Thou seest some one living ill thou
endurest
him for thou knowest
not of what sort he will prove to be; since night; whether he who to-day liveth ill, to-morrow may live well
and whether he who to-day liveth well, to-morrow may be wicked.
not of what sort he will prove to be; since night; whether he who to-day liveth ill, to-morrow may live well
and whether he who to-day liveth well, to-morrow may be wicked.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v4
What is, departeth from thee followeth thee not.
What is, followeth thee not doth not imitate thee.
Therefore, when the wicked man departed
from me, that is, when the wicked man was unlike me, and was unwilling to imitate my paths, was unwilling in his wickedness to live as had proposed myself for his imita tion knew him not. What meaneth, knew him not Not that was ignorant of him, but that did not approve him.
Ver. 6. Whoso privily slandered his neighbour, him persecuted. Behold the righteous persecutor, not of the man, but of the sin. With the proud eye, and the insatiable
? Ben. suggests that he may mean those who wished the Bishops to pervert justice fur them.
never knew you : depart Me, from
ye
neverknew ? I
you acknowledge you
But what meaneth,
not in My rule. For I know the rule of My righteousness : ye agree not with ye have turned aside from ye are crooked. Therefore He said here also knew him not.
say not, -
I
8.
;/ I
I
/
?
it
:/
I
? ?
is
>>.
I :
it,
is
a
it is
I a
a
it,
490 Not eating with the proud, is not literal.
Psalm heart, I did not feed. What meaneth, / did not feed with ? -- I did not eat in common with such. Attend, beloved ; since
ye are about to hear something wonderful. If he did not feed with this man, he did not eat with him ; for to feed is to eat; how is it then that we find our Lord Himself eating with the proud? It was not only with those pub licans and sinners, for they were humble : for they ac knowledged their weakness, and asked for the physician. We find that He ate with the proud Pharisees themselves. For a certain proud man had invited Him : it was the same who was displeased because a sinning woman, one of ill repute in the city, approached the feet of our Lord; and he said in his heart ; (for such was the purity of the Pharisees, that no wicked person was to touch them ; if any unclean person had even slightly touched them, they shuddered, lest the unclean touch should render them in a manner unclean ;) when therefore this sinner came to weep at the Lord's feet, and he saw her, he said in his
Luke 7, heart; This Man, ifHe were a -prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that hath come to His feet. How did he know that Jesus knew not, unless he suspected that He knew not, because He repelled not the woman? Because if it had been himself, he would repel the womau from him. But the Lord not only knew that the woman was a sinner, but the Physician also saw that the wounds of that proud man were incurable. For when He had heard him thinking, He said, in ordIer that He might
Luke 7, shew how proud that man was ; Simon, *? '
have somewhat to say unto thee: Tliere was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed him fifty pence, and the other five
hundred: and when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me, then, which ofthem loved Him most ? And the man gave his opinion against himself, the
Truth extorting confession from him: /
he to whom he forgave most. And He turned to theIwoman,
and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman?
into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet : but she hath washed My feet with tears: and the rest as ye know ; we need not dwell further on the account, more than what we have mentioned for our purpose. That Pharisee
suppose, Sir, that
entered
Eating with others, sharing their satisfactions. 491
was proud the Lord ate with him what therefore that Ver. he saith With a proud eye, and an insatiable heart, with ------ such an one did not eat. How doth He enjoin unto us
what Ho hath not done Himself? He exhorteth us to
imitate Himself we see that He ate with the proud how
doth He forbid us to eat with the proud? We indeed, brethren, for the sake of reproof, abstain from communion
with our brethren, and do not eat with them, that they
may be reformed We rather eat with strangers, with Pagans, than with those who hold with us, we have seen
that they live wickedly, that they may be ashamed, and amend; as the Apostle saith, And any man obey not our
word this Epistle, note that man, and have no company
with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as
an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. For the sake of healing others we usually do this but nevertheless we often eat with many strangers and ungodly men.
9. What that he saith, With a proud eye, and insatiable heart, with such an one did not eat? The pious heart hath its banquets, the proud heart hath its
for was on account of the food of the proud heart, that he said, with an insatiable heart. How the proud heart fed If man proud, he envious other
wise cannot be. Pride the mother of enviousness
cannot but generate and ever coexist with it. Every proud man is, therefore, envious envious, he feedeth on
the misfortunes of others. Whence the Apostle saith, But Gal.
banquets
ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed of one another. Ye see them, then, eating: eat not with these fly such banquets for they cannot satisfy themselves with rejoicing in others' evils, because their hearts are insatiable. Beware thou art not caught in their feasts by the devil's noose. On such meat the Jews feasted, when they crucified our Lord that is, they fed in manner on His punishment. (For we also feed on the Lord's Cross, since we eat His Body. ) For they said, when they saw Him hanging on the cross, insulting Him, since they were insatiable in heart they said, If He the Son of God, let
16-
Mat. 27, Him come down from the Cross He saved others, Himself40' 42,
He cannot save. They were feeding on the meat of their
Thess.
;
is
:
:
if I
;
if
;
;
;
a
:
:
it
it : ?
if
it 6,
'2 1
it,
a
it
:
by
is
is
is,
?
is
if
is it
is :
;
is I
?
:
492 The wicked snared in their table. The faithful sit with Christ
Psalm own cruelty, and He was feeding on the meat of His own Lute^3 mercy. Father, He saith, forgive them; for they know not 34. 'what they do. They therefore had one, He another, sort of
feast. But hear what is said of the table of the proud : Let their table be made a snare before themselves, and let the things that should have been for their wealth, be
unto them a recompense and an occasion to them for falling. They fed, they were taken. Just as birds feed at the trap, or fishes at the hook, they were taken, when they fed. The ungodly therefore have their own feasts, the godly also have
Matt. 6, theirs. Hear the feasts of the godly: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
If therefore the godly eateth the meat of righteous ness, and the ungodly of pride ; it is no wonder if he is insatiable in heart. He eateth the meat of iniquity : do not eat the meat of iniquity, and the proud in eye, and the insatiable in heart, eateth not with thee.
10. Ver. 8. And whence wast thou fed? And what pleased thee, when he did not eat with thee ? Mine eyes, he saith, were upon such as are faithful in the land, that they might sit with me. The Lord saith, Mine eyes were upon the faithful in the land, that they might sit with Me. That is, that with Me they might be seated>>. In what sense are they to sit ? Ye shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The faithful of the earth judge, for
Mat. 19,to them it is said, Know ye not, that we shall judge angels?
28,
l Cor. '
Mine eyes were upon such as are faithful in the land, that they might sit with me. Whoso walketh in a spotless way, he ministered unto me. To Me, he saith, not to himself. For many minister the Gospel, but unto themselves; because
filled.
Phil. 2, they seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ. What is to serve Christ? To seek the things of Christ. And indeed when wicked men teach the Gospel, others are
Mat. 23, saved, they are punished. For it is said : Whatsoever they
3'
bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works. Fear not then, when thou hearest the Gospel from a wicked man. Woe unto him who serveth himself, that who seeketh his own things therein do thou receive
" Mecum sederent," there was an ambiguity in contideren1, as written.
?
is,
:
The wicked to be destroyed in the ' morning' ofjudgment. 493
the words of Christ. Whoso leadeth a qodlii life, he shall be Ver.
10. 11.
qf my house. Understand this of the heart. The proud did
not dwell in my heart : no such dwelt in my heart : for he hurried away from me. None but the meek and peaceful
dwelt in my heart; the proud dwelt not there, for the un righteous one dwelleth not in the heart of the righteous.
Let the righteous be distant from thee, I know not how
many miles and 'stations ; ye dwell together, if ye have one 1 mansi- heart. Tlie proud doer hath not dwelt in the midst of myomba* house: he that speuketh unjust things hath not directed in
y
my sewant.
11. Ver. 10. Tlie proud man hath not dwelt in the midst
the sight of my eyes. This is the spotless way, where we understand when the Lord comethI unto us.
12. Ver. 11. In the morning
that were in the land. This is obscure : be so good as toI attend : it is near the end of the Psalm. In the morning destroyed all the ungodly that were in the land. Wherefore?
Hiat I
Lord. There are then wicked doers in the city of the Lord, and they at present, seemingly, spared. Why so ? Because
may root out all wicked doers the city the from of
it is the season of mercy: but that of judgment will come; for the Psalm thus began, Of mercy and Judgment will I sing unto Thee, O Lord. He said above, that none but the righteous cleaved unto him. He clave not to the wicked, nor was he pleased with the feasts of iniquity of those who served themselves, not their Lord ; that is, sought their own interests ; and as if he were asked : How then hast thou so long endured such persons in thy city? It is, he replieth, the season of mercy. What meaneth, the season of mercy? Judgment hath not yet been revealed : it is night ; day will appear, judgment will appear. Hear the Apostle:
Therefore judge nothing before the time. What is, before the time?
Before day. Hear that he meant before day: Until the1Cor- Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things qf ' darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts: and
then shall every man have praise of God. For at present,
since thou seest not my heart, and I see not thine, it is night. Thou hast asked something of a man : thou hast not received: thou believest thyself despised; and perhaps thou art not
JJ
destroyed all the ungodly
494 In this night, Satan, the lion, seeks men as ' meatfrom God.
Psalm despised ; for thou seest not the heart ; and thou dost at C1' once blaspheme ; pardou must be given thee as thou art erring by night. Some man perhaps loveth thee : and thou
thinkest that he hateth thee ; or he hateth thee, and thou thinkest that he loveth thee: but be it what it may, it is night. Fear not : trust in Christ, in Him have day : thou canst not think any thing evil of Him, since we are secure, and certain, that He cannot be deceived : He loveth us. But we are not as yet sure of one another. For God knoweth our love for one another : but we, although we lore one another, who knoweth with what mind our intercourse is carried on ? How is it that no man seeth the heart ? Because it is night. In this night temptations abound. The Psalm
ps. 104, seemeth to speak of this same night : Thou makes I darkness, 20' 8 ' that it may be night : wherein all the beasts of the forests
will move. The lion's whelps roaring after their prey, and to seek their meat from God. The lion's whelps seek their prey at night. Who are the lion's whelps? The princes
Eph. 2, and powers of the air, fiends and angels of the devil. How do they seek their prey ? When they tempt. But because they approach not, unless God hath given them power ; for that reason it is said, they seek their meat from God. The devil sought Job, to tempt him. What sort of meal ? Rich, fat, the righteous one of God, unto whom God Himself bore
Joh 1,1. witness, calling him a perfect and an upright man; was a true worshipper of God. He sought him to be tempted, seeking food of God ; and he received him to be tempted, but not to be crushed ; to be purified, not to be overthrown ; or perhaps not even to be purified, but to be proved. Yet even they who are tempted, are sometimes delivered up from secret deservings of their own into the tempter's hands, since perhaps they have been delivered up to their own lusts. For the devil hurteth no man, unless he hath received power of God. But when ? at night. What is, at night ? in this season. But when night shall have passed away, and
Mat. 26,day arrived, the wicked are sent with him into eternal fire, and the righteous into life eternal. There, there will be no tempter, because there are no lion's whelps there : because the night hath passed. Thus our Lord saith to His discIiples,
This night Satan hath desired to vex you as wheat. But
have
They perish in the ' morning' who amend not in the ' night. ' 495
prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not. What is, to ver. . vex as wheat ? As wheat is not eaten by man, before it be ! i ground, so as to make bread ; so the devil eateth no man,
unless he hath first overthrown him by means of tribulation.
He bruiseth, that he may eat: but when thou art in tribula tion, if thou remain wheat, be not disturbed ; nothing shall befall thee. How ? When oxen thresh, do they enter in unto the wheat only ? They are sent into the floor together with the threshing engine But is any thing to be feared by the wheat ? Far from it. Nothing save the chaff is chopped up, the wheat is stripped of its incumbrances, and when the
Our day ought to be in Christ. For as long as
we are among temptations, it is night. In that night God spareth sinners, that He may not cut them off; He scourgeth them with temptations, that they may be amended; He endureth them in His city. Do we imagine He will alway endure them? If mercy is always, there is no judgment;
but will sing unto Thee, Lord, of mercy and judg-v. i. ment He at present spareth, He will then judge. But when
will He judge When night shall have passed away. For this reason He hath said In the morning destroyed all
the ungodly that were in the land. What meaneth, in the morning? When the day shall at last have arrived, night having passed by. In the morning destroyed all the ungodly that uere in the earth. Why doth He spare them until the dawn Because was night. What meaneth,
was night Because was the season for mercy He was merciful, while the hearts of men were hidden.
Thou seest some one living ill thou endurest him for thou knowest
not of what sort he will prove to be; since night; whether he who to-day liveth ill, to-morrow may live well
and whether he who to-day liveth well, to-morrow may be wicked. For night, and God endureth all men, since
He of long-suffering He endureth them, that sinners may
be converted unto Him. But they who shall not have reformed themsel ves in that season of mercy, shall be slain.
fanning cometh, it shall find the mass purified: whomsoever He findeth wheat, He shall send into His gamer, while He shall burn with inextinguishable fire the heap of chaff.
Matt. 3, 13. Why have I said this? Because we have day in 12-
hope.
is
; if, I
:
;
it
it ? is
?
it is
:
?
it
:I
I
; it
;
O
496 God sparelh now, but will at last destroy.
Psalm And wherefore? That they may be scattered abroad" from the city of the Lord, from the fellowship of Jerusalem, from M>>s. the fellowship of the Saints, from the fellowship of the dSrr, Church. But when shall they be slain ? At dawn. What
'de- meaneth, at dawn? When night shall have passed away, as be-^' Wherefore now doth he spare ? Because it is the season of
low.
mercy. Why doth He not always spare ? Because, Mercy and judgment will I sing unto Thee, 0 Lord. Brethren, let no man natter himself : all the doers of iniquity shall be slain ; Christ shall slay them at the dawn, and shall destroy them from His city. But now while it is the time of mercy, let them hear Him. Every where He crieth out by the Law, by the Prophets, by the Psalms, by the Epistles, by the Gospels: see that He is not silent; that He spareth; that He granteth mercy ; but beware, for the judgment will- come.
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from me, that is, when the wicked man was unlike me, and was unwilling to imitate my paths, was unwilling in his wickedness to live as had proposed myself for his imita tion knew him not. What meaneth, knew him not Not that was ignorant of him, but that did not approve him.
Ver. 6. Whoso privily slandered his neighbour, him persecuted. Behold the righteous persecutor, not of the man, but of the sin. With the proud eye, and the insatiable
? Ben. suggests that he may mean those who wished the Bishops to pervert justice fur them.
never knew you : depart Me, from
ye
neverknew ? I
you acknowledge you
But what meaneth,
not in My rule. For I know the rule of My righteousness : ye agree not with ye have turned aside from ye are crooked. Therefore He said here also knew him not.
say not, -
I
8.
;/ I
I
/
?
it
:/
I
? ?
is
>>.
I :
it,
is
a
it is
I a
a
it,
490 Not eating with the proud, is not literal.
Psalm heart, I did not feed. What meaneth, / did not feed with ? -- I did not eat in common with such. Attend, beloved ; since
ye are about to hear something wonderful. If he did not feed with this man, he did not eat with him ; for to feed is to eat; how is it then that we find our Lord Himself eating with the proud? It was not only with those pub licans and sinners, for they were humble : for they ac knowledged their weakness, and asked for the physician. We find that He ate with the proud Pharisees themselves. For a certain proud man had invited Him : it was the same who was displeased because a sinning woman, one of ill repute in the city, approached the feet of our Lord; and he said in his heart ; (for such was the purity of the Pharisees, that no wicked person was to touch them ; if any unclean person had even slightly touched them, they shuddered, lest the unclean touch should render them in a manner unclean ;) when therefore this sinner came to weep at the Lord's feet, and he saw her, he said in his
Luke 7, heart; This Man, ifHe were a -prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that hath come to His feet. How did he know that Jesus knew not, unless he suspected that He knew not, because He repelled not the woman? Because if it had been himself, he would repel the womau from him. But the Lord not only knew that the woman was a sinner, but the Physician also saw that the wounds of that proud man were incurable. For when He had heard him thinking, He said, in ordIer that He might
Luke 7, shew how proud that man was ; Simon, *? '
have somewhat to say unto thee: Tliere was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed him fifty pence, and the other five
hundred: and when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me, then, which ofthem loved Him most ? And the man gave his opinion against himself, the
Truth extorting confession from him: /
he to whom he forgave most. And He turned to theIwoman,
and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman?
into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet : but she hath washed My feet with tears: and the rest as ye know ; we need not dwell further on the account, more than what we have mentioned for our purpose. That Pharisee
suppose, Sir, that
entered
Eating with others, sharing their satisfactions. 491
was proud the Lord ate with him what therefore that Ver. he saith With a proud eye, and an insatiable heart, with ------ such an one did not eat. How doth He enjoin unto us
what Ho hath not done Himself? He exhorteth us to
imitate Himself we see that He ate with the proud how
doth He forbid us to eat with the proud? We indeed, brethren, for the sake of reproof, abstain from communion
with our brethren, and do not eat with them, that they
may be reformed We rather eat with strangers, with Pagans, than with those who hold with us, we have seen
that they live wickedly, that they may be ashamed, and amend; as the Apostle saith, And any man obey not our
word this Epistle, note that man, and have no company
with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as
an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. For the sake of healing others we usually do this but nevertheless we often eat with many strangers and ungodly men.
9. What that he saith, With a proud eye, and insatiable heart, with such an one did not eat? The pious heart hath its banquets, the proud heart hath its
for was on account of the food of the proud heart, that he said, with an insatiable heart. How the proud heart fed If man proud, he envious other
wise cannot be. Pride the mother of enviousness
cannot but generate and ever coexist with it. Every proud man is, therefore, envious envious, he feedeth on
the misfortunes of others. Whence the Apostle saith, But Gal.
banquets
ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed of one another. Ye see them, then, eating: eat not with these fly such banquets for they cannot satisfy themselves with rejoicing in others' evils, because their hearts are insatiable. Beware thou art not caught in their feasts by the devil's noose. On such meat the Jews feasted, when they crucified our Lord that is, they fed in manner on His punishment. (For we also feed on the Lord's Cross, since we eat His Body. ) For they said, when they saw Him hanging on the cross, insulting Him, since they were insatiable in heart they said, If He the Son of God, let
16-
Mat. 27, Him come down from the Cross He saved others, Himself40' 42,
He cannot save. They were feeding on the meat of their
Thess.
;
is
:
:
if I
;
if
;
;
;
a
:
:
it
it : ?
if
it 6,
'2 1
it,
a
it
:
by
is
is
is,
?
is
if
is it
is :
;
is I
?
:
492 The wicked snared in their table. The faithful sit with Christ
Psalm own cruelty, and He was feeding on the meat of His own Lute^3 mercy. Father, He saith, forgive them; for they know not 34. 'what they do. They therefore had one, He another, sort of
feast. But hear what is said of the table of the proud : Let their table be made a snare before themselves, and let the things that should have been for their wealth, be
unto them a recompense and an occasion to them for falling. They fed, they were taken. Just as birds feed at the trap, or fishes at the hook, they were taken, when they fed. The ungodly therefore have their own feasts, the godly also have
Matt. 6, theirs. Hear the feasts of the godly: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
If therefore the godly eateth the meat of righteous ness, and the ungodly of pride ; it is no wonder if he is insatiable in heart. He eateth the meat of iniquity : do not eat the meat of iniquity, and the proud in eye, and the insatiable in heart, eateth not with thee.
10. Ver. 8. And whence wast thou fed? And what pleased thee, when he did not eat with thee ? Mine eyes, he saith, were upon such as are faithful in the land, that they might sit with me. The Lord saith, Mine eyes were upon the faithful in the land, that they might sit with Me. That is, that with Me they might be seated>>. In what sense are they to sit ? Ye shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The faithful of the earth judge, for
Mat. 19,to them it is said, Know ye not, that we shall judge angels?
28,
l Cor. '
Mine eyes were upon such as are faithful in the land, that they might sit with me. Whoso walketh in a spotless way, he ministered unto me. To Me, he saith, not to himself. For many minister the Gospel, but unto themselves; because
filled.
Phil. 2, they seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ. What is to serve Christ? To seek the things of Christ. And indeed when wicked men teach the Gospel, others are
Mat. 23, saved, they are punished. For it is said : Whatsoever they
3'
bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works. Fear not then, when thou hearest the Gospel from a wicked man. Woe unto him who serveth himself, that who seeketh his own things therein do thou receive
" Mecum sederent," there was an ambiguity in contideren1, as written.
?
is,
:
The wicked to be destroyed in the ' morning' ofjudgment. 493
the words of Christ. Whoso leadeth a qodlii life, he shall be Ver.
10. 11.
qf my house. Understand this of the heart. The proud did
not dwell in my heart : no such dwelt in my heart : for he hurried away from me. None but the meek and peaceful
dwelt in my heart; the proud dwelt not there, for the un righteous one dwelleth not in the heart of the righteous.
Let the righteous be distant from thee, I know not how
many miles and 'stations ; ye dwell together, if ye have one 1 mansi- heart. Tlie proud doer hath not dwelt in the midst of myomba* house: he that speuketh unjust things hath not directed in
y
my sewant.
11. Ver. 10. Tlie proud man hath not dwelt in the midst
the sight of my eyes. This is the spotless way, where we understand when the Lord comethI unto us.
12. Ver. 11. In the morning
that were in the land. This is obscure : be so good as toI attend : it is near the end of the Psalm. In the morning destroyed all the ungodly that were in the land. Wherefore?
Hiat I
Lord. There are then wicked doers in the city of the Lord, and they at present, seemingly, spared. Why so ? Because
may root out all wicked doers the city the from of
it is the season of mercy: but that of judgment will come; for the Psalm thus began, Of mercy and Judgment will I sing unto Thee, O Lord. He said above, that none but the righteous cleaved unto him. He clave not to the wicked, nor was he pleased with the feasts of iniquity of those who served themselves, not their Lord ; that is, sought their own interests ; and as if he were asked : How then hast thou so long endured such persons in thy city? It is, he replieth, the season of mercy. What meaneth, the season of mercy? Judgment hath not yet been revealed : it is night ; day will appear, judgment will appear. Hear the Apostle:
Therefore judge nothing before the time. What is, before the time?
Before day. Hear that he meant before day: Until the1Cor- Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things qf ' darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts: and
then shall every man have praise of God. For at present,
since thou seest not my heart, and I see not thine, it is night. Thou hast asked something of a man : thou hast not received: thou believest thyself despised; and perhaps thou art not
JJ
destroyed all the ungodly
494 In this night, Satan, the lion, seeks men as ' meatfrom God.
Psalm despised ; for thou seest not the heart ; and thou dost at C1' once blaspheme ; pardou must be given thee as thou art erring by night. Some man perhaps loveth thee : and thou
thinkest that he hateth thee ; or he hateth thee, and thou thinkest that he loveth thee: but be it what it may, it is night. Fear not : trust in Christ, in Him have day : thou canst not think any thing evil of Him, since we are secure, and certain, that He cannot be deceived : He loveth us. But we are not as yet sure of one another. For God knoweth our love for one another : but we, although we lore one another, who knoweth with what mind our intercourse is carried on ? How is it that no man seeth the heart ? Because it is night. In this night temptations abound. The Psalm
ps. 104, seemeth to speak of this same night : Thou makes I darkness, 20' 8 ' that it may be night : wherein all the beasts of the forests
will move. The lion's whelps roaring after their prey, and to seek their meat from God. The lion's whelps seek their prey at night. Who are the lion's whelps? The princes
Eph. 2, and powers of the air, fiends and angels of the devil. How do they seek their prey ? When they tempt. But because they approach not, unless God hath given them power ; for that reason it is said, they seek their meat from God. The devil sought Job, to tempt him. What sort of meal ? Rich, fat, the righteous one of God, unto whom God Himself bore
Joh 1,1. witness, calling him a perfect and an upright man; was a true worshipper of God. He sought him to be tempted, seeking food of God ; and he received him to be tempted, but not to be crushed ; to be purified, not to be overthrown ; or perhaps not even to be purified, but to be proved. Yet even they who are tempted, are sometimes delivered up from secret deservings of their own into the tempter's hands, since perhaps they have been delivered up to their own lusts. For the devil hurteth no man, unless he hath received power of God. But when ? at night. What is, at night ? in this season. But when night shall have passed away, and
Mat. 26,day arrived, the wicked are sent with him into eternal fire, and the righteous into life eternal. There, there will be no tempter, because there are no lion's whelps there : because the night hath passed. Thus our Lord saith to His discIiples,
This night Satan hath desired to vex you as wheat. But
have
They perish in the ' morning' who amend not in the ' night. ' 495
prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not. What is, to ver. . vex as wheat ? As wheat is not eaten by man, before it be ! i ground, so as to make bread ; so the devil eateth no man,
unless he hath first overthrown him by means of tribulation.
He bruiseth, that he may eat: but when thou art in tribula tion, if thou remain wheat, be not disturbed ; nothing shall befall thee. How ? When oxen thresh, do they enter in unto the wheat only ? They are sent into the floor together with the threshing engine But is any thing to be feared by the wheat ? Far from it. Nothing save the chaff is chopped up, the wheat is stripped of its incumbrances, and when the
Our day ought to be in Christ. For as long as
we are among temptations, it is night. In that night God spareth sinners, that He may not cut them off; He scourgeth them with temptations, that they may be amended; He endureth them in His city. Do we imagine He will alway endure them? If mercy is always, there is no judgment;
but will sing unto Thee, Lord, of mercy and judg-v. i. ment He at present spareth, He will then judge. But when
will He judge When night shall have passed away. For this reason He hath said In the morning destroyed all
the ungodly that were in the land. What meaneth, in the morning? When the day shall at last have arrived, night having passed by. In the morning destroyed all the ungodly that uere in the earth. Why doth He spare them until the dawn Because was night. What meaneth,
was night Because was the season for mercy He was merciful, while the hearts of men were hidden.
Thou seest some one living ill thou endurest him for thou knowest
not of what sort he will prove to be; since night; whether he who to-day liveth ill, to-morrow may live well
and whether he who to-day liveth well, to-morrow may be wicked. For night, and God endureth all men, since
He of long-suffering He endureth them, that sinners may
be converted unto Him. But they who shall not have reformed themsel ves in that season of mercy, shall be slain.
fanning cometh, it shall find the mass purified: whomsoever He findeth wheat, He shall send into His gamer, while He shall burn with inextinguishable fire the heap of chaff.
Matt. 3, 13. Why have I said this? Because we have day in 12-
hope.
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496 God sparelh now, but will at last destroy.
Psalm And wherefore? That they may be scattered abroad" from the city of the Lord, from the fellowship of Jerusalem, from M>>s. the fellowship of the Saints, from the fellowship of the dSrr, Church. But when shall they be slain ? At dawn. What
'de- meaneth, at dawn? When night shall have passed away, as be-^' Wherefore now doth he spare ? Because it is the season of
low.
mercy. Why doth He not always spare ? Because, Mercy and judgment will I sing unto Thee, 0 Lord. Brethren, let no man natter himself : all the doers of iniquity shall be slain ; Christ shall slay them at the dawn, and shall destroy them from His city. But now while it is the time of mercy, let them hear Him. Every where He crieth out by the Law, by the Prophets, by the Psalms, by the Epistles, by the Gospels: see that He is not silent; that He spareth; that He granteth mercy ; but beware, for the judgment will- come.
END OF VOL. IV.
BAxTER, PRINTER, OxFORD.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY http://Iib. harvard, edu
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