University of Virginia Library

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.