University of Virginia Library

The Translation by death, of that Holy Man of God, Reverend Mr. JAMES ALLEN, a very Learned, Faithful, Painful Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Boston. Who Expired, September 22d, 1710. Aged 78.

FAme, trim thy Wings, call nimble Mercury
To Arimathaea hence in haste both fly;
Enquire there for a dextrous Lapicide.
Josephs Acquaintance, by him known and try'd.
Who fram'd our Saviours Sepulchre tell him
He should unlock the same: for here's a Lamb
Which to that Blessed Body appertains,
That in the Mount of Highest Glory reigns.
Or from pure Alabaster, hew a Tomb,
And for this PURITAN, polish a Room.
Fetch Spices from the Aromatic East,
Fill up the vacant corners of the Nest
Of this rare Phoenix, whose disease was Age,
Who merited a most transcendent Page.
Having Perfum'd the Church with precious Pray'r
And by sound Doctrine Clarify'd the Air.
Avoiding florid strains, he dived deep,
One Eye to Heaven, one on the Text he'd keep.
Altho' his Meditations were profound,
His Hearers never saw him run a-ground.
Our Living Orthodox with Allen joyn'd
Brighter than Gemini in Boston shin'd.
When first it was my lot his face to see,
I fancied PAUL talking with TIMOTHY.
Grave Cotton had he been that day commanded
Into his Pulpit would them both have handed.
I dare not give the World his Character,
Who am my self too incident to Err.
It's Angels work to write Seraphims praise,
Vertues Divine should be pourtray'd with Rays.
But if the Pictures of our Saviour might
Be worshiped, here's one laid out of sight.
Ah could I like him pray, and get my will,
I would have wrote with a Seraphick Quill.
Such is the end of a Laborious Bee,
And glad am I such rare Successors see.
Jesus to Allen was his All in All,
He never on that Name did vainly call.
Jesus in all his Sermons he proclaim'd,
Who rarely is in many Volumns Nam'd.
The Hearts of Thousands have his Name engrav'd
Who by him as Christ's Instrument are sav'd.
The ancient Saints hearing their Pastor's come,
Old Anthony his friend, cries pray make room.
But when his faithful Master he found out,
No less than JESUS Claspeth him about.
And for his Faithfulness brings him a Crown,
That would all Earthly Diadems weigh down.
Let all my Angels witness what I do,
My faithful Labourers in my Service too.
He's not the first, pray mind your work below,
I can and will on you such Honour show.