The Proud he tam'd, the Penitent he chear'd:
Nor to rebuke the rich Offender fear'd.
HisPreaching much, but more hisPracticewrought;
(A living Sermon of the Truths he taught ;)
For this by Rules fevere his Life he fquar'd:
That all might fee the Doctrine which they heard,
For Priests, he faid, are Patterns for the reft:
(TheGold of Heav'n, who bear theGod Imprefs'd:)
But when the precious Coin is kept unclean,
The Sov'raign's Image is no longer feen.
If they be foul, on whom the People trust,
Well may the bafer Brafs contract a Ruft.
The Prelate, for his Holy Life, he priz'd;
The worldly Pomp of Prelacy despis'd.
His Saviour came not with a gawdy Show;
Nor was his Kingdom of the World below.
Patience in Want, and Poverty of Mind,
[fign'd, Thefe Marks of Church and Churchmen he de
And living taught; and dying left behind.
The Crown he wore was of the pointed Thorn:
In Purple he was Crucify'd, nor born.
They who contend for Place and high Degree,
Are not his Sons, but those of Zebadee.
Not, but he knew the Signs of Earthly Pow'r Might well become Saint Peter's Succeffor:
The Holy Father holds a double Reign,
[plain.
The Prince may keep his Pomp; the Fisher must be
Such was the Saint; who fhone with everyGrace,
Reflecting, Mofes-like, his Maker's Face.
God faw his Image lively was express'd;
And his own Work, as in Creation, bless'd.
The Tempter faw him too, with envious Eye;
And, as on Job, demanded leave to try.
He took the time when Richard was depos'd:
And High and Low with happy Harry clos'd.
ThisPrince, tho' great in Arms, the Priest withstood:
Near tho' he was, yet not the next of Blood.
Had Richard,unconstrain'd, resign'd the Throne;
A King can give no more than is his own:
The Title flood entail'd, had Richard had a Son.
Conqueft, an odious Name, was laid afide,
Where all fubmitted; none the Battel try'd.
The fenfeless Plea of Right by Providence,
Was, by a flatt'ring Priest, invented fince:
And lafts no longer than the present Sway;
But juftifies the next who comes in play.
The People's Right remains; let those who dare Dispute their Pow'r, when they the Judges are.
He join'd not in their Choice; because he knew Worfe might, and often did, from Change enfue Much to himself he thought; but little spoke: And, Undepriv'd, his Benefice forfook.
Now, through the Land, his Cure of Souls he And like a Primitive Apostle preach'd. [stretch'd:
Still Chearful; ever Conftant to his Call;
By many follow'd; Lov'd by most, Admir'd by all
With what he beg'd, his Brethren he reliev'd;
And gave the Charities himself receiv'd.
Gave, while he Taught; and Edify'd the more,
Because he fhew'd, by Proof, 'twas eafie to be Poor.
He went not, with the Crowd, to fee a Shrine; But fed us by the way, with Food divine. In deference to his Virtues, I forbear To fhew you, what the reft in Orders were: This Brillant is fo Spotlefs, and fo Bright, He needs no Foyl: But fhines by his own proper Light.
Who dy'd at BATH, and is there Interr'd,
Elow this Marble Monument, is laid
So faultlefs was the Frame, as if the Whole
Had been an Emanation of the Soul;
Which her own inward Symmetry reveal'd;
And like a Picture fhone, in Glass Anneal'd.
Or like the Sun eclips'd, with fhaded Light:
Too piercing, elfe, to be sustain❜d by Sight.
Each Thought was visible that rowl'd within:
As through a Crystal Cafe, the figur'd Hours are
feen.
And Heav'n did this transparent Veil provide,
Because she had no guilty Thought to hide.
All white, a Virgin-Saint, fhe fought the Skies:
For Marriage, tho' it fullies not, it dyes.
High tho'her Wit, yet Humble was her Mind;
As if she cou'd not, or fhe wou'd not find
How much her Worth transcended all her Kind.
Yet fhe had learn'd fo much of Heav'n below,
That when arriv'd, fhe fcarce had more to know:
But only to refresh the former Hint;
And read her Maker in a fairer Print.
So Pious, as she had no Time to spare
For human Thoughts, but was confin'd to Pray'r.
|