University of Virginia Library

VERSES made upon the Death of that famous Gospel Minister, Mr. ROBERT M KWAIRD.

Who died in Holland, after 18 years Banishment from Scotland, his Native Countrey.

Was it for nought that blustering sparkling Rayes
Of strange stupendious Comets, did the eyes
Of Earths Inhabitants, so long detain,
In dayes but lately past? who can refrain,
(Considering our stroak so great, so sad
Heightn'd with Circumstances dark and bad,)
From saying, sure these Portants did presage,
Some future Tragidie, to this poor Age,
Which now's begun, so shrewdly for to think,
On what may follow, may make Spirits shrinke,
In drousie grief, and sorrow since he's gone,
Who with a Spirit, Seraphick, his allone
Resisted Truths Opposers, who did stand,
Throwing their Darts at him at every hand;
Yet not allone, for the great Soveraign,
The King of Kings, whose Glorious splendent Train,
Did fill the Temple, was his strength and stay,
In whom he Liv'd; in whom he clos'd his day,
With whom he now Triumphs, with whom he sings,
The Lamb: and Moses song, he drinks the Springs
Of Joy and Consolation in a kind,
Not heard nor seen, nor entred in the minde
Of Mortals to conceive, while now above,
In full Fruition, of that Matchless Love:
Tho he Triumphs, yet we may mourn and Weep,
Since in such Cloudie dayes is fallen asleep,
So great a Seer, such a shining light,
Whereby our day is almost turn'd to night;
For Truth a Champion both by Tongue and Pen,
Regardless of the wrath and rage of Men.
What Pen can write, or what Tongue can express,
His Choicest parts, his worth, his usefulness?
Some praise the Liberal Soul, and some do prize
The mind that's stedfast, others magnifies
The Tongue that's eloquent, others admire,
A breast not subject to, nor toucht with fear,
Some praise the learn'd; some think the prudent be,
Above the Common fate and destiny,
Of other mortals, some takes the devote,
For persons Blessed in their hardest Lot,
For Poesy some have a Veneration,
With some the Sedulous in their Vocation,
Are in esteem, how to be praised is he,
In whom these Vertues in a high degree
Did burn and Blaze? Let all who do esteem
These Choicest Vertues, of a Heavenly strain,
Come joyn and mourn with me, O let them come,
And help me to express, or sitting dumb,
In Melancholious muteness, and in Tears.
Regrait our present loss, and ground of fears;
He did Survive the rest of these great lights,
Discharged their native Lands by cursed Wights,
Which makes our stroke, more misty, sad and dim,
For while he liv'd, they seem'd to live in him,
As if the rest, who did before ascend,
In loves thrice burning Chariot to attend,
Their high and loftie One, their Mantles dropt,
And he the same receiv'd, wherewith he stopt
Defections current, he himself on dry,
And solid ground went to Eternity.
Yet e're he went prepar'd to leave behind,
Such Fragrant Writings from his candid mind,
Such strengths and Bulworks for the Truth that he,
Thereby remains to teach posteritie,
His famous works, serves to transmit his Fame,
From Age to Age, and Eternize his Name.