frailties, when she remembers his abundant labors in the cause of benevolence. He promoted societies for the suppression of civil disorders; projected an extensive association of peacemakers, for the composing and preventing of differences in private life; proposed the establishment of an Evangelical Treasury, for the maintenance of churches in destitute places; introduced into Massachusetts the method of inoculation for the small pox, and was constantly interested and zealously engaged in promoting the welfare of his country. We can readily account for the deficiency of the imaginative power in his poetical compositions. His education had involved him in the venerable dust of antiquity, and had unfitted his mind for the luxuriant growth of fancy. The strong soil where the mountain oak has long flourished, will afford but little nourishment to the delicate exotic, and he who from infancy has been seeking for the treasures of ancient lore, is seldom willing, even in his moments of relaxation, to linger in the myrtle bower, or to listen to the murmurings of the silver fountain. Dr Mather's toil was truly of that kind which produces "weariness of flesh," and he sought for a more substantial mental aliment than that "camelion food," with which the poet could supply him. To such a one, the gathering of flowers, even though they were those of Parnassus, and the wandering on the banks of Ilissus itself, would be deemed but an indifferent amusement. The poetic specimens that we have selected from Dr Mather's works are distinguished by little else than the hardness of their style, and the want of that indescribable quality in which we recognise the spontaneous ebullitions of a mind "smit with the love" of song. ON THE DEATH OF HIS SON. The motto, inscribed on the grave stone, "Reserved for a glorious Resurrection." THE exhortation of the Lord, My child, when God shall chasten thee, The Lord with fit afflictions will Afflictions for the present here ON THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER. THE dearest Lord of heaven gave I see my best enjoyments here, Ere well enjoy'd they disappear: Vain smoke, they prick and leave our eyes. But I believe, O glorious Lord, That when I seem to lose these toys, What's lost will fully be restor❜d I do believe, that I and mine, Because, blest Jesus, we are Thine, I do believe that every bird Of mine, which to the ground shall fall, Now my believing soul does hear Some offers to Embalm the Memory of the truly reverend and renowned JOHN WILSON; the first Pastor of Boston, in New England: Interr'd (and a great part of his Country's Glory with him) August 11, 1667. Aged 79. MIGHT Aaron's rod (such funerals mayn't be dry) And tell the world, the great Saint Wilson's praise. For Christ: both Englands' darling, whom in swarms "Tis one (when will it rise to number two? So humble, that alike on's charity, Mighty in prayer, his hands uplifted reach'd Who weep his death, as a departing Paul. "Twixt an Apostle, and Evangelist, What's left, we'd spend on this New-English Knox; Christ's word, it was his life, Christ's church, his care; He travers'd oft the fierce Atlantic sea, But tell his zeal for thee to after ages, His care to guide his flock, and feed his lambs, By words, works, prayers, psalms, alms, and anagrams: Out of mere nothings, by creating art, Whole words of counsel; did to motes unfold It should outshine the brightest solar ray. * The line is thus explained by Mather. Ward, the simple cobler of Agawam, as he called himself, "observing the great hospitality of Mr Wilson, in conjunction with his meta-grammatizing temper," said that the anagram of John Wilson was, I pray come in, you are heartily welcome. REMARKS On the bright and the dark side of that American pillar, the Reverend Mr William Thompson; Pastor of the Church at Braintree. Who triumphed on Dec. 10, 1666. BUT may a rural pen try to set forth Such a great Father's ancient grace and worth? Than the old sages found the Chaldee dream. And rais'd the spirits of our young divine. Hearers, like doves, flock'd with contentious wing, They kneed it into combs upon their knees. Why he from Europe's pleasant garden fled, In the next age, will be with horror said. His inventory then, with John's, was took; When reverend Knowles and he sail'd hand in hand, Upon a ledge of craggy rocks near stav'd, His Bible in his bosom thrusting sav'd; The Bible, the best of cordial of his heart, "Come floods, come flames, (cried he) we 'll never part." A constellation of great converts there, Shone round him, and his heavenly glory were. |