OF Men that have béen remarkably Vertuous , and patterns for piety , and all other graces , Histories as well Modern as Divine , have very largely discoursed of : and infinite of examples of all Ages and Generations do in abundance witness the same . Yet should I recount them all , They can never excéed th● piety and vertue which I have read of in Women , who have béen famous for all vertues . I shall therefore in the first place endeavour to lay before you the Character of a vertuous wife , in nine or ten Particulars , and then leave a few counsels and wholsom rules , for the practice of young men to attain the Subject , called , The Vertuous wife .

1. The first Character of a good Wife , is this ; She is one who hath the fear of God before her eyes , though the Daughters of Zion be haughty , and go with a stiff neck , and all their actions bespeak their Pride , the vertuous Wife will endeavour in all things to kéep a conscience void of offence both toward God and toward Man : though others can sin with a high hand , and commit iniquity with gréediness , she dares not , will not , disobey God , for fear of that wrath and judgement which is denounced against all those who break his Commands , but she walks not as a fool but as wise , Redeeming the time , knowing the days are evil : so in hopes of that recompence of Reward promised to the obedient , she perseveres to the end in every good work , and will not , though to gain a world , let the fear of man over-sway and over-ballance that fear of God which is always & upon every account before her eyes .

2. The second Character of a Vertuous Wife , is this , she 'l endeavor to live in love with , and subiection to her own husband : she 's not ready to render railing for railing , and back-biting for back-biting , but follows the example of vertous Sarah , who obeyed Abraham , and called him Lord : Though her husband be a daily temptation to her , and a great provocation to stir up wrath in her , yet she is equally ballanced , and will love in the midst of envy ; she by her vertue will conquer all difficulties , and throw down all temptations which might arise in her spirit to the doing of any evil , or to the committing of any revenge , but is ready to render good for evil , love for hatred , she is far from the spirit of revenge , she is resolved to live in love , as Christ hath loved her , and given himself for her , she resolves to accompany her master every where , even at such a time when his Disciples left him : as the love of God remains sure , so shall her love and subjection remain to the end , in the midst of all opposition ; and in this she is the admiration of all , and a rare pattern as well as a good portion for good men .

3. The third Character of a Vertuous Wife , is ; she is one who is cloathed with the garment of humility , 1 Pet . 3.3 . whose adorning , let it not be that outward adorning of platting the hair , or wearing of gold , or putting on apparel , but had rather let it be the hidden man of the heart , even the ornaments of a méek and quiet spirit , which being in the sight of God of great price , she desires to be cloathed with it , she desires to be found in a humble frame of spirit before the Lord , knowing the contrite and humble spirit the Lord will not despise : and this is a goodly ornament in a womans breast , and is accompanied with great renown : for while some lofty looks cannot endure the sight of a poor wretch , the woman adorned with humility , will out of the vertuous inclination of her spirit , endeavour to be serviceable in her place and generation , and shew her piety even to poverty : she visits the poor , and refreshes the bowels of the néedy , and her Christian prudence is set before her eyes , to make every thing séem reasonable that is aged by her : humility is a comly ornament in a womans breast .

4. She is one who hath learned the rare Iewel , and incomparable art of Christian contentment : come riches or poverty , liberty or restraint , honour or dishonour , life or death come what will come , she hath learn'd in every estate to be content : hath God sent her a wicked husband , a man of Belial , a man of a contentious spirit , and froward disposition , she by the help of God is resolved to live in subiection to him , and therefore is ready to give a good example , and grows better , and his sin is a whetstone to her grace , and a medicine for her security : in this she is the glory of her sex , and the mirror of her age , for though others have their dainties , & delights : Content is her best dish ; in the want of all earthly comfort and injoyments , she can sit down with content , and say with the Psalmist , The Lord is my portion , therefore I shall not want : She knows that discontent is a viper in the breast , that spits venome in the face of God , therefore resolves in her self to hinder the over-spreading of this fretting Leprosie in her soul , and so continually kéeps spirit in an humble frame , not in any thing extolling her own worth or defects .

5. A fifth Character of a vertuous wife , is Patience : hath she crosses either inward or outward , she is resolved to let patience have its perfect work . A hasty froward spirit is contemned by her , she had rather follow the example of Job , then Jobs wife , though her body be afflicted , her mind distempered , and she be continually surrounded with sorrow , yet will she wait upon God patiently all her appointed time , untill her change come . And this grace is an enemy to all hasty and rash spirits , with grief of spirit and trouble of heart it is ; which when she considers that daring spéech of Job's wife to her husband , when she bad him curse God and dye , for enduring those afflictions from the Hand of God , she would not for a world tempt the Lords patience so much , by forgetting her own duty and work of patience in her soul .

6. A Vertuous wife , is a map of sobriety and modesty . Stubbornness , and obstinacy , are herbs that grow not in her garden , her pride is only to be cleanly , and her thrift not to be prodigal ; she scorns the company of tatling Gossips , and is more séen then heard : in her face and gesture , and in all actions , you may read nothing but vertue .

7. She is very careful of her domestick Charg● . Though wantons and careless houswives are gadding abroad and wantonizing among their companions , and cares not which end goes formost at home , yet the vertuous woman , out of the generousness of her spirit , is resolved to be a pattern to all women , and will be so diligent in her domestick charge , that no one shall have the least cause to cast the least aspersion upon her : she will be very careful to provide things necessary for her family , in this she is resolved to preserve her Reputation unspotted ; for what ever private imployment she hath of her own , she is careful first about her houshold charge , to sée that every thing be done in due order , shewing her self in all things a pattern for good houswives , and is likewise an honour to her Husband .

8. She is of a pleasing and swéet disposition : she hates the humours and ill qualities of those pouting Dames , who think that the best behaviour which is accompanied with pride and Majesty . Now the vertuous will know no difference betwéen the Knight and the Begger , the Lord , and the Peasant , but will be very courteous to all , that he who runs may read vertue in all her actions .

9. A vertuous Wife is accompanied with Chastity and Courtesie , which two godly qualities reduce a Woman into a perfect temper : the praises of Chastity are inumerable . Daphne resisting the wooing of Apollo , was turned into a Lawrel , after which he always wore a Lawrel in his Hat , to testifie his Love .

10. A Vertuous Wife wears prudence & discretion in all her actions : beauty makes them but humane , but prudence makes them more like divine ; if beauty wins them love , prudence makes them worthy of admiration . When Theseus was exposed to the Mercatour in the Labyrinth , who furnished him with means for his delivery , but by the discretion and prudence of the Princess whom he served , else he had never béen disintangled from those intricate windings . When Lason was to serve as a prey to the furious Bulls that kept the Fleece , was it not Medea that Enchanted them ? and made the passage frée unto the Prince , to carry that away which none durst enterprize .

In a word , the man that inioyes her , hath a happy portion , and hath great cause to bless God for his infinite goodness , for sending him such a comfort as a good wife , who for her vertue can parallel , whose greatest learning is Religion , dishonesty ne'r comes nearer then her ears : she hath content of her own , and séeks not a Husband but finds him , the good of her Husband is the business of her actions , she doth nothing more then love ●im , she is made up of goodness .

Histories make mention of women famous for all vertues , amongst which , lets not forget the merit of memory , our late most illustrious Quéen Elizabeth , of happy memory , who was a Saba for her wisom , a warlike Amazon for her magnanimity , a Cleopatra for her bounty , and a Camelia for her chastity : all men have spoke too little , no man can speak too much : sacred be still her memory to us on earth , as her blessed soul lives ever blessed in Heaven .

Here succéeded ( though not in absolute Monarchy ) yet a Princess of unspotted fame , incomparable Clemency , and immatchable goodness , and most remarkable vertue ) Quéen Anne , whom all degrees honoured , all Nations loved , and no tongue was ever heard to asperse with the least Calumny , and by whom none had ever the least cause of sorrow , unless in the lamentable loss of so Grave and Gracious a Princess . And amongst famous Women , let s not forget the late hopeful Lady , the Lady Elizabeth , who for all Princely virtues was the mirrour of her Age , and the glory of our Nations ! Of Ladies Renowned for Chastity , and other Vertues , whole Volumes are filled with Lucretia being adulterated by Sextus Tarquinus , after she had sent to her Friends to acquaint them with her injuries , because she would not live to be a by-word to Rome , nor preserve a defiled body for so noble a Husband , with a Knife which she had hid under her garment , stab'd her self before them all . Likewise of women eminent for conjugal love unto their Husbands , I have read of one Pandorus , who had a beautiful young Wife , to whom he was ardently affected : she on a time earnestly desired him to forbear all conflicts with the enemy , to endanger both himself and her to ruine ; but he by no means would hearken to her entreaties , which caused to beg of him , before he went to end her fears , and transpierce her body with his Sword , which he denyed , and went out to the Battel : but at the first Onset , the whole Army was overthrown , and himself slain , and his beautiful wife immediately took captive , and carried to the King : whose great beauty much astonied him : insomuch that after a short time he desired her in marriage , which she put off with all possible delays : insomuch that he resolved to attain that by compulsion , which he could not by perswasion : which coming to her ears , she retired in private by her self , and wrote these words and left them upon the Table . ( Let none report , that the Wife of Pandorus harboured so little love as to out-live him . ) And then she immediately took a Knife and pierced her self .

Thus having given you in brief the true Character of a truely vertuous Wife in her Ornaments most richly deckt , and for her graces for ever be admired . I shall now give a few Counsels to the honest young men of this age , to be wary in their choice , to sée that they be careful to chuse such as are thus qualified : for as there are good and vertuous women , so on the contrary there are too many that are a shame to their S●x , a dishonour to their Parents , and the sole troubles of a Family : therefore young men , when ever you find a woman cloathed wi●h all those Ornaments of vertue , bless God for it , and take her as a rare Iewel , a Princely Portion , lent you to improve to your good , and his glory .

1. Be careful young men in your choice , because on it dep●nds one great part of your welfare here on earth : without this , all your joys will be mixed with abundance of sorrow . What is a greater cause of comfort and joy here on earth , then a vertuous wife ? she is a comfort of Youth , the staff of Age , a Iewel , a Cr●wn , an Ornam●nt to her Husband : therefore young men be wary , as ever you would have ioy and comfort in this worth , let it not be enough that beauty adorns her face , but sée that vertue adorns her actions : for the Proverb may of● prove true : Under a fair face may be hid a false heart . Thou canst not be too cautious in this thy choice : therefore be as wary as thou canst .

2. The second counsel I would give young men , is this : As I would have you look into her qualities and conditions , so inquire after the Life and Conversation of her Parents . If the Parents be vertuous , they will endeavour as near as possible , to trace up their Children in the way they should go , that when they are old they may not depart from it : this way , though not always sure , yet it is the surest way thou canst go . Mark diligently , and inquire after her behaviour , sée that she be vertuous , wise , and kind , such a Wife will make thée a happy man , and thy life shall be a comfort , which otherwise would be a burthen to thee , therefore account of her as the onely treasure thou enioyest upon the earth , and the rarest Iewel that ever thou didst or shall enioy in this world .

3. Chuse one that is vertuous , because she looketh well to the ways of her houshold , and eateth not the bread of idleness : A vertuous Wife is a credit to her Husband . Sée the wisest of men , even Solomon , his commendation of a vertuous woman : in the last Chap. of the Prov. from Verse 10 to the end ▪ Who can find a vertuous woman ? For her price is far above Rubies . The heart of her Husband can safely trust in her , so that she shall have no need of spoil . She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life : She seeketh Wool and Flax , and worketh diligently with her hands : She 's like the Merchants Ship , she bringeth Food from far . She ariseth also while it is night , and giveth meat to her houshold , and a portion to her Maidens : she considereth a Field and buyeth it , with the Fruit of her hands she planteth a Vineyard , she girdeth her loyns with strength , and strengthneth her arms : she conceiveth her merchandize is good , and her candle goeth not out by night : She layeth her hands to the spindle , and her hands hold the distaff : she stretcheth forth her hands to the poor ; yea , she stretcheth forth her hands to the needy . She is not afraid of the Snow , for all her houshold are cloathed with Scarlet : She maketh her self coverings of Tapestry , her cloathing is Silk and Purple . Her Husband is known in the gates , when he sitteth among the Elders of the Land : she maketh fine Linnen and selleth it , and delivereth Girdles to the Merchant . Strength and honour are her cloathing , and she shall rejoyce in time to come : she openeth her mouth with wisdom , and in her Tongue is the Law of kindness . She looketh well to the ways of her houshold , and eateth not the bread of idleness : her Children arise up and call her blessed , her husband also , and he praiseth her . Many Daughters have done vertuously , but thou excellest them all . Favour is deceitful , and Beauty is vain : but a woman that feareth the Lord , she shall be praised . Give her of the Fruit o● her hands , and let her own works praise her in the gates . Here is Solomons Emblem of a vertuous wife at large described . Be Cautious then in your choice , and lay this as a pattern before your eyes , as ever you would live happily here , and blessed hereafter : Endeavour to find the subiect insisted on . The vertuous Wife .