[Page 1] A CATALOGUE OF VIRTƲOƲS WOMEN Recorded in the Old & New Testament.
TIS a famous Character
Which I oft have heard of Her,
Corresponding to the Fame
Of her Noble Father's Name.
Thus Religion understood,
Often runneth in a blood:
[Page 2] And, for multitude we find
Most-what of the woman▪kind.
This is still the true renown,
Virtue! which puts envy down:
So the Sacred Book defines
All the Ancient Heroines.
1 Pet. 3. 6. Gen▪ 17. 15.
Sarah that obey'd the word
Of her Dear, and call'd him Lord,
Though her own Name mounts so high,
And a like doth Signify.
Gen. 27. 46. & Vers. 12.
Good Rebeckah griev'd to death
With the Heathenish Dames of Heth:
Wishing him the Princely place
That was Principal in grace.
Mat. 2. 18. Gen. 35. 19. Jer. 31. 15.
Beauteous Rachel, whose sad cross,
Lack of Children, seem'd as loss:
For as loss it wass resented,
And as mournfully lamented.
See Diod. on Mat. 2. 16. &c. and Jer 31. 15.
Thus by Faith she propheci'd
Of the Bethlehem Babes that dy'd:
Mothers tears, and Childrens blood
Made a lamentable Blood.
Gen. 30. 22. Ch. 41. 28, 36. Ch. 47. 25.
Yet at length her Prayers obtain'd,
Such a Seed as Rul'd and Reign'd:
Joseph, Egypts Foster Father,
Who did large Provisions gather.
1 Sam. 10. 21, 24. Gen. 48. 16. Ch. 49. 22.
Benjamin, from whom did spring
Israel's first exalted King:
And from Joseph soon ensu'd
Ephraims populous multitude.
Exod. 6. 20. ch. 2. 2. &c. 1. 21.
Next is to be Registred
Resolute good Jochebed,
For, three months she hid her Son
Th' Inquisition so to shun.
Exod. 2. 4, 9. Heb. 11. 23.
Miriam next, that lent her hand
(Fearing not the Kings Command,)
To secure the Babe from slaughter,
Kindly sav'd by Pharoahs Daughter.
Exod. 2. 9. &c.
Whom the beautious Babe did please▪
Weeping in the Bull-Rushes.
And her pity and her purse▪
Hir'd for him an Hebrew Nurse.
Ibidem.
Witty Miriam call's her Mother
To be Nurse unto her Brother:
So the Serpent and the Dove
Met alike in Miriam's Love.
Micah. 6. 2. Numb. 36. 59.
So was she recorded One
With her Brethren so well known:
One in their Levitick Stock,
One in Conduct of the Flock.
Numb. 27. 3. ch. 36. 10.
And the Daughters we must add
Of the good Zelopehad:
That were free from all Defection▪
And still follow'd God's direction.
Ch. 27. 4, 7—
That could plead their own just right,
well approv'd in Gods own sight:
And a President became
For the Females rightful claim.
Vers 8. See the Postscr. Note [...].
And did prove Estates to fix
With the true inheretrix:
Which by Reason should withdraw,
Th' Error of the Salique Law.
Isa. 49. 23.
For we find by Scripture search
Nursing Mothers to the Church:
And that Queens as well as Kings▪
Are ord ain d to such high things.
Josh. 15. 19. Psal. 87. 7.
Acsah too that ask'd a blessing,
Granted at her first addressing:
Th' upper and the neither Springs,
Which import far higher things.
Ruth. 1. &c.
Naomi for faith excelling,
Whiles with hateful Heathens dwelling:
And when plung'd in deep distress
Was upheld by Humbleness.
Josh. 6. 17. Ruth▪ 1. 17. Mat 1. 8.
Rahab too, and Virtuous Ruth,
Converts that embrac'd the truth▪
Both enroll'd by grace Divine
In our Blessed Saviours Line.
Judg. 4. 4. &c.
Deb'rah Wife of Lapidoth,
Prophetess and Princess both:
That arose by Gods command
As a Mother in the Land▪
Vers. 14,—
That did call a War, and carry it
Spite of Siseras Iron Charet:
And did startle (to the best)
Brave Resolves in Barach's brest.
Jndg. 4. 21. Ch. 5. 14.
Jael too for courage crown'd
Nayling Sisera to the ground:
Whose blest honour did augment,
Past all Womens in the Tent.
Judg. 13. 23. Heb. 11. 33.
And the Wife of Manoah,
Her good Husbands prop and stay:
Mother of the Nazarite
Magnifi'd for faith and fight.
1 Sam. 1. 18, 27. Ch. 2. 22.
Hannah that reviv'd by Prayer,
And obtain'd a Son and Heir:
Vow'd him freely to the Lord,
With her Husbands joynt accord.
Chap. 2. 1, 22. Luk. 1 46▪
And presents him most compleat
With her Gratulation great:
Whose inspired heart and tongue
Hint the Holy Virgins Song.
1. Sam. 4. 19.
And the Wife of Phinehas,
For a Zealous Saint she was,
More lamenting Israels fall,
Than her own loss, life and all.
1. Sam. 4. 20.
Troubled that the Ark was taken▪
Israels glory so forsaken:
Calls her dear Child Ichabod,
Grieving for the Ark of God.
1 Sam. 25. 18, 31.
Abigail that durst ingage
To subdue a Souldiers rage,
Courted David, sought and serv'd him,
From a rash Revenge preserv'd him.
Vers▪ 23.
Wins him with Civility,
Wisdom and Humility:
Of his greatness prophecy'd▪
And e're long became his Bride.
2 Sam. 20. 16.
And that peaceable good spirit▪
Of immortal fame and Merit:
She that at the Seige of Abel
Carri'd all so amicable.
Ibidem.
Talking with the Royal Captain,
Of the fears the Town was wrapt in▪
How, said she, canst thou take joy
God's Inheritance to destroy?
Ibidem.
Far from me be such a fury,
Said the Captain, I▪le assure ye:
Onely Sheba's body bring,
That hath clasht against the King.
Ibidem.
Then she treats with all the Town▪
Cryes the Trayterous Rebel down,
Get's his head cast o're the wall,
And forthwith appeaseth all.
Pro. 31. 1. Mat. 1. 6.
And the Queen we count upon.
That instructed Solomon:
Princess in the Royal Line,
Prompting Oracles Divine.
1 King 10. 1. Mat. 12. 42.
And the Queen of famous Note,
That did come from parts remote
In her zeal to seek the Lord;
As both Testaments record.
Ibidem.
That with Solomon did consult,
Asking Questions difficult:
And the Heaven-inspired King
Answered her to every thing.
Ibidem.
That admir'd the Works she saw,
And his Oeconomick Law:
Most of all his rare Ascent
As he to the Temple went.
Ibidem.
'Tis a true report said she
Which at home I heard of thee▪
But by what I now behold,
Lo! the one half was not told.
Ibidem.Verse 9.
Blessed be the Lord thy God,
And thy People I applaud,
That such Oracles may hear,
From a Prince to them so near.
1 Kings 17. 13.
She that first Elijah fed
With the last bit of her bread:
But by faith which she embrac'd,
Neither Meal nor Oyl did waste.
2 Kings 4. 6.
And that faithful Widdow too
That had vessels not enough
To contain the Liquor fill'd,
Which by Miracle distill'd.
2 Kings 4 36. Heb. 11. 35.
And the Shunamites good Wife
Who receiv'd her Dead to Life:
Whom Elisha did requite
That did such a Guest invite.
2 Kings 5. 1.
And the little Captive Maid
From her native Land convey'd,
That did wait on Naamans Wife,
And put fair to end the strife.
Vers. 3, 24.
Would to God (said she) my Master
Were (in spite of all disaster)
With the Prophet, that doth dwell
In Samarias CITTADEL.
Vers. 3. 14, 15.
For he would undoubtedly
Cure him of his Leprosy:
So he went and was made whole
Both in Body and in Soul.
2 Chr. 34. 22, 26. Mat. 1. 10.
Hulldah dwelling in the College,
Perfect in prophetick knowledge:
That did comfort King Josiah,
(Grand-child to King Hezekiah▪)
Vers. 28. 24.
And assur'd his peaceful end,
For even death must stand his Friend:
Though Gods wrathful indignation
Scorcht the following Generation.
Vers. 25.
And the Prophetess was bold
To denounce the wrath foretold:
For their sin so far incens'd,
That the wrath could not be quench'd.
Ester 4. 14.
Royal Ester, most religious,
Born as for a time prodigious:
With her Maidens mourn'd and pray'd,
Stak'd her life for Israels aid.
Chap. 7. 6.
Cop'd with Haman, got the day,
Which advanced Mordecay:
And if any Women be
Types of Christ, 'tis such as she.
Thus the Testament hath told
Worthy Women of the Old:
Now great Ladies take a view
Of the Worthies of the New.
Luk. 1. 6. Vers. 44.
First Elizabeth admire,
Whose Obedience was entire:
Whose sweet Babe within her Womb
Leap'd for joy that Christ was come.
Luk. 2. 37. Chap. 7. 38.
Aged Anna that did pray
Instantly both night and day:
Mary that did weep as fast,
Till her tears all price surpast.
Luk. 10. 39.
Th' other Mary we must mention,
Who to Christ gave great attention:
For the better part she chose,
That which she could never lose.
John 11. 2. Mat. 26 13.
This was also she that shed
Precious Spikenard on his head▪
Which to such account did come
As must pass through Christendome.
Luk. 11. 38. John 11. 5.
And good Martha must be number'd,
Though with two much care encumber'd:
One expresly said to be
Lov'd of Christ among the three.
John 11. 22.
For she was a sound Believer,
Though her Brothers death did grieve her:
And (confiding) told our Lord
He could raise him at a Word.
Mark. 12 44. 2 Cor. 9. 7.
And the Widdow whose Gratuity
Pass'd the Rich mens Superfluity:
Though two Mites was all her living,
So much priz'd is cheerful Giving.
Mark 7. 26. Mat. 15. 20.
And the Greek Syro-Phoenician
Who so press'd her bold petition:
Term of Dog she overcomes,
Dogs (said she) may eat the crums.
Ibidem.
So she stoutl▪ stood the tryal,
And misdoubted no Denyal:
For she knew she should prevail,
And her Faith did never fail.
Matt 9. 20.
Such a Faith did Christ avouch
Hers to be that stole a touch:
For, said that beleeving Soul,
If I touch I shall be whole.
John 4. 26.
She of Sychar made acquainted
With Messias, (Gods Annointed)
She made all the Town to know,
They believ'd and found it so.
John 19. 25. Luk. 2. 35.
And of them that so surpass
Was the Wife of Cleophas,
Sympathizing in the smart,
That did pierce the Virgins heart▪
Ibidem. See Postcript Note the third.
And the Virgins Sister there,
That did like affection bear:
And Salome, who likewise
Did so strongly Sympathize.
Luk. 8. 2. Mat. 27. 46.
And that Godly Convert then
Called Mary Magdalen:
Who last serv'd our Saviour stain,
And first saw him rais'd again.
Acts 9. 39. ch. 17. 34.
Tabitha that did prepare
Garments for the poor to wear:
Damaris that clave to Paul
When the Learn'd neglected all.
Acts 12. 14.
Rhoda that knew Peters Voice,
And thereat did so rejoyce,
That she straight ran in, and said,
Here's the Man for whom we pray'd.
Acts 16. 14. &c.
She whose heart the Lord did open
To attend to what was spoken:
And her heart set ope (to teach her,)
Sets her house so to the Preacher.
Rom. 16. 8.
Phoebe that did service pay
To the Church of Cenchrea:
And Priscilla that did purchase
Thanks of all the Gentile-Churches.
Ver. 6, 12.
Mary too, a Saint illustrious,
And for Saints dear sakes▪ Industrious:
So Tryphaena's Works import,
And Triphosa's came not short.
2 Tim. 1. 5. ch. 3. 15.
Lois, next (as Scripture saith)
In whom dwell'd unfeigned faith:
And Eunice prais'd as high,
Which two train'd up Timothy.
2 John 1. &c.
And the Lady call'd Elect
With the Robes of Virtue deckt:
And her Children from their youth
Walking stedfast in the Truth.
Rom. 16. 15. Phil. 4. 3. 2 John 13.
Some but named are set down,
And a Name is some Renown:
Here a Sister, there a Wife,
Owned in the Book of Life.
Phil. 4. 3. Luk. 8. 3.
Women then as well as men
Have their praise by Scripture Pen:
Women of their substance lent
To our Lord with one assent.
Luk. 8. 3.
One of these was good Susanna,
And the Noble Dame Joanna
(Herods Stewards Wife) was one,
And a many more unknown.
Luk. 23. 27. Vers. 4 [...]. 55.
Women did with mournful breath,
Most of all lament his death:
Women at his Grave did grieve
On the Sacred Sabboths Eve.
Luk. 23. 50. chap. 24. 1.
And that past, they did not fear
To embalm his Body there:
And had there the best inspection,
First, into his Resurrection.
Acts 17. 4, 12.
Lastly, to give all their due,
Famous Women, and not few,
Were converted, and strait way
At the Gospels spring of day.
Wherefore to conclude the story
Of this Faithful Female glory,
One thing more I must annex
In the Honour of your Sex.
Mat. 1. 27. Luk. 1. 44, 48.
One of yours excell'd all other,
That was both a Maid and Mother▪
Whom all Generations shall
Blessed Virgin-Mother call.
Luk. 1. 32. Vers. 46.
Mother of Almighty God,
Celebrated all abroad:
Yet was she of meek behaviour
Magnifying Christ our Saviour.
Heb. 1. 6. Luk. 2. 10.
Whom all Angels evermore
Are commanded to adore,
And with joy they all obey,
Witness this Triumphant Day.
FINIS.