On Holy Baptism

On Holy Baptism of him, when of the holy one, Mar Jacob, a memrā. 9. On Holy Baptism. The Son who made us from within the waters, a son to his Father. In you I shall speak concerning your spiritual birth. The Only-Begotten who gave you his Spirit in Baptism: Grant me the word that I may sing to you lovingly. The Lord of will who became a brother to evil servants: Your teaching is full, that I may proclaim; stand always upon your goodness. The great sun who placed his light within the waters, that I may shine and be illuminated by it; your beauty, while it is pure, I shall see. By her, the Virgin who gave you a mother, a virgin also to you: May my word be born of you, while I see, distinctly. By the movement of the element, a memrā of praise without doubt: Proclaim to my tongue, while its voice is without hindrance. Baptism shall be the cause for the narrative of the casting down, and the memrā shall pursue the promise of the glory of the Only-Begotten. This mother who gives birth always, without death, shall stir my word; let it go forth and pursue your generations. Daughter of the enlightened ones, who gave birth to bodily suns: Call me today; come, delight in her flavors. The mother of life who casts her children from darkness: My discourse shall pursue the memrā; and if it ceases, I see, it is injustice. The Bride of the King made a bridal chamber for the whole world: Peoples and the world, come to the support of the Messiah.

The living waters from the house of the Father to the world, a gate. O all who thirst, drink hope from its spring. It is this that has now covered the peoples of the earth and distributes to them garments of light, that they may clothe themselves. It is this, the bride who ascended from within the waters and resembles the crown of a chosen firstborn of all the mysteries. It is this that the river Jordan saw its beauty and set before it waves and billows, that it might be baptized in it. It is this, the glory that sits within the spring and gives birth in the waters of being to the Son of God. It is this before which priests and ministers of the earth stand and from which they drink and sanctify it with their breath. It is this, which is without end. It is this that now leans upon the Only-Begotten and is fashioned in his image and is poured out to rejoice with him. It is this that binds the sick man to the spring and mixes fire and spirit in the waters to refresh him. It is this whose appearance is like a cloud of light, and to all who come, its beauty is holy. It is this that, as soon as it opened its high gates, seized the netherworld that was open over the generations. It is this, the new mother who takes the old and destroys them, that they may become youths by birth.

What is this that multiplies within the waters, weaving a living garment of light for all who come to it? What is this, full of glory and filled with radiance, at which the whole creation trembles to rejoice with it? It is Baptism, the daughter of the day, whose gates have been opened. (And night fled, for it had become a king of destruction that would be born; and the Only-Begotten established it by the Spirit of his Father.) The sun of the luminous one is hidden in it, the whole creation, and the world grazes on the meadows of its light lovingly. Baptism is the gate that opens into the kingdom, and through it man enters to be with God. Baptism is a new ship that carries the dead, and they are embalmed in it and cross over to the land of the immortals. Baptism is an egg placed between the world and the world, and from the side of death, through it, man enters the land of the living. Baptism is a gate: on this side of it is the gate of Sheol, and on the other side of it is the gate that opens into Paradise. Baptism is a ladder set in it like a path, and man ascends from within the waters to the height above. Baptism is a bridge stretched between the banks, and unless man crosses by it to the side of God, he does not cross. Baptism is a womb that bears life every day, and sanctifies those who become brothers to the Only-Begotten.

Baptism gives a stole of glory to Adam, who had been stripped of it in Eden. Baptism is a great furnace that is filled with light, and in it the flesh that is not subject to death is refined. Baptism is a great highway to the kingdom, and it leads to the place of light whoever walks on it. In baptism the treasures of the house of God are deposited, and whoever enters can find inexhaustible wealth. Baptism gives birth daily in its virginity, and it is both mother and virgin, and is not to be disputed. Baptism has become for us a mother, and we are born again in it as children to the Father whom we call our beloved Father. This womb has conceived us spiritually, so that we might be from it in the holy sons of God. For if it had not given birth to us as a child of two, from where would we have that we call the heavenly one our Father? From where would we show the dust-folk the sign and the sons of death? And from where this new mother in the sons of God? From it we have a Father above in heaven, and we call to him and trust that he is our Father. A Father in heaven—from where do we have him, or from when, that our Father Adam is in Sheol upon his rib? If the birth of Eve is established, how is it that he is called our Father of Sheol, not of heaven, which is not there?

The first father placed his daughter in the serpent and cast her into Sheol. And behold, he is there, within the abyss, cast down and humbled. He hastened upon the earth, and the ranks of the height that he had woven for himself. The worm consumed his garment, and he has a covering like a garment of shame. The height is beneath him, and above him a moth has settled. He is humbled: earth and dust cover him again, and he is worn out in Sheol. That is the first father, and that is his place. And in baptism, his depth is not changed, for it is great. As long as the mother of Eve endures, the race endures. That is the father, and beneath him there is no heaven. Flee, O hearer, from this great depth. And seek another father for yourself, one who is of heaven. (In the baptismal font, the race runs, and the mother seeks it. And she makes for you a father who is rich and full of blessings. She gives birth to you and brings forth, so that you may be an old man, so that you may be a beloved youth, and there is a father who is a king. She teaches you to call 'my father' the one in heaven, and from her you ascend to that father, not into the abyss. In that which is in Sheol, there is mockery; that which you confess is full of misery. Very humbled, very lowly, take for yourself a father who is all wealth. Baptism writes your name above in heaven, in the church of the firstborn where the father sits in glory. Be baptized, O hearer, and call 'my father' the one who is in heaven, for your race is heavenly from him, from here to there.)

He who is in Sheol was changed by Baptism. And now look above at what you read, where he is. The true Father, who was for you, from within the waters. Behold, he is in heaven, in his place, high and glorious. Above the mountains, above the depths, above the heights. Above the thrones, above the glory of the rulers. Above the ranks, above the orders, above the arrays. Above the hosts, above the thousands that cannot be counted. In a place higher than the angels and their ranks. In a height that surpasses even the Watchers and their companies. Where there is no place for the Watchers to serve. Nor does a passing wind enter to hover. In a place higher than the firmament and its changes. And no chariot travels there, nor clouds, nor birds. In the holy place where the Trinity dwells. Where even the Seraphim, when they are veiled, do not reach its side. Where if the fire of Ur of the Chaldees had approached, it would have been consumed at once. And the flame would have been extinguished if it had ascended. In a place of light, where the sun and the moon are outside its door. They are extinguished and cast down, unable to shine from their radiance. In a tabernacle not made, nor composed of creatures. In which the one who established Baptism for you dwells alone. For this moment your hour is prepared, when you read: "Father to your spiritual Father from the birth-giver.

When the waters bore you, the chosen waters of Baptism, Your body is above, where the Father sits in the height. There you have a brother, the Christ of his Father, your Father, And the life-giving of the Holy Spirit, who sanctified you. A wretched, needy one, a tomb, took your limbs, And made you great, so that even God marvels. The waters bore you instead of that bodily begetter, And behold, your voice is raised to call "Father" to the one who is in heaven. The Only-Begotten descended, raised you from the tomb, And gave you His Spirit in Baptism, and made you His brother. A new mouth and a high voice from within the waters: They cried out, "Fathers!" and became fathers in new children. And because they became brothers in the waters to the Only-Begotten, His Father in truth is their Father, and they call Him "Father." And because of this, from the begetter of the waters and onward, He is for us above in heaven: a Father, and He was not in Sheol. Her error is shown, and we have a Mother, Baptism. If He had not given to the height, our depths would have swallowed us. He left Adam aside, that God might come from the children, So that Sheol would stand over our body if He had left him aside. That wretched, needy, crushed one, our Father Adam, We no longer call "Father," for he has been replaced. Another Father, full of riches, we have found for ourselves, And that rich one takes his place, that wretched one.

His ribs, his sides, and he came in his love to the poor, the destitute. That he might fill the place of the Father for you, who has wealth. See him, the rich one, going to that destitute one who is full of woe. And he descended and went up, and he is between them in great depth. And he saw the height, that if he should make his children heirs, they would be sealed. From the curses of the houses of the stars of the east, for you. See him, that he had a great garden full of blessings. And the serpent disturbed and cast him out of it, and the destitute one remained. See him, that he has no one to make his children heirs except the stars. And evil snares, and Sheol, the abyss that swallows the dead. And he desired in his love to be a father and to make his children heirs. To the children of Adam, all the hidden treasures of the east. And he sent his son, that rich one, to the destitute. And he chose a virgin and made her the mother of his only one. And from within the womb he gave you a brother to the children of Adam. And by the coming of Jesus he wrote him among the lower ones. And the son of Jesus is that one who is named throughout his whole way. The children of Jesus were with him in the house of God. And instead of the mother who took him from the lower ones, He gave that mother who descended with him from his father's house. Baptism is a pure womb full of light, And it gives birth every day divinely and virginally.

He turns to the poor and works in the things of God. He receives bodies and makes spirits. And he mingles, in a holy manner, one nature with another. He makes the lower ones into the likeness of the higher ones. And he brings them near to the house of Adam with God. Purely he calls you "Father," when he calls him. The Holy Spirit he caused to dwell in the water and brought it down. For in the birth they became brothers to the Only-begotten. This is the Father, who is not grieved, in baptism, instead of that father who was cut off by the curse. The Spirit, whom the Father sent, entered our hearts, and through it we call the Father "your Father" truly. The Son of God is the son of man bodily, and in the things of God he is spiritual. Mary gave a body to the Word to become incarnate, and baptism gives spirit to man to be renewed. Because of this, O brother, we are made in the womb of the water, in baptism, which is called "your Father" from heaven. And because he approached that great type, our nature was moved; we called him "your Father" while he was in heaven. We were brought near to his divinity, naturally, and from within the water we became his truly. And from here we have been perfected, that we call "your Father" the hidden Father who gives us his Spirit in baptism.

Come, strangers, enter the opened door. He opens the house and rejoices, the father who receives you. Come, distant ones, you are near in baptism. There is a place, the house of God, for all who come to him. Come, foreigners, you are householders from within the water. And stand, a new father, in height, and call him your father. Come, debtors, take the receipt of your bonds, and in the water wash away the debts of your persons. Come, the poor, become rich in spiritual baptism, and taste the lowliness of poverty in the great treasure. Come to baptism, O straying flock of the Lord of the flock, that through you the perfect measure of water may be filled. Come, sinner, weary and worn out, who is full of tremors, and cut off from you the burden of iniquity in baptism. Come, the dark ones, blind who were by will, be baptized and opened and shine from her, the daughter of the day. Come, the lost ones of the good shepherd, go out at your request, and hunt for the placed spring, set a time for him to catch you. Come, those who were scattered among the fears of dead images, be baptized and sanctified from the filth of idols. Come, the straying ones who were enslaved to vanity, and from within the water learn the way to the house of God. Come, the old ones who grew old and wore out with paganism, receive renewal in the new womb of baptism.

Come, be sanctified, defiled ones of the earth, by the holy waters; and receive purity from the spring of holiness. Come, come, great treasure of divinity, for the master of the house, behold, seeks you lovingly. Come, penitent one, whose sins are compassion for baptism, for at your coming the clouds of the heavens rejoice. Come, daughter of the peoples, the Church who travails with the gods, clothe your betrothed and be one with him in pure embrace. Come, stranger, and give your hand to the Only-begotten, and he will make you a virgin by the holy waters. Come, blackened one of the sun by its rays, heal your body, clothe yourself in glory by the saving waters that have been prepared for you. Come, darkness of the abode of the sacrifices of the Zipporah, shine from the dawn and sweeten your scent in Christianity. Come to baptism, the old woman of antiquity, in poverty, be one with the waters, a glorious and praiseworthy youth. Come, my sister, and clothe yourself in the robe woven with divine gold, and ascend, show me your sweet beauty, rejoicing with you. Come, be adorned from the spring of the Gihon of light, and in the outpourings of the spirit of holiness the world will see you. Great ones of gold for the bride who ascended from within the waters, shining ones of precious stone, increase beauty for the lady of radiance. Pearls from Kush (Ethiopia) for the high head, and from within the Hindo, rows of precious stones.

Come, beautiful sea of pearls, and his companion, the dry land of perfect and pure stones. Approach, mountains of emeralds, all of them, and good dyes, and depths, send forth their splendors from their treasures. Stones of glory from the house of jewels of the sea, also from Ophir of gold for the beautiful wine-vats. Crowns, woven, and necklaces for the neck of the adorned one; her wealthy spouse, increase her treasures in their forms. The bride says: I have a cross for the sake of the sufferings, and all her beauties are arrayed upon my limbs. He dyes my garments in his blood and baptizes me; and I do not desire the beautiful sea of pearls. He places his sign in the house of my jewels and adorns me; and the great ones of gold and pearls are not suitable for me. In his anointing he makes my face joyful and sanctifies me; and I have no need of the dyes of enamel that are not suitable for me. Instead of precious stones and good dyes, he gives me his blossoms, so that I may gather from them all the treasure of the adorned ones. How beautiful you are, daughter of the Aramaeans, how beautiful! And all your adornment resembles the morning of the feast of his blood. Upon your house of jewels, a great light of clarity, so that even the sun, if it looks upon it, immediately becomes dazzled. Your mouth is a censer resembling the thread of the hyacinth, and it seems to me that your lips are also dyed in blood.

After your treasures, show your beauty in the churches. With blood and water, it flows to you from the beautiful one. In the waters of your treasure and in the cloud of the height, it sets you. Your beloved is crucified, and in the sea of the father, you hope. The deacon is clothed like a high priest in the house of mercy. A mountain and a spirit are bound to you, the daughter of all light. O daughter of the peoples, you are sold for light from within the waters. Keep your pearls from the darkness that surrounds you. You have a measure that is filled with shame; beware of it, lest by its arrows it cause a blemish in your purity. O bodies that are of gold in the waters of the spirit: Sanctify yourself, that you may be a help to the divinity. Son of the poor, who is of gold, brother of the rich: See that you do not lose your wealth, great in the churches. The baptized in the waters, you have become brothers to the Only-begotten: Do not be diminished in your bodily works. You, do not mix his members with the seed, but in his father, purify yourself from the stains. Do not be defiled, O baptism, for it is all light, by works that are not pleasing to God. He who is clothed in new garments guards himself both from filth and from the side, that it may not approach him. O baptism, you are clothed, O man, flee from iniquity, lest your daughter be burned away from you, who is of no value.

The Son of God gives you a glorious garment. Do not wear it without being cleansed of your sins. It is the custom that the serpent sheds its skins by its bitter counsel. And to the great feast, bring their garments. The stole of glory that was chosen among the trees. In the waters, she is clothed, and the evil measure is sealed in you. And if you give ear to the knowledge of the thorns, he spreads for you as is customary from the beginning. After the fresh serpent, the purity of baptism, that its letter, the serpent, is stretched out in the living waters. Do not again come, serpent, and enter according to your law. And in the struggles of the love of the world, his spread is found. Not for the sake of that fruit of desire, which is all death. And drink much, both to God and to your men. In baptism, you are sealed with God. And if a chosen place can find high righteousness. The depth that can find that praise which Adam cast off. Not by sin, again it will be lost from her who found it. To the Son of God, I remind you, soul, in baptism. Do not be given to Satan, your hand will be stretched out in you. The offering of demons sanctifies you, father, and gives you to his son. Keep the truth, do not defile you after your sanctification. O to you, soul, that pays its debts in baptism. Not by another letter will you begin to be written.

Your baptism has covered you; your sin has gone away and departed. Do not let the serpent find a place for its wicked counsel in you. The chief of the priests is pure, the garment you wore. Let not impurity again turn back upon your purity. Behold, wickedness is choked in the chosen waters of baptism. Do not let it be stirred up by the rustling leaves that are not fair. The serpent that was before the flood has cast its skin. Do not again fall into the hands of your enemies, the small and the weak. The baptized one who is clothed: put on the stole of glory, full of light. Flee from the side that you may be resplendent among the angels. Do not cast your splendid garment into a vile place, lest the enemies who envy your victory mock you. Behold, you have come forth a man from within the waters, and your form is fire, and your body is spirit, and you are a bridegroom. Your father has prepared you, and your son and your fortune have proclaimed you: spirit. And from within the waters you have descended and put on the divine. The Trinity in baptism is a fire that burns, so that wickedness may be consumed and the soul may live with God. In baptism you have found the treasure that was lost. Blessed is he who gave you the womb of waters in which you were renewed.