7. For the bondman who has put on Him, Who makes all free in the waters,-though bondman he be on earth, is son of the free on high,-for freedom he has put on.
8. The freeman who has put on, that Angel in the waters,-is as the fellow of servants, that he may be made like to the Lord,-Who became bondman unto bondmen.
9. He Who enriches all came down, and put on poverty,-that He might divide to the poor, the stores that were hidden,-out of the treasure-house of the water.
10. The lowly one again that has put on, the Giver of all greatness, in the water,-even though he be base in the sight of fools, yet is great in the sight of the Watchers,-for that he is clad in greatness.
11. For like as He Who is great, Who became lowly in His love,-by the unbelievers was persecuted, and by the Watchers was worshipped,-was made lowly and makes the lowly great.12. Thus let him be lowly who is great, that in him the lowly may be great:-Let us be like to Him Who is greater than all, Who became less than all:-He was made lowly, and makes all men great.
13. The meek man who has put on Him Who is great, in the water,-though humble be his countenance, very great is his discernment,-for He Who is exalted above all dwells in him.
14. For who could be found to despise the bush of thorn,-the despised and humble, wherein the Majesty in fire,-made its dwelling within?
15. Who again could be found, to despise Moses,-the meek and slow of speech,-when that excelling glory-dwelt upon his meekness?
16. They that despised him despised his Lord; the wicked that despised him-the earth swallowed up in anger; the Levites who scorned Him,-the fire devoured in fury.
17. Of Him Christ commanded, "Thou shalt not call him Raca," who is baptized and has put Him on; for whoso despises the despised, despises with him the Mighty.
18. In Eden and in the world, are parables of our Lord;-and what tongue can gather, the similitudes of His mysteries?-for He is figured all of Him in all things.
19. In the Scriptures He is written of; on Nature He is impressed;-His crown is figured in kings, in prophets His truth, His atonement in priests.
20. In the rod was He of Moses, and in the hyssops of Aaron,-and in the crown of David: to the prophets pertains His similitude, to the Apostles His Gospel.
21. Revelations beheld Thee, proverbs looked for Thee,-mysteries expected Thee, similitudes saluted Thee, parables showed types of Thee.
22. The Covenant of Moses looked forward to the Gospel:-all things of old time, flew on and alighted thereon, in the new Covenant.
23. Lo! the prophets have poured out on Him, their glorious mysteries;-the priests and kings have poured out upon Him, their wonderful types:-they all have poured them out on all of Him.
24. Christ overcame and surpassed, by His teachings the mysteries,-by His interpretations the parables; as the sea into its midst-receives all streams.
25. For Christ is the sea, and He can receive-the fountains and brooks, the rivers and streams, that flow from the midst of the Scriptures.
V.
(Resp.- Blessed be He that ordained baptism, for the atonement of the sons of Adam! )
1. Descend, my brethren, put on from the waters of baptism the Holy Spirit;-be joined with the spirits that minister to the Godhead!
2. For lo! He is the fire that secretly, seals also His flock,-by the Three spiritual Names, wherein the Evil One is put to flight.
3. John when he cried and said "This is the Lamb of God, "-thereby showed concerning the Gentiles that they are Abraham's children.
4. This is he that testified of our Saviour, that with fire and the Spirit He should baptize.-Lo! the fire and the Spirit, my brethren, in the baptism of truth.
5. For greater is Baptism than Jordan that little river;-for that in streams of water and oil, the misdeeds of all men are washed out.