The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont ... Edited from the autograph manuscript with introduction and notes by Eloise Robinson |
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 | The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont |  |
369
Annivers: Baptismi
Martj. 21. 1648.
1
How much worse than in vainHad I been Born
That other Morn,
Had I not now been Born again!
For that was but my Death's, but this
Alone of my true Life the Birthday is.
2
The Wormes own crawling BrotherI then was Born,
Vile & forlorn
Corruption being my foule Mother;
From whome I could no Title have
Of Heir to any Land, but to my Grave.
3
But by this second BirthI Kinred had
With Heavn & God;
For She who now did bring Me forth
Was Gods own Spouse, that Holy She
Whose Catholik Wombe breeds Christianitie.
370
4
She brought Me forth; & IWas now the Heir
Unto the fair
Inheritance prepar'd on high
For those who study to maintain
That Title They did by their Baptisme gain.
5
But has my study binThus provident;
Or rather bent
My own hearts Bliss to undermine?
Like some wilde Heir, spurrd on by Hell
Did I not Heavns Reversion madly sell?
6
Alas, I did: & allThe wretched price
I took, did rise
To nothing but a flood of Gall:
For what can all this World to Me
Afford, but most vexatious Vanitie?
7
O King of my poor Heart,Whose gratious ear
Delights to hear
A Sinners Crie: O Thou who art
The Same forevermore, though I
Alas, be chang'd into Deformity,
8
Remember thine own Love,And so forget
How I on it
371
To be, what yet I would not be
Were the Worlds total Value offerd Me.
9
O no, sweet Lord, I wouldBe Thine, & none
But Thine alone:
And though fond I my Bliss have sold
To Vanity; I will not sell
My Hope, since Thou art my Redeemer still.
10
Baptise Me then againIn Mercies Flood,
Which is thy Blood:
And so no longer shall a Stain
My woefull Difinition be,
Nor Guilt the onely Clothes which cover Me.
11
So shall thy Glory shineAfresh in my
New Purity;
So, though the Happines be Mine,
Yet still it shall belong to Thee,
When Thou, not I, sole Owner art of Me.
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