University of Virginia Library

ELEGIES

Upon the Triumphant TRANSLATION of a Mother in Our ISRAEL, Viz. MRS. ANNE ELIOT

From This Life to a Better. on March 24th. 1687. Aetatis Suae. 84.

ALL Hallelujahs, Oh ye Heav'nly Quires,
Ye Powers, ye Winged & Immortal Fires!
Redouble to the Highest ONE:
Here's Joy, to your Eternal Jubile
Advanc'd, by th' New come welcome Company
Of a Bright Soul, but lately flown.
Congratulate
Eternally.
With Sacred Symphony,
Her happy State.
Haile! Happy Soul! In Luster excellent
Transcending far the Starry Firmament,
Which is thy Footstool now become:
With all the World, America shall Vye,
For to Produce thy Peer: Now cast thine Eye
All round about that Spacious Room,
None shalt thou see
Of Blest Women,
Much more Triumphant than
Thy self to be.
Haile! Thou Sagacious & Advent'rous Soul!
Haile, Amazon! Created to Controll
Weak Nature's Foes, & t' take her part,
The King of Terrours, Thou, ('till the Command
Irrevocable came to Stay thy Hand,)
Didst oft Repel, by thy Choice Art:
By High Decree,
Long didst thou stand
An Atlas, in Heav'n's Hand
To th' World to be.
All Hallelujahs to His bounteous Care,
That such a Peerless Consort did Prepare
For HIM, whom Sacred Things with-held
From Seculars; Who was to Gospellize,
And Preach Redemption to GODS Enemys
Beyound all Memory, Rebell'd:
For his sake, sure,
Thine Aged Life
It did with Death in Strife
So long endure.
Heav'n's Richest Spices, Choicest Graces were
(Queen Esther like,) allotted to Thy Share,
For to Prepare Thee for thy KING:
Thee, to Pay Able, for Full Recompence,
With Interest, for all thy Vast Expense,
Angels, on Wings of Grace, strait, bring:
As Phaltiel,
Thy CONSORT Dear
Mourning, Thee follow'th near,
To bid FAREWEL.

To the Blessed MEMORY of the Venerable Mr. JOHN ELIOT,

TEACHER to the Church of CHRIST in Roxbury, and a PROPAGATOR of the Gospel to the Indians in N-England. Who rested from his Labours, May, 20. Anno Dom. 1690. Aetatis Suae. 86.

SHall ELIOT slip away? & not his Sons
Spy & Regret it, with Athletick Groans?
None Cry Alarm, when Horse & Chariots taken?
None Feel, when Israel's weal's Foundation's shaken?
Lately, a stately Stone pluckt out; none 'spy it?
Nor run to stop the woful Breach made by it?
Where's sweet Tongue'd David, sad Song'd Jeremiah,
Jon'than to 'wail, to Elegize Josiah?
Where's matchless Moses's Muse? Had I his Staff,
I'd find one Grave, and 'Grave one Epitaph.
English and Indian Work, he did so well,
Define we cannot, which did which excell.
Pagans, This Paul converts; Peter doth use
His Talents chiefly to confirm the Jews.
Paul to Barbarians, own's Himself a Debtor;
Our John, a brave Divine, T' Himself, no better
Dares supererrogate, in the vast Cost
And Pains, expended to Reduce the lost.
A brave Divine, said I? I had not mist,
Sure, had I Stil'd Him an Evangelist.
To Trace their Pagan Genealogies
Was not his Task, yet would his curious Eyes
Maugre oblivions Dust, 'venture to scan
At least by guess, These hideous Wrecks of Man:
And thought, he trackt, to Palestina's Strand:
How e're; He was resolv'd, to th' Holy Land
Them to reduce; (might Heav'n a Moses make him)
Nor did their barb'rous Heathenism shake him.
Th' Eternal Mind in Mortal Airs, nev'r blew
Unformed Blast; His Sov'reign Shalms yet flew
On Syriac Wings; His Gentleness equips
His Sacred Chariot with Chaldean Chips:
Three Other, His own Mother-Tongue beside,
Upon His Pascal Cross, He Sanctify'd.
His Tharsian-bred Apostle don't refuse
To sharp his Tools with Philistines, to use
Greek Poets, cited to the Sacred Bar,
T' wait on Effata's more Oracular.
Like Hercules toils ELIOT, lest that He
Should to Barbarians, a Barbarian be.
Since Babel's Trait'rous Tower was Thundersmit,
By Heav'ns Inraged Ire, & fell, & split
One Tongue into a Thousand Shivers, none
Can tell the Wounds, which this one Wo alone,
Hath more than scarr'd the World with; next th' Expulsion
At first from Paradise, & th' next Convulsion
In Grandsire Japheth's Time, no Storm before,
The Universal World e're delug'd more:
But now, thro' matchless Grace, to Eliot's given
The Key t' expel what lockt men out of Heaven.
His Tongue sails right, with Indian Tempest tost;
Puts in for Peter's Plea, at Pentecost.
The Ambassadour unto Them dares preferr
Offers of CHRIST, without Interpreter.
Th' Incarnate Furys, straitway from the Pit
Of Darkness worse than Egypts, Rise, & Spit
On all their Daemons, whilst their Breast & Brow
They to the LORD, & to His Baptist vow.
One Testament Seventy Interpreters
Translate to Greek, Antiquity avers;
Both Testaments, yet ELIOT alone
Converts into the Indian Tongue & Tone;
Abel, tho' dead, yet speaks, in one Tongue more;
Isay's, Apollo's Eloquence, before,
Ne're Rode in such a Chariot: Luke Physician,
('Tho' skill'd in Pulse,) would scarce tell the Condition
Of His own Gospel: Paul, with his much Learning
Would here be Posed:—
For 'though to many Regions He did pass,
Yet no West-Indian Antiquary was.
Sir Thomas Eliot was Great Brittains Glory:
Our Saint shall have a Chronicle in Ages Story:
Great XAVIER brings the Crucifix & Libel,
To Indian Souls, of Masses; Ours, the Bible.
Sanctius, for this, owns Him a Tutelary:
Calls on him & him joyns with GOD & MARY:
Eliot before such cursed Adoration,
Would chuse much rather, an Annihilation.
Yet made His Works before mens Eyes to shine,
That they might Glorifie the Name Divine.
The Indian-Work lay greatly on his Heart;
Until the Last, when He and That must part.
They parted not without most solemn Blessing,
While Clouds thereon were to his Soul-Distressing.
He dyes; His Work, when Time Dyes shall survive;
'Tho' Dead, yet speaks, that th' Indian Work may Live,
And to 's Successors doth good Counsel give:
‘Address (I pray) our Senate for good Orders,
‘To Civilize the Heathen in our Borders.
‘Vertue must turn into Necessity;
‘Or this brave Work, will in its Urn still lye.
‘'Till Agriculture, and Cohabitation,
‘Come under full Constraint and Regulation,
‘Much you would do, you'l find Impracticable,
‘And much you do will prove Unprofitable.
‘In common Lands that lie unfenc'd you know
‘The Husbandman, in vain doth plow & sow:
‘We hope in vain, the Plant of Grace shall thrive
‘In Forrests, where Civility can't Live.
‘In English Towns, when they their Months do spend,
‘Make Them, Gods Worship with us, to attend.
‘Whilst I us'd (as you must) sharp Discipline,
‘The saving Gains were Theirs, the Pains were mine.
‘Their Tender Sons to Sacred Learnings Throne
‘None can advance, but such Divines alone,
‘As are most Expert in their Dialect,
‘If Teaching in their own Tongue we respect:
‘Such Youths, (if GOD vouchsafe to Sanctify
‘Their studious minds) the sacred Oars may Ply,
‘Each Sabbath too, through Starry Arches bring,
‘Their Common Homage to our Mighty King.
‘Look well to the Uprising Nursery:
‘You know full well, none more for Schools than I.
‘To drown their Woes, some drown their Wits, and All
‘Their Common Grace: Correct that Fault you shall.
‘If you be Instant, only out of Season,
‘Your Hope soars out of sight of all my Reason,
‘If you expect, (while Lords Days hold their Station)
‘To Lecture them, on Week-Days, to Salvation.
‘Is it impossible to make a Purse,
‘T' Invite a Lecturer, in Turns, to Nurse
‘Your English Flocks, That those may have good Dressing
‘That have most need, upon the Day of Blessing?
‘Their Indian Teachers are but Weak; I Wiss;
‘Their Preaching, by their Hearers, slighted is:
‘Take then this Way, to readvance the Standard
‘Of Holiness, by late backslidings Slander'd.
‘Let fire-hot Zeal, boile in your thirsty Veins,
‘To save poor Caitiffs from Eternal Pains.
‘Our Antient Heroes, with their English Prayers
‘Did edify Their Souls; yet then, such Ayres
‘Were Unintelligible, more by far,
‘Than now adays, (since long Converse) they are.
‘Call many English Suppliants: Let them Kneel,
‘With Them & for Them; for their saving Weale,
‘Joyn hand in hand: Help up the Weak, Heav'ns Stairs:
‘Salvation, serves in pay of Joyned Prayers.
‘The Friends of Christ, & Souls, Let none be mute
‘In any Tongue, that can GODS Throne salute:
‘FAST with and for Them also twice a Year,
‘'Twill shew, and bring their Resurrection near.
‘May GOD in Heav'n, & may poor Heathens see
‘That much affected, & concern'd All be:
‘Christs Intercessions may they have redound,
‘Echo'd from hence, 'Twill to their Weal rebound
‘(Grand Usurer) I, nev'r gave Heav'n a Mite
‘But gain'd, & gather'd, Thousand Millions by 't.
‘Never Regret (Brave Hearts!) your vast Expence
‘Of Time & Pains: Mark well the Difference
‘'Twixt Indian Traders & their Teachers made;
‘What Blessings These, what Blastings Those Invade
‘Those often are annoy'd with mischiefs, whiles
‘These doe enjoy most sweet Cœlestial smiles.
His Counsels, we have done with; And return,
To close the Ashes of his Sacred Urn.
When Pious Grandson lately came to visit
This Saint, then at Heav'n's Gate, And said, How is it?
Such was his sense, he sagely made reply,
I am Afraid: But not afraid to Dy:
Sir! Thankfull Joy, My Motto is, (Quoth He)
Unto Another; And I Joy to see
What Lights Christ sets in's Churches, & that still
GOD hath His Folk, that doe His Temples fill.
How solemnly He Blest 'em, some can tell;
Like Paul; Begging, mean while; their Pray'rs as well:
And may they Blessed be! May they inherit,
A Double Portion of Elijah's Spirit.
On Golden Letters of His Name I mused;
JOHN, distill'd HONY; ELIOT, TOILE produced:
Pains bring in gains; for sweets, he sweats: thus frau't
With richest Lading, To His Port, He's brought.
This Vessel yet of Honour, had not been
So soon seen under Saile, Had not our Sin
Deserved & Provoked such a sign
Of Woe descending from the Wrath Divine.
This blurs the Trophys of our New Elections,
With Interlinements of sad Interjections.
Indians! Your Hearts are Marble, if Distress
Seize you not, for Unprofitableness.
Fear you not Wrath poor Souls! will you not grieve
Th' Ambassador of Peace has tak'n his Leave.
He Lov'd your Nation dearly; did He not?
(Adding your Language to the Polyglott;)
In ways unparellell'd, his strange Compassion
Drew Soul & Substance out, for your Salvation.
Heav'ns Fiery Balls, Flames, Smoke & Thundring Shot
And Bloody Drops, (late Prodigies) are not
More signal than this Death, at such a season,
Such was Methuselah's: and we have Reason,
May we have Grace, t' repent the Provocation
With speed, that crys aloud for Desolation.
Yet Muse! Don't overgroan: thy Fathers Glee
In 's reimbraced Colleague should with Thee,
Advance new Sonnets to His Jubilee
Indulcify'd, sweet ELIOT by Thee.

A FUNERAL ELEGY Humbly Dedicated to the Renowned Memory of the HONORABLE, THOMAS DANFORTH, Esq.

Of Cambridge, Sometimes Deputy GOVERNOUR in the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, and President of the Province of Maine; and One of His Majesties Honourable COUNCIL, Judge of the Superior Court in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England; where (after He had long Served His Generation by the Will of GOD in several High Stations) Did to our Inconceivable Loss, but His Unparallel'd Gain, Rest from all His Labours, on the Sacred Day of Rest, the Memorable 5th. of November: Anno Domini. 1699. Aetatis Suae, 77. Honos, Onus: Mors, Pax.

JUDGE of the Quick and Dead I am not, Yet
HIM and my self should very much forget
If that I should decline the Bench to take
Nor give my sence and sentence of this Fate.
Pardon me, Sir; 'Twere better first to Die
Than prove Disloyal to your Memorie
'Tis Conscience gives Commission not t' be Mute
Justice and Gratitude shall Execute.
The Isle which (Alfred sings) no Help desires,
Yet all the World supply from Her requires
Able to Glut King Solomon with Pleasures
And Surfeit Great Augustus with Her Treasures:
Whence the First Christian Emperour did spring
And since that, Many a Heroe, Many a King
Rich in all Merchandize: More Rich in Men:
(Scarce such an Island is the World agen)
And whence New England sprang. It did produce
Him, to this Land who was of Glorious Use.
He, Nature drew from Him whom Grace Divine,
Rather than Worldly Grandieur, made to Shine.
Who urg'd to Knight Him, Him, He follow'd not
Follow'd a Greater King, to Desart Lot;
Like Marsaeus, when He saw Saints to Goe
Would fain be Knight of their Wing'd Order too.
Such was His Father: and poor Framingham
Lost a Choice Lecture when He hither came
By Prophets Preach'd; But He procur'd the fame.
After His Father's Death This Son was bless'd,
Rudeness and Lewdness much He did Detest;
Fear'd God from's Youth, like good Prince Obadiah
An Early Convert, like Renown'd Josiah.
Glowing His Love; most Veh'ment His Desire
Like Coals of Juniper and Flames of Fire,
To Jacob's Portion: Angels, Powers, Life, Death
Heights, Depths, could not put either out of breath
Harnass'd and Rigg'd with th' Christian Panoplie;
Well under girt with sound Sincerity:
In every State, undelug'd, could Sail Right;
His Anchor held, on something out of Sight.
Left not his Sweets, when He Promotion wan
His Wine still Cheer'd the Heart of God and Man
His Speech well Season'd both for Time and Grace
For in His Soul, most Sav'ry Salt had Place.
He had an Art, He practis'd to the last,
What e're was Talk'd, in Spiritual mould to Cast.
God's Samuel He; 'Mongst those that on Him call
'Mongst Thundring Hosts, an Expert General:
Nobly Seraphick, and most Rapturous,
In Prayer; A Secon'd Theodosius.
What's Parent came Three Thousand Miles, to Win
That, to neglect, He dare'd not Count no Sin.
God's Temple had Him, A Professor Press'd
God's Table found Him Young, a Worthy Guest.
'Twas Time, a Vine Grew up on His House side:
Withington's Halls afford this Saint a Bride.
Precious as Gold Their Faith, yet as Behov'd
'Twas by both Fining Pot and Furnace Prov'd;
Them Ten Rare Pledges, early fledg'd, forsook
And the Directest way to Heaven Took:
'Mongst whom count Chief the Famous Samuel
Whose Excellencies Englands both can Tell.
During that Wondrous Term of Seven times Seven,
Co-heirs They Lived, of the Grace of Heaven.
Just in the Fiftieth year of Jubilee
His Aged Virtuous Consort went out free,
Yet not so Free, as He to Follow was,
And to o're take Her, Mends His Heavenly Pace.
'Twas His High Care when first He saw that Comet
Of Earthly Wealth arise, to cut off from it
Its Dreadful Fiery Tail; th' Intailment even
Of Difficulty in the way to Heaven;
That Sin bred Fate, can't course of Law out-root
A Gospel Course, He found might greatly doe 't.
Saw on His Hand that Viper Venimous:
To Alms it temper'd, Made a Treacle thus
Honours to seek or shun H' was never buisy.
His Head could bear Great Height & not be Dizzy.
Bless'd by Bless'd Wilson first on Bench when sat
Regal'd with th' Anagram, Handsom for that.
Edicts, Examples, and Sharp Punishment
States, warping from their Standard ought prevent.
Sagacious He betimes to Meet and Mate
Ill Humours, threatning to subvert the State.
Flat fell They who would 'laid New-England flat;
Thank GOD & th' MAN with Little Band, for That.
Him, and His Country, who would Wast, in Hast
He made Repent, Their Rents came in so fast.
I've sometimes heard Him say that He had ever
As lieve dy by the Ax as by the Feaver;
In a Good cause, and with a Conscience Good;
For Church & State, so Truth's Great Champion stood.
Like Samuel Rode the Circuit, Judg'd each Tribe,
And like Brave Samuel, never took a Bribe.
So Good, Great, Wise, Just, Steady, Trusty, Free;
We'll ne're want Men, while we have Such as Thee.
His Thoughts Pure Spirits were, He therefore us'd
Physician like, to give them, well infus'd
In some sweet proper Vehicle of Wit,
Some Proverb, Story, Simile, most fit.
When Men of Sense addres'd Him, 'twas His fashion
Reasons to shew, and leave the Application:
And when some nimble Case out ran His Vicit,
Still Gave forth Sentence, in a Nihil Dicit.
Dangers, as soon as meant, He oft Suspected
Forgers, He oft Sagaciously Detected:
At Helm in Tempests, yet His Courage Stout
'Though Dangers were Extream, would nev'r give out.
Of Them, like Nicodemus He was One,
And stood like Him, stout Protestant alone
'Gainst a Committee, whose blind Indignation
Condemn'd the Best Men of that Generation.
I know not where to stop; His Course was thus
To make New Englands Journal Glorious:
Hath stood our Churches Pillar ever since,
Not without Envy, for His Recompence.
Harvard! For Honourable, Thou must goe;
Who was thy Steward, Treasurer, was soe.
Charg'd and Discharg'd were the Quarter Bills,
Drain'd not thy Stock, but with large Hundreds fills
A Bounteous Patron unto many a Plant,
In thy fair Nursery, whose Means were scant.
Resolves so to continue, 'Spite of Death,
By Lands and Rents, His last Will witnesseth.
Bring Tribute to thy Benefactors Dust
To be Ungrateful is to be Unjust.
Church Messengers CHRISTS Glory are, so He
(In that Relation,) oft was seen to be;
Nor was 't a Shame for a Profess'd Divine,
To be beholden to His Golden Mine.
So well-read in all Points, Men of best fashion,
Unto His Judgment pay'd a Veneration
When Church Disturbances requir'd His Best
He signally with great Success was Bless'd.
In 's Family as exact Order's seen,
As if that it a Soveraign State had been:
Reading, Instruction, Prayer, and Repetition
So constant were, You'd envy their Condition.
From Families would Spring New Englands Bliss
Might all be taught and Govern'd as was His.
Great is the Loss of such a Man as This!
Full of Good Works, not therefore void of Fears;
No Works so Good but call for Fasts and Tears;
Justification through His Saviours Blood,
And Righteousness, (His Aged Souls last Food,)
His Readings, Meditations, there, were spent
So Views His Title, and Receives Content.
Like Solomon, All Gainful Arts He trys
To Dye in Christ, Best Gain He finds; so Dies.
His Arms: On Gold, the single opened Eye,
(Man's Noble Part) imports Sincerity,
And Wisdom too: That Gemm, the Di'mond dwells
Invulnerate' though it cutts all things else.
He left with's Children Dear a Num'rous Race,
Lord! Give 'em Portions of their Grandsire's Grace
Thousands up springing so, in His rich Heap
Shall Love Thy Name, & Thy Commandments keep.

A Pindarick ELEGY Upon the Renowned, MR. SAMUEL WILLARD,

Late Reverend Teacher of the South Church in Boston, and Vice-President of Harvard College in Cambridge; Who Deceased September the 12th. 1707. Aetatis Anno 68.

PROFIT AND LOSS: AN ELEGY Upon the Decease of MRS. MARY GERRISH,

Late Vertuous Wife of Mr. Samuel Gerrish, and Daughter of the Honourable Judge SEWALL. Who on Novemb. 17. 1710. the Night after Publick Thanksgiving, Entred on the Celebration of Triumphant Hallelujahs, to her Profit, and our Loss. Aged 19. Years & 20. Days.

MARY, the Blessed VIRGINS Name,
EXALTED, Signifies:
ARMY, was once the Anagram,
a Poet did devise.
Behold! How her Exaltedness
an Army justly Boasts:
Because within her, HE Incamp'd,
who was the LORD OF HOSTS.
To many a Precious MARY, since,
great Exaltation's Given;
Fill'd with the Spiritual Presence of
the Eternal LORD of Heav'n.
Our beauteous MARY too, She was
(Of Honourable Race;)
Besides all other Brightnesses,
enobled most by Grace.
By Grace she chose the better Part;
ne're to be taken from her;
Her Heart, Rabboni, cry'd to Christ
whose Love did overcome her.
WHO 'twas that pitch'd His Tabernacle
within her sacred heart,
Her Letters, Carriage, and Discourse,
unto her Friends impart.
Her PARENTS dear, will nev'r Repent
her Pious Education:
Or wish their Prayers unpray'd, that sped
so well, in her Salvation.
They'l Joy, Because Eternal Life,
(the Crown of Righteousness,)
She Carries, notwithstanding Death's
Hereditariness:
Armies of Merits, All her LORD's,
(while she her own deny'd;)
Prevailing for her, and all Such,
as in whose stead He Dy'd.
By Faith she dy'd, depending still
upon the Grace Divine,
That thro' the Mediator, would
in her Salvation shine.
She has Attaind now, with Advance,
what she desir'd below;
(Joyn'd to the Church in Heav'n,) She doth
to Full Communion go.
Her Place is Empty; bear 't you must,
She's on a Visit gone,
To better Friends, than any here;
and will Return anon.
The Raising-Day hastens apace;
her Second Coming too;
Twill dazzle all such Eyes as ours,
her Beauty then to view.
Now, for her Absence, and her Stay,
She need no Pardon ask;
Commanded hence; but not before
She first had done her task.
Onely she craves, by Friends here left
for to be Visited;
And would Rejoyce to see them all
at th' Heav'nly Table fed:
Yet is content they stay a while;
while 'tis for th' Churches gain:
For which; we, (with Submission,) Pray
they here may long Remain.
She's satisfy'd, her Relatives
can never be Undone,
By the departure of a star,
while they enjoy the Sun.
Good is the Country she has left;
it is IMMANUEL'S.
But HEAVEN the Better Country is;
and there her SPIRIT dwells.
The more of Excellence in her
your ravish'd Eyes did fill;
Your Resignation shines the more
to Heav'ns Remanding Will.
You grieve, the Time's so short; but yet
had you Enjoy'd her longer,
The Bands of Love had Faster grown,
and Bands of Grief much stronger.
You'd but short warning of her Death,
its suddenness is Trying;
Yet ben't surpriz'd to see that Dead,
you always knew was Dying.
Your sweetest Terrene Hopes are cross'd
by disappointment sad:
That your Eternal Hope's secure,
your Souls may yet be glad.
Who Gave her, He has Taken her;
this is beyond Dispute:
Indisputable Sov'raignty
then binds you to be Mute.
Partings are Grief: Happy the Hearts
here, made Bereavement-Proof;
In Times of need, you know WHERE there
is Grace and Help enough.
A Daughter, Sister, Spouse, is tak'n;
whom dear Relations miss;
Much of their Worldly Comfort's gone,
now she is gone to Bliss.
Stop your Pursuing Griefs for her,
your Hue-en-crys forbear;
You want her Much: SEEK HER IN CHRIST
AND YOU WILL FIND HER THERE.

HONOUR AND VERTUE ELEGIZED IN A POEM Upon an Honourable, Aged, and Gracious Mother in our Israel, MADAM ELIZABETH HUTCHINSON,

Late Vertuous Consort of our Hon. JUDGE, Col. ELISHA HUTCHINSON, Esqr., in Boston. She Entred into the Joyes of Paradise, Feb. 3. 1712, 13. Aetatis Suae 71.

Not Artful Verse, but Hearty Goodness gives,
That Fame, in Earth & Heav'n, that ever Lives;
Verse only gives the Eccho, and Attest:
And Saints, who need it Least, Deserve it best.
Remembrance, GOD hath Promis'd to the Just:
Long Years then, spent in Vertue have it must.
Full long, this Abram's Daughter did appear
Like Polisht Saphire, and like Rubies, rare;
Full of all Goodness: Grace Abounded so;
Light from Above, thus made Her Shine below.
May Trees be known by Fruits; Not many be
So Fit to Live, and Fit to Die, as She.
Her Life was Speaking, and Her Death not Dumb;
She gives Instruction from the very Tomb;
She calls aloud; ‘LADIES, BE READY; Mind Me;
‘I'm Gone before; But Leave the WAY Behind Me.
‘LADIES! Be Lesson'd, by My Silver Hairs,
‘To Banish from your youth all Carnal Fears
‘Of Dying soon, if You are Early Pious;
‘With Aged Years, See Heav'n doth Gratify Us.
‘Did I (think you) One Day the sooner Die,
‘Because in CHRIST so SOON, in Grace so HIGH?
‘The ALTAR may Renounce your SACRIFICE,
‘If you to Age Prorogue your fervent Cries.’
Her SAMPLAR, needle-wrought, with threads of Gold
And Stars, doth Useful PARABLES Unfold;
Namely; THAT Heav'n's-Way's in the Temple; where
She kept Her Heart; and Her Resort was there:
THAT, They DO most and best, who feel and know
That they themselves can nothing WILL or DO:
THAT, th' Word, Pray'r, Faith are th' best Viaticum,
For Travellers, that would to Heaven Come.
Her FURNACE also with Instruction Shines:
There She Refines, Weeps, Prays, Submits, Resigns:
And when Exempted from Calamity
She Pays the Vows of Her Adversity.
And, long e're Age had founded a Retreat
To Worldly Pleasure, Her Recess was Great:
She kept an Undegenerated Soul,
Which Times could not corrupt, nor Blasts controul.
In Her, the Meekness, which the most do Want,
It was both Radical and Radiant.
Sweet Lowliness, in Greatness, most men Slight;
Sure, They are Wrong if CHRIST was in the Right;
She was, (so Richest Mines do Lowest lie,)
Low in HUMILITY; in HONOUR High.
Her Mind was Generously Elemented;
And with Her Noble Heart, Her Hand Consented;
Some lose no little by their Costiveness;
Her Lib'ral Hand the Poor did often Bless:
Heav'n would give Interest, She did not fear;
There was Her Treasure, & Her Heart was There.
Yet One Thing more; She brought on Honour's Stage,
(Almost Unpresidented in Our Age,)
Most Pious Talk; for such Distill'd from HER;
Sweeter than Hybla's Drops, and Richer far.
New-England's VERTUOSO this Espied;
And Chose and Made this Noble Vine His BRIDE.
Bereav'd before; They saw, (and wip'd their Tears,)
Their Breaches well made up, for Many Years.
With Honour They sustain'd their Worthy Station,
Maintain'd 'by Correspondent Inclination.
Happy in one another; Happy too
In Lovely Branches, that do Heav'n-woo.
O Happy Family! Like Heav'n above
For Order, Vertue, Piety, and Love.
SHE the Bright Vertues of Good Wives & Mothers
Practis'd Her Self, and Cherished in others.
The Greatest Ladies well might Emulate
Her Gracious Life, and now Her Glorious State.
SHE's Run Her Race, The Glorious Prize is won
(Painful to Do; and Pleasing to be Done.)
T' Her Joyful Soul, the MERCY comes at Last
On High, Her Longing Soul Desir'd to Tast:
No Darts can Fly so High; No Violence
Of Foes can Reach Her there, or force Her thence.
This Saint's Removal unto Consolation
Yet causeth Anguish, and deep Lamentation.
Be Comforted: Time's Short; And GOD Lives still,
He Wills your Good; 'Tis fit He have His Will;
He's not Inconstant, Feeble, or Unkind;
Nor to His Saints shews a Forgetful Mind.
Excessive Grief's an EVIL manifold;
To Cure it, you must have CHRIST'S Touch and Gold;
He gives it, ev'n for Alms; Keep it you must;
Th' EVIL Returns if th' Royal Gold be Lost.
The HEROE'S sorely wounded by this fate,
Whose Shoulders long have help'd t' Uphold our State;
His Children too; O! May th' Almighty LORD
Strong Consolations to Their Souls afford;
Dissolve Their Griefs: Prolong Their Useful Years;
And turn into Eternal Joyes their Tears.

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 FUNERAL POEM IN MEMORY OF MR. HOPESTILL CLAP,

Who was for many Years a prudent and faithful Representative of the Town, and one of the Ruling Elders of the Church of Dorchester, who went to his Everlasting rest in the General Assembly of the first born in Heaven, Sept. 2, 1719, Etatis qui Anno 72. To our Great Loss, and his Great Gain.

Inroll'd i' th' Number of Christs Witnesses,
To Follow Him into a Wilderness;
A Blessed Number of This Precious Name,
Elect by Heaven, into this Patmos Came.
This Saints choice Parents, Pliant to Heavens Call;
Grace early Sanctify'd Their Children all.
Such a Bright Family, How rarely seen!
No Ishmael, Esau, Dinah, found therein.
O! Happy Family! O! Glorious sight!
Who Do & Bear, for CHRIST, lose nothing by 't.
This Family did God vouchsafe to Bless
With Copious, and Extensive Usefulness.
The Father Held Our Castle without Fear,
And was Chief, Pious, Valiant, Bulwark there.
Vertuous in Heart, and Useful in their lives
Were also his Collateral Relatives.
For his Descendants, View the Assembly's List:
Long Years, Three Sons in General Court Assist;
And in the Ruling Eldership, No less:
In whom their Pastors Heart could acquiesce.
Our Hopestill, with the food of Angels Fed,
His Name, and Fathers Hope well Answered:
Converting Mercy and Restraining Grace
With their sweet Fruits within his Soul had Place.
The Chasma's Closed; The Rec'ning is made even:
The Gates of Hell held not his Heart from Heaven.
The Hopes of Hypocrites he durst not Cherish;
Nor Durst he Rest in Works, where many perish.
He did (and so should we, when sin doth seize us)
Lose-hold, on all, But GOD's free Grace in JESUS:
GOD in Man's Nature; That most Blessed One:
On Him he Liv'd, as his High Priest, alone.
So while he Liv'd, and when he came to die,
CHRISTS Glorious Riches gave him full supply.
Such Lives as his, deserve all Observation,
Lasting Remembrance, Constant Imitation;
Adorned with Goodness, Sweetness, Self Denial,
Meekness of Wisdom under every Trial,
With Fear of GOD; and Hate of Sinful Strife
'Gainst Strangers, Neighbors, Brethren, Children, Wife.
None could Repine; He was so Debonair,
So True, so Just, so Kind, so Calm, so Fair;
So Valuable (tho' no Son of Thunder),
The Church Rejoyc'd when such an Elder Crowned her.
While Prayers went up, the Life of CHRIST Descended.
Winged with the Dove, his Ravish'd Soul Ascended.
Light for th' Upright in Publick Meetings Sown
And Private too, He wisely made his own.
His House, Feasts of Devotion did afford;
Resolv'd, his Family Should Serve the LORD.
Thro' Pride his Talents, he would not decline
To Use, altho' he could not see them shine:
Trusting in GOD; was not reduced to be
Unuseful thro' excess of Modestie.
No Laws he Brake, altho' he voted many:
Fewds he Compos'd, altho' he Raised not any:
His Greatness Goodness was; His Victory
His Faith; his Honour, his Humility,
With Wisdom, Trustiness, Sincerity.
His Vertues let us duely Imitate.
Our Loss of such a Peace-full Man is Great.
Mourn we aright. And may kind Heav'n Afford
Widow, and Children, Comfort in the LORD.

An ELEGY upon the much Lamented Decease of MRS. ELISABETH FOXCROFT

of Cambridge in New England (late Excellent Consort to the Worshipful Col. Francis Foxcroft, Esq; and Daughter to the Honourable, our late Judge & Deputy-Governour, THOMAS DANFORTH Esq; of blessed Memory,) Whose Funeral was Attended, with great Honour, on the 6th Day of July, 1721. Her Immortal Spirit having been Translated to the Paradise of GOD some Days before.

EMINENT Honour, and Esteem,
And Goodness too shall be my Theme.
The Beauties of the Character
No Panegyricks can Declare.
Attempts are Vain: Yet Grief will speak;
And Duty too must silence break.
Most Shining was the Piety
Of that Renowned Family,
From which (To Heav'n be all the Praise;)
This Heroine Extracted was.
This Branch Rear'd up Her Graceful Head
From th' Chast and Sacred Marriage-Bed:
Exciting in Dear Parents Breast,
A Thankful Joy, and happy Rest.
The main Concern was to obtain
Her Clearance from the Guilt and Stain,
Of Adam's Sin which reaches All;
With new Formation of Her Soul.
The MEDIATOR They address;
In Prayers of Faith Their Wish Express,
A Miracle might Change Her State,
Her tender Soul Regenerate,
Furnish Her well with Every Grace,
And Fix Her in the Heav'nly Race.
At Heaven's High Throne of Grace, Their Pray'r
And Pious Vows Accepted were;
And Love and Power Immense so wrought,
She's from a State of Nature brought;
Her Parent's Darling's Sanctify'd;
Kept Spotless; and now Glorify'd.
No Care, no Pains, no Cost were spar'd
She might be Polish'd and Prepar'd;
Instructions, Counsels were not Waste;
Her Orient Soul Implem'd so fast.
Unto Dear FOXCROFT She is Given;
To Help Him in the Way to Heaven;
A Partner of His Joys, and Cares;
Which, with His Griefs, She freely Shares:
But O! the Blessing, in a Wife!
While She Continu'd in this Life!
Deceas'd, She leaves this Legacy,
A dear and Fragrant Memory.
Rare Virtues, in a Rare Degree,
Thou Precious Soul! did Shine in Thee:
Good Prudence, humble Industry,
With undissembled Piety;
Amidst Domestick Pains and Care,
Thy Tradings still for Heav'n appear.
Thy Ripe'ning Time, didst well Imploy
For Blessed Immortality.
Abundantly didst Thou Inherit
That Ornament, the Quiet Spirit.
Thy Willing Hand took up the Cross;
And Every Furnace Purg'd the Dross.
In Meekness, Patience, Charity,
Thou didst excel most gloriously.
From Thee, the Splendours, that did flow,
To Heaven's Refulgent Grace we owe.
Thy Children do Thee Blessed Call;
Thy Husband Praises Thee; And All
Lament the Loss our Land Sustains:
Compensate' only by Thy Gains.
But, Gracious Soul! What? Must Thou goe?
And leave Us, in a World of Woe?
Thou Radiant Gem! Thou Glorious Star!
Than Rubies Richer, and more Rare!
While in the Body, much Desir'd!
Most Faithful, Useful, and Admir'd!
What? Go so soon? Why? Is this Fair
So soon to Leave Thy Children Dear,
And let thine Honour'd Head sit down,
Deprived of His Joy and Crown?
A Crown more Bright than th' Galaxy!
Fit to be Worn by Majesty!
How could'st, with such a willing Mind,
Thy Ransom'd DUST leave here behind!
Earth's Magnet lost its Influence,
E're Thy Translation did Commence:
And many Items of Remove,
Fix'd Thine Affections more above.
Peace of Dependence held Thee fast:
Peace of Rejoycing shone at Last.
All Perilous Encounter's o'er;
Thou'rt Landed on the Halcyon-shoar;
Where Just Men's Spirits Perfect are,
And bid Adieu to Pain and Fear.
There Meet Thee now Ten Thousand Quires,
To Greet Thee with Their Heav'nly Lyres:
How sweetly all their Sonnets flow!
Far sweeter Melody than here below!
Thou Gain'st, But We the Losers are;
Thy Work is Praise, still Ours is Prayer;
‘Thy Worthy CONSORT, now in Tears,
‘GOD lengthen out His Useful Years!
‘Conduct His Soul to th' Highest Shore,
‘To meet Thee there and Part no more!
‘As Thou Thy Parents Piety
‘Partook'st, so may Thy Progeny
‘Share Thine! CHRIST's Church Acknowledge will,
‘The Cov'nant-keeping GOD lives still.’
Thy Reverend Son thy Grace Partakes,
Heav'ns Herauld, He in Duty makes
Thy Virtues, from the Pulpit, Known:
By Telling Thine, He shews His Own:
May Heav'n His Pious Years & Labours Crown!

AN ELEGY UPON THE MUCH LAMENTED DECEASE OF THE REVEREND AND EXCELLENT MR. JOSEPH BELCHER,

Late Faithful Pastor of the Church of Christ in Dedham, N. E. Qui Obiit, April 27, Anno Dom. 1723. Aetat. Suae 53.

THE Name of BELCHER long has Bless'd the State
With Heroes in Succession Good and Great:
And Bless'd the Church too, with a Radiant Star,
A Man of GOD, an Angel-Tutelar.
The Sin, we must Arraign, and not the Doom,
That brings our Saints and Heroes to the Tomb;
Adore the Sovereign Grace, (when they Remove,)
That takes their Souls to the blest Seats above.
Darker than Midnight, is this Day's Eclipse:
We flow in tears upon the Dying Lips;
The Lips, that did with heavenly Nectar flow,
And every Sabbath Bless the Church below.
Such as GOD Honours, we should Honour too;
And view their Death as a Presage of woe:
May Heav'n Avert it! Such may be Distressed,
Whom th' shines for 30 Years have not Impressed.
Yet bless we CHRIST, that we may not complain
And say, His Faithful Labours were in vain:
By this bless'd Instrument, this Heavenly Guide,
Many Converted, many Edify'd.
Bred in the Eagle's Nest and taught to fly,
Travers'd the Circle of Philosophy;
Thirsty of Arts, He many an Helicon
Drank up, as thirsty Stars drink up the Sun.
Made noblest Flights up to the upper Region,
Feasted best at the Banquets of Religion.
His Learning vast, like Moses and like Paul,
To GOD in CHRIST He sacrific'd it all.
His Rule and Conduct, Prudent, Steady, Mild,
Honour'd the House of GOD and th' Chair he fill'd.
His 'Scutcheon, Glorious Vertues; and His Crest
Humility, the Crown of all the Rest.
By Breath of Heav'n this saving Trumpet blown,
The Walls of Jericho came tumbling down.
A Friend unto New-England's first-best-ways;
To th' Constitution that the Scripture lays.
The Teacher Dextrous and Laborious;
The Word he Taught, Divinely-Glorious;
He liv'd it all: To walk the way He trod,
(Prove it who will,) will bring a man to GOD.
Stopt is the Conduit-Pipe that did Supply
GOD's Holy Church, and many a Family,
Abundantly, and that for many a Year:
Then Run to the Fount', and take Refreshment there.
This Loss so Public of such vast Extent,
Christ's Ministers throughout the Land, Lament.
Heav'ns Balm we need; for Bitter is the Cup;
Great is the Breach: JEHOVAH make it up.
Thine Alsufficient Blessing, Gracious LORD!
To Consort, Children, and the Church afford!
May they in their Distress Depend on THEE;
And thy great Goodness now and ever see!
The Heavenly Temple, and the Earthly Tomb
Have each a part, till th' Resurrection come.
Our Part were humbling to the last Degree
But that his Dust united is with THEE,
Blest JESUS! waiting till the Jubilee,
And that there's left us, His Immortal Memorie.

The DIVINE NAME Humbly Celebrated, On Occasion of the Translation to Heaven of the Bright Soul of the Pious and Vertuous, MADAM SUSANNA THACHER

Late Consort of the Reverend Mr. PETER THACHER, Pastor of the Church of CHRIST in Milton. September 4. Anno Domini 1724. Ætatis Suae 59.

O SUN of Righteousness! Inspire our Tongue!
Sacred to Heav'n shall be Our Funeral Song.
Th' ALMIGHTY, Not our Broken-Selves, Our Theme,
HIM will we Sing, and we will Sing TO HIM.
We'll Sing to HIM, who MAKER is of All;
But is Himself without Original:
To HIM alone whose All-Creating Turn
Drew Real Substance out of Nothing's Urn:
To HIM alone whose Wondrous Word and Art
Made Flames Leap out and Glorious Spirits start;
Adorning those Sublime Vitalities
With Rare Abilities and Qualities.
We'll Sing to HIM, the Word who did but say,
A Spacious, Numerous World did Him Obey,
Come into Being, and their Homage Pay:
Made Thinking SOULS, in DUST polite and terse,
To View His Glories on the Universe,
(Once very Good;) and in His Glorious SON,
Who Saves th' Elect, who had Themselves Undone.
We'll Sing His Grace, who made Two Stars Combine
And in One Wedlock-Constellation Shine,
In Bright Conjunction, to Irradiate
The Darkned Times of the Domestick State:
Vile Antichrist alone forbad the Band;
Not HE, who holds the Stars in His Right Hand.
We'll Sing HIS Praise, who made the Star we see
Just now Ascending to her Apoge,
A Practick Transcript of the Heav'nly Volume;
Each Line and Letter Bright, in every Column;
Loyal to Heaven; True to her Earthly Guide;
In THACHER's Halls, Six Lustres do Abide
A Blessing Rare; And near One Lustre more
Unto Another MAN OF GOD before.
We'll Sing HIS Thanks who Sanctify'd Her Youth;
And Fill'd Her Soul with Grace, Her Mind with Truth;
The Law of Kindness at her Lips, Sent forth,
Than Worlds of Shining Gold and Pearls more worth;
Made Her not Trust in Duties, but yet Love 'em;
Be much in Duties, and yet much above 'em;
Trusting the Merits of Her Glorious HEAD;
With the Wise Virgins Oil Replenished,
Most inexhaustibly to Her Supply'd,
Death to Outlive, and Endlesly Abide:
Makes Momus Swoon at mention of Her Name,
Th' Infernal Fangs not Fastning on Her Fame.
We'll Sing HIS Praise, who to an Orb much Higher
Removes this Saint, this Gem of Our Desire;
Can We or She Her Taking hence Repine?
We see the Cause presents an Anodyne.
We'll Sing HIS Care Paternal and Dear Love;
He doth not Both Bright Stars at once Remove;
Still Abram stays us to Irradiate,
Tho' 'tis His Pleasure Sarah to Translate.
We'll Sing the Power that makes Him bear the Smart
Of Joynts divuls'd, with an Undaunted Heart:
One Partner's gone, yet He's not left alone:
His GOD is with Him; CHRIST and He make One.
H' Works in Bright Flames of Mysteries Divine,
To Enlighten Souls; CHRIST makes Him strongly shine.
We'll Sing, by Heavens Good Leave, ‘Shine may He long!
And Late, the Cherubims be Plac'd among.’
But, ah polluted Lips, and Songs, and Layes!
We must Go Higher, to Sing JEHOVAH's Praise.
May HE our Souls, and His own Sion Raise.

Two vast Enjoyments commemorated, and two great Bereavements lamented, in two excellent Persons, viz. the Reverend Mr. PETER THACHER And the Reverend Mr. SAMUEL DANFORTH,

Pastor of the Church of CHRIST in Milton, who was born into this World July 18. Anno Dom. 1651. and ascended to a better World, December 17. Anno Dom. 1727. Aetatis 77. and in the 47th of his Pastorate.

Pastor of the Church of CHRIST in Taunton, whose Nativity was December 18. Anno Dom. 1666. and his Translation to the heavenly Paradise, November 14. Anno Dom. 1727. Fifteen Days after the first Shock of the great Earthquake in New-England.