{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/213/2130191.htm","path":"chr/ecf/213/2130191.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/213/2130191.htm","text":"p. 182 Hymn XIV.\n1. Under the three pastors,\u2014there were manifold shepherds;\u2014the one mother that was in the city,\u2014had daughters in all regions.\u2014Since Wrath has destroyed her dwellings,\u2014Peace shall build up her churches. R. Blessed be He who chose out those three!\n2. The kindly labour of the first,\u2014bound up the land in her affliction:\u2014the bread and wine of the next,\u2014healed the city when site was broken:\u2014the sweet speech of the last,\u2014sweetened our bitterness in affliction.\n3. The first tilled the land with his labour,\u2014he rooted out of her the briars and thorns:\u2014the next fenced her round about,\u2014he made a hedge for her of them that were saved:\u2014the last opened the garner of his Lord,\u2014and sowed in her the words of her Lord.\n4. The first priest by means of a fast,\u2014closed up the doors of men\u2019s mouths:\u2014the second priest for the captives,\u2014opened the mouths of the purse:\u2014but the last pierced through the ears,\u2014and fastened in them the ornament of life.\n5. Aaron stripped off from the ears,\u2014the earrings and made a calf.\u2014That lifeless calf in secret,\u2014pierced and slaughtered the camp:\u2014those who had fashioned his horns, \u2014he ripped them up with his horns.\n6. But our priest who was the third,\u2014pierced through the ears of the heart:\u2014and fastened there the earrings he had fashioned,\u2014of the nails that were fixed in the cross, \u2014whereon his Lord was crucified,\u2014and gave life to His fellow-men.\n7. A son unto death the fire brought forth;\u2014Death feeds upon all bodies:\u2014the son of Death who surpassed Death,\u2014upon the souls of men he fed.\u2014The calf forsook his provender,\u2014for men\u2019s minds were the food for him.\n8. To the first Tree that which killed,\u2014to it grace brought forth a son.\u2014O Cross offspring of the Tree,\u2014that didst fight against thy sire!\u2014The Tree was the fount of death;\u2014the Cross was the fount of life.\n9. The son that was born to Death,\u2014all mouths were opened to curse him.\u2014He devoured bodies and souls,\u2014and multiplied the disgrace of his father.\u2014But the Cross caused to pass away the rebuke,\u2014of its father that first Tree.\n10. The two sons were even as were\u2014the two mothers that bare them.\u2014The calf which the fire brought forth,\u2014the fire consumed in the midst of the people:\u2014the Cross the offspring of grace,\u2014divided good gifts to all creation.\n11. O my tongue hold thy peace and be silent of the histories of the Cross that press to be told!\u2014for my mind of a sudden has conceived,\u2014and lo! pangs of travail smite it:\u2014it has conceived these among the last,\u2014and they strive to become the firstborn.\n12. The babes struggled in the womb;\u2014the elder made haste to come forth:\u2014the younger desiring the birthright,\u2014laid his hand upon his heel;\u2014that which he obtained not by birth,\u2014he obtained by the mess of pottage.\n13. After the like sort these later histories,\u2014lo! they make light of the former ones,\u2014that themselves may come forth and take the birthright.\u2014Let us bring forth the history of our fathers,\u2014for lo! the histories of the Cross\u2014are the firstborn of all creatures.\n14. For if that which has no beginning\u2014is the first of all created things,\u2014its histories also are the firstborn,\u2014for they are elder than all creatures.\u2014Let the histories of Thee, O my Lord, yield place,\u2014that we may tell of Thy ministers!\n15. The first in degree of doctrine,\u2014His eloquence was like as was his degree;\u2014the next who was second in degree,\u2014his interpretation mounted to the height of his degree;\u2014the last who was third in degree,\u2014his eloquence was great as he was.\np. 183 16. The first in his simple words,\u2014gave milk unto his infants;\u2014the next in his plain sayings,\u2014gave victual to his children;\u2014the third in his perfect sayings,\u2014gave meat to his that were of perfect age.\n17. She too the daughter of instruction,\u2014mounted from degree to degree,\u2014along with her teachers and fathers.\u2014A young child she was with the first; a simple maid was she with the next;\u2014she came to perfect age in the third.\n18. The first dealing with her as a child,\u2014loved her and taught her to fear;\u2014the next as with a damsel, rebuked her and make her glad;\u2014the third as with one fully instructed,\u2014was to her a solace of pleasantness.\n19. Even the Most High with the daughter of Jacob,\u2014gave blandishment and the rod to her childhood;\u2014and in her frowardness and full age,\u2014gave part in the sword and the Law;\u2014and according to her discipline and instruction,\u2014He came to her in mildness and pleasantness.\n20. The first that begat the flock,\u2014his bosom bare her infancy;\u2014the next of glad-some countenance,\u2014cheered with song and made glad her childhood;\u2014the last grave of countenance,\u2014lo! he guards her chastity in her youth.\n21. The first priest who begat her,\u2014gave milk to her infancy;\u2014the next priest interpreted,\u2014and gave victual to her childhood;\u2014the third priest nourished her, and gave meat to her perfect age.\n22. The wealthy father who was first,\u2014laid up treasures for her childhood;\u2014the next for her maturity\u2014multiplied provision for her journey;\u2014the third the goodly olive tree,\u2014multiplied oil in her vessels.\n23. When she comes before Him who is rich,\u2014she will show the treasure of the first;\u2014when she comes before the Saviour, she will show the saved ones of the next;\u2014when she goes forth to meet the Bridegroom,\u2014she will show the oil of her lamps.\n24. Before Him who rewards the weary toilworn,\u2014she will offer the labour of the first;\u2014before Him who loves cheerful givers,\u2014she will show the almsgiving of the next;\u2014before Him who judges doctrines,\u2014she will offer the discourse of the last.\n25. And I the sinner who have striven to be\u2014the disciple of these three,\u2014when they shall see Him of the Third Day,\u2014that he has closed the door of His chamber,\u2014may these three pray Him for me, that He keep the door open a little while for me!\n26. May the sinner press into and enter\u2014rejoicing and fearing to behold!\u2014May the three masters call in\u2014the one disciple in their grace!\u2014May he gather up under the table\u2014the crumbs that are full of life!","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XIII: Selections from the Hymns and Homilies of Ephraim the Syrian and from the Demonstrations of Aphrahat the Persian Sage.: Hymn XIV.","type":"page"}