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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 Jesus 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 Jesus 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 Jesus by his Father now from Heaven,
He's led unto the Wilderneſs, that he
There of the Devil try'd and tempt might be.
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