AN
ELEGY
On the Reverend and Learned Divine,
Dr. LAZARUS SEAMAN,
Sometime VICE-CHANCELLOUR of CAMBRIDG, Master of Peter-House,
and late Minister of the Gospel in Alhallows-Bread street.
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WHat Seaman dead? and did no Blazing Star,
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No Comet before-hand His Death declare?
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What, Merlin, not a word of this in thee?
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Lilly's but half a Prophet now I see:
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For had he known it, hee'd have quickly said,
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This year Presbytery shall lose its head.
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But did not Will foretel ther'd be a fall
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Of some great Person Eccles'astical:
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Its true he did, and by th' event 'tis plain,
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He did no Bishop, but the Doctor mean.
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Hence let no Forreign State with envious eye
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Look on's, 'cause they have War whilst we are free:
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Let France for Great a Turenne shed no more tears
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Here's a more doleful Tragedy then theirs:
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Ours of the two's the greater loss by far,
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We've lost a Prophet, they a Man of War.
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And when the stoutest Warriours strength does fail,
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Such wrestle with th' Almighty, and prevail.
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Weep England, weep, say not thy Plagues are staid,
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Whilst from the midst of thee the righteous fade.
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When Princes call home their Ambassador,
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By that they shew they do intend a War.
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And when Jehovah takes his Lots from hence,
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We well may say his wrath does then commence.
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Admit (blest Soul!) my Zeal to drop a verse,
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One mournful line upon thy fable Hearse,
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Though I profane thy name by using it.
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But should we wait to find one out full fit
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To praise thee, we might look, and look in vain,
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Till the great Day when thou shalt rise again.
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Unless th' Pythagorean fiction's true
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We cannot hope to meet with such as you,
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The highest pitch which wee'l dare to aim at,
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Shall be but to admire, and imitate.
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Could we but see thee fully as thou art,
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Could we discern the glorious beams that dart
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From Jesus face on thee, those beams of Love
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Which from thee back again towards him move:
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T'would make us quite forget our troubles here,
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For what could hurt us if our hearts were there
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Where you are now there's no Division,
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No Sects, no Parties, no; you all are one:
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One God, one Christ; there's none that say we are
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Conformists, Independents, Presbyter:
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These words are all unknown, where there's no strife;
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There's no such names writ in the Book of Life.
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Either thy Spirit send, great God of Love,
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On us below, or take's to thee above:
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And seeing we are all coming to thee,
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Let's in the way no longer disagree.
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Grant that we all may Holiness and Peace
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Promote, and then our diff'rences will cease:
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But we in unity shall never live,
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Whilst we for Honours, Wealth, and Pleasure strive:
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When we see Multitudes crowding about
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A spark, we wonder not if they fall out.
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All eyes behold one Sun, and yet none wants;
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And one God fills with glory all his Saints.
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Reader, If that thou learned art,
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O do not urge me to impart
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What 'tis I cover; for I fear,
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Thou'lt be so eager to lie here,
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Should I tell, that thou'lt desire
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And wish thy life might straight expire:
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Then ask no more, but away go
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And send th' unlearned, they may know:
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I'le tell none else, for here does lie
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Entomb'd, a University.
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