12. Elisha cast the wood into the water, and made the heavy float and the light sink:-their natures were exchanged in the water.-There a new thing came to pass not according to nature.-How much easier then, O Lord,-is this for Thy grace; that in the water should sink-transgression which is heavy,-but that the soul which is light-should be drawn forth and raised up on high!
13. Joshua, son of Nun, on Jericho-laid a curse on its walls and a doom on its fountains.-They whom Joshua cursed to their destruction,-again in the mystery of Jesus have been blessed.-There was cast into them salt,-and they were healed and sweetened:-a mystery of this salt,-the sweet salt that came from Mary,-that was mingled in the water,-whereby was healed the noisomeness of our plagues.
14. Lo! quiet waters are before you,-holy and tranquil and pleasant;-for they are not the waters of contention-that cast Joseph into the dungeon;-nor yet are they the waters,-those waters of strife,-beside which the people strove,-and gainsaid in the wilderness.- There are waters whereby-there is reconciliation made with Heaven.
15. Hagar saw the spring of water,-and from it she gave drink to her forward son , him who became as a wild ass in the wilderness.-Instead of that fountain of water is Baptism.-In it are baptized the sons of Hagar,-and are become gentle and peaceful. Who has seen rams like these ,-that are yoked, lo! and labour-along with tame bullocks,-and the seed of their tillage is reaped an hundredfold!
16. In the beginning the Spirit that brooded-moved on the waters; they conceived and gave birth-to serpents and fishes and birds.-The Holy Spirit has brooded in Baptism,-and in mystery has given birth to eagles,-Virgins and Prelates;-and in mystery has given birth to fishes,-celibates and intercessors; and in mystery of serpents,-lo! the subtle have become simple as doves!
17. Lo! the sword of our Lord in the waters!-that which divides sons and fathers:-for it is the living sword that makes-division, lo! of the living from the dying.-Lo! they are baptized and they become-Virgins and saints,-who have gone down, been baptized, and put on-the One Only begotten.-Lo! many have come boldly to Him!
18. For whoso have been baptized and put on Him-the Only begotten the Lord of the many,-has filled thereby the place of many,-for to him Christ has become a great treasure:-for He became in the wilderness-a table of good meats,-and He became at the marriage feast-a fountain of choice wines.-He has become such to all in all things,-by helps and healings and promises.
19. Elisha was the equal of the Watchers-in his doings, glorious and holy.-The camp of the Watchers was round about him;-thus let Baptism be unto you,-a camp of guardians,-for by means of it there dwells in the heart-the hope of them that are below-and the Lord of them that are above.-Sanctify for Him your bodies,-for where He abides, corruption comes not near.
20. They are no more, the waters of that sea-which by its billows preserved the People,-and by its billows laid low the peoples.-Of contrary effect are the waters in Baptism.-In them, lo! the people have life;-in them, lo! the People perishes:-for all that are not baptized,-in the waters that give life to all,-they are dead invisibly.
21. They are no more, the waters of that sea-which were tempestuous, and boiled against Jonah,-and plunged into the depths the Son of Amittai.-Though he fled he was bound in the prison-house;- God cast him in and bound him-in dungeon within dungeon;-for he bound him in the sea.-and He bound him in the fish.-For him Grace stood surety,-and she opened the prison and brought forth the preacher.
22. The Prophets have called the Most High a fire,-" a devouring fire," and "who can dwell with it?" -The People were not able to dwell in it;-its might crushed the peoples and they were confounded.-In it, with the unction ye have been anointed;-ye have put Him on in the water;-in the bread ye have eaten Him;-in the wine ye have drunk Him;-in the voice ye have heard Him;-and in the eye of the mind ye have seen Him!
IX.
(Resp., Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam! )
1. O John, who sawest 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 ye have thus become,-and Christ has become for you the Head:-ye also have become His members.
2. Consider and see how exalted ye are;-how instead of the river Jordan-ye 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 ye baptized therein.3. Infants 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 neverwaxes less or greater-in us is little or again great;-and he in whom is great under-standing,-great in him is Baptism.4. A 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.5. Jesus mingled His might in the water:-put ye 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 ye may be made like!6. How beautiful is Baptism-in the eye of the heart; come, let us gaze on it!-Like as by a seal ye have been moulded;-receive ye 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 ye it!7. Water is by nature as a mirror,-for one who in it examines himself .-Stir up thy soul, thou that discernest,-and be like unto it!-For it in its midst reflects thy image;-from it, on it, find an example;-gaze in it on Baptism,-and put on the beauty that is hidden therein!8. What profits it him that hears-a voice and knows not its significance?-Whoso 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 ye it.9. Baptism 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.
10. Baptism 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.
11. Open 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.
12. Our 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.
13. From 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.
14. Again 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 divers houses he undergoes changes:-Even so our Lord in divers men.
X.(Resp.- Glory to Him Who came and restored it! )
1. Adam sinned and earned all sorrows;-likewise the world after His example, all guilt.-And instead of considering how it should be restored,- considered how its fall should be pleasant for it.-Glory to Him Who came and restored it!
2. This cause summoned Him that is pure,-that He should come and be baptized, even He with the defiled,-Heaven for His glory was rent asunder.-That the purifier of all might be baptized with all,-He came down and sanctified the water for our baptism.
3. For that cause for which He entered into the womb,-for the same cause He went down into the river.-For that cause for which He entered into the grave,-for the same cause He makes us enter into His chamber.-He perfected mankind for every cause.
4. His Conception is the store of our blessings;-His Birth is the treasury of our joys;-His Baptism is the cause of our pardon;-His Death is the cause of our life.-Death He alone has overcome in His Resurrection.