MEMENTO MORI:
AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH of that Worthy PRELATE, The Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. JOHN LAKE, Late Lord Bishop of Chichester, (One of the Seven Bishops who were Prisoners in the Tower) who departed this Life on Friday the 30th. of August 1689.
Peace Mourning Friend! forbear to weep for him
Who is saluted with the Angel's Hymn,
Whom all the Saints Triumphant welcome Home
From's Pilgrim-Voyage on the Briny Fome;
Where like a Ship that's tost from Wave to Wave
Which ev'ry' moment threaten with a Grave,
Frighted with furious Storms at last h' arrives
At fairer Heavens and Serener Skies,
Through blustring Seas unto that pleasant Shore
He's safely come, where he shall Weep no more.
The Tears are wiped from his Reverend Face,
Which here he shed in running of his Race,
Which being finish'd and the Battle done,
He Wears the Crown which by his Faith he Won.
His Conquest now, not Pangs of the New-Birth,
The Heav'nly Quire doth Celebrate with Mirth.
Angels do Shout with Joy, to 's Fathers Home,
Not that a Sinner, but a Saint is come.
And now Heav'n Rings with Joy, for th' Earth to Mourn,
A Discord 'tis, not worthy of his Urn:
Whilst they above Rejoyce, these Weep below,
Faith and Hope's Conquest it will overthrow;
Whilst they are fill'd with Joy, these with Complaints,
'Tis to deny Communion of the Saints.
Weep for the Sinner, let Floods of Tears be shed
For him, in Trespasses and Sins that's Dead.
Weep for the harden'd Wretch, that can't Relent,
That Lives in Sin, and Dies Impenitent;
Who useless was on Earth, unfit for Heav'n,
Of Grace and Goodness that was quite bereav'n.
So, Useless too was that Great Man become,
Condemn'd to Silence, and to
When Prisoner in the Tower.
Martyrdome, [...]use the World he'd learnt to overcome,
[...] [...]hat he wanted, but abounded more
[...]s and Grace than all that went before:
[...] [...]eat and Good, Pious and Learned too
[...]rs Will to suffer and to do.
[...] 'twas Heav'ns Decree, whom Earth Suspended,
[...] Heav'n, having the Earth Offended;
[...] Mansion on him to bestow,
[...]lass!) there was no Room below;
[...]ul in his Makers Praise
[...] Earth t' a Nobler Sphere to Raise:
[...]termitting, or the Hate
[...] Honour he shall Celebrate,
And to Eternal Ages loudly Sing
Anthems of Praise to Heav'ns Glorious King:
Whose Holy Temple has an Open Door,
Whose PRIESTS shall never be Suspended more.
But though here's Cause of Joy, yet one thing may
Challenge a Tear from those who come to pay
Honour to th' Mem'ry of the Worthy Saint,
Which may their Hearts with Grief, their Mouths fill with Complaint.
When Righteous Men do Perish, the Pious die,
Isa 57. 1.
An Indication 'tis that Evil's nigh.
So Husbandmen do House their Corn before
The falling of the threatning sweeping Showr.
The gath'ring of the Blacker Clouds do warn
The Ripen'd Crop to hasten to the Barn.
So God Methuselah the year before
The Flood broke out suffer'd to Live no more.
So good Josiah, that he might not feel
The heavy Judgments threatning Israel,
That he in them his Portion might not have,
When yet but young, was hurried to the Grave.
So great St. Austin went away to Heav'n
Before Hippo was of her Peace bereav'n.
So Valiant Luther, Prince o' th' Reformation
Dy'd just before Germany's Desolation.
Well may we fear the World will tumble down,
When Righteous Men, its Pillars, fall to th' Ground.
And when the Candlestick is taken from us,
The Light goes too; then Lord have Mercy on us.
Such the Deceased was, of whom I'm bold
To say, He was a CANDLESTICK OF GOLD.
Zech. 4. 2.
Whose Light like the bright Taper clearly burn'd;
To Light from Darkness wandring Souls He turn'd.
The Stubborn Lump to purge from the Old Leaven
He Striv'd and Pray'd, and Praying went to Heaven.
Of Patience, Meekness, Courage an Example gave,
Submitting to God's Will descended to the Grave.
This Light's remov'd by our Great Masters Will,
And plac'd above on Zions Glorious Hill;
Where Light, and Love, and Joy do overflow,
A Dark and Gloomy Church hav'ng left below.
This none consider, few do lay to Heart,
Till under Judgments they severely smart.
Which Temper is to be Lamented more
Than all the Instances of Grief before.
London, Printed for Sam. Keble at the Turks Head in Fleetstreet. 1689.