An Elegy Upon the Death of James Renwick 2, Elegy – Acrostic
AN ELEGIE, UPON The Death, of that Famous and Faithfull Miniſter and Martyr, Mr. JAMES RENWICK.
Compoſed immediatly after his Execution at Edinburgh, 17. Feb. 1688.
Rev. 2.19. I know thy Works, and where thou dwelleſt, even where Satans Seat is: And thou holdeſt faſt my Name and haſt not denyed my Faith, even in thoſe dayes wherein Antipas was My Faithfull Martyr, who was ſlain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Printed in the Year, 1688.
AN ELEGIE, UPON The Death, of that Famous and Faithfull Miniſter and Martyr, Mr. JAMES RENWICK.
HEre's work, alas! for Mourners, to deplore
This fatal ſtroke, ſadly preſaging more!
In ſuch a day, let's hang our harps on willowes:
Its not a time of laying heads on pillowes:
In ſuch a day of wrath, and Conſternation,
In ſuch a day of Dread, and Deſolation;
A day of tryal, and of treading down,
A day wherein our head hath loſt its Crown,
A day of Blaſphemy, Rebuke and Trouble,
A day of Darkneſs, and of Sorrows double,
A day of great Vexations, and Confuſions,
A day of great temptations, and Deluſions,
A day of Jumbling, manifold Diſtractions,
A day of Stumbling, manifeſt Defections,
A day of Famine of the word of Life,
A day of Sinning, Suffering, and Strife:
When Babels Brats the world ſo much encumber,
When Zions Sons dayly decreaſe in number,
When now the Godly ceaſe, the Faithfull 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 Elijah's, Iſraels's Chariot's gone.
When yet, alas! theſe Mantles left with none,
When many Hypocrites Chriſts Fan diſcovers,
When few are left, that are his loyal Lovers,
When for his laws, theſe few are ſore oppreſſed,
When for his cauſe, they're pillag'd and diſtreſſed,
When thoſe are hunted, and alwayes afflicted,
When of all help, and harbour interdicted,
When chaſ'd through Country, and purſu'd in City,
When baniſh'd, butcher'd, yet, in ſtead of pity,
(When counted ſlaughter ſheep, and daily killed,
By ſuch as ſit at eaſe) they much are filled
With inſolent contempt, and ſad reproaches,
Which of all falſhood, ſtill the father broaches:
When Popiſh Tyrants, vile Beelzebubs drudges,
On thrones of tyrrannie, are own'd for judges,
When now, like ſtupid aſſes, Men are mute,
When ſuch Uſurpers challenge abſolute
And arbitrary power, to ſacrifice
Religion, Laws, and Lives, and Liberties;
When faithfull goſpel preachers are ſo few,
In ſharing times, to give a warning due;
When now foul murdering wolfes, Chriſts flock devour.
When watchmen wanting are on Zions Tower,
When few that's called ſo deſerve the name,
But many are the ages bane and ſhame;
When now in ſtead of valour for the truth,
And crying loud with trumpets at their mouth,
Upon ſuch loudly clamant, clear occaſions;
(When Babels baſtards boldly make invaſions,
By blinding bribes, corrupting flatteries,
By cunning craft, and cheating ſhams, and lies
Upon our Covenanted Reformation,
And all our Liberties of Church and Nation
Betrayed, by this Popiſh Toleration.
Whereby this abſolut pow'r is recognoſc'd,
And all its proud encroachings are ingroſſ'd,
Over Laws Divine, Humane, all made void,
Religions legal bulwarks all deſtroy'd,
All Blaſphemy, Idolatrie, and ſin,
Now ſuffered, yea invited to come in;
The church of all her priviledges robb'd,
And with a Kiſs, under the fifth rib ſtobb'd;
In Liew of all her laws, ſecurities,
All Oaths, and Vows, and ſolemn promiſes,
Having no more aſſurance, then a blind
Promiſe, of one, whom no ſuch bond can bind:
Her doctrine, worſhip, and church government,
According to our Solemn Covenant,
All hereby undermin'd and overturn'd,
For which her ſons ſhould all have rather mourn'd)
Our Miniſters for ſin have made Addreſſes,
Charmed with Babels flattering Carcaſſes,
Bewitch'd with this intoxicating drink,
Which Hell did brew, and Rome with art did blink:
Caſt to a deep Zeal-quenching Lethergie,
…urchaſing hereby eaſe, and libertie,
On terms of ſelling truth, and ſhifting duty;
Whereby Chriſts bride's depriv'd of all her beauty.
In ſuch a day to loſe a faithfull witneſs,
And champion, accompliſhed with fitneſs
To ſtrive for Chriſts prerogatives, and laws,
Muſt be bemoan'd by all that love his cauſe.
Come therefore all ye Doves, that dwell i'the rock,
… and deplore this wrath preſaging ſtroke;
Come chaſed birds hotly purfu'd to mountaine;
Come hunted harts, which pant and bray for fountains!
Come wandring ſheep, without a ſheepherd ſtraying;
Come bidden ones, afraid of falſe bewraying;
Come all ye faithful followers of the Lamb,
Whoſe hearts in Zeal do for his glory flame,
Whoſe hearts in fervent love to Chriſt are burning,
Whoſe hearts do melt out at the eyes in mourning;
Come, with a flood of tears the valleys fill,
And make your voice reſound from hill to hill;
Cauſe all the mountains circling round from Carrick,
With roaring noiſe, rebound as far as Berwick;
From Carn-table skirts, and Ahingilloch,
To Marocks towering hights, and heads of Killoch;
From Tintoch-tops, and all the hills of Clidſdale,
To all the hills of Galloway, and Nithſdale;
From theſe about Black-gannoch, and the Lothers,
To Craufoord-muire, and Tweddal hills, and others;
Wherein ye hunted were, through all the glens,
Wherein ye hiding places ſought in dens,
Wherein ye often forced were to flights,
Wherein ye often filled were with frights,
Wherein your hands were ſtrengthened, heads ſupported,
Your minds confirmed, and your hearts comforted,
While your Renowned Renwick, now a Martyr,
Was paſſing through, preaching in every quarter,
His Maſters glorious and gracious banner
Diſplaying faithfully, in lovely manner:
Like to a voice in wilderneſſes crying,
Making a noiſe moſt ſweet, as ſwans when dying,
Declaring all Gods counſel, and revealed
Truths, which alive blaſſerted, dying ſealed
But now in thoſe waſte deſolate receſſes,
No voice is heard, but mourning for diſtreſſes:
No voice is heard, but that of grievous groaning,
The glory gone, deplorably bemoaning,
Come therefore and put on your ſable, Saints,
Fill all the hills and vales with ſad complaints,
Whereof the Echo may be heard in Heaven,
In lamentation for the blow that's given,
Unto the wounded weeping remnant left,
Which of their Renwick is of late bereft,
By murdering violence of beaſts of prey,
Romes bloody whelps, torn from his houſe of clay,
How may his little flock, alas, complain
How may they now, ſo great a loſs ſuſtain▪
Scotland hath loſt, the world hath loſt a man,
Whoſe room ſupply, there few ſurviving can▪
The church hath loſt a ſon more pure and dearer
Than Ophirs gold the truth a Standard-bearer;
Zion hath loſt, by this complex diſaſter,
A Witneſs, Wreſtler, Mourner, and a Paſtor;
The ſcattered ſheep, a moſt laborious Leader;
Poor hungry ſouls, have loſt a painfull Feeder;
The ſufferers, have loſt a Sympothiſer;
The doubtfull halting ſouls, a good Adviſer;
The weak, a wiſe encouraging Supporter;
The wanderers and mourners, a Comforter;
The tempted ſouls, a Counſellour in terrours;
The Ignorant, a Guide to keep from errours
The Zealous, from extreams a holding Bridle;
The lazy ſort, a Spurre from being idle;
The temporizing ſort of faint complyers,
Duty's deſerters, and Chriſts truth's denyers,
May boldly now proceed in their backſliding,
Since that they are delivered from his chiding,
Who never ceaſ'd to be a free Reprover,
Nor ſins and ſnares in ſeaſon to diſcover.
How inſupportable is ſuch a croſs!
How irreparable is ſuch a loſs!
Oh, let us now make ſearch that we may know
What may the meaning be of ſuch a blow!
What ſins have this procur'd, let's meditat,
What further ſorrows may't prognoſticat?
Our miſimprovements let us now confeſs
Of ſuch enjoyments, our unworthineſs
Of Renwicks gracious meſſage, little priſ'd,
And of his precious Miniſtrie deſpiſ'd,
Our barrenneſs, and baſe ingratitude,
Our wearineſs of that Angelick food,
Whereof the worth we know now by the want,
And muſt henceforth in tears the loſs lament;
Theſe have this Rod in righteouſneſs extorted,
From a juſt God, and left us uncomforted;
A Rod which we may ſadly now ſuppoſe,
A fatal forerunner of future woes,
Impendent on this baſe degenerat age;
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 thô our loſs be great, his gain is glory,
His Life, his Death, ſhall be renown'd in ſtory;
VVhichWhich death to us moſt coſtly and moſt painful,
Shall to the Covenanted cauſe be gainful;
In that, in place of a reproached Paſtor.
A Martyr now renown'd by this diſaſter.
Is left us, to their everlaſting ſhame,
Who ceaſed not with lies to load his Name,
And with reproaches foully to beſpatter,
VVhichWhich malice did contrive, and madneſs ſcatter;
VVhichWhich fraud invented, as its father fain'd
Fury did vent, and folly intertain'd.
Now ſhall his Name in Monuments of praiſe,
(VVhichWhich to his fame poſterity ſhall raiſe)
Still ſtand recorded, that he was a Martyr,
Fruitfull in life, faithfull in his departure:
Contemn'd indeed by Apoſtats, and Scorners;
But eminent among all Zions mourners:
For love undoubted, and undaunted faith,
For conſtancie unto his final breath,
For patience abiding in all trial,
For pietie, and humble ſelf-denyal,
For meekneſs true, in condeſcending tender,
For ſtrickneſs due (he'd not a hoof ſurrender)
For uniform true Zeal and Moderation,
Of more then ordinary Elevation;
VVhichWhich with an equal pace did ſtill advance,
'Gainſt all Defection and extravagance:
All Baſtard Zeal oppoſing with all boldneſs,
As well as dead Laodicean coldneſs:
For Miniſterial diligence much fam'd,
A VVorkman needing not to be aſham'd;
In preaching all the Counſel God reveal'd,
His Miniſtrie on many ſouls was ſeal'd,
VVhichWhich in his Maſters ſtrength he did commence,
And unto its fulfillment did advance,
Againſt the violenteſt oppoſition,
That ever any Youth in his condition
Had to conflict with, and at ſuch a ſeaſon,
VVhen dangers ſeem'd invincible to reaſon:
For like another Athanaſius bold,
He all the world oppoſed and control'd,
And had all ſorts of men upon his top,
All Prelatiſts, all Vaſſals of the Pope,
VVho did purſue him with all rage and rigour,
VVith might, and malice, violence, and vigour:
Thoſe Brethren alſo, whom, thô ſtill be lov'd,
He could not joyn with, but their ſins reprov'd,
VVho unto men their Miniſtry ſubjected.
Or had ſubmit to miſchiefs they enacted,
Or by Diſorders had their charge perverted
Or had their duty in its day deſerted,
Or were in ſoul Complyances involv'd.
Or thoſe to doub and plaiſter were reſolv'd
Or ſhamefully were ſilent at the times
Iniquities, when duties went for crimes;
With thoſe to ſtrive, Zeal for his maſters glory;
And indignation at their ſilly, ſorry,
Fooliſh, and feeble, fainting, cowardice,
(That few their all for truth durſt ſacrifice)
His generous ſoul did vigourouſly excite,
For which by ſome he was oppoſ'd with ſpight,
With malice, envy, and with cruel rage,
That nothing could unto his death aſſwage,
Yet mangre all aſſaults, his bow abode
In ſtrength, his hands confirm'd by Jacobs God:
By frowns, from duty, ne're could he be daunted
By flatteries, he ne're could be inchanted;
No fear of danger could him ever fear,
From diligence; Nor diſadvantage mar;
Nor any want of good accommodations,
Could ſtop his paſtoral exercitations;
In painfull preaching, viſiting, baptiſing,
In conferences, and in catechiſing;
Even when in wandering he had no repoſe,
But haggs, or hiding holes, in fear of foes:
Nothing to lay his weary head upon;
No couch but graſs; No pillow but a ſtone;
No better chamber oftimes he could have,
Then a dark den; No cloſet but a cave;
Yet under all this inconvenience,
He could poſſeſs his ſoul in patience;
His maſters favour above all things loving,
Himſelf as his true Miniſter approving,
By purity, by chaſtity unfeigned,
By veritie in ſanctity maintained,
By wiſdom, patience, by the ſpirits light,
By righteouſneſs on the left hand and right,
Caring for neither calumnies nor honour,
So that he might his conſcience exoner;
As a deceiver, yet approven true;
As thô well known, yet known but to a few;
As daily dying, and yet living ſtill,
As chaſtened, yet above their reach to kill;
As ſorrowfull, yet joying evermore;
As poor, yet making many rich in ſtore;
In many wants, in manifold diſtreſſes,
In pinching, priſon, and in wilderneſſes,
In painfull labours, and in weary watching,
In cold, and hunger, ſtill in fear of catching;
In many perils, both by ſea and land,
… enemies, and from falſe brethren's hand
Holland in part, Brittain, and Ireland know,
VVhat perils he was forc'd to undergo
In none of which, he any reſt could find,
But everywhere, both foes & friends combin'd,
By tongue and hand, him ſtill to perſecute,
In a moſt keen and violent purſute:
Hence ſuch a priſe was ſet upon his head,
As did entice to catch him, quick or dead,
Hells hotteſt Harpies; Villains, vileſt Vermine,
VVho by all means to take him did determine:
Therefore, in fury they the chaſe did follow,
By Hue and Cry, and many hideous hollow;
Through Cities, Country, Villages of Boors,
Through writteſt Moſſes, and through wildeſt Muirs,
Through higheſt Mountains, and remoteſt Glens,
Compelling him to Caves, and hidden Dens:
VVhere 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 work, to them prov'd Siſyphus his ſtone;
Still with renewed force, afreſh returning,
The buſh did burn, but did not waſt in burning;
His deſpicable Followers, thô few,
The more they were afflicted, more they grew:
All Proclamations, cruel Prohibitions,
All Circuit-Courts of Spaniſh Inquiſitions,
(Impoſing conſcience cozning Oaths and Bonds,
Recuſants, baniſhing to Forreign-Lands,
Or Murdering by bloody Butchers hands
Could never either yet their cumbers finiſh,
Nor ſo much as their Numbers yet diminiſh,
Nor cruſh, nor cool his unapall'd Zeal,
Nor of his Miniſtry cancell the Seal,
Engraven on the hearts of many hearers,
VVho were Jehovah's followers and fearers:
VVhichWhich now's impreſſed with a deeper ſtamp,
Since the expiring of this burning Lamp;
Whoſe lateſt ſparklings hath ſo brightly blaz'd,
That many eyes were dazled and amaz'd,
To ſee now viſibly without a cloud,
(And legibly in Characters of blood)
The adverſaries tyranny diſcloſ'd,
Their calumnies confute, that him oppoſ'd;
That thoſe deſpiſed truths have overcome,
For which contending, he got Martyrdom.
His teſtimony for his Maſters Cauſe,
The Churches Liberties, and Nations Laws;
For which in Life, he mightily contended)
Now by his Death to many much commended;
VVho ſearching what could be the cauſe, or crime,
VVherefore he loſt his Life at ſuch a time;
Did find that only he was too diſtinct
In ſpeaking that, which many others think.
This was the only Crime, was on him charg'd,
Thô to the hight of hainouſneſs enlarg'd;
Becauſe theſe ſoul enriching Randezvouſe,
Of Chriſts Militia, in the Fields, or Houſe,
The Devils grand eye-ſore, and great vexation,
Of all his friends, and foes of Reformation;
(VVhere hungry ſouls with heavenly food were nouriſh'd,
And where a Banner faithfully was flouriſh'd,
For the Regalia of the Churches Head,
And Liberties, wherewith he hath her freed)
He never ſuffer would to be ſuppreſſed,
Nor that the duty ſhould not be confeſſed;
Now when it was declared Capital,
And when by Law diſcharg'd as Criminal;
And by its old Promoters now deſerted,
VVhom Popiſh Tolerations have perverted:
In ſuch a caſe he vigourouſly contended,
That Meetings ſhould be valiently defended,
By Arms defenſive, which the Law of Nature,
And Law of God, allowes to every creature:
VVhen now they were in daily jeopardice,
Of having blood mixt with their Sacrifice.
This alſo was his Crime, or rather Crown,
That he would not a Popiſh Monſier own;
Sitting upon a Throne of Tyranny,
Uſurp'd by rapin, blood, and treachery;
Nor pay alledgiance to his Abſolut pow'r,
As pimp employed for the Romiſh Where;
Nor ſay, a Robbers Sacriledgions Rod,
Was now the Sacred Ordinance of God;
When ſuch in Sacred writ, is called rather
A Fox, or Dog, then a Politick Father.
In fine, for this he alſo was indyted;
Becauſe to bear the Croſs he us invited,
Rather than pay an execrable Ceſs,
Impoſ'd our Goſpel meetings to ſuppreſs,
For raiſing Forces Tyranny to ſtrengthen,
Our much enthraled miſery to lengthen,
For ruine the weak Remnant left devoting,
The Church and State Supremacy promoting,
… Teſts of lawleſs Loyalty enacted,
… betraying Liberty exacted,
The full amount then of his Accuſation,
Of all his troubles, the alone occaſion,
VVas, that at wickedneſs he'd never wink;
But ſtill ſpoke out, what others durſt but think:
From which, unto the death he would not ſwerve,
But boldly ſpake his mind without reſerve,
To Prelatiſts, and Papiſts, in their fury,
And to Profeſſors ſitting on his jury:
Invincibly he all their tricks withſtood,
Inflexibly reſiſting unto blood:
And for his Life to Supplicat diſdain'd,
Loſt he ſhould have his Teſtimony ſlain'd;
By which, though blood of l…mb he overcam…,
And loved … too de… at the ſame
VVhichWhich ſ…fully h'affirm… during brea…,
And faithfully confirmed by his death;
In ſuch a meaſure of Humility,
Of Patience, Meekneſs, Zeal, and Conſtancy;
That it to Enemies hath been confounding,
To Neutraliſts conviction much redounding,
To Heſitants and Halters Confirmation,
And to all Zione mourners Conſolation.
Hence in a bloody Chariot he hath gone,
To ſee, and ſtand before, Emmanuel's Throne;
His hands with Palms, his head with pleaſant Bayes,
His Cloathes in white, do ſparkle gliſtering Rayes
Of Glory; Glory ſinging, and ſalvation
To Him that brought him out of tribulation;
Unto the Throne and Temple of his God,
VVhere everlaſtingly he hath abode:
VVhere without intermiſſion night or day,
VVhere without interruption or delay,
VVithout all cares, without all ſaints or feare,
VV…out all ſnares, wi… all plaints or t…s,
He …ves, be ſings, he ſees the Lamb that's …ing,
And unto Lovely Living VVaters leading:
VVhere leave we him, full of Jehovah's Joy,
VVhom no more ſin, nor ſorrow, can annoy;
And reſt lamenting, while in the vale of tears,
Our growing grief, and freſh recurring fears.
An Anagram on his Name, MASTER JAMES RHENVICK I AM CHRISTs MEEK SERVANT.
Another. MASTER JAMES RENVICK MINE MARCK IS EVER THE SAME.
An Acroſtick on the ſame.
Meekneſs and Magnanimity moſt rare,
Advanc'd thy Actions, with advantage fair,
Submiſſive Self-denyal, ſuffering ſlights,
Tuiſted with True Zeal, for Emmanuel's Rights,
Extoll'd the Early in Eſteem and Fame,
Renowned Renwick, EVERMORE THE SAME,
Jehovah, … Jireh was thy conſtant Joy,
Along thy Alwayes arduous employ:
Mag…'d Martyr! men the much admire
Enemies … Envy, and enraged ire,
Shaming them Selves, thy ſufferings to beſpatter
Rep…s Reſtleſs, with renown did ſcatter.
En… Enterpriſes in all dangers,
Noble thy Name have notified to Strangers.
Vexations Various, ſuffered variety,
Imbalm'd thy Innocence to memory.
Comfort from Chriſt did ſtop all thy Complaints
Kill'd thou for keeping, His Commandements.
End of the text · Alexander Shields, An Elegy Upon the Death of James Renwick 2 (1688)