University of Virginia Library

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.