Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIII/Ephraim the Syrian and Aphrahat/Hymns For the Feast of the Epiphany/Hymn XII

(.&#8212;Blessed is He Who went down and was baptized in Jordan, and turned back the People from error!)

1.&#160; In Baptism Adam found again&#8212;that glory that was among the trees of Eden.&#8212;He went down, and received it out of the water;&#8212;he put it on, and went up and was adorned therein.&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!

2.&#160; Man fell in the midst of Paradise,&#8212;and in baptism compassion restored him:&#8212;he lost his comeliness through Satan&#8217;s envy,&#8212;and found it again by God&#8217;s grace.&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!

3.&#160; The wedded pair were adorned in Eden;&#8212;but the serpent stole their crowns:&#8212;yet mercy crushed down the accursed one,&#8212;and made the wedded pair goodly in their raiment.&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!

4.&#160; They clothed themselves with leaves of necessity;&#8212;but the Merciful had pity on their beauty,&#8212;and instead of leaves of trees,&#8212;He clothed them with glory in the water.&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!

5.&#160; Baptism is the well-spring of life,&#8212;which the Son of God opened by His Life;&#8212;and from His Side it has brought forth streams.&#8212;Come, all that thirst, come, rejoice!&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!

6.&#160; The Father has sealed Baptism, to exalt it;&#8212;and the Son has espoused it to glorify it;&#8212;and the Spirit with threefold seal&#8212;has stamped it, and it has shone in holiness.&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!

7.&#160; The Trinity that is unsearchable&#8212;has laid up treasures in baptism.&#8212;Descend, ye poor, to its fountain!&#8212;and be enriched from it, ye needy!&#8212;Blessed be He that has mercy on all!