Hymn 1
Resp.— To You be praise from Your flock in the day of Your Epiphany!
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The heavens He has renewed, for that fools worshipped all the luminaries:— He has renewed the earth, for that in Adam it was wasted. — That which He fashioned has become new by His spittle:— and the All-Sufficing has restored bodies with souls.
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Gather yourselves again — sheep and without labour receive cleansing!— for one needs not as Elisha — to bathe seven times in the river, nor again to be wearied as the priests are wearied with sprinklings.
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Seven times Elisha purified himself in a mystery of the seven spirits;— and the hyssop and blood are a mighty symbol.— There is no room for division — He is not divided from the Lord of all Who is Son of the Lord of all.
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Moses sweetened in Marah the waters that were bitter — because the People complained and murmured:— Thus he gave a sign of baptism — wherein the Lord of life makes sweet them that were bitter.
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The cloud overshadowed and kept off the burning heat from the camp — it showed a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which overshadows you in baptism — tempering the flaming fire that it harm not your bodies.
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Through the sea the People then passed, and showed a symbol — of the baptism wherein you were washed. The People passed through that and believed not:— the Gentiles were baptized in this and believed and received the Holy Ghost.
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The Word sent the Voice to proclaim before His Coming, — to prepare for Him the way by which He came — and to betroth the Bride till He should come — that she might be ready when He should come and take her from the water.
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The voice of prophecy stirred the son of the barren woman — and he went forth wandering in the desert and crying — Lo! The Son of the Kingdom comes!— prepare the way that He may enter and abide in your dwellings!
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John cried, Who comes after me, He is before me:— I am the Voice but not the Word;— I am the torch but not the Light — the Star that rises before the Sun of Righteousness.
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In the wilderness this John had cried and had said — Repent you sinners of your evils — and offer the fruits of repentance;— for lo! He comes that winnows the wheat from the tares.
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The Lightgiver has prevailed and marked a mystery, by the degrees he ascended: — Lo! There are twelve days since he ascended, — and today this is the thirteenth:— a perfect mystery of Him, the Son, and His twelve!
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Darkness was overcome to make it manifest that Satan was overcome — and the Light prevailed that he should proclaim — that the Firstborn triumphs: darkness was overcome — with the Dark Spirit, and our Light prevailed with the Lightgiver.
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In the Height and the Depth the Son had two heralds.— The star of light proclaimed Him from above — John likewise preached Him from beneath:— two heralds, the earthly and the heavenly.
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The star of light, contrary to nature, shone forth of a sudden — less than the sun yet greater than the sun.— Less was it than he in manifest light — and greater than he in secret might because of its mystery.
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The star of light shed its rays among them that were in darkness — and guided them as though they were blind — so that they came and met the great Light:— they gave offerings and received life and adored and departed.
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The herald from above showed His Nature to be from the Most High;— likewise he that was from beneath showed His Body to be from humankind, mighty marvel!— that His Godhead and His Manhood by them were proclaimed!
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Thus whoever reckons Him as of earth, the star of light — will convince him that He is of Heaven: and whoever reckons Him as of spirit, — this John will convince him that He is also bodily.
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John drew near with his parents and worshipped the Sun — and brightness rested on His Face.— He was not moved as when in the womb.— Mighty marvel! That here he worships and there he leaped!
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The whole creation became for Him as one mouth and cried out concerning Him.— The Magi cry out in their gifts;— the barren cry out with their children — the star of light, lo! It cries out in the air, Behold the Son of the King!
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The heavens are opened, the waters break forth, the dove is in glory!— The voice of the Father is stronger than thunder — as it utters the word, This is My Beloved;— the Watchers brought the tidings, the children acclaimed Him in their Hosannas.