[M2.147L]                                                             [M2.147]								147
                                                                      
                                                                      		Finally Since this saving grace may be obtained By our
                                                                      		one faithful Sponsor.  What grace is that obtained by the
                                                                      		prayers of a congregation.
                                                                      x.   What then has God promised:
                                                                      		You have said that you - in this rite  you brought the
                                                                      		child to Christ and that He has laid his hands upon him
                                                                      		and blest him  I ask you then, parent or sponsor, what
                                                                      		does Christ’s blessing mean, and what is it worth.  You
                                                                      		asked it perhaps vaguely, not knowing what it meant.
                                                                      		But did Christ give it vaguely;  and without a meaning;
                                                                      		You asked it perhaps as a thing of some value;  Think of
                                                                      		its value how and know it.
                                                                      		You have read of the worth of Human blessing before now;
                                                                      		You know that it has been sought carefully and with tears;
                                                                      		-(though perhaps it was without tears that you sought
                                                                      		Christ’s)   Isaacs blessing you the fatness of earth
                                                                      		and the dew of heaven - But a greater than Isaac is here.
                                                                      		Jacob’s blessing prevailed unto the utmost bound of the
                                                                      		everlasting hills - but a greater than Jacob is here.
                                                                      		Shall Christ’s blessing do no more:  Did you come to
                                                                      		Christ expecting no more - was it in the hope of wealth
                                                                      		for your child or of honour, or of length of days that you
                                                                      		brought him to be blessed by Christ:  Not so - you 
                                                                      		expected something else than this, and yet you cannot
                                                                      		tell me what you expected.

[Version 0.05: May 2008]