[Poems by Danforth in] Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society April 17, 1968 - October 16, 1968 : Volume 78 |
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GREATNESS & GOODNESS ELEGIZED, In a POEM, Upon the much Lamented Decease of the Honourable & Vertuous MADAM HANNAH SEWALL,
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 | [Poems by Danforth in] Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society |  |
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GREATNESS & GOODNESS ELEGIZED, In a POEM, Upon the much Lamented Decease of the Honourable & Vertuous MADAM HANNAH SEWALL,
Late Consort of the Honourable Judge SEWALL, in Boston, in NEW-ENGLAND. She Exchanged this Life for a Better, October, 19th. Anno Dom. 1717. Aetatis Suae. 60.
A Mind Serene is only fit for Verse,
Deserved by this Honourable Herse:
Our Ruffled Mind can scarcely Think, for Tears;
Trembling Our Pen, at This Great Death, appears.
The PATRIOT, now in Sorrow almost Drown'd,
Merits Condoleance from the Country round.
Shall We adventure these Unpolish'd Lines?
Lucina's Dust deserves far Richer Shrines.
Deserved by this Honourable Herse:
Our Ruffled Mind can scarcely Think, for Tears;
Trembling Our Pen, at This Great Death, appears.
The PATRIOT, now in Sorrow almost Drown'd,
Merits Condoleance from the Country round.
Shall We adventure these Unpolish'd Lines?
Lucina's Dust deserves far Richer Shrines.
To Name Her Father first We'll not think much;
We knew Him well, & Wish there were More Such.
Choice HULL the fifth Command observ'd so well,
His Carriage to His Parent did Excell;
Wilson Pronounc'd the Promis'd Blessing then;
The LORD of Providence too said AMEN.
The Hull, soon Built upon, became an Argo;
Deep fraighted with Terrene & Heav'nly Cargo:
Immortal Vertue gave Immortal Name;
Long Life, Power, Honour, Added to His Fame.
Stretching his Course, Refresh'd with Prosperous Gales,
Quitting New-England's Coasts, to Heav'n He Sails.
We knew Him well, & Wish there were More Such.
Choice HULL the fifth Command observ'd so well,
His Carriage to His Parent did Excell;
Wilson Pronounc'd the Promis'd Blessing then;
The LORD of Providence too said AMEN.
The Hull, soon Built upon, became an Argo;
Deep fraighted with Terrene & Heav'nly Cargo:
Immortal Vertue gave Immortal Name;
Long Life, Power, Honour, Added to His Fame.
Stretching his Course, Refresh'd with Prosperous Gales,
Quitting New-England's Coasts, to Heav'n He Sails.
This Precious Fragant Flower was, when he went,
Heir of's Vertues, Left in's Heavenly Tent:
A Paragon, upon New-England's Stage;
Her Piety advancing with her Age.
Her Radiant Graces, of so Rich a Worth,
Pencils of Angels scarce can Paint 'em forth.
Heir of's Vertues, Left in's Heavenly Tent:
A Paragon, upon New-England's Stage;
Her Piety advancing with her Age.
Her Radiant Graces, of so Rich a Worth,
Pencils of Angels scarce can Paint 'em forth.
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She was too Sparkling for Plebeian Eyes,
Heaven Bless'd SEWALL with this Noble Prize;
Plac'd in the Chrystal Sphere of Chastest Love,
She Flow'r'd a Race, Devote to Heav'n above.
Full of Contentment and Devoid of Strife,
In Golden Characters She wrote her Life.
Her Mind, Bright & Serene: A Charming Sight:
No Saphire or Rich Ruby Shone so Bright.
Heaven Bless'd SEWALL with this Noble Prize;
Plac'd in the Chrystal Sphere of Chastest Love,
She Flow'r'd a Race, Devote to Heav'n above.
Full of Contentment and Devoid of Strife,
In Golden Characters She wrote her Life.
Her Mind, Bright & Serene: A Charming Sight:
No Saphire or Rich Ruby Shone so Bright.
Such was her Course, & Choice, & Disposition;
The Greatest Queens may Envy her Condition.
Observing-Ladys must keep down their Vail,
'Till They're as Full of Grace, & Free from Gall,
As Void of Pride, as High in Vertue Rare,
As much in Reading, and as much in Prayer.
Wisdom, with an Inheritance, She had:
Her Charities did make her Neighbours Glad.
When Darkned with Afflictions, in her Day,
Th' Bright Cloudy Pillar Guided still her Way:
The Skie O'recast; Yet in her Cittadel
The COMFORTER Vouchsaf'd to Shine, & Dwell.
Her Faith, Hope, Patience, Holiness, and Love
(Thank Heav'ns Free Grace,) did All, most-stedfast prove.
Up to the Blessed-Seats, Kind Angels bear
Her 'Parted-Soul; With Hallelujahs there:
To CHRIST, in Youth, drawn by His Saving charms,
Is now Incircled with His Blessed Arms.
The Greatest Queens may Envy her Condition.
Observing-Ladys must keep down their Vail,
'Till They're as Full of Grace, & Free from Gall,
As Void of Pride, as High in Vertue Rare,
As much in Reading, and as much in Prayer.
Wisdom, with an Inheritance, She had:
Her Charities did make her Neighbours Glad.
When Darkned with Afflictions, in her Day,
Th' Bright Cloudy Pillar Guided still her Way:
The Skie O'recast; Yet in her Cittadel
The COMFORTER Vouchsaf'd to Shine, & Dwell.
Her Faith, Hope, Patience, Holiness, and Love
(Thank Heav'ns Free Grace,) did All, most-stedfast prove.
Up to the Blessed-Seats, Kind Angels bear
Her 'Parted-Soul; With Hallelujahs there:
To CHRIST, in Youth, drawn by His Saving charms,
Is now Incircled with His Blessed Arms.
The Cares of State & Courts are Burdens Great;
Grief for her Death is a more Pressing Weight.
Behold! Our Samuel to the Utmost Try'd:
CHRIST's Alsufficient Grace, Ne're yet Deny'd.
Poor Borrowed Greatness dares not to Demur;
Th' ALMIGHTY well Accepts your Offerings, SIR.
Whole Hecatombs you offer now in ONE;
JESUS Remains; You cannot be Undone;
Excessive Grief, Saints well may Blush to own.
Long may You Stay, to Bless the Church & State!
Kind Heav'n, We Hope, will large Years longer Wait.
Strong Consolations from th' OMNIPOTENT,
Let Fill your Heart, in your thus Emptied Tent!
And may your Progeny, still Left you, Stand
Sacred to GOD, and Blessings in the Land!
Grief for her Death is a more Pressing Weight.
Behold! Our Samuel to the Utmost Try'd:
CHRIST's Alsufficient Grace, Ne're yet Deny'd.
Poor Borrowed Greatness dares not to Demur;
Th' ALMIGHTY well Accepts your Offerings, SIR.
Whole Hecatombs you offer now in ONE;
JESUS Remains; You cannot be Undone;
Excessive Grief, Saints well may Blush to own.
Long may You Stay, to Bless the Church & State!
Kind Heav'n, We Hope, will large Years longer Wait.
Strong Consolations from th' OMNIPOTENT,
Let Fill your Heart, in your thus Emptied Tent!
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Sacred to GOD, and Blessings in the Land!
Ita humillime Precatur JOHN DANFORTH, V. D. M. Dorcestriae.
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