraided them, and was very kind and liberal in relieving them and theirs; and as a Testimony that she was not weary of well-doing, I confess I have forty Shillings in my Hand she gave me in her Health, to be sent to one of them, which was not done, for want of opportunity to return it to her at North-Allerton; but, God willing, shall be done by the first op∣portunity I can meet with to do it safely. I mention no more of this kind, but her excess of Thankfulness, wherewith she over-payed

me for any thing I did for any related to her; always telling me on such occasions it was a trouble to her that any of hers should be bur∣then some; and, I thank God, I never reckoned it a burthen, because she always owned it as a Testimony of my Endearing Love to herself.

This I think sufficient for the account of her Money-Charities, though I believe several have sliped my Memory; upon the whole, ta∣king one Year with another, she did not fall short of that Excellent Lady, the Countess of Warwick's Proportion, (or quota pars,) which was so wondred at when I first acquainted the World with it, the third part of her separate Maintenance separated to Pious Uses. But, if we may compare small Summs with great, Mites and Sheakles, with Pounds and Talents, the Charity of this little Woman was so great, she gave more than half away; and out of her twenty two, or twenty three Pound a Year, seldom expended ten on herself; I believe some Years not above seven, or eight, and gave away the rest.

But lest the endeavour of my Quill, which is to perswade other Women to be Charitable by her Examples, should prove like throwing Feathers against the Wind, be blown back in the Face of him who throws them, and not reach them at whom they are thrown, (I speak of Women of her Rank and Size, not

of those who prune themselves with the sick Feathers of their Husband's Estates, as Eloquent and Pious Mr. Shute, checked the gawdy Excesses of the moderate and modest Days in which he Preached,) and be rendred unsuccessfull by their Fears, that such supplying others, will make them moult what is otherwise necessary to maintain that Port and Decency which be∣comes their Quality and Station. Let me assure them, by her Experience, they are more affraid than needs; a moderate Summ prudently mana∣ged, will answer both designs; that Body may be dressed neat and fine, and its Hands may be open and munificent, in which there dwells a discreet Mind, and a charitable Heart.

I dare appeal to Persons of the best Qua∣lity, who often honoured her with free ad∣mittance to their Conversation; yea, to the Female-Criticks of Tunbridge-Wells, and Walks; the severest, (the Court its self not excepted,) if she ever appeared in a sordid or contemptible garb, she was not garish or flaunting, she despised and hated that, but all the ornamental Part was as good as any of her Condition wore; it is true, she bought not often, but she bought the best, and kept them so neatly, they always shewed like new, and she was not concerned or a∣shamed to be seen more than once or twice in the same Dress, and she had an Art to dis∣guise what was the same, to look like quite

another thing. I know I am beside the Cushi∣on, and should be much ashamed of what I write were not my honest Design my just Apo∣logy: Which is, if it be possible, to remove one of the most obstinate Objections which hin∣ders Female-Charity, (though not in all;) they fear it is inconsistent with their appearing so fine and trim, as is expected, without a great Fund, or a Spring as quick as Tun∣bridge-Wells, which yields Waters sufficient, and to spare for all that come. But repress your Fears, silence your Excuses, what has been done may be done again; a small Root in a good Soil, will spread to admiration in Branches, and in Fruits; a large Heart will pick a great deal out of a narrow Purse. Hers was a faint Spring, yet it let no Channel be dry, not to say filled them all. I am confident, if others would set their Hearts as God inclined hers, they would equal, or exceed her; and my hearty desire, that they may so do, both in Work and Recompence, I hope will excuse what I write, to help, yea, to press and push them forward.

Next to the Charity of her Purse was that of her Pains and Kindness, of her getting and improving Skill to assist the infirm and indis∣posed by inward Sicknesses, and outward Wounds and Sores: She had a competent good measure of Knowledge both in Physick and Chy∣rurgery, which she attained with no small In∣dustry

and Labour, and increased by Experi∣ence. Her first and main stock she acquired from a Brother-in-Law, a very able Doctor of the London College, who Married her Si∣ster, and was very freely communicative, who wrote her many Receipts, and directed her what methods to proceed in for most common Diseases, into which her poor Neighbours might be incident; and she was very inquisi∣tive of other Doctors, and had many English Books, Riverius, Culpepper, Bonettus, &c. which she read, not to say studied. And good store of Vomits, Purges, Sudorificks, Cordials, Pecto∣rals, almost all kind of Syrups, strong and simple distilled Waters, several Quarts of which she left (yea Gallons of them she used most,) which it is pity should be lost. These cost some Money, but more Pains and Labour to prepare them; and as much variety for Chy∣rurgery Ointments, Oils, Salves, Sear-cloths, &c. and she pretended more to the latter than to the former, and had been very inquisitive to inform herself by Men and Books; and as she was very ready to help, so she had been of∣ten very successfull in both.

Many, 'tis possible, might exceed her in what follows, whom I know not of, but none ever equalled her, that came within my Observation, in the obliging Charity, to put forth her utmost Ability and Strength in assisting the Sick, and

Infirm; not the meanest Neighbour whom she would not visit and help in such Circumstances; administer to them what in her Judgment she thought most proper for them, and not only direct how to use what she brought them, but stay with them, or come again to see the Operation or Success; and she confined not this Kindness to the limits of the Parish, but would extend it to some distance. I will take the freedom to give one Instance, because the Reverend Person, for, and to whom she per∣formed it, in thankfull Acknowledgment ever after, used (both while she lived, and since she dyed) to call her his Nurse.

A Neigbouring Minister having a long and dangerous Sickness, when upon a Visit made him, she took notice, that (as she feared) he wanted Persons of Experience about him, (ha∣ving before lost his Wife, and his Physicians by reason of distance could not be long or often with him,) she daily went to him for many days, at near two Miles distance, and staid with him most part of the Days. I affirm not that she watched with him any Night, (but I am sure she hath done so elsewhere, and per∣fectly remember when, and where,) because it hath slipped my Memory; and though she was so modest as not to assume much to her∣self, I have heard her say, She thought God made her Instrumental, not only to the speedier

recovery of his Health, but preservation of his Life.

Another object of her Painfull Charity (which I the rather name because our Litany expres∣ly reckons it amongst the objects of our de∣voutest Prayers,) was, Women Labouring with Child, whom she would rise at any hour of the Night to go too, and carry with her what might be usefull to them, having good Skill, and store of Medicines always ready by her for such occasions; and there was scarcely ever any difficulty in that case round about, but recourse was made to her, both for Advice and Medicines; and, if might be with Con∣venience, for her Presence, which was always very acceptable and comfortable to the distres∣sed Women when the distance was such that she could afford it.

I might write well near as much of her for∣giving as her giving Charity; for, though the objects and occasions of exercising this Grace were not so many and so frequent as those of the other; yet, what they wanted in number, was made up abundantly in Weight and Mea∣sure, under which pressures and provocations, she behaved herself as became the Daughter of him who was Dumb before the Shearers, and opened not his Mouth. She would not recom∣pence Evil for Evil, nor answer reviling with reviling; but committed her Cause to him who Judgeth Righteously, knowing it was for his

sake she was so despitefully used, and thought it not strange, that seeing the Master of the House was called Beelzebub, those of his Houshold should ••e called so too. She had well studied our Sa∣viour's Sermon on the Mount, and considered that Passage especially, (for she reckons the Practice of that Lesson amongst the signs of a Regenerate State,) St. Matth. 5.44. I say to you, Love your Enemies; Bless them that Curse you; Do good to them that hate you; Pray for them that despitefully use you, and Persecute you; that ••e may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven.

And, to confess her Weakness, I am perswa∣ded she thought it as true a sign of a sincere Christian to love an Enemy, though a bad Man, for the natural Image of God remaining in him, as some do, to hate a Friend, though a good Man, for the renewed Image of God which appears in him: If her Opinion be an Errour, I hope it is on the Right-hand, and so may escape being reputed an Heresie. But I remember I am writing of Forgiving Charity, and I would not give occasion to start such a Question as I once heard started by a Gentle∣man after a lashing Sermon, Preached on a Text of Mercy. He said in Droll, 'Twas a Sermon of Mercy; but the question is, whether it were a Mercifull Sermon. — Sed motos praestat componere fluctus, Peace, and be still unruly Pas∣sions.

What hath added to her Crown o•• Glory, as I am confident her Carriage in such rancounters did, should be taken by th•• better Handle, esteemed favours for the Issue•• rather than injuries for the Design. When Bee•• fight, the throwing dust upon them, it is said, will puiet them: She is dead, and her Dus•• shall for ever extinguish all Resentments, and let them be buried in an Eternal Amnestry.

Had she lived, or I wrote of her in another Age, one thing more might have been added to the List of, or brought up the Rear of her Charity; that is, the temper of her Mind and Carriage towards those who were not altoge∣ther of her Size and Dimensions, nor cast ex∣actly in her Mould. I confess, she was one of the old-fashion'd Christians, who thought her Heavenly Father's Example an Authentick Warrant for her Imitation, of whom whosoever feareth God, and working Righteousness, is accepted. And though Vertues and Vices change their names, and grow unmodish and obsolete, like Garbs and Words, yet old Wine relished best to her Pallate, which so many spit out as soon as taste, and cry, it is vapid or eager. Some per∣haps may wonder that so wise a Man as St. Paul should not only allow Moderation to be commendable, but enjoyn it as a Duty, and press it by the Medium of the Day of the Lord draw∣ing near; Let you Moderation be known unto all

Men, the Lord is at hand. When now his co∣ming is sixteen hundred Years nearer, most Men are as many Miles more distant from Modera∣tion than when he wrote. But I must acknow∣ledge, how much soever it may lessen her in the Esteem of any, that she had a Latitude (not in her Conversation, for she always walked in the Narrow Way) in her Judgment, about lit∣tle indifferent Matters. (Oh, how Diametrical∣ly opposite are some in both!) She observed there were Men of all Complexions, and Blacks and Tawnys, as well as Whites, were Descendants of the first Adam, and so she hoped those of different Perswasions might be ingrafted into the Second Adam; and therefore thought Job's Words Canonical to this Day; Why Persecute we him, seeing the Root of the Matter is found in him?

She did not think all, that in a few things dissented from the Communion in which she lived, such rank Heathens; that if she heard a Man name them without setting a stigma∣tizing Brand upon them, like the bigotted Jews of St. Paul, upon the meer naming of the Gen∣tiles, Acts 22.22. She should cry out, Away with such a Fellow from the Earth; for it is not fit that he should Live.

It is a true and weighty Saying, worthy our Remembrance and Imitation, That the prime Object of God's Love is his Dear Son, and next

to that, the Image of his Son where-ever he finds it. And she wrote after this Copy, she loved the Lord Jesus in Sincerity; she loved the Lord her God with all her Heart, and all her Soul, with all her Might, and all her Strength; and her Neighbour as herself. She would speak evil of no Man; do evil to no Man, but did all the good she could, as she had opportunity; espe∣cially to the Houshold of Faith. And though she loved the whole World with a love of Benevo∣lence, she loved those chosen out of the World with a Love of Complacency. She had a pecu∣liar Esteem of, and Affection for God's People: Her choice delight was in the Saints, and those who excelled in Vertue.

She was not ashamed to be accounted their Sister whom Christ was not ashamed to call his Brethren; the Profession, but much more the power of Godliness was so far from being terminus Diminuens, an abatement of her value and kindness, that it much endeared those to her in whom she found it, and fastened those Bonds more strongly which had been tyed by Nature, Neighbourhood, or Friendly Con∣versation. I excuse not the length of this Se∣ction, it being not easy to write too much of that of which she never thought she practi∣sed enough; though she had, as it were, habi∣tuated it into her Constitution, it being as the Element in which she lived.