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A Dedication of my first Son.
Is it not fit the Mould and Frame
Of Man, should dedicate the same
To God, who first Created it: and t'give
To Him the first fruit of that Span we live?
Of Man, should dedicate the same
To God, who first Created it: and t'give
To Him the first fruit of that Span we live?
In the worlds Infancy could Hannah tell,
Shee ought to Offer her sonn Samuel
To Him that made him, and refine
That Sacrifice with Flowre and Wine?
Shee ought to Offer her sonn Samuel
To Him that made him, and refine
That Sacrifice with Flowre and Wine?
Was Abrams long expected seed
From Sarah's womb condemn'd to bleed?
And shall the times now they grow Old, conclude
In faithlesness, and in ingratitude?
From Sarah's womb condemn'd to bleed?
And shall the times now they grow Old, conclude
In faithlesness, and in ingratitude?
Let shame awake us, and where blessings fall,
Let every one become a Prodigall
In paying vows of thanks, and bring
The first, and best for Offering.
Let every one become a Prodigall
In paying vows of thanks, and bring
The first, and best for Offering.
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Where am I then; whom God hath deign'd to bless
With hopes of a succeeding happiness
Unto My house? Why is't I stand
At th' Altar with an Empty hand?
With hopes of a succeeding happiness
Unto My house? Why is't I stand
At th' Altar with an Empty hand?
Have I no Herds, no Flocks, no Oyl,
No Incense-bearing-Shebah-soyl?
Is not My Grainary stor'd with Flowre that's fine?
Are not my Strutted Vessels full of Wine?
No Incense-bearing-Shebah-soyl?
Is not My Grainary stor'd with Flowre that's fine?
Are not my Strutted Vessels full of Wine?
What Temporall Blessing's wanting to suffice
And furnish out a lively Sacrifice,
Save onely this, to make a Free-
Will-offering of an Infancy?
And furnish out a lively Sacrifice,
Save onely this, to make a Free-
Will-offering of an Infancy?
Which if I should not doe, that pil'd-
Up wood, whereon lay Sarah's childe;
The Temple would accuse me, where the son
Of Elk'na first had Dedication.
Up wood, whereon lay Sarah's childe;
The Temple would accuse me, where the son
Of Elk'na first had Dedication.
Wherefore accept, I pray thee, this
Thou'st given, and my first Sonn is:
Let him be Thine, and from his Cradleling,
Begin his services first reckoning.
Thou'st given, and my first Sonn is:
Let him be Thine, and from his Cradleling,
Begin his services first reckoning.
Grant, with his Dayes, thy Grace increase, and fill
His Heart, nor leave there room to harbour ill:
That in the Progress of His years
He may express whose badg He wears.
His Heart, nor leave there room to harbour ill:
That in the Progress of His years
He may express whose badg He wears.
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