Funeral Sermon for Elizabeth Foxcroft, Elegy
An ELEGY upon the much Lamented Deceaſe of Mrs. ELISABETH FOXCROFT of Cambridge in New-England, (late Excellent Conſort to the Worſhipful Col. FRANCIS FOXCROFT, Eſq and Daughter to the Honourable, our late Judge & Deputy-Governour, THOMAS DANFORTH Eſq of bleſſed Memory,) Whoſe Funeral was Attended, with great Honour, on the 6th Day of July, 1721. Her Immortal Spirit having been Tranſlated to the Paradiſe of GOD ſome Days before.
EMINENT Honour, and Eſteem,
And Goodneſs too ſhall be my Theme.
The Beauties of the Character
No Panegyricks can Declare.
Attempts are Vain: Yet Grief will ſpeak;
And Duty too muſt ſilence break.
Moſt Shining was the Piety
Of that Renowned Family,
From which (To Heav'n be all the Praiſe;)
This Heroine Extracted was.
This Branch Rear'd up Her Graceful Head
From th' Chaſt and Sacred Marriage-Bed:
Exciting in Dear Parents Breaſt,
A Thankful Joy, and happy Reſt.
The main Concern was to obtain
Her Clearance from the Guilt and Stain,
Of Adam's Sin which reaches All;
With … Formation of Her Soul
The MEDIATOR They addreſs;
In Prayers of Faith Their Wiſh Expreſs,
A Miracle might Change Her State,
Her tender Soul Regenerate,
Furniſh Her well with Every Grace,
And Fix Her in the Heav'nly Race.
At Heaven's High Throne of Grace, Their Pray'r
And Pious Vows Accepted were;
And Love and Power Immenſe ſo wrought,
She's from a State of Nature brought;
Her Parent's Darling's Sanctify'd;
Kept Spotleſs; and now Glorify'd.
No Care, no Pains, no Coſt were ſpar'd
She might be Poliſh'd and Prepar'd;
Inſtructions, Counſels were not Waſte;
Her Orient Soul Implem'd ſo faſt.
Unto Dear FOXCROFT She is Given;
To Help Him in the Way to Heaven;
A Partner of His Joys, and Cares;
Which, with His Griefs, She freely Shares:
But O! the Bleſſing, in a Wife!
While She Continu'd in this Life!
Deceas'd, She leaves this Legacy,
A dear and Fragrant Memory.
Rare Virtues, in a Rare Degree,
Thou Precious Soul! did Shine in Thee:
Good Prudence, humble Induſtry,
With undiſſembled Piety;
Amidſt Domeſtick Pains and Care,
Thy Tradings ſtill for Heav'n appear.
Thy Ripe'ning Time, didſt well Imploy
For Bleſſed Immortality.
Abundantly didſt Thou Inherit
That Ornament, the Quiet Spirit.
Thy Willing Hand took up the Croſs;
And Every Furnace Purg'd the Droſs.
In Meekneſs, Patience, Charity,
Thou didſt excel moſt gloriouſly.
From Thee, the Splendours, that did flow,
To Heaven's Refulgent Grace we owe.
Thy Children do Thee Bleſſed Call;
Thy Husband Praiſes Thee; And All
Lament the Loſs our Land Suſtains:
Compenſate' only by Thy Gains.
But, Gracious Soul! What? Muſt Thou goe?
And leave Us, in a World of Woe?
Thou Radiant Gem! Thou Glorious Star!
Than Rubies Richer, and more Rare!
While in the Body, much Deſir'd!
Moſt Faithful, Uſeful, and Admir'd!
What? Go ſo ſoon? Why? Is this Fair
So ſoon to Leave Thy Children Dear,
And let thine Honour'd Head ſit down,
Deprived of His Joy and Crown?
A Crown more Bright than th' Galaxy!
Fit to be Worn by Majeſty!
How could'ſt, with ſuch a willing Mind,
Thy Ranſom'd DUST leave here behind!
Earth's Magnet loſt its Influence,
E're Thy Tranſlation did Commence:
And many Items of Remove,
Fix'd Thine Affections more above.
Peace of Dependence held Thee faſt:
Peace of Rejoycing ſhone at Laſt.
All Perilous Encounter's o'er;
Thou'rt Landed on the Haleyon-ſhoar;
Where Juſt Men's Spirits Perfect are,
And bid Adieu to Pain and Fear.
There Meet Thee now Ten Thouſand Quires,
To Greet Thee with Their Heav'nly Lyres.
How ſweetly all their Sonnets flow!
Far ſweeter Melody than here below!
Thou Gain'ſt, But We the Loſers are;
Thy Work is Praiſe, ſtill Ours is Prayer;
"Thy Worthy CONSORT, now in Tears,
"GOD lengthen out His Uſeful Years!
"Conduct His Soul to th' Higheſt Shore,
"To meet Thee there and Part no more!
"As Thou Thy Parents Piety
"Partookeſt, ſo may Thy Progeny
"Share Thine! CHRIST's Church Acknowlege will,
The Cov'nant-keeping GOD lives ſtill.
Thy Reverend Son thy Grace Partakes,
Heav'ns Herauld, He in Duty makes
Thy Virtues, from the Pulpit, Known:
By Telling Thine, He ſhews His Own:
May Heav'n His Pious Years & Labours Crown!
AMEN.
Maeſtus Compoſuit, J. DANFORTH, V. D. M, Dorceſtriae.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Foxcroft, Funeral Sermon for Elizabeth Foxcroft (1721)