Baptism discovered from the Ark

1 Dear christian friends come we will go,
And search the Ark with care,
A type of baptism you know,
We'll search for infants there.

2 This figure signifies the whole,
There's just so many here,
As did come in at Noah's call,
As did the deluge fear.

3 Here's Noah's sons and his sons wives,
But if they'd infant feed,
They in the deluge lost their lies,
Eight souls were sav'd we read.

4 And as they're cover
d in the Ark,
It signifies the same,
As being bury'd with the Lord,
Where water covers them.

5 This man's a type of Jesus Christ,
His Ark of gospel's grace,
And those who made the happy choice,
Found safety in the place.

6 The turn'd their backs on worldly things,
And here their safety feel;
So Gentiles should forsake their sins,
And then receive the seal.

7 Thus we have search'd the Ark around,
And found no infants there,
If their are any to be found,
We wish to ask you where.

8 We wish in this you'd help our minds,
We can no farther go,
We dare not add to sacred lines,
For there's a dreadful woe.

9 Our children's wants we mean to plead,
Their need of grace we feel,
But dare not call them Abraham's seed,
Nor seal then with his seal.

10 The seal of promise can't be theirs,
While bound beneath the curse,
Gentiles can ne'er be Abraham's heirs,
Till they in Jesus trust.

11 Read the commission of our lord,
To his disciples given;
A sweet and solemn binding word,
Just as he went to heaven.

12 Go forth y friends all nations teach,
When taught you may baptise,
Observe my words where'er you go,
Nothing of mine despise.

13 Dear teachers all I pray attend,
And mark this promise here,
He will be with you to the end,
If you attend with fear.

14 But if you turn his word around,
Baptise before you teach,
His blessed cause I fear you'll wound,
Take heed I do beseech.

15 Take not the name of God in vain,
On those without the Ark,
Christ Jesus know's his own by name,
By an eternal mark.

16 These sealing blanks ray don't convey,
Nor mark your goats for sheep,
But look to Jesus he's the way,
His precepts always keep.

Source: Hymns on Various Subjects #14