"All heaven embrac'd him with immortal love, "And fung his welcome to the courts above. "Gentle Ithuriel led him round the skies, "The buildings ftruck him with immense furprize; "The fpires all radiant, and the manfions bright, "The roof high-vaulted with ethereal light: "Beauty and ftrength on the tall bulwarks fate "In heavenly diamond; and for every gate "On golden hinges a broad ruby turns, "Guards off the foe, and as it moves it burns; "Millions of glories reign through every part; "Infinite power, and uncreated art, "Stand here difplay'd, and to the stranger show "How it out-fhines the nobleft feats below. "The ftranger fed his gazing powers awhile "Transported: Then, with a regardless smile, "Glanc'd his eye downward through the crystal floor, "And took eternal leave of what he built before." Now, fair Urania, leave the doleful strain; Raphael commands: Affume thy joys again. In everlasting numbers fing, and fay, "Gunston has mov'd his dwelling to the realms of day; "Gunston the friend lives ftill: And give thy groans 86 away." An ELEGY on Mr. THOMAS GOUGE. To Mr. ARTHUR SHALLET, Merchant. THE fubject of the following elegy was high in your esteem, and enjoyed a large fhare of your affections. Scarce doth his memory need the affistance of the Mufe to make it perpetual; but when she can at once pay her honours to the venerable dead, and by this addrefs acknowledge the favours fhe has received from the living, it is a double pleasure to, SIR, Your obliged humble fervant, I. WATTS. To the Memory of the Revd. Mr THOMAS GOUGE, who died Jan. 8th, 1988. YE E virgin fouls, whose sweet complaint Could Sion's ruin fo divinely paint, Array'd in beauty and in woe: Awake, ye virgin fouls, to mourn, And with your tuneful forrows dreis a prophet's urn. *Pfal. 137. Lament. i. 2, 3. O could O could my lips or flowing eyes I'd teach the feas, and teach the skies, Rocks fhall have eyes, and stones have ears, While Gouge's death is mourn'd in melody and tears. Heaven was impatient of our crimes, And fent his minifter of death To fcourge the bold rebellion of the times, Then took a difmal aim, and brought great Gouge to duft. Great Gouge to duft! how doleful is the found! No vulgar mortal dy'd When he refign'd his breath. The Muse that mourns a nation's fall, Should mingle majefty and groans, Sion grows weak, and England poor, Can furnish fuch a pomp for death no more. The reverend man let all things mourn; Fated in flesh to be confin'd, And order'd to be born. His foul was of th' angelic frame, The fame ingredients, and the mold the fame, How would he mount, how would he fly Tow'rd the celeftial coaft! With what amazing swiftnefs foar Till earth's dark ball was feen no more, And all its mountains loft! Scarce could the Muse pursue him with her fight: But, angels, you can tell, For oft you met his wondrous flight, And knew the stranger well; Say, how he past the radiant spheres, And vifited your happy feats, And trac'd the well-known turnings of the golden ftreets, And walk'd among the ftars. Tell Tell how he climb'd the everlasting hills Surveying all the realms above, Borne on a strong-wing'd faith, and on the fiery wheels Of an immortal love. 'Twas there he took a glorious fight Of the inheritance of faints in light, And read their title in their Saviour's right. How oft the humble fcholar came, And to your fongs he rais'd his ears To view th' eternal bafe that bears, Full of mercy full of awe, The glories of his power, and glories of his grace: Of those celeftial facred things, In that majestic face. That face did all his gazing powers employ, With most profound abasement and exalted joy, He ftood adoring by ; The volume open'd to his eye, And sweet intelligence he held With all his shining kindred of the sky. Ye feraphs that surround the throne, Tell how his name was through the palace known, Speak |