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https://scottishchapbooks.lib.uoguelph.ca/files/original/3d37c98d04acff8307d039162353253c.pdf
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T H E BABIES A N D T H E CHURCH.
BAPTIZE the babies, by all means,
Fond Mother Church exclaims;
Whoever brings the babies in
Gets parents for his pains.
What though the babes do oft protest—
Yet never mind their cries;
Sprinkle the water on the face,
E'en in their little eyes.
The minister is very kind,
And has a father's heart;
But then the Church his mistress is,
So he must do his part.
Edwin, William, and Mary Ann,
I name and claim them all;
Oh bring the babies unto me—
Bring them, both great and small!
So says the Mother Church at Rome,
And Luther's Church the same;
The Presbyters and English Church
Do all put in their claim.
The Methodists this method have;
The Independents too.
Ye Baptists, why oppose our claim?
Pray,
sirs, and who are you
?
�2
We like the babies quite as much
A s infant sprinklers can ;
We love them with a parent's heart,
But cannot see your plan.
Indeed! you'll find it in the Book.
Which book, pray, do you mean?
You do not read the Word of God,
When sprinkling babes I've seen.
But, then, the standards of our Church,
Which standards we believe,
Enjoin us to baptize the babes—
So babies we receive.
The mothers with their tender hearts,
The fathers with their strong,
Obey the dictates' of the Church,
And gather in a throng.
The priest or minister performs
The simple sprinkling rite;
The deed is done, the child is named—
Oh, what a pleasing sight!
Is this the ord'nance of the Lord ?
What do the Scriptures say?
What mean ye by this service now ?
Ye clever clergy say.
Y o u say it is Christ's ordinance:
Christ's words, then, I demand,
Or Paul's, or Peter's, even John's—
Come, show me the command.
�3
Oh ! this is how we dedicate
The children unto God;
Regenerate, or imitate
The sprinkling of the blood.
Into the Church they are received ;
The privilege is theirs.
To Christian joys they have a right;
They are believers' heirs.
It fits them for an early death—
They to the kingdom go ;
While babies unbesprinkled die,
And sink to endless woe.
What more? I ask impatiently,
Did Christ this rite command ?
Now tell me plainly—give a text;
On Scripture I will stand.
"Suffer the little children;" yes,
" Forbid them not," we cry.
That text of water baptism
Now surely is quite dry.
The promise to your children is,
" L e t them believe," we say;
To read the text, " your babies," is
To read another way.
Why twist and twirl these Scriptures so ?
A text will make it plain;
Analogy or inference
Will never do the same.
�4
Your doctrine and your ordinance
W o r k on a parent's fears ;
They take the vows which you impose,
T o save a mother's tears.
This did not Jesus, for He bless'd
Mothers and children too ;
He came to ease, not bind the yoke,
That press'd upon the Jew.
Say, has He giv'n to men like you
The
power He did not use
?
Are
these the Peter's keys, forsooth
Are
you in Peter's shoes ?
Is
dedication, baptism ?
Does
sprinkling change the soul
What is the privilege you give,
That
water can control ?
Y e parents, dedicate yourselves—
Y e ministers the same ;
Then train your children in the faith,
And honour Jesus' name.
Believe H e loves the infants well—
Receives them when they sleep;
The water makes no difference,—
The lambs H e loves to keep.
?
?
�THE LAND
W E L I V E IN.
FOR
Let us give thanks to God;
For birth beside its streams, and for
A grave beneath its sod.
It is a gracious privilege
To breathe the self-same air
Our noble dead have breathed, to live
Where all is free and fair.
I never climb the mountain-side,
Or wander through the wood,
Without a pitying thought of those
Who may not share such good;
Of faces pale in close, dark streets,
Where green grass will not grow,
Who work, and watch, and wait, and weep,
That death should come so slow.
What would they give to taste the sweets
Of these wild-roses here ?
That hang down with a loving look
To every passenger.
What would they give to bask and dream
Beneath these leafy trees,
To plunge into the sparkling wave,
And drink the healthy breeze.
To us, these gifts are common things—
They're with us every day ;
We know their beauty speaks of Heaven,
Yet we forget to pray.
The waters curving through the woods
To hard, dry eyes are shewn;
The hoary rocks are preachers all;
God help us—we are stone.
The very dust that blows about
Reproaches us: 'tis mixed
With ashes of brave Silure hearts
On home and gods once fixed;
Once glowing with a holy rage,
When Roman foes drew nigh,
And, rather than dishonoured live,
Here showing how to die.
Let us lift up ourselves, and be
No more so mute and cold;
Our every thought should be a hymn
For these dear scenes we hold.
For this delightful land of ours,
Let us give thanks to God;
For birth beside its streams, and for
A grave beneath its sod.
this delightful land of ours,
�
https://scottishchapbooks.lib.uoguelph.ca/files/original/e9ab9c8bfecb8ce5f8e43512309fb4ff.jpg
b1e8dee308e4ab563ce964e4f9ebbb1b
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8
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3075
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1703
Document
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Title
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The babies and the church.
Subject
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Poetry
Religion and Morals
Language
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English
Identifier
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<a href="https://ocul-gue.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01OCUL_GUE/1gg5hgs/alma9923276083505154">s0255b37</a>
Alternative Title
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The land we live in.
Extent
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5 pages
Abstract
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This is a single poem with no title page that puts forward the argument that child baptism, practiced by most churches at this time, is without scriptural confirmation and should not be practiced; instead it suggests to its readers that they should dedicate themselves to the faith and study of scripture and to raise children to be devout rather than hoping water will protect them. The last page appears to be from another chapbook, but is scanned as part of this chapbook on the basis of theme, and contains the song/poem “The Land We Live In,” in which the author gives thanks to God for the beauty of their native land. This chapbook is part of a collection of chapbooks produced in Aberdeen which have been bound together in this volume.
Is Part Of
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Chapbook # 17 in a bound collection of 17 chapbooks
Is Referenced By
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University of Aberdeen Library<br /><a href="https://aulib.abdn.ac.uk/F?RN=649955371"> https://aulib.abdn.ac.uk/F?RN=649955371</a>
Contributor
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Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph Library, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Format
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JPEGs and PDF derived from master file, which was scanned from the original book in 24-bit color at 600 dpi in TIFF format using an Epson Expression 10000XL scanner.
Rights
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In the public domain; For high quality reproductions, contact Archival & Special Collections, University of Guelph libaspc@uoguelph.ca 519-824-4120 Ext 53413
Source
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Archival & Special Collections, University of Guelph Library, Guelph, Ontario
# of Woodcuts: 0
Chapbook Date: no date
Chapbook Genre: poetry
Chapbook Genre: religion & morals
Chapbook Publisher - no publisher