Because it hath
surpassed
the flesh.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v4
For that joy which is after the fashion of the world, is not true joy.
Hear
joy to the wicked, saith not a man, but tIhe Lord. Whence
desired the day of men, thou knowest. Thou Who shewest me another day, Who teachest me another light, Who fillest me with another joy, Who dost inspire my heart with another feeling, Thou hast made me not desire the day of men. Isaiah saw men in drink, in luxury, in theatres and spectacles, the whole world
indulging itself in various trifles, and yet he cried, There is no joy, saith the Lord, to the wicked. If this was not joy, what sort of joy was that which he saw, in comparison with
Jer. 17, he who saw real joy, saith, Neither have
Be not of a crooked
Be true-
The righteous have a better joy, seen by Faith. 435 which this was not joy ? As if thou hadst known the sun, Ver.
and wcrt to say to some person who was praising a lamp, --
:-- this is not light. Why is it not light ? He holdeth it in
high esteem, he rejoiceth, he is delighted : and thou sayest,
This is not light. Or if any one were admiring an ape, thou
wouldest say, This is not beauty. And if perchance he were engaged in tracing the composition of the brute's limbs, and admiring all their fitness of adaptation to each other, thou who hadst known another beauty wouldest deny and say,
not so. Why Because thou knowest another.
thou sayest, see not that light which Isaiah saw. Believe, and thou shalt see it. For perhaps thou hast not the eye to see it; for
For as there
light seen
an eye by which that beauty discerned. an eye of the flesh, by means of which this so there an eye of the heart, by which that
joy perceived: perhaps that eye wounded, dimmed, dis turbed by passion, by avarice, by indulgence, by senseless lust thine eye disturbed thou canst not see that light. Believe, before thou seest: thou shalt be healed, and shalt see. There sprung up a light for the righteous: and
joyful-gladness for the true-hearted.
20. Be glad, he saith, in the Lord, ye righteous and
confess to the remembrance of His holiness. Now made
glad, now rejoicing in the Lord, confess unto Him; for unless were His will, ye would not rejoice in Him. For
the Lord Himself saith These things have spoken to yow- Johnl6 that in Me ye might have peace. But in the world ye shall 33. have tribulation. If ye are Christians, look for tribulations
in this world look not for more peaceful and better times. Brethren, ye deceive yourselves what the Gospel doth not promise you, promise not to yourselves. Ye know what the Gospel saith we are speaking to Christians we ought not
to disobey the faith. The Gospel saith this, that in the last
times many evils, many stumbling-blocks, many tribulations,
much iniquity, shall abound but he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. The love, saith, o/-Mat. 24, many shall wax cold. Whosoever then hath been stedfastly 3-- 13, fervent in spirit, as the Apostle saith, fervent in spirit, his Ron,. ^ love shall not wax cold: because the love of God is shed^- abroad in our hearts the Holy Ghost, Which given unto a.
But
?
f 2
;: ;
by
:
is
is it
is
it,
' '
;;
is
is
: isit is
I
?
I ;
is
it
;
is
:
is
it is
436 The ' whole earth' called to sing of God's marvels.
Psalm us. Let no man therefore promise himself what the Gospel -- -doth not promise. Behold, happier times will come, and I am doing this, and purchasing this. It is good for thee to listen to Him Who is not deceived, nor hath deceived any
I/AT. XCVII.
man, Who promised thee joy not here, but in Himself ; and when all here hath passed away, to hope that with Him thou wilt for ever reign ; lest when thou dost wish to reign here, ihou mayest neither enjoy gladness here, nor fmd it there.
PSALM XCVIII. A Discourse to the People.
1. Ver. 1. O sing unto the Lord a new song. The new man knoweth this, the old man knoweth it not. The old man is the old life, and the new man the new life: the old life is derived from Adam, the new life is formed in Christ. But in this Psalm, the whole world is enjoined to sing a new
Ps. 96,i. song. More openly elsewhere the words are these: O sing
unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the
Dona- whole earth; that they who cut themselves off from the
tlats-
communion of the whole earth, may understand that they cannot sing the new song, because it is sung in the whole, and not in a part of it. Attend here also, and see that this is said. And when the whole earth is enjoined to sing a new song, it is meant, that peace singeth a new song. O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvellous things. What marvellous things? Behold, the Gospel was just now being read, and we heard the mar vellous things of the Lord. The only son of his mother, who was a widow, was being carried out dead : the Lord, in compassion, made them stand still ; they laid him down,
Luke 7, and the Lord said, Young man, L say un'o thee, Arise. 12-- l6- And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak: and He delivered him unto his mother. Behold, the Lord hath done marvellous things: but it is much more marvellous, that He hath aroused from everlasting death the whole world, than that He recalled to life the only son of a
widowed mother. O sing then unto the Lord a new song;
Christ, God's Right Hand, healeth unto God. 437
for the Lord hath done marvellous things. What marvellous v-er.
'---
things ? Hear : His own right hand, and His holy arm, halh healed for Him. What is the Lord's holy arm ? Our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear Isaiah: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? His holy arm then, and His own right hand, is Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore the arm of God, and the
right hand of God : for this reason is it said, hath He healed for Him. It is not said only, " His right hand hath healed the world," but hath healed for Him. For many are healed
for themselves, not for Him. Behold how many long for that bodily health, and receive it from Him : they are healed by Him, but not for Him. How are they healed by Him, and not for Him ? When they have received health, they become wanton : they who when sick were chaste, when cured become adulterers: they who when in illness injured no man, on the recovery of their strength attack and crush the innocent : they are healed, but not unto Him. Who is
he who is healed unto Him ? He who is healed inwardly. Who is he that is healed inwardly ? He who trusteth in Him, that when he shall have been healed inwardly, re formed into a new man, afterwards this mortal flesh too, which doth languish for a time, may in the end itself even recover its most perfect health. Let us therefore be healed for Him. But that we may be healed for Him, let us believe
in His right hand ; because His own right hand, and His holy arm, hath healed for Him.
2. Ver. 2. The Lord hath made known His salvation.
This very right hand, this very arm, this very salvation, is
our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom it is said, And all Jlesh Luke 3, shall see the salvation of God; of Whom also that Simeon6'
who embraced the Infant in his arms, spoke, "Lord, <<o<<;Luke2, leltest Thou Thy servant depart in peace ; for mine eyes
have seen Thy salvation. " The Lord hath made known His
salvation. To whom did He make it known ? To a part,
or to the whole ? Not to any part specially. Let no man betray, no man deceive, no man say, Lo, here is Christ, Mat. 24, or there : the man who saith, Lo, Ho is here, or there, pointeth to some particular spots. To whom hath the Lord declared His salvation ? Hear what followeth : His righte-
438 God's mercy and truth to Israel, the people that see Him.
Psalm ousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. -- 'Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the right hand of
1 Cor.
13John 3, 2.
God, the arm of God, the salvation of God, and the righte ousness of God.
8. Ver. 3. He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. What meaneth this, He hath remembered His mercy and truth ? He hath pitied, so that He promised; because He promised and shewed His mercy, truth hath followed : mercy hath gone before promise,
promise hath been fulfilled in truth. He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. And what ? only to Jacob ? and only to the house of Israel ? The house of the Jews and that offspring of Abraham accord ing to the flesh, is wont to be called the house of Israel, and Israel is Jacob. For Jacob was Isaac's son, and Isaac him self was Abraham's son. Jacob therefore was the grandson of Abraham; and Jacob had twelve sons, and of these twelve sons descended the whole race of the Jews. Was Christ promised to them only ? If thou reflect what is Israel, Christ is promised unto Israel. Israel meaneth ' seeing God. ' We shall see Him face to face, if only we now see Him by faith. Let our faith have eyes, and its truth shall be displayed: let us believe in Him Whom we see not, and rejoicing we shall see; let us long for Him we have not seen, and we shall enjoy Him seen. Now therefore is it Israel by faith : but
then Israel face to face. No longer through a glass darkly; kut as 't *s sa^ k-v John, Beloved, now are we the sons of God ; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him ; for we shall see Him as He is. Prepare ye your hearts for this vision, prepare your souls for this joy : just as if God willed to shew the sun, He would warn us to make ready the eyes of the flesh; but because He deigneth to shew you the
fashion of His Wisdom, prepare the eyes of your heart. Matt. 6, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
He hath remembered His mercy unto Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. Who is this Israel? That ye may not perchance think of one nation of the Jews, hear what followeth : All the ends of the world have seen the miration of our God. It is not said, all the earth : but, all
Harp of works with song of praise. Beaten trumpets. 439
the ends of the world: as it is said, from one end to the Ver. other. Let no man cut this down, let uo man scatter it 4~6' abroad; strong is the uuity of Christ. He who gave so
great a price, hath bought the whole : All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
4. Ver. 4. Because they have seen, then, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands Ye already know what it is to make a joyful noise. Rejoice, and speak. If ye cannot express your joy, shout ye; let the shout manifest your joy, if your speech cannot : yet let not joy be mute ; let not your heart be silent respecting its God, let it not be mute concerning His gifts. If thou speakest to thyself, unto thyself art thou healed ; if His right hand hath healed thee for Him, speak thou unto Him for Whom thou hast been healed. All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands; sing, rejoice, and make melody.
5. Ver. 5. Make melody unto the Lord upon the harp : on the harp and with the voice of a Psalm. Praise Him not with the voice only ; take up works, that ye may not only , sing, but work also. He who singeth and worketh, maketh melody with psaltery and upon the harp.
8. Ver. 6. Now see what sort of instruments are next spoken of, in figure : With ductile trumpets also, and the . sound of the pipe of horn. What are ductile trumpets, and pipes of horn ? Ductile trumpets are of brass: they are drawn out by hammering; if by hammering, by being beaten,
ye shall be ductile trumpets, drawn out unto the praise of God, if ye improve when in tribulation : tribulation is ham mering, improvement is the being drawn out. Job was a ductile trumpet, when suddenly assailed by the heaviest losses, and the death of his sons, become like a ductile trumpet by the beating of so heavy tribulation, he sounded
thus: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; J0b 1, blessed be the name of the Lord. How did He sound ? 21 . How pleasantly doth his voice sound ? This ductile trumpet
is still under the hammer: he is given into Satan's power,
so that even his flesh might be struck ; it is struck : it beginneth to be corrupted and to be covered with worms.
Eve placed ready for his seduction from God, his wife, kept
440 Job and St. Paul, as beaten trumpets, sound bravely.
Psalm for the service of the devil, and not for her husband's -comfort, suggesteth blasphemy ; he complieth not. The Gen. 3, Adam in Paradise obeyed Eve : the Adam on the dunghill repelleth Eve. For Job was sitting on a dunghill, while his flesh was running and wasting with worms ! Better was Job in his rottenness, than he that was whole in Paradise. But as yet she was Eve, he was not Adam. He answered Eve, prepared thus to deceive and tempt him : (we have heard how this trumpet was beaten. The devil struck him with a terrible disease from head to foot; and, covered with worms, he sat upon a dunghill. We have heard how he
Joh 2, 1--11.
was hammered ; let us hear how he soundeth : let us, if it please you, hear the sweet sound of this ductile trumpet:) Thou speakest, he said, as one of the foolish women speaketh. ff/flat I shaft we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? O courageous, O sweet sound ! whom
will not that sound awake from sleep ? whom will not confidence in God awake, to march to battle fearlessly against the devil; not to struggle with his own strength, but His Who proveth him. For He it is Who bammereth : for the hammer could not do so of itself. Of the devil's future punishment the Prophet maketh mention, and sailh,
Jer. 60, The hammer of the whole earth is cut asunder and broken.
23-
He meant the devil to be understood by the hammer of the whole earth. By means of this hammer placed in the hand of God, that is, in His power, the ductile trumpets are beaten out, that they may re-echo His praises. . See bow (I dare so speak, my brethren) eIven the Apostle was beaten
2 Cor. with this very hammer : Lest
12 ' 7 "10 'above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there teas given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me. Behold he is under the hammer: l/ot us hear how he speaketh of it : For this thing, he saith,
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart me. from
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : for My strength is made perfect in weakness. I, saith His Maker, wish to make this trumpet perfect; I canuot do so unless I hammer it; in weakness is strength made perfect. Hear noIw the ductile trumpet Iitself sounding as it should;
When
am weak, then am
strong. And the
Apostle
should be exalted, he saith,
Horn trumpets, they that rise above theflesh. 44 1 himself, as if clinging to Christ, clinging to that right hand Ver.
which holdeth the hammer to draw out the trumpet, placed -- in that right hand himself with the same hammer ; as he
:-- saith of some, Whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they\ Tim.
may learn not to blaspheme. He gave them up to be beaten with the hammer. They sounded ill before they were beaten out; when hammered upon, and made ductile trumpets, leaving off blasphemy, they sounded the praises of the Lord. These are the ductile trumpets.
' 20-
7. The voice of the pipe of horn, what is it ? The horn riseth above the flesh : in rising above the flesh it needs must be solid so as to last, and able to speak. And whence this ?
Because it hath surpassed the flesh. He who wisheth
to be a horn trumpet, let him overcome the flesh. What meaneth this, let him overcome the. flesh ? Let him surpass the desires, let him conquer the lusts of the flesh. Hear the horn trumpets : If ye then be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle, seek those things which are above, where Christ ' sitleth at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. What meaneth this, Set your affection on things above ? It meaneth, Rise
above the flesh, think not of carnal things. They were not
yet horn trumpets, to whom he now spoke thus: / could iCor. 1, not speak unto you, brethren, as unto sIpiritual, but as unto i--U. '
carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it : neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal. They were not therefore horn trumpets, because they had not risen above the flesh. Horn both adhereth to the flesh, and riseth above the flesh ; and although it springeth from the flesh, yet it surpasseth it. If therefore thou art spiritual, when before thou wast carnal; as yet thou art treading the earth in the flesh, but in spirit thou art rising into heaven : for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. Let not us pass by this, brethren, unto whom the Apostle spoke. What did he say unto them, by which he proved that they were carnal,
and had carnal lusts, aud wereI not as yet become horn
/rumpets? For while one saith,
am Paul: and another, ICor. 1, of
t
r Twr 12- 3 ' 4.
am Apollos: are ye not carnal ? Who then is Paul,^ of
have you with fed
Coloss.
The ' sea" raging, spiritual 'flood*' still rejoice.
l* ^polios, but ministers of God, by whom ye I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. He therefore wisheth them to be raised from
the hope which they had placed in man, and to reach the spiritual things of Christ ; in order that they might be horn trumpets, if they could conquer the flesh. Brethren, do not reproach brethren whom the mercy of God hath not yet converted; know that as long as ye do this, ye savour of the flesh. That is not a trumpet which pleaseth the ears of God: the trumpet of boastfulness maketh the war fruit less. Let the horn trumpet raise thy courage against the devil ; let not the fleshly trumpet raise thy pride against thy brother. With ductile trumpets, and in the voice of Hie trumpet of horn, make a joyful noise in the sight of the Lord the King.
8. Ver. 7, 8. While ye are rejoicing, and delighted with the ductile trumpets, and the voice of the horn, what followeth ? Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof. Brethren, when the Apostles, like ductile trumpets and horns, were preaching the truth, the sea was stirred up, its waves arose, tempests increased, persecutions of the Church took place. Whence hath the sea been stirred up ? When a joyful noise was made, when Psalms of thanksgiving were being sung before God : the ears of God were pleased, the waves of the sea were raised. Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof: the round world, and all that dwell therein. Let the sea be stirred up in its persecutions. Let the floods clap their hands together. Let the sea be aroused, and the floods clap their hands together; persecutions arise, and the saints rejoice in God. Whence shall the floods clap their hands? What is to clap their hands? To rejoice in works. To clap hands, is to rejoice; hands, mean works. What floods? Those whom God hath made floods, by giving them that
John 7, Water, the Holy Spirit. Ifany man thirst, saith He, let 37--39. fom come UHi0 ]\fC, ana- drink. He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. These rivers
clapped their hands, these rivers rejoiced in works, and blessed God.
9. The hillsshall bejoyful together, (ver. 9. ) Before the Lord,
442
xf vn" ana^ believed?
Hills of righteousness glad of the Righteous Judge. 443
for He is come; for He is come to judge the earth. *Hie hills Ver. signify the great. The Lord cometh to judge the earth, and ------ they rejoice. But there are hills, who, when the Lord is coming to judge the earth, shall tremble. There are there
fore good and evil hills; the good hills, are spiritual great ness; the bad hills, are the swelling of pride. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is come ; for He is come to judge the earth. Wherefore shall He come, and how shall He come ? For He is come to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity. Let the hills therefore rejoice ; for He shall not judge unrighteously. When some man is coming as a judge, to whom the conscience cannot lie open, even innocent men may tremble, if from him they expect a reward for
virtue, or fear the penalty of condemnation ; when He shall come who cannot be deceived, let the hills rejoice, let them rejoice fearlessly ; they shall be enlightened by Him, not condemned; let them rejoice, because the Lord will come to
judge the world with equity; and if the righteous hills re joice, let the unrighteous tremble. But behold, He hath not yet come : what need is there they should tremble ? Let them mend their ways, and rejoice. It is in thy power in
what way thou wiliest to await the coming of Christ. For this reason He delayeth to come, that when He cometh He may not condemn thee. Lo, He hath not yet come: He is in heaven, thou on earth : He delayeth His coming, do not thou delay wisdom. His coming is hard to the hard of heart, soft to the pious. See therefore even now what thou art : if hard of heart, thou canst soften ; if thou art soft, even now rejoice that He will come. For thou art a Christian. Yea, thou sayest. I believe that thou prayest, and sayest,
Thy kingdom come. Thou desirest Him to come, Whose Matt, a, coming thou fearest. Reform thyself, that thou mayest not
pray against thyself.
444 Christforeshewn, the true Key to the Old Testament.
PSALM XCIX. A Sermon to the people.
1. Beloved brethren, it ought already to be known to you, as sons of the Church, and well instructed in the school of Christ through all the books of our ancient Fathers, who wrote the words of God and the great things of God, that their wish was to consult for our good, who were to live at
this period, believers in Christ ; Who, at a seasonable time came unto us, the first time, in humility; at the second, destined to come in exaltation. For at the first time He came to stand before the j udge : He will afterwards come to sit as Judge, that the human race may stand before Him according to its deserts. Many heralds went before Him : as before a mighty Judge, and that Judge as yet to come in humility. Many heralds went before Him, Who was yet to be born of the Virgin Mary, Who was yet to be an Infant, yet to suck milk ; many heralds went before Him Who was to be a Child, the Word of God by Whom all things were made, and announced these future times; but they spoke so as to cover their meaning under certain figures of other objects, and that the covering which concealed the truth in the books of the old prophets, might then be removed, when the Truth Itself should arise from the earth. For thus it is said in the Psalms: Truth shall flourish out of the earth: and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. Now, therefore, our whole design when we hear a Psalm, a Prophet, or the Law, all of which was written before our Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, to see Christ there, to understand Christ there. Attend therefore, beloved, to this Psalm, with me, and let us herein seek Christ; certainly He will appear to those who seek Him, Who at first appeared to those who sought Him not; and He will not desert those who long for Him, Who redeemed those who neglected Him. Behold,-the Psalm beginneth concerning Him of Him said
2. Ver. The Lord King, be the peojile angry. For our Lord Jesus Christ began to reign, began to be preached, after He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, after He
1.
is,
is
:
it is
:
Rage of idolaters against the kingdom of Christ. 445
had filled His disciples with the confidence of the Holy Ver. Spirit, that they should not fear death, which He had ------ already killed in Himself. Our Lord Christ began then to
be preached, that they who wished for salvation might believe in Him; and the peoples who worshipped idols
were angry. They who worshipped what they had made were angry, because He by Whom they were made was declared. He announced, in fact, through His disciples, Himself, Who wished them to be converted unto Him by Whom they were made, and to be turned away from those things which they had made themselves. They were angry with their Lord in behalf of their idols, they who even if they were angry with their slave on their idol's account, were to be condemned. For their slave was better than their idol : for God made their slave, the carpenter made their idol. They were so angry in their idol's behalf, that they feared not to be angry with their Lord. But the words, be they angry, are a prediction, not a command ; for in a pro phecy it is that this is said, The Lord is King, be the
people angry. Some good resulteth even from the enraged
people : let them be angry, and in their anger let the Martyrs
be crowned. What did they do to the preachers of the
Word of Truth, those the clouds of God travelling around
the world, and raining upon the field of God? What did
the angry people unto them, except afflict their flesh with
their hands, and cause their spirit to be crowned by the
hands of Christ? Nor did even that flesh, which the perse
cutors had power to kill, so die as to perish for ever : for it
will have its season when even itself may arise again : for
our Lord hath already shewn the resurrection of the flesh in Himself. For this reason He was willing to receive it from
us, that we might not despair of our own. Therefore, brethren, the flesh of those servants, which the worshippers of
idols slew, will rise again in its own time : never more will carpenter fashion the idols that Christ broke. Ye heard
when Jeremiah was being read before the reading of the Apostle, if ye listened ; ye saw therein the times in which we
now live. He said, The gods that have not made the Jer. 10, heavens and the earth, let them perish from the earth, and11,
from under the heaven. He said not, The gods that have
446 Destruction of idols. Christ's reign and seat.
Psalm not made the heavens and earth, let them perish from the XC1X' heaven and from the earth ; because they never were in heaven : but what did he say ? The gods that have not made heaven and earth, let them perish from the earth, and from under the heaven. As while the word earth was repeated, the repetition of the word heaven were wanting, (because they never were in heaven he repeateth the earth twice, since under heaven. Let them perish from the
earth, and from under the heaven, from their temples. Consider this be not now taking place in a great measure hath not already happened for what, or how much, hath remained? The idols remained rather in the hearts of the pagans, than in the niches of the temples.
Therefore, the Lord King, be the people angry He Who silteth between the cherubims: thou dost understand, He King let the earth be stirred up. He repeateth, Be
the people stirred up. For the word, Lord, repeated in the expression, He Who silteth between the cherubim the words, King, he maketh us understand in the next verse and the words, be the people angry, are here repeated, in the following, Be the earth stirred up. For what are people, but the earth Let the earth be as angry as can with Him Who now sitting in the heavens. For the Lord was both upon the earth, and took upon Himself eaith in which to
abide when on earth. He clothed Himself with flesh, and chose first to suffer the angry people. That His servants might not fear the anger of the people, He chose first to suffer Himself: and as the anger of the people against His servants was necessary for them, that they might be cured, and healed from all their sins by means of tribulations the Physician first drank the bitter cup, that the sick man might not fear to drink it. Therefore, The Lord King, let the
be angry. Let the people be angry, because by their anger God hath wrought many blessings. They are impatient, and God's servants are cleansed; they are crowned, who are tried. Be the people angry; He Who sitteth be tween the cherubims, He King be the earth stirred up. The Cherubim the seat of God, as the Scripture sheweth us, certain exalted heavenly throne, which we see not;
but the Word of God knoweth knoweth as His own
people
it,
if, :)
it
if
a
is is
3.
is
is :
is
is
it
is
:
;
it
is
?
;:: :
:
it if
is
it
The Cherubim. Love, the true ' Fulness of Knowledge. ' 447
seat: and the Word of God and the Spirit of God hath Ver. Itself revealed to the servants of God where God sitteth. ----- Not that God doth sit, as doth man ; but thou, if thou dost
wish that God sit in thee, if thou wilt be good, shalt be
the seat of God; for thus is it written, The soul of thePl? y- righteous is the seat of wisdom. For a throne is in our 12 ' 23 language called a seat. For some, conversant with the Hebrew tongue, have interpreted cherubim in the Latin language (for it is a Hebrew term) by the words, fulness of knowledge. Therefore, because God surpasseth all know ledge, He is said to sit above the fulness of knowledge.
Let there be therefore in thee fulness of knowledge, and
even thou shalt be the throne of God. But perhaps thou
wast about to say, and when shall there be in me fulness
of knowledge? And who can attain such a height, that
there may be in him fulness of knowledge. Thinkest thou
it is the will of God that there be in us that fulness of know
ledge, that we may know either how many stars, or grains of
wheat, (not to say of sand,) there are, or how many apples
hang on a tree ? He knoweth all things: for our hairs are Mat. 10,
numbered before God. But the fulness of knowledge which30'
He willed mau to know is different from this; the know
ledge which He willed thee to have, pertaineth to the law of
God. And who can, thou mayest perhaps say unto me, perfectly know the Law, so that he may have within himself
the fulness of the knowledge of the Law, and be able to
be the seat of God? Be not disturbed; it is briefly told
thee what thou hast, if thou dost wish to have the fulness
of knowledge, and to become the throne of God: for the Apostle saith, Love is the fulfilling of the Law. WhatRoni l3, followeth then ? Thou hast lost the whole of thine excuse.
Ask thine heart ; see whether it hath love. If there be love there, there is the fulfilment of the Law there also ; already God dwelletl) in thee, thou hast become the throne of God. Be the people angry; what can the angry people do against him who hath become the throne of God ? Thou givest heed unto them who rage against thee : Who is it That sitteth within thee, thou givest not heed. Thou art become a heaven, and fearest thou the earth ? For the Scripture saith in another passage, that the Lord our God doth declare,
448 How to have a right in the name ' Sion. '
Psalm The heaven is My throne. If therefore even thou by having jH gg i- the fulness of knowledge, and by having love, hast been made the throne of God, thou hast become a heaven. For this heaven which we look up to with these eyes of ours, is not very precious before God. Holy souls are the heaven of God ; the minds of the Angels, and all the minds of His
servants, are the heaven of God. Be the people, therefore, angry. Be the earth stirred up ; what can they do, or what can it do, to the throne of God, and to the heaven whereon God is enthroned ?
4. Ver. 2. The Lord is great in Sion, and high above all people. Lo, if the words, He Who silteth above the Cherubims, were obscure to thee, thou wast ignorant what Cherubim is; and perhaps thou didst figure to thyself in mind some heavenly throne, vast, and- jewelled, and didst call it Cherubim, fluttering among phantasms in thy carnal sense ; and it was said to thee, that fulness of knowledge, not of every knowledge, but of the knowledge of the Law, is profitable for man ; and that thou shouldest not despair of
Bom. 13, this very knowledge of the Law, it is briefly told thee, Love
'"?
is the fulfilling of the Law. Have, therefore, love unto God, and unto thy neighbour, and thou shalt be a throne of God ; thou shalt belong to the Cherubim. But if thou dost not yet understand, hear what followeth : The Lord is great in Sion. He Whom I spoke to thee of as above the Cherubims, is great in Sion. Ask thou now, what is Sion ? We know Sion to be the city of God. The city of Jeru salem is called Sion ; and is so called according to a certain interpretation, for that Sion signifieth watching, that is, sight and contemplation ; for to watch is to look forward to, or gaze upon, or strain the eyes to see. Now every soul is a Sion, if it trieth to see that light which is to be seen. For if it shall have gazed upon a light of its own, it is darkened; if upon His, it is enlightened. But, now that it is clear that Sion is the city of God ; what is the city of God, but the Holy Church ? For men who love one another, and who love their God Who dwelleth in them, constitute a city unto God. Because a city is held together by some law ; their very law is Love ; and that very Love is God : for openly
iJohn4,it is written, God is Love. He therefore who is full of Love,
Heathens angry that Christiansfast while they sport. 449
is full of God ; and many, full of love, constitute a city full
of God. That city of God is called Sion ; the Church 2-
therefore is Sion. In it God is great. Be thou in
God shall not be apart from thee. And when God shall be in thee, because thou hast become citizen of Sion, a member of Sion, belonging to the society of the people of God; God will be high in thee, above all people, above those who are enraged, or above those who have enraged. For do ye imagine that they were then enraged,
and are not now enraged They were then enraged but because they were more numerous, they were enraged openly now that they have dwindled into few, they are enraged secretly. In the meantime, their boldness hath been broken their rage also shall have an end.
5. For do ye imagine, brethren, that they whose instru ments re-echoed yesterday, are not angry with our fastings But let us not be angry with them, but let us fast for them.
For the Lord our God Who sitteth in us hath said, He hath Himself commanded us to pray for our enemies, to pray for Matt. them that persecute us: and as the Church doth this, the44- persecutors are almost extinct. For she was heard when
she did this, and she still heard when she doth it: they
prevailed to their evil, they have been brought to an end to their good. But do yc wish to know how they were brought to an end They were eaten up by the Church. Thou seekest them in themselves, and findest them not seek for them in her who hath eaten them up, and they are discovered in her entrails.
joy to the wicked, saith not a man, but tIhe Lord. Whence
desired the day of men, thou knowest. Thou Who shewest me another day, Who teachest me another light, Who fillest me with another joy, Who dost inspire my heart with another feeling, Thou hast made me not desire the day of men. Isaiah saw men in drink, in luxury, in theatres and spectacles, the whole world
indulging itself in various trifles, and yet he cried, There is no joy, saith the Lord, to the wicked. If this was not joy, what sort of joy was that which he saw, in comparison with
Jer. 17, he who saw real joy, saith, Neither have
Be not of a crooked
Be true-
The righteous have a better joy, seen by Faith. 435 which this was not joy ? As if thou hadst known the sun, Ver.
and wcrt to say to some person who was praising a lamp, --
:-- this is not light. Why is it not light ? He holdeth it in
high esteem, he rejoiceth, he is delighted : and thou sayest,
This is not light. Or if any one were admiring an ape, thou
wouldest say, This is not beauty. And if perchance he were engaged in tracing the composition of the brute's limbs, and admiring all their fitness of adaptation to each other, thou who hadst known another beauty wouldest deny and say,
not so. Why Because thou knowest another.
thou sayest, see not that light which Isaiah saw. Believe, and thou shalt see it. For perhaps thou hast not the eye to see it; for
For as there
light seen
an eye by which that beauty discerned. an eye of the flesh, by means of which this so there an eye of the heart, by which that
joy perceived: perhaps that eye wounded, dimmed, dis turbed by passion, by avarice, by indulgence, by senseless lust thine eye disturbed thou canst not see that light. Believe, before thou seest: thou shalt be healed, and shalt see. There sprung up a light for the righteous: and
joyful-gladness for the true-hearted.
20. Be glad, he saith, in the Lord, ye righteous and
confess to the remembrance of His holiness. Now made
glad, now rejoicing in the Lord, confess unto Him; for unless were His will, ye would not rejoice in Him. For
the Lord Himself saith These things have spoken to yow- Johnl6 that in Me ye might have peace. But in the world ye shall 33. have tribulation. If ye are Christians, look for tribulations
in this world look not for more peaceful and better times. Brethren, ye deceive yourselves what the Gospel doth not promise you, promise not to yourselves. Ye know what the Gospel saith we are speaking to Christians we ought not
to disobey the faith. The Gospel saith this, that in the last
times many evils, many stumbling-blocks, many tribulations,
much iniquity, shall abound but he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. The love, saith, o/-Mat. 24, many shall wax cold. Whosoever then hath been stedfastly 3-- 13, fervent in spirit, as the Apostle saith, fervent in spirit, his Ron,. ^ love shall not wax cold: because the love of God is shed^- abroad in our hearts the Holy Ghost, Which given unto a.
But
?
f 2
;: ;
by
:
is
is it
is
it,
' '
;;
is
is
: isit is
I
?
I ;
is
it
;
is
:
is
it is
436 The ' whole earth' called to sing of God's marvels.
Psalm us. Let no man therefore promise himself what the Gospel -- -doth not promise. Behold, happier times will come, and I am doing this, and purchasing this. It is good for thee to listen to Him Who is not deceived, nor hath deceived any
I/AT. XCVII.
man, Who promised thee joy not here, but in Himself ; and when all here hath passed away, to hope that with Him thou wilt for ever reign ; lest when thou dost wish to reign here, ihou mayest neither enjoy gladness here, nor fmd it there.
PSALM XCVIII. A Discourse to the People.
1. Ver. 1. O sing unto the Lord a new song. The new man knoweth this, the old man knoweth it not. The old man is the old life, and the new man the new life: the old life is derived from Adam, the new life is formed in Christ. But in this Psalm, the whole world is enjoined to sing a new
Ps. 96,i. song. More openly elsewhere the words are these: O sing
unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the
Dona- whole earth; that they who cut themselves off from the
tlats-
communion of the whole earth, may understand that they cannot sing the new song, because it is sung in the whole, and not in a part of it. Attend here also, and see that this is said. And when the whole earth is enjoined to sing a new song, it is meant, that peace singeth a new song. O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvellous things. What marvellous things? Behold, the Gospel was just now being read, and we heard the mar vellous things of the Lord. The only son of his mother, who was a widow, was being carried out dead : the Lord, in compassion, made them stand still ; they laid him down,
Luke 7, and the Lord said, Young man, L say un'o thee, Arise. 12-- l6- And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak: and He delivered him unto his mother. Behold, the Lord hath done marvellous things: but it is much more marvellous, that He hath aroused from everlasting death the whole world, than that He recalled to life the only son of a
widowed mother. O sing then unto the Lord a new song;
Christ, God's Right Hand, healeth unto God. 437
for the Lord hath done marvellous things. What marvellous v-er.
'---
things ? Hear : His own right hand, and His holy arm, halh healed for Him. What is the Lord's holy arm ? Our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear Isaiah: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? His holy arm then, and His own right hand, is Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore the arm of God, and the
right hand of God : for this reason is it said, hath He healed for Him. It is not said only, " His right hand hath healed the world," but hath healed for Him. For many are healed
for themselves, not for Him. Behold how many long for that bodily health, and receive it from Him : they are healed by Him, but not for Him. How are they healed by Him, and not for Him ? When they have received health, they become wanton : they who when sick were chaste, when cured become adulterers: they who when in illness injured no man, on the recovery of their strength attack and crush the innocent : they are healed, but not unto Him. Who is
he who is healed unto Him ? He who is healed inwardly. Who is he that is healed inwardly ? He who trusteth in Him, that when he shall have been healed inwardly, re formed into a new man, afterwards this mortal flesh too, which doth languish for a time, may in the end itself even recover its most perfect health. Let us therefore be healed for Him. But that we may be healed for Him, let us believe
in His right hand ; because His own right hand, and His holy arm, hath healed for Him.
2. Ver. 2. The Lord hath made known His salvation.
This very right hand, this very arm, this very salvation, is
our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom it is said, And all Jlesh Luke 3, shall see the salvation of God; of Whom also that Simeon6'
who embraced the Infant in his arms, spoke, "Lord, <<o<<;Luke2, leltest Thou Thy servant depart in peace ; for mine eyes
have seen Thy salvation. " The Lord hath made known His
salvation. To whom did He make it known ? To a part,
or to the whole ? Not to any part specially. Let no man betray, no man deceive, no man say, Lo, here is Christ, Mat. 24, or there : the man who saith, Lo, Ho is here, or there, pointeth to some particular spots. To whom hath the Lord declared His salvation ? Hear what followeth : His righte-
438 God's mercy and truth to Israel, the people that see Him.
Psalm ousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. -- 'Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the right hand of
1 Cor.
13John 3, 2.
God, the arm of God, the salvation of God, and the righte ousness of God.
8. Ver. 3. He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. What meaneth this, He hath remembered His mercy and truth ? He hath pitied, so that He promised; because He promised and shewed His mercy, truth hath followed : mercy hath gone before promise,
promise hath been fulfilled in truth. He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. And what ? only to Jacob ? and only to the house of Israel ? The house of the Jews and that offspring of Abraham accord ing to the flesh, is wont to be called the house of Israel, and Israel is Jacob. For Jacob was Isaac's son, and Isaac him self was Abraham's son. Jacob therefore was the grandson of Abraham; and Jacob had twelve sons, and of these twelve sons descended the whole race of the Jews. Was Christ promised to them only ? If thou reflect what is Israel, Christ is promised unto Israel. Israel meaneth ' seeing God. ' We shall see Him face to face, if only we now see Him by faith. Let our faith have eyes, and its truth shall be displayed: let us believe in Him Whom we see not, and rejoicing we shall see; let us long for Him we have not seen, and we shall enjoy Him seen. Now therefore is it Israel by faith : but
then Israel face to face. No longer through a glass darkly; kut as 't *s sa^ k-v John, Beloved, now are we the sons of God ; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him ; for we shall see Him as He is. Prepare ye your hearts for this vision, prepare your souls for this joy : just as if God willed to shew the sun, He would warn us to make ready the eyes of the flesh; but because He deigneth to shew you the
fashion of His Wisdom, prepare the eyes of your heart. Matt. 6, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
He hath remembered His mercy unto Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. Who is this Israel? That ye may not perchance think of one nation of the Jews, hear what followeth : All the ends of the world have seen the miration of our God. It is not said, all the earth : but, all
Harp of works with song of praise. Beaten trumpets. 439
the ends of the world: as it is said, from one end to the Ver. other. Let no man cut this down, let uo man scatter it 4~6' abroad; strong is the uuity of Christ. He who gave so
great a price, hath bought the whole : All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
4. Ver. 4. Because they have seen, then, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands Ye already know what it is to make a joyful noise. Rejoice, and speak. If ye cannot express your joy, shout ye; let the shout manifest your joy, if your speech cannot : yet let not joy be mute ; let not your heart be silent respecting its God, let it not be mute concerning His gifts. If thou speakest to thyself, unto thyself art thou healed ; if His right hand hath healed thee for Him, speak thou unto Him for Whom thou hast been healed. All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands; sing, rejoice, and make melody.
5. Ver. 5. Make melody unto the Lord upon the harp : on the harp and with the voice of a Psalm. Praise Him not with the voice only ; take up works, that ye may not only , sing, but work also. He who singeth and worketh, maketh melody with psaltery and upon the harp.
8. Ver. 6. Now see what sort of instruments are next spoken of, in figure : With ductile trumpets also, and the . sound of the pipe of horn. What are ductile trumpets, and pipes of horn ? Ductile trumpets are of brass: they are drawn out by hammering; if by hammering, by being beaten,
ye shall be ductile trumpets, drawn out unto the praise of God, if ye improve when in tribulation : tribulation is ham mering, improvement is the being drawn out. Job was a ductile trumpet, when suddenly assailed by the heaviest losses, and the death of his sons, become like a ductile trumpet by the beating of so heavy tribulation, he sounded
thus: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; J0b 1, blessed be the name of the Lord. How did He sound ? 21 . How pleasantly doth his voice sound ? This ductile trumpet
is still under the hammer: he is given into Satan's power,
so that even his flesh might be struck ; it is struck : it beginneth to be corrupted and to be covered with worms.
Eve placed ready for his seduction from God, his wife, kept
440 Job and St. Paul, as beaten trumpets, sound bravely.
Psalm for the service of the devil, and not for her husband's -comfort, suggesteth blasphemy ; he complieth not. The Gen. 3, Adam in Paradise obeyed Eve : the Adam on the dunghill repelleth Eve. For Job was sitting on a dunghill, while his flesh was running and wasting with worms ! Better was Job in his rottenness, than he that was whole in Paradise. But as yet she was Eve, he was not Adam. He answered Eve, prepared thus to deceive and tempt him : (we have heard how this trumpet was beaten. The devil struck him with a terrible disease from head to foot; and, covered with worms, he sat upon a dunghill. We have heard how he
Joh 2, 1--11.
was hammered ; let us hear how he soundeth : let us, if it please you, hear the sweet sound of this ductile trumpet:) Thou speakest, he said, as one of the foolish women speaketh. ff/flat I shaft we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? O courageous, O sweet sound ! whom
will not that sound awake from sleep ? whom will not confidence in God awake, to march to battle fearlessly against the devil; not to struggle with his own strength, but His Who proveth him. For He it is Who bammereth : for the hammer could not do so of itself. Of the devil's future punishment the Prophet maketh mention, and sailh,
Jer. 60, The hammer of the whole earth is cut asunder and broken.
23-
He meant the devil to be understood by the hammer of the whole earth. By means of this hammer placed in the hand of God, that is, in His power, the ductile trumpets are beaten out, that they may re-echo His praises. . See bow (I dare so speak, my brethren) eIven the Apostle was beaten
2 Cor. with this very hammer : Lest
12 ' 7 "10 'above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there teas given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me. Behold he is under the hammer: l/ot us hear how he speaketh of it : For this thing, he saith,
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart me. from
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : for My strength is made perfect in weakness. I, saith His Maker, wish to make this trumpet perfect; I canuot do so unless I hammer it; in weakness is strength made perfect. Hear noIw the ductile trumpet Iitself sounding as it should;
When
am weak, then am
strong. And the
Apostle
should be exalted, he saith,
Horn trumpets, they that rise above theflesh. 44 1 himself, as if clinging to Christ, clinging to that right hand Ver.
which holdeth the hammer to draw out the trumpet, placed -- in that right hand himself with the same hammer ; as he
:-- saith of some, Whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they\ Tim.
may learn not to blaspheme. He gave them up to be beaten with the hammer. They sounded ill before they were beaten out; when hammered upon, and made ductile trumpets, leaving off blasphemy, they sounded the praises of the Lord. These are the ductile trumpets.
' 20-
7. The voice of the pipe of horn, what is it ? The horn riseth above the flesh : in rising above the flesh it needs must be solid so as to last, and able to speak. And whence this ?
Because it hath surpassed the flesh. He who wisheth
to be a horn trumpet, let him overcome the flesh. What meaneth this, let him overcome the. flesh ? Let him surpass the desires, let him conquer the lusts of the flesh. Hear the horn trumpets : If ye then be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle, seek those things which are above, where Christ ' sitleth at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. What meaneth this, Set your affection on things above ? It meaneth, Rise
above the flesh, think not of carnal things. They were not
yet horn trumpets, to whom he now spoke thus: / could iCor. 1, not speak unto you, brethren, as unto sIpiritual, but as unto i--U. '
carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it : neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal. They were not therefore horn trumpets, because they had not risen above the flesh. Horn both adhereth to the flesh, and riseth above the flesh ; and although it springeth from the flesh, yet it surpasseth it. If therefore thou art spiritual, when before thou wast carnal; as yet thou art treading the earth in the flesh, but in spirit thou art rising into heaven : for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. Let not us pass by this, brethren, unto whom the Apostle spoke. What did he say unto them, by which he proved that they were carnal,
and had carnal lusts, aud wereI not as yet become horn
/rumpets? For while one saith,
am Paul: and another, ICor. 1, of
t
r Twr 12- 3 ' 4.
am Apollos: are ye not carnal ? Who then is Paul,^ of
have you with fed
Coloss.
The ' sea" raging, spiritual 'flood*' still rejoice.
l* ^polios, but ministers of God, by whom ye I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. He therefore wisheth them to be raised from
the hope which they had placed in man, and to reach the spiritual things of Christ ; in order that they might be horn trumpets, if they could conquer the flesh. Brethren, do not reproach brethren whom the mercy of God hath not yet converted; know that as long as ye do this, ye savour of the flesh. That is not a trumpet which pleaseth the ears of God: the trumpet of boastfulness maketh the war fruit less. Let the horn trumpet raise thy courage against the devil ; let not the fleshly trumpet raise thy pride against thy brother. With ductile trumpets, and in the voice of Hie trumpet of horn, make a joyful noise in the sight of the Lord the King.
8. Ver. 7, 8. While ye are rejoicing, and delighted with the ductile trumpets, and the voice of the horn, what followeth ? Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof. Brethren, when the Apostles, like ductile trumpets and horns, were preaching the truth, the sea was stirred up, its waves arose, tempests increased, persecutions of the Church took place. Whence hath the sea been stirred up ? When a joyful noise was made, when Psalms of thanksgiving were being sung before God : the ears of God were pleased, the waves of the sea were raised. Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof: the round world, and all that dwell therein. Let the sea be stirred up in its persecutions. Let the floods clap their hands together. Let the sea be aroused, and the floods clap their hands together; persecutions arise, and the saints rejoice in God. Whence shall the floods clap their hands? What is to clap their hands? To rejoice in works. To clap hands, is to rejoice; hands, mean works. What floods? Those whom God hath made floods, by giving them that
John 7, Water, the Holy Spirit. Ifany man thirst, saith He, let 37--39. fom come UHi0 ]\fC, ana- drink. He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. These rivers
clapped their hands, these rivers rejoiced in works, and blessed God.
9. The hillsshall bejoyful together, (ver. 9. ) Before the Lord,
442
xf vn" ana^ believed?
Hills of righteousness glad of the Righteous Judge. 443
for He is come; for He is come to judge the earth. *Hie hills Ver. signify the great. The Lord cometh to judge the earth, and ------ they rejoice. But there are hills, who, when the Lord is coming to judge the earth, shall tremble. There are there
fore good and evil hills; the good hills, are spiritual great ness; the bad hills, are the swelling of pride. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is come ; for He is come to judge the earth. Wherefore shall He come, and how shall He come ? For He is come to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity. Let the hills therefore rejoice ; for He shall not judge unrighteously. When some man is coming as a judge, to whom the conscience cannot lie open, even innocent men may tremble, if from him they expect a reward for
virtue, or fear the penalty of condemnation ; when He shall come who cannot be deceived, let the hills rejoice, let them rejoice fearlessly ; they shall be enlightened by Him, not condemned; let them rejoice, because the Lord will come to
judge the world with equity; and if the righteous hills re joice, let the unrighteous tremble. But behold, He hath not yet come : what need is there they should tremble ? Let them mend their ways, and rejoice. It is in thy power in
what way thou wiliest to await the coming of Christ. For this reason He delayeth to come, that when He cometh He may not condemn thee. Lo, He hath not yet come: He is in heaven, thou on earth : He delayeth His coming, do not thou delay wisdom. His coming is hard to the hard of heart, soft to the pious. See therefore even now what thou art : if hard of heart, thou canst soften ; if thou art soft, even now rejoice that He will come. For thou art a Christian. Yea, thou sayest. I believe that thou prayest, and sayest,
Thy kingdom come. Thou desirest Him to come, Whose Matt, a, coming thou fearest. Reform thyself, that thou mayest not
pray against thyself.
444 Christforeshewn, the true Key to the Old Testament.
PSALM XCIX. A Sermon to the people.
1. Beloved brethren, it ought already to be known to you, as sons of the Church, and well instructed in the school of Christ through all the books of our ancient Fathers, who wrote the words of God and the great things of God, that their wish was to consult for our good, who were to live at
this period, believers in Christ ; Who, at a seasonable time came unto us, the first time, in humility; at the second, destined to come in exaltation. For at the first time He came to stand before the j udge : He will afterwards come to sit as Judge, that the human race may stand before Him according to its deserts. Many heralds went before Him : as before a mighty Judge, and that Judge as yet to come in humility. Many heralds went before Him, Who was yet to be born of the Virgin Mary, Who was yet to be an Infant, yet to suck milk ; many heralds went before Him Who was to be a Child, the Word of God by Whom all things were made, and announced these future times; but they spoke so as to cover their meaning under certain figures of other objects, and that the covering which concealed the truth in the books of the old prophets, might then be removed, when the Truth Itself should arise from the earth. For thus it is said in the Psalms: Truth shall flourish out of the earth: and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. Now, therefore, our whole design when we hear a Psalm, a Prophet, or the Law, all of which was written before our Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, to see Christ there, to understand Christ there. Attend therefore, beloved, to this Psalm, with me, and let us herein seek Christ; certainly He will appear to those who seek Him, Who at first appeared to those who sought Him not; and He will not desert those who long for Him, Who redeemed those who neglected Him. Behold,-the Psalm beginneth concerning Him of Him said
2. Ver. The Lord King, be the peojile angry. For our Lord Jesus Christ began to reign, began to be preached, after He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, after He
1.
is,
is
:
it is
:
Rage of idolaters against the kingdom of Christ. 445
had filled His disciples with the confidence of the Holy Ver. Spirit, that they should not fear death, which He had ------ already killed in Himself. Our Lord Christ began then to
be preached, that they who wished for salvation might believe in Him; and the peoples who worshipped idols
were angry. They who worshipped what they had made were angry, because He by Whom they were made was declared. He announced, in fact, through His disciples, Himself, Who wished them to be converted unto Him by Whom they were made, and to be turned away from those things which they had made themselves. They were angry with their Lord in behalf of their idols, they who even if they were angry with their slave on their idol's account, were to be condemned. For their slave was better than their idol : for God made their slave, the carpenter made their idol. They were so angry in their idol's behalf, that they feared not to be angry with their Lord. But the words, be they angry, are a prediction, not a command ; for in a pro phecy it is that this is said, The Lord is King, be the
people angry. Some good resulteth even from the enraged
people : let them be angry, and in their anger let the Martyrs
be crowned. What did they do to the preachers of the
Word of Truth, those the clouds of God travelling around
the world, and raining upon the field of God? What did
the angry people unto them, except afflict their flesh with
their hands, and cause their spirit to be crowned by the
hands of Christ? Nor did even that flesh, which the perse
cutors had power to kill, so die as to perish for ever : for it
will have its season when even itself may arise again : for
our Lord hath already shewn the resurrection of the flesh in Himself. For this reason He was willing to receive it from
us, that we might not despair of our own. Therefore, brethren, the flesh of those servants, which the worshippers of
idols slew, will rise again in its own time : never more will carpenter fashion the idols that Christ broke. Ye heard
when Jeremiah was being read before the reading of the Apostle, if ye listened ; ye saw therein the times in which we
now live. He said, The gods that have not made the Jer. 10, heavens and the earth, let them perish from the earth, and11,
from under the heaven. He said not, The gods that have
446 Destruction of idols. Christ's reign and seat.
Psalm not made the heavens and earth, let them perish from the XC1X' heaven and from the earth ; because they never were in heaven : but what did he say ? The gods that have not made heaven and earth, let them perish from the earth, and from under the heaven. As while the word earth was repeated, the repetition of the word heaven were wanting, (because they never were in heaven he repeateth the earth twice, since under heaven. Let them perish from the
earth, and from under the heaven, from their temples. Consider this be not now taking place in a great measure hath not already happened for what, or how much, hath remained? The idols remained rather in the hearts of the pagans, than in the niches of the temples.
Therefore, the Lord King, be the people angry He Who silteth between the cherubims: thou dost understand, He King let the earth be stirred up. He repeateth, Be
the people stirred up. For the word, Lord, repeated in the expression, He Who silteth between the cherubim the words, King, he maketh us understand in the next verse and the words, be the people angry, are here repeated, in the following, Be the earth stirred up. For what are people, but the earth Let the earth be as angry as can with Him Who now sitting in the heavens. For the Lord was both upon the earth, and took upon Himself eaith in which to
abide when on earth. He clothed Himself with flesh, and chose first to suffer the angry people. That His servants might not fear the anger of the people, He chose first to suffer Himself: and as the anger of the people against His servants was necessary for them, that they might be cured, and healed from all their sins by means of tribulations the Physician first drank the bitter cup, that the sick man might not fear to drink it. Therefore, The Lord King, let the
be angry. Let the people be angry, because by their anger God hath wrought many blessings. They are impatient, and God's servants are cleansed; they are crowned, who are tried. Be the people angry; He Who sitteth be tween the cherubims, He King be the earth stirred up. The Cherubim the seat of God, as the Scripture sheweth us, certain exalted heavenly throne, which we see not;
but the Word of God knoweth knoweth as His own
people
it,
if, :)
it
if
a
is is
3.
is
is :
is
is
it
is
:
;
it
is
?
;:: :
:
it if
is
it
The Cherubim. Love, the true ' Fulness of Knowledge. ' 447
seat: and the Word of God and the Spirit of God hath Ver. Itself revealed to the servants of God where God sitteth. ----- Not that God doth sit, as doth man ; but thou, if thou dost
wish that God sit in thee, if thou wilt be good, shalt be
the seat of God; for thus is it written, The soul of thePl? y- righteous is the seat of wisdom. For a throne is in our 12 ' 23 language called a seat. For some, conversant with the Hebrew tongue, have interpreted cherubim in the Latin language (for it is a Hebrew term) by the words, fulness of knowledge. Therefore, because God surpasseth all know ledge, He is said to sit above the fulness of knowledge.
Let there be therefore in thee fulness of knowledge, and
even thou shalt be the throne of God. But perhaps thou
wast about to say, and when shall there be in me fulness
of knowledge? And who can attain such a height, that
there may be in him fulness of knowledge. Thinkest thou
it is the will of God that there be in us that fulness of know
ledge, that we may know either how many stars, or grains of
wheat, (not to say of sand,) there are, or how many apples
hang on a tree ? He knoweth all things: for our hairs are Mat. 10,
numbered before God. But the fulness of knowledge which30'
He willed mau to know is different from this; the know
ledge which He willed thee to have, pertaineth to the law of
God. And who can, thou mayest perhaps say unto me, perfectly know the Law, so that he may have within himself
the fulness of the knowledge of the Law, and be able to
be the seat of God? Be not disturbed; it is briefly told
thee what thou hast, if thou dost wish to have the fulness
of knowledge, and to become the throne of God: for the Apostle saith, Love is the fulfilling of the Law. WhatRoni l3, followeth then ? Thou hast lost the whole of thine excuse.
Ask thine heart ; see whether it hath love. If there be love there, there is the fulfilment of the Law there also ; already God dwelletl) in thee, thou hast become the throne of God. Be the people angry; what can the angry people do against him who hath become the throne of God ? Thou givest heed unto them who rage against thee : Who is it That sitteth within thee, thou givest not heed. Thou art become a heaven, and fearest thou the earth ? For the Scripture saith in another passage, that the Lord our God doth declare,
448 How to have a right in the name ' Sion. '
Psalm The heaven is My throne. If therefore even thou by having jH gg i- the fulness of knowledge, and by having love, hast been made the throne of God, thou hast become a heaven. For this heaven which we look up to with these eyes of ours, is not very precious before God. Holy souls are the heaven of God ; the minds of the Angels, and all the minds of His
servants, are the heaven of God. Be the people, therefore, angry. Be the earth stirred up ; what can they do, or what can it do, to the throne of God, and to the heaven whereon God is enthroned ?
4. Ver. 2. The Lord is great in Sion, and high above all people. Lo, if the words, He Who silteth above the Cherubims, were obscure to thee, thou wast ignorant what Cherubim is; and perhaps thou didst figure to thyself in mind some heavenly throne, vast, and- jewelled, and didst call it Cherubim, fluttering among phantasms in thy carnal sense ; and it was said to thee, that fulness of knowledge, not of every knowledge, but of the knowledge of the Law, is profitable for man ; and that thou shouldest not despair of
Bom. 13, this very knowledge of the Law, it is briefly told thee, Love
'"?
is the fulfilling of the Law. Have, therefore, love unto God, and unto thy neighbour, and thou shalt be a throne of God ; thou shalt belong to the Cherubim. But if thou dost not yet understand, hear what followeth : The Lord is great in Sion. He Whom I spoke to thee of as above the Cherubims, is great in Sion. Ask thou now, what is Sion ? We know Sion to be the city of God. The city of Jeru salem is called Sion ; and is so called according to a certain interpretation, for that Sion signifieth watching, that is, sight and contemplation ; for to watch is to look forward to, or gaze upon, or strain the eyes to see. Now every soul is a Sion, if it trieth to see that light which is to be seen. For if it shall have gazed upon a light of its own, it is darkened; if upon His, it is enlightened. But, now that it is clear that Sion is the city of God ; what is the city of God, but the Holy Church ? For men who love one another, and who love their God Who dwelleth in them, constitute a city unto God. Because a city is held together by some law ; their very law is Love ; and that very Love is God : for openly
iJohn4,it is written, God is Love. He therefore who is full of Love,
Heathens angry that Christiansfast while they sport. 449
is full of God ; and many, full of love, constitute a city full
of God. That city of God is called Sion ; the Church 2-
therefore is Sion. In it God is great. Be thou in
God shall not be apart from thee. And when God shall be in thee, because thou hast become citizen of Sion, a member of Sion, belonging to the society of the people of God; God will be high in thee, above all people, above those who are enraged, or above those who have enraged. For do ye imagine that they were then enraged,
and are not now enraged They were then enraged but because they were more numerous, they were enraged openly now that they have dwindled into few, they are enraged secretly. In the meantime, their boldness hath been broken their rage also shall have an end.
5. For do ye imagine, brethren, that they whose instru ments re-echoed yesterday, are not angry with our fastings But let us not be angry with them, but let us fast for them.
For the Lord our God Who sitteth in us hath said, He hath Himself commanded us to pray for our enemies, to pray for Matt. them that persecute us: and as the Church doth this, the44- persecutors are almost extinct. For she was heard when
she did this, and she still heard when she doth it: they
prevailed to their evil, they have been brought to an end to their good. But do yc wish to know how they were brought to an end They were eaten up by the Church. Thou seekest them in themselves, and findest them not seek for them in her who hath eaten them up, and they are discovered in her entrails.
