Demonstrations · Part 40

4. A marvel it is, O my Lord, now also,--that while the fountains are full of water,--it is the water of baptism,--that alone is able to atone.--Mighty is the water in the seas,--yet is it too weak for atonement.

5. Thy might, O my Lord, if it abides,--within the humble it exalts him;--like as royalty if it abide--within the desert gives it peace.--Water by Thy might has triumphed--over sin, for Life has encompassed it.

6. The sheep exulted when they saw--the hand draw nigh to baptize them.--Receive, O ye sheep, your sealing; enter and be mingled in the flock!--for more than over all the flock,--over you rejoice the Watchers to-day.

7. The Angels and the Watchers rejoice--over that which is born of the Spirit and of water:--they rejoice that by fire and by the Spirit,--the corporeal have become spiritual.--The Seraphins who sing "Holy" rejoice,--that they who are made holy have been increased.

8. For lo! the Angels rejoice--over one sinner if he repent:--how much more do they now rejoice--that in all churches and congregations,--lo! Baptism is bringing forth--the heavenly from the earthly!

9. The baptized when they come up are sanctified;--the sealed when they go down are pardoned.--They who come up have put on glory;--they who go down have cast off sin.--Adam put off his glory in a moment;--ye have been clothed with glory in a moment.

10. A house that is of dust when it has fallen,--by means of water can be renewed:--the body of Adam that was of dust,--which had fallen by water has been renewed.--Lo! the priests as builders--afresh renew your bodies.

11. A great marvel is this of the wool,--that it can take every dye,--as the mind takes every discourse.--By the name of its dye it is called;--as ye who were--baptized when "Hearers,"--have gained the name of "Recipients."

12. The common waters he sanctified--even Elisha through the Name that is secret.--In them washed the leper openly,--and was cleansed by the Power that is secret:--the leprosy was done away in the water, as transgressions in Baptism.

13. To-day, lo! your offences are blotted out,--and your names are written down.--The priest blots out in the water;--and Christ writes down in Heaven.--By the blotting out and the writing down--lo! doubled is your rejoicing.

14. Lo! mercy has dawned to-day;--and from bound to bound it stretches:--the sun has sunk and mercy has dawned.--Justice has drawn in her wrath; Grace has spread forth her love,--lo! she pardons and quickens freely.

15. The sheep that beforetime were in the fold--lo! they hasten forth to greet--the new lambs that have been added to it.--They are white and are clad in white;--within and without white are your bodies as your vestments.

16. From every mouth "Blessed are ye,"--on every side "Blessed are ye."--Sin from you is driven out,--and the Holy Spirit on you is dwelling.--The Evil One is become sad of countenance;--the Good God makes glad your countenance.

17. The gift that ye have received freely,--cease not from watching over it:--this pearl if it shall be lost--cannot again be sought out,--for it is like to virginity--which if it be lost is not to be found.

18. May ye from all defilement--be kept by the power of your white robes!--and he whose freedom has defiled itself--may it be able to wash itself clean by his weeping!--For me who am servant of the community--may the supplication of the community win pardon!

19. To the author who has toiled in words,--be reconciliation in rest!--to the teacher who has toiled with voice,--be forgiveness through grace!--to the priest who has toiled in baptizing,--let there come the crown of righteousness!

20. From every mouth with one consent,--of those beneath and those above,--Watchers, Cherubin, and Seraphin,--the baptized, the sealed, and the hearers,--let each of us cry aloud and say,--"Glory to the Lord of our feasts!"

Hymn VII.

(Resp.--Blessed is He Who atoned your sins, that ye might receive His Body worthily!)

1. The flock of Jacob came down--and stood round the well of water.--In the water they put on the similitude of the wood that was covered by it.--Mysteries these and types of the Cross,--wherein the parables are interpreted.

2. There are shown in these rods similitudes,--and in the sheep, parables.--The Cross in the rods is figured, and in the sheep the souls of men.--His wood was a mystery of our Wood;--likewise his sheep a mystery of our flock.

3. The sheep of Christ rejoice,--and stand round the laver of baptism;--in the water they put on the likeness--of the living and goodly Cross--whereon gaze all things created,--and all of it is stamped on them all.

4. At the well Rebecca received--in her ears and hands the jewels.--The Spouse of Christ has put on--precious things that are from the water:--on her hand the living Body,--and in her ears the promises.

5. Moses drew water and watered the sheep--of Jethro the priest of sin.--But our Shepherd has baptized His sheep--Who is the high priest of truth.--At the well the flocks were dumb,--but here the sheep have speech.

6. The People passed through the water and were baptized:--the People came up on dry land and became as heathen.--The Commandment was savourless in their ears;--the manna corrupted in their vessels.--Eat ye the living Body,--the medicine of life that gives life to all!

7. To the sons of Lot Moses said,--"Give us water for money,--let us only pass by through your border."--They refused the way, and the temporal water.--Lo! the living water freely given,--and the path that leads to Eden!

8. From the water Gideon chose for himself--the men who were victorious in the battle.--Ye have gone down to the victorious waters:--come ye up and triumph in the fight!--receive from the water atonement,--and from the fight the crowning!

9. Ye baptized, receive your lamps,--like the lamps of the house of Gideon;--conquer the darkness by your lamps,--and the silence by your hosannas!--Gideon likewise in the battle--triumphed by the shout and the flame.

10. David the King longed after--the water of the well, and they brought it him;--but he drank it not, for he saw that with blood of men it was bought.--In the midst of the water ye have revelled--that was bought with the blood of God.

11. Out of Edom the prophet saw--God coming as one that presses the grapes.--He made ready the winepress of wrath,--He trod down the peoples and delivered the People.--He has turned and ordained Baptism;--the peoples live, the People is come to nought.

12. In the river Jeremiah buried--the linen girdle that was marred;--and [the People] waxed old and decayed.--...--The peoples that were decayed and marred,--by the waters have been clad in newness.

13. In Siloam, the blessed stream--the priests anointed Solomon.--His youth was had in honour;--his old age was despised.--Through the pure waters ye have been clad--in the purity of Heaven.

14. The fleece that was dry from the dew,--Jerusalem was figured in it:--the bason that was filled with water,--Baptism was figured in it.--That was dry after the manner of its type;--this was full after the manner of its symbol.

15. The wearied body in water--washes and is refreshed from its toil.--Lo! the laver in which are hidden--refreshing and life and delights.--In it wearied Adam had rest--who brought labour into the creation.

16. The fountain of sweat in the body--is set to protect against fever:--the fountain of Baptism--is set to protect against the Flame.--This is the water that avails--for the quenching of Gehenna.

17. He who journeys through the desert,--as armour takes to himself water--against all-conquering thirst.--Go ye down to the fountain of Christ,--receive life in your members,--as armour against death.

18. Again, the diver brings up--out of the sea the pearl.--Be baptized and bring up from the water--purity that therein is hidden,--the pearl that is set as a jewel--in the crown of the Godhead.

19. Sweet water in his vessel--the seaman lays up as a store;--in the midst of the sea he lays up and keeps it, the sweet in the midst of the bitter.--So amidst the floods of sin,--keep ye the water of Baptism.

20. The woman of Samaria said to our Lord,--"Lo! verily the well is deep."--Baptism though it be high,--in its mercy has stooped down with us:--for the atonement is from above--that has come down unto sinners.

21. "He that drinks the water that I shall give him,--verily never again shall he thirst."--For this holy Baptism,--for it be ye athirst, my beloved;--never again shall ye be athirst,--so that ye should come to another baptism.