AN
ELEGY
ON THE
Much to be lamented Death of that Worthy and Reverend Divine
Mr JOHN THOMPSON Minister of the Gospel in Stockton, who
died on the 23d of February 1753, in the 50th Year of his Age,
much lamented by all that knew him.
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I.
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LORD what is Man that now we see,
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Nothing at all but Vanitie;
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Appeard To day like a Flower,
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To-morrow Death doth him devour.
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II.
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Stockton lament, thy Case bemoan,
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Down to the Dust is lately gone,
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And takes Repose amongst the Just,
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That worthy celebrated Dust.
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III.
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Of our worthy Thompson-singular,
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Hes gone, hes gone, too true we hear,
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From this Worlds Woe and Pain;
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Alas our Tears are all in vain.
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IV.
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Sure there is none my Grief can tell,
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Now since I heard his Passing bell.
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O Stockton this give thee a Shock.
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Thompson the brave, thy worthy Prop.
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V.
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O Reader stand and shed a Tear,
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When of our Loss you chance to hear,
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Had you known him as well as I,
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With Tears of Sorrow you would cry.
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VI.
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Of this sad Instance before our Eyes,
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Doth all who knew him with Grief surprize;
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That the learned the pious Thompson brave,
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So soon is calld to his cold Grave.
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VII.
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Of his Fame where shall I begin to tell,
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Greats that Love in his Breast did dwell;
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Yea not to one, but unto all,
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Alas, alas, great is our Fall.
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VIII.
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His Charity it was so great,
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No Tongue can well express it;
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The Poor now all begin to moan,
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To hear their worthy Thompsons gone.
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IX.
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Riches for them he did not care,
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Among the Poor he did them share;
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For all he gave was through pure Love,
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He knew his Treasure was above.
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X.
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Children untaught do for him weep,
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To hear hes laid in silent Sleep;
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O cruel Death thats so severe,
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His worthy Life that would not spare.
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XI.
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In Gaming he took no Delight,
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But chaste he walkd in all Mens Sight;
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Vain Company was not his Abode,
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But in his Closet with his God.
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XII.
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For Rich and Poor he did not mind,
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Alike to both he was inclind;
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Nothing could make him to delay;
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No sooner askd but went away.
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XIII.
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Unto his Flock tender Regard he bore,
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Of their Souls he had a special Care,
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No human Man sure could do more,
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His Flock to keep, Sin to abhore.
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XIV.
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His Flock in Tears doth him condole,
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To think they lost so brave a Soul;
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Which God did bliss them so much under,
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His pious Life was Stocktons Wonder.
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XV.
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Both old and young doth for him lament,
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To hear his God for him has sent;
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No longer here he would him spare,
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He had for him a greater Care.
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XVI.
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A greater Loss neer came to this Place,
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Than that of worthy Thomsons Face;
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Oh! had he livd longer Years to seen,
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His Flock had almost happy been.
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XVII.
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But oh alas! that must not be,
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His God did love him tenderly;
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And now his God has sent for him,
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In heavenly Joys with him to swim.
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XVIII.
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His Doctrine it was pure indeed,
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O may we in his Paths all tread;
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His Conversation and Life did shine,
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With Piety that was divine.
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XIX.
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No Minister that ere was placed
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Among his Flock that was more graced,
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Most of the Clergy he led the Van,
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More like an Angel than a Man.
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XX.
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By all Professions he was loved,
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Unto all his Pity meekly moved,
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That was to us a Day of Woe,
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His God calld him hence for to go.
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XXI.
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O Thompson learned Thomspson thou,
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Nows gone and bids us all adieu;
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O may our Souls all be like thine,
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That doth now in Glory shine.
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XXII.
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Thy God thy God delights in thee,
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And from thy Troubles set thee free,
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For thee his precious Blood he shed,
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And now he is become thy Head.
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XXIII.
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When we his vacant Pulpit see,
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Those worthy Sermons preachd by thee,
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With Sorrows we do hang our Head,
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Saying all Comforts from us fled.
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XXIV.
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Last Text preachd worthy Thompson dear,
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Which makes me shed many a Tear,
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My God is good, come taste and see, [Psal.XXXIV.8.]
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Which now he doth to all Eternity.
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XXV.
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Now to his heavenly Joys hes gone,
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All that knew him doth for him moan,
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Where far from Noise and Troubles free,
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Now Praises he sings to all Eternity.
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XXVI.
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O ye his Flock that did him hear,
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With a ready and attentive Ear,
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In his blest Paths do all you tread,
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At last be Heirs of Glory made.
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XXVII.
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O Lord grant his Hearers all,
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Especially those that gives a Call,
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His vocant Pulpit may get one,
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Like pious Thompson, now thats gone.
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His EPITAPH.
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Here lyes his Dust intered full low,
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His Soul immediately doth go,
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Into these heavenly Joys above,
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And there to sing redeeming Love.
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