(.—Blessed be He Who was baptized that He might baptize you, that ye should be absolved from your offences.)
1. The Spirit came down from on
high,—and hallowed the waters by His brooding.—In the
baptism of John,—He passed by the rest and abode on
One:—but now He has descended and abode,—on all that are
born of the water.
2. Out of all that John baptized,—on One it
was that the Spirit dwelt:—but now He has flown and come
down,—that He may dwell on the many;—and as each after each
comes up,—He loves him and abides on him.
3. A marvel it is that surpasses
all!—To the water He went down and was baptized.—The seas
declared it blessed,—that river wherein Thou wast
baptized:—even the waters that were in heaven
envied,—because they were not worthy to be Thy bath.
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!