God In His mercy Stooped And Came Down
Hymn 8
Resp.— Happy are you whose bodies have been made to shine!
1. God in His mercy stooped and came down—to mingle His compassion with the
water—and to blend the nature of His majesty— with the wretched bodies of men.—
He made occasion by the water— to come down and to dwell in us:— like to the
occasion of mercy— when He came down and dwelt in the womb:— O the mercies of
God— Who seeks for Himself all occasions to dwell in us!
2. To the cave in Horeb He stooped and came down—and on Moses He caused His
majesty to dwell—He imparted His glorious splendour to mortals.— There was
therein a figure of Baptism:— He Who came down and dwelt in it—tempers within
the water— the might of His majesty—that He may dwell in the feeble.— On Moses
dwelt the Breath,— and on you the Perfecting of Christ.
3. That might then none could endure—not Moses chief of deliverers,— nor Elijah
chief of zealots;— and the Seraphin too veil their faces—for it is the might
that subdues all.— His mercy mingled gentleness— in the water and by the
oil—that mankind in its weakness— might be able to stand before Him— when
covered by the water and the oil.
4. The captive priests again in the well— hid and concealed the fire of the
sanctuary, 1 Maccabbees 1:19 — a mystery of that glorified fire— which the
Highpriest mingles in Baptism.— The priests took up of the mire—and on the altar
they sprinkled it—for its fire, the fire of that well—with the mire had been
mingled—a mystery of our bodies which in the water— with the fire of the Holy
Spirit have been mingled.
5. The famous Three in Babylon— in the furnace of fire were baptized, and came
forth—they went in and bathed in the flood of flame, they were buffeted by the
blazing billows.— There was sprinkled on them there— the dew that fell from
heaven;— it loosed from off them there— the bonds of the earthly king.— Lo! The
famous Three went in and found a fourth in the furnace.
6. That visible fire that triumphed outwardly—pointed to the fire of the Holy
Ghost—which is mingled, lo! And hidden in the water.— In the flame Baptism is
figured,— in that blaze of the furnace.— Come, enter, be baptized, my brethren,—
for lo! It looses the bonds;— for in it there dwells and is hidden— the Daysman
of God—Who in the furnace was the fourth.
7. Two words again our Lord spoke— which in one voice agree in unison:— He said,
I have come to send fire,— and again, I have a baptism to be baptized with.— By
the fire of Baptism is quenched the fire—that which the Evil One had kindled:—
and the water of Baptism has overcome— those waters of contention— by which he
had made trial— of Joseph who conquered and was crowned.
8. Lo! The pure fire of our Redeemer— which he kindled in mankind of His mercy!—
Through His fire He quenched that fire— which had been kindled in the defiled
and sinful.— This is the fire wherein the thorns— are burnt up and the tares.—
But happy are your bodies— that have been baptized in the fire— which has
consumed your thickets—and by it your seeds have sprung up to heaven!
9. Jeremiah in the womb He sanctified and taught.— But if the lowly bosom of
wedlock— was sanctified in conceiving and bringing him forth—how much more shall
Baptism sanctify— its conception and its bringing forth— of them that are pure
and spiritual!— For there, within the womb— is the conception of all men—but
here, out of the water—is the birth whereof the spiritual are worthy.
10. For Jeremiah though sanctified in the womb—they took up nails and cast him
into the pit.— Holy was the prophet in his befoulment,— for clean was his heart
though he was in the mire.— Be afraid, my brethren— for lo! Today is washed
away— your secret befoulment,— and the abomination of your sins.— Turn not again
to uncleanness,— for there is but one cleansing of your bodies!
11. The presumptuous who is baptized and again sins—is as the serpent that casts
its slough and again puts it on, that is renewed and made young, and turns
again— — putting on anew its skin of old—for the serpent does not— cast off its
nature.— Cast off the tempter— the corrupter of souls—even the old man—let it
not make old— the newness you have put on!
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 Your
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 have 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? Isaiah 30:27 — The People were not able to dwell in it—its might
crushed the peoples and they were confounded.— In it, with the unction you have
been anointed;— you have put Him on in the water—in the bread you have eaten
Him—in the wine you have drunk Him—in the voice you have heard Him—and in the
eye of the mind you have seen Him!
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