Commendatory Poem 2

II. THOMAS SHEPARD. Anagr: o a map's thresh'd.

Loe here's a map, where we may see

Well, thresh'd an heap of corn to be

By Thomas Shepard's happy hand.

Which from the chaff pure wheat has fann'd:

The wheat is the church-members' right.

(Both great and little ones) to wit

To the seal of Baptism, all

That are within the Gospel call;

I mean believers and their seed;

To whom the Lord has promised,

To be their God; and does reveal

Their right to's Covenant and the seal:

On whom through grace the blessing came.

Of his dear servant Abraham.

Be they or Jews or Gentiles, now

No difference the Lord does know,

The promise is to us and ours,

As large, or larger: and God pour'd

His Spirit now as much, or more

Than e're he did on them before.

And if that they were circumcis'd:

Then we are now to be baptiz'd:

Our babes must now no less than theirs—

Be seal'd (as of his kingdom heirs)

Christ calls them his little ones,

And as his darlings he them owns,

Denouncing against them a woe,

That are despisers of them, who

Offend the least of them, and such

As do their interest in him grudge.

[illegible], with Gaius, Stephanas,

With others, were not all through grace

Baptis'd that of their household were?

And children who will doubt were there?

Then let us not to them deny,

Nor seem as if we did envy

The privilege which God from heaven

Has through his grace and favor given.

Nor let us limit his good Spirit

In application of Christ's merit:

Whose blood was shed for them, as well

As those who them in age excel:

If such be taught of God, who dare

Deny, they his disciples are?