But the Creator answers: 

    “God doth such doom forbid,
    That men should die eternally
      for what they never did. 
    But what you call old Adam’s fall,
      and only his trespass,
    You call amiss to call it his,
      both his and yours it was.”

The Judge then inquires why, since they would have received the pleasures and joys which Adam could have given them, the rewards and blessings, should they hesitate to share his “treason.”

“Since then to share in his welfare,
you could have been content,
You may with reason share in his treason,
and in the punishment,
Hence you were born in state forlorn,
with natures so depraved
Death was your due because that you
had thus yourselves behaved.

* * * * *

“Had you been made in Adam’s stead,
you would like things have wrought,
And so into the self-same woe
yourselves and yours have brought.”

Then follows a reprimand upon the part of the judge because they should presume to question His judgments, and to ask for mercy: 

“Will you demand grace at my hand,
and challenge what is mine? 
Will you teach me whom to set free,
and thus my grace confine.

    “You sinners are, and such a share
      as sinners may expect;
    Such you shall have, for I do save
      none but mine own Elect.

    “Yet to compare your sin with theirs
      who liv’d a longer time,
    I do confess yours is much less
      though every sin’s a crime.

    “A crime it is, therefore in bliss
      you may not hope to dwell;
    But unto you I shall allow
      the easiest room in Hell.”

Would not this cause anguish to the heart of any mother?  Indeed, we shall never know what intense anxiety the Puritan woman may have suffered during the few days intervening between the hour of the birth and the date of the baptism of her infant.  It is not surprising, therefore, that an exceedingly brief period was allowed to elapse before the babe was taken from its mother’s arms and carried through snow and wind to the desolate church.  Judge Sewall, whose Diary covers most of the years from 1686 to 1725, and who records every petty incident from the cutting of his finger to the blowing off of the Governor’s hat, has left us these notes on the baptism of some of his fourteen children: 

“April 8, 1677.  Elizabeth Weeden, the Midwife, brought the infant to the third Church when Sermon was about half done in the afternoon ...  I named him John.” (Five days after birth.)[3] “Sabbath-day, December 13th 1685.  Mr. Willard baptizeth my Son lately born, whom I named Henry.” (Four days after birth.)[4] “February 6, 1686-7.  Between 3 and 4 P.M.  Mr. Willard baptized my Son, whom I named Stephen.” (Five days after birth.)[5]