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An Elegy Upon the Death of Richard Baxter

Nathanael Vincent (1639-1697) · 857 words · 4 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A64960.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

AN ELEGY Upon the DEATH of that HOLY, REVEREND and LEARNED Minister of CHRIST, M r . RICHARD BAXTER, Who in the 77th Year of his Age departed this Life Decemb. the 8th 1691.

By N. VINCENT Minister of the Gospel , a true Mourner at his FUNERAL.
BLessit Man! In singing forth thine Elegy,
Now every Muse should turn Melpomene!
There's not an Eye, that saw what's worth; but will
For loss of Thee, a shower of Tears distil!
Who would thy Life in Truth describe, must tell,
Its Length, and Usefulness, was Miracle.
That Tongue, by which, Thy Parts and Grace are shown,
Must be an Angels, or one like thy own.
He that did wish th' Apostle Paul to hear,
Thy powerful Preaching, Praying, if his Ear
Had once been blessit with: this would granted be,
Only Inspired Ones excelled Thee!
Thy 〈…〉 thee, Star ; and truly None,
Brighter than Thou, in this 〈…〉
The Sun of Righteousness did sure dispense
Such Light to Thee, with so great Influence
The Prince of Darkness was (how often! ) foiled;
His strongest Holds thrown down! his Weapons spoiled!
Thee Spiritual Father, a large Off-spring call;
Thy Crown thy Glory, and thy Joy ; these all
Will at the last be found; and These with Thee
Will live, love, praise unto Eternity!
Thou didst aloud the Unconverted Call ;
Heaven blessit thee with Success, so that the fall
Of Many into Hell was hindered ; Greater skill,
To win Souls to thy Lord ; and to his Will
To subject them; Who in this Age has had?
The worst of all the Ages that were bad.
Hard Hearts before Thee melted, and their Grief
Was Angels Joy, when some of Sinners chief
Repented; then Heavens Sons were glad to see
Those so near Hell, snatched out of Misery.
Thou wast the Worlds Eclipse ; Thy noble flight
Towards the things Eternal, out of sight
Of Mortal Eye: was to the Worldlings shame,
And strong Conviction. Conscience did them blame,
Because their Hearts were placed on, what thy Feet
Did trample under, as it was most meet ;
Earths Vanities deserved no better treat.
Thy Faith did make Thee Mammon's Conqueror
Wealth, Pleasure, Honor ; even the whole Worlds store
Was in thine Eye contemptible and poor.
This Age of Infidels might plainly see
That Christ did die, and rose again, in Thee!
How wondrous was thy Art (when Hearts did groan
Burthen'd with Sin and Sorrow; making moan,
Because of Wounds intolerable ) to apply
That Panacea of Iniquity,
The Blood of Jesus Christ! Thou didst divide
The Word aright, and most exactly guide,
That trouble might be true ; yet not exceed
Due Measure and o'rewhelm : when once the need
Of Christ and Grace was seen, sweet was thy Word
Reviving, Comfort, Peace, it did afford.
The Merciful High Priest did Thee employ,
And no man more, to make them reap in joy,
Who sowed in tears. Now surely at thy Grave
Tears would become a Deluge ; where to have
Relief, we should not know, but that we all
In thy Divine Discourses practical ;
Thee living, breathing, speaking still may find,
Though dead, This Treasure Thou hast left behi • d.
In Controversies Theological,
Thy skill was great; the Adversaries all
Of Truth and Thee, thou easily didst confound,
And unto Error give a mortal Wound,
A readier Disputant whoever was?
〈…〉 through the Schools of Learning pass.
Both Universities may 〈…〉
That neither from Thee honor can receive!
But though Thou wast so able to defend
The Cause of Truth, yet once to see an end
Of strife and wrangling, was thy Heart's desire:
Strife, thou well knew'st, is a consuming fire.
'It is thy great glory, in this wrangling Age,
• hen Pride, Malignity, and brutish Rage
Are all so high, Thou wert a Man of Peace.
That sharp Contentions in the Church might cease,
Was thy desire in praying, and thy aim
In Preaching, Writing, Blessed we proclaim
•• ee from thy Lord's own Mouth. Thou sparedst none
〈…〉 real Faults, on every side, were show'n:
•• y Wisdom was without Hypocrisy,
〈…〉 had not Partiality.
〈…〉 Patience in Affliction, and thy Faith,
〈…〉 exercise sufficient ; yet who saith
•• at either failed, would wrong thee. Surely He
Whose Arms all things uphold, did sustain thee!
To preach, pray, study, praise, though in great pain,
• s Thou didst, was peculiar: Ah! 'tis vain
To seek thy Equal, who does bear the Rod
So well, and does so very much for God!
But Death has eased Thee of all thy pain,
Nor Sin, nor Trouble, shalt thou feel again.
The King of Terrors, the last Enemy,
Long looked for, was not Terrible to Thee.
When Usher, Gataker, and Vines did sleep,
Thou saidst Three Nations should consent to weep :
Let these three Kingdoms join in doleful moan,
The Tears of All, Thy Death deserves alone.
Saecula vix referent, quem tulit una dies.

LONDON : Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside. 1691.