The history of Lynn - Lynn Massachusetts Genealogy Project

128 HISTORY OF LYNN. [1679.For in this single person we have lost31 ore riches than an India has engrost.Wiien Wilson, that plerophory of love,Did IVoni our banks up to his centre move,Rare Whiting quotes Colunjbus on this coast.Producing gems of which a king might boast.More splendid far than ever Aaron wore,Within his breast this sacred father bore.Sound doctrine, [Jrim, in his holy cell.And all perfections. Thummim, there did dwell.His holy vesture was his innocence ;His speech, embroideries of curious sense.Sucli awful gravity this doctor used,As if an angel every word infused;No turgcnt style, but Asiatic lore ;Conduits were almost full, seldom run o'erThe banks of time—come visit when you will.The streams of nectar were descending still.Much like se|)temfluous Nihis, rising so,He watered Cliristians round, and made them grow.His modest whispers could the conscience reach.As well as whiriv/inds, which some others j)reach.No Boanerges, yet could touch the heart.And clench his doctrine with the meekest art.His learning and his language might becomeA province not inferior to Rome.Glorious was Europe's heaven, when such as these,Stars of his size, shone in each diocese.Who writ'st t!ie fithers' lives, either make room,Or with his name begin your second tome.Aged Polycarp, deep Origen, and such,Wliose worth your quills, your wits not them enrich ;Lactantius, Cyprian, Basil too, the great.Quaint Jerome, Austin, of the foremost seat.With Ambrose, and more of the highest class,In Christ's great school, witli honor I let pass,And humbly pay my debt to Whiting's ghost.Of whom both Englands may with reason boast.Nations for men of lessor worth have stroveTo have the fame, and in transports of loveBuilt temples, or fixed statues of pure gold.And their vast worth to after ages told.His modesty forbade so fair a tomb.Who in ten thousand hearts obtained a room.What sweet composure in his angel faceWhat soft affections ! melting gleams of grace!How mildly pleasant ! by his closed lipsRhetoric's bright body suffers an eclijjse.Should half his sentences be fairly numbered.And weighed in wisdom's scales, 'twould spoil a Lombard,