<!DOCTYPE ETS PUBLIC "-//UMDLPS//DTD EEBOPROOF 2.0//EN">
<ETS>
<TEMPHEAD>
<REVDESCR>
<CHANGE>
<DATE>2012-08-23</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>TCP Staff (Michigan)</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
</RESPSTMT>
<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B120713.apex.</ITEM>
</CHANGE>
</REVDESCR>
</TEMPHEAD>
<EEBO>
<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="B08986">
<STC T="W">E388A</STC>
<STC T="C">R174921</STC>
<BIBNO T="oclc">[ocm]64551202</BIBNO>
<VID>184541</VID>
</IDG>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="elegy">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<HEAD>AN ELEGIE On the DEATH of that Learned and Pious Divine M^r JOHN GIBBON, Late Mini&s;ter of S^t <HI>Anne Black-Friers,</HI> London.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>NOt that I think my rude unpoli&s;ht Ver&s;e</L>
<L>A meet <HI>Encomium</HI> for this Noble Her&s;e,</L>
<L>This trifle my oblig'd affection paies,</L>
<L>The proof, more of my Pen'ry, than his Prai&s;e.</L>
<L>Whil&s;t others, who are Learned, &s;acrifice</L>
<L>From their abundant Ingenuities:</L>
<L>I With my Mite, (according to my Sphere)</L>
<L>Bring an Oblation of poor Camels hair.</L>
<L>So Pepper cornes are Tribute to expre&s;s</L>
<L>A Homage due, not their own Worthine&s;s.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>You who are Arti&s;ts, and have wit at will,</L>
<L>(Matter adequate, and proportion'd skill,</L>
<L>To the fair Subject) build a Monument</L>
<L>High (if you can) as the miraculous Saint.</L>
<L>To let &s;ucceeding Generations &s;ee</L>
<L>His wonders, and admire as well as we.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In vain you toyl, if this you think to do,</L>
<L>Unle&s;s you can be <HI>Gibbon</HI>-hearted too.</L>
<L>Thus to commence his Poet in degree,</L>
<L>Requireth more than &s;ingle Sophi&s;try.</L>
<L>Were there a Con&s;tellation of Wit</L>
<L>Met in Conjunction, there were need of it,</L>
<L>To draw the Pourtrait of his frailer Glory,</L>
<L>But there needs more to reach his upper Story.</L>
<L>To &s;ay how good he was, how truly great,</L>
<L>How meek, how generous, how kindly &s;weet,</L>
<L>How much of Heaven compriz'd in &s;ingle man,</L>
<L>How real and how rare a Chri&s;tian,</L>
<L>And to do Ju&s;tice to his Piety,</L>
<L>Would even po&s;e an Univer&s;ity.</L>
<L>To &s;ay how he did act, how he did teach,</L>
<L>How he did in Seraphick manner preach,</L>
<L>How he did Ble&s;&s;edne&s;s anticipate,</L>
<L>By living here at a triumphant Rate,</L>
<L>How he did &s;eem a torrid Zone of Zeal,</L>
<L>Which he employ'd not to enflame but heal,</L>
<L>How he had Faith, which conquered by the Word</L>
<L>More of the world than <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI> by his Sword,</L>
<L>How he did love without di&s;&s;imulation,</L>
<L>How he did all things to Edification.</L>
<L>This is an undertaking only fit</L>
<L>For the Divine and Evangelick Wit</L>
<L>Of a ble&s;t <HI>Herbert;</HI> common, &s;lighter &s;tile</L>
<L>Will not exalt, but his great Name defile:</L>
<L>Some &s;uch in&s;pir'd one take the task, and be</L>
<L>The Herald of his &s;o va&s;t Exc'llency,</L>
<L>In &s;uch &s;ad and pathetick Accents &s;hew</L>
<L>The doleful portent of this publick Blow,</L>
<L>As may make &s;tupid Rocks relent, and move</L>
<L>A &s;orrow as exten&s;ive, as his Love;</L>
<L>Which was not limited, but did extend</L>
<L>To the whole world an univer&s;al Friend.</L>
</LG>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
<PB REF="2" MS="y">
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
