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THOMAS SHEPARD Anagr: Arm'd as the Shop.

Arm'd (as the shop of God's good word
Doth weapons unto him afford)
Defend's the right of little ones,
Whom God in the Church-Covenant ownes
The Children of his Church among,
To whom his Kingdome doth belong,
And therewithall the Seal thereof,
Through his free Mercy, Grace, and Love.
Yet are there some which them forbid
(As once his weak Disciples did)
To come to Christ, and scruple make,
Whether thereof they should partake?
But Christ was very angry for it,
As for such Zeale he did abhor it;
Oh come, said he, and welcom'd such,
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With tokens of affection much:
As if that they and scarcely any
But such as they might chalenge any
Or part, or portion in his grace,
(So did his favour them embrace)
His Babes, his Lambs, his little creatures
He call's them. As for such defeatures,
Christ they defeat as well as them
Whom they presume so to contemn.
This holy Shepard is like David,
From Lyon's mouth and Beare's who saved
That little Kid; whom God did crown
With great and singular renown:
And so this Shepard hath (no doubt)
A glorious crown his head about.
For all his labours, (and for this;)
In high and everlasting bliss.
And as the Lord doth honour him
(For Christ his sake) so his esteem
Both is, and ought to be most rare,
'Mongst them who Christ his followers are:
And oh how should we bless his Name,
That on his Son he powr's the same
Good Spirit that was in the Father
Or doubles it upon him rather:
LORD these Epistles do thou bless!
And as thy Truth they do confess
So make them precious in the eyes
Of all that do thy Gospel prize.
Amen
JOHN WILSON Senior
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