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Hymns on Faith
St Ephrem the Syrian, tr. Morris, 1847; selections
64. Rhythm the Sixty-fourth
Lord, root out the thorns1, whose sower is the evil one, and the husbandman of tares2. For they saw that we disputed, and they rejoiced that we wrangled, and they agreed together at our separation, and they assembled at our dispersion, and they rejoiced that our assay-furnace3 put not their frauds to the trial, nor our light their spots, nor our voice their disputings. Who would not weep that we have become perverse? For where it was fit that we should keep still silence4, there our voice was tumultuous; and were it was right that we should reprove, there we were tongue-tied by the persons of men5. We have gone astray, and have turned our eyes away from our own hateful faults. We have warred and risen up against the High One, for we have pried into the hidden things of God, [to see] how He exists. Yet who is able to search throughly into that party6 which disturbeth and troubleth us? For if he7 indeed have senses, how then is he formed, and how are his ears and eyes furnished with openings? and if he hath a mouth? for behold he hath no body; and if he hath limbs? for behold he hath no frame8.
Who then—[to take] this apostate Satan, who teacheth us the prying into secret things9—who hath searched him out, [so as to know] whether the whole of him is any man, and how he is able to blend his design with our mind, and his words into our words, and how too he insinuates his will into our heart? Here is a marvel in his hateful doings! Who would not be ashamed that the wicked one entereth10 into his body and maketh a sport of the soul which dwelleth therein; and how that it feeleth not the intimate access of Satan, who dwelleth in itself, and entereth into it; neither can it comprehend how to feel the touch of him that sojourneth in it. While searching into its Lord, let it search into its murderer11!
Who hath explored into the earth12, (which yet appears to be a thing limited by measures,) to see, whence the ear is filled and bringeth up heaps of corn13, and the palm tree sweetness, the cluster strong wines, and the olives are fruitful in oils14, and the trees put forth their branches, flowers and fruit they bear and sweet smells with spices too. Can any man tell us how the waters15 increase the seed and multiply it? From it by itself enquire also into the fountain16, who it is that multiplieth it, so that it floweth on and is not cut off. The Good One that multiplieth the fountains’ treasure, He it is that multiplieth all, in order that He may quicken all!
Who hath seen and searched into the Behemoth on the dry17 land or the Leviathan in the sea? and how without food they fatten and increase? and who ever hath explored the fearful wombs of their caves? How much more hidden from all is the Generation of the Lord of all? and who can explore the mighty Womb18 of His Generator? Who can reckon up how many natures there are yet removed far from us in the sea19 and in the dry land, and our soul knoweth not how to gaze upon them? Lo, all these difficulties20 cry aloud: ‘Since ye cannot fly in the air, hush up your disputings, O ye feeble men!’
I have taken my stand then21! I have not turned aside after men, to say as they say. Since I have seen the strange names which are not in Scripture, neither do they suit our Redeemer22; I have left the things that are not in Scripture and have pleaded with those that are in Scripture, lest for the sake of those which are not in Scripture I should lose those which are! He created the waters, and gave them to the fishes for their use; He set His seal to the Scriptures, and gave them to men for their edification, and they bear witness one to the other. For if the fishes23 flee from the boundary of their realm, they suffer for their leapings; and if men too pull up the boundary24 which is in the Scriptures, their pryings are death.
Notes
- p. 220, d.
- p. 217, n. g.
- p. 122, n. i.
- p. 118, 9.
- p. 162, n. a. on Athan. p. 190, n. c.
- p. 326, n. c.
- R. l. §. 5. R. lxxv. §. 4.
- p. 238, n. b. R. lxxv. e.
- p. 203, n. f. p. 104. p. 299, n. e. R. lxvi. §. 1. p. 326, n. c.
- R. l. §. 5.
- R. lxxv. §. 4.
- c. Scrut. i. §. 7—11. R. lviii. §. 1.
- p. 19, n. k. R. xvi. §. 2.
- p. 324, n. b.
- p. 297, n. a.
- R. lvii. §. 5.
- Job 40, 15; 41, 1. Bochart. Hieroz. ii. lib. v. c. 15. 16.
- p. 131.
- This is a remark which it is worth calling attention to, as it seems not to have struck some of the modern investigators of God’s ways.
- Origen in Butler, Anal. p. 6.
- p. 228, n. c.
- When Arians objected to the word ‘Homoousion’ and the like, that they were unscriptural, it was usual to retort upon them, that the words ‘creature,’ ‘ingenerate,’ &c. which they employed, were just as unscriptural, as far as mere words went, and of course much more so in meaning. St. E. however is willing, as well as Athanasius, see p. 17, m. p. 157, i. p. 178, d. to yield to them in this, and states that he has avoided unscriptural terms wherever by using them he would have run the risk of losing Scripture promises through a neglect of charity to a weak brother.
- R. xlvi. §. 1. R. xlviii. §. 3.
- p. 194, 195.