Of what created elements were made,
Think ye, the bread and wine which were (He said)
His body with its blood? and what must be
265 Confessed? Proved He not Himself the world’s
Maker, through deeds? and that He bore at once
A body formed from flesh and blood?
This God
This true Man, too, the Father’s Virtue ’neath
An Image, with the Father ever was,
270 United both in glory and in age;
Because alone He ministers the words
Of the All-Holder; whom He upon earth
Accepts; through whom He all things did create:
God’s Son, God’s dearest Minister, is He!
275 Hence hath He generation, hence Name too,
Hence, finally, a kingdom; Lord from Lord;
Stream from perennial Fount! He, He it was
Who to the holy fathers (whosoe’er
Among them doth profess to have “seen God”)—
280 God is our witness—since the origin
Of this our world, appearing, opened up
The Father’s words of promise and of charge
From heaven high: He led the People out;
Smote through th’iniquitous nation; was Himself
285 The column both of light and of cloud’s shade;
And dried the sea; and bids the People go
Right through the waves, the foe therein involved
And covered with the flood and surge: a way
Through deserts made He for the followers
290 Of His high biddings; sent down bread in showers
From heaven for the People; brake the rock;
Bedewed with wave the thirsty; and from God
The mandate of the Law to Moses spake
With thunder, trumpet-sound, and flamey column
295 Terrible to the sight, while men’s hearts shook.
After twice twenty years, with months complete,
Jordan was parted; a way oped; the wave
Stood in a mass; and the tribes shared the land,
Their fathers’ promised boons! The Father’s word,
300 Speaking Himself by prophets’ mouth, that He
Would come to earth and be a man, He did
Predict; Christ manifestly to the earth
Foretelling.
Then, expected for our aid,
Life’s only Hope, the Cleanser of our flesh,