Poem for September 17, 2028

Baptism.

Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38.

'Twas the commission of our Lord,

"Go teach the nations, and baptize:"

The nations have received the word

Since he ascended to the skies.

He sits upon th' eternal hills,

With grace and pardon in his hands;

And sends his cov'nant with the seals,

To bless the distant British lands.

"Repent, and be baptized," he saith,

For the remission of your sins:"

And thus our sense assists our faith,

And shows us what his gospel means.

Our souls he washes in his blood,

As water makes the body clean;

And the good Spirit from our God

Descends like purifying rain.

Thus we engage ourselves to thee,

And seal our cov'nant with the Lord;

O may the great eternal Three

In heav'n our solemn vows record!