TRUTH'S CHAMPION OR AN ELEGY On the much to be Lamented Death of that Pious and Godly Minister of the Gospel. Mr. ALEXANDER SHIELDS.  
INvoke no Muse, but the Celestial King,  
When you the Praises of a Saint do sing:  
A Saint who did his Master's Cause defend,  
And boldly for his country's Rights contend.  
He does a Victim for his Country fall,  
Which Courtiers Pride, and Church-Men's 'Greed enthral  
This Presbyter the Truth did ever Love;  
Nor could his Holy Soul at all approve,  
A Popish King's Indulgences to take,  
And by such Means the Solemn League to break:  
The Breach of Solemn Oaths he still did dread,  
Nor trackled under Court-Designs for Bread:  
Which, to the Blush may put some Preaching Dons,  
Beneath whose 'Greed Our Bleeding Country groans.  
He with the Truth did still adorn his Shield,  
Which made him boldly to maintain the Field.  
While others strive through blackest Crimes to raise  
To their base Names tall Pyramids of Praise,  
His Name shall be embalmed with the Perfume  
Of Sweeter Spices than from Egypt come.  
Truth's Balmy Laurel shall surround his Name,  
And Fame, that mighty Herald, shall proclaim  
Those Just Encomiums that to him are due.  
And every Age his Praises still renew.  
SHIELD's shall not die, while there's an honest heart  
That loveth Truth, and Truth will still impart.  
He scorned the fawning Flatteries of the Age,  
Nor would with truckling Parasites engage.  
His honest heart could never entertain  
A thought, that might his Holy Garment stain.  
Nor knew such Virtue in persuasive Gold.  
That for its Sake his Country could be sold.  
He harmless, thought that Achan could not lodge  
In GOD's great Temple with his golden Wedge:  
Achan before was lodged in the Camp,  
But Rabbi's now receive the Fatal Stamp.  
With our own Substance we are bought and sold;  
Men of all Ranks obey the Chink of Gold.  
A fatal thing to this Poor-Bleeding Land,  
Whose Wealth and Trade they vainly do withst and.  
This Holy Man more eagerly was bend  
For Christ's Seraphic Kingdom, and was sent  
A Harbinger i'th' Indies, to proclaim  
Our Sovereign Lords great Doctrine and his Name.  
But having seen what Villainy could do  
His Soul was struck with penetrating Woe.  
Then Heavenly Powers who all these Crimes foresee  
Did by Eternal Wisdom strait decree  
This Holy Soul should quickly take its Flight,  
Before he heard these Gloomy Shades of Night  
Darkened our Lamps, and so Eclipsed our Sky,  
That we below the Gloomy Darkness lie.