{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/213/2130254.htm","path":"chr/ecf/213/2130254.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/213/2130254.htm","text":"(Resp.\u2014Blessed is He Who atoned your sins, that ye might receive His Body worthily!)\n1. The flock of Jacob came down\u2014and stood round the well of water.\u2014In the water they put on the similitude of the wood that was covered by it.\u2014Mysteries these and types of the Cross,\u2014wherein the parables are interpreted.\n2. There are shown in these rods similitudes,\u2014and in the sheep, parables.\u2014The Cross in the rods is figured, and in the sheep the souls of men.\u2014His wood was a mystery of our Wood;\u2014likewise his sheep a mystery of our flock.\n3. The sheep of Christ rejoice,\u2014and stand round the laver of baptism;\u2014in the water they put on the likeness\u2014of the living and goodly Cross\u2014whereon gaze all things created,\u2014and all of it is stamped on them all.\np. 275 4. At the well Rebecca received\u2014in her ears and hands the jewels.\u2014The Spouse of Christ has put on\u2014precious things that are from the water:\u2014on her hand the living Body,\u2014and in her ears the promises.\n5. Moses drew water and watered the sheep\u2014of Jethro the priest of sin.\u2014But our Shepherd has baptized His sheep\u2014Who is the high priest of truth.\u2014At the well the flocks were dumb,\u2014but here the sheep have speech.\n6. The People passed through the water and were baptized:\u2014the People came up on dry land and became as heathen.\u2014The Commandment was savourless in their ears;\u2014the manna corrupted in their vessels.\u2014Eat ye the living Body,\u2014the medicine of life that gives life to all!\n7. To the sons of Lot Moses said,\u2014\u201cGive us water for money,\u2014let us only pass by through your border.\u201d\u2014They refused the way, and the temporal water.\u2014Lo! the living water freely 512 given,\u2014and the path that leads to Eden!\n8. From the water Gideon chose for himself\u2014the men who were victorious in the battle.\u2014Ye have gone down to the victorious waters:\u2014come ye up and triumph in the fight!\u2014receive from the water atonement,\u2014and from the fight the crowning!\n9. Ye baptized, receive your lamps,\u2014like the lamps of the house of Gideon;\u2014conquer the darkness by your lamps,\u2014and the silence by your hosannas!\u2014Gideon likewise in the battle\u2014triumphed by the shout and the flame.\n10. David the King longed after\u2014the water of the well, and they brought it him;\u2014but he drank it not, for he saw that with blood of men it was bought.\u2014In the midst of the water ye have revelled\u2014that was bought with the blood of God.\n11. Out of Edom the prophet saw\u2014God coming as one that presses the grapes.\u2014He made ready the winepress of wrath,\u2014He trod down the peoples and delivered the People.\u2014He has turned and ordained Baptism;\u2014the peoples live, the People is come to nought.\n12. In the river Jeremiah buried\u2014the linen girdle that was marred;\u2014and [the People] waxed old and decayed.\u2014\u2026\u2014The peoples that were decayed and marred,\u2014by the waters have been clad in newness.\n13. In Siloam, 513 the blessed stream\u2014the priests anointed Solomon.\u2014His youth was had in honour;\u2014his old age was despised.\u2014Through the pure waters ye have been clad\u2014in the purity of Heaven.\n14. The fleece that was dry from the dew,\u2014Jerusalem was figured in it:\u2014the bason that was filled with water,\u2014Baptism was figured in it.\u2014That was dry after the manner of its type;\u2014this was full after the manner of its symbol.\n15. The wearied body in water\u2014washes and is refreshed from its toil.\u2014Lo! the laver in which are hidden\u2014refreshing and life and delights.\u2014In it wearied Adam had rest\u2014who brought labour into the creation.\n16. The fountain of sweat in the body\u2014is set to protect against fever:\u2014the fountain of Baptism\u2014is set to protect against the Flame.\u2014This is the water that avails\u2014for the quenching of Gehenna.\n17. He who journeys through the desert,\u2014as armour takes to himself water\u2014against all-conquering thirst.\u2014Go ye down to the fountain of Christ,\u2014receive life in your members,\u2014as armour against death.\n18. Again, the diver brings up\u2014out of the sea the pearl.\u2014Be baptized and bring up from the water\u2014purity that therein is hidden,\u2014the pearl that is set as a jewel\u2014in the crown of the Godhead.\np. 276 19. Sweet water in his vessel\u2014the seaman lays up as a store;\u2014in the midst of the sea he lays up and keeps it, the sweet in the midst of the bitter.\u2014So amidst the floods of sin,\u2014keep ye the water of Baptism.\n20. The woman of Samaria said to our Lord,\u2014\u201cLo! verily the well is deep.\u201d\u2014Baptism though it be high,\u2014in its mercy has stooped down with us:\u2014for the atonement is from above\u2014that has come down unto sinners.\n21. \u201cHe that drinks the water that I shall give him,\u2014verily never again shall he thirst.\u201d\u2014For this holy Baptism,\u2014for it be ye athirst, my beloved;\u2014never again shall ye be athirst,\u2014so that ye should come to another baptism.\n22. In the baptism of Siloam\u2014the blind man washed, and his eyeballs\u2014were opened and enlightened by the water;\u2014he cast off the darkness that was on them.\u2014The hidden darkness ye have cast off;\u2014from the water ye have been clad in light.\n23. His hands Pilate washed\u2014that he might not be of them that slew.\u2014Ye have bathed your bodies,\u2014your hands together with your mouths.\u2014Go in and be of them that eat,\u2014for this medicine of life gives life to all.\n24. \u201cCome after Me and verily I will make you\u2014fishers of men.\u201d\u2014For instead of a draught of that which perishes,\u2014they fished for the draught that is forever.\u2014They who had taken fishes for death,\u2014baptized and gave life to them that were to die.\n25. An hundred and fifty fishes were taken\u2014by Simon\u2019s net from the water;\u2014but there were taken by his preaching,\u2014out of the bosom of Baptism,\u2014ten thousands and thousands of men,\u2014a draught of the sons of the Kingdom.\n26. Lo! our priest as a fisher\u2014over the scanty water is standing;\u2014he has taken thence a great draught\u2014of every shape and of every kind;\u2014he has drawn up the draught to bring it near\u2014to the King of kings, most high.\n27. Simon took the fishes and drew them up,\u2014and they were brought near before our Lord:\u2014Our priest has taken from out of the water,\u2014by the Hand which he received from Simon,\u2014virgins and chaste men who are brought near\u2014in the festival of the Lord of feasts.\n28. In Thy mercy I adjure Thee pardon me,\u2014for in mercy Thou too hast sworn,\u2014Rabboni, \u201cIn the death of him that dieth,\u2014I have no pleasure, but in his life.\u201d\u2014Thou hast sworn and I have adjured:\u2014O Thou Who hast sworn, pardon him who has adjured!\nSo in Peshitto, 1 Kin. i. 38; but Gihon in the Hebrew.","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 VII.","type":"page"}