Funeral Elegy to Thomas Danforth, Poem
A FUNERAL ELEGY Humbly Dedicated to the Renowned Memory of the HONORABLE, Thomas Danforth Esq. Of Cambridge, Sometimes Deputy GOVERNOUR in the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, and President of the Province of Main; and One of His Majesties Honourable COUNCIL, Judge of the Superiour Court in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England; Who (after He had long Served His Generation by the Will of GOD in several High Stations) Did to our inconceivable loss, but His Unparallel'd Gain, Rest from all His Labours, on the Sacred Day of Rest, the Memorable 5th. of November, Anno Domini. 1699. Aetatis Suae, 77. Ho…s, …: Mors, Pax.
JUDGE of the Quick and Dead I am not, Yet
HIM and my self should very much forget
If that I should decline the Bench to take
Nor give my sence and sentence of this Fate.
Pardon me, Sir; 'Twere better first to Die
Than prove Disloyal to your …
'Tis Conscience gives Commission not t' be Mute
Justice and Gratitude shall Execute.
The Isle which (Alfred sings) no Help desires,
Yet all the World supply from Her requires
Able to Glut King Solomon with Pleasures
And Surfeit Great Augustus with Her Treasures:
Whence the First Christian Emperour did spring
And … that, Many an Heroe, Many a King
Rich in all Merchandize: More Rich in Men:
(… such an … in the … )
And whence New-England … It did …
Him, to this Land who was of Glorious Use.
He, Nature drew from Him whom Grace Divine,
Rather than Worldly Grandieur, made to Shine.
Who urg'd to Knight Him, Him, He follow'd not
Follow'd a Greater King, to Desart Lot;
Like …, when He saw Saints to Goe
Would fain be Knight of their Wing'd Order too.
Such was His Father: And poor Framingham
Lost a Choice Lecture when He hither came
By Prophets Preach'd; But He procur'd the same.
After His Father's Death This Son was bless'd,
Rudeness and Lewdness much He did Detest;
Fear'd God from's Youth, like good Prince Obadiah
An Early Convert, tike Renown'd Josiah.
Glowing His Love; most Ve…ment His Desire
Like Coals of Juniper and Flames of Fire,
To Jacobs Portico: Angels, Powers, Life, Death
Heights, Depths, could not put either out of breath
… and Rigg'd with th' Christian …:
Well under gift with found Sincerity:
In every State, undelug'd, could Sail Right;
His Anchor held, on something out of Sight.
Left not his …, when He Promotion wan
His … Cheer'd the Heart of God and Man.
His Speech well Season'd both for Time and Grace
For in His Soul, most Sav'ry Salt had Place.
He had …, He practis'd to the last,
What …, in Spiritual mould to Cast.
God's … 'Mongst those that on Him call
'Mongest …, an Expert General:
Nobly Seraphick, and most Rapturous,
In Prayer; A Secon'd Theodosius.
What's Parent came Three Thousand Miles, to …
That, to neglect, He dare'd not Count no Sin.
God's Temple had Him, a Professor Press'd
Gods … found Him Young, a Worthy …
'Twas Time, a Vine Grew up on His House side.
Washington's Halls afford the Saint a Bride.
Precious as Gold Their …, yet as Behov'd
'Twas by both Fining Pot and Furnace Prov'd;
Them Ten Rare Pledges, only fledg'd, forsook
And the Directest way to Heaven Took:
'Mongst whom count Chief the Famous Samuel
Whose Excellencies England both can Tell.
During that Wondrous Term of Seven times Seven,
Co heirs They Lived, of the Grace of Heaven.
Just in the Fiftieth year of Jubilee
His Aged Virtuous Comfort went out free,
Yet not so Free, as He …o Follow was,
And to o're take Her, mends His Heavenly Pace.
'Twas His High … when first He saw that …
Of Earthly …
Its Dreadful Fiery … even
Of Difficulty in the way to Heaven;
That Sin bred Fate, can't curse of Law out-root
A Gospel Course, He found might greatly doe't.
Saw on His Hand that … Venimous:
To Alms it temper'd, Made a Treacle thus
Honours to seek or shun H'was never buisy.
His Head could bear Great Height & not be Dizzy.
Bless'd by Bless'd Wilson … Bench when sat
Regal'd with th' Anagram, Handsom for that.
Edicts, Examples, and Sharp Punishment
States, warping from their Standard ought prevent.
Sagacious He betimes to Meet and Mate
Ill Humours, threatning to subvert the State.
… fell They who would said New-England flat;
Thank GOD & th' MAN … Little Band, for That.
Him, and His Country, who would Wast, in Hast
He made Repent, Their … came in so fast.
Iv'e some imes heard Him say that He had ever
As lieve dy by the Ax as by the Feaver;
In a Good cause, and with a Conscience Good:
For Church & State, so Truths Great Champion stood.
Like Samuel Rode the … Judg'd each Tribe,
And like ….
So Good, Great, Wise, … Steady Trusty, Free;
We'l ne're want Men when we have Such as Thee.
His Thoughts Pure Spirits were, He therefore us'd
Physician like, to give them, well infus'd
In some sweet proper … of Wit,
Some Proverb, Story, Simile, most fit.
When Men of Sense addres'd Him; 'twas His fashion
Reasons to shew, and leave the Application!
And when some nimble Case out ran His …
Still Gave forth Sentence, … a ….
Dangers, as soon as meant He oft Suspected
Forgers, He oft Sagaciously Detected:
At Helm in Tempests, yet His Courage Stout
'Though Dangers were Extream, would ne'ver give out.
Of Them, like Nicodemus He was One,
And stood like Him, stout Protestant alone
'Gainst a Committee, whose blind Indignation
Condemn'd the Best Men of that Generation.
I know not where to stop; His Course was thus
To make New-Englands Journal Glorious:
Hath stood our CHurches Pillar ever since,
Not without Envy, for His Recompence.
Harvard! For Honourable, Thou must goe;
Who was thy Steward, Treasurer, was foe.
Charg'd and Discharged were the Quarter Bills,
Drain'd not thy Stock, but with large Hundreds fills
A Bounteous Patron unto many a Plant.
In thy …, whose Means were scant.
Resolves so to continue, 'Spite of Death,
By Lands and Rents, His last … witnesseth.
Bring Tribute to thy Benefactors Dust
To be Ungrateful is to be Unjust.
Church Messengers Christs Glory are, so He
(In that Relation,) oft was seen to be;
Nor was 't a Shame for a Profess'd Divine,
To be beholden to His Golden Mine.
So well-read in all Points, Men of best fashion,
Unto His Judgment pay'd a Veneration
When Church Disturbances requir'd His Best
He signally with great Success was Bless'd.
In's Family as exact Order's Seen,
As if that it a Soveraign State had been:
Reading, Instruction, Prayer, and Repetition
So constant were, You'd envy their Condition.
From Families would Spring New Englands Bliss
Might all be taught and Govern'd as was His.
Great is the Loss of such a Men as This!
Full of Good Works, not therefore void of Fears;
No Works so Good but call for Fasts and Tears;
Justification through his Saviours Blood,—
And Righteousness, (His Aged Souls last Food,
His Readings, Meditations, here, were spent
So Views His Title, and Receives Content.
Like Solomon, All Gainful Arts He trys
To Dye in Christ, Best Gain He finds; so Dies.
His Arms, On Gold, the single opened Eye,
(Man's Noble Part) imports Sincerity,
And Wisdom too: That Gemm, the Di'mond dwells
Invulnerate, 'though it cutts all things else.
He left with's Children Dear a Num'rous Race,
Lord! Give 'em Portions of their Grandsire's Grace
Thousands up springing so, in His rich Heap
Shall Love Thy Name, & Thy Commandments keep.
John Dunforth.
Amen.
End of the text · John Danforth, Funeral Elegy to Thomas Danforth (1699)