No More Learning

Why 'washed? and fruitful. Warningfrom Jews" example. 395
bidding: shorn they came. And because those who believe Ver. in Christ are baptized, what is there said? which come up
the washing; that is, come up from the cleansing. Whereof every one beareth twins. What twins ? Those two Mat. 22
commandments, wherefrom hangall the Lawand the Prophets. 40- IVe, therefore, are the people of His pasture, and the sheep
ofHis hand.
12. Ver. 8. Therefore, To-day if ye will hear His voice.
O my people, the people of God ! God addresses His people:
not only the people of His which He shall not cast off, but
also all His people. For He speaketh in the corner-stone to Ephes. each wall : that is, prophecy speaketh in Christ, both to the 2' 20' people of the Jews, and the people of the Gentiles. To-day
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For some
time ye heard His voice through Moses, and hardened your hearts. He then, when you hardened your hearts, spoke through a herald ; He now speaketh by Himself, let your hearts soften. He who used to send heralds before Him,
hath now deigned to come Himself; He here speaketh by
His own mouth, He Who used to speak by the mouths of the Prophets. To-day, therefore, ifye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
13. Ver. 9. Why hath he said, Harden not your hearts ? Because ye remember what your fathers used to do. Harden
not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness. Ye surely remember, brethren,
that that people tempted God, received chastening, and was Exod. governed in the desert as it were by an excellent rider, with
the curb of laws, the curb of commandments and was not forsaken by God even when unsubdued, not only in His present blessings, but in the rod of correction that never ceased. Therefore harden not your hearts, as in the pro vocation, in the day of temptation in the desert -- where your fathers --proved me. Let such be no more your fathers: imitate them not. They were your fathers, but ye do not imitate them, they shall not be your fathers yet as ye were born of them, they were your fathers. And the heathen who came from the ends of the earth, in the words of
Jeremias, The Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends jei. 16, of the earth, and shall say, Surely our forefathers have 19,
from
: if
;
if
17'
396 The forty years a type of this world's duration.
Psalm inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is nv profit : Lif the heathen forsook their idols, to come to the God of
E*-
lb. 16, through the Red Sea, wherein He overwhelmed their pur- 13--36. suing foes; whom He led out into the wilderness, fed
Israel ; ought Israel whom their own God led from Egypt
with manna, never took His rod from correcting them, never deprived them of the blessings of His mercy ; ought
to desert their own God, when the heathen have come unto Him ? When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works. For forty years they saw My works, for forty years they provoked Me : before them I repeatedly wrought miracles by the hand of Moses, and yet they more and more hardened their heaIrts.
they
14. Ver. 10. Forty years long was
generation. What doth very near mean ?
present in signs and good workIs : not on one day, not on
very near unto this gene ration, and said, It is a people that do always err in their hearts; for they have not known My ways. The forty years have the same meaning as the word always. For that number forty indicates the fulness of ages, as if the ages were perfected in this number. Hence our Lord fasted Matt. 4, forty days, forty days He was tempted in the desert, and ^Tj, V forty days He was with His disciples after His resurrection.
3. On the first forty days He shewed us temptation, on the latter forty days consolation : since beyond doubt when we are tempted we are consoled. For His body, that is, the Church, must needs suffer temptations in this world : but
20'
very near unto this
two ; but forty years long was
Mat. 28, that Comforter, Who said, Lo, I I
unto the end of the world, is not wanting. And
It is a people that do always err in their hearts.
was I with them forty years, to shew such a race of men, which alway provoketh Me, even unto the end of the world: because by those forty years He meant to signify the whole of this world's duration.
15. Ver. 4. What then ? In their stead shall there not be others to enter into God's rest? Those whom God's mercy displeased are rejected, they who resisted God with a hard ened heart; they being rejected, hath God lost His people?
Matt. 3, It will not then be true, that God is able out of these stones
a
I made Myself
am with you even alway,
*
said. For this
God's oath to punish, as sure as His promise. 397
to raise up children unto Abraham. Therefore, Isaid, It is Ver. a people that do ahcay err in theirIhearts, and they have ---- not known My ways; unto whom sware in My wrath,
that they should not enter into My rest: this is an awful
threat. We began with exulting joy I: but this Psalm hath
ended with great fear : Unto whom
that they should not enter into My rest. It is a great thing
for God to speak : how much greater for Him to swear ?
Thou shouldest fear a man when he sweareth, lest he do somewhat on account of his oath against his will : how much
more shouldest thou fear God, when He sweareth, seeing He
can swear nought rashly ? He chose the act of swearing
for a confirmation. And by whom doth God swear? By Himself: for He hath no greater by whom to swear. By Heb. 6, Himself He confinneth His promises: by Himself He con-13'
firmeth His threats. Let no man say in his heart, His promise is true; His threat is false: as His promise is true,
so is His threat sure. Thou oughtest to be equally assured
of rest, of happiness, of eternity, of immortality, if thou
hast executed His commandments ; as of destruction, of the burning of eternal fire, of damnation with the devil, if thou
hast despised His commandments. He therefore swore unto
them in His anger, that they should not enter into His rest :
and yet some must enter into His rest ; for it will not be Heb. 4, given to none. They therefore being reprobate, we shall 6- enter: for although some of the boughs have been broken Rom. l1,
for their want of resemblance and infidelity, we shall be19,20- engrafted on account of our faith and humility. Let us therefore enter into His rest. But by what means did they
who entered enter, those who were chosen, who resisted not
with an hardened heart ? Because it is true, that God will not cast off His people.
PSALM XCVL' LAT.
My
we shall feel in his discourse, which he oweth us ; for he
xcv.
lord and brother Severus1" still defers the pleasure
? Delivered perhaps in the year 406, b Bishop of Milevis, mentioned in when the Donatists prevailed through the discourse of the preceding day on the violence of the Circumcelliones. Ps. 132. Ben.
sware in My wrath,
898 What is meant by the building of God's House.
Psalm acknowledged, that he is held a debtor. For all the XCVI' Churches through which he hath passed, by his tongue the Lord hath gladdened : much more therefore ought that
Church to be rejoiced, out of which the Lord hath propa
his preaching among the rest. But what shall we do, but obey his will ? I said, however, brethren, that he deferred, not that he defrauded us. Therefore let us keep him as a debtor bound, and release him not until he hath paid. Attend therefore, beloved: as far as the Lord alloweth, let us say somewhat of this Psalm, which indeed you already know ; for the fresh mention of truth is sweet. Possibly when its title was pronounced, some heard it with wonder. For the Psalm is inscribed : When the house was being built after the Captivity. This title having been prefixed, ye were perhaps expecting in the text of the Psalm to hear
what stones were hewn from the mountains, what masses
were drawn to the spot, what foundations were laid, what . beams were placed on high, what columns raised. Its song is of nothing of this kind: and if its song be of another
sort, doth then the Psalm not agree with its title, but beareth one thing in its title, another in its words ? It doth nothing of the sort, but only seeketh those who can under stand it. For it speaketh of the building of the house. Let
all the stones of that house know what they have sung. For the house is built unto God, not in the place where Solomon built. For he built a temple: and ye have just heard what the Lord said of that very temple. When His
disciples were admiring the stones and vast masses of the temple, they discovered their admiration and wonderIunto
Mat. 24, the Lord; and He said unto them, Verily, verily,
unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. It is no such house that is in building; for behold where it is built, not in one spot, not in any particular region. For thus he commenceth.
gated
ictiron. '
say
o. Ver. 1. 0 sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. If all the earth singeth a new song, it is* thus building while it singeth : the very act of singing is building: but only, if it singeth not the old song. The lust of the flesh singeth the old song : the love of God singeth the new. Whatever thou singest of lust, thou art
Singing and building. Error of Rebuptizing. 399
singing lhe old song ; although the words of the new song Ver. sound in the mouth, yet praise is not seemly in the mouth ---- of a sinner. It is better for thee to he new and silent, than Ecclus. to be old and sing; for if thou art new, and art silent, it15'9' soundeth not but in the ears of men ; for thy heart is not
silent of the new song, which reacheth the ears of God, Who
made thee a new man. Thou lovest, and art silent: thy
very love is a voice unto God, and that very love is a new
song. Hear whIy it is a new song: the Lord saith, A new John 16,
l2'
commandment
The whole earth then singeth a new song : there the house
of God is built. All the earth is the house of God. If all
the earth is the house of God, he who clingeth not to all the Dona- earth, is a ruin, not a house ; that old ruin whose shadow tl9ts' that ancient temple represented. For there what was old
was destroyed, that what was new mIight be built up. And
how was the old destroyed ? Note
there shall not be lefl here one stone upon another, that shall
not be thrown down. The stone is Christ : but the Apostle
saith, For as many ofyou as have been baptized into Christ, Gal. 3,
give unto you, that ye love one another.
have put on Christ. If whosoever is baptized in Christ,27' putteth on Christ, who placeth stone upon stone, except heRebap-
who layeth baptism upon Baptism ? But be not terrified :
there shall not be left one that shall not be thrown down. Ps. 40. For the stones are gathered together in such a manner for
the new fabric, which is built after the captivity, and love
so bindeth together in unity, that it is not stoue upon stone, but all the stones are one stone. Wonder not : the
new song, that is, the altered law of love, hath done this.
The Apostle bindeth us together into this very structure,
and fasteneth us when bound together in that unity, saying, Forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep ///eEphes. unity of the Spirit in the bond ofpeace. Where there is this ' unity of Spirit, there is one stone ; but one stone formed out
of many. How one formed out of many? By forbearing one another in love. Therefore the house of the Lord our God
is in building ; it is this that is being wrought, for tins are these words, for this these readings, for this the preaching of
the Gospel over the whole world ; as yet it is in building. This house hath increased greatly, and filled many nations :
say unto you, He saith,
400 Christ conquers by the Cross. Place of His House.
Psalm neverlheless, it hath not yet prevailed through all nations: by 'its increase it hath held many, and will prevail over all: and it is gainsaid by those who boast of their being of its
household, and who say, it hath already lost ground. It still increaseth, still all those nations which have not yet believed are destined to believe; that no man may say, will that tongue believe ? will the barbarians believe ? what is the
Act>> 2, meaning of the Holy Spirit having appeared in the fiery
3'
tongues, except that there is no tongue so hard that it cannot be softened by that fire ? For we know that many barbarous nations have already believed in Christ : Christ already possesseth regions where the Roman empire hath never yet reached ; what is as yet closed to those who fight with the sword, is not closed to Him Who fighteth with wood. For
11. the Lord hath reigned from the wood? . Who is it who fighteth with wood ? Christ. With His cross He hath vanquished kings, and fixed upon their forehead, when vanquished, that very cross; and they glory in it, for in it is their salvation. This is the work which is being wrought, thus the house increaseth, thus it is building : and that ye may know, hear the following verses of the Psalm : see them
labouring upon, and constructing the house. O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth.
3. Ver. 2, 3. Sing unto the Lord, bless His Name : be telling good tidings ofHis salvation from day to day. How doth the building increase? Be telling, he saith, good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Let it be preached from day to day ; from day to day, he saith, let it be built; let My house, saith God, increase. And as if it were said by the workmen, Where dost Thou command it to
be built ? Where dost Thou will Thy house to increase ? Choose for us some level, spacious spot, if Thou wish an ample house built Thee. Where dost Thou bid us be telling good tidings from day to day? He sheweth the place: Declare His honour unto the heathen : His honour, not yours. O ye builders, Declare His honour unto the heathen. Should ye choose to declare your own honour, ye shall fall : if His, ye shall be built up, while ye are building. There-
? Quoted as from thia Psalm by cum Tryph. ? . 73. he accuses the Jews Justin Martyr, Apol. i. 41. ia Dial, of expungiog the words dvb toC {? aov.
They who separate, build a ' whited wall. ' 401
fore they who choose to declare their own honour, have Ver.
refused to dwell in that house ; and therefore they sing not. : 2"! ' Dona-
a new song with all the earth. For they do not share ittists. with the whole round world ; and hence they are not building in the house, but have erected a whited wall. HowEzek. sternly doth God threaten the whited wall ? There are in- 10-
&<.
', numerable testimonies of the Prophets, whence He curseth
the whited wall. What is the whited wall, save hypocrisy, that pretence Without bright, within dirt. What am about to say, hath already been said but since
hath been said through that Spirit, Which the Lord hath deigned to confer even upon us, we have declared and whatever we now say by the same Spirit, those who were before
us have said. It not therefore to be passed by
declared, since by God's gift hath been spoken.
person speaking of this whited wall, said thus
wall which standeth alone, and not connected with any m(uIv? ! other walls, you make door, whoever enters, out of doors ;? n pon. so in that part which hath refused to sing the new songb. us. together with the house, but hath chosen to build wall,0-
and that whited one, and not solid, what availeth that
hath door If thou enterest, thou art found to be without. g"a*"^ For because they themselves did not enter by the door, their
door also doth not admit them within. For the Lord saith,
am the door: Me they enter in. Who are they who Johnio, enter by the door They who seek the Lord's glory, not
their own. Who enter by the door They who do as
said, Declare His honour unto the heathen. He that entereth ib. 2. in by the door, the shepherd of the sheep, saith the Lord
but he who cUmbeth up some other way, the same is a thiefib. I. and a robber. He who entereth by the door, humble: he
who climbeth up another way, proud for that reason He spoke of one as entering in, of the other as climbing up. But the one by entering received, the other by climbing
thrown down. Declare His honour unto the heathen. What unto the heathen Perhaps by nations but few are meant and that part which hath raised the whited wall hath still somewhat to say: why are not Getulia, Numidia, Mauritania, By zacinm, nations Provinces are nations. Let the word of God take the word from hypocrisy, from the
VOL. iv.
but to be
A certain
as, if in a1 s. Op-
(quoted
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402 The Lord, Christ, great beyond all praise.
Psai m whited wall, building up the house over the whole world. "X C V I : It is not enough to say, Declare His honour unto the heathen ; that thou mayest not think any nations excepted,
he addeth, and His wonders unto all people.
4. Ver. 4. For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be
praised. What Lord, except Jesus Christ, is great, and cannot worthily be praised ? Ye know surely that He ap peared as a Man : ye know surely that He was conceived in a woman's womb, ye know that He was born from the womb, that He was suckled, that He was carried in arms, circumcised, that a victim was offered for Him, that He grew ; lastly, ye know that He was buffeted, spit upon, crowned with thorns, was crucified, died, was pierced with a spear; ye know that He suffered all these things: He is great, and cannot worthily be praised. Despise not what is
little, understand what is great. He became little, because ye were such : let Him be acknowledged great, and in Him ye shall be great. For thus the house is built, thus in the house itself are the constructions raised : the stones which are brought to the building increase. Increase, therefore; acknowledge Christ to be great : and He Who was little, is great, great beyond praise. He hath finished his words : he wished to say how great ; even though throughout the
whole day he should say, Great, Great, yet what would he say ? Saying all the day, Great, he would at length stop ; because day ceascth : His greatness is before days, beyond days, without day. What then should he say ? For God is great, and cannot worthily be praised. For what can a small tongue say towards the praise of the Great One ? By
'Lauda- saying, Beyond praise1, he hath spoken, and hath given to m' imagination what it may conceive : as if saying, What I cannot utter, do thou reflect on ; and when thou shalt have reflected, it will not be enough. What no man's thought uttereth, doth any man's tongue utter? The Lord is great,
and cannot worthily be praised. Let Him be praised, and preached : His honour declared, and His house built.
5. He is more to be feared than all gods. Are there then gods, than whom He is more to be feared ? Let us see whom he is speaking of, and we shall see why he speaketh. Meanwhile before we speak, most beloved, attend. He
Chrkt redeemed all from heathen captivity. 403
Who appeared as it were frightened among men, is more to Ver.
--
22'
Crucify, crucify Him ! as if He could be frightened by thatMat. 27, roar, Who is more to be feared not than all men, but than all 23' gods ? For the spot where he wished to build the house, is
itself woody, where it was said yesterday, we found it in the P*. 132, woodb. For he was seeking that very house, when he said,
' in the wood. ' And why is that spot woody ? Men used to worship images : it is not wonderful that they fed hogs.
For that son who left his father, and spent his all on harlots,
living as a prodigal, use to feed hogs, that is, to worship Luke16, devils ; and by this very superstition of the heathen, all the 12-- 16, earth became a wood. But he who buildeth a house, rooteth up the wood ; and for this reason it was said, While Title of the house was being built, after the captivity. For men Ps' were held captive under the devil, and served devils; but
be feared than all gods. Did not the heathen rage? Have
not the people imagined vain things against the Lord, and against His Anointed ? Did not those fat bulls close Him in Ps. 2, 1.
on every side ? Did not that roaring lion gape upon Him, and entering into the hearts of the raging crowd exclaim,
they were redeemed from captivity. They could sell, but they could not redeem themselves. The Redeemer came, and gave a price ; He poured forth His Blood, and bought the whole world. Ye ask what He bought? Ye see what He hath given ; find out then what He bought. The Blood of Christ was the price. What is equal to this? What, but the whole world ? What, but all nations ?
They are very ungrateful for their price, or very proud, who say that the price is so small that it bought the Africans only;
or that they are so great, as that it was given for them alone. Let them not then exult, let them not be proud : He gave what He gave for the whole world. He knew what He bought, because He knew at what price He bought it. Thus because we are redeemed, the house is built after the captivity. And who are they who held us in cap tivity? Because they to whom it is said, Declare His honour, are the clearers of the wood : that they may root out the wood, free the earth from captivity, and build, and raise up, by declaring the greatness of the b Hence it appears that Ps. 132. was expounded the day before.
dd2
404 Christ above Heavens as well as above heathen gods.
Psaim Lord's house. How is the wood of devils cleared away, xcvr- .
unless He Who is above them all be preached ? All nations
then had devils for their gods : those whom they called loC20' ? o(^s' were devils, as ihe Apostle more openly saith, Tlie
'
things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto devils, and not to God. Since therefore they were in captivity, because they sacrificed to devils, and on that account the whole earth had remained woody ; He is declared to be great, and above all worldly praise.
6. Ver. 5. And how is His greatness shewn, that He may root out all superstitions, captive beneath which the people was held, whom He Who is more to be feared than all gods came to redeem ? As if the Psalmist were asked, Why hast thou said, above all gods ? Are these then gods ? He addeth, As for all the gods of the heathen, they are devils. Attend, beloved. He was speaking of something great but just before : Hie Lord is great ; and as if he failed in His praises, he addeth, and cannot worthily be praised. Did I not say this, that He left it to thee to imagine what he could not express in words ? But when he was expressing it in words, what great praise did he utter concerning our Lord
Jesus Christ ? That He is above all devils ? For when he had said, He is more to be feared than all gods : he added, Asfor all the gods ofthe heathen, they are devils. It is not a great thing to be above devils: even thou, if thou wiliest, shalt be so : if thou believest in Him. This then is that exalted praise, The Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised. For wishing to express as far as the human tongue capable, and although the Holy Spirit powerful player of that organ, yet in the straitness of human breath, He uttereth syllables, He giveth birth to thoughts wishing therefore to express by this tongue, what saith he The Lord great, and cannot worthily be praised. Say, say, how far He may be praised! He more to be feared, he saith, than all gods. Why didst thou say, more than all
gods? Because all the gods of the heathen are devils. And this all the praise of Him Who cannot worthily be praised, that He above all the gods of the heathen, which are devils Wait, and hear what followeth // is the Lord that made the heavens. Not above all gods only therefore,
is ?
is
:
is a
is
is
it
it,
; ?
is
' Confession? the way to ' Beauty. ' 405
but above all the heavens which He made, is the Lord. Ver. If he were to say, above all gods, for the gods of the heathen -- -- -- are devils, and if the praise of our Lord stopped here, he
had said less than we are accustomed to think of Christ;
but when he said, But it is the Lord that made the heavens ;
see what difference there is between the heavens and devils :
and what between the heavens and Him Who made the heavens ; behold how exalted is the Lord. He said not,
But the Lord sitteth above the heavens ; for perhaps some
one else might be imagined to have made them, upon which
He was enthroned : but, It is the Lord that made the heavens. If He made the heavens, He made the Angels
also : Himself made the Angels, Himself made the Apostles.
The devils yielded to the Apostles : but the Apostles them
selves were heavens, who bore the Lord. And what Lord
did they bear ? Him by Whom they were made. Hear that
they are heavens: The heavens declare the glory of God. P*-l9,i. To these very heavens, it is said, Declare His honour among
the heathen: and His wonders in all people. For the Lord
is great, and cannot worthily be praised : He is more to be feared than all gods. What gods ? As for the gods of the heathen, they are devils. And He is more to be feared than all these gods. But it is Ihe Lord that made the heavens. O heavens, which He made, declare His honour unto the heathen ! Let His house be built throughout the earth, let
all the earth sing a new song.
7. Ver. 6. Confession and beauty are before Him. Dost
thou love beauty ? Wishest thou to be beautiful ? Confess ! He said not, beauty and confession, but confession and beauty. Thou wast foul ; confess, that thou mayest be fair :
thou wast a sinner; confess, that thou mayest be righteous. Thou couldest deform thyself : thou canst not make thyself beautiful. But of what sort is our Betrothed, who hath loved one deformed, that he might mak/e her fair ? How, saith some one, loved He one deformed ?
the righteous, but sinners. Whom callest Thou?
that they may remain sinners ? No, saith He. And by what means will they cease to be sinners ? Confession and beauty are before Him. They honour Him by confession of their
sins, they vomit the evils which they had greedily devoured ;
came not, said He, to call
9, J*att.
sinners,
406 Heal greatness found in submission to God.
Psalm they return not to their vomit, like the unclean dog ; and 2 Peter' there will then be confession and beauty : we love beauty ;
2, 22.
let us first choose confession, that beauty may follow. Again, there is one who loveth power and greatness : he wisheth to be great as the Angels are. There is a certain greatness in the Angels; and such power, that if the Angels exert it to the full, it cannot be withstood. And every man desireth the power of the Angels, but their righteousness every man loveth not. First love righteousness, and power shall follow thee. For what followeth here ? Holiness and greatness are in His
Thou wast before seeking for greatness : first love righteousness : when thou art righteous, thou shalt also be great. For if thou preposterously dost wish first to be great, thou fallest before thou canst rise : for thou dost
not rise, thou art raised up. Thou risest better, if He raise thee Who falleth not. For He who falleth not descendeth unto thee: thou hadst fallen: He descendeth, He hath stretched forth His hand unto thee ; thou canst not rise by thy own strength, embrace the hand of Him who descendeth, that thou mayest be raised up by the Strong One.
sanctification.
Ps. li6, His honour. Do ye then ascribe unto the Lord worship and honour; and say, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us: but unto Thy Name give the praise. Put not your trust in man. If each of you is baptized, let him say : He baptizeth me, of
33-3 29 wnom f"end of the Bridegroom said, He baptizeth with the Holy Ghost? . For when ye say this, ye ascribe unto the Lord worship and honour: Ascribe unto the Lord worship and honour.
9. Ver. 8. Ascribe unto the Lord glory unto His Name. ' See his commentary on the passsge, and on John 1, 31.
If and beauty are confession
8. What then ?
before Him. Holiness and greatness in His sanctification. (This we declare, when we are building the house ; behold, it is already declared unto the heathen ;) what ought the heathen to do, to whom those who have cleared away the wood have declared the Lord's honour? He now saith to the heathen themselves, Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people: ascribe unto the Lord worship and honour. Ascribe them not unto yourselves : because they also who have declared it unto you, have not declared their own, but
(Ver. 7. )
Confession an offering. Where is God's Court. 407
Not unto the name of man, not unto your own name, but unto Ver.