IV. 
 EARLY AMERICAN POETRY 
 
 ELEGIES AND EPITAPHS 
 
One Hundred Copies printed on Hand-made Paper. 
 
IV. 
 
 EARLY AMERICAN POETRY 
 
 ELEGIES AND EPITAPHS 
 
 16771717 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 THE CLUB OF ODD VOLUMES 
 1896 
 
Copyright, 1896, 
 BY THE CLUB OF ODD VOLUMES. 
 
 SIntbersttg 
 JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. 
 
MA 2*1 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION (James F. Hunnewell). 
 
 ELEGIE ON THE REVEREND THOMAS SHEPARD, 1677, 
 By the Reverend Urian Oakes. 
 
 THREE ELEGIES AND AN EPITAPH. 
 
 By the Reverend Cotton Mather. 
 
 ON THE REVEREND JOHN WILSON. 
 
 From Johannes in Eremo, 1695. 
 
 ON SEVEN YOUNG MINISTERS. 
 
 From VigilantiuSy 1705. 
 
 ON EZEKIEL CHEEVER. 
 
 From Corderius Americanus, 1708. 
 
 ON THE HON. WAIT WINTHROP. 
 
 From Hades Looked into, 1717. 
 
 K&68583 
 
ELEGIAC POEMS AND EPITAPHS. 
 
 16771717. 
 
 ILEGIAC POETRY must fill this vol 
 ume if we take works by dates, for not 
 only was little else produced during 
 many years, but so abundant is it that 
 it would easily fill another volume. For variety of 
 subject, however, chronology may not be hereafter 
 followed. 
 
 The first poem here reproduced seems to have 
 been the first that was written, printed, and pub 
 lished with its own title-page in our country. It is 
 An Elegy on the Reverend Thomas Shepard of 
 Charlestown, by the Reverend URIAN OAKES. Of 
 the latter a sketch has been given in the preface 
 to the third volume of this series. At the time 
 
IO INTRODUCTION. 
 
 he wrote the Elegy he was superintending Harvard 
 College. Four years later he died. 
 
 The Reverend Thomas Shepard, the son of a 
 distinguished minister of Cambridge who bore the 
 same name, was born in London in 1634, and with 
 his father came to New England in 1635. In 1653 
 he graduated at Harvard. Six years later he was 
 ordained teacher of the Church in Charlestown, 
 where, until 1671, he was an associate of the Rev 
 erend Zechariah Symmes, but afterwards he was 
 alone. Mather tells us (Magnalia, 189) that he 
 " was as Great a Blessing and Glory as ever Charles- 
 town had/ and many a good and prominent man 
 had already lived there. 
 
 A portion of this Elegy was printed in small 
 modern type by the Reverend William I. Budington 
 in his History of the First Church, Charlestown. 
 The present complete and exact reproduction is 
 from a copy owned by the writer that belonged to 
 the late George Brinley of Hartford, in the cata 
 logue of whose library it is called excessively rare, 
 a term which there had much significance. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 1 
 
 The title-page, supposed to be the first of a poem 
 both written and printed within the present limits 
 of our country, is reproduced in modern type, and 
 in fac-simile by process (Heliotype Company) 
 which shows the imperfect type and inking of the 
 original. 
 
 Although the Reverend COTTON MATHER wrote 
 only two poems issued as separate publications, he 
 also wrote several that appear as parts of other 
 works. The former are reproduced in the third 
 volume of this series. Three of the latter and a 
 long Epitaph that shows the author s Latin are 
 given on the following pages. All the five works, 
 it is believed, are for the first time reproduced in 
 their original form, page for page. 
 
 Johannes in Eremo contains Lives of five promi 
 nent ministers republished in different form seven 
 years later in the Magnalia, as also was the poem 
 on the Reverend John Wilson. The latter is here, 
 perhaps for the first time, reproduced in its original 
 style from a fine copy of the rare and valuable 
 edition of 1695, owned by Mr. Sumner Rollings- 
 
1 2 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 worth. Mr. Wilson, the first minister of Boston, is 
 so well known that no sketch of him is needed 
 here. Born, in 1588, of eminent ancestry, educated 
 in Law and in Divinity, he came to Boston in 1630. 
 He died August 7th, 1667, and "was Interrd with 
 more than Ordinary Solemnity" (Life, p. 28). 
 
 " Vigilantius . . A Discourse Occasioned by the 
 Early Death of Seven Young Ministers," was 
 preached "At Boston Lecture, 8. d. 9. m. 1705," on 
 the Text, " Therefore be ye also ready " (Matthew 
 xxiv. 44). The pages i to 28 contain the Discourse, 
 which is followed by a poem, exactly reproduced in 
 this volume from a copy that belongs to Mr. Abram 
 E. Cutter of Charlestown. By his courtesy the 
 Club is enabled to present a very rare work found 
 in few libraries. 
 
 While only two of the Ministers are named in 
 the poem, all are in the Discourse, but with little 
 or no biographical information. " TOMPSON of 
 Marfhfield" was Edward, born April 20, 1665, 
 H. C., 1684, and minister there from Oct. 14, 1696, 
 until he died, March 10, 1705, aged 40. (Drake, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 3 
 
 913.) " MORSE, at Newtown" [L. I.], was John, 
 who died there unmarried about 1700. (Morse 
 Gen., 4.) The family seems to have been there 
 many years. "WAKEMAN, at Newark" [N.J.], "a 
 young man of distinguished attainments," died in 
 1704. (Barber, 178.) "An HUBBARD, at Jamaica. 
 A John indeed ," was (?) a graduate of Harvard who 
 died in 1705. (Hubbard Gen., 101.) "From the 
 Northward . . first, a WADE at Berwick" was the 
 first pastor when the church was organized there in 
 1702. (Abbot, Hist. Me., 288.) He was then or 
 dained, and died in 1704. (Sullivan, 246.) "GARD 
 NER, at Lancaster" was Andrew, H. C., 1696, acci 
 dentally shot just before his settlement (Willard, 
 115), Oct. 25, 1704, aged 30. (Records, 148.) 
 " Laft of all, a CLARK, at Exeter" John, born Jan. 
 24, 1670, H. C., 1690, was minister of Exeter, N. H., 
 from 1693 until he died, July 25, 1705, aged 35. 
 (Bell s Exeter, 171-176.) 
 
 Corderius Americanus, 1708, contains an Elegy 
 and an Epitaph on Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, which are 
 here reproduced in the original form and style from 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 a copy owned by the writer. Both, but not in the 
 same form, were reprinted by John T. Hassam, Esq., 
 in his Life of Ezekiel Cheever (Boston, 1879). 
 There was an edition in 1774, and another, abridged 
 and altered by the Rev. E. C. Whitman, in 1828, 
 both Boston ; also a Life by H. Barnard, Hartford, 
 1856, with the Elegy in very small type, in double 
 columns. 
 
 Mr. Cheever, born in London, January 25, 1614, 
 came to Boston in 1637, and soon moved to New 
 Haven. In November, 1650, he went to Ipswich. 
 November 26, 1661, he was at Charlestown, where 
 he stayed until early in 1671, when he went to Bos 
 ton. There he died, August 21, 1708. At each of 
 these American places he was a schoolmaster; in 
 each he was much esteemed. 
 
 To these memorials in verse a Latin Epitaph is 
 added from a rare work owned by Mr. Sumner 
 Hollingsworth. 
 
 Hades Look d into, 1717, is a small octavo con 
 taining (pp. i-vi) a Preface by Dr. Increase Mather, 
 and (pp 4 1-42) a Sermon followed by the Epitaph- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 ium, by his son. The latter gives so many partic 
 ulars about its subject, the Hon. Wait Winthrop, 
 that few more are needed here. He was a promi 
 nent member of one of the most distinguished 
 families in New England. " He fpent" says the 
 Preface, "moft of his Days in the Maffachufett- 
 Colony ; where many of the mojl Honourable Sta 
 tions in the Government were affignd unto him. . . . 
 His Good Affection to the True and Be/I Inter eft of 
 New England, was continually demonftrated" From 
 the few recording leaves that time has spared, the 
 Odd Volumes may well reproduce a testimonial to 
 such a man. 
 
 This volume is already larger than its predeces 
 sors, and only a brief mention will be made of other 
 works by the Reverend Cotton Mather containing 
 poems that the Club may hereafter reproduce. 
 
 The Christian Thank-Off ering, 1696, contains a 
 versified paraphrase of the iO3d Psalm. 
 
 Maschil, 1702, The A, B, C, of Religion, 1713, 
 and The Way of Truth, 1721, have a "Body of 
 Divinity Versified." 
 
1 6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Monica Americana, a Funeral Sermon on Mrs. 
 Sarah Leverett, 1705, has, on pages 29-32, "A 
 Lacrymatory: Defign d for the Tears let fall at 
 the Funeral of Mrs. SARAH LEVERET ; Who Dy d, 
 2 d. ii m. 1704-5." 
 
 JAMES F. HUNNEWELL. 
 JUNE 10, 1896. 
 
ELEGIE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 REVEREND THOMAS SHEPARD 
 
 1677 
 
AN ELE GIE 
 
 UPON 
 
 The Deatb t-te Reverend 
 
 Late Teacher of tie Church at 
 in 
 
 By a great Admiurof his Worth, and tfue Mcurcet for 
 
 _ 
 
 i f 7 i. Tli* t iktttus perifatb> mdto man layctb it to lea. i 9 
 m.refi 1 men are ta^tn *af, now coxpdfrivgtb dt tie rtjbtg. 
 
 out if tQ zsn tWUjfMHtnibttl iltQC&Hh 
 
 Z?ch. 1-5,0 . Vowr tattetiwfaf*r*ttotA*+fi* Pitfi 
 
 ber Hvtfor wtf? but my word* and my pOtUttr,bub I u 
 
 Father^ 
 
 Hcb. 13 7 Remember, tkm nhicb bed the fx* ovtr row, 
 Wbo kajt/L^hn *nfQ >outte \ v trd ~ 
 
 t o njtdt tingim c* d oftbcir con vtv\ati 
 
 "Printed by Samuel fyecn. 1677, g| 
 
AN ELEGIE 
 
 UPON 
 
 The Death of the Reverend 
 
 Mr. THOMAS SHEPARD, 
 
 Late Teacher of the Church at 
 Charlstown in NewEngland: 
 
 By a great Admirer of his Worth, and true Mourner for 
 
 his Death. 
 
 Ifai. 57 I. The righteous perijheth, and no man layetb it to heart, 
 and merciful men are taken away, none confidering that the righte 
 ous is taken away from the evil to come. 
 
 Zech. I. 5, 6. Your Fathers where are they\ And the Prophets 
 do they live for ever ? but my words and my ftatutes, which I com 
 manded my fervants the Prophets, did they not take hold of your 
 Fathers ? 
 
 Heb. 13. 7. Remember them which had the rule over you, 
 who have spoken unto you the word of God, whofe Faith follow, 
 confidering the end of their converfation. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, 
 
 Printed by Samuel Green. 1677. 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 (i) 
 
 D Eader \ I am no Poet : but I grieve \ 
 
 TV Behold here, what that pajfion can do \ 
 That fore d a verfe, without Apollo s leave. 
 And whether tti Learned Siflters would or no. 
 
 My Griefs can hardly fpeak: my Jobbing Mufe 
 In broken terms our fad bereavement rues. 
 
 (2) 
 
 / wonder what the learned World ftill ailes, 
 To tune and face their Jorrows and complaints 
 In Rhythm and Verfe \ He that his crojfes wailes 
 Indeed, would vent his griefs without reftraints. 
 
 To tye our grief to numbers, meajures, feet y 
 
 Is not to let it loofe, but fetter it. 
 
 (3) 
 
 Is this it ? that a Poets f offer heart 
 
 Of great imprejjions Jufceptible is ? 
 He wifely doth perform his mourning part 
 In Verfe, lejl grief Jhould time and meajure mifs. 
 But griefs unmeajurable would not be 
 CurVd, and reitfd-in by meajurd Poetry. 
 
 (4) 
 
 Stop, flop my Pen \ left Ifrael s Jlnger Jweet 
 Should be condemn d y who, in that Song of ttt Bow y 
 To vent his pajjionate complaints thought meet, 
 And to bewail his great Friends overthrow. 
 
 King David in an Elegiack Knell, 
 
 Rung out his dolours, when dear Jonathan fell 
 
 (5) 
 No matter what s the trifling Poets Vfe, 
 
 ^H Imperious Law of cuftome we deride : 
 
 We have Diviner Warrant to produce, 
 
 The Soveraign, Sacred Poet is our guide. 
 
 He wept his Friend in verje : then let us try, 
 Now Shepard s/^/w, to write his Elegy. 
 
 U. O, 
 
(3) 
 
 AN ELEGIE 
 
 Upon that Reverend, Learned, Eminently Pious, and Singularly 
 Accompliflied Divine, my ever Honoured BROTHER 
 
 Mr. THOMAS SHEPARD, 
 
 The late Faithful and Worthy Teacher of the Church of Chrift 
 
 at Charljhwn in New-England. 
 
 Who finifhed his Courfe on Earth, and went to receive 
 his Crown, December 22, 1677. 
 
 In the 43d Year of his Age. 
 
 |H ! that I were a Poet now in grain ! 
 How would I invocate the Mufes all 
 To deign their prefence, lend their flowing Vein, 
 And help to grace dear Shepara s Funeral ! 
 How would I paint our griefs, and fuccours borrow 
 From Art and Fancy, to limn out our sorrow ! 
 
 ...(*) 
 
 Now could I wifh (if wifhing would obtain) 
 The fprightli eft Efforts of Poetick Rage, 
 To vent my Griefs, make others feel my pain, 
 For this lofs of the Glory of our Age. 
 
 Here is a fubject for the loftiest Verfe 
 
 That ever waited on the bravest Hearfe. 
 
 A2 And 
 
[4] 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 And could my Pen ingenioufly diftill 
 The pureft fpirits of a fparkling wit 
 In rare conceits, the quinteflence of {kill 
 In Elegiack Strains ; none like to it : 
 
 I fhould think all too little to condole 
 The fatal lofs (to us) of fuch a Soul. 
 
 [4] 
 
 Could I take higheft Flights of Fancy, foar 
 
 Aloft ; If Wits Monopoly were mine : 
 
 All would be much too low, too light, too poor, 
 
 To pay due tribute to this great Divine. 
 
 Ah ! Wit avails not, when th Heart s like to break, 
 Great griefs are Tongue-ti ed, when the lefler fpeak. 
 
 [ 5] 
 Away loofe rein d Careers of Poetry, 
 
 The celebrated Sifters may be gone ; 
 
 We need no Mourning Womens Elegy, 
 
 No forc d, affected, artificial Tone. 
 
 Great and good SheparcT s Dead ! Ah ! this alone 
 Will fet our eyes abroach, diflblve a ftone. 
 
 [6 ] 
 
 Poetick Raptures are of no efteem, 
 
 Daring Hyperboles have here no place, 
 
 Luxuriant wits on fuch a copious Theme, 
 
 Would mame themfelves, and blufh to mew their face 
 Here s worth enough to overmatch the fkill 
 Of the moft ftately Poet Laureafs >uill. 
 
 Ex- 
 
[5] 
 ] 7 ] 
 
 Exube rant Fancies ufelefs here I deem, 
 Tranfcendent vertue fcorns feign d Elogies : 
 He that gives Shepard half his due, may ieem, 
 If Strangers hear it, to Hyperbolize. 
 
 Let him that can, tell what his vertues were, 
 And fay, this Star mov d in no common Sphere. 
 
 I I 
 Here need no Spices, Odours, curious Arts, 
 
 No fkill of Egypt, to embalm the Name 
 
 Of fuch a Worthy : let men fpeak their hearts, 
 
 They 1 fay, He merits an Immortal Fame, 
 
 When Shepard is forgot, all muft conclude, 
 
 This is prodigious ingratitude. 
 
 I 9 I 
 But live he mall in many a gratefull Breaft, 
 
 Where he hath rear d himfelf a Monument, 
 
 A Monument more {lately than the beft, 
 
 On which Immenfeft Treafures have been fpent. 
 
 Could you but into th Hearts of thoufands peep, 
 There would you read his Name engraven deep. 
 
 [ 10] 
 
 Oh ! that my head were Waters, and mine Eyes 
 A flowing Spring of Tears, ftill ifluing forth 
 In Streams of bitternefs, to folemnize 
 The Obits of this Man of matchlefs worth ! 
 
 Next to the Tears our (ins do need and crave, 
 I would beftow my Tears on Shepards Grave. 
 
 A Not 
 
[6] 
 
 ( " ) 
 Not that he needs our Tears : for he hath dropt 
 
 His meafure full ; not one Tear more fhall fall 
 Into God s Bottle from his eyes ; Death ftopt 
 That water-courfe, his forrows ending all. 
 
 He Fears, he Cares, he Sighs, he Weeps no more : 
 Hee s pad all ftorms, Arriv d at th wiihed Shoar. 
 
 [ 12 ] 
 
 Dear Shepard could we reach fo high a ftrain 
 
 Of pure Seraphick love, as to deveft 
 
 Our felves, and love, of felf-refpects, thy gain 
 
 Would joy us, though it crofs our intereft. 
 
 Then would we filence all complaints with this, 
 Our Deareft Friend is doubtlefs gone to Blifs. 
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 Ah ! but the Leffon s hard, thus to deny 
 Our own dear felves, to part with fuch a Loan 
 Of Heaven (in time of fuch neceflity) 
 And love thy comforts better than our own. 
 
 Then let us moan our lofs, adjourn our glee, 
 Till we come thither to rejoice with thee. 
 
 [HJ 
 
 As when fome formidable Comets blaze, 
 
 As when Portentous Prodigies appear, 
 Poor mortals with amazement ftand and gaze, 
 With hearts affrighted, and with trembling fear : 
 So are we all amazed at this blow, 
 Sadly portending fome approaching woe. 
 
 We 
 
[7] 
 
 We fhall not fummon bold Aflrologers, 
 To tell us what the Stars fay in the cafe, 
 (Thofe Coufm-Germans to black Conjurers) 
 We have a facred Oracle that fays, 
 
 When th Righteous perifh, men of mercy go, 
 
 It is a fure prefage of coming wo. 
 
 [ 16 ] 
 
 He was (ah woful word ! to fay he was) 
 Our wreflling Ifrael, fecond unto none, 
 The man that flood i th gap, to keep the pafs, 
 To flop the Troops of Judgements pjufhing on. 
 This man the honour had to hold the hand* 
 Of an incenfed God againfl our Land. 
 
 When fuch a Pillar s fain (Oh fuch an one ! ) 
 When fuch a glorious, mining Light s put out, 
 When Chariot and Horfemen thus are gone ; 
 Well may we fear fome Downfal, Darknefs, Rout, 
 
 When fuch a Bank s broke down, there s fad occaffion 
 To wail, and dread fome grievous Inundation. 
 
 [ 18 ] 
 
 What ! mufl we with our God, and Glory part ? 
 
 Lord ! is thy Treaty with New-England come 
 
 Thus to an end ? And is War in thy Heart ? 
 
 That this AmbafTadour is called home. 
 
 So Earthly Gods (Kings) when they War intend, 
 Call home their Miniflers, and Treaties end. 
 
 Oh 
 
[8] 
 
 C 19 ] 
 
 Oh for the Raptures, Tranfports, Infpirations 
 
 Of IJraeFs Singers^ when his Jonathans Fall 
 
 So tun ed his mourning Harp ! what Lamentations 
 
 Then would I make for Shepards Funeral ! 
 
 How truly can I fay, as well as He ? 
 
 My dear eft Er other I m diftreJJTdfor thee. 
 
 [20] 
 
 How Lovely, Worthy, Peerlefs, in my view ? 
 
 How Precious, Pleafant haft thou been to me ? 
 
 How Learned, Prudent, Pious, Grave, and True ? 
 
 And what a Faithful Friend ? who like to thee ? 
 Mine Eye s defire is vanifhed ; who can tell 
 Where lives my deareft Shepard s Parallel ? 
 
 [ ] 
 
 T is ftrange to think : but we may well believe, 
 That not a few of different Perfwafions 
 From this great Worthy, do now truly grieve 
 T th Mourning croud, and joyn their Lamentations. 
 Such Powers Magnetick had He to draw to Him 
 The very Hearts, and Souls, of all that knew Him ! 
 
 C " ] 
 
 Art, Nature, Grace, in Him were all combin d 
 To fhew the World a matchlefs Paragon : 
 In whom of Radiant Virtues no lefs fliin d, 
 Than a whole Conftellation : but hee s gone ! 
 
 Hee s gone alas ! Down in the Duft muft ly 
 As much of this rare Perfon as could dy. 
 
 If 
 
[9] 
 
 If to have folid Judgement, Pregnant Parts, 
 A piercing Wit, and comprehenfive Brain ; 
 If to have gone the Round of all the Arts, 
 Immunity from Deaths Arreft would gain, 
 
 Shepard would have been Death-proof, and fecure 
 From that All conquering Hand, Jm very fure. 
 
 [ 2 4 ] 
 
 If Holy Life, and Deeds of Charity, 
 
 If Grace illuftrious, and Virtue tri ed, 
 
 If modeft Carriage, rare Humility, 
 
 Could have brib d Death, good Shepard had not di ed. 
 
 Oh ! but inexorable Death attacks 
 
 The beft Men, and promifcu ous havock makes. 
 
 Come tell me, Criticks, have you ever known 
 
 Such Zeal, fo temper d well with moderation ? 
 
 Such Prudence, and fuch Inno cence met in one ? 
 
 Such Parts, fo little Pride and Oftentation ? 
 Let Momus carp, and Envy do her worft, 
 And fwell with Spleen and Rancour till me burft. 
 
 [ 26 ] 
 
 To be defcended well, doth that commend ? 
 
 Can Sons their Fathers Glory call their own ? 
 
 Our Shepard ]iafibf might to this pretend, 
 
 (His BlefTed Father was of high Renown, 
 
 Both Englands fpeak him great, admire his Name) 
 But his own perfonal worth s better claim. 
 
 B 
 
[10] 
 
 [*7 ] 
 
 Great was the Father, once a glorious Light 
 Among us, Famous to an high Degree : 
 Great was this Son ; indeed (to do him right) 
 As Great and Good (to fay no more) as He. 
 A double portion of his Fathers Spirit 
 Did this (his Eldest) Son, through Grace, inherit. 
 
 His Look commanded Reverence and Awe, 
 
 Though Mild and Amiable, not Auflere : 
 
 Well Humourd was He (as I ever faw) 
 
 And rul d by Love and Wifdome, more than Fear. 
 The Mufes, and the Graces too, confpir d 
 To fet forth this Rare Piece, to be admir d 
 
 [29] 
 
 He govern d well the Tongue (that bufie thing, 
 
 Unruly, Lawlefs and Pragmatical) 
 
 Gravely Referv d, in Speech not lavifhing, 
 
 Neither too fparing, nor too liberal. 
 
 His Words were few, well feafon d, wifely weigh d 
 And in his Tongue the Law of Kindnefs fway d 
 
 C 30 ] 
 
 Learned he was beyond the common Size, 
 Befriended much by Nature in his Wit, 
 And Temper, (Sweet, Sedate, Ingenious, Wife) 
 And (which crown d all) he was Heav ens Favorite. 
 On whom the God of all Grace did command, 
 And fhow r down Bleffings with a lib eral hand. 
 
 Wife 
 
Wife He, not wily, was ; Grave, not Morofe ; 
 
 Not ftiffe, but fteady ; Seri ous, but not Sowre ; 
 
 Concern d for all, as if he had no Foes ; 
 
 [Strange if he had ! ) and would not waft an Hour. 
 Thoughtful and Active for the common good : 
 And yet his own place wifely underftood. 
 
 ; [ 32 ] 
 
 Nothing could make him ftray from Duty : Death 
 
 Was not fo frightful to him, as Omiflion 
 
 Of Minifterial work ; he fear d no breath 
 
 Infe&i ous, i th difcharge of his CommirTion. 
 
 Rather than run from s. work, he chofe to dy, 
 Boldly to run on Death, than duty fly. 
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 (Cruel Difeafe ! that didft (like High-way-men) 
 
 Aflault the honeft Traveller in his way, 
 And rob dear Shepard of his life (Ah ! ) then, 
 When he was on the Road, where Duty lay. 
 
 Forbear, bold Pen ! twas God that took him thus, 
 To give him great Reward, and punim us, 
 
 [ 34 ] 
 
 Zealous in God s caufe, but meek in his own ; 
 Modeft of Nature, bold as any Lion, 
 Where Conference was concerned : and there was none[?] 
 More conftant Mourners for afflicted Sion. 
 
 So gene ral was his care for th Churches all, 
 His Spirit feemed Apoftolical. 
 
 B 2 Large 
 
[12] 
 
 [35 ] 
 
 Large was his Heart, to fpend without regret, 
 
 Rejoycing to do good: not like thofe Moles 
 That root i th Earth, or roam abroad, to get 
 All for themfelves (thofe forry, narrow Souls ! ) 
 
 But He, like th* Sun (i th Center, as fome fay) 
 Diffus d his Rayes of Goodnefs every way. 
 
 l 36 i 
 
 He breath d Love, and purfu d Peace in his day, 
 
 As if his Soul were made of Harmony : 
 
 Scarce ever more of Goodnefs crouded lay 
 
 In fuch a piece of frail Mortality. 
 
 Sure Father Wiljons genuine Son was he, 
 New-England s Paul had fuch a Timothy. 
 
 [ 37 ] 
 
 No Slave to th Worlds grand Idols ; but he flew 
 
 At Fairer Quarries, without {looping down 
 To Sublunary prey : his great Soul knew 
 Ambition none, but of the Heave nly Crown. 
 
 How he hath won it, and mall wear t with Honour, 
 Adoring Grace, and God in Chriil, the Donour. 
 
 [38] 
 
 A Friend to Truth, a conftant Foe to Errour, 
 Powerful i th Pulpit, and sweet in converfe, 
 To weak ones gentle, to th Profane a Terrour. 
 Who can his vertues, and good works rehearfe ? 
 The Scripture Bishops-Character read o re, 
 Say this was Shepards : what need I fay more ? 
 
 I fay 
 
[13] 
 
 [ 39 ] 
 I fay no more : let them that can declare 
 
 His rich and rare endowments, paint this Sun, 
 
 With all its dazling Rayes: But I defpair, 
 
 Hopelefs by any hand to fee it done. 
 
 They that can Shepards goodnefs well difplay, 
 Muft be as good as he : But who are they ? 
 
 [ 40 ] 
 
 See where our Siller Charlftown fits and Moans ! 
 
 Poor Widowed Charlftown \ all in Duft, in Tears ! 
 
 Mark how me wrings her hands ! hear how me groans ! 
 
 See how me weeps ! what forrow like to hers ! 
 
 Charlftown^ that might for joy compare of late 
 With all about her, now looks defolate. 
 
 [ 41 ] 
 
 As you have feen fome Pale, Wan, Ghaftly look, 
 When grifly Death, that will not be faid nay, 
 Hath seiz d all for it felf, Pofleflion took, 
 And turn d the Soul out of its houfe of Clay : 
 
 So vifag d is poor Charhtown at this day; 
 
 Shcpardy her very Soul, is torn away. 
 
 , C 4* ] 
 
 Cambridge groans under this fo heavy crofs, 
 
 And Sympathizes with her Sister dear ; 
 Renews her Griefs afrefh for her old lofs 
 Of her own Shepard, and drops many a Tear. 
 
 Cambridge and Charhtown now joint Mourners are, 
 And this tremendous lofs between them mare. 
 
 B 3 Muft 
 
[14] 
 
 Muft Learnings Friend (Ah ! worth us all) [go thus(?)] 
 
 That Great Support to Harvards Nurfery | 
 
 Our Fellow (that no Fellow had with us) 
 
 Is gone to Heave ns great Univerfity. 
 
 Our s now indeed s a lifelefs Corporation, 
 The Soul is fled, that gave it Animation \ 
 
 _ C 44 ] 
 
 Poor Harvard s Sons are in their Mourning Drefs, 
 
 Their fure Friend s gone! their Hearts hzveput on Mour [ning,] 
 Within their Walls are Sighs, Tears, Penfiveness ; 
 Their new Foundations dread an overturning. 
 
 Harvard \ where s fuch a fail Friend left to [thee] 
 Unlefs thy great Friend, LEVERET, it [be.] 
 
 [ 45 ] 
 We muft not with our greateft Soveraign ftrive 
 
 Who dare find fault with him that is moil Hig[h] 
 
 That hath an abfolute Prerogative, 
 
 And doth his pleafure : none may ask him, why 
 
 We re Clay-lumps, Duft-heaps, nothings in his fig[ht] 
 The Judge of all the Earth doth always right. 
 
 [ 46 ] 
 
 Ah ! could not Prayers and Tears prevail with God 
 
 Was there no warding off that dreadful Blow ! 
 
 And was there no averting of that Rod ! 
 
 Muft Shepard dy ! and that good Angel go ! 
 
 Alas ! our heinous fins (more than our hairs) 
 
 It feems, were louder, and out-crie d our Prayers. 
 
 See 
 
 NOTE. Letters at ends of the lines [enclosed] are written in an old 
 hand, with ink now faded, to supply those not impressed by the type. 
 
C 5] 
 [47 ] 
 
 See what our fins have done | what Ruines wrought 
 
 And how they have pluck d out our very eyes ! 
 
 Our fins have flain our Shepard \ we have bought, 
 
 And dearly paid for, our Enormities. 
 
 An Curfed fins ! that ftrike at God, and kill 
 His Servants, and the Blood of Prophets {pill. 
 
 [ 48 ] 
 
 As you would loath the Sword that s warm and red, 
 As you would hate the hands that are embru d 
 I* th Hearts-blood of your deareft Friends : fo dread, 
 And hate your fins ; Oh ! let them be purfu d ; 
 
 Revenges take on bloody fins : for there s 
 
 No Refuge-City for thefe Murtherers. 
 
 [ 49 ] 
 
 In vain we build the Prophets Sepulchers, 
 
 In vain bedew their Tombs with Tears, when Dead; 
 In vain bewail the Deaths of Minifters, 
 Whileft Prophet-killing fins are harboured. 
 
 Thofe that thefe Murth erous Traitors favour, hide ; 
 
 And with the blood of Prophets deeply di ed 
 
 [50] 
 
 New-England I know thy Heart-plague: feel this blow; 
 
 A blow that forely wounds both Head and Heart, 
 
 A blow that reaches All, both high and low, 
 
 A blow that may be felt in every part. 
 
 Mourn that this Great Mans fain in Ifraet: 
 Left it be faid, with him New-England fell \ 
 
 Farewel 
 
C 5i ] 
 
 Farewel, Dear Shepard ! Thou art gone before. 
 
 Made free of Heaven, where thou fhalt ling loud Hymns 
 
 Of High triumphant Praifes evermore, 
 
 In the fweet Quire of Saints and Seraphims. 
 
 Lord ! look on us here, clogg d with fin and clay, 
 And we, through Grace, fhall be as happy as they. 
 
 [5*] 
 
 My Deareft, Inmoft, Bofome-Friend is Gone ! 
 Gone is my fweet Companion, Soul s delight ! 
 Now in an Huddling Croud I m all alone, 
 And almofl could bid all the World Goodnight : 
 
 Bleft be my Rock ! God lives : Oh let him be, 
 
 As He is All, to All in All to me. 
 
 The Bereaved, Sorrowful 
 
 Urian Oakes 
 
ELEGY 
 
 JOHN WILSON 
 
JOHANNES io (grcnuu 
 &9ntiou#, Rehtfog fo the 
 
 LIVES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Etfer-MEMORABLE, 
 Mr. JOHN COTTON, 
 
 who Dyed, z;.//.io.w. r6ci. 
 Mr. J>0 H N NORTON, 
 
 Who /Dyed, ^d.*m. 1661. 
 Mr. J,O H N WILSON, 
 
 Who Dyed, 7/6 m. 1667. 
 Mr. J O |jt-lf DAVENPORT, 
 
 Who Dyed, i$.d.i.nj. 1670. 
 Reverend arid Renownad Miftifte rt 6f the 
 Goipcl, Al^ in the more Immediate Service 
 of 4Dne 4ft>urc^, in Boftoni 
 
 AND 
 Mr. THOMAS HOOKER, 
 
 Who Dyed, *?.J.f.M. 1647. 
 Paftor of che Church at Hartford- 
 
 by GOTtOfc MATHER. 
 
 Forte t -ninns Videor* Laudet Carfare MEORUK4 ; 
 Forte* writs tineret Vidtot celebrate rcpoftos ; 
 Nion it a me Facilem Sine Vtro Credite 
 
 Printed for and >old by Michael Perr^,at his Shop, 
 nder the Weft End oF the Town-Houfe. 169 f . 
 
Extract from an Elegy 
 
 By Mr. Thomas Shepard on Mr. John Wilson 
 on page 36 of the Life. 
 
 Whofo of A braham, Mo/es, Samuel, Reads, 
 
 Or of Elijah s or Eli/ha s Deeds, 
 
 Would furely fay, Their Spirit and Power was his, 
 
 And think there were a Mctcmffychofis. 
 
 As Aged John, th< Apoftle us d to Ble/s 
 
 The People, which they Judg d their Happinefs, 
 
 So did we count it worth our Pilgrimage 
 
 Unto him for his EleJJing^ in his Age. 
 
 Some OFFERS 
 
 To Embalm the MEMORY of the 
 Truly 
 
 Reverend and Renowned, 
 JOHN WILSON ; 
 
 The Firft Paftor of Bo/Ion, in New England-, 
 Interr d ( and a Great Part of his Countries 
 Glory with him ) Auguft. 1 1. 1667. Aged, 79. 
 
 Might 
 
Mr. JOHN WILSON 43 
 
 Rod(fuchFuneratsmayrit beZ)ry) 
 But broach the Rock, t would gufh pure Elegy, 
 To round the Wildernefs with purling Layes, 
 And tell the World, the Great Saint WILSONS 
 Praife. 
 
 Here s ONILj(PtarIs are not in great clufters found) 
 Here s ONE, the Skill of Tongues and Arts had 
 
 Crown d 
 
 H ere c s O NE(by frequentMartyrdome t c was Try c d) 
 That could forego Skill, Pelf, and Life befide, 
 ForCHRIST; Both .ENGLANDSZ>*r%, whom 
 
 in Swarms 
 They Prefs d to See, and Hear, and felt his Charms. 
 
 Tis ONE, (when will it Rife to Number Two ? 
 The World at once can but ONE Phcenix Show :) 
 For 7V0/,aPAUL; CEPHAS, for Zeal -, for Love, 
 A JOHN; infpir d by the Celeftial Dove. 
 ABRA MS true Son for Faith \ and in his Tent 
 Angels oft had their Table and Content. 
 
 So Humble, that alike on c s Charity, 
 Wrought Extract Gent : with Extract Rudij. 
 Pardon this Fault ; his Great Excefs lay there , 
 He d Trade for Heaven, with all he came anear ; 
 His Meat, Clothes, Ca/h, heed ftill for Ventures fend. 
 Confign d, Per Brother Lazarus, his Friend. 
 
 Mighty 
 
ife of 
 
 Mighty in Prayer ; his Hand ; Uplifted reach c d 
 Mercies High Throne, and thence ftrange Bounties 
 
 fetch d, 
 
 Once and again, and oft : So felt by all. 
 Who Weef his Death, as a Departing Paul. 
 All; Yea, Baptised with Tears, Lo, Children come, 
 ( Their Baptifm he maintain ( d ! ) unto his Tomb. 
 
 c T c wixt an Apoftle, and Evangelijl, 
 
 Let ftand his Order in the Heavenly Lift. 
 
 Had we the Coftly Alablafter Box, 
 
 What s Left, wee c d fpend on this New-Englifh 
 
 KNOX; 
 
 True KnoXy fill c d with that Great Reformers Grace, 
 In Truths Juft caufe, fearing no Mortals Face. 
 
 Chrift -s Word,it was his Life,Chrift sChurch,h\sCare m , 
 And fo Great with him his Lea/I Brethren were, 
 Not Heat, nor Cold, nor Rain, or Frofb, or Snow 
 Could hinder, but he d to their Sermons go : 
 Aarons Bells chirred from far, he c d Run, and then 
 His Ravifh d Soul Echo d, AMEN, AMEN\ 
 
 He traverfl oft the fierce Atlantic Sea, 
 But, PatmosofConfeJors, t c was for THEE. 
 This Voyage Lands him on the Wiihed more, 
 From Whence this Father will return no more, 
 To fit the Moderator of thy Sages. 
 But, Tell his Z<?^/for thee, to After Ages, 
 
 His 
 
Mr. JOHN WILSON. 45 
 
 His Care to Guide his Flock, and feed his Lambs, 
 By Words, Works, Prayers, Pfalms, Alms, and 
 
 ANAGRAMS : 
 
 Thofe Anagrams, in which he made to Start 
 Out of meer Nothings, by Creating Art, 
 Whole Worlds of Counfil ; did to Motes Unfold 
 Names, till they Leffons gave Richer than Gold, 
 And Every Angle fo Exactly fay, 
 It fhould out-fhine the brighter! Solar Ray. 
 
 Sacred his Verfe, Writ with a Cherubs Quill ; 
 But thofe Wing d Chorifters of Zion-Hill, 
 Pleas c d with the Notes, call c d him a part to bear, 
 With Them, where he his Anagram did hear, 
 
 3F $rap Come in, i^eartilp HMcome; Sir. 
 
 EPITAPHIUM. 
 
 Thinking, what EPITAPH, I fhould Offer 
 unto the Grave of this Worthy Man, I call d 
 unto Mind, the fitteft in the World, which 
 was directed for him, immediately upon his 
 Death, by an Honourable Perfon, who flill 
 
 Continues 
 
4 6 &e Ilife of &c, 
 
 Continues the fame Lover, as well as In/lance, 
 of Learning and Vertue, that he was, when 
 he Then advised them to give Mr. Wilfon this 
 
 EPITAPH. 
 
 Andnow Abides FAITH, HOPE,&CHARITIE, 
 
 But CHARITIE S the Great eft of the Three. 
 
 To which this might be added, from 
 another Hand, 
 
 A urea, qu<e (obftupes refer ens !) Primteva Vetuftas 
 
 Condidit Arcano, S^cula Apoilolica, 
 
 Ojfficijs, Donifque itidem Sanctifftmus Heros, 
 
 WI LSO N US, tacitis Protulit Ex Tenebris. 
 
ELEGY 
 
 SEVEN YOUNG MINISTERS 
 
OR, 
 
 A Servant of the LORD 
 
 Found jRCSt)}? for the 
 
 Coming of the LORD. 
 
 A Difcourfe 
 
 Occafioned by the Catlt? $&t&tl) 
 of SEVEN Young 
 
 Minifters, 
 
 Within a Little while One of another : 
 With fome ESSAY, upon their 
 very Commendable and Imitable 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 And an ELEGY upon them, 
 
 Vigilare debt* omnts ChriStianm, ne eum im- 
 farawm invent at Domini Adventus. Impa- 
 reitum autem inveniet Dies ilte, quern *wpa<. 
 rttum inveniet Stue VU& ttlfimus Dief. 
 
 Aug. ad Diofcor. 
 
 2BOffOn t Printed & Sold by2& (StCCtt 
 /ic the South End of the Town. 1706* 
 
[*] 
 
 
 
 On the GRAVES 
 
 OF MY 
 
 3f)fltl tfflr ^ltt*lH"lfl>tt 
 7fvllH|i HP I* + 41 1* II < 
 
 \jjrn 
 
 [ Carent quia vate Sacro ] 
 
 Raves \ Where in Duft are laid our deareft 
 r , PaJ/engers, your Tributary Drops, (Hopes \ 
 Your Tears Allow d, yea, Hallowed now become, 
 Since Tears were drop t by JESUS on a Tomb. 
 Churches, Weep on ; & Wounded yield your Tears ; 
 Tears ufe to flow from hack t New-English Firrs. 
 Zion, Thy Sons are gone ; Tho men might fee 
 This and that Man, brave Men, were born in thee. 
 Tell, what they were ; Let thy True Trumpet tell 
 Truth of the Sons of Truth, and how they fell. 
 Sure, when our Sev n did to their Seats retire, 
 Th Harmonious Nine did not with them expire. 
 Smooth Numbers firft were form d for Themes like 
 T immortalize deferving Memories. (thefe ; 
 
 Firft, What they were not, Say ; For they were Not 
 Such as their Mother might account a Blot. 
 
30 
 
 |^0t fuch as to the Sacred Prieft-hood fly, 
 Meerly as to a Craft, to Live thereby. 
 |^Dt, who at Church feem Serious and Demure, 
 But out of it, no StriBnefs can Endure. 
 |^0t those who dare Jest with Gods awful Word 
 And Lewdly can Play with the Flaming Sword. 
 |^0t the Black Folks, where nothing White we know 
 But what an Open d Mouth may chance to fhow. 
 J]5ot Snuffs, inftead of Stars ; (the Room, no doubt, 
 Would Sweeter be, if Such were turned out.) 
 |^0t Blind-men [So the Talmuds reckon them !] 
 Who Dark themfelves, hold Lights to other men. 
 |^0t Lads, whom for their Levity alone 
 The Punning Tribe, De Tribu Levi, own. 
 |^pt who to Pulpits hop Unfledg d and there 
 Talk twice a Week, and Preach not once a year. 
 |^0t thofe who do the Pious Neighbour Shun, 
 But to the Wicked Sons of Belial run. 
 |^0t those who hate their Work, as Boyes the Rod, 
 And hate and flout Laborious Men of God. 
 
 Ifjuch there are ; fake. Lord, thy Holy Scourge, 
 And from Juch Nujances, thy Temple Purge ! 
 
 Notjuch my Sons ; by Zion fo we re told ; 
 
 Sons comparable to the Finefl Gold. 
 
 But, What they were, Fair Lady, canft thou fay, 
 
 What thy Loft Seven, and not faint away ! 
 For with her Seven Sons, and fuch as thefe, 
 Dy d the brave Mother of the Maccabees. 
 
 Mirrours of Piety they were, and knew 
 
 Betimes, how to be Wife and Good and True. 
 
 Early 
 
3 1 
 
 Early the Larks Praife to their Maker Sung ; 
 
 So Saint Macarius, Old while very Young, 
 
 The Towns to which they did their Toyls difpenfe 
 
 Them their Bright Glory thought, & Strong Defence. 
 
 The Tears of their Bereaved Flocks Proclaime 
 
 More than could Marble Pyramids their Name. 
 
 Thefe were N. England s Pride ; But Humbly Show d 
 
 Men might be/0, and not themfehes be Proud. 
 
 Dryden Sayes, Look the Reformation round. 
 
 No Treatije <?/ Jl^umilitp is found. 
 
 Dry den, Thou Ly fl ; They Write, and more than 
 
 They Live Humility ; they can be low. ( fo, 
 
 Low thefe were always in their own Efteem, 
 
 But the more highly we Efleemed them. 
 
 Low-roof d the temples, but more Stately than 
 
 St. Sophy s, built by Great Juftinian, 
 
 The Proud might trample on them as on Earth, 
 
 But glorious Mines of Worth lay underneath. 
 
 Firft they did all to Kiriath-Sepher go ; 
 And then a Church did Heav n on them beffcow. 
 By Learning firft their Lamps were made to Blaze, 
 And Incenfe each then on the Altar layes. 
 The Liberal Arts they knew; but underftood 
 Moft Thine, Great Antonine ; That, [To be Good.~\ 
 And Good to Do, This was their main Delight ; 
 For This they did all Youths vain Pleafure Sleight. 
 
 While fuch rare Youths mufl Dy, no Lawyers wit 
 (Not AJgils] can abate Death s Fatal Writ, 
 Mufl fuch fee but a Finger of the Span 
 That is to meafure the Frail Life of man ! 
 
 C Yet 
 
32 an 
 
 Yet we l demand Eternity for them ; 
 
 And they fhall Live too in Eternal Fame. 
 Reckon, O Jews, your Priejily Elemi/hes y 
 Forty above an Hundred, if you pleafe : 
 A Prieft for each of thefe did lofe his call ; 
 But Ours, to all appear d ftill free from all. 
 The Power of your fine Loadjlones, wondrous Great, 
 Report, ye Mafters of the Cabinet : 
 Loadftones in weight a Dram ; well-Shodden they 
 Pull up what near Two Hundred Drams will weigh. 
 Our Potent Loadjlones more attractive were ; 
 And more the Sphere of their Activity extended far. 
 
 Now, Panciroty upon my honeft Word, 
 The Loft Sepulchral Lamps, are Now Reftor d. 
 Our Saints, to whom do Serve as Ojy/, our Tears, 
 Bright Lamps, they glare ftill in their Sepulchres. 
 
 My CLARK was One. And fuch a Clark as he 
 Synods si Angels would take theirs to be. 
 Faintly to Praife a Youth of fuch Defert, 
 Were but to Shoot indeed vile Slanders Dart. 
 See but his Wafted Flejh ; T was Flaming Zeal 
 That Melted him : The Flame is burning ftill. 
 Methinks I fee his Ravifh d Hearers wait 
 And long to hear ftill his next Heavnly Treat. 
 Look ; The Fat Cloud, what Oracles he pours 
 On Thirfty Souls in moft Expedient Showres \ 
 His Preaching much, but more his Practice wrought ; 
 A Living Sermon of the Truths he Taught. 
 So all might See the Doctrines which they Heard, 
 And way to Application fairly clear d. 
 
 Strong 
 
an ie0p. 33 
 
 Strong were the Charms of that Sinceritie 
 
 Which made his Works well with his Words agree. 
 
 Painter , Thy Pencils take. Draw firft, a Face 
 Shining^ (but by himfelf not feen) with Grace. 
 An Heav n touch d Eye, where [what of Kens is told] 
 One might, MY GOD, in Capitals behold. 
 A Mouth, from whence a Label fhall proceed, 
 And [O LOVE CHRIST] the Motto to be Read. 
 An Hand flill open to relieve the Poor, 
 And by Difperjlng to increaje the Store. 
 
 Such was my CLARK ; fo did he Look, and fo 
 Much more than Look, or Speak, fo did he Do. 
 Botanifts, Boaft your Palm-Free, whence arife 
 More than Three Hundred rich Commodities. 
 Write, Perjian Poet, that brave Tree to Praife, 
 As many Songs as in the year be Dayes. 
 My CLARK more Vertues had ; So muft the Tree 
 Too rich for Earth, to Heav n tranfplanted be. 
 
 HUBBARD Another. When the Youth they faw, 
 So Wife, Their Love he challeng d, & their Awe. 
 Older Spectators fed their wondering Eyes, 
 With Love, to fee Young Children grow fo Wife. 
 Envy her felf grew weary of her Gall, 
 And gave Confent, he fhould be Lovd by all. 
 The Pa/lor al of Gregory the Great, 
 Won t Say how well he fill d the Paftors Seat. 
 In Saving Souls his Happy Hours he fpent, 
 And Preach d Salvation wherefoe re he went. 
 A CaJfiuS) whom the Hearers did attend, 
 With conftant Fear, that he would make an End. 
 C2 His 
 
34 3n Clegp. 
 
 His Life a Letter, where the World might Spell 
 Great Bajils Morals, and his Death the Seal. 
 The Graces which were Sparks on Earth below, 
 To Glorious Flames in Heavn they now do grow. 
 Oh ! Should a Star drop from the Sky to us, 
 We fhould with Reverence admire it thus ! 
 For fuch a Child of Jacob there Unite 
 Th Egyptian Weeping with the Ifraelite. 
 So has his After-Beams the Setting Sun ; 
 Tho he be Set, his Splendor is not gone. 
 
 Adieu, My CLARK ; my HUBBARD, thus Adieu ; 
 
 A Pair well Paralleled we had in you. 
 
 Grave Plutarch, Hadft thou Liv d till now, the Pair 
 
 Would have engrofs d thy Pen, they Look fo fair. 
 
 Such Gifts as thefe by Heav n beftow d on Men, 
 
 Muft juft be Show n, and then call d back agen ! 
 Lord, Why fo foon, fuch Fruitful Trees cut down ! 
 No Wood of Such, was on the Altar known. 
 Trees not cut down, [the Glorious Anfwer is,] 
 But all Tranjlated into Paradife. 
 From the OJtuick Seizure of the greedy Grave 
 Her Darling Sons my Country cannot Save. 
 But, Grave, Thou malt not fo thy Prey confume, 
 As ever Buried in Oblivions Womb. 
 Thus Thetis Comforted her Short-Liv d Son, 
 Dy Toung, Longjhalt thou be Admird when Dead & Gone. 
 
 One of the Pleiades long fince withdrew. 
 
 And Heav n but Six, does of the Seven {hew. 
 
 If all the reft fhould chance to hide their Face, 
 
 My Seven Stars may well Supply their Place. 
 Now, hold, my Pen ; Plato of old would have 
 But Four Heroick Lines upon a Grave. 
 
 Help me, my God, at Work like them to be ; 
 And take their Deaths as Watch-words unto me. 
 
 Ex 
 
H 
 
 [35] 
 
 Ex Paulini Panegyrico in Oblitum Celji. 
 
 Eu, quid agam ? Dubia Pendens Pietate Labor o^ 
 
 Gratuler an Do/earn ? Dignus utroque Puer. 
 Cujus Amor Lacrymas et Amor mihi Gaudia Suadet ; 
 
 Sed Gaudere Fides > Flere jubet Pietas. 
 Tarn Modicum Patribus, tarn dulci e pignore Fructum 
 
 Defleo in Exiguo Temporis eJJ e datum. 
 Ltetor Obiffe brevi functum Mortalia Seclo, 
 
 Ut cito divinas Confequeretur Opes. 
 
ELEGY AND EPITAPH 
 
 EZEKIEL CHEEVER 
 1708 
 
Corderius Americanus. 
 
 UPON 
 The Good EDUCATION of CHILDREN. 
 
 Aroi what may Hopefully be Attempted, for 
 the Hope of the PL CK. 
 
 FUNERAL A SERMON] 
 
 UPON 
 
 Mr. EZEKIEL CHEEVER. 
 
 The Ancient and Honourable MASTER of the 
 FREE-SCHOOL in Bojto*. 
 
 Vho left off, but when Mortality took him off, in] 
 A*g*fa 1708. the Ninety Fourth Year of his AgcJ 
 
 With w ELEGY and ati EPITAPH upon him. 
 By one tktit was once a SohoUr to hhn. 
 
 eftcr [-CHEEVERUS, ] cum fc wofuu^ vou wonmr.l 
 
 {BOSTON, Printed by J* All**, flbr NichUs So 
 at the Sign of the Bible i.n GrdMf, near th 
 Cornet ^ <yf Scbotl-ft reet. 1708* 
 
GRATITUDINIS ERGO. 
 
 An E S S A Y on the Memory of my 
 Venerable MASTER; 
 
 ?e&fel CJjeetoer, 
 
 Augujloperjlringere Carmine Laudes. 
 ghtas nulla Eloquij vis Celebrare queat, 
 
 X7"OU that are Menfe Thoughts of Manhood know, 
 * Be Juft now to the Man that made you fo. 
 
 Martyr d by Scholars the ftabb d Cajfian dies, 
 
 And falls to curfed Lads a Sacrifice. 
 Not fo my CHEEVER ; Not by Scholars flam, 
 But Prais d, and Lov d, and wifh d to Life again. 
 A mighty Tribe of Well-inftructed Youth 
 Tell what they owe to him, and Tell with Truth. 
 All the Eight farts of Speech he taught to them 
 They now Employ to Trumpet his Efteem. 
 They fill Fames Trumpet, and they fpread a Fame 
 To laft till the Lajl Trumpet drown the fame. 
 
Magifter pleas d them well, becaufe twas be ; 
 They faw that Bonus did with it agree. 
 While they faid, Amo, they the Hint improve 
 Him for to make the Object of their Love. 
 No Concord fo Inviolate they knew 
 As to pay Honours to their Matter due. 
 With Interjections they break off at laft, 
 But, Ab y is all they ufe, Wo, and, Alas ! 
 We Learnt Profodia, but with that Defign 
 Our Matters Name mould in our Verfes fhine. 
 Our Weeping Ovid but inftrudled us 
 To write upon bis Death, De Triftibus. 
 Tully we read, but ftill with this Intent, 
 That in bis praife we might be Eloquent. 
 Our Stately Virgil made us but Contrive 
 As our Anchifes to keep bim Alive. 
 When Phcenix to Achilles was affign d 
 A Ma/ler, then we thought not Homer blind : 
 A Phoenix, which Oh ! might his AJhes mew ! 
 So rare a Thing we thought our Majler too. 
 And if we made a Theme, twas with Regret 
 We might not on his Worth mow all our Wit, 
 
 Go on, ye Grateful Scholars, to proclame 
 To late Pofterity your Mafters Name. 
 Let it as many Languages declare 
 As on L0r*//0-Table do appear. 
 
 Too much to be by any one expreft : 
 Pll tell my share, and you fhall tell the reft. 
 Ink is too vile a Liquor ; Liquid Gold 
 Should fill the Pen, by which fuch things are told. 
 The Book fhould dmyantbus-P&per be 
 All writ with Gold, from all corruption free. 
 
 A 
 
C *8 ] 
 
 A Learned Matter of the Languages 
 Which to Rich Stores of Learning are the Keyes ; 
 He taught us firlt Good Senfe to underfband 
 And put the Golden Keyes into our Hand, 
 We but for him had been for Learning Dumb, 
 And had a fort of Turki/k Mutes become. 
 Were Grammar quite Extinct, yet at his Brain 
 The Candle might have well been lit again. 
 If Rhefrick had been ftript of all her Pride 
 She from his Wardrobe might have been Supply d. 
 Do but Name CHEEVER, and the Echo ftraight 
 Upon that Name, Good Latin, will Repeat. 
 A Chri/iian Terence, M after of the File 
 That arms the Curious to Reform their Style. 
 Now Rome and Athens from their Afhes rife ; 
 See their Platonick Tear with vafl furprize : 
 And in our School a Miracle is wrought ; 
 For the Dead Languages to Life are brought. 
 
 His Work he Lov d : Oh ! had we done the fame ! 
 Our Play-dayes ftill to him ungrateful came. 
 And yet fo well our Work adjufted Lay, 
 We came to Work, as if we came to Play. 
 
 Our Lads had been, but for his wondrous Cares, 
 
 Boyes of my Lady Mores unquiet Pray rs. 
 
 Sure were it not for fuch informing Schools, 
 
 Our Lafran too would foon be fill d with Owles. 
 
 TisCORLET spains,&CHEEVER s,wemuftown, 
 
 That thou, New-England, are not Scythia grown. 
 
 The IJles of Silly had o re-run this Day 
 
 The Continent of our America. 
 Grammar he taught, which twas his work to do : 
 But he would Hagar have her place to know. 
 
 The 
 
The Bible is the Sacred Grammar, where 
 The Rules of /peaking well, contained are. 
 He taught us Lilly, and he Go/pel taught ; 
 And us poor Children to our Saviour brought. 
 Mafter of Sentences, he gave us more 
 Then we in our Sententia had before. 
 We Learn t Good Things in Tullies Offices ; 
 But we from him Learn t Better things than thefe. 
 With Catos he to us the Higher gave 
 Leflbns of JESUS, that our Souls do fave. 
 We Conftru d Ovid s Metamorp ho/is, 
 But on our felves charg d, not a Change to mifs. 
 Young Auflin wept, when he faw Dido dead, 
 Tho, not a Tear for a Loft Soul he had : 
 Our Mafter would not let us be fo vain, 
 But us from Virgil did to David train, 
 Textors Epiftles would not Cloathe our Souls ; 
 Pauls too we heard ; we went to School at Pauls. 
 Syrs, Do you not Remember well the Times, 
 When us he warn d againft our Youthful Crimes : 
 What Honey dropt from our old Neftors mouth 
 When with his Counfels he Reform d our Youth : 
 How much he did to make us Wife and Good; 
 And with what Prayers, his work he did conclude. 
 Concerned, that when from him we Learning had, 
 It might not Armed Wickednefs be made ! 
 The Sun fhall firft the Zodiac forfake, 
 And Stones unto the Stars their Flight fhall make : 
 Firft mail the Summer bring large drifts of Snow, 
 And beauteous Cherries in December grow ; 
 E re of thofe Charges we Forgetful are 
 Which we, O man of God, from thee did hear. 
 
 Such 
 
[ 30 ] 
 
 Such Tutors to the Little Ones would be 
 
 Such that in Flefh we ihould their Angels fee ; 
 
 Ezekiel fhould not be the Name of fuch ; 
 
 We d Agathangelus not think too much, 
 Who Served the School, the Church did not forget ; 
 But Thought, and Pray d, and often wept for it. 
 Mighty in Prayer : How did he wield thee, Pray r ! 
 Thou Reverft Thunder : CHRIST s-Sides-piercing 
 Soaring we faw the Bird of Paradije ; ( Spear ? 
 
 So Wing d by Thee, for Flights beyond the Skies. 
 How oft we faw him tread the Milky Way> 
 Which to the Glorious Throne of Mercy lay ! 
 
 Come from the Mount, he fhone with ancient 
 Awful the Splendor of his Aged Face* ( Grace, 
 
 Cloath d in the Good Old Way, his Garb did wage 
 A War with the vain Fafhions of the Age. 
 Fearful of nothing more than hateful Sin ; 
 Twas that from which he laboured all to win, 
 Zealous ; And in Truths Caufe ne r known to trim ; 
 No Neuter Gender there allow d by him. 
 Stars but a Thou/and did the Ancients know ; 
 On later Globes they Nineteen hundred grow : 
 Now fuch a CHEEVER added to the Sphere; 
 Makes an Addition to the Lu/lre there. 
 
 Mean time America a Wonder faw; 
 A Touth in Age, forbid by Natures Law. 
 
 You that in t other Hemifphere do dwell, 
 Do of Old Age your difmal Stories tell. 
 You tell of Snowy Heads and Rheumy Eyes 
 And things that make a man himfelf defpife: 
 You fay, a. frozen Liquor chills the Veins, 
 And fcarce the Shadow of a Man remains. 
 
 Winter 
 
C 31 ] 
 
 Winter of Life, that Saplefs Age you call, 
 And of all Maladies the Ho/pital : 
 The Second Nonage of the Soul ; the Bram 
 Cover d with Cloud ; the Body all in pain. 
 To weak Old Age> you say, there mult belong 
 A Trembling Palfey both of Limb and Tongue ; 
 Dayes all Decrepit ; and a Bending Back, 
 Propt by a Staff^ in Hands that ever make. 
 
 Nay, Syrs, our CHEEVER mall confute you all. 
 On whom there did none of thefe Mifchefs fall. 
 He Livd, and to vaft Age no Illnefs knew ; 
 Till Times Scythe waiting for him Rufty grew. 
 He Liv dznd Wrought ; His Labours were Immenfe ; 
 But ne r Dec/in d to Prater^perfeft Tenfe. 
 A Blooming Youth in him at Ninety Four 
 We faw ; But, Oh ! when fuch a fight before ! 
 At Wondrous Age he did his Youth refume, 
 As when the Ragle mew s his Aged plume. 
 With Faculties of Reafon ftill fo bright, 
 And at good Services fo Exquifite ; 
 Sure our found Chiliajl^ we wondring thought, 
 To the Firft RefurreElion is not brought ! 
 No, He for That was waiting at the Gate 
 In the Pure Things that fit a Candidate. 
 He in Good Actions did his Life Employ, 
 And to make others Good, he made his Joy. 
 Thus well-appris d now of the Life to Come, 
 To Live here was to him a Martyrdom. 
 Our brave Macrobius Long d to fee the Day 
 Which others dread, of being Call *d away. 
 So, Ripe with Age, he does invite the Hook, 
 Which watchful does for its large Harveft look : 
 
 Death 
 
[ 3* ] 
 
 Death gently cut the Stalky and kindly laid 
 Him, where our God His Granary has made. 
 
 Who at New-Haven firft began to Teach, 
 Dying Un/kipwreck* d, does White-Haven reach. 
 At that Fair Haven they all Storms forget ; 
 He there his DAVENPORT with Love does meet. 
 
 The Luminous Role, the Lofs whereof with Shame 
 Our Parents wept, when Naked they became ; 
 Thofe Lovely Spirits wear it, and therein 
 Serve God with Priejlly Glory , free from Sin. 
 
 But in his Paradifean Reft above, 
 To Us does the Bleft Shade retain his Love. 
 With Rip ned Thoughts Above concerned for Us, 
 We can t but hear him dart his Wifhes, thus. 
 
 c TUTORS, Be Stria \ But yet be Gentle too : 
 
 ( Don t by fierce Cruelties fair Hopes undo. 
 
 c Dream not, that they who are to Learning flow, 
 
 * Will mend by Arguments in Ferio. 
 
 ( Who keeps the Golden Fleece, Oh, let him not 
 
 * A Dragon be, tho he Three Tongues have got. 
 c Why can you not to Learning find the way, 
 But thro the Province of Severia ? 
 
 c Twas Moderatus, who taught Origen ; 
 
 c A Youth which prov d one of the Beft of men. 
 
 The Lads with Honour firft, and Reafon Rule ; 
 
 f Blowes are but for the Refractory Fool. 
 
 < But, Oh ! Firft Teach them their Great God to fear ; 
 
 c That you like me, with Joy may meet them here. 
 
 H has faid ! 
 
 Adieu, a little while, Dear Saint, Adieu ; 
 Your Scholar won t be Long, Sir, after you. 
 In the mean time, with Gratitude I muft 
 Engrave an EPITAPH upon your Dufl. 
 
C 33 ] 
 
 Tis true, Excejfive Merits rarely fafe : 
 
 Such an Excefs forfeits an Epitaph. 
 
 But if Bafe men the Rules of Juftice break, 
 
 The Stones ( at leaft upon the Tombs ) will fpeak. 
 
 Et Tumulum facite^ et Tumulo fuperaddite carmen 
 
 (Virg. in Daphn.) 
 
 EPITAPHIUM. 
 
 EZEKIEL CHEEFERUS: 
 
 Ludimagifter ; 
 Primo Neo-portenfis ; 
 Deinde, Ipfuicenfis ; 
 Poilea, Caroloteneniis 
 Pofbremo, Boftonenfis : 
 
 cujus 
 
 Doctrinam ac Virtutem 
 Noftri, fi Sis Nov-Anglus, 
 Colis, fi non Barbarus ; 
 
 GRAMMATICUS, 
 a Quo, non pure tantum, fed et pie, 
 
 Loqui ; 
 
 RHETORICUS, 
 a Quo non tantum Ornate dicere 
 
 coram Hominibus, 
 Sed et Orationes coram Deo fundere 
 Efficacimmas ; 
 P O E T A, 
 a Quo non tantum Carmina pangere, 
 
 Sedef 
 
 Caeleftes Hymnos, Odafq ; Angelicas, 
 canere, 
 
 Dedice- 
 
[ 34 ] 
 
 Didicerunt, 
 Qui difcere voluerunt ; 
 
 LUCERNA, 
 ad Quam accenfa funt, 
 
 Quis queat numerare, 
 Quot Ecclefiarum Lumina? 
 
 ET 
 Qui fecum Corpus Theologize abftulit, 
 
 Peritiflimus THEOLOGUS, 
 Corpus hie fuum libi minus Charum, 
 
 depofuit. 
 
 Vixit Annos, XCIV. 
 Docuit, Annos, LXX. 
 Obijt, A.D. M. DCC. VIII. 
 
 Et quod Mori potuit, 
 HEIC 
 
 Expeclat Exoptatq : 
 Primam Sandlorum Refurrectionem 
 
 ad 
 Immortal itatem. 
 
 Evuvijs debetur Honos Immortalitate in primare. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
EPITAPHIUM 
 
 WAIT WINTHROP 
 1717 
 
HADESLook dinto. 
 
 The POWER of Our Qreac 
 
 SAVIOUR 
 
 Over the 
 
 Invifible World, 
 
 and the 
 
 d5ates of 3>eatij 
 
 Which lead into that WORLD. 
 Confidered, In 
 
 ASERMON 
 
 Preached at the jftttteral 
 
 of the Honourable, 
 Wait Winibry E% 
 
 Who Expired, 7 d. IX m. 1717. 
 
 In the LXXVI Year of his Age. 
 
 By C. MATHER, D D. & F.& 
 
 C H R I S T E potent rerwn rcdeimtis condifor eevi> 
 Vox fumnn fenfiifyue D El, quern fiidit ab alta 
 
 debt CONSORTI4 REGNl. 
 
 Claud, de Cbrijl ScrvMore. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed by T. Cntmp> 1717 
 
[43] 
 
 EPITAPHIUM. 
 
 STA, Viator; 
 Tumulumque mirare ; 
 Et Lacrymis Publicis adde Tuas; 
 Luge jafturam Publicam, 
 
 Si fis pars publici. 
 PALATIUM eft hie Locus, 
 
 non TUMULUS. 
 Cinis regitur hoc Marmore, 
 
 Dignus Lapide Philofophorum tegi, 
 Quatuor conduntur in hoc Tumulo 
 
 WINTHROPI; 
 Qui vel Quatuor orbis partes 
 
 ditare fufficerent. 
 tgnorat Hiftorian 1 Nov-Anglicanam 
 
 qui hanc nefcit Familiam : 
 Parvi pendet virtutem Univerfam 
 qui hanc non magni facit. 
 
 Horum Ultimus 
 hoc coemeterium ingreffus, 
 WAIT WINTHROP; Armiger, 
 
 G 2 Cujus 
 
 1 A broken m makes this word as printed. 
 
44 EPITATHIUM. 
 
 Cujus base ultima Laus fuerit, 
 
 Quod primes NOV-ANGLI^E 
 
 Honores gefferit, 
 Fuit, Ah, FUIT! 
 NOV-ANGLORUMDecusacTutamen; 
 
 Lumen et Columen. 
 MASSACHUSETTENSIS Colonize 
 
 Inftruftor Exercituum, 
 Generofus, at Pacificus ; 
 Et qui pro patria et pro pace mori potuit. 
 Provinciae, CONSILIARIUS primarius, 
 cui prima fuit Temper cura, 
 Ne quid R. P. detrimenti caperet ; 
 Et in quo uno plures obierunt. 
 
 JUDEX praetorius, 
 Qui Juftitiam atque Clementiarn 
 
 asque coluit. 
 Maximis Regionis perfundhis Ho- 
 
 noribus ; 
 Quos geffit Honores, Ornavit ; 
 
 Quos non geffit, meruit. 
 Cum finceritate PIUS, 
 Cum integritate PROBUS ; 
 Ingenii Caeleftis ac Modefti, 
 Infra fe omnia pofuit, 
 
 fe infra omnes. Benig- 
 
EPITAPHIUM. 45 
 
 Benignus erga cunftos, 
 Erga Indigos ac Egenos Benigniffimus. 
 Ab eo nemo Injuriam, accepit, etiam 
 
 Inimicus ; 
 
 Nemini Inimicus fuit, 
 etiam Injuriis Laceffitus. 
 Ab eo mifer nemo rejeftus, 
 Pauper nemo Exclufus ; 
 Nemo unquam receffit iratus. 
 
 MEDICINE Peritus; 
 Qui Arcanis vere Aureis, et Auro pre- 
 
 ciofioribus potitus ; 
 Quaeque et Hippocratem et Helmontium 
 
 latuerunt, 
 
 Remedia panacasafque Adeptus ; 
 Invalidos omnes ubicunque fine pretio 
 
 fanitati reftituit ; 
 Et pene omnem Naturam fecit Medi- 
 
 cam. 
 
 Qui jam fub hoc faxo dormit mortuus, 
 Vivit in Cordibus multorum, imo mil- 
 Hum, 
 
 quorum vitas prolongavit. 
 W I N T H R O P I merita cum 
 
 WINTHROPO, 
 non Funerabit Oblivio. Na- 
 
4 6 
 
 EPITAPHIUM. 
 
 Natus, 2yd. XII m. 1641. 
 Denatus, yd. IX m. 1717. 
 Annum Septuagejimum Sextum agens 
 
 Moritur, 
 
 Cui milk Annorum Vitam, 
 Et plufquam Methufalemiticam, op- 
 
 tarunt 
 Quibus Vita chara, fuperftites. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

 
 ^SS-- * 
 teg5p~ 
 
GENERAL LIBRARY - U.C. BERKELEY