their mortal bodies freed;

Made Kings & Priests to God through Christ's

dear loves transcendency,

There to remain and there to reign

with him Eternally.

280

1662.

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,

5

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,
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,

15

20

25

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:

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.

1662.

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.