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AN ELEGY ON The Much-to-be-deplored DEATH OF That Never-to-be-forgotten PERSON, The Reverend Mr. NATHANAEL COLLINS;
Who After he had been many years a faithful Pastor to the Church at Middletown of Connecticut in New-England, about the Forty third year of his Age Expired; On 28th. 10. moneth 1684.
Testor, Christianum hic de christiano vera preferre Hier. Epist. Paulae.
Sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora ferebat.
Dignum laude viram musa vetat mori. Horat
BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND Printed by Richard Pierce for Obadiah Gill. Anno Christi 1685.
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Reader;
TO Lament the Dead in Verse, having been even from the Dayes of David until Now, in some sort almost as Common as Death it self, an Apology for that thing at this time is altogether superstuous: Nor have the Noblest Hands disdained to scan Potetical measures on their Fingers, tho' an Annatus has derided a Twis [...] for not counting that Exercise beneath him. But there seems more needful an Excuse for the meaness of this Composure, which-is born before its Time from a Brain disus'd to such Performances; in which I have been so farr from the accuracy of Virgil, who having laid out eleven years upon his AEneids, after all judged them not polished enough to be published, that a few stolen hours were all I had to shape them in, and to which I could never have been drawn, if the Subject of these Rhythmes, had like the Gentleman in Thuanus upon his Death-bed, given sufficient caution That his Herse should not be burdened with bad Funeral verses. For this, my utmost Plea is, That the sense of Duty, awakened by the invitation of others hereunto, has [Page] produced this Rapsody, for a Censure on which, I appeal from Curiosity to Candour, expecting no Laurel on this occasion but what I merit by my good Affection to the Memory of a True Israelite worthy to be had in Everlasting Remembrance.
C. M.
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FUNERAL-TEARS At the Grave of The much Desired And Lamented Mr. NATHANEEL COLLINS? Who changed Death for LIFE, December, 28. 1684.
—But shall he unobserved steal away?
An Evil-boding Death to heart? no Son
Of All the Prophets when Elijah's gone
Look after him?
Forbid this, Heaven! Showr
On a bereaved Clod of Earth a pow'r
The Name of COLLINS, help a verse to show
His Vertues, as that Flock acknowledged
Assist mee, thou who hast engag'd the Just
Of Saint Dissolv'd remains united!—
I SIGH the Fate for which our broached eyes
Spend floods of brine; at which a dire surprise
Of a soul-chilling horrour doth invade
The Soul not stone before; at which are made
In serious minds as many wounds as were
To Casar e given. Reader, shake to hear;
[Page 2] The DEATH of COLLINS tis. [...] without
A Paper winding sheet to lay him out!
A shame. O that Egyptian Odours, and
Embalmers too f were now at my command!
I want them. But Hyperboles withdraw,
Be gone Licentious Poets. What I saw
On this occasion let some countrey Rymes
That call a Spade a Spade, tell after-Times.
I on the wings of Contemplation flew;
Into the howling desart thus I went,
His sheep to seed and fold, from which he drave
The Rav'nous Tigre-brood, in which he gave
I meant to sit with Thoughts on this and Thanks
But there found I an Elect Lady, k There
Grov'ling in Ashes, with dishev'led hair,
Smiting her breast, black'd with a mourning dress,
Resembling mother Sion in distress; l
Or like a Rachel in a Bethl'em plight, m
But with a Beauty glittering too, that might
The Features show that Judah's preaching King
Much did once in his machless Raptures sing; n
Almost transformd with passion: Sympathie
Produced this Enquiry, Who I wonder,
Seems Sorrow's Center, Sorrow's Essence yonder?
Lo, I no sooner had approached near,
Then from above this voice did [...] Here
Pitty, the Church of Middletown bespeaks
Set in the midst of swoons and sobs and shrieks.
With Bowells full of it I hastned to
The Wet place, asking Why she grieved so;
And had this Answer.
SIr, Ask you this? Are you a Sojourner
Within New-Englands bounds & know not why?
I've lost great COLLINS, man! O that, O there
From this Tears-Fountain p is my misery.
Immortal COLLINS! what a Charm is in
So dear a Name? 'Tis Honey mixt with gall
To think, I had him, but, I miss him; Seen
MY Love is Talkative: tis fit that I
Thus vent my smother'd Fire. The Rabbins say
That when good old Methusela did dye,
His Wife nine husbands lost in him that day.
Like Looser I will speak: The Lamentation
Over Jerus'lems Woe doth suit me well,
A Widow how is she become! ‖ Privation
Seems now to be my only Principle.
[Page 4] Once did I prise, I'l now praise what I had.
Abroad its Odours. Alexander † dead
Had not the scent which doth from him ascend.
Some Elogyes compose to try their Wits
Of Ranting Writers had a comeliness.
My Theme, my Humour is not such an one:
Who to prove Cicero not eloquent,
Such only count Collins not excellent.
Bright COLLINS, Star of the first Magnitude,
Extol him how could I! I sha'n't be chid
If as much time on him my gazes shou'd
O that Apelles were my servant now
To limn this Hero, but his utmost All
Would blush, and draw a vail upon the Brow z
Below whose Majesty his skill would fall.
[Page 5] I would that you, my friend, [...]
Could fill with Erogyes no fewer then
The little eels * that may swim in't: I think
They all should celebrate this Flow'r of men.
I would too that each syllable all round
This Globe with perfum'd Air might fly about;
Or your Stentorophonic Tube † might sound.
The praise of admirable Collins out
Of thine hath laid within the ground a plant
Surpassing Cedars. I did hardly know
A spice whose quantity on it was scant.
Good Nature and good Education were
In him conjoyn'd to such an high degree,
As gain'd the Title of that ‖ Emperour,
In this rare soul Mankinds delight we see.
Facetious Snow-balls from his candid breast
With early Magic hence would captivate
His near, Familiars, so that he was blest
Who could have leave to be his Intimate.
Hence from his Cradle clothes his neat discretion,
Mounted upon bridled Urbanity,
Before a most obliging Disposition,
Triumphant rode in ev'ry [...]
[Page 6] But Oh the fruits of Heav'nly Graces dew
Upon so rich a soyl! Let Peter bid.
His Brethren add one graces pearl unto
You'd scarce believe the FAITH residing in
This Child of Abraham, the strong Impression
On his [...] ‖
Or Gospel glories, of things past expression:
How dearest to him his Redeemer; how
With brave Ignatius † he could warble out
O Christ, my Love; how we might e'en allow
A JESUS grav'd ¶ within his breast no doubt.
HIs VERTUE took this sister by the hand;
And with her train accompanyed thus,
In vert'ous slights he went—how much beyond
For KNOWLEDGE, tho in him poor Harvard lost
One of her tallest sons, one of the best
Souldiers in her Minerva's Camp, my boast
Of higher Wisdom in him i'n't the least.
Had more then that; Accomplishments Divine
In exercise of which, while he converst
With Isr'els Jah, to us his face did shine. †‖
[Page 7] Yare at his GRAMMER, kenning how and when
Of Ready writers like, not barbarous.
How lofty in his RHET'RIC, when with cryes
To the Omnipotent reduc'd to say ¶
Let me alone, thereby he scal'd the Skyes,
In the best LOGIC, Oh how Rational!
How able to spy Canaan through! how ready
To baffle a Temptation! and withal
Full of his Oracles sound, solid, steady!
How right was his ARITHMETIC that knew
Was his GEOMETRY, that found the true
In his ASTRONOMY how ripe his eye
Reaching to things beyond the stars! Alwayes
Exact in this no-vain ¶¶ PHILOSOPHY,
[Page 8] Master of all the Arts that shew us what
Tis from each Bad unto each Good to goe;
All that I know is, that I nothing know.
For TEMPERANCE, he liv'd upon it, hee
Like Hooper spar d much in his diet, more
In 's speech, but most in Time; the hateful Three
‖ Fly-gods o' th' world mean while he car'd not for.
Still putting Nature off with scanty payment.
Abstemious in all things at such a rate,
Him Brother Temp'rance could denominate.
And Justice caus'd what e'er lookt otherwise.
For PATIENCE whole beds and loads of it
In his soul flourisht. What Affliction meant
He felt as much as most do talk, and yet
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And under Provocation, 'twas a care
By him maintaind to smile Affronts away.
Not fireing when meer Cock-boats landed are;
Seldom decoy'd from his mild Yea, or Nay.
No Brother of * Achilles; like unto
The Upper Regions free from Tempests; full
Of the doves temper: Able for to go
His GODLINESS steer'd ‖ all his motions still:
Gods Honour was his End, and in the Will
Of God he moulded {inverted †} his renewed soul.
His sev'rall Turns on a Religious threed
He sought to string: fixing that Motto on
What signal he in both his Callings did,
Of any Ord'nance dreading a Neglect!
BROTHERLY-KINDNESS did procure the Law
Of Philadelphia [a] in him we saw;
Heir to the soul of the Apostle [b] John.
A Zuninglian entire that ever said [c]
Let me see Christ in any one, I shall
Him with both Armes embrace. Whatever made
Distinctions, this with him removed all.
And CHARITY in him warm Beams extended
To all the Race of Man; Philanthropy
Him like a shaddow every where attended;
COLLINS made up of Love, we us'd to cry.
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An Injury seldom resenting more
Who urn'd his Ashes, of whom tis notour,
Of good, for ill, Turns from them sure you were?
In fine, As the ¶ Philosopher did give
His friend advice, suppose a Cato's eye
On you, and so be wise; when I would live
Uprightly, I'd imagine COLLINS by.
Thus was he for a Christian, and thus he
With Conversation lightned, every Deed
Of his in print a Sermon yeeldeth mee: ‖
But now what as a Minister you'l heed.
Methinks I see how fraught the Pulpit was
Of Grace, of Gravity, of Wisdom, when
With most harmonious notes a Barnabas
He now was, and a Boanerges then:
How deep his Sermons were, where Elephants
Might take content, and yet withal how plain,
Suited unto the leather Dublet's Wants.
All in a near unimitable Strain:
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For me consum'd him: how material
He was in Dispensations aim'd to heal
Distempers in me, yet how Spiritual:
He like an Ox * was alwaies labouring
To feed me, but he like an Eagle * too
Did soar to Pisgah's Top, from thence to bring
Celestial Visions pore-blind us unto.
Another most {right †} Profound, a Third is counted
A Subtil {left †} one; (Scholastic Records tell)
A Fourth {inverted †} Angelical by none surmounted:
Geneva Crowns, enlightning Calvin, and
The thundring Farel join'd auspiciouslie
With shouring Viret, here in one did stand.
For Judgement and Fancy inferior
To few: in Learning rich, and ev'ry way
He was a furnisht Gospel-Orator.
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How many * Lydian-hearts reputed him
For Light giv▪n to our House how much Esteem
He had as an {inverted †} Occolampadins!
To save poor me and mine, Oh how severe †
His Labours were! how lasting his Renown
Must to my Offspring be, Once (saying) were
Doves eyes within the Locks of {right †} Middletown!
My Neighbourhood shar'd with me too; he gave
He chose: So on the Day ‖* we us'd to have
Heaven from him, from us he flew to Heaven.
The Age of Perkins ** just attaind, he thought
It time to follow him. But Why so fast?
The cause you know that of such things is brought
Belong'd to him, he only grew too fast. ¶
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More would I say but Heart-corroding Anguish,
Layes that check on me, you have lost him now.
Broken with thy big Loss dear Friend, I languish.
Hence would my Tears more than my River flow.
Now in Micaiahs Trance * I seem to see
For Food on mountains, wandring Shepherdless,
And Shiftless rambling, what belongs to me.
Wast Park of mine that now no Keeper has!
Lord, is my Night come shall Impanitent
Transgressours now continue so? Shall it
Upon my Meeting-House, while men repent,
This and that man born here ‖ no more be writ?
Shall a forsaken now Soviety
Without its Head, its Heart, its Eyes remain?
With with'ring Grapes abandon'd by the Rain?
O Ghastly Omens! if Parans dy
Let Heidleberge look to't. If Austin go
After his Master, next year brings a wo
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I fear of both sorts now [c] Mortalities,
Of Famines too I fear the [d] worst, I fear
The Gallop of no less Calamities
Then can be wrap'd in a pale Comets Hair
Amidst these hidcons Frights perplext, I mourn
With Incoharent Throbs you see. Now tell me
Whether it be not just that thus forlorn
I here bewail this that has late befel me.
SHE said; Her heavy words were hardly out
When, as one planet-struck, a doleful shout
Of the surviving COLLINSes detaind
Me from Replies to what had been complain'd.
To fill the Stage there seem'd to throng a croud
Of his Relations to us. First aloud
His Aged Parents with drench'd Hankercheifs
Saw and had cause thus to proclaim their Griess:
Our Benjamin, Alas, must he be gone
To his Long-Home before us? Heaven more
May now be Heavan to us than before.
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But as a {inverted †} Jonathan, bemoaned him,
With this, We live to see the Joseph die,
Whom we thought born for our Adversity!
His Widdow then, (the tender Whiting swam
(Said She) to bear a part with you. But I
Must in deep Silence do't. That ev'ry Sigh
Of mine—O that it Marbles might erect
To him, for lack of whom I'm thus deject.
And then his Orphans, all ensabled add
O could we say—that once a Father had,
A Father whose paternal over-sight
Did make us over happy, whose Delight
Was in our Welfare, whose Behaviours
Still taught us—Mercy! what a Loss is our's!
In this Distraction mixing once again
About us gathering; a Murmur there
Of the blest Shade himself we then might hear.
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FOND Mortals, wipe your eyes (said he) pray
Which prompts your Threnodies for me. To weep
For my sake, is but to Ignore my Bliss.
O what a world of smoke of dust of Folly
And no Temptation more to be unholy
Shall e'er molest me in my Masters JOY.
I have my Ragged Mantle dropt; I have
Escap'd, my Clay safe kept within a Grave
Preserv'd lies for the Resurrection.
No Cross g shall ever gall my shoulders more,
From God, correcting my disorders, and
No Club e're strike me, red with ancient Gore,
Still by each Cain h retained in his hand.
I'm got within the Vail, and there I see
The ever-glorious Face of the i GOD-MAN,
And He with Transports doth convey to me
As much of GOD as entertain I can.
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I Know, I Live, I Love; But how? forbear
To be inquisitive: It can't be told
Nor can shell-vessels l this things meaning hold.
I find besides my loving Guardians here,
Here the Good Angels that convey'd me thro'
The Divel-haunted-Dungeon-Atmosphere, m
To mine annex their Hallelujahs do.
Here, me the Chorue of the glorify'd,
The twice cloath'd o Souls, salute on ev'ry side;
I see Nathaneel p here, I know the rest.
Be glad that I am here, and after hye,
Your selves, with diligence, all posting hither,
Precepts and Patterns left, my Counsels eye,
And Copyes, so we shall be soon together.
Souls, follow me. Anon the Stars, the Sands.
The Aroms of the Universe—a Scrol
Like Heaven fill'd with Nines, for oypher stands,
Compar'd to the Long joyes ‖ that over us may roll.
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A PERIOD this puts to the Tragedy.
He vanisht; They retir'd; confused I
Now quite alone, have nothing else to do,
But to pour out a short Hosannah to
The Worlds Almighty GOVERNOUR to whom
On this account now these Petitions come
From lifted Hands, and bended Knees— [...]
By whom vast Hosts of Beings with a Word
Are made and mov'd: Let thy much-hop'd [...]
Shield us, like Walls from much-fear'd Desolation.
O Save New-Englands Churches; Let them be
Still golden Candlesticks, belov'd by thee,
Still Puritans; Still Iv'ry Pallaces.
Keep up the Quickset Hedge about them: Please
To keep the gladsome Streams of them alive.
Save Middletown, and cause the Place to thrive
Under Fat Clouds still, and that Bochim let
By thy Provision be a Bethel yet.
Save ev'ry soul that reads this Elegy;
Like COLLINS let us live, like COLLINS dy.
AMEN.
Sic mihi contingat vivere sicque mori.
Sic optat,
Qui longe sequitur vestigia semper adorans.
Qualis vita, ita
FINIS.