Hymn XI.
(
Resp
.—
Let the
bodies rejoice which the Evil One had made naked, that in the water
they have put on their glory!
)
1. Give thanks, O daughter, that thy
crownings have been doubled;—for lo! thy temples and thy sons
rejoice.—The dedication of thy temples is in the
ministration;—The dedication of thy sons
is
in the
anointing.—Blessed art thou that at
once……—……the tabernacle for them that
dwell in thee,—and the Spirit has abode upon thy sons!
2. Our Lord opened up Baptism—in the
midst of Jordan the blessed river.—The height and the depth
rejoiced in Him;—He brings forth the first fruits of His peace
from the water,—for they are first fruits, the fruits of
Baptism.—The good
God
in His compassion will bring to
pass—that His peace shall be first fruits on earth.
3. Moses stretched out the temporal
Tabernacle;—the priests bathed themselves in water,—and
went in and ministered; and were stricken and punished,—because
their heart within was not cleansed.—Blessed art thou that in the
Passover of the great Passion,—the priests by the savour of their
oblations,—lo! are cleansing souls in thee!
4. Great was the mystery that the Prophet
saw,—the torrent that was mighty.—Into its depths he gazed
and beheld—thy beauty instead of himself; thee it was he saw, for
thy faith passes not away,—thou whose flood unseen shall
overwhelm—the subtleties of idolatry.
5. Though John was great among them that are born
of women,—yet he that is little is greater than he,—in this
that his baptized were again baptized,—in the baptism
that was of the
Apostles.—Blessed
art
thou that thy priest is greater than
he—in this alone that forever—abides his
baptism.
6. The baptism that was of Siloam—did
not bring mercy to the man that was laid
there
—who for
thirty and eight years awaited it,—for he was a respecter of the
persons of the Levites.—Blessed
art
thou that thy healing
is
in thee for all men,—and thy priests are devoted and
ready—for all that
are
in need of thy help.
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.