Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/157

 REDEMPTION.

Did not himself with circumcision seal

The Father of the faithful ? I as well,

Th' Exemplar of whom 1 have come to save,

Not less desire to do as well as teach.

Hence 1, if I receive baptism from man,

None should refuse, but glad the same partake.

Nor is it naught to thee, that these should hear

My Father's voice attest his Son ; nor Him,

The third Triune, see visible descend,

And irrefragable my mission prove.

Yet this to past, nor thee, alone doth look,

But higher motive, soon to be reveal'd ;

Whereby regenerate, old Adam dies,

Deep buried in regenerating flood ;

Perhaps the saving waters consecrate,

And thereby typify the inward fruits

Of that baptism, which with fire shall come,

And secret motion of the heav'nly Dove;

A rite, to show that man, unless new born

Of water and the Holy Ghost, shall ne'er

See God, nor in his kingdom come.

I then, the first baptized, th' example give,

Though needing not, as clean, and lead the way,

By which alone, who me believe, buried

A moment in the renovating stream,

May truly' arise from death, with life indued ;

Thus, not with words, but now in very deed,

I, a new rite, not meaningless, confirm.

For justice sake then, suffer it to be,

Since thus 'tis meet all justice to fulfill."

So, straight descending in the cleansing font, The Teacher of th' Evangelists received

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