The Churchs Triumph, Elegy

The Churchs Triumph · Elegy

… to the Memory … Reverend and Worthy Mr …ERT FLEMING who de…ſed July 25, 1694.

By a Friend.

My Pen muſt be like to an Angel's Quill,

And my weak Parts muſt equalize my Will;

Should I preſume him fully to ſet forth,

(Though in rude Characters) or draw his Worth.

Extol him as you pleaſe, yet ſtill you ſhall

Remaining find behind, This is not All.

Renowned Men and righteous are this Day,

(O ſad Prognoſtick!) quickly pluckt away.

Rehold how faſt he's gone, as if he griev'd

Enjoying of his Life, whilſt here he liv'd.

Rare Fruit's ſoon pluckt, and Souls to Ripeneſs grown,

Too good for Earth, are ſnatcht up to the Throne.

Free and unbiaſs'd for the Truth he ſtood:

Liv'd all he knew; knew all that's underſtood.

Each Vertue in him did ſo equal dwell,

Men hardly could perceive which did excel.

In endleſs Bliſs he's now, whilſt mournful I

Nothing can think, but how he pierc'd the Sky,

G'ot into Heaven, and ſeem'd amaz'd to cry;

Reviewing (O Behold!) Eternity's Rich Throne,

From Living Earthly Mounted I'm Now Gone.

—Vivacem nolo Dolorem;

Sed memor aeterno tempore vivat Amor!

FINIS.

End of the text · Daniel Burgess, The Churchs Triumph (1694)