7. The Prophet healed the waters that were unwholesome,--and cured the disease of the land that was barren,--so that its death was done away and its region resounded, for its offspring increased and its bosom was filled.--Greater is Thy grace, Lord, than Elisha's!--Multiply my lambs and my flocks--at the great stream of my fountain! [518]
8. Great is the marvel that is within thy abode;--the flocks together with the Shepherds,--those at the stream of the waters,--two unseen with one manifest who baptizes.--Blessed is he who is baptized in their fountains!--for three arms have upheld him,--and three Names have preserved him!
[518] Ezek. xlvii. 1, sq.
Hymn XII.
(Resp.--Blessed is He Who went down and was baptized in Jordan, and turned back the People from error!)
1. In Baptism Adam found again--that glory that was among the trees of Eden.--He went down, and received it out of the water;--he put it on, and went up and was adorned therein.--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
2. Man fell in the midst of Paradise,--and in baptism compassion restored him:--he lost his comeliness through Satan's envy,--and found it again by God's grace.--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
3. The wedded pair were adorned in Eden;--but the serpent stole their crowns:--yet mercy crushed down the accursed one,--and made the wedded pair goodly in their raiment.--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
4. They clothed themselves with leaves of necessity;--but the Merciful had pity on their beauty,--and instead of leaves of trees,--He clothed them with glory in the water.--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
5. Baptism is the well-spring of life,--which the Son of God opened by His Life;--and from His Side it has brought forth streams.--Come, all that thirst, come, rejoice!--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
6. The Father has sealed Baptism, to exalt it;--and the Son has espoused it to glorify it;--and the Spirit with threefold seal--has stamped it, and it has shone in holiness.--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
7. The Trinity that is unsearchable--has laid up treasures in baptism.--Descend, ye poor, to its fountain!--and be enriched from it, ye needy!--Blessed be He that has mercy on all!
Hymn XIII.
Hymn of the Baptized.
(Resp.--Brethren, sing praises, to the Son of the Lord of all; Who has bound for you crowns, such as kings long for!)
1. Your garments glisten, my brethren, as snow;--and fair is your shining in the likeness of Angels!
2. In the likeness of Angels, ye have come up, beloved,--from Jordan's river, in the armour of the Holy Ghost.
3. The bridal chamber that fails not, my brethren, ye have received:--and the glory of Adam's house to-day ye have put on.
4. The judgment that came of the fruit, was Adam's condemnation:--but for you victory, has arisen this day.
5. Your vesture is shining, and goodly your crowns:--which the Firstborn has bound for you, by the priest's hand this day.
6. Woe in Paradise, did Adam receive:--but you have received, glory this day.
7. The armour of victory, ye put on, my beloved:--in the hour when the priest, invoked the Holy Ghost.
8. The Angels rejoice, men here below exult:--in your feast, my brethren, wherein is no foulness.
9. The good things of Heaven, my brethren, ye have received:--beware of the Evil One, lest he despoil you.
10. The day when He dawned, the Heavenly King:--opens for you His door, and bids you enter Eden.
11. Crowns that fade not away, are set on your heads:--hymns of praise hourly, let your mouths sing.
12. Adam by means of the fruit, God cast forth in sorrow:--but you He makes glad, in the bride-chamber of joy.
13. Who would not rejoice, in your bridechamber, my brethren?--for the Father with His Son, and the Spirit rejoice in you.
14. Unto you shall the Father, be a wall of strength:--and the Son a Redeemer, and the Spirit a guard.
15. Martyrs by their blood, glorify their crowns:--but you our Redeemer, by His Blood glorifies.
16. Watchers and Angels, joy over the repentant:--they shall joy over you my brethren, that unto them ye are made like.
17. The fruit which Adam, tasted not in Paradise:--this day in your mouths, has been placed with joy.
18. Our Redeemer figured, His Body by the tree:--whereof Adam tasted not, because he had sinned.
19. The Evil One made war, and subdued Adam's house:--through your baptism, my brethren, lo! he is subdued this day.
20. Great is the victory, but to-day you have won:--if so be ye neglect not, you shall not perish, my brethren.
21. Glory to them that are robed, glory to Adam's house!--in the birth that is from the water, let them rejoice and be blessed!
22. Praise to Him Who has robed, His Churches in glory!--glory to Him Who has magnified, the race of Adam's house.
Hymn XIV.
Hymn concerning our Lord and John.
(Resp.--Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Thee--with joy Heaven and earth worship!)
1. My thought bore me to Jordan,--and I saw a marvel when there was revealed--the glorious Bridegroom who to the Bride--shall bring freedom and holiness.
2. I saw John filled with wonder,--and the multitudes standing about him,--and the glorious Bridegroom bowed down--to the Son of the barren that he might baptize Him.
3. At the Word and the Voice my thought marvelled:--for lo! John was the Voice;--our Lord was manifested as the Word, that what was hidden should become revealed.
4. The Bride was espoused but knew not--who was the Bridegroom on whom she gazed:--the guests were assembled, the desert was filled,--and our Lord was hidden among them.
5. Then the Bridegroom revealed Himself;--and to John at the voice He drew near:--and the Forerunner was moved and said of Him--"This is the Bridegroom Whom I proclaimed."
6. He came to baptism Who baptizes all,--and He showed Himself at Jordan.--John saw Him and drew back,--deprecating, and thus he spake:--
7. "How, my Lord, willest Thou to be baptized,--Thou Who in Thy baptism atonest all?--Baptism looks unto Thee;--shed Thou on it holiness and perfection?"
8. Our Lord said "I will it so;--draw near, baptize Me that My Will may be done.--Resist My Will thou canst not:--I shall be baptized of thee, for thus I will it."
9. "I entreat, my Lord, that I be not compelled,--for this is hard that Thou hast said to me,--I have need that thou shouldst baptize Me;'--for it is Thou that with Thy hyssop purifiest all."
10. "I have asked it, and it pleases Me that thus it should be;--and thou, John, why gainsayest thou?--Suffer righteousness to be fulfilled,--and come, baptize Me; why standest Thou?"
11. "How can one openly grasp--in his hands the fire that burns?--O Thou that art fire have mercy on me,--and bid me not come near Thee, for it is hard for me!"
12. "I have revealed to Thee My Will; what questionest thou?--Draw near, baptize Me, and thou shalt not be burned.--The bridechamber is ready; keep Me not back--from the wedding-feast that has been made ready."
13. "The Watchers fear and dare not--gaze on Thee lest they be blinded;--and I, how, O my Lord, shall I baptize Thee?--I am too weak to draw near; blame me not!"
14. "Thou fearest; therefore gainsay not--against My Will in what I desire:--and Baptism has respect unto Me.--Accomplish the work to which thou hast been called!"
15. "Lo! I proclaimed Thee at Jordan--in the ears of the people that believed not and if they shall see Thee baptized of me,--they will doubt that Thou art the Lord."
16. "Lo! I am to be baptized in their sight,--and the Father Who sent Me bears witness of Me--that I am His Son and in Me He is well pleased,--to reconcile Adam who was under His wrath."
17. "It becomes, me, O my Lord, to know my nature--that I am moulded out of the ground,--and Thou the moulder Who formest all things:--I, then, why should I baptize Thee in water?"
18. "It becomes thee to know wherefore I am come,--and for what cause I have desired that thou shouldst baptize Me.--It is the middle of the way wherein I have walked;--withhold thou not Baptism."
19. "Small is the river whereto Thou art come,--that Thou shouldst lodge therein and it should cleanse Thee.--The heavens suffice not for Thy mightiness;--how much less shall Baptism contain Thee!"
20. "The womb is smaller than Jordan;--yet was I willing to lodge in the Virgin:--and as I was born from woman,--so too am I to be baptized in Jordan."
21. "Lo! the hosts are standing!--the ranks of Watchers, lo! they worship!--And if I draw near, my Lord, to baptize Thee,--I tremble for myself with quaking."
22. "The hosts and multitudes call thee happy,--all of them, for that thou baptizest Me.--For this I have chosen thee from the womb:--fear thou not, for I have willed it.
23. "I have prepared the way as I was sent:--I have betrothed the Bride as I was commanded.--May Thy Epiphany be spread over the world--now that Thou art come, and let me not baptize Thee!"
24. "This is My preparation, for so have I willed;--I will go down and be baptized in Jordan,--and make bright the armour for them that are baptized,--that they may be white in Me and I not be conquered."
25. "Son of the Father, why should I baptize Thee?--for lo! Thou art in Thy Father and Thy Father in Thee.--Holiness unto the priests Thou givest;--water that is common wherefore askest Thou?"
26. "The children of Adam look unto Me,--that I should work for them the new birth.--A way in the waters I will search out for them,--and if I be not baptized this cannot be."
27. "Pontiffs of Thee are consecrated,--priests by Thy hyssop are purified;--the anointed and the kings Thou makest.--Baptism, how shall it profit Thee?"
28. "The Bride thou betrothedst to Me awaits Me,--that I should go down, be baptized, and sanctify her.--Friend of the Bridegroom withhold Me not--from the washing that awaits Me."
29. "I am not able, for I am weak,--Thy blaze in my hands to grasp.--Lo! Thy legions are as flame;--bid one of the Watchers baptize Thee!"
30. "Not from the Watchers was My Body assumed,--that I should summon a Watcher to baptize Me.--The body of Adam, lo! I have put on,--and thou, son of Adam, art to baptize Me."
31. "The waters saw Thee, and greatly feared;--the waters saw Thee, and lo! they tremble!--The river foams in its terror;--and I that am weak, how shall I baptize Thee?"
32. "The waters in My Baptism are sanctified,--and fire and the Spirit from Me shall they receive;--and if I be not baptized they are not made perfect--to be fruitful of children that shall not die."
33. "Fire, if to Thy fire it draw near,--shall be burnt up of it as stubble.--The mountains of Sinai endured Thee not,--and I that am weak, wherein shall I baptize Thee?"
34. "I am the flaming fire;--yet for man's sake I became a babe--in the virgin womb of the maiden.--And now I am to be baptized in Jordan."
35. "It is very meet that Thou shouldst baptize me,--for Thou hast holiness to purify all.--In Thee it is that the defiled are made holy; but Thou that art holy, why art Thou to be baptized?"
36. "It is very right that thou shouldst baptize Me,--as I bid, and shouldst not gainsay.--Lo! I baptized thee within the womb;--baptize thou me in Jordan!"
37. "I am a bondman and I am weak.--Thou that freest all have mercy on me! Thy latchets to unloose I am not able;--Thy exalted head who will make me worthy to touch?"
38. "Bondmen in My Baptism are set free;--handwritings in My washing are blotted out;--manumissions in the water are sealed ;--and if I be not baptized all these come to nought."
39. "A mantle of fire the air wears,--and waits for Thee, above Jordan;--and if Thou consentest to it and willest to be baptized,--Thou shalt baptize Thyself and fulfil all."
40. "This is meet, that thou shouldst baptize Me,--that none may err and say concerning Me,--Had He not been alien from the Father's house,--why feared the Levite to baptize Him?'"
41. "The prayer, then, when Thou art baptized,--how shall I complete over Jordan?--When the Father and the Spirit are seen over Thee,--Whom shall I call on, as priest?"
42. "The prayer in silence is to be completed:--come, thy hand alone lay thou on Me.--and the Father shall utter in the priest's stead--that which is meet concerning His Son."
43. "They that are bidden, lo! all of them stand;--the Bridegroom's guests, lo! they bear witness--that day by day I said among them,--I am the Voice and not the Word.'"
44. "Voice of him that cries in the wilderness,--fulfil thou the work for which thou camest,--that the desert whereunto thou wentest out may resound--with the mighty peace thou preachedst therein."
45. "The shout of the Watchers has come to my ears;--lo! I hear from the Father's house--the hosts that sound forth the cry,--In Thy Epiphany, O Bridegroom, the worlds have life.'"
46. "The time hastes on, and the marriage guests--look to Me to see what is doing.--Come, baptize Me, that they may give praise--to the Voice of the Father when it is heard!"