Hymn 9

Chapter 9

1(Resp., Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam ! )

2O John, who saw the Spirit — that abode on the head of the Son — to show how the Head of the Highest — went down and was baptized — and came up to be Head on earth!— Children of the Spirit you have thus become — and Christ has become for you the Head:— you also have become His members.

3Consider and see how exalted you are — how instead of the river Jordan — you have glorious Baptism, wherein is peace — spreading her wings to shade your bodies.— In the wilderness John baptized :— in Her pure flood of Baptism, — purely are you baptized therein.

4Infants think when they see its glory — that by its pomp its might is enhanced.— But it is the same, and within itself — is not divided.— But the might which never waxes less or greater — in us is little or again great — and he in whom is great understanding — great in him is Baptism.

5A man's knowledge , if it be exalted — exalted also is his degree above his brethren;— and he whose faith is great — so also is his promise — and as is his wisdom, so also his crowning.— As is the light, which though it be all goodly — and equal all of it with itself — yet goodlier is one eye than another.

6Jesus mingled His might in the water:— put Him on my brethren as discerning men! — For there are that in the water merely — perceive that they are washed. With our body be our soul washed!— The manifest water let the body perceive — and the soul the secret might — that both to the manifest and to the secret you may be made like!

7How beautiful is Baptism — in the eye of the heart; come, let us gaze on it!— Like as by a seal you have been moulded;— receive its image — that nought may be lacking to us of our image!— For the sheep that are white of heart — gaze on the glory that is in the water:— in your souls reflect it!

8Water is by nature as a mirror — for one who in it examines himself .— Stir up your soul , you that discern — and be like it!— For it in its midst reflects your image — from it, on it, find an example — gaze in it on Baptism — and put on the beauty that is hidden therein!

9What profits it him that hears — a voice and knows not its significance? — Whoever hears a voice and is devoid — of the understanding thereof — his ear is filled but his soul is empty.— Lo! since the gift is abundant — with discernment receive it.

10Baptism that is with understanding — is the conjunction of two lights — and rich are the fountains of its rays.— ......— And the darkness that is on the mind departs — and the soul beholds Him in beauty — the hidden Christ of glory — and grieves when the glory fails.

11Baptism without understanding — is a treasure full yet empty — since he that receives it is poor in it — for he understands not — how great are its riches into which he enters and dwells.— For great is the gift within it — though the mean man perceives not — that he is exalted even as it.

12Open wide your minds and see, my brethren — the secret column in the air, whose base is fixed from the midst of the water — unto the door of the Highest Place, like the ladder that Jacob saw.— Lo! By it came down the light unto Baptism, — and by it the soul goes up to Heaven — that in one love we may be mingled.

13Our Lord when he was baptized by John — sent forth twelve fountains — and they issued forth and cleansed by their streams — the defilement of the peoples.— His worshippers are made white like His garments — the garments in Tabor and the body in the water.— Instead of the garments the peoples are made white — and have become for Him a clothing of glory .

14From your garments learn, my brethren — how your members should be kept.— For if the garment, which ever so many times — may be made clean — is duly kept for the sake of its comeliness — the body which has but one baptism — manifold more exceeding is the care of its keeping — for manifold are its dangers.

15Again the sun in a house that is strait — is straitened therein though he be great:— but in a house that is goodly and large — when he rises thereon — far and wide in it he spreads his rays — and though the sun is one and the same in his nature, — in various houses he undergoes changes:— Even so our Lord in various men.