The Nisibene Hymns 16Hymn XVI.

1. Herein is a mirror to be blamed,--if its clearness is darkened--because there are spots on its substance;--for the foulness that is on it becomes--a covering before them that look on it. R. Blessed be He Who polished our mirror!

2. For that comeliness is not adorned in it,--and blemishes are not brought to view in it,--it is altogether a damage to comely things;--seeing that their comeliness gain not--adornments as their profit.

3. Blemishes are not rooted out by it,--likewise adornments are not multiplied by it.--A blemish that remains is as a loss;--that there is no adornment is a defect:--loss is met together with defect.

4. If our mirror be darkness,--it is altogether joy to the hateful;--because their blemishes are not reproved:--but if polished and shining,--it is our freedom that is adorned.

5. Twofold is the loss in defect,--for the hateful and for the goodly;--in that the goodly gain no crown,--and likewise the hateful get no adorning:--the mirror divides the loss.

6. Never does the mirror drive--by compulsion him that looks therein:--so likewise grace which followed--upon the righteousness of the Law,--does not possess the compulsion of the Law.

7. Righteousness was unto childhood,--its adorner of compulsion;--for when mankind was in childhood,--she adorned it by compulsion,--while she robbed it not of its freedom.

8. Righteousness used blandishment,--and the rod to deal with childhood;--when she smote it she roused it; her rod restrained frowardness, her blandishment softened the minds.

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9. [If one turn from the Gospel,] wherewith we are adorned to-day, my brethren,--to another gospel he is a child:--in a time of greatness of understanding,--he is become without understanding.

10. For in the degree of full age,--he has gone down to childhood;--and he loves the law of bondmen,--which when he is confident smites him,--and when he rejoices buffets him.

11. Whatsoever ornament is compulsion,--is not true but is borrowed.--This is a great thing in God's eyes,--that a man should be adorned by himself:--therefore took He away compulsion.

12. For even as of His prudence--in its own time He employed compulsion,--so likewise of His prudence,--He took it away at a time--when gentleness was desired in its stead.

13. For as it is befitting to Youth,--that it should be made to haste under the rod;--so is it very hateful that under the rod--Wisdom should be brought to serve,--that compulsion should be lord over her.

14. Behold therefore how likewise--God has ordered my successions--in the pastors I have had,--and in the teachers He has given me,--and in the fathers He has reckoned unto me!

15. For weighed out according to their times--were the helps of their qualities;--namely in him in whom it was needful, fear; and in whom it was profitable, heartening; and in whom it was becoming, meekness.

16. By measure He made my steps advance:--to my childhood He assigned terror; likewise to my youth, fear;--to my age of wisdom and prudence,--He assigned and gave meekness.

17. In the frowardness of the degree of childhood,--my instructor was a fear to me:--his rod restrained me from wantonness,--and from mischief the terror of him,--and from indulgence the fear of him.

18. Another father He gave to my youth:--what there was in me of childishness,--that was there in him of hardness; what there was in me of maturity,--that was in him as meekness.

19. When I rose from the degrees--of childhood and of youth,--there passed away the terror that was first,--there passed away the fear that was second;--He gave me a kind pastor.

20. Lo! for my full age his food;--and for my wisdom his interpretations;--and for my peace his meekness;--and for my repose his kindness;--and for my chastity his gravity!

21. Blessed is He who as in a balance--weighed out and gave me fathers:--for according to my times were my helps;--and according to my sicknesses my medicines;--and according to my comelinesses my adornments!

22. We then are they that have disturbed--the succession and fair order;--for in a time of mildness--lo! we crave for hardness,--that Thou should rebuke us as though we were children!