AN ELEGY On the Death of the Reverend and Pious Mr. Thomas Wadsworth, Sometime Preacher of the Gospel in Newington-Butts, and late of London, who departed this Life the 29th. of October, 1676.  
IS Wadsworth Dead! how can this be resolved?  
we'll grant you the Compositu●… that's dissolved;  
But for his Soul, it lives among the Blessed,  
His Body's but asleep, and gone to Rest.  
He Preached and Writ o'th' Souls Immortality,  
Which Doctrine he finds true, now in Glory.  
If Soul-sleepers could into Heaven peep,  
They would convinced be, the Soul goes not to sleep.  
For then and there, they quickly would behold  
Holy Wadsworth's Soul, shine more bright than Gold.  
Acting its Part mongst that Heavenly Choir,  
With lively vigorous Zeal as hot as Fire:  
Where living, He shall Live, and never Dye,  
No more Tossed, nor Green through Pain and Cry;  
For Kidney, Ulcer, and Stone in Bladder,  
Hath proved to him a Happy Jacob's Ladder.  
Which thought 'twas painful for him to ascend,  
Yet come to Top, it did in Glory end.  
So Death to him, save One, proved his best Friend.  
Which One is Christ, through whose Blood and Merit,  
Alone 'tis that, He's with God in Spirit.  
Which Truth's believed, proves Souls Immortality;  
Also disproves blind Pope's Purgatory.  
And what a joyful Meeting may one think.  
Had this Blessed Soul, upon an Eye- 〈◊〉 wink.  
With that Blessed Company which is above:  
Where met with Patriarches, Martyrs, and Holy 〈◊〉  
Also with Others of a later Date,  
Who went to Heaven at a cheaper Rate;  
As Golden Havilah and Holy Jesse,  
Reverend Caryl, Venning, and blessed 〈◊〉,  
With Learned West, Pledger, and many more,  
Who now shall have Pleasure for evermore;  
And not to forget Reverend Mr. Well,  
Who spent himself to save poor Souls from Hell.  
But now himself to Heaven's gone from Earth,  
And Blessed Wadsworth last hath yielded up his breath,  
And with them hath had a happy Meeting,  
And to each performed a joyful Greeting.  
But what was Wadsworth that thus much is said  
Of him whose Body now in Grave is laid.  
Was he a Man who in his life deserved  
To be at's Death so Honourably served?  
Yea, He was a man, whose Life deserved it,  
Let none therefore envy his Death hath it,  
The Honour now which he hath with God in Spirit,  
He hath alone for th' sake of Christ's Merit.  
But, th' Honour which to him's given at's Death,  
His Life deserved in spending of his Breath,  
For Welfare and th' good of men's Immortal Souls,  
To●…t, and them, prepare 'gainst the Bell touls.  
When first He came from University,  
At Newington-Busts he lift up his Cry,  
To make Dead Souls to hear his Master's voice.  
And so leave Sin and serve God our of Choice:  
And so loud Cried to Sinners gone astray,  
That many he brought back to Heaven's way.  
Two Sermons he did Preach every Lord's day,  
Each Morn in th' Week he did Expound and Pray;  
Besides he often visited his Flock,  
And at their doors most frequently did knock,  
To see and know each Soul's stare and condition,  
In which he showed himself a good Physician,  
And, cordingly his Remedy applied;  
The Weak with Strength, the Sad with joy supplied.  
And as hungry Souls by him was sad with Food,  
So was hungry Bodies with that which was good  
He sought the Flock more these he did the Place.  
To do Them good was both is Joy and Peace.  
He sought not as some their Silver but their Soul  
What ere he lost, he would their Sin 〈◊〉:  
To Rich and Poor, he Preached 〈◊〉  
 
Thus he served 〈…〉  
In Faith and Lore, and Godly Fear:  
And when for 〈…〉 turned 〈◊〉  
In Country Towns and City 〈…〉  
And though God gave him great Ability,  
Yet still he showed forth as great Humility.  
At length God's providence, which ruleth well,  
At Tibbals placed him, to save some from Hell;  
And there he did not Preach nor run in vain,  
Some fruit God gave him to reward his pain;  
For many there by him was converted,  
Which from th' Faith of Christ was much departed.  
Keeping still his Flock he had at London,  
Though for it he was like to be undone.  
Yet when a place was here for him builded,  
Yet still at Tibbals he as Pastor ruled;  
Keeping Pluralities, but not for Gain?  
But to save th' more Souls from Eternal Pain:  
And when th' Persecution was most hot,  
He neglected not to feed his Flock a jot;  
But Preach he would by Day or by th' Night,  
Though sometimes rude Soldiers did him fright.  
And thus he served both places, though by strealth,  
Until he found it did impair his Health;  
And then with Counsel did himself advise  
How to scape being th' People's Sacrifice.  
One place he now must leave, though both loved him well,  
He loved them again, therefore could not tell,  
Which People to leave, both were to him so dear:  
This thing to Decide cost him many 〈◊〉.  
Also both Flocks a Claim to him did lay,  
Whose Shepherd to be, to guide them Heavens way:  
From whence some small Contention did arise  
Between both Flocks, yet both were Godly wise.  
At length by counsel he did come to dwell  
At Pickle-Herring, a place known full well;  
But when Preached Two Sermons had at Dead-place,  
His Master sent Grim Death to look him inh ' Face.  
Preaching the last, He made us all to wonder,  
He did so long and loud 'gainst Sin thunder;  
And before he ended, and went his way,  
Did summon the World to meet him at Judge day.  
And so it proved, for him they'll see no more,  
Till they meet to see him the Lord before.  
For on Twenty ninth October, th' Lord's own day,  
'Bout two o'th' Clock his Lord took him away.  
He hath sought his Fight, and run throughout his Race,  
And now to Heaven's gone to take his place:  
But what a great Loss this is, who can tell?  
None till Experience to Us it spell.  
Great loss tothth' Church, no less to his Relation;  
Yea a great loss tothth' whole English Nation.  
Therefore let all that doth this sad News hear,  
Endeavour to bedew it with a Tear:  
Let Sinners all, them of their Sin Repent,  
Which hath provoked God to make this Rent.  
Let all God's People in Love united be,  
That he may not from them take their Ministry:  
Let Magistry, Ministry, and People all,  
Turn from their Sin, and upon the Lord call  
For Mercy to be shown to this Nation,  
That we become not a Desolation.  
Let all that go hear at Dead-man's-Place,  
Mourning, remembers Blessed Wadsworth's Face;  
And pray his Death may Preach now he is Dead;  
That Sinners dying may find th' Grave a Bed,  
That at th' morning of the Resurrection,  
May meet 'gain with him with a good Complexion.  
Let Tibbals People improve this Loss so well,  
As to come to Heaven and escape Hell.   

HIS MOTTO.  
HErs sleeps the Body of Holy Wadsworth Blast,  
〈◊〉 him not; his Soul is gone to Rest.  
And this his clay shall have a Glorious rising  
When Christ comes at Resurrection Morning.  
He 〈◊〉 in Life, and he preacheth now  
〈…〉 Vow,  
 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉