The Memory of the just is blessed and is to be had in everlasting remembrance a most useful (pithy and deserved) commendation of (that pious and reverend minister of the gospel) Mr. Thomas Wadsworth, who changed this life for a better, October 29, 1676 : printed in meeter to perfume his name and keep alive his memory to future posterity.

lionesque skull crowned by a winged time-turner

MEMENTO MORI

The Memory of the Just is blessed , and is to be had in everlasting remembrance . A most Useful ( Pithy and Deserved ) Commendation of ( that Pious and Reverend Minister of the Gospel ) Mr. Thomas Wadsworth . Who changed this Life for a better , October 29. 1676. Printed in Meeter to perfume his Name , and keep alive his Memory to future Posterity .

poem is framed by images of skeletons, skulls, time-turners, and graveyard implements, as well as two more banners reading MEMENTO MORI

IS Wadsworth Dead ! how can this be resolv'd ! Wee 'll grant you the Compositum that's dissolv'd ; But for his Soul , it Lives among the Blest , His Body 's but Asleep and gone to Rest . He Preacht and Wrote , o' th Souls Immortality , Which Doctrine he finds True , now in Glory . If Soul-sleepers , could into Heaven peep , They would convinc'd 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 Quire , With lively vig'rous Zeal as hot as Fire : Where Living , He shall Live and never Dye , No more to Sin , nor Groan through Pain and Cry ; Of Kidney Ulcer , and Stone in Bladder , Which to him prov'd a Happy Jacob's Ladder . For though 't was 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 't is that , He 's with God in Spirit . Which Truth believed , proves Soul Immortality ; Likewise disproves blind Popes Purgatory . And what a joyful Meeting may one think Had this Blest Soul upon an Eye-lids wink , With that Blest Company which is above , With Patriarch's , Martyrs , and Holy Love ; 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 Blest Janeway , With Learned Wilkison , and Whitaker , Whose Names on Earth , still perfumed are ; With their great Learning , Labour and Holy Life , Which whil'st they lived , was in them most Rife . Their Learning now 's ended , their Labour 's done ; They have run their Race , and the Prize have won . So Reverend West , Pledger , and Sweet Mr. Well . Who spent themselves , to save poor Souls from Hell . But now are all , to Heaven gone from Earth , And Blest Wadsworth last , hath yielded up his Breath . And with them all , had a joyful Greeting , Where Persecutor can't disturb their Meeting . 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 , deserv'd ? To be at 's death , so honourably serv'd : Yea he was , a man , whose life , deserv'd it : Let none , therefore , envy his death hath it . For th' honour , which to him 's given at 's death , He well deserv'd , in spending , of his breath : ●or welf●re , and th' good of mens immortal souls , To fit , and them prepare , 'gainst the bell touls . When first , he came from University , At New●ngton Butts , he lift up his cry : To make dead souls , to hear , his Masters voice , And so , leave Sin , and serve God out of choice . And so loud cry'd , to sinners , gone astray : That many , he brought back , to Heavens way . Two Sermons , he did preach , on each Lords day : Each Morn , i' 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 souls state and condition , In which , he shew'd himself a good Physician . And ' cordingly , his remedy , apply'd : The weak , with strength , the sad , with joy , supply'd . And 's hungry souls , by him , was fed with food : So 's hungry bodies , with that which was good . He sought the flock , more than he did the fleece : To do them good , was both his joy and peace . To Rich and Poor , he preacht impartially : With great conversion , God seal'd his Ministry . And when , for Conscience sake , he was turn'd out ; In Countrey , Town , and City , preach'd about . As he preach'd , in Pulpit , frequent and rife : So he preach'd , in practice , by his holy life . His life was perfect , and his death was peace : He fed his Flock , but never took the Fleece ; Therefore let 's Brethren , him for pattern take : And thence learn , to do more , for th' Lord Christ's sake . For though , God gave him great ability : Yet still he shew'd forth as great Humility . At length God's Providence , which ruleth well , At Tibbals plac'd 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 ; Who from th' Faith of Christ , had much departed . Keeping still his Flock he had at London : Though for it he was like to be undone . Keeping Pluralities , but not for gain : But to save more souls from eternal pain . And when th' Persecution was most hot , Did not neglect to feed his Flocks a jot . But preach he would , by day , or by the night : Though sometimes rude Souldiers did much him fright . And thus he serv'd both places , though by stealth , Until he found it did impair his health : And then , with counsel , did himself advise , That he might not be th' Peoples Sacrifice . 〈◇〉〈◇〉〈◇〉 m●n ●eave , yet ●ot●●ov●d him well ; He lov'd them again , therefore could not tell Which to forsake , both were to him so dear . This thing , to decide , cost him many a tear . Likewise , each Flock , a claim to him did lay , Whose Shepherd to be , t'guid 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 Pickleherring , a place known full well . But when preach'd two Sermons had at Dead-place , His Master sent grim death to look him i' th' face . Preaching th' last , he made the people 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 that prov'd , for him they 'l see no more , Till they meet to see him the Lord before . For ' th Twenty ninth October the Lords one day , 'Bout two o' th Clock his Lord took him away . He hath fought his Fight , and run throughout's Race , And now to Heaven's gone to take his place . Thus God himself hath ended two Flocks strife , By taking from them their dear Shepherds life . But what a great loss this is , who can tell ? ( None ) till experience to us it spell : Great loss to th' Church , no less to his Relations , Yea , a great loss to th' whole English Nation . He was a man with whom few could compare , To find the like , would any man out-ware . Therefore let all that doth this sad News hear , Endeavour to bedew it with a tear . Let all Gods Children in Love unit'd be , That he may not from them take their Ministry ▪ Let Sinners all , them of their Sinnes repent , Which hath provoked God to make this rent . Let Magistry , Ministry , and People all , Turn from their sin and upon the Lord call : For mercy to be shewn to this Nation , That we become not a Desolation . Let all that go to hear at D●ad mans place , Mourning Remember Bless'd Wadswort●'s Face ; And pray his D●ath may Preach now he is Dead , That Sinners dying ma● find the Grave a B●d : To lodge their Bodies till the Resurrection , And then Awake with a good Complexion . Let Tibbals Flock improve this loss so well , As to come to Heaven and escape Hell .

HIS EPITAPH . HEre sleeps the Body of Holy Wadsworth Blest , Disturb him not , his Soul is gone to R●st . And this his Dust shall have a Glorious Rising , W●en Chirst comes ●t Resurrection Morning : He Preach'd in Life , and Dead he Preacheth still , To Sinners , to keep and ob●y Gods will , Holy lives to live , all Sin to forsak● , That they with him in Glory may partake . Memento Mortis .