The Memre of Jacob of Serugh

[Secret Alias]

On the baptism of the law and on the baptism of John and on the baptism that our Lord gave to the apostles.

Again, a teaching on the baptism of the law:
and on the baptism of John:
and on the baptism that our Lord gave to the apostles,
when it was his, as it was his, of Mar Jacob the teacher.

By his word, He enlightened the creatures of darkness:
and the light of the world was seen, unseen:
a bright shoot rose in the world and shone:
and like the sun, it drove away the shadows from the face of the earth.
The soul of our Lord showed light in the house of darkness:
and drove away the night that had covered the whole world.
Born of a virgin, the daughter of Abraham:
and started on the path of Arameans in the world to lead them.
The light began in the womb of a virgin holy:
and the head of the way was made from there manifest.
He came out of the womb and did not dwell in virginity in his birth:
a new creation that was not in the world, like him.
Came out to the wilderness, rivers were dug in the earth:
and peace was sown in the land where the great serpent was destroyed.

A new creation that had fallen from the ancient world:
and established in the land a new creation unshakable.
He was a child of a desolate woman who wandered:
and his burden was to lead Adam back to the Garden.
From the time he descended, he guided like a merchant:
that he might guide the fallen into the paths of the waters.
At that time, Mary conceived him:
and she bore a child like a man, for the world to be amazed.

The time for the two to be baptized came:
and he descended into it, dressed in the apparel of the sacrifices.
John cried out in the desert, "Prepare the way":
and opened the gate for men to enter the house of God.
As he stood, water stood before him like a fisher:
to fish men with repentance to the new world.
For the bridegroom's daughter, John came:
and made the waters ready to be purified and be established.

He dipped the waters with repentance and made them holy:
that they might become clean and henceforth see the bridegroom the king.
In the river, he purified it and took from it the face of it:
that it might not be seen by the bridegroom, the one who loves beauty.
By baptism, the daughter of God, the church, was made holy:
and adorned herself with the bridegroom as a holy person.

Because of this, the son of Levi ran in the river:
that he might wash away the defilement that had come upon her.

A pure light, to see the bridegroom when she stands in her garment.
The son of Levi, pure of mind and spirit, guided her to see the king.
In his desert, John sanctified it:
and made known to the son of God his nature.
The virgin bore him as a lamb:
and sent him to Egypt from Herod.
The son of Levi in the wilderness of Judea was left:
Elisabeth took him when they killed the children and fled with him.
To Zachariah, they demanded his son:
and he was made known to the altar of holiness.
Elisabeth, thus, was left in a desolate place:
and John grew in the desert from goodness.
From roots and plants and herbs:
he grew in the wilderness of Judea like animals.
And he saw no peace, and no food from men:
thirty years he grew in that wilderness.
In spiritual matters, he grew:
with the goodness that he had like one nourished by milk.

Look, son of rebellion, and see now:
that John saw not the perfect Messiah.
Even the management of the house of God:
it stirred thus to face the people filled with falsehood.
That they might be those taking reproach for John:
who was a witness to the beloved son.
And from the mercies and from the ancient affairs:
they decided to testify of what the truth was.
And because he saw no sign of their works:
and was greatly ashamed of what he saw of the bridegroom.

The Spirit of holiness revealed the mysteries filled with light:
and was disturbed by the revelation of the son of God.
He said to the bride: "You are the bride who knows him":
this is the lamb who takes away the sin of Adam.
This is the one who takes the offering of the children of Levi:
for in his person, he is the sacrifice instead of sins.

John saw the Lord who was seeking to be baptized:
and asked to be baptized with the good ones.
The servant said, "My Lord, it is not for me to baptize you:
for you are the one who sanctifies and purifies the whole world.
You give holiness to the priests who are holy:
and here is the life baptism to be sanctified by you."
Then our Lord silenced the servant that he might not speak:
but that he might speak... baptism.

"Leave now (it is not the time):"
that I might not feel in me the head of the light.
I do not desire to know the knowledge of the son:
but that the great staff of the cross might be found in him.
Silence now and immerse me with the good ones:
that the circumcision might be planted and I might be powerful.
The path of the child leads me to baptism:
and because of his birth, I am at peace and he baptizes me."

John was silent and kept the mystery as commanded:
and the bridegroom descended to be sanctified by the baptism.
The rich one left his wealth in poverty:
that he might walk in the path as a poor man.
John was silent as commanded, to conceal the mystery.

The father spoke, revealed to the people his beloved.
That he was the one upon whom the Spirit of holiness descended:
that the father and the Spirit might be witnesses to the baptism.
The Spirit did not descend to sanctify the waters and be baptized.
The holy son from whom the holy stream flows.

After he baptized the Messiah and came up from the water:
the Spirit descended and stayed on him to sanctify him.
For if the Messiah was not sanctified, baptism would not be for us.

[Secret Alias]

The Memre of Jacob of Serugh


First Homily on the Martyrs

Oh ye faithful, who love the truth,
And who seek to follow the example of the saints,
Listen to the story of the martyrs,
And be strengthened in your faith.

These are they who, for the sake of the Lord,
Did not fear the wrath of the king,
Nor the power of the mighty,
But trusted in the Lord their God.

They were beaten and scourged,
Yet they did not deny their faith.
They were cast into prison,
Yet they sang praises to their God.

Some were stoned, others were sawn asunder,
Yet they remained steadfast in their love for the Lord.
They were tempted, and they endured great suffering,
Yet they did not yield to the enemy.

They wandered in deserts and mountains,
In dens and caves of the earth.
They were destitute, afflicted, tormented,
Yet they were rich in faith and hope.

The world was not worthy of them,
For they sought a better country, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
For He has prepared for them a city.

Let us then follow their example,
And let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
Despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rubric:

Concerning the Tablet that was Elevated on Mount Sinai

Again,
Treatise B,
Concerning the Tablet that was Elevated on Mount Sinai:

(and the mystery of the Church:

Concerning Saint Jacob.

Concerning the Work of the Heavens, the Prayer was Elevated on Mount Sinai:
Give me to sing the praises of your might.
(He seized the ends,
He took the soul of Sinai in its strength:
May your thought not deviate as long as there is hope.

Neither descending nor ascending, it rises high.
Behold, in truth, to the highest of that which upholds you.
In you, the fire will be established, the mind like Mount Sinai:
And from it, a song of praise will ascend to you.
Give me to say in prayer your glorious ascent:
And with the power of your might shield him.
And cover him entirely.

To the head of Sinai, the mountain of stone, he descended in prayer:
Come to the spiritual thought of this light.
The earth does not perceive you, it is astonished as at a gate:
Even the mountains will receive you as a sign.

Great is this light from Mount Sinai, in its broadness:
Shield him and draw a word of thanksgiving from him.
For its center is not narrow:
Come, nourish the soul of the lamb with the beauty of your hymns.
The assembly of the people who love it rejoices greatly:
Master, let silence enter my thought and dwell there.

May the mountain (be as a man, like my word,
And it will rise even higher:
And it will accompany (gloriously) to the end (of glory:
You will elevate it.

As Moses, you ascend the silence like the calf:
May the soul rejoice (and seize your vision with its hymns:
Great is your word above all mouths of the city and men:
And the spirits in their thoughts do not suffice for it.

Strengthen your silence from words and hearing:
And hide your thought from the high and the low.
The treasure of your dwelling from the physical and the spiritual:
And distance your place from the earthly and the heavenly.
The power of the one who seizes its ends does not exist:

And the symbol of the little is not revealed even from the lightning:
It is not spoken of from the tongues of fire:
Nor do the fires call it out with their words.
The mouths of the words of Gabriel do not take it in:
And from the trumpet of Michael's house, it is very distant:

It rises high and is lofty and far and hidden in the treasure and is seen as wonderful:
It seizes the ends (of the abyss with the strength of its being:
To you, to the creatures, and adorn the world with its deeds:
All creatures are filled by it and lack nothing.

All the ends are bound in it and it bears them:
Great from the height settles in the depth and in all of it:
Upon the beginning of height, it sits like a judge:
And by its command, the orders of all creatures are governed.

Again, its power strikes the earth with a symbol of no thing:
And like a mighty one, it sustains its establishment of stability.
Under its command, it supports creation that it should not sink:
And above its sign, it affirms the heaven in strength.

It dwells like a soul in the creatures and sustains them:
In it, they are supported and are not distant from its establishment.
From them, it is separate and from them, it is away and in all of them:
In it, are bound the commandments of all their customs.

For indeed in that place, it is not in the earth nor in the air:
It is not so that it might settle and be firm, but in a position.
This power of the little is its places:
To Mount Sinai, it descends and dwells there.
It reaches it with the words (of its wonder:

And in those words, sing a hymn to it that it does not consider:
For that which is descended:
On Mount Sinai bear your petition:
Or on this which does not descend:

Perfect silence, but in stillness:
Let us seek this place (of its stability:
And draw near to say concerning its stability:
In great purity.

A white interpretation (in the beginning of the treatise of questions:
And refine your hearing to receive the praises.
It is shown in it in this mighty one who seizes the ends:
Who rose to it on Mount Sinai.

Mercy is upon it, led by the men to be alive in it:
And come in love to nurture us in the earth.
Behold, this assembly is a daughter of the Canaanites because of its race:
For that confusion of Abraham's house, it would draw near.

He saw the lamb when the Egyptians were dealing with it:
Nor did it withdraw from that holy one from fornication:
It sent after it the anointed of its face pursued it:
That it might be sanctified by its Lord.

He worked it like a quarry and sent it away:
That it might go and be with it like a mediator.
It gave it might and strength when it descended:
That it might bear it in its wonders to ascend with it.

Levi descended and kindled its fires and its word ascended:
And it set upon it with its hand a yoke to be held by the Sanhedrin.
To the name of the Holy One, it was prepared and ascended:
From among the Egyptians.

From the summits (from the house of God it was protected by it:
It set upon it a crown of deliverance and departed with it:
He called to the creatures to glorify it with their harps:
And upon Pharaoh was the despised, that he might remove it from him.

Behold, holy one and terrified it in the sea and its word ascended:
It sent after it its heat to the Egyptians when it was delivered:
It was accompanied by waves and crossed the sea in great purity.
A barren one received it and drew out fruit of that which is not desired:

It worshiped it when it came with its offerings:
The creature felt to whom it was dedicated:
And they were gathered around it all the beings to accompany it.
The Romans labored in the houses of (the foundations, and ascended before it:

When they desired that they should come with it the holy:
A great pillar of light (appeared before it:
And like a veil to the bride it surrounded it and came with it:
Every year, they surrounded it from the creatures:

When it was sheltered by the watchful as the chief of the rulers:
It felt to it height with what was sent to it:
And depth was opened to it by a rod to draw near to it:
The waters were led to it in streams from the rains:

And the beings surrounded it for its protection:
It was commanded all creatures to go with it:
That the world might see the great wonder that it is for it.
It was adorned in its faithfulness as far as Sinai:

And reached the place where there was a covenant prepared for it.
Moses rejoiced to receive the mountain, it left it and ascended:
To behold the mother of the bride who comes to meet it.

It heard the treasure that was commanded to it, behold, this bride who was delivered and was taken from the Egyptians:
Behold, I lifted you up as upon the wings of an eagle in the air:
Also, I placed you in places that are not known:

In love, you will dwell and return, in my house also for you.
And so, I came and will marry you, holy one.
Before the assembly, all I make known to you:
(If you are perfect for me, my sister,
To the perfection that I desire for you.

With the purity of cleanliness, I ask you to be my help:
When in the end I am not found to be blemished.
To the world with my hope, I sit for you and again:

In the end, I will not be separated to enter with you.
Holy one, I take you as my own, if this is yours:
And if you adorn yourself with the crowns of the strangers, I am free for you.
I do not see in you a hateful sign of conversions:

Nor do the symbols of the found accompany it to the side:
Do not show me the false signs of the deceivers:
Nor do you turn in the faith of the strong.

You bow to me (as to a man, do not show anyone but me:
And in another standing, you will not be harmed in the same way.
Behold this holy bride, clean and adorned without blemish:
Bright and chaste, humble and pure in all adornments:

You will be strong and clean and pure in power and peace:
Fair and vigilant, lofty and wonderful, and without reproach.
If so, openly you will be my help:
To all that is mine, you will be a mistress not forsaken.

A great crown of kings I give you:
Holiness, the treasure of priests, I give you.
Prophets who reveal upon your veils will be:
And priests who cover upon the sins will be with you.

Behold, Levites like pillars will go with you:
And servants in the form of servants will accompany you.
The heavens a throne (of dew: on your earth that it now is:
And the earth will yield its fruits richly to receive you purely.

The air will moisten all the heights upon your plain:
The sun will ripen the fruits of the sickle for your nourishment.
The earth will shine the light of all the kings that are with you:
And you will not love the proud of the creatures that enter your sanctuary.

You will set your steps upon the rock of the chief of the earth:
To teach them all crowns to live under your dominion.
The book of my hands, I write to you upon these:
And if it is like my will, you will be my help.

Perfect and adorned with all the treasures:
To receive and dwell in my land.
Come, daughter of the strangers, before the men are cleansed:
To the house of my priesthood to dwell purely.

And again, come to take this treasure and accompany it:
It will be to you to dwell in peace without fault.
That it might be taught my word from all the nations that are near you:
And rise above all the heavens without doubt.

Great is my praise for the purity of the land:
Blessed are you among all creatures with this peace.
Blessed are you among the men who are in the land:
I lead you in my right and cover you in the left.

Rejoice in your faithfulness and be adorned in all my wonders:
And delight in the crowns of the priests who are pure with it.
Behold, I teach you the things of my counsel and draw near to my house:
And with the order of my kingdom, you will rise to its sign.

Again, to the mountain that was called Sinai, in the broadness of its land:
To you I teach the multitude of my purity and my treasures.
They were led to you, behold, this purity:
That you may ascend in it to the height without doubt.

And to the words that are with it to this assembly of it:
Behold, I teach you my purest places.
And in my land, you will dwell like a bride:
In the beauty of the Holy One of Israel.
Holiness for my dominion that you will come to receive from the mount:
As a crown to the head of my priesthood:

To sanctify and purify the name of the Lord:
To perfect and cleanse the multitude of my assembly.
That it may ascend and purify to me and rise above:
And your assembly will not cease to go with me to the height.