AN ELEGY On the Much-Bewailed DEATH of that Most Painful and Pious Minister of the Gospel Mr. ALEXANDER CARMICHEL, Who Departed this Life July 27. 1676.
OH! that Affection could but make a Poet.
If Greif could Rhyme with Art, sure I should do it.
The tender Son that never Spake before,
To save his Father's Life turn'd Orator.
And can I then forbear? No, write I must,
When such a Beam of Glory's wrapt in dust.
Oh! Let me weep, and like a constant Spring,
Unto the Sea of Grief some Tribute bring;
Until my Cheeks with Tears, bedew'd, do swell
For this Seraphique Saint that lately fell.
Fell, did I say, Thy pardon I require,
Blest Soul! thou Fall'st, but 'tis to mount much Higher.
Couldst thou from Death at All, Released be,
Thy, Vertues surely might have set thee free.
But 'twas a Debt, and with Enflam'd desire,
Thou soughtst to leave thy Mantle, and fly higher.
How shall I Praise thy Worth, and not dispraise,
Say More and not say Less, darkning thy Rays.
Who 'ere was so far blest to hear thy Teaching,
Was prone to think a Seraphim was Preaching;
'Twas Austins Wish 'ith Pulpit Paul to hear,
He had been Satisfi'd hadst Thou been there;
Methoughts when thy sweet soul was Poured out
In Fervent Prayer, I began to doubt.
Whether Elias was come down again,
And mounting Heaven with his Fiery Train;
In This thou didst Excel, He Scal'd the Fort
Alone; But Thou thy Hearers didst Transport.
Thy very Looks held forth an Air of Grace,
Divinity was read even in thy Face;
A sweet Humility about thee Shin'd,
Wherein th' whole Chain of Graces seems Combin'd.
And as a Ring these Diamonds to Enclose
His Faith did solely on the Rock Repose.
A painful Pastor, whose Prophetique Name,
Did his unwearied Care for Christ proclaim.
How was he fir'd with zeal even from his Youth,
And though he lost all would hold fast the Truth.
A downright upright M [...]n; A glittering Star,
Whose s [...]c [...]ed Influence diffused far.
From the Cold North with Heavenly heat he came,
Our souls with Gospel Ardours to Enflame.
Scotland first gave him Birth, But, oh! too soon
Ingrateful England is become his Tomb.
Then Stay and mourn with me you that go by,
Tis, Sin to p [...]ss and not to cast an Eye.
Upon this Teaching Spectacle, The Herse
Of one whose Name can dignify a Verse.
The Earthly Reliques of a Heavenly soul,
who living did by's Words and Works Controul.
The Power of Sin; Whose Ministerial Breath
Guided poor souls from Darkness and from Death.
He whose whole life was a Continued Tract
Of Practical Divinity, Each Act
A Sermon, and each word an Explination,
So that his people might by Imitation
of him, and of his life, to Heaven c [...]me,
Although they had been Deaf, or he been dumb.
But that Almighty Power who from above
Does all things order, and in whom we move.
Wrap't all these treasures up in brittle Clay,
Death gav't a Crack, and straight snatch't all away.
And now our sorrows swel to such a summe,
That to express them best, is to be dumb.
They that can count their Wealth, are counted poor
And who can speak his Griefs can suffer more.
'Tis Diminution to his Worth, to keep
With single tears; Let all his Orphan sheep
Joyn in one Lamentation, and let fall
Their General Tears at this sad Funeral
Of their Deer Shepherd, in whose Fatal Grave,
Both He and They one Joynt Interment have.
From thence ther's no Return for him to us,
But we must by Degrees, all follow thus.
He's gone before to Ʋsher us, now dead,
What all his life he Wrought, is Perfected.
Living he Taught the way to Heaven whither
Now dead, He's gone to Clea [...]'s the Passage thither.
EPITAPH.
CARMICHEL Sleeps! Spices you need not bring
For's Body, Death it self's Embalm'd to him.
Ah! Blesled soul! his Sermons were not Done,
When Preach'd, He Liv'd the Application;
When Sick, his Pangs were Mercy for when ere
A sigh was Breath'd out, God Breath'd in a Prayer.
Lye Gently on him Dust, this Seed is [...]own,
To Spring again at th Resu [...]rection:
Oh! for a verse in Black, Reader! prepare
For every drop of Ink to melt a Tear,
Yet stay with Grief there's cause[?] of Joy
[...]oy shall slea Tears for [...]sor [...]
FINIS.
LONDON, Printed for B. H. 1676. ⟨90.⟩