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85

THOMAS SHEPARD. Anagr: ô a map's thresh'd.

Loe her'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 chaffe pure wheat hath fan'd:
The wheat is the Church-members right
(Both great and little ones) to witt
Unto the seal of Baptisme, all
That are within the Gospel call;
I mean Believers and their seed;
To whom the Lord hath Promised,
To be their God; and doth reveal
Their right to 's Covenant and the seal:
On whom through Grace the Blessing came
Of his dear servant Abraham.
Be they or Jewes or Gentiles, now
No difference the Lord doth know.
The promise is to us and ours,
As large, or larger: and God pour's
His Spirit now as much, or more
Then 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 then theirs
Be seal'd (as of his Kingdome heires)
Christ calleth them his little ones,
And as his darlings He them owne's
Denouncing against them a woe,
That are despisers of them, who
Offend the least of them, and such
As do their interest in him grutch.
86

Crispus, 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 priviledge which God from heaven
Hath through his grace and favour given.
Nor let us limit his good Spirit
In applycation of Christ's merrit:
Whose bloud was shed for them, as well
As those who them in age excell:
If such be taught of God, who dare
Deny, they his Disciples are?
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