ACROSTIC ON WILLIAM PADDY One, who was well acquainted with his worth and gracious endowments, presented this following, as a testimonial of his good respects for him.2 Weep not dear wife, children, nor dear friends, I live a life of joys that never ends. Love God, and fear him to end of your days: Live unto him, but die to sin always. In heavenly place of bliss my soul doth rest, A mong the saints and angels I am blest; Much better here, than in the world at best. 1 These verses were not in the first edition. Their author was the son of the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, of Ipswich. He was born in England in 1630, and came to America, with his father, in 1636. He graduated at Harvard College in 1649, and studied both divinity and medicine. He preached at Ipswich for some time, but afterwards devoted himself altogether to the practice of medicine. In 1683, he succeeded the Rev. Urian Oakes as President of Harvard College. He died suddenly, July 2, 1684, the day after Commencement, during an eclipse of the sun. He had requested, in the previous December, that the Commencement exercises should be held a day earlier than usual, as he feared the eclipse might interfere with them.-MATHER PAPERS. Cotton Mather says, "He was One of So sweet a Temper, that the Title of Delicia humani Generis might have on that Score been given him; and his Real Piety set off with the Accomplishments of a Gentlemen, as a Gem set in Gold."-MAGNALIA, iv. p. 130. His wife, Elizabeth Denison, was the only daughter of Major-General Daniel Denison and Patience Dudley, and therefore Mrs. Bradstreet's niece. (Printed with this note "Works of Anne Bradstreet," ed. J. H. Ellis.) in Nathaniel Morton's "New England's Memorial." See year 1658. UPON THE AUTHOR BY A KNOWN FRIEND (ANNE BRADSTREET) And after Winthrop's, Hooker's, Shepherd's herse, Doth Cotton's death call for a mourning verse? Thy will be done. Yet Lord, who dealest thus, Make this great death expedient for us. Luther pull'd down the Pope, Calvin. the Prelate slew: These initials, which appeared for the first time in the second edition, are thought to be those of the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge, D.D., brother of the Rev. John Woodbridge. He was born in England, and after having studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, came to join his brother, and some other relations, in this country. He entered Harvard College, and his name stands first on the list of graduates. He was among the first settlers of the town of Andover; but he soon returned to England, where he succeeded the Rev. William Twiss, D.D., as minister of Newbury, in Berkshire. He held that position until his death in 1684, a period of about forty years. His learning, ability and goodness have been highly eulogized. (Printed with this note in "Works of Anne Bradstreet," ed. J. H. Ellis.) THRENODIA ON SAMUEL STONE A Threnodia upon our churches second dark eclipse, happening July 20, 1663, by death's interposition between us and that great light and divine plant, Mr. Samuel Stone, late of Hartford, in New-England. BY EDWARD BULKLEY (?) Last spring this summer may be autumn styl'd, Sad withering fall our beauties which despoil'd: 1 About the time of his sickness there ap peared in the heavens, over New England, a comet, giving a dim light; and so waxed dimmer and dimmer, until it became quite extinct and went out; which time of its being extinct, was soon after the time of the period of his life. (Printed with this note in Nathaniel Morton's "New England's Memorial." See year 1652.) Two choicest plants, our Norton and our Stone, Your justs threw down; remov'd, away are gone. One year brought Stone and Norton to their mother, In one year, April, July, them did smother. Dame Cambridge, mother to this darling son; Emanuel, Northampt that heard this one, Essex, our bay, Hartford, in sable clad, 9 Come bear your parts in this Threnodia sad. In losing one, church many lost: O then Many for one come be sad singing men. Man nature, grace and art be found in one So high, as to be found in few or none. In him these three with full fraught hand contested, With which by each he should be most invested. The largess of the three, it was so great On him, the stone was held a light compleat. A stone more than the Ebenezer fam'd; Stone splendent diamond, right orient nam'd; 20 A cordial stone, that often cheered hearts With pleasant wit, with Gospel rich imparts; Whetstone, that edgify'd th' obtusest mind; Loadstone,that drew the iron heart unkind; A pondrous stone, that would the bottom sound Of Scripture depths, and bring out Arcan's found. A stone for kingly David's use so fit, |