Poems (Edwards)/The Baptismal
THE BAPTISMAL.
With high and holy faith,
The mother brought her Infant; and, with prayers
Of deep and earnest fervour, she offered up
Its young and sinless being unto Him,
By whom its life was given.
Like a bird
It lay upon her bosom; its soft eyes
Were veiled in holy slumber, and its lip
Was wreathed with smiles, as if its dreams
Were filled with forms of heavenly beauty.
Its young heart
Beat lightly 'gainst the mother's, as she pressed
Its form softly to her own, and, with tears
And fervent prayers, looked up,
And gave her infant to the man of God
Who waited there to bless it.
Soft and low
Were the deep words he uttered, as he touched
The infant's brow so exquisitely white,
With the baptismal water. And his face
Was lighted up with joy, as he gave
It back to its mother's arms again,
And knelt in supplication at the feet
Of the Almighty Maker; and there went up
From that kneeling multitude one prayer,
One universal prayer from countless hearts,
To the high seat of Mercy, that the child
Might be through life, as spotless and as pure
As the bright water that had touched its brow,
Blessed by the Lord's anointed. It was done,
The high vow had been taken, which was sealed,—
Sealed in the sight of angels. And she turned,
That pure young mother with her precious child,
Turned from the good man's presence, where with heart,
And soul, and spirit, her Fair Boy,
To Heaven she had consecrated.
The mother brought her Infant; and, with prayers
Of deep and earnest fervour, she offered up
Its young and sinless being unto Him,
By whom its life was given.
Like a bird
It lay upon her bosom; its soft eyes
Were veiled in holy slumber, and its lip
Was wreathed with smiles, as if its dreams
Were filled with forms of heavenly beauty.
Its young heart
Beat lightly 'gainst the mother's, as she pressed
Its form softly to her own, and, with tears
And fervent prayers, looked up,
And gave her infant to the man of God
Who waited there to bless it.
Soft and low
Were the deep words he uttered, as he touched
The infant's brow so exquisitely white,
With the baptismal water. And his face
Was lighted up with joy, as he gave
It back to its mother's arms again,
And knelt in supplication at the feet
Of the Almighty Maker; and there went up
From that kneeling multitude one prayer,
One universal prayer from countless hearts,
To the high seat of Mercy, that the child
Might be through life, as spotless and as pure
As the bright water that had touched its brow,
Blessed by the Lord's anointed. It was done,
The high vow had been taken, which was sealed,—
Sealed in the sight of angels. And she turned,
That pure young mother with her precious child,
Turned from the good man's presence, where with heart,
And soul, and spirit, her Fair Boy,
To Heaven she had consecrated.