Funeral Sermon of Samuel Willard, Poem
A POEM, On ELIJAHS Tranſlation, Occaſion'd by the DEATH of the Reverend and Learned, Mr. SAMUEL WILLARD.
I Sing the MAN, by Heav'ns peculiar Grace,
The Prince of Prophets, of the Choſen Race,
Rais'd and Accompliſht for degenerate Times,
To Stem the Ebb with Faith & Zeal Sublime;
T' aſſert forſaken Truth, to Check the Rage
Of rampant Vice, and cure a Wicked Age.
Such Times need ſuch a Prophet, & in his Death
Is quencht the Light of Iſrael, and their Breath.
Plain was the Saint, his Soul by Grace refin'd,
His Girdle mean, but much adorn'd his Mind:
In Face, as well as Mind, above the Toyes
Of this vain World, and all its ſenſual Joyes▪
Simple in Diet, negligent of Dreſs,
Hairy and rough his Robe, (a)2 Kings i.8. St. Mat. iii.4.meet to expreſs
One Mortify'd to things of Time and Senſe,
To Truth & things Divine a Love Intenſe.
Jealous for Iſrael (b)1 Kings xix.10., & the LORD OF HOSTS,
Diſdain'd to ſee HIM Rival'd by a Poſt,
Mourn'd his forſaken Covenant, & Worſhip loſt.
Courageous, dar'd Alone to ſtand the Shock,
Of num'rous Prieſts of Baal (c)xviii.22, 27., & to deride their Stock.
Fac'd feirce Tyrannous Powers, told their Crimes,
And ſhames deſerv'd, the Judgments of their Times.
His & Truths Triumphs Glorious: Strange to ſay!
A debaucht Nation Convert in a Day (d)v.39.40.,
And ſham'd, enrag'd Impoſtures fled away!
A wondrous Saint; Inſpir'd, Imploy'd & Led
By Heav'nly Love; by many Wonders fed (e)xvii.6, 9, 16.xix.5, 7..
The Care of Heav'n, the Darling of his GOD,
Signally Sav'd, cheer'd by his Staff and Rod.
Voracious Ravens yield Him up their Prey:
Glad Angels to his Succour wing away:
And Heav'n, to ſhow its Empire more, commands
Hopeleſs Relief from famiſhing Widows hands.
He Pray'd, (f)St. James v.17.the Sealed Heav'ns witheld their Rain;
He Pray'd, the op'ned Clouds diſcharge again.
Provokt, He askt; (g)2 Kings i 10. St Luk ix 54.ſtrange blazing ſhow'rs of Flame
Stream down, and Sodoms Day renewed came.
He ſtruck the Floods, (h)2 King. ii.8.the refluent Waves divide▪
His Mantles Breath drove back the flowing Tyde.
What aild thee, O aſtoniſht Sea, to fly?
Jordan! from Joſhua's dayes thy Banks not dry!
Yet Greater Wonders view: He ſpake, the Dead(i)1 Kings xvii.22, 24.
In Sin, or Grave, lift up their fallen Head:
Witneſs the happy Mother, fully won▪
To Heaven as ſhe receiv'd her raiſed Son:
Bleſt Work of Grace! the Mercy of the Mean
Illuſtrious, as the Saving Change, is Seen▪
Not leſs Miraculous the Prophets Faſts,
Labours and Travels (k)1 Kings xix.8.gloriouſly Surpaſt:
His Strength and Application, as his Truſt
Noble and vaſt, Angelick and Auguſt:
In publick Toils conſum'd, of Life profuſe,
Exhauſted in retired holy Muſe,
On the deep things of God, & Myſteries Abſtruſe.
Such Labours Bounteous Heav'n is wont to Crown
With Heav'nly Viſions, Light & Joyes unknown.
So Heav'nly Glories dazled Moſes Eyes (l)Exod xxxiv.6.,
And Lab'ring Paul (m)2 Cor. xii.4.was caught to Paradiſe.
No leſs Elijah to his Saviour dear,
No leſs his Cares & Toils, his Pray'rs & Tears;
Nor leſs wou'd Heav'n his ſuff'ring Soul to cheer.
The GOD of Iſrael paſt before the (n)1 Kings xix.11, 12, 13. Exod. xx 18, 19.Cave
In Majeſty, as 'erſt the Law he gave,
And frightned Nature ſeem'd to ſeek a Grave.
Tempeſts and Flames, & Earthquakes marcht before,
Speaking the Terrors of Almighty Pow'r;
Theſe uſher'd in the ſmall ſtill Voice of Grace;
His Soul grew Calm, Serene the troubled Place:
Huſht as the Winds were all his boiſt'rous Fears,
The Humble Saint, call'd forth by God, appears;
With Mantle wrapt about his face he ſtood,
Afraid to hear, nor wiſht to ſee his GOD.
Yet left the Hero as his GOD we ſhow,
Or He ‖2 Cor. xii 7.Elate with Viſions, vain ſhou'd grow,
At times his Paſſions did the Man betray,
That Saints have Sin, & Prophets are but Clay.
Too Tim'rous midſt his Triumphs; (o)1 Kings xix.3, 9. St James v.17.left to fly
A Womans Rage and Threats, and wiſh to die.
Deſponding (p)v 14, 18.moan'd Chriſt of his Church bereft,
And not a ſingle Saint in Iſrael left.
All to hide Pride from Man, to ſhow how Vain(q)Pſal xxxix.5.
We are at Beſt, and undue Tho'ts reſtrain.
GOD is the Light (r)1 John i.5., in whom's no Shade at all,
To Him in proſtrate Adorations fall.
Created Brightneſs ever has its Blots,
And even Perſia's Idol has its Spots.
Yet Admiration, Reverence and Love
Are due to Saints on Earth, or thoſe Above.
Sure the curſt Spirit that hates is born of Hell,
Nor is leſs Monſter then foul Jezebel:
She Murd'rous ſought his Blood(ſ)1 Kings xix.2.: Ahab his Name
(Dearer than Life) with ſland'rous lies defames(t)xviii.17.:
And both invet'rate Hate, & deadly War proclaim.
Yet Spite of Envy, Spite of Malice curſt,
VERTUE ſhall live: ſee bloated Fiend, & burſt!
See the fair Name Immortal in my Verſe!
See the Strew'd Glories on the Hero's Herſe!
A Name imbalm'd ſhall be the Juſt Mans lot,
While Vicious Teeth ſhall gnaſh, & Names ſhall rot.
Return, my Muſe, and Sing his faithful Care,
And nobleſt Truſt, in happy (u)2 Kings ii.2, 3.Bethels Chair.
Hail, Venerable Seat! from Jacobs dayes(w)Gen. xxviii.12, 17, 19.
Sacred to Iſraels GOD, and to his Praiſe!
Bleſt evermore with Viſions! the Reſort
Of Holy Angels! Heav'ns Inferior Court!
Hail dreadful Place! th' Eternals bleſt Abode!
The Gate of Heav'n, and the Houſe of GOD!
Bleſt place of Inſpiration!—
Here ſtood the Spacious Colledge, Iſraels pride:
And here th' Illuſtrious Seer did preſide.
Stately the Dome, worthy the Beauteous Train,
Religion pure devoted to Maintain,
And to the Age to come the Laws Divine explain.
Richly Endow'd by every pious Zeal,
Studious of Zions Glory and her Weal:
Bleſt Tribute! dear to Heav'n: A pious Aid
Given to Chriſt, and liberally repaid
In richer Bleſſings to the Church and State;
So He returns us what we Conſecrate.
Hence Iſraels Chiefs, & hence her Teachers came;
Hence Truth & Grace, hence iſſu'd Light & Flame;
Hence Men Renown'd, & of Celebrious Fame.
Micaiah one: from foul Illuſion free,
Faithful to God, and Ahab true to thee (x)1 Kings xxii.8, 19, 28.!
Kings trembled as he Spake and Homage paid,
Of Truth and the Superior Man afraid.
Eliſha too, to greater Glories born,
Was hence: and high exalted is his Horn!
Theſe beauteous Sons were the bleſt Prophets pride,
Under his Wing they bloom'd, & flouriſht by his Side:
Paid him a Reverence profound and true,
To Heav'ns Election, Iſraels Suffrage due.
Them, as by Office bound, He did Inſpect,
Taught heav'nly Truth, and Errors did correct:
Cheriſht the Good, & form'd their Manners well,
But ſearcht out Vice, th' Infection to expel.
Meek and Majeſtick; Affable and Grave,
Lowly & Good; and all that's Great and Brave.
He Overaw'd and Charm'd: Baſe hearts he won,
And perfected where Goodneſs was begun.
To them His Lectures on the Holy Law,
Sublime they were, new Myſteries they ſaw:
Like Him with Heav'nly Light & Joyes Inſpir'd,
Their raviſht Minds the Sacred Deeps admir'd.
They ſaw the promiſed MESSIAH's dayes (y)St John viii.56.,
And the Glad Schools reſounded with his Praiſe.
They Sang the Baptiſt (z)Mal. iv.5. Mat. xvii.12, 13. Luke i.17.in their Prophets Spirit,
And bleſt the Saint Elect that ſhou'd Inherit.
They Sang of the *St. Mat. xvii.2, 3. Luke ix.31.Transfigur'd Saviours Rayes,
What Fav'rite Saints, from Heav'n it ſelf, to gaze,
On Glories yet Unknown; and Talk of High
Myſterious Truths; into which Angels Pry,
And paſs in Transports Immortality.
They Sang his High Aſcent, & Gifts †Pſalm lxviii.18. Act ii.3, 4. Deſigned to reſemble the Aſcent meditated on, and to repreſent the Poverty of Number and Rhime to expreſs the Unſpeakable Gifts.Ineffable,
The Cloven Tongues of Fire on Pentecoſt that fell,
And what Great Type ſhou'd all theſe Wonders Figure & Foretell.
Thus taught, they waited long the Great Event,
Foreſaw the Day, Amaz'd at the Portent:
Stupendous Grace and Power they view'd, Ador'd
The Sov'rain GOD, and Pry'd into his Word.
And now the Saint had his Laſt Viſit made,
His Solemn Charge ▪ and final Bleſſing ſaid.
His Weeping Sons receiv'd his laſt Adieu,
With eager Eyes their Breath departing View,
And following far behind to Jordans ‖2 Kings ii.7.Brink they drew.
Each Emulous to Succeed, but well prepar'd
To welcome Him whom Heav'n had Heir declar'd▪
ELISHA He (a)1 xix.16, 19.! The Wiſdom of the choice
Applauded with United Hearts and Voice.
Un-envy'd in the Schools, had long out-ſhone
In Gifts Divine, and Rival there was none.
Glorious the Seers Fidelity was here,
And Heav'ns Good Conduct Splendid did appear.
Nor Blood, nor Name, his upright Zeal retard,
Gods Choice & Will he ſimply did regard;
Whom Heav'n accompliſhes it will reward.
The happy Youth cleav'd to his Fathers feet,
Miniſtring (b)2 Kings …ii.11, 12.to Him with a Duty meet;
From his Oraculous Lips askt Counſel Sage,
And had the Pray'rs and Bleſſings of his Age.
Yet there remain'd the laſt and dy'ng Bequeſt,
And the Wiſe Son had ready his Requeſt.
"Say, now at Parting, (c)2 Kings ii▪ 9.what I ſhall bequeath!
Trembling He fell the Prophets feet beneath,
Grieved to part, afraid to ſpeak his Tho't,
Conſcious how vaſt the Bleſſing was he ſo't:
With Mouth in duſt he ſaid,—"May I inherit
"A double Portion of thy Bleſſed Spirit!
"O might my laſt and higheſt Wiſh have place,
"An Em'nent Meaſure of thy Gifts and Grace!
Divine Ambition! to be Wiſe and Good!
So he his Fame and Intereſt underſtood.
Modeſt his Wiſh, He only askt a part,
And Heav'n gave all, (d)1 Kings iii.5, 9, 10, 1….even an Equal Heart:
Obvious the Truth, from Sacred Record known,
None came ſo near Elijah as his wondrous Son.
'Twas at high Noon, the Day ſerene and fair,
Mountains of Lum'nous Clouds roll'd in the Air,
When on a ſudden, from the radiant Skies,
Superior Light flaſht in Eliſha's Eyes:
The Heav'ns were cleft, & from th' Imperial Throne
A Stream of Glory, daz'ling Splendor, Shone:
Beams of ten Thouſand Suns Shot round about,
The Sun and every blazon'd Cloud went out:
Bright Hoſts of Angels lin'd the Heav'nly Way,
To guard the Saint up to Eternal Day.
Then down the Steep Deſcent, a Chariot Bright,
And Steeds of Fire, ſwift as the Beams of Light.
Wing'd Seraphs ready ſtood, bow'd low to greet
The Fav'rite Saint, and hand him to his Seat.
Enthron'd he Sat, Transform'd with Joyes his Mein,
Calm his gay Soul, and like his Face Serene.
His Eye and burning Wiſhes to his GOD,
Forward he bow'd, and on the Triumph rode.
*Mr. Standen."Saluted, as he paſt the Heav'nly Croud,
"With Shouts of Joy, and Hallelujahs laud.
"Ten thouſand thouſand Angel Trumpets Sound,
"And the vaſt Realms of Heav'n all eccho'd round.
They Sang of Greater Triumphs (e)Acts i.9, 10.yet to come,
Their next Deſcent to wait the SAVIOUR Home:
And the glad Errand (f)St. Mat. xxiv.31.of the Final Day,
The raiſed Duſt of Saints to bring away
In equal Triumph, and in like Array.
Thus midſt Inſpir'd, Sublime, Prophetick Songs,
(Sweet Melody) the Viſion paſt along.
The Prince of Air Accurſt fled ſwift the Light,
And heav'nly Sounds, more grating than the Sight;
Blaſpheem'd, & rag'd & gnaſht in furious Spite.
Eliſha ſaw: (g)2 Kings ii.12."My Father, loud he cry'd,
"My Father! Iſraels Safety! and her Pride!
"More wer't Thou our Defence and Glory far,
"Then all our Chariots & ſtrong Troops of War▪
"Thy Pray'rs & Pow'r with God did more ſecure
"Our Tott'ring State, and naked Coaſts immure▪
"Than all our Arms.—
He ſaid: Nor more cou'd ſee: Immenſe the ſpace!
The Flying Glory now had gain'd the Place
Of Light never to be ſeen by Mortal Eye (h)1 Tim. vi. 1….:
Nor longer (i)Acts i.11.gaz'd he on the cloſing Skie.
With Anguiſh ſeiz'd (k)2 Kings ii.12.his goodly Robes he rent,
Himſelf, the Church, & Schools did ſore lament.
The Prophets Bliſs cou'd not his Tears reſtrain,
He wept their Loſs, in His Eternal Gain.
Nor yet in Uſeleſs tears ſtaid he to vent
His mighty Griefs, on Greater things Intent:
The Mantle faln (l)v.13.with Joy ſurprizing ſpy'd,
Laid the dear Pledge cloſe to his panting Side
Sov'rain Receipt! his fainting heart reviv'd.
By it Inſtall'd in the bleſt Prophets Place!
With it receiv'd his Spirit and his Grace!
The Sacred Banner flying in his Hand,
Diſplay'd his Empire, on the diſtant Strand;
Nature Obſequious, to his dread Command.
Triumphant-wiſe, the penſive Conqu'ror ſtood,
The precious Relick wav'd, and ſmote the flood:
"Where is the LORD, (m)v.14Elijahs GOD? He cry'd.
Th' Obedient Waves again in haſte divide.
He paſſ'd: the raviſht Prophets ſaw; confeſt
The Miracle of Grace, and thankful bleſt
Th' Eternal SPIRIT, and his Glorious Reſt (n)v.15..
O'rejoy'd they run the Saint Elect to meet,
And bow (n)v.15.beneath the bright Succeſſors feet.
They breathe their Pray'rs & Bleſſings in his Arms,
Cheer his ſad Soul, & their own Paſſions charm
… within 'em glow (o)St. Luke xxiv.32., their Graces burn
… ſpeak Myſterious Oracles in their turn:
… their Mind, Transform'd (p)Exod. xxxiv.30.their very Mein,
… Superior Grace and Beauty ſeen.
… Holineſs and Truth ſweet their Accord,
And Faith their Conſolation did afford,
Elijahs more Illuſtrious Second (q)St. Mark ix.4.Coming with his LORD.
FINIS.
End of the text · Ebenezer Pemberton, Funeral Sermon of Samuel Willard (1707)