alexander_shields – The Reformation

ALEXANDER SHIELDS. A Hind Let Loose.

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, H Scott (1915) rev 1917, 1920

vol 5 p 239 St Andrews Second, 1697

ALEXANDER SHIELDS, born 1661, son of James S., miller, Haughhead, parish of Earlston, Berwickshire, and Helen Brown, and brother of Michael S., author of Faithful Contendings Displayed; educated at Univ. of Edinburgh, where he graduated M.A., ” with no small applause,” whilst in his fifteenth year (7th April 1675). He studied theology at Utrecht. On returning home he made his way to London, was amanuensis to John Owen, D.D., and came into close touch with some of the leading Puritans, who persuaded him to accept licence as a preacher. In 1684 he was ord. min. of a congregation meeting in the Embroiderers Hall. On11th Jan.1685 he was apprehended while preaching in a private house in .Gutter Lane, from the words in Genesis xlix., 21: ” Naphtali is a hind let loose,” afterwards the title of his famous Treatise and was confined in Newgate. After the death of Charles II. he was sent to Scotland and kept for a time in the Edinburgh Tolbooth, whence he passed to the dungeons of the Bass. After fourteen months he was again brought to Edinburgh and offered his liberty, on condition that he would cease from preaching and “live orderly.” That he declined to do, and was recommitted to the Tolbooth, but escaped in female disguise about the end of Nov. 1686. Next month he cast in his lot with James Benwick, whose biographer he became. The two became fast friends, and collaborated in writing the Informatory Vindication, for which Renwick was condemned. S. was asked to superintend its publication, but failed to find a printer. He crossed to Holland, saw the work through the Press there, and busied himself with the completion of his Hind. After the Revolution he joined the Church of Scotland, and was received into communion, 25th Oct. 1690, with his associates, Thomas Linning and William Boyd. On4th Nov. 1691 he was adm. chaplain to the Cameronian Regiment serving in the Netherlands, and was present at Namur and Steinkerk. On the Peace of Ryswick he returned home, was called this charge 4th Feb. 1696, and adm. 15th Sept. 1697. Appointed senior min. to the Second Darien Expedition, he sailed in the “Rising Sun”  24th Sept. 1699, his charge at home being supplied by brethren in his absence. It is to be noted that S. and his companions were really the first foreign missionaries of the Church of Scotland, the Commission of Assembly having, on 21st July, charged them” particularly that you labour among the natives for their instruction and conversion, as you have access.” On the failure of the Expedition, he sailed for Scotland, heartbroken by the profligacy of the settlers and the little success his labours had met among them, but died of malignant fever in the house of Isobel Murray, Port Royal, Jamaica, 14th June 1700. All attempts to identify his burial-place have failed. He was unmarr. Descendants of his brother Michael, who accompanied the Expedition, and of other members of his family are still found in Jamaica. S. was ” of low stature, ruddy complexion, quick and piercing wit, full of zeal, and firm in the cause he espoused; pretty well skilled in most branches of learning, in arguing very ready, only somewhat fiery; but in

writing on controversy he exceeded most men of that age.”