An Elegy Upon the Death of Richard Baxter, Text
AN ELEGY Upon the DEATH of that HOLY, REVEREND and LEARNED Miniſter of CHRIST, Mr. RICHARD BAXTER, Who in the 77th Year of his Age departed this Life Decemb. the 8th 1691.
By N. VINCENT Miniſter of the Goſpel , a true Mourner at his FƲNERAL.
BLeſs't Man! In ſinging forth thine Elegy,
Now every Muſe ſhould turn *Melpomene was the weeping Muſe of the Nine.Melpomene!
There's not an Eye, that ſaw what's worth; but will
For loſs of Thee, a ſhowre of Tears diſtil!
Who would thy Life in Truth deſcribe, muſt tell,
Its Length, and Ʋſefulneſs, was Miracle.
That Tongue, by which, Thy Parts and Grace are ſhown,
Muſt be an Angels, or one like thy own.
He that did wiſh th' Apoſtle Paul to hear,
Thy powerful Preaching, Praying, if his Ear
Had once been bleſs't with: this would granted be,
Only Inſpired Ones excelled Thee!
Thy … thee, Star; and truly None,
Brighter than Thou, in this …
The Sun of Righteouſneſs did ſure diſpenſe
Such Light to Thee, with ſo great Influence
The Prince of Darkneſs was (how often!) foil'd;
His ſtrongeſt Holds thrown down! his Weapons ſpoil'd!
Thee Spiritual Father, a large Off-ſpring call;
Thy Crown thy Glory, and thy Joy; theſe all
Will at the laſt be found; and Theſe with Thee
Will live, love, praiſe unto Eternity!
Thou didſt aloud the Unconverted Call;
Heaven bleſs't thee with Succeſs, ſo that the fall
Of Many into Hell was hinder'd; Greater skill,
To win Souls to thy Lord; and to his Will
To ſubject them; Who in this Age has had?
The worſt of all the Ages that were bad.
Hard Hearts before Thee melted, and their Grief
Was Angels Joy, when ſome of Sinners chief
Repented; then Heavens Sons were glad to ſee
Thoſe ſo near Hell, ſnatch'd out of Miſery.
Thou waſt the Worlds Eclipſe; Thy noble flight
Towards the things Eternal, out of ſight
Of Mortal Eye: was to the Worldlings ſhame,
And ſtrong Conviction. Conſcience did them blame,
Becauſe their Hearts were plac'd on, what thy Feet
Did trample under, as it was moſt meet;
Earths Vanities deſerv'd no better treat.
Thy Faith did make Thee Mammon's Conquerour
Wealth, Pleaſure, Honour; even the whole Worlds ſtore
Was in thine Eye contemptible and poor.
This Age of Infidels might plainly ſee
That Chriſt did dye, and roſe again, in Thee!
How wondrous was thy Art (when Hearts did groan
Burthen'd with Sin and Sorrow; making moan,
Becauſe of Wounds intolerable) to apply
That *Panacea ſignifies an …niverſal M…dicine curing every Malady.Panacea of Iniquity,
The Blood of Jeſus Chriſt! Thou didſt divide
The Word aright, and moſt exactly guide,
That trouble might be true; yet not exceed
Due Meaſure and o'rewhelm: when once the need
Of Chriſt and Grace was ſeen, ſweet was thy Word
Reviving, Comfort, Peace, it did afford.
The Merciful High Prieſt did Thee employ,
And no man more, to make them reap in joy,
Who ſow'd in tears. Now ſurely at thy Grave
Tears would become a Deluge; where to have
Relief, we ſhould not know, but that we all
In thy Divine Diſcourſes practical;
Thee living, breathing, ſpeaking ſtill may find,
Though dead, This Treaſure Thou haſt left behi…d.
In Controverſies Theological,
Thy skill was great; the Adverſaries all
Of Truth and Thee, thou eaſily didſt confound,
And unto Errour give a mortal Wound,
A readier Diſputant who ever was?
… through the Schools of Learning paſs.
Both Ʋniverſities may …
That neither from Thee honour can receive!
But though Thou waſt ſo able to defend
The Cauſe of Truth, yet once to ſee an end
Of ſtrife and wrangling, was thy Heart's deſire:
Strife, thou well knew'ſt, is a conſuming fire.
'Tis thy great glory, in this wrangling Age,
…hen Pride, Malignity, and bruitiſh Rage
Are all ſo high, Thou wert a Man of Peace.
That ſharp Contentions in the Church might ceaſe,
Was thy deſire in praying, and thy aim
In Preaching, Writing, Bleſſed we proclaim
… ee from thy Lord's own Mouth. Matth. 5. 9.Thou ſparedſt none
… real Faults, on every ſide, were ſhew'n:
…y Wiſdom was without Hypocriſy,
… had not Partiality.
… Patience in Affliction, and thy Faith,
… exerciſe ſufficient; yet who ſaith
…at either fail'd, would wrong thee. Surely He
Whoſe Arms all things uphold, did ſuſtain thee!
To preach, pray, ſtudy, praiſe, though in great pain,
…s Thou didſt, was peculiar: Ah! 'tis vain
To ſeek thy Equal, who does bear the Rod
So well, and does ſo very much for God!
But Death has eaſed Thee of all thy pain,
Nor Sin, nor Trouble, ſhalt thou feel again.
The King of Terrours, the laſt Enemy,
Long look't for, was not Terrible to Thee.
When Ʋſher, Gataker, and Vines did ſleep,
Thou ſaidſt Three Nations ſhould conſent to weep:
Let theſe three Kingdoms joyn in doleful moan,
The Tears of All, Thy Death deſerves alone.
Saecula vix referent, quem tulit una dies.
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Parkhurſt at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide. 1691.
End of the text · Nathanael Vincent, An Elegy Upon the Death of Richard Baxter (1691)