Anonymous British

An Elegy Upon the late Learned and Laborious Servant of Christ, John Owen

When such a Father doth in Israel die, Who can forbear to sound an Elegy? Which may at once His Worth and Praise rehearse, And Our great Loss lament in mournful Verse, With tributary Tears doe to His Hearse; Who was a piercing, burning, beautious Light, Whose Rays enliven'd, warm'd, and shin'd most bright! Not that this Venerable Person's Hearse Doth need (at all) the Ornament of Verse; But this Respect is paid, due by the Laws Of Gratitude; His Name asks no Applause; He rais'd Himself a Monument of His own, Which will out-last those of the hardest Stone: His Fame will live to late Posterity In's Theo-Christo-Pneuma-tology, And various Volumes more, where we may find How in His Soul rich Gifts and Grace were joyn'd: His Learned Tongue, which living, did impart Words from His own unto His Hearers Heart, And taught those Truths, whose Worth and Excellence Were felt before in His Experience, Alas! is silenc'd now! But still his Pen Does and will preach to multitudes of Men: Such sound and weighty Doctrines does unfold, As try'd by Scripture Touch-stone, prove true Gold. Which shew the Dross, the false, the vile Opinions Of Atheists, Deists, Papists, and Arminians, Of Neonomians, Quakers, and Socinians! This skilful Architect, who built upon The only Fundamental Corner-stone, Took no small Care the Diff'rence to descry Between true Grace, and meer Morality: Did not, as most, the Outside only scower, But to the form of Piety joyn'd the Power: Not only taught, but trod the Gospel Path, And both defended and adorn'd the Faith. His zealous Love to Father, Son, and Spirit, From all true Christian Hearts Esteem did merit! Where shall we find on Earth His Parallel, Who Spoke, and Wrote, and Liv'd, and Dy'd so well? Many there are that have by Him been fed, Instructed, Help'd, Rais'd, Cur'd, and Comforted: These might have made His Hearse with Tears to swim, But that their Loss prov'd greatest Gain to Him; Who long had travell'd in the Narrow way, And borne the heat and burden of the Day; Tho' to our Loss, we needs must yield, that such Should go to Rest, who bore an did so much; And may we learn of Him to conquer Death, Who, when His Work was finish'd here beneath. Lay down in Peace; and as the Sun (we say) Setting serene, foretels 'twill shine next Day; So This great Luminary's lightsom Even, Shew'd with what Splendor He now shines in Heav'n! EPITAPH. In this Place sleeps One who in Grace did shine, One who Religion made His chief Design! Printed in John Owen's Seventeen Sermons, volume 1, {printed for, and sold by William and Joseph Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street. 1720}, placed after the "Death Sermon" on Owen by David Clarkson. The Rev. John Owen, who was born in Oxfordshire (of Welsh extraction) was Oliver Cromwell's favourite preacher. Perhaps the most controversial action of Owen's career was preaching to Parliament the very day after King Charles I. was executed. Owen does not condemn them, nor even does he directly mention the execution. Instead he deftly hints at his approval. He was an extremely learned man, an expert in the ancient languages, and also a tutor to the famous Richard Baxter.