AN
ELEGY,
SACRED TO THE
MEMORY
OF THAT GREAT DIVINE,
THE REVEREND AND LEARNED
DR. SAMUEL COOPER,
Who departed this Life December 29, 1783,
AETATIS 59.
BY PHILLIS PETERS.
BOSTON: Printed and Sold by E. Russell,
in Essex-Street, near Liberty-Pole,
M,DCC,LXXXIV.

To the CHURCH and CONGREGATION
assembling in Brattle-Street, the following
ELEGY,
Sacred to the MEMORY of their late Re-
verend and Worthy PASTOR, DR.
SAMUEL COOPER, is, with
the greatest Sympathy, most respectfully
inscribed by their Obedient,
Humble Servant,
PHILLIS PETERS.
BOSTON, Jan. 1784.

AN
ELEGY, &c.

O THOU whose exit wraps in boundless
woe,
For Thee the tears of various Nations
flow:
For Thee the floods of virtuous sorrows rise
From the full heart and burst from streaming eyes,
Far from our view to Heaven's eternal height,
The Seat of bliss divine, and glory bright;
Far from the restless turbulence of life,
The war of factions, and impassion'd strife.
From every ill mortality endur'd,
Safe in celestial Salem's walls secur'd.

E'ER yet from this terrestrial state retir'd,
The Virtuous lov'd Thee, and the Wife admir'd.
The gay approv'd Thee, and the grave rever'd;
And all thy words with rapt attention heard!
The Sons of Learning on thy lessons hung,
While soft persuasion mov'd th' illit'rate throng.
Who, drawn by rhetoric's commanding laws,
Comply'd obedient, nor conceiv'd the cause.
Thy every sentence was with grace inspir'd,
And every period with devotion fir'd;
Bright Truth thy guide without a dark disguise,
And penetration's all-discerning eyes.

THY COUNTRY mourns th' afflicting Hand divine
That now forbids thy radiant lamp to shine,
Which, like the sun, resplendent source of light
Diffus'd its beams, and chear'd our gloom of night.

WHAT deep-felt sorrow in each Kindred breast
With keen sensation rends the heart distres'd!
Fraternal love sustains a tenderer part,
And mourns a BROTHER with a BROTHER'S heart.

THY CHURCH laments her faithful PASTOR fled
To the cold mansions of the silent dead.
There hush'd forever, cease the heavenly strain,
That wak'd the soul, but here resounds in vain.
Still live thy merits, where thy name is known,
As the sweet Rose, its blooming beauty gone
Retains its fragrance with a long perfume:
THUS COOPER! thus thy death-less name shall bloom
Unfading, in thy Church and Country's love,
While Winter frowns, or spring renews the grove.

The hapless Muse, her loss in COOPER mourns,
And as she sits, she writes, and weeps, by turns;
A Friend sincere, whose mild indulgent grace
Encourag'd oft, and oft approv'd her lays.

WITH all their charms, terrestrial objects strove,
But vain their pleasures to attract his love.
Such COOPER was -- at Heaven's high call he flies;
His task well finish'd, to his native skies.
Yet to his fate reluctant we resign,
Tho' our's to copy conduct such as thine:
Such was thy wish, th' observant Muse survey'd
Thy latest breath, and this advice convey'd.

WORDS FOR A FUNERAL
ANTHEM,
Taken from the following SCRIPTURES;
And set to Musick by Mr. BILLINGS.
And performed at the FUNERAL of the
Reverend DR. SAMUEL COOPER,
on FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1784.

1 Sam. 25 Chap. V. I. SAMUEL the Priest gave
up the ghost, and all
Israel mourned.
Job 19, - - - 21. Have pity upon me, O ye my
friends; for the hand of GOD
hath touched me.
Psalm 88, - - - 18. Lover and friend hast thou put
far from me, and mine ac-
quaintance into darkness.
CHORUS.
Have pity on me, O ye my friends, &c.


Psalm 6, - - - 6. I am weary with my groan-
ing; all the night make I
my Bed to swim: I water my
couch with my tears.
CHORUS.
Have pity, &c.
Psalm 119, - 25, 28. My Sould cleaveth unto the
dust: My soul melteth
for heaviness.
CHORUS.
Have pity, &c.
Job 1, - - - 21. Naked came I out of my mo-
ther's womb, and naked shall
I return.
CHORO GRANDO.
The LORD gave, and the LORD taketh away:
And blessed be the name of the LORD.