Poems (Charlotte Allen)/The Baptism
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For works with similar titles, see The Baptism.
THE BAPTISM.
Upon the ocean's edge,
There was a gathering of many people,
And a pensive hue had spread o'er every
Face, waiting the observance of a rite
Most sacred.
There was a gathering of many people,
And a pensive hue had spread o'er every
Face, waiting the observance of a rite
Most sacred.
The "Man of God" approached, and
With him those who had given themselves to
Jesus, and had come to taste:the solemn
Ordinance of Baptism.
With him those who had given themselves to
Jesus, and had come to taste:the solemn
Ordinance of Baptism.
The gifted prayer,
Uniting with the water's music, in
Holy euphony lingered on the air
For one brief moment, and then ascended
To the throne of grace. Heaven smiled upon
The scene, and with that smile methinks there came
A blessing. In lofty aspirations,
And I trust with pure and fervent feelings,
The hymn arose with liquid melody,
Mingled with the breezes, gentle notes, and
Onward and upward floating, again to
Earth returned not.
Uniting with the water's music, in
Holy euphony lingered on the air
For one brief moment, and then ascended
To the throne of grace. Heaven smiled upon
The scene, and with that smile methinks there came
A blessing. In lofty aspirations,
And I trust with pure and fervent feelings,
The hymn arose with liquid melody,
Mingled with the breezes, gentle notes, and
Onward and upward floating, again to
Earth returned not.
Was there a heart among
That crowd, which felt not stir within it, some
Innate principle of holy thrill? Who
Could observe the mnteresting rite, and
Within their soul feel no emotion, or
Inhale no heaven-born rapture?
That crowd, which felt not stir within it, some
Innate principle of holy thrill? Who
Could observe the mnteresting rite, and
Within their soul feel no emotion, or
Inhale no heaven-born rapture?
And now
They walk within the breast of waters, and
Their hearts enjoy the blissful feeling of
A more close communion with the High and
Holy Author of their spirits. As if
The sun was the reflected countenance
Of the Almighty, in humble reverence
They turned their faces towards that glorious
Orb, whose effulgent beams, o'er each brow cast
An unearthly lustre, seeming to impart
To each, a ray divine, a hallowed gem
From a celestial casket,
They walk within the breast of waters, and
Their hearts enjoy the blissful feeling of
A more close communion with the High and
Holy Author of their spirits. As if
The sun was the reflected countenance
Of the Almighty, in humble reverence
They turned their faces towards that glorious
Orb, whose effulgent beams, o'er each brow cast
An unearthly lustre, seeming to impart
To each, a ray divine, a hallowed gem
From a celestial casket,
If e'er the
Spirit of the Lord descended from on
High, methought I saw it then in holy
Radiance, illumining the placid brow
Of the officiator.
Spirit of the Lord descended from on
High, methought I saw it then in holy
Radiance, illumining the placid brow
Of the officiator.
Oh, may those souls
Who have themselves now consecrated to
The living God, e'er inhale from the pure
Fountain of eternal life, exhaustless
Streams of soul-sustaining food.
Who have themselves now consecrated to
The living God, e'er inhale from the pure
Fountain of eternal life, exhaustless
Streams of soul-sustaining food.
The rite was
O'er, the crowd dispersed, and where is now the
Pleasant picture that in bold relief, but
One short moment since had riveted our
Eyes? Gone! all gone! and like the morning mist,
Kissed by the rising sun, no trace remains
To our external senses.
O'er, the crowd dispersed, and where is now the
Pleasant picture that in bold relief, but
One short moment since had riveted our
Eyes? Gone! all gone! and like the morning mist,
Kissed by the rising sun, no trace remains
To our external senses.
But can it be
That no impression lingers on our minds?
There, there alone are we to seek effects
From outward causes. I trust that there were
Many 'mong that throng, who deeply felt the
Influence of that holy rite expand
And purify their souls: and may the word
Of God, falling like gentle dew from Heaven;
Upon their hearts, bring forth a rich and an
Abundant harvest: "some thirty, sixty,
And an hundred fold."
That no impression lingers on our minds?
There, there alone are we to seek effects
From outward causes. I trust that there were
Many 'mong that throng, who deeply felt the
Influence of that holy rite expand
And purify their souls: and may the word
Of God, falling like gentle dew from Heaven;
Upon their hearts, bring forth a rich and an
Abundant harvest: "some thirty, sixty,
And an hundred fold."