Hymn 8

Chapter 8

1(Resp.— Happy are you whose bodies have been made to shine! )

2God in His mercy stooped and came down — to mingle His compassion with the water — and to blend the nature of His majesty — with the wretched bodies of men. — He made occasion by the water — to come down and to dwell in us:— like to the occasion of mercy — when He came down and dwelt in the womb:— O the mercies of God — Who seeks for Himself all occasions to dwell in us!

3To the cave in Horeb He stooped and came down — and on Moses He caused His majesty to dwell — He imparted His glorious splendour to mortals.— There was therein a figure of Baptism: — He Who came down and dwelt in it — tempers within the water — the might of His majesty — that He may dwell in the feeble.— On Moses dwelt the Breath — and on you the Perfecting of Christ .

4That might then none could endure — not Moses chief of deliverers — nor Elijah chief of zealots;— and the Seraphin too veil their faces — for it is the might that subdues all.— His mercy mingled gentleness — in the water and by the oil — that mankind in its weakness — might be able to stand before Him — when covered by the water and the oil.

5The captive priests again in the well — hid and concealed the fire of the sanctuary, 1 Maccabbees 1:19 — a mystery of that glorified fire — which the Highpriest mingles in Baptism. — The priests took up of the mire — and on the altar they sprinkled it — for its fire, the fire of that well — with the mire had been mingled — a mystery of our bodies which in the water — with the fire of the Holy Spirit have been mingled.

6The famous Three in Babylon — in the furnace of fire were baptized , and came forth — they went in and bathed in the flood of flame, they were buffeted by the blazing billows.— There was sprinkled on them there — the dew that fell from heaven;— it loosed from off them there — the bonds of the earthly king .— Lo! The famous Three went in and found a fourth in the furnace.

7That visible fire that triumphed outwardly — pointed to the fire of the Holy Ghost — which is mingled, lo! And hidden in the water.— In the flame Baptism is figured — in that blaze of the furnace . — Come, enter, be baptized , my brethren — for lo! It looses the bonds;— for in it there dwells and is hidden — the Daysman of God — Who in the furnace was the fourth.

8Two words again our Lord spoke — which in one voice agree in unison:— He said, I have come to send fire, — and again, I have a baptism to be baptized with. — By the fire of Baptism is quenched the fire — that which the Evil One had kindled:— and the water of Baptism has overcome — those waters of contention — by which he had made trial — of Joseph who conquered and was crowned.

9Lo! The pure fire of our Redeemer — which he kindled in mankind of His mercy!— Through His fire He quenched that fire — which had been kindled in the defiled and sinful. — This is the fire wherein the thorns — are burnt up and the tares.— But happy are your bodies — that have been baptized in the fire — which has consumed your thickets — and by it your seeds have sprung up to heaven!

10Jeremiah in the womb He sanctified and taught.— But if the lowly bosom of wedlock — was sanctified in conceiving and bringing him forth — how much more shall Baptism sanctify — its conception and its bringing forth — of them that are pure and spiritual! — For there, within the womb — is the conception of all men — but here, out of the water — is the birth whereof the spiritual are worthy.

11For Jeremiah though sanctified in the womb — they took up nails and cast him into the pit.— Holy was the prophet in his befoulment, — for clean was his heart though he was in the mire.— Be afraid, my brethren — for lo! Today is washed away — your secret befoulment, — and the abomination of your sins .— Turn not again to uncleanness — for there is but one cleansing of your bodies!

12The presumptuous who is baptized and again sins — is as the serpent that casts its slough and again puts it on, that is renewed and made young, and turns again — — putting on anew its skin of old — for the serpent does not — cast off its nature. — Cast off the tempter — the corrupter of souls — even the old man — let it not make old — the newness you have put on!

13Elisha cast the wood into the water, and made the heavy float and the light sink:— their natures were exchanged in the water.— There a new thing came to pass not according to nature. — How much easier then, O Lord, — is this for Your grace ; that in the water should sink — transgression which is heavy — but that the soul which is light — should be drawn forth and raised up on high!

14Joshua, son of Nun, on Jericho — laid a curse on its walls and a doom on its fountains.— They whom Joshua cursed to their destruction — again in the mystery of Jesus have been blessed. — There was cast into them salt — and they were healed and sweetened:— a mystery of this salt — the sweet salt that came from Mary, — that was mingled in the water — whereby was healed the noisomeness of our plagues.

15Lo! quiet waters are before you — holy and tranquil and pleasant — for they are not the waters of contention — that cast Joseph into the dungeon — nor yet are they the waters — those waters of strife — beside which the people strove — and gainsaid in the wilderness.— There are waters whereby — there is reconciliation made with Heaven .

16Hagar saw the spring of water — and from it she gave drink to her forward son , him who became as a wild ass in the wilderness.— Instead of that fountain of water is Baptism. — In it are baptized the sons of Hagar — and have become gentle and peaceful. Who has seen rams like these — that are yoked, lo! And labour — along with tame bullocks — and the seed of their tillage is reaped an hundredfold!

17In the beginning the Spirit that brooded — moved on the waters; they conceived and gave birth — to serpents and fishes and birds.— The Holy Spirit has brooded in Baptism, — and in mystery has given birth to eagles — Virgins and Prelates;— and in mystery has given birth to fishes — celibates and intercessors; and in mystery of serpents, — lo! The subtle have become simple as doves!

18Lo! The sword of our Lord in the waters!— that which divides sons and fathers:— for it is the living sword that makes — division, lo! Of the living from the dying.— Lo! They are baptized and they become — Virgins and saints — who have gone down, been baptized , and put on — the One Only begotten.— Lo! Many have come boldly to Him!

19For whoever have been baptized and put on Him — the Only begotten the Lord of the many — has filled thereby the place of many — for to him Christ has become a great treasure:— for He became in the wilderness — a table of good meats — and He became at the marriage feast — a fountain of choice wines.— He has become such to all in all things — by helps and healings and promises.

20Elisha was the equal of the Watchers — in his doings, glorious and holy .— The camp of the Watchers was round about him — thus let Baptism be unto you — a camp of guardians — for by means of it there dwells in the heart — the hope of them that are below — and the Lord of them that are above.— Sanctify for Him your bodies — for where He abides, corruption comes not near.

21They are no more, the waters of that sea — which by its billows preserved the People — and by its billows laid low the peoples.— Of contrary effect are the waters in Baptism. — In them, lo! The people have life — in them, lo! The People perishes:— for all that are not baptized — in the waters that give life to all — they are dead invisibly.

22They are no more, the waters of that sea — which were tempestuous, and boiled against Jonah — and plunged into the depths the Son of Amittai.— Though he fled he was bound in the prison-house — God cast him in and bound him — in dungeon within dungeon — for he bound him in the sea.— and He bound him in the fish.— For him Grace stood surety — and she opened the prison and brought forth the preacher.

23The Prophets have called the Most High a fire — a devouring fire, and who can dwell with it? Isaiah 30:27 — The People were not able to dwell in it — its might crushed the peoples and they were confounded.— In it, with the unction you have been anointed;— you have put Him on in the water — in the bread you have eaten Him — in the wine you have drunk Him — in the voice you have heard Him — and in the eye of the mind you have seen Him!