Alexander Shields

“ Through highest mountains, and remotest glens,
Compelling him to caves and hidden dens:
Where weary, cold, and hungry, he could find
No comfort, but what from the heavens shin’d:
Yet after all their proud designs were done,
His works to them prov’d Sisyphus his stone;
Still with renewed force, afresh returning,
The bush did burn, but did not waste in burning;
His dispicable followers, tho’ few,
The more they were afflicted, more they grew ”

“ When Babel's brats the world so much encumber,
When Zion's Sons daily decrease in number,
When now the godly cease, the faithful fail,
When few are left, their funerals to bewail,
When nought but thorns, where corn grew, we can find,
When gold is gone, and dross but left behind,
When our Elijahs, Israel's Chariot’s gone,
When yet, alas! ”

“ The perishing of worthies must presage,
That they delivered are from that which we
Are call’d to fear, but cannot bear, nor flee;
But tho’ our loss be great, his gain is glory,
His life, his death, shall be renown’d in story ”

“ Where everlastingly he hath abode;
Where without intermission night or day,
Where without interruption or delay,
Without all cares, without all faints or fears,
Without all snares, without all plaints or tears,
He serves, he sings, he sees the Lamb that's feeding,
And unto lovely living waters leading:
Where leave we him full of Jehovah's joy,
Whom no more sin, nor sorrow, can annoy;
And rest lamenting, while i ‘th‘ vale of tears,
Our growing grief, and fresh recurring fears.
An Anagram on
MASTER JAMES RENWICK.
I am Christ's meek Servant. ”

“ As tho’ well known, yet known but to a few:
As dying daily, and yet living still,
As chastined, yet above their reach to kill;
As sorrowful, yet joying evermore,
As poor, yet making (illegible text) rich in store ”

“ Imposing conscience-coz ning oaths and bonds,
Recusants, banishing to foreign lands,
Or murdering by bloody butchers hands.
Could never either their own cumbers finish,
Nor so much as their numbers yet deminish:
Nor crush, nor cool his unappalled zeal,
Nor of his ministry cancel the seal,
Engraven on the hearts of many hearers,
Who were Jehovah’s followers and fearers ”