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An Eclogue Occasioned by the Death of the Reverend ALEXANDER CUMMING, A. M.
On the 25th of August A. D. 1763. Aetat. 37.
The sweet Remembrance of the Just
Shall flourish when he sleeps in Dust.
Psalm 112.6. T. &. B.
BOSTON: Printed by D & J. Kneeland, for J EDWARDS, in Corn-hill. MDCCLXIII
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The Argument.
FLorio and Albinus, two young Gentlemen of good Education, and Admirers of the Deceased, had retired for [...]. In a pleasant Morning Walk, they chance to meet on the summit of a gently rising Hill; their mutual Salutation, introduces a short Discourse on the Beauties of the Country which is suddenly interrupted by the Sight of a Tree which had been shattered by the Lightning. Admiration of the Phaenomenon gives Occasion to Florio to communicate to his Friend the News of a far more awful and surprizing [...] of Providence, in the Removal of their once beloved and worthy Pastor by Death. Albinus is surprized, but recollecting a remarkable Dream, emblematical of the Occurrence he relates it to Florio, who full of Grief laments the Life of so great and good a Man; while Albinus represents the infinite Advantage to himself by the Change, and his Admission into the Society of the Blessed: After which they join in a sacred Ode, expressive of their Resignation to divine Providence.
The Eclogue is formed partly on the Plan of Virgil's Daphnis.
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An Eclogue.
ALBINUS.
"SWeet is the Breath of Morn." The fragrant Air
Dispensing balm: Sweets, and od'rous Gales,
Filled with melodious Notes, of warbling Birds
Invites me, from my downy Couch to rise;
And on this gently rising Hill to walk.5
Here let me muse, and from this Top survey
The pleasing Landschape, Nature spreads around.—
But yonder comes my Florio; I'll advance,
And bend my Steps to meet him.—Hail, my Friend,
I bid you welcome to this rural Seat.10
FLORIO.
All hail, my Friend, I wish you Health and Peace;
May Heav'n's first Blessings rest upon your Head.
ALBINUS.
How Nature smiles! This is the lovely Time
For Contemplation, and sublime Delights.
See how the Clouds disperse, the orient Blush 15
Proclaims th' Approach of the bright Lamp of Day.
What beauteous Verdure covers all the Ground!
How pleasing to behold those Flocks, that graze
On yonder Lawn! to see the rip'ning Fruits
Expand their ruddy Bosoms to the South,20
Adorn the Trees, and load their bending Boughs!
FLORIO.
Such Pleasures do the Sons of Sloth forego,
And those who live immur'd in smoaky Towns
At this delightful Season.—
ALBINUS.
[Page 4]— What is that 25
Obtrudes itself upon my wondring Eyes?
Observe it's shatter'd Trunk! it's broken Boughs!
FLORIO.
This Trunk, my Friend, was once a stately Oak,
Sublime, it rear'd it's verdant Top above
The lofty Cedars which around it grew▪ 30
Deep rooted in the Earth, it mock'd the Blasts
Of bell'wing Storms, and jarring Elements:
But not long since, upon a gloomy Day,
When Heav'n's Artillery began to roar,
And forky Lightnings glar'd around the Sky; 35
A fiery Shaft, wing'd with impetuous Speed
Flash'd from the warring Clouds, and darted down
Upon the Summit of this tow'ring Oak;
Rent it's strong Trunk, and marr'd it's lofty Pride,
And, instantaneous, fell'd it to the Dust.40
ALBINUS.
O wondrous Force! that in a Moment could
Shatter the tow'ring Monarch of the Grove,
And cleave it's knotty Trunk, amazing Power!
FLORIO.
Amazing Power indeed! how wondrous then
That Arm, which guides th' unerring Shafts of Death?45
O my Albinus, would these Tears permit,
A far more awful Stroke I could relate,
And more surprizing Frown of Providence
Than what stands here presented to our View.
ALBINUS.
Declare, my Florio, what's the mournful Cause 50
Of this so sad Commotion in your Breast;
For never did your Countenance before
Discover such deep Woe, and heart-felt Grief.
What sad Catastrophe affects you thus?
FLORIO.
Last Night, returning from my Ev'ning Walk 55
Calm and compos'd, I met a neighbouring Swain
[Page 5]Returning from the Town; into my Hands
He gave a Letter, and strait bid adieu.—
Black was the Seal, Omen lugubrious!
Scarce had I op'd the yielding Folds, when lo!60
These piercing Words presented to my View,
"Cumming is dead.—O had ten thousand Swords
Been darted thro' my Soul; their sharpest Pain
I had deem'd Pleasure, when compar'd with this.—
ALBINUS.
Is Cumming gone, and left a World in Tears?65
Amazing News! it thrills my inmost Soul!
FLORIO.
Had then ten thousand Thunders burst at once,
And thro' the Concave roar'd their horrid Peal;
The Shock I could have borne with seeming Ease;
But this, my Friend, is insupportable.70
ALBINUS.
Repine not, O my Florio, but submit;
'Tis Heav'n that gives, and Heav'n that takes away.
Some sudden ill, my Phant'sy did presage
Had happ'ned to Mankind: For as I lay,
Last Night, invelop'd in the Arms of Sleep,75
A sudden Vision on my Phant'sy pour'd,
Methought I gazing stood, and view'd the Heav'ns
With all their starry Glories shining fair,
Tho' past their Midnight Splendor; when behold!
As tow'rd the East I turn'd my wandring Eye,80
Twinkling, the Morning Star sunk from it's Orb,
And in a Moment vanish'd from my Sight!
I gaz'd astounded, wondring what might be
The Cause of this so rare Phaenomenon.
When lo! a shining Seraph strait appear'd,85
(Immortal Beauty sparkled in his Face.)
And thus address'd me: 'Cease, fond Man, to gaze,
'Thy mortal Skill can never comprehend
'JEHOVAH'S deep, unfathomable Ways.90
'This heav'nly Visitant, altho' it shone
'With such surpassing, splendid Radiance,
'Yet by ungrateful Man was scarcely own'd;
[Page 6]'Base Man would sleep, and by it's chearing Beams
'Would never be enlightned, nor receive
'The Emanations of it's heav'nly Light.95
'Therefore th' almighty GOD at length saw fit
'To take it thus, from this ungrateful Earth;
'And now 'tis gone t' illumin higher Worlds,
'To blaze in higher Spheres, to deck sublimer Skies.'
FLORIO.
If ought could mitigate my heart-felt Grief,100
That Thought alone, methinks would be sufficient:
Yet who can estimate the Loss we bear?
Not five swift circumvolving Suns have roll'd
Their annual Orbits, round our dreary Globe,
Since PRINCE, the great, the good, the learn'd, the wise,
Descended to the silent Shades of Death. * 106
Mankind deplor'd his Fall. Scarce had we now
Emerg'd out of that Gulph of gen'ral Woe,
And worthily repair'd the mighty Breach; †
The King of Terrors visits us again▪ 110
And moves our Candlestick out of his Place.
"Cumming is dead." No more that sacred Dome
With his harmonious Accents shall resound:
No more those glorious, evangelic Truths,
On which his Faith, and Hope were firmly built,115
With such celestial Pathos, shall devolve
From his persuasive Tongue. Oft have I stood,
And join'd with him in ardent Pray'r to Heav'n;
Till I have almost seen his active Soul,
With inward Fervour, and Devotion fir'd 120
Burst thro' its feeble Tenement of Clay,
And wing its Flight up to the Throne of God.
But now, alas! no longer shall I hear
Those ardent Breathings. His pure Hands no more
Shall break the Bread of Life, unto our Souls.125
[Page 7]Lament, and mourn, ye poor bereaved Flock;
Your Beauty's wither'd, and your Glory fled.
ALBINUS.
Lament no more, my Friend, but change the Scene;
He does but sleep awhile, he is not dead:
Hath not the great IMMANUAL declar'd 130
"* He that believes in me shall never die"?
What tho' the Grave his mortal Part consume?
His disembodied Spirit still survives,
Releas'd from the frail Prison of his Flesh,
And to the Spirits of Just Men has fled.135
We only part, till the great rising Day;
When this corruptible shall change its Mould,
This mortal put on Immortality;
And Earth, and Seas resign their sleeping Dead.
Why mourn we then? why would we wish him back
Into this gloomy Vale of Tears again?141
He's far remov'd from Pain, and Sorrow now,
Where Anguish, Grief and Death can never wound:
No Calumny his spotless Soul can reach:
Nor warm Opponents e'er disturb his Peace▪— 145
Let not the mourning Flock too sorely grieve;
Yet SEWALL lives, and from his aged Lips
Dispenses heav'nly Truths, with holy Zeal:
May his important Life be yet prolong'd,
And late, to Heav'n his dove-like Soul ascend.150
FLORIO.
Benighted World! robb'd of such glorious Light!
ALBINUS.
'Tis our's, in Duty to submit to Heav'n,
And humbly acquiesce in GOD'S Decree.
But now the Sun has risen from the Main,
And bends his Course tow'rd the meridian Sky:
Haste, let us part before his calid Rays 156
Diffuse their sultry Influence thro' the Air.
But first, 'tis fit, with Reverence and Awe
Our humblest Adorations, to present
To Heav'n's almighty King.— 160
FLORIO.
[Page 8]—Begin, my Friend,
The sacred Task, while I devoutly join.
ALBINUS.
Almighty King, who reign'st above,
Eternal Source of Truth and Love,
And Lord of all below,
With Rev'rence, and religious Fear
Permit thy Suppliants to draw near,
And at thy Feet to bow.
Thy sov'reign Fiat form'd us first;
Thy Breath can blow us into Dust,
Frail, sinful, mortal Clay:
'Tis thine undoubted Right to give
Those earthly Blessings we receive,
And thine to take away.
All things are under thy Controul,
Eternal Wisdom rules the whole,
"Educing good from ill:"
Submissive, therefore, we resign;
Our Wills are swallow'd up in thine,
In thy most holy Will.
In Heav'n above thy Will is done;
Arch-Angels stand around thy Throne,
Thy Counsels to fulfil:
Adoring, at thy Feet they fall;
Confess thee Sov'reign Lord of all,
And execute thy Will.
Lord, may we join the heav'nly Throng;
May Mortals learn th' angelic Song,
Who dwell beneath the Sun;
May ev'ry Tongue thy Praise proclaim;
This be the universal Theme,
JEHOVAH'S Will be done.
THE END.