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An elegy, sacred to the memory of the great divine, the Reverend and learned Dr. Samuel Cooper, who departed this life December 29, 1783, aetatis 59. by Phillis Peters.
Wheatley, Phillis, 1753-1784.

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Documentary Sources Database. American Multiculturalism Series. Unit One. Documenting the African American Experience.

About the print version

An elegy, sacred to the memory of the great divine, the Reverend and learned Dr. Samuel Cooper, who departed this life December 29, 1783, aetatis 59. by Phillis Peters.
Wheatley, Phillis, 1753-1784.

Signatures: [A]__4 (vertical chain lines).

Printed and sold by E. Russell, in Essex-Street, near Liberty-Pole. Boston: 1784

Early American Imprints, 1st series, no. 18726 (filmed)


[Note: "Words for a funeral anthem ... set to musick by Mr. Billings. And performed at the funeral of the Reverend Dr. Samuel Cooper, on Friday, January 2, 1784." -- p. [7]-8.]

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Wegelin, O. Amer. poetry, 435.
Cooper, Samuel, 1725-1783 -- Poetry.
Elegies.
Songs.
Blacks as authors.
Women as authors.
Billings, William, 1746-1800.
Russell, Ezekiel, 1743-1796, printer.
United States -- Massachusetts -- Boston.
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. 1784
Dedication

To the CHURCH and CONGREGATION assembling in Brattle-Street, the following ELEGY, Sacred to the MEMORY of their late Reverend 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
Page 4
From every ill mortality endur'd,
Safe in celestial Salem's walls secur'd.

E'an 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,
Page 5
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 distress'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.
Page 6
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 talk 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. 1.
    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 acquaintance into darkness.
  • CHORUS.
    Have pity on me, O ye my friends, &c.
  • Page 8

    Psalm 6, -- 6.
    I am weary with my groaning ; 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 Soul cleaveth unto the dust : My soul melteth for heaviness.
  • CHORUS.
    Have pity, &c.
  • Job 1, -- 21. Naked came I out of my mother'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.