God's, His
punishing
wickedness, iv.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v6
For what the Psalmist began with, saying, Praise the Lord in His saints, that he carrieth out, signifying in various ways these same saints of His.
6. Praise Him in the sound of the trumpet: on account
3. of the surpassing clearness of note of their praise. Praise Him in the psaltery and harp. The psaltery praiseth God
from things above, the harp praiseth God from things below ; I mean, from things in heaven, and things in earth,
as He Who made heaven and earth. We have already
in another Psalm1, explained that the psaltery hath that^. board, whereon the series of strings rests that it may give a 312. better sound, above, whereas the harp has it below.
7. Praise Him in the timbrel and choir. The timbreher. 4. praiseth God when the flesh is now changed, so that there is
in it no weakness of earthly corruption. For the timbrel is made of leather dried and strengthened. The choir praiseth
God when society made peaceful praiseth Him. Praise
Him on the strings and organ. Both psaltery and harp, which have been mentioned above, have strings. But organ is a general name for all instruments of music, although usage has now obtained that those are specially called organ which are inflated with bellows : but I do not think that this kind is meant here. For since organ is a Greek word, applied generally, as I have said, to all musical instruments, this instrument, to which bellows are applied,
is called by the Greeks by another name: but it being called organ is rather a Latin and conversational usage. When then he saith, on the strings and organ, he seemeth to
me to have intended to signify some instrument which hath strings. For it is not psalteries and harps only that have strings : but, because in the psaltery and harp, on account
of the sound from things below and things above, somewhat has been found which can be understood after this dis tinction, he hath suggested to us to seek some other meaning in the strings themselves : for they too are flesh, but flesh now set free from corruption. And to those, it may be,
456 God to be praised by all.
Psai"m he added the organ, to signify that they sound not each
--
cor. is. 41
ver. fi.
separately, but sound together in most harmonious diversity, just as they are arranged in a musical instrument. For even then the saints of God will have their differences,
accordant, not discordant, that agreeing, not disagreeing, just as sweetest harmony arises from sounds differing indeed, but not opposed to one another: for one star differeth from another star in glory: so also is the resur
rection the dead.
Praise Him on the well-sounding cymbals, praise Him
on cymbals ofjubilation. Cymbals touch one another in order to sound, and therefore are by some compared to our
But think better to understand that God in a manner praised on the cymbal, when each honoured by his neighbour, not by himself, and then honouring one another, they give praise to God. But lest any should understand such cymbals as sound without life, therefore
think he added, on cymbals of jubilation. For jubilation, that unspeakable praise, proceedeth not, save from life. Nor do think that should pass over what musicians say, that there are three kinds of sounds, by voice, by breath, by striking: by voice, uttered by throat and windpipe, when man singeth without any instrument by breath, as by pipe, or any thing of that sort by striking, as by harp, or any thing of that kind. None then of these kinds omitted here for there voice in the choir, breath in the trumpet, striking in the harp, representing mind, spirit, body, but by similitudes, not in the proper sense of the words. When then he proposed, Praise God in His saints, to whom said he this, save to themselves And in whom are they to praise God, save in themselves For ye, saith he, are His saints ye are His strength, but that which He wrought in you ye are
His mighty works, and the multitude His greatness, which He hath wrought and set forth in you. Ye are trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, choir, strings, and organ, cymbals jubilation sounding well, because sounding in harmony. All these are ye let nought that vile, nought that transitory, nought that ludicrous, be here thought
lips.
ver. 6. of. And since to savour of the flesh death, let every spirit praise the Lord.
is
of
:
I is,
I
8.
of
: is
is,
is
is
of
;
;
is
is
is
? ?
I :
it
is
;
I
i ?
St. Augustine's Prayer. 457
PRAYER OF ST. AUGUSTINE,
Which he was wont to use after his Sermons and Lectures.
Turn we to the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and with pure hearts offer to Him, so far as our meanness can, great and true thanks, with all our hearts praying His exceeding kindness, that of His good pleasure He would deign to hear our prayers, that by HisPower He would drive out the enemy from our deeds and thoughts, that He would increase our faith, guide our understandings, give us spiritual thoughts, and lead us to His bliss, through Jesus Christ His Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Him, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
INDEX.
A. Achish, mystical meaning of David's treatment of him, i. 342, &c.
'
Abba, means father,' iv. 87. why both Adam and Christ contrasted, i. 414.
words used by St. Paul, v. 190. Abel, the first inhabitant of the city of God, vi. 280. the firstfruits of the
Church, v. 447. How his blood cries
from the ground, ii. 146.
Abimelech, meaning of the name, i. 344,
353, 392. why put instead of Achish,
i. 343, 392.
Abraham, justified by faith, i. 280. vi.
432. his works without faith would have availed nothing, i. 281. humble in midst of riches, iv. 187. his faith in sacrificing his son, i. 259. the mystical meaning thereof, ib. of his sacrifice and vision, v. 104. of his making his servant put his hand under his thigh, ii. 240.
Abraham's teed, faithful Christians, iv. 168; v. 150, 275; vi. 432. the Jews not Abraham's seed, ii. 283. lost it by unbelief, vi. 432.
Absalom, the meaning of the name, i. 9, 44. a type of Judas, and of other false brethren, ib. vi. 282.
Absolution, given by the Church, v. 21.
Abundance, man's now of sorrow and pain, i. 229. the rich have none, ib. our true, v. 505.
Adam in Christ and Christ in Adam, v. 6. Adam a type of Christ, Eve of the Church, ii. 174. his sleep a type of Christ's death on the Cross, iii. 88 ; v. 133. his name signifies the four quarters of the world, iv. 412. the command not to take of the tree his trial, iii. 440. his fall the cause of Christ's coming, v. 460. a warning to us to save us from falling, ii. 296. Job on the dunghill resisted better than Adam in Paradise, i. 222. all born of him partake of his sinful nature, vi. 119. (see Sacraments, Christ, Sin. )
Adder, its natural qualities, iii. 106, 109. is a type of the spiritually deaf, ib. Adoration, due to Christ, present in the
Holy Eucharist, iv. 454.
Advent, (see Christ, Judgment. )
Adversity, (see Tribulation. )
A5man, meaning of, iv. 226.
JEthan, the Israelite, his name means
' strong,' iv. 240.
Afflictions, (see Tribulation. )
&yav and atp6Spa, the difference be
tween, v. 228, 325.
Agonistics, the name of Donatist monks,
vi. 115.
Abyss, [or Deep,] used for man's heart, Ahab, punished by means of an evil
ii. 193; iv. 39; vi. 140. for the sin into which those sink whom God gives over, i. 412.
Accusation, self, (see Confession. ) false, the devil the great false ac
cuser, iii. 454. may injure us before a man as judge, but not before God, v. 436. the Church prays against, ib. false accusers often entangled in their own snares, iii. 66. calumnies of heathens and heretics against the Catholic Church, v. 429, 430.
To accuse in others what a man does himself, for the sake of appear ance, a sin in God's sight, iii. 292.
spirit, iv. 71.
Ahitophel, meaning of, i. 44.
Allegory, what, v. 81. the meaning of,
to be agreeable to the context, i. 71. Almsgiving, the duty and blessing of, ii. 113,256; iv. 13; vi. 393. one of
the two wings of prayer, ii. 208. ap plies riches to save the soul, ii. 311 ; v. 50. stows our money in safety with Christ, ii. 115,315; v. 266; vi. 169. is really restitution, since what we give is God's, iv. 412 ; vi. 393. Christ claims it of us, vi. 375.
We should set a fixed sum aside for vi. 376. tenth no more than
it,
a
4(i0 INDEX.
Pharisees gave, vi. 377. even the poor can give alms, ii. 29; vi. 13. alms acceptable whatever their amount, if they come from the heart, vi. 6. God rewardeth the will if there be no power to give, v. 88.
God's, His punishing wickedness, iv. 91, 145. the turning away of His Countenance, i. 203. its object two fold, to perfect or to consume, iii. 155. the terribleness of iv. 276. abides on the wicked, passes over the faith
To be exercised even to the ful, iv. 239. that of a father, iv.
sinner, as he is a work of God, v. 51. we must seek out objects for, v. 1 11 ; vi. 376. no good to give of unjust gains, vi. 304. alms profitless if given to escape importunity, ii. 208. or for mercenary motives, v. 52. should be given in secret, ii. 257.
104. Christians in what sense chil
dren of wrath, ii. 72.
Anointing, formerly Kings and Priests
only anointed, 192. Christ anointed as King and Priest, ib. all Christians anointed in Him, ib. Christ means Anointed, ii. 246. mystical meaning of Jacob anointing the stone, ii. 247. (see Oil. )
Altar, innocency needed for approach
ing, i. 182. the heavenly altar,
which none but the innocent reach, Ant, the, its example, ii. 196. the
ib. ii. 203.
Amalek, meaning of, iv. 142.
Amon, or Amman, meaning of, iv. 142. Amorites, meaning of their name, vi.
143.
Angels, their name sets forth their
Christian Ant who, iii. 300. Antichrist, will rise to a great height,
and be thought to be God, 86. pre destined to damnation, ib. will fill up all former wickedness, 87. his persecution will be more grievous than any, 88. will delude the Jews, v. 188.
office, not their nature, v. 83 ; vi. 153.
bodies of Angels, iv. 203. not to
perish at the end of the world, v. 31.
unwilling to be worshipped by men, Apostles, the, called rams,' as leaders
iv. 197, 426; vi. 153. created by
God, iii. 437. set forth under ' sheep
and oxen,' i. 69. included in the
spiritual Israel, vi. 361. their abode
in heaven, iv. 202. their greatness,
iv. 406. their knowledge, vi. 368.
indwelt by God, vi. 180. fed by the ations,' iv. 214, 217. the twelve
Word of God, iv. 61. do all things according to an eternal law, v. 139. praise God, vi. 421.
Their ascending and descending on the Son of Man, meaning of, ii. 247, 248. we are to be equal to Angels, iii. 217; vi. 180. Gentile nations ruled by Angels, Israel God's own portion, iv. 241.
Rejoice in man's redemption, v. 130. pity and aid us, iii. 217. offer our prayers to God, iv. 83. God speaks by them, v. 154. impart know ledge, but only as God's ministers, v. 393. ministered to Christ, as ser vants, not as succours, iii. 87 ; iv. 337.
Evil, employed by God as min isters of His wrath, i. 56; iv. 71. and to prove the good, iv. 71 ; vi. 80. delight in man's suffering, ib. fell through pride, v. 475, 497. inflict bodily sufferings, vi. 79.
gree, natural, i. 20. symbolised by Ark, Noah's, type of the Church, fire, iv. 70. good causes for, i. 253. v. 99; iv. 216; vi. 385. Christ's
Anger, definition of, i. 36. how differ
ent from hatred, iii. 33. we must
take care that it turn not into hatred,
i. 253, 177; v. 122. the blessing of Arian heresy, 323 iii. 349 iv. conquering, v. 266. to a certain de 123; vi. 84.
Apollinarian heresy, 217; iv. 188.
of the flock, iii. 270, 470; vi. 285. the beard,' anointed by the Spirit,
vi. dogs,' iii. 343. theheavens,' 125 iii. 319 iv. 242, 422 v. 501
vi. 307. 'hills,' iii. 269. pillars,' iii. 524 vi. 260. rivers,' v. 338. found
hours of the day,' iii. 59.
stones,' 142. lanterns,' lighted from Christ, v. 413. 'mountains,'
410; ii. 265; iii. 264 320, 335; iv. v. 92, 538. clouds,' 409 ii. 269; iv. 39, 409, 421. Christ's 'eyes,' iv. 232. His bones,' 146; v. 6. His 'feet,' iv. 308. Fishers of men, iii. 263.
Their number mystery, iv. 217; v. 100. chosen, though weak, to shew the power of grace, iii. 274. left all, to follow their Lord, v. 118. thought Him mere man, vi. 211. wavered at Christ's death, iv. 414. were strengthened by His Resur rection, vi. 213. were sent to the Gentiles, iv. 415. to Jews and Gentiles, ii. 299. penetrated to the ends of the world, 272; iv.
6. Praise Him in the sound of the trumpet: on account
3. of the surpassing clearness of note of their praise. Praise Him in the psaltery and harp. The psaltery praiseth God
from things above, the harp praiseth God from things below ; I mean, from things in heaven, and things in earth,
as He Who made heaven and earth. We have already
in another Psalm1, explained that the psaltery hath that^. board, whereon the series of strings rests that it may give a 312. better sound, above, whereas the harp has it below.
7. Praise Him in the timbrel and choir. The timbreher. 4. praiseth God when the flesh is now changed, so that there is
in it no weakness of earthly corruption. For the timbrel is made of leather dried and strengthened. The choir praiseth
God when society made peaceful praiseth Him. Praise
Him on the strings and organ. Both psaltery and harp, which have been mentioned above, have strings. But organ is a general name for all instruments of music, although usage has now obtained that those are specially called organ which are inflated with bellows : but I do not think that this kind is meant here. For since organ is a Greek word, applied generally, as I have said, to all musical instruments, this instrument, to which bellows are applied,
is called by the Greeks by another name: but it being called organ is rather a Latin and conversational usage. When then he saith, on the strings and organ, he seemeth to
me to have intended to signify some instrument which hath strings. For it is not psalteries and harps only that have strings : but, because in the psaltery and harp, on account
of the sound from things below and things above, somewhat has been found which can be understood after this dis tinction, he hath suggested to us to seek some other meaning in the strings themselves : for they too are flesh, but flesh now set free from corruption. And to those, it may be,
456 God to be praised by all.
Psai"m he added the organ, to signify that they sound not each
--
cor. is. 41
ver. fi.
separately, but sound together in most harmonious diversity, just as they are arranged in a musical instrument. For even then the saints of God will have their differences,
accordant, not discordant, that agreeing, not disagreeing, just as sweetest harmony arises from sounds differing indeed, but not opposed to one another: for one star differeth from another star in glory: so also is the resur
rection the dead.
Praise Him on the well-sounding cymbals, praise Him
on cymbals ofjubilation. Cymbals touch one another in order to sound, and therefore are by some compared to our
But think better to understand that God in a manner praised on the cymbal, when each honoured by his neighbour, not by himself, and then honouring one another, they give praise to God. But lest any should understand such cymbals as sound without life, therefore
think he added, on cymbals of jubilation. For jubilation, that unspeakable praise, proceedeth not, save from life. Nor do think that should pass over what musicians say, that there are three kinds of sounds, by voice, by breath, by striking: by voice, uttered by throat and windpipe, when man singeth without any instrument by breath, as by pipe, or any thing of that sort by striking, as by harp, or any thing of that kind. None then of these kinds omitted here for there voice in the choir, breath in the trumpet, striking in the harp, representing mind, spirit, body, but by similitudes, not in the proper sense of the words. When then he proposed, Praise God in His saints, to whom said he this, save to themselves And in whom are they to praise God, save in themselves For ye, saith he, are His saints ye are His strength, but that which He wrought in you ye are
His mighty works, and the multitude His greatness, which He hath wrought and set forth in you. Ye are trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, choir, strings, and organ, cymbals jubilation sounding well, because sounding in harmony. All these are ye let nought that vile, nought that transitory, nought that ludicrous, be here thought
lips.
ver. 6. of. And since to savour of the flesh death, let every spirit praise the Lord.
is
of
:
I is,
I
8.
of
: is
is,
is
is
of
;
;
is
is
is
? ?
I :
it
is
;
I
i ?
St. Augustine's Prayer. 457
PRAYER OF ST. AUGUSTINE,
Which he was wont to use after his Sermons and Lectures.
Turn we to the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and with pure hearts offer to Him, so far as our meanness can, great and true thanks, with all our hearts praying His exceeding kindness, that of His good pleasure He would deign to hear our prayers, that by HisPower He would drive out the enemy from our deeds and thoughts, that He would increase our faith, guide our understandings, give us spiritual thoughts, and lead us to His bliss, through Jesus Christ His Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Him, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
INDEX.
A. Achish, mystical meaning of David's treatment of him, i. 342, &c.
'
Abba, means father,' iv. 87. why both Adam and Christ contrasted, i. 414.
words used by St. Paul, v. 190. Abel, the first inhabitant of the city of God, vi. 280. the firstfruits of the
Church, v. 447. How his blood cries
from the ground, ii. 146.
Abimelech, meaning of the name, i. 344,
353, 392. why put instead of Achish,
i. 343, 392.
Abraham, justified by faith, i. 280. vi.
432. his works without faith would have availed nothing, i. 281. humble in midst of riches, iv. 187. his faith in sacrificing his son, i. 259. the mystical meaning thereof, ib. of his sacrifice and vision, v. 104. of his making his servant put his hand under his thigh, ii. 240.
Abraham's teed, faithful Christians, iv. 168; v. 150, 275; vi. 432. the Jews not Abraham's seed, ii. 283. lost it by unbelief, vi. 432.
Absalom, the meaning of the name, i. 9, 44. a type of Judas, and of other false brethren, ib. vi. 282.
Absolution, given by the Church, v. 21.
Abundance, man's now of sorrow and pain, i. 229. the rich have none, ib. our true, v. 505.
Adam in Christ and Christ in Adam, v. 6. Adam a type of Christ, Eve of the Church, ii. 174. his sleep a type of Christ's death on the Cross, iii. 88 ; v. 133. his name signifies the four quarters of the world, iv. 412. the command not to take of the tree his trial, iii. 440. his fall the cause of Christ's coming, v. 460. a warning to us to save us from falling, ii. 296. Job on the dunghill resisted better than Adam in Paradise, i. 222. all born of him partake of his sinful nature, vi. 119. (see Sacraments, Christ, Sin. )
Adder, its natural qualities, iii. 106, 109. is a type of the spiritually deaf, ib. Adoration, due to Christ, present in the
Holy Eucharist, iv. 454.
Advent, (see Christ, Judgment. )
Adversity, (see Tribulation. )
A5man, meaning of, iv. 226.
JEthan, the Israelite, his name means
' strong,' iv. 240.
Afflictions, (see Tribulation. )
&yav and atp6Spa, the difference be
tween, v. 228, 325.
Agonistics, the name of Donatist monks,
vi. 115.
Abyss, [or Deep,] used for man's heart, Ahab, punished by means of an evil
ii. 193; iv. 39; vi. 140. for the sin into which those sink whom God gives over, i. 412.
Accusation, self, (see Confession. ) false, the devil the great false ac
cuser, iii. 454. may injure us before a man as judge, but not before God, v. 436. the Church prays against, ib. false accusers often entangled in their own snares, iii. 66. calumnies of heathens and heretics against the Catholic Church, v. 429, 430.
To accuse in others what a man does himself, for the sake of appear ance, a sin in God's sight, iii. 292.
spirit, iv. 71.
Ahitophel, meaning of, i. 44.
Allegory, what, v. 81. the meaning of,
to be agreeable to the context, i. 71. Almsgiving, the duty and blessing of, ii. 113,256; iv. 13; vi. 393. one of
the two wings of prayer, ii. 208. ap plies riches to save the soul, ii. 311 ; v. 50. stows our money in safety with Christ, ii. 115,315; v. 266; vi. 169. is really restitution, since what we give is God's, iv. 412 ; vi. 393. Christ claims it of us, vi. 375.
We should set a fixed sum aside for vi. 376. tenth no more than
it,
a
4(i0 INDEX.
Pharisees gave, vi. 377. even the poor can give alms, ii. 29; vi. 13. alms acceptable whatever their amount, if they come from the heart, vi. 6. God rewardeth the will if there be no power to give, v. 88.
God's, His punishing wickedness, iv. 91, 145. the turning away of His Countenance, i. 203. its object two fold, to perfect or to consume, iii. 155. the terribleness of iv. 276. abides on the wicked, passes over the faith
To be exercised even to the ful, iv. 239. that of a father, iv.
sinner, as he is a work of God, v. 51. we must seek out objects for, v. 1 11 ; vi. 376. no good to give of unjust gains, vi. 304. alms profitless if given to escape importunity, ii. 208. or for mercenary motives, v. 52. should be given in secret, ii. 257.
104. Christians in what sense chil
dren of wrath, ii. 72.
Anointing, formerly Kings and Priests
only anointed, 192. Christ anointed as King and Priest, ib. all Christians anointed in Him, ib. Christ means Anointed, ii. 246. mystical meaning of Jacob anointing the stone, ii. 247. (see Oil. )
Altar, innocency needed for approach
ing, i. 182. the heavenly altar,
which none but the innocent reach, Ant, the, its example, ii. 196. the
ib. ii. 203.
Amalek, meaning of, iv. 142.
Amon, or Amman, meaning of, iv. 142. Amorites, meaning of their name, vi.
143.
Angels, their name sets forth their
Christian Ant who, iii. 300. Antichrist, will rise to a great height,
and be thought to be God, 86. pre destined to damnation, ib. will fill up all former wickedness, 87. his persecution will be more grievous than any, 88. will delude the Jews, v. 188.
office, not their nature, v. 83 ; vi. 153.
bodies of Angels, iv. 203. not to
perish at the end of the world, v. 31.
unwilling to be worshipped by men, Apostles, the, called rams,' as leaders
iv. 197, 426; vi. 153. created by
God, iii. 437. set forth under ' sheep
and oxen,' i. 69. included in the
spiritual Israel, vi. 361. their abode
in heaven, iv. 202. their greatness,
iv. 406. their knowledge, vi. 368.
indwelt by God, vi. 180. fed by the ations,' iv. 214, 217. the twelve
Word of God, iv. 61. do all things according to an eternal law, v. 139. praise God, vi. 421.
Their ascending and descending on the Son of Man, meaning of, ii. 247, 248. we are to be equal to Angels, iii. 217; vi. 180. Gentile nations ruled by Angels, Israel God's own portion, iv. 241.
Rejoice in man's redemption, v. 130. pity and aid us, iii. 217. offer our prayers to God, iv. 83. God speaks by them, v. 154. impart know ledge, but only as God's ministers, v. 393. ministered to Christ, as ser vants, not as succours, iii. 87 ; iv. 337.
Evil, employed by God as min isters of His wrath, i. 56; iv. 71. and to prove the good, iv. 71 ; vi. 80. delight in man's suffering, ib. fell through pride, v. 475, 497. inflict bodily sufferings, vi. 79.
gree, natural, i. 20. symbolised by Ark, Noah's, type of the Church, fire, iv. 70. good causes for, i. 253. v. 99; iv. 216; vi. 385. Christ's
Anger, definition of, i. 36. how differ
ent from hatred, iii. 33. we must
take care that it turn not into hatred,
i. 253, 177; v. 122. the blessing of Arian heresy, 323 iii. 349 iv. conquering, v. 266. to a certain de 123; vi. 84.
Apollinarian heresy, 217; iv. 188.
of the flock, iii. 270, 470; vi. 285. the beard,' anointed by the Spirit,
vi. dogs,' iii. 343. theheavens,' 125 iii. 319 iv. 242, 422 v. 501
vi. 307. 'hills,' iii. 269. pillars,' iii. 524 vi. 260. rivers,' v. 338. found
hours of the day,' iii. 59.
stones,' 142. lanterns,' lighted from Christ, v. 413. 'mountains,'
410; ii. 265; iii. 264 320, 335; iv. v. 92, 538. clouds,' 409 ii. 269; iv. 39, 409, 421. Christ's 'eyes,' iv. 232. His bones,' 146; v. 6. His 'feet,' iv. 308. Fishers of men, iii. 263.
Their number mystery, iv. 217; v. 100. chosen, though weak, to shew the power of grace, iii. 274. left all, to follow their Lord, v. 118. thought Him mere man, vi. 211. wavered at Christ's death, iv. 414. were strengthened by His Resur rection, vi. 213. were sent to the Gentiles, iv. 415. to Jews and Gentiles, ii. 299. penetrated to the ends of the world, 272; iv.
