FROM

GOD'S CONTROVERSY WITH NEW-ENGLAND

(WRITTEN IN THE TIME OF THE GREAT DROUGHT, ANNO 1662)

Are these the folk whom from the brittish Iles,

Through the stern billows of the watry main,

I safely led so many thousand miles,

As if their journey had been through a plain?
Whom having from all enemies protected,

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And through so many deaths and dangers well directed,

I brought and planted on the western shore,

Where nought but bruits and salvage wights did swarm (Untaught, untrain'd, untam'd by vertue's lore),

That sought their blood, yet could not do them harm? 10 My fury's flaile them thresht, my fatall broom

Did sweep them hence to make my people elbow-room.

Are these the men whose gates with peace I crown'd,
To whom for bulwarks I salvation gave,
Whilst all things else with rattling tumults sound,

And mortall frayes send thousands to the grave,
Whilest their own brethren bloody hands embrewed
In brothers blood and fields with carcases bestrewed? .

Are these the folk to whom I milked out

And sweetnes stream'd from consolations brest ?
Whose soules I fed and strengthened throughout
With finest spirituall food most finely drest?

On whom I rained living bread from Heaven,

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20

Withouten Errour's bane or Superstition's leaven? . . . .

If these be they, how is it that I find

In stead of holiness Carnality,

In stead of heavenly frames an Earthly mind,
For burning zeal luke-warm Indifferency,

For flaming love key-cold Dead-heartedness,

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For temperance (in meat and drinke and cloaths) excess? 30

Ah dear New England! dearest land to me,

Which unto God hast hitherto been dear,

And mayst be still more dear than formerlie
If to his voice thou wilt incline thine ear:

1662.

Consider wel & wisely what the rod

Wherewith thou art from yeer to yeer chastized
Instructeth thee; repent & turn to God,

Who wil not have his nurture be despized.

Thou still hast in thee many praying saints,

Of great account and precious with the Lord,
Who dayly powre out unto him their plaints,
And strive to please him both in deed & word.

Cheer on, sweet souls; my heart is with you all,
And shall be with you, maugre Sathan's might;
And whereso'ere this body be a Thrall,
Still in New-England shall be my delight.

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40

45

1871

NEW ENGLAND ELEGIES

FROM

UPON THE TOMB OF THE MOST REVEREND MR. JOHN COTTON

LATE TEACHER OF THE CHURCH OF BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND

(BY B. W.)

A living breathing Bible: Tables where

Both Covenants at large engraven were;

Gospel and Law in 's Heart had each its Colume,

His Head an Index to the Sacred Volume;

His very Name a Title Page; and next,

His Life a Commentary on the Text.
O what a Monument of glorious worth,
When in a New Edition he comes forth
Without Errata's, may we think hee 'll be
In Leaves and Covers of Eternitie!
A man of Might at heavenly Eloquence
To fix the Ear and charm the Conscience,

As if Apollos were reviv'd in him

Or he had learned of a Seraphim.

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ΙΟ

1652?

Spake many Tongues in one: one Voice and Sense
Wrought Joy and Sorrow, Fear and Confidence.
Rocks rent before him, Blinde receiv'd their sight,
Souls levell'd to the dunghil stood upright;
Infernal Furies burst with rage to see
Their Pris'ners captiv'd into Libertie.
A Star that in our Eastern England rose,
Thence hurry'd by the Blast of stupid foes,
Whose foggy Darkness and benummed Senses
Brook'd not his daz'ling fervent Influences.
Thus did he move on Earth from East to West;
There he went down, and up to Heaven for Rest.
1669.

LINES WRITTEN AT THE APPROACH OF DEATH

(BY THOMAS DUDLEY)

Dim Eyes, deaf Ears, cold stomack shew

My dissolution is in view.

Eleven times seven near liv'd have I,
And, now God calls, I willing die.
My Shuttle's shot, my race is run,
My Sun is set, my Deed is done,
My Span is measur'd, Tale is told,
My Flower is faded and grown old,
My Dream is vanish'd, Shadow 's fled,
My Soul with Christ, my Body dead.
Farewel, dear Wife, Children, and Friends:
Hate Heresie, make blessed ends,

Bear Poverty, live with good men;

So shall we meet with joy agen.

UPON OUR CHURCHES SECOND DARK ECLIPSE, HAPPENING JULY 20, 1663, BY DEATHS INTERPOSITION BETWEEN US AND THAT GREAT LIGHT AND

DIVINE PLAN[E]T, MR. SAMUEL STONE, LATE OF HARTFORD IN NEWENGLAND

(BY E. B.)

A Stone more then the Eben-ezer fam'd;
Stone splendent Diamond, right Orient nam'd;
A Cordiall Stone, that often cheared hearts
With pleasant Wit, with Gospel rich imparts;
Whet-Stone, that Edgefi'd th' obtusest Minde;
Load-Stone, that drew the Iron Heart unkinde;
A Ponderous Stone, that would the Bottom sound
Of Scripture-depths, and bring out Arcan's found;
A Stone for Kingly David's use so fit

As would not fail Goliah's Front to hit;

A Stone an Antidote, that brake the course

Of Gangrene Errour by Convincing force;

A Stone Acute, fit to divide and square;

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