Hymns for the Feast of the Epiphany · Part 8

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."