Page:Poem on the creation of the world, or, A meditation on the wonderful operation of the divine hand.pdf/45

 Then John did yield to what his Maſter ſaid,

And his Demand he preſently obey'd.

Baptiſm apply'd unto the human Race,

Doth repreſent their miſerable Caſe

By Nature, and their Guilt and Filth by Sin,

Which to the World we have all brought in:

But from what Reaſon doth it then proceed,

Our Saviour this Ordinance ſhould need?

I find ſome Men about it of this Mind,

That think its Reaſons may be thus aſſign'd;

Since Chriſt he was unto the Church the Head

And Repreſentative of th' Elect Seed,

As in all other Things, ſo in this he

Unto the Members must conformed be:

And when that Baptiſm did receive,

A Virtue to the Ordinance he gave,

Becauſe this Action was done by the Head,

Its Virtue to the Members doth proceed.

So Chriſt being now baptiz'd in Jordan's Stream,

His Elect Seed were all baptiz'd in him.

Whenever he this Ordinance receives,

And cometh up from Jordan's liquid Waves,

Juſt at that Time then divine Pow'r it made

The very Heavens to be opened,

The Holy Ghoſt deſcended from above,

And ſat on like unto a Dove.

Alſo a Voice there was from Heaven came,

Thus ſaying, my beloved Son, in whom

And for whoſe Sake I fully pleaſed am.

After ſuch ample Approbation given

To by his Father now from Heaven,

He's led unto the Wilderneſs, that he

There of the Devil try'd and tempt might be.