Sometimes these high places, that is, earthly
powers, are adverse to the Church ; they have promulgated laws against the Church, and endeavoured to blot out the name of Christian from off the earth: but after the fulfir-
Ps.
powers, are adverse to the Church ; they have promulgated laws against the Church, and endeavoured to blot out the name of Christian from off the earth: but after the fulfir-
Ps.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v4
Not to be able to expressTM113' one's joy in words, and yet to testify by the voice what hath
been conceived within, and refuseth to be compassed within words : this is to make a joyful noise. Consider, beloved,
those who make a joyful noise in any ordinary songs, as in a sort of competition of worldly joy ; and ye see them while reciting the written lines bursting forth with a joy, that the tongue sufficeth not to express the measure of; how they shout, indicating by that utterance the feeling of the mind, which cannot in words express what is conceived in the heart. If they then in earthly joy make a joyful noise; might we not do so from heavenly joy, which truly we cannot express in words ?
4. Ver. 2. Let us prevent His face by confession. Con fession hath a double meaning in Scripture. There is a confession of him who praiseth, there is that of him who
therefore
The confession of praise pertaineth to the honour of Him Who is praised : the confession of groaning to the repentance of him who confesseth. For men confess when they praise God : they confess, when they accuse them selves; and the tongue hath no more worthy use. Truly, I believe these to be the very vows, of which he speaketh in
vol. iv. c c
groaneth.
386 Confession prepares us to meet our Judge. I distin-
Psaim another Psalm: / will pay Thee my vows, which
Fs 66 f/nished with my lips. Nothing is more elevated than that 13. 14. ' distinguishing, nothing is so necessary both to understand
and to do. How then dost thou distinguish the vows which thou payest unto God? By praising Him, by accusing thyself; because it is His mercy, to forgive us our sins. For if He chose to deal with us after our deserts, He would find cause only to condemn. O come, he said therefore, that we may at last go back from our sins, and that He may not cast up with us our accounts for the past; but that as it were a new account may be commenced, all the bonds of our debts having been burnt. How great then is His praise; how great His mercy. This let us confess, that is, by praising Him. For if confession were always the act of a penitent, it would not be spoken of in the Gospel of our
I. uleio, Lord IHimself: In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and
to Thee, 0 Father, Lord heaven and confess of
said,
earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Because
Christ confessed, was He in any way a penitent? He could repent of nothing, Who had not done one action wrongly : but He confessed, by His praises of His Father. There fore, since this also is a passage of exultation, we ought perhaps to understand that confession which consists in the praise of God : whence also it is slyled, The song ofpraise, that we may not here understand the confession of penitents, but of those who praise God. And why is it that he at once
admonisheth us of some confession, when he saith, Let us prevent His face by confession ? What meaneth this ? He
will come : Let us prevent His'face by confession, before hand : before He arrive, let us by confession condemn what we have done, that He may find that which He may crown, not what He must condemn. But doth not this very act of confessing thy sins pertain to the praise of God ? Yea truly it most fully doth pertain to God's praise. And why?
Because the more desperate was the state of the sufferer, so much greater is the honour of the physician. The more therefore thou despairedst of thyself on account of thy iniquities, do thou confess thy sins ; for so much greater is the praise of Him Who forgiveth, as is the fulness of the
Use of repetitions. Reasons for Praise. 387 penitent's confession more abundant. Let us not therefore Ver.
imagine that we have receded from the song of praise, in understanding here that confession by which we acknow ledge our transgressions : this is even a part of the song of praise ; for when we confess our sins, we praise the glory of
--
God. Let us prevent His/ace in confession.
5. And make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms. We Jubile-
have already said what it is io make a joyful noise : the word is repeated, that it may be confirmed by the act: the very repetition is an exhortation. For we have not forgotten, so as to wish to be again admonished, what was said above, that we should make a joyful noise : but usually in passages of strong feeling a well-known word is repeated, not to make it more familiar, but that the very repetition may strengthen the impression made : for it is repeated that we may under stand the feeling of the speaker. Hence our Lord's words,
Verily, verily, I say unto you : one verily sulficed : why, John l,
Verily, verily, unless because the repetition strengthens? Let us, he saith then, make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms. And what shall we say in Psalms ? what shall we say, or rather feel, in that burst of joy ? what are the topics which belong to this song of praise? Hear now: (ver. 3. ) For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Let us therefore make a joyful noise unto Him. For the Lord will not cast off His people ; let us make a joyful noise unto Him. (Ver. 4. ) For in His hands are all the corners of the earth : and the heights of the hills are His
also: for all these reasons let us make a joyful noise unto Him. (Ver. 5. ) For the sea is His, and He made it : and His hand prepared the dry land: let us make a joyful noise unto Him. Now time sufficeth not for a proportionate
of what all this meaneth : yet if it be utterly neglected, we shall remain debtors. Hear then some brief remarks, as the time alloweth, gleaning as much as I shall be able : since even a few seeds, where the soil is fruitful, bear the richest crop.
6-. Ver. 3. First, he mentions this, as a reason for our song to praise. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. There are therefore gods above whom is our great God, to Whom we make a joyful noise, in Whom we
cc2
exposition
383 God above all gods; not only devil-gods,
Psai-m heartily rejoice, to Whom we utter a song of praise. There iE^--: art: : but not unto us. For the Apostle saith : For though
''
6. 6.
there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, {as there be gods many and lords many,) but to us there is but one God the Father, of Whom are all things, and we-by Him ; and one Lord Jesns Christ, by Whom are all tilings, and we in Him. If therefore not unto us, unto whom ?
Pi. 96 6. Hear from another Psalm, As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but devils; but it is the Lord who made the heavens. The Holy Spirit could not in terms more magnificent and lofty commend unto thee through the Prophet thy God and Lord. It was not enough to say that God is terrible above all devils: why is it high praise enough to say, that He is above all devils? For all the gods of the heathen are but devils. But where is thy Lord ? But it is 4he Lord Who made the
1 Cor. 3'
heavens. Thy God created that, where devils cannot dwell : for the devils were cast down from heaven. The heavens are preferred to the devils, thy Lord even to the heavens : because thy Lord made also the heavens. How much higher therefore than the heathen gods, that are devils, is He, Who is higher than the heavens, whence fell the angels, to become devils ? And yet all nations were under these devils : temples were built to devils, altars reared to devils, priests established to devils, sacrifices offered to devils, men brought in for prophets that were possessed with devils ! All these honours the heathen offered to devils : all, in their true use, are only due to the one great God. The heathen erected a temple to devils ; God hath a temple: the heathen established priests for devils; God hath a priest; the heathen offered sacrifice to devils ; God hath a sacrifice. For those devils who wished to appear gods, would not exact such honours in order to deceive, unless because they know that they are due unto the true God; for what a false deity arrogates to himself, is usually due to the True God. We therefore acknowledge a true temple of God. For the temple of God is holy, saith St. Paul, which are ye. If therefore we are the temple of God, our soul is the altar of God. What is the sacrifice of God ? Perhaps we are at the present moment offering sacrifice on the altar of God, when we praise God; for the
Ps. 6o, Psalm teacheth us, in these words : 77/e sacrifice ofpraise
but those whom His grace has made gods. 389
shall glorify Me : and there is the way, where I will shew Ver. the salvation of God. But if thou seekest for a Priest, there :-- is One above the heavens ; He intercedeth for thee, Who on R0m. a, earth died for thee. Therefore, The Lord our God is a3*-
great God: and a great King above all gods. Understand here men by the word gods : for the Lord is not King over
deVils. And hence we have
standeth in the congregation of princes : He is a Judge
among gods. He calleth them gods, because they partake of2 Pet. the Divine Nature, not because they are in their own nature 1' 4- gods; by grace, through which He willed to make them
gods. How great is that God Who maketh gods ! or what
sort of gods are those whom a man maketh ? As He is great
in making gods, so are they nothing who are made by man.
The true God maketh gods of those who believe in Him, to
whom He hath given power to become the sons of God. And John 1, for that reason He is the True God, because He is not a12' created God : but we who are created, are not true gods,
. though better than those which man maketh. Since thePs. n6, images of the heathen are of gold and silver, the work q/*' men's hands : they have mouths, and speak not : eyes have
they, and see not. For us our God hath created eyes that
see ; and yet He hath not created us gods, in that He hath made for us eyes that see ; for this He hath done also for cattle : but He hath made us gods, because He hath en lightened our inner eyes. Unto Him therefore be praise, unto Him be confession, unto Him shouts of joy : For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
7. (Ver. 3. in LXX. ) For the Lord will not cast off HisPs. 94,
Praise be unto Him, and shouts of joy be unto 14' Him ! What people shall He not cast off? we have no right
to make our own explanation here : for the Apostle hath prescribed this unto us, he hath explained whereof it is said. For this was the Jewish people, the people where were the prophets, the people where were the patriarchs, the people begotten according to the flesh from the seed of Abraham ; the people in which all the mysteries which promised our Saviour preceded us ; the people among whom was instituted
the temple, the anointing, the Priest for a figure, that when
all these shadows were past, the Light itself might come ;
Scripture testimony: GWPs. 82,1.
people.
390 The Jewish nation, till it fell, God's people.
Psalm this therefore was the people of God ; to it were the prophets XCX ' sent, in it those who were sent were born ; to it were delivered and entrusted the revelations of God. What then ? is the
whole of that people condemned ? far be it. It is called the good olive-tree by the Apostle, for it commenced with the patriarchs : but there were boughs there that were dry, be-
Rom. ll, cause they were raised too high in pride ; they were therefore
'''
lb. 24, etc'
lopped off owing to their barrenness, and the wild olive engraffed owing to its humility. Nevertheless, most beloved, lest the wild olive when engraffed should become proud, what saith the Apostle ? If thou wert cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree ; how much more shall these which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive-tree ? As thou, by not remaining in thy infidelity, hast deserved to be engraffed upon the good olive, when thou wast a wild olive ; so will they when repentant naturally be graffed
more easily upon their own olive : such are the Apostle's words respecting them. This then is the tree itself: though some of its boughs have been broken, yet all have not. For - if all the boughs were broken, whence is Peter? whence
John? whence Thomas ? whence Matthew ? whence Andrew? whence are all those Apostles? whence that very Apostle Paul who was speaking to us but now, and by his own fruit bearing witness to the good olive ? Were not all these of
l^Cor. that people ? Whence also those five hundred brethren to Acts 2, whom our Lord appeared after His resurrection? Whence
*'
were so many thousands at the words of Peter, (when the Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke with the tongues of all nations,) converted with such zeal for the honour of God and their own accusation, that they who first shed the Lord's blood in their rage, learnt how to drink it now that
Acts 4, they believed? And all these five thousand were so con- 4'2 44
' ' 'verted that they sold their own property, and laid the price of it at the Apostles' feet. That which one rich man did not do, when he heard from the Lord's mouth, and sorrowfully
Mat. 19, departed from Him, this so many thousands of those men by
*?
whose hands Christ had been crucified, did on a sudden. In proportion as the wound was deeper in their own hearts, with the greater eagerness did they seek for a physician.
Jew and Gentile meet in the Corner-Stone. 891
Since therefore all these were from thence, the Psalm saith Ver. of them, For the Lord will not cast off His people. For the ---- Apostle, speaking on this point, hath quoted this as a testi
mony :
bid. For I
also am an Israelite, the seed of
I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God for- Rom.
Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew. If in fact the Lord were to cast away
His people, there would have been no root for Paul himself to
spring from : and whence he was, there were others also. In
these is the Lord's people, not in all ; but, as it is written, a Rom. 9, remnant shall be sai-ed. Not in all: but the floor hath beenfj-10 fanned: the wheat been garnered within : the chaff lieth left. ! 2.
In all that thou seest of the reprobate Jews, thou seest the 12. chaff. The wheat hath already been gathered from the floor whereon thou seest this chaff, and hath been stored up in
the barn. Let us see both, and distinguish both.
8. Ver. 4. What doth the Psalm add? In His hand are all the comers of the earth: we recognise the corner stone: , the corner stone is Christ. There cannot be a corner, unless
4 it hath united in itself two walls : they come from different sides to one comer, but they are not opposed to each other in the corner. The circumcision cometh from one side: the uncircumcision from the other ; in Christ both peoples have met together : because He hath become the stone, of which it is written, The stone which the builders rejected, become the head of the corner. If then Christ be the head of the corner, let us not regard the difference of those who come from afar, but the nearness of those who are united in Christ. Therein let us see verified the words : The Lord shall not cast offHis people. Behold one wall, in which now as we have said, the Lord hath not cast off His people. Thence are the Apostles: thence all the Israelites who believed, and who threw the price of their possessions which they had sold at the Apostles' feet; poor by their own resolution, in God
rich. We have recognised one wall, and what we have said, that the Lord will not cast off His people, hath therein been fulfilled : let us see another also. For in His hand are all the corners of the earth. Behold another wall in all the heathen, all the heathen came unto the Corner Stone, where they acknowledged the kiss of peace : to Him, One, who
of
of11'
hath? ? - 1I8,
'
392 Temptations given in measure for our good.
'
Psalm made the two one: not as the heretics, who made two of one. XCV .
14.
'
For the Apostle saith this same of our Lord Christ: For He is our peace, Who hath made both one. Let us therefore shout for joy in Him. Why? Because the I^rd will not cast off His people. Again : Why ? For in His hand are all the corners of the earth : and the heights of the kills are His also. The heights of the hills meaneth the high places of the earth.
Sometimes these high places, that is, earthly
powers, are adverse to the Church ; they have promulgated laws against the Church, and endeavoured to blot out the name of Christian from off the earth: but after the fulfir-
Ps. 72, ment of the prophecy, All the kings of the earth shall fall
u-
Cor. 10' l3-
down before Him, what is here said happened, the heights of the hills are His also.
Ver. 5. But perhaps thou art busied with temptations, and hence that, though placed in so great grace of God's promises, thou art disturbed by the world's stumbling-blocks? But those very stumbling-blocks do not really auy thing to thee since they have received their measure from God For the sea His. For the sea this world, but God made also the sea: nor 'can the waves rage save only so far as to the shore, where Ho hath marked their bounds. There therefore no temptation, that hath not received its measure from the Lord. Let there be therefore temptations, let there be tribulations thou art perfected, not consumed by them.
Consider whether those very temptations be not useful. Hear the Apostle God faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted abor. e that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. He saith not, He will not suffer you to be tempted at all for thou wert to refuse temptation, thou wouldest also refuse reformation. Thou art therefore re formed and thou art reformed, thou art in His hands Who formed thee. He taketh something from thee He chasteneth thee in some way, He levelleth somewhat, He cleanseth somewhat in thee: He worketh with certain tools of His own: these are the stumbling-blocks of this world: do thou only be careful not to fall out of thy Maker's hands. No temptation beyond thy strength will approach thee. This God alloweth for thy benefit, whence thou mayest
?
:
:
if ;
; ;
if
is
1
is :
is
it is
is
;
I),
Fear not to come to God, even for sin. 893 profit. Lastly, bear the Apostle himself adding this : But Ver.
will with lite temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it. Perhaps then the sea was a subject
of fear to thee ? Fear not. For the sea is His, and He
made it. Fearest thou stumbling-blocks from the heathen ?
He made the heathen also Himself; He will not permit
them to rage beyond the measure which He knoweth, -whence thou mayest profit. Saith not another Psalm, All Ps. 86,9. nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship
before Thee, 0 Lord! if all the nations which Thou hast made, it is clear that He also created the nations: therefore, The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands prepared
the dry land. Be thou the dry land : thirst for the grace of God : that as a sweet shower it may come upon thee, may find in thee fruit. He alloweth not the waves to cover what He hath sown. And His hands prepared the dry land. Hence also therefore let us shout unto the Lord.
10. Since then these things are thus: since we have ex pounded so great things pertaining unto the praise of God, . return ye to where he commenced : (ver. 6. ) 0 come, let us
worship, and fall down to Him ; and mourn before the Lord our Maker. Let us rejoice, because He made this and that. He hath enumerated many things, and he now repeateth his exhortation, O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him : let us mourn before the Lord our Maker. Now that I have mentioned the praises of God, be not slothful, and stand not afar in life and habits. O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him. But possibly ye are anxious on account of your sins, which have made you afar
from God; let us do as followeth : And mourn before the Lord our Maker. Perhaps thou art burning with the con sciousness of a fault ; blot out with tears the flame of thy sin : mourn before the Lord : fearlessly mourn before the Lord, Who made thee ; for He despiseth not the work of His own hands in thee. Think not thou canst be restored by thyself. By thyself thou mayest fall off, thou canst not restore thyself: He Who made thee restoreth thee. Let us mourn before the Lord our Maker : weep before Him, con
fess unto Him, prevent His face in confession. For who art thou who mournest before Him, and confessest unto
6'
394 God's people the ' sheep of His hand;' and why 'shorn. "
Psalm Him, but one whom He created r The thing created hath X C V '- no slight confidence in Him Who created and that in no indifferent fashion, but according to His own image and
likeness. O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him and mourn before the Lord our Maker.
11. Ver. 7. For He is the Lord our God. But that we may without fear fall down and kneel before Him, what are we We are the people qf His pasture, and the sheep His hand. See how elegantly he hath trans posed the order of the words, and as were not given its own attribute to each word that we may understand these very same to be the sheep, who are also the people. He said not, the sheep of His pasture, and the people of His hand; which might be thought more congruous, since
the sheep belong to the pasture but He said, the people His pasture. The people are therefore sheep, since he saith, the people of His pasture: the people themselves are
sheep. But again, since we have sheep which we buy, not which we create and he had said above, Let us fall down before our Maker rightly said, the sheep of His hand. No man maketh for himself sheep, he may buy them, they may be given, he may find them, he may collect them, lastly, he may steal them make them he cannot. But our Lord made us therefore the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand, are the very sheep which He hath
deigned by His grace to create unto Himself. He praiseth these sheep also in the Song of Solomon, speaking of some perfect ones as the teeth of His Spouse the Holy Church
Sonf? of Thy teeth are like a flock sheep that are even shorn, g? g4'2; which come up from the washing; whereof every one
beareth twins, and there none barren. What meaneth, Thy teeth? These by whom thou speakest: for the teeth of the Church are those through whom she speaketh. Of what sort are thy teeth? Like a flock of sheep that are shorn. Why, that are shorn Because they have laid aside the burdens of the world. Were not those sheep, of which
was little before speaking, shorn, whom the bidding Mat. 19, of God had shorn, when He saith, Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shall find treasure in
heaven: and come and follow Me? They performed this
I a
of
?
is ;
is
of
;
:
;
;
; ;
it
;
it
it,
of ?
Why 'washed? and fruitful. Warningfrom Jews" example. 395
bidding: shorn they came. And because those who believe Ver. in Christ are baptized, what is there said? which come up
the washing; that is, come up from the cleansing. Whereof every one beareth twins. What twins ? Those two Mat. 22
commandments, wherefrom hangall the Lawand the Prophets. 40- IVe, therefore, are the people of His pasture, and the sheep
ofHis hand.
12. Ver. 8. Therefore, To-day if ye will hear His voice.
O my people, the people of God ! God addresses His people:
not only the people of His which He shall not cast off, but
also all His people. For He speaketh in the corner-stone to Ephes. each wall : that is, prophecy speaketh in Christ, both to the 2' 20' people of the Jews, and the people of the Gentiles. To-day
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For some
time ye heard His voice through Moses, and hardened your hearts. He then, when you hardened your hearts, spoke through a herald ; He now speaketh by Himself, let your hearts soften. He who used to send heralds before Him,
hath now deigned to come Himself; He here speaketh by
His own mouth, He Who used to speak by the mouths of the Prophets. To-day, therefore, ifye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
13. Ver. 9. Why hath he said, Harden not your hearts ? Because ye remember what your fathers used to do. Harden
not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness. Ye surely remember, brethren,
that that people tempted God, received chastening, and was Exod. governed in the desert as it were by an excellent rider, with
the curb of laws, the curb of commandments and was not forsaken by God even when unsubdued, not only in His present blessings, but in the rod of correction that never ceased. Therefore harden not your hearts, as in the pro vocation, in the day of temptation in the desert -- where your fathers --proved me. Let such be no more your fathers: imitate them not. They were your fathers, but ye do not imitate them, they shall not be your fathers yet as ye were born of them, they were your fathers. And the heathen who came from the ends of the earth, in the words of
Jeremias, The Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends jei. 16, of the earth, and shall say, Surely our forefathers have 19,
from
: if
;
if
17'
396 The forty years a type of this world's duration.
Psalm inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is nv profit : Lif the heathen forsook their idols, to come to the God of
E*-
lb. 16, through the Red Sea, wherein He overwhelmed their pur- 13--36. suing foes; whom He led out into the wilderness, fed
Israel ; ought Israel whom their own God led from Egypt
with manna, never took His rod from correcting them, never deprived them of the blessings of His mercy ; ought
to desert their own God, when the heathen have come unto Him ? When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works. For forty years they saw My works, for forty years they provoked Me : before them I repeatedly wrought miracles by the hand of Moses, and yet they more and more hardened their heaIrts.
they
14. Ver. 10. Forty years long was
generation. What doth very near mean ?
present in signs and good workIs : not on one day, not on
very near unto this gene ration, and said, It is a people that do always err in their hearts; for they have not known My ways. The forty years have the same meaning as the word always. For that number forty indicates the fulness of ages, as if the ages were perfected in this number. Hence our Lord fasted Matt. 4, forty days, forty days He was tempted in the desert, and ^Tj, V forty days He was with His disciples after His resurrection.
3. On the first forty days He shewed us temptation, on the latter forty days consolation : since beyond doubt when we are tempted we are consoled. For His body, that is, the Church, must needs suffer temptations in this world : but
20'
very near unto this
two ; but forty years long was
Mat. 28, that Comforter, Who said, Lo, I I
unto the end of the world, is not wanting. And
It is a people that do always err in their hearts.
was I with them forty years, to shew such a race of men, which alway provoketh Me, even unto the end of the world: because by those forty years He meant to signify the whole of this world's duration.
15. Ver. 4. What then ? In their stead shall there not be others to enter into God's rest? Those whom God's mercy displeased are rejected, they who resisted God with a hard ened heart; they being rejected, hath God lost His people?
Matt. 3, It will not then be true, that God is able out of these stones
a
I made Myself
am with you even alway,
*
said. For this
God's oath to punish, as sure as His promise. 397
to raise up children unto Abraham. Therefore, Isaid, It is Ver. a people that do ahcay err in theirIhearts, and they have ---- not known My ways; unto whom sware in My wrath,
that they should not enter into My rest: this is an awful
threat. We began with exulting joy I: but this Psalm hath
ended with great fear : Unto whom
that they should not enter into My rest. It is a great thing
for God to speak : how much greater for Him to swear ?
Thou shouldest fear a man when he sweareth, lest he do somewhat on account of his oath against his will : how much
more shouldest thou fear God, when He sweareth, seeing He
can swear nought rashly ? He chose the act of swearing
for a confirmation. And by whom doth God swear? By Himself: for He hath no greater by whom to swear. By Heb. 6, Himself He confinneth His promises: by Himself He con-13'
firmeth His threats. Let no man say in his heart, His promise is true; His threat is false: as His promise is true,
so is His threat sure. Thou oughtest to be equally assured
of rest, of happiness, of eternity, of immortality, if thou
hast executed His commandments ; as of destruction, of the burning of eternal fire, of damnation with the devil, if thou
hast despised His commandments. He therefore swore unto
them in His anger, that they should not enter into His rest :
and yet some must enter into His rest ; for it will not be Heb. 4, given to none. They therefore being reprobate, we shall 6- enter: for although some of the boughs have been broken Rom. l1,
for their want of resemblance and infidelity, we shall be19,20- engrafted on account of our faith and humility. Let us therefore enter into His rest. But by what means did they
who entered enter, those who were chosen, who resisted not
with an hardened heart ? Because it is true, that God will not cast off His people.
PSALM XCVL' LAT.
My
we shall feel in his discourse, which he oweth us ; for he
xcv.
lord and brother Severus1" still defers the pleasure
? Delivered perhaps in the year 406, b Bishop of Milevis, mentioned in when the Donatists prevailed through the discourse of the preceding day on the violence of the Circumcelliones. Ps. 132. Ben.
sware in My wrath,
898 What is meant by the building of God's House.
Psalm acknowledged, that he is held a debtor. For all the XCVI' Churches through which he hath passed, by his tongue the Lord hath gladdened : much more therefore ought that
Church to be rejoiced, out of which the Lord hath propa
his preaching among the rest. But what shall we do, but obey his will ? I said, however, brethren, that he deferred, not that he defrauded us. Therefore let us keep him as a debtor bound, and release him not until he hath paid. Attend therefore, beloved: as far as the Lord alloweth, let us say somewhat of this Psalm, which indeed you already know ; for the fresh mention of truth is sweet. Possibly when its title was pronounced, some heard it with wonder. For the Psalm is inscribed : When the house was being built after the Captivity. This title having been prefixed, ye were perhaps expecting in the text of the Psalm to hear
what stones were hewn from the mountains, what masses
were drawn to the spot, what foundations were laid, what . beams were placed on high, what columns raised. Its song is of nothing of this kind: and if its song be of another
sort, doth then the Psalm not agree with its title, but beareth one thing in its title, another in its words ? It doth nothing of the sort, but only seeketh those who can under stand it. For it speaketh of the building of the house. Let
all the stones of that house know what they have sung. For the house is built unto God, not in the place where Solomon built. For he built a temple: and ye have just heard what the Lord said of that very temple. When His
disciples were admiring the stones and vast masses of the temple, they discovered their admiration and wonderIunto
Mat. 24, the Lord; and He said unto them, Verily, verily,
unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. It is no such house that is in building; for behold where it is built, not in one spot, not in any particular region. For thus he commenceth.
gated
ictiron. '
say
o. Ver. 1. 0 sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. If all the earth singeth a new song, it is* thus building while it singeth : the very act of singing is building: but only, if it singeth not the old song. The lust of the flesh singeth the old song : the love of God singeth the new. Whatever thou singest of lust, thou art
Singing and building. Error of Rebuptizing. 399
singing lhe old song ; although the words of the new song Ver.
been conceived within, and refuseth to be compassed within words : this is to make a joyful noise. Consider, beloved,
those who make a joyful noise in any ordinary songs, as in a sort of competition of worldly joy ; and ye see them while reciting the written lines bursting forth with a joy, that the tongue sufficeth not to express the measure of; how they shout, indicating by that utterance the feeling of the mind, which cannot in words express what is conceived in the heart. If they then in earthly joy make a joyful noise; might we not do so from heavenly joy, which truly we cannot express in words ?
4. Ver. 2. Let us prevent His face by confession. Con fession hath a double meaning in Scripture. There is a confession of him who praiseth, there is that of him who
therefore
The confession of praise pertaineth to the honour of Him Who is praised : the confession of groaning to the repentance of him who confesseth. For men confess when they praise God : they confess, when they accuse them selves; and the tongue hath no more worthy use. Truly, I believe these to be the very vows, of which he speaketh in
vol. iv. c c
groaneth.
386 Confession prepares us to meet our Judge. I distin-
Psaim another Psalm: / will pay Thee my vows, which
Fs 66 f/nished with my lips. Nothing is more elevated than that 13. 14. ' distinguishing, nothing is so necessary both to understand
and to do. How then dost thou distinguish the vows which thou payest unto God? By praising Him, by accusing thyself; because it is His mercy, to forgive us our sins. For if He chose to deal with us after our deserts, He would find cause only to condemn. O come, he said therefore, that we may at last go back from our sins, and that He may not cast up with us our accounts for the past; but that as it were a new account may be commenced, all the bonds of our debts having been burnt. How great then is His praise; how great His mercy. This let us confess, that is, by praising Him. For if confession were always the act of a penitent, it would not be spoken of in the Gospel of our
I. uleio, Lord IHimself: In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and
to Thee, 0 Father, Lord heaven and confess of
said,
earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Because
Christ confessed, was He in any way a penitent? He could repent of nothing, Who had not done one action wrongly : but He confessed, by His praises of His Father. There fore, since this also is a passage of exultation, we ought perhaps to understand that confession which consists in the praise of God : whence also it is slyled, The song ofpraise, that we may not here understand the confession of penitents, but of those who praise God. And why is it that he at once
admonisheth us of some confession, when he saith, Let us prevent His face by confession ? What meaneth this ? He
will come : Let us prevent His'face by confession, before hand : before He arrive, let us by confession condemn what we have done, that He may find that which He may crown, not what He must condemn. But doth not this very act of confessing thy sins pertain to the praise of God ? Yea truly it most fully doth pertain to God's praise. And why?
Because the more desperate was the state of the sufferer, so much greater is the honour of the physician. The more therefore thou despairedst of thyself on account of thy iniquities, do thou confess thy sins ; for so much greater is the praise of Him Who forgiveth, as is the fulness of the
Use of repetitions. Reasons for Praise. 387 penitent's confession more abundant. Let us not therefore Ver.
imagine that we have receded from the song of praise, in understanding here that confession by which we acknow ledge our transgressions : this is even a part of the song of praise ; for when we confess our sins, we praise the glory of
--
God. Let us prevent His/ace in confession.
5. And make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms. We Jubile-
have already said what it is io make a joyful noise : the word is repeated, that it may be confirmed by the act: the very repetition is an exhortation. For we have not forgotten, so as to wish to be again admonished, what was said above, that we should make a joyful noise : but usually in passages of strong feeling a well-known word is repeated, not to make it more familiar, but that the very repetition may strengthen the impression made : for it is repeated that we may under stand the feeling of the speaker. Hence our Lord's words,
Verily, verily, I say unto you : one verily sulficed : why, John l,
Verily, verily, unless because the repetition strengthens? Let us, he saith then, make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms. And what shall we say in Psalms ? what shall we say, or rather feel, in that burst of joy ? what are the topics which belong to this song of praise? Hear now: (ver. 3. ) For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Let us therefore make a joyful noise unto Him. For the Lord will not cast off His people ; let us make a joyful noise unto Him. (Ver. 4. ) For in His hands are all the corners of the earth : and the heights of the hills are His
also: for all these reasons let us make a joyful noise unto Him. (Ver. 5. ) For the sea is His, and He made it : and His hand prepared the dry land: let us make a joyful noise unto Him. Now time sufficeth not for a proportionate
of what all this meaneth : yet if it be utterly neglected, we shall remain debtors. Hear then some brief remarks, as the time alloweth, gleaning as much as I shall be able : since even a few seeds, where the soil is fruitful, bear the richest crop.
6-. Ver. 3. First, he mentions this, as a reason for our song to praise. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. There are therefore gods above whom is our great God, to Whom we make a joyful noise, in Whom we
cc2
exposition
383 God above all gods; not only devil-gods,
Psai-m heartily rejoice, to Whom we utter a song of praise. There iE^--: art: : but not unto us. For the Apostle saith : For though
''
6. 6.
there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, {as there be gods many and lords many,) but to us there is but one God the Father, of Whom are all things, and we-by Him ; and one Lord Jesns Christ, by Whom are all tilings, and we in Him. If therefore not unto us, unto whom ?
Pi. 96 6. Hear from another Psalm, As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but devils; but it is the Lord who made the heavens. The Holy Spirit could not in terms more magnificent and lofty commend unto thee through the Prophet thy God and Lord. It was not enough to say that God is terrible above all devils: why is it high praise enough to say, that He is above all devils? For all the gods of the heathen are but devils. But where is thy Lord ? But it is 4he Lord Who made the
1 Cor. 3'
heavens. Thy God created that, where devils cannot dwell : for the devils were cast down from heaven. The heavens are preferred to the devils, thy Lord even to the heavens : because thy Lord made also the heavens. How much higher therefore than the heathen gods, that are devils, is He, Who is higher than the heavens, whence fell the angels, to become devils ? And yet all nations were under these devils : temples were built to devils, altars reared to devils, priests established to devils, sacrifices offered to devils, men brought in for prophets that were possessed with devils ! All these honours the heathen offered to devils : all, in their true use, are only due to the one great God. The heathen erected a temple to devils ; God hath a temple: the heathen established priests for devils; God hath a priest; the heathen offered sacrifice to devils ; God hath a sacrifice. For those devils who wished to appear gods, would not exact such honours in order to deceive, unless because they know that they are due unto the true God; for what a false deity arrogates to himself, is usually due to the True God. We therefore acknowledge a true temple of God. For the temple of God is holy, saith St. Paul, which are ye. If therefore we are the temple of God, our soul is the altar of God. What is the sacrifice of God ? Perhaps we are at the present moment offering sacrifice on the altar of God, when we praise God; for the
Ps. 6o, Psalm teacheth us, in these words : 77/e sacrifice ofpraise
but those whom His grace has made gods. 389
shall glorify Me : and there is the way, where I will shew Ver. the salvation of God. But if thou seekest for a Priest, there :-- is One above the heavens ; He intercedeth for thee, Who on R0m. a, earth died for thee. Therefore, The Lord our God is a3*-
great God: and a great King above all gods. Understand here men by the word gods : for the Lord is not King over
deVils. And hence we have
standeth in the congregation of princes : He is a Judge
among gods. He calleth them gods, because they partake of2 Pet. the Divine Nature, not because they are in their own nature 1' 4- gods; by grace, through which He willed to make them
gods. How great is that God Who maketh gods ! or what
sort of gods are those whom a man maketh ? As He is great
in making gods, so are they nothing who are made by man.
The true God maketh gods of those who believe in Him, to
whom He hath given power to become the sons of God. And John 1, for that reason He is the True God, because He is not a12' created God : but we who are created, are not true gods,
. though better than those which man maketh. Since thePs. n6, images of the heathen are of gold and silver, the work q/*' men's hands : they have mouths, and speak not : eyes have
they, and see not. For us our God hath created eyes that
see ; and yet He hath not created us gods, in that He hath made for us eyes that see ; for this He hath done also for cattle : but He hath made us gods, because He hath en lightened our inner eyes. Unto Him therefore be praise, unto Him be confession, unto Him shouts of joy : For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
7. (Ver. 3. in LXX. ) For the Lord will not cast off HisPs. 94,
Praise be unto Him, and shouts of joy be unto 14' Him ! What people shall He not cast off? we have no right
to make our own explanation here : for the Apostle hath prescribed this unto us, he hath explained whereof it is said. For this was the Jewish people, the people where were the prophets, the people where were the patriarchs, the people begotten according to the flesh from the seed of Abraham ; the people in which all the mysteries which promised our Saviour preceded us ; the people among whom was instituted
the temple, the anointing, the Priest for a figure, that when
all these shadows were past, the Light itself might come ;
Scripture testimony: GWPs. 82,1.
people.
390 The Jewish nation, till it fell, God's people.
Psalm this therefore was the people of God ; to it were the prophets XCX ' sent, in it those who were sent were born ; to it were delivered and entrusted the revelations of God. What then ? is the
whole of that people condemned ? far be it. It is called the good olive-tree by the Apostle, for it commenced with the patriarchs : but there were boughs there that were dry, be-
Rom. ll, cause they were raised too high in pride ; they were therefore
'''
lb. 24, etc'
lopped off owing to their barrenness, and the wild olive engraffed owing to its humility. Nevertheless, most beloved, lest the wild olive when engraffed should become proud, what saith the Apostle ? If thou wert cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree ; how much more shall these which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive-tree ? As thou, by not remaining in thy infidelity, hast deserved to be engraffed upon the good olive, when thou wast a wild olive ; so will they when repentant naturally be graffed
more easily upon their own olive : such are the Apostle's words respecting them. This then is the tree itself: though some of its boughs have been broken, yet all have not. For - if all the boughs were broken, whence is Peter? whence
John? whence Thomas ? whence Matthew ? whence Andrew? whence are all those Apostles? whence that very Apostle Paul who was speaking to us but now, and by his own fruit bearing witness to the good olive ? Were not all these of
l^Cor. that people ? Whence also those five hundred brethren to Acts 2, whom our Lord appeared after His resurrection? Whence
*'
were so many thousands at the words of Peter, (when the Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke with the tongues of all nations,) converted with such zeal for the honour of God and their own accusation, that they who first shed the Lord's blood in their rage, learnt how to drink it now that
Acts 4, they believed? And all these five thousand were so con- 4'2 44
' ' 'verted that they sold their own property, and laid the price of it at the Apostles' feet. That which one rich man did not do, when he heard from the Lord's mouth, and sorrowfully
Mat. 19, departed from Him, this so many thousands of those men by
*?
whose hands Christ had been crucified, did on a sudden. In proportion as the wound was deeper in their own hearts, with the greater eagerness did they seek for a physician.
Jew and Gentile meet in the Corner-Stone. 891
Since therefore all these were from thence, the Psalm saith Ver. of them, For the Lord will not cast off His people. For the ---- Apostle, speaking on this point, hath quoted this as a testi
mony :
bid. For I
also am an Israelite, the seed of
I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God for- Rom.
Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew. If in fact the Lord were to cast away
His people, there would have been no root for Paul himself to
spring from : and whence he was, there were others also. In
these is the Lord's people, not in all ; but, as it is written, a Rom. 9, remnant shall be sai-ed. Not in all: but the floor hath beenfj-10 fanned: the wheat been garnered within : the chaff lieth left. ! 2.
In all that thou seest of the reprobate Jews, thou seest the 12. chaff. The wheat hath already been gathered from the floor whereon thou seest this chaff, and hath been stored up in
the barn. Let us see both, and distinguish both.
8. Ver. 4. What doth the Psalm add? In His hand are all the comers of the earth: we recognise the corner stone: , the corner stone is Christ. There cannot be a corner, unless
4 it hath united in itself two walls : they come from different sides to one comer, but they are not opposed to each other in the corner. The circumcision cometh from one side: the uncircumcision from the other ; in Christ both peoples have met together : because He hath become the stone, of which it is written, The stone which the builders rejected, become the head of the corner. If then Christ be the head of the corner, let us not regard the difference of those who come from afar, but the nearness of those who are united in Christ. Therein let us see verified the words : The Lord shall not cast offHis people. Behold one wall, in which now as we have said, the Lord hath not cast off His people. Thence are the Apostles: thence all the Israelites who believed, and who threw the price of their possessions which they had sold at the Apostles' feet; poor by their own resolution, in God
rich. We have recognised one wall, and what we have said, that the Lord will not cast off His people, hath therein been fulfilled : let us see another also. For in His hand are all the corners of the earth. Behold another wall in all the heathen, all the heathen came unto the Corner Stone, where they acknowledged the kiss of peace : to Him, One, who
of
of11'
hath? ? - 1I8,
'
392 Temptations given in measure for our good.
'
Psalm made the two one: not as the heretics, who made two of one. XCV .
14.
'
For the Apostle saith this same of our Lord Christ: For He is our peace, Who hath made both one. Let us therefore shout for joy in Him. Why? Because the I^rd will not cast off His people. Again : Why ? For in His hand are all the corners of the earth : and the heights of the kills are His also. The heights of the hills meaneth the high places of the earth.
Sometimes these high places, that is, earthly
powers, are adverse to the Church ; they have promulgated laws against the Church, and endeavoured to blot out the name of Christian from off the earth: but after the fulfir-
Ps. 72, ment of the prophecy, All the kings of the earth shall fall
u-
Cor. 10' l3-
down before Him, what is here said happened, the heights of the hills are His also.
Ver. 5. But perhaps thou art busied with temptations, and hence that, though placed in so great grace of God's promises, thou art disturbed by the world's stumbling-blocks? But those very stumbling-blocks do not really auy thing to thee since they have received their measure from God For the sea His. For the sea this world, but God made also the sea: nor 'can the waves rage save only so far as to the shore, where Ho hath marked their bounds. There therefore no temptation, that hath not received its measure from the Lord. Let there be therefore temptations, let there be tribulations thou art perfected, not consumed by them.
Consider whether those very temptations be not useful. Hear the Apostle God faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted abor. e that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. He saith not, He will not suffer you to be tempted at all for thou wert to refuse temptation, thou wouldest also refuse reformation. Thou art therefore re formed and thou art reformed, thou art in His hands Who formed thee. He taketh something from thee He chasteneth thee in some way, He levelleth somewhat, He cleanseth somewhat in thee: He worketh with certain tools of His own: these are the stumbling-blocks of this world: do thou only be careful not to fall out of thy Maker's hands. No temptation beyond thy strength will approach thee. This God alloweth for thy benefit, whence thou mayest
?
:
:
if ;
; ;
if
is
1
is :
is
it is
is
;
I),
Fear not to come to God, even for sin. 893 profit. Lastly, bear the Apostle himself adding this : But Ver.
will with lite temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it. Perhaps then the sea was a subject
of fear to thee ? Fear not. For the sea is His, and He
made it. Fearest thou stumbling-blocks from the heathen ?
He made the heathen also Himself; He will not permit
them to rage beyond the measure which He knoweth, -whence thou mayest profit. Saith not another Psalm, All Ps. 86,9. nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship
before Thee, 0 Lord! if all the nations which Thou hast made, it is clear that He also created the nations: therefore, The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands prepared
the dry land. Be thou the dry land : thirst for the grace of God : that as a sweet shower it may come upon thee, may find in thee fruit. He alloweth not the waves to cover what He hath sown. And His hands prepared the dry land. Hence also therefore let us shout unto the Lord.
10. Since then these things are thus: since we have ex pounded so great things pertaining unto the praise of God, . return ye to where he commenced : (ver. 6. ) 0 come, let us
worship, and fall down to Him ; and mourn before the Lord our Maker. Let us rejoice, because He made this and that. He hath enumerated many things, and he now repeateth his exhortation, O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him : let us mourn before the Lord our Maker. Now that I have mentioned the praises of God, be not slothful, and stand not afar in life and habits. O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him. But possibly ye are anxious on account of your sins, which have made you afar
from God; let us do as followeth : And mourn before the Lord our Maker. Perhaps thou art burning with the con sciousness of a fault ; blot out with tears the flame of thy sin : mourn before the Lord : fearlessly mourn before the Lord, Who made thee ; for He despiseth not the work of His own hands in thee. Think not thou canst be restored by thyself. By thyself thou mayest fall off, thou canst not restore thyself: He Who made thee restoreth thee. Let us mourn before the Lord our Maker : weep before Him, con
fess unto Him, prevent His face in confession. For who art thou who mournest before Him, and confessest unto
6'
394 God's people the ' sheep of His hand;' and why 'shorn. "
Psalm Him, but one whom He created r The thing created hath X C V '- no slight confidence in Him Who created and that in no indifferent fashion, but according to His own image and
likeness. O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him and mourn before the Lord our Maker.
11. Ver. 7. For He is the Lord our God. But that we may without fear fall down and kneel before Him, what are we We are the people qf His pasture, and the sheep His hand. See how elegantly he hath trans posed the order of the words, and as were not given its own attribute to each word that we may understand these very same to be the sheep, who are also the people. He said not, the sheep of His pasture, and the people of His hand; which might be thought more congruous, since
the sheep belong to the pasture but He said, the people His pasture. The people are therefore sheep, since he saith, the people of His pasture: the people themselves are
sheep. But again, since we have sheep which we buy, not which we create and he had said above, Let us fall down before our Maker rightly said, the sheep of His hand. No man maketh for himself sheep, he may buy them, they may be given, he may find them, he may collect them, lastly, he may steal them make them he cannot. But our Lord made us therefore the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand, are the very sheep which He hath
deigned by His grace to create unto Himself. He praiseth these sheep also in the Song of Solomon, speaking of some perfect ones as the teeth of His Spouse the Holy Church
Sonf? of Thy teeth are like a flock sheep that are even shorn, g? g4'2; which come up from the washing; whereof every one
beareth twins, and there none barren. What meaneth, Thy teeth? These by whom thou speakest: for the teeth of the Church are those through whom she speaketh. Of what sort are thy teeth? Like a flock of sheep that are shorn. Why, that are shorn Because they have laid aside the burdens of the world. Were not those sheep, of which
was little before speaking, shorn, whom the bidding Mat. 19, of God had shorn, when He saith, Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shall find treasure in
heaven: and come and follow Me? They performed this
I a
of
?
is ;
is
of
;
:
;
;
; ;
it
;
it
it,
of ?
Why 'washed? and fruitful. Warningfrom Jews" example. 395
bidding: shorn they came. And because those who believe Ver. in Christ are baptized, what is there said? which come up
the washing; that is, come up from the cleansing. Whereof every one beareth twins. What twins ? Those two Mat. 22
commandments, wherefrom hangall the Lawand the Prophets. 40- IVe, therefore, are the people of His pasture, and the sheep
ofHis hand.
12. Ver. 8. Therefore, To-day if ye will hear His voice.
O my people, the people of God ! God addresses His people:
not only the people of His which He shall not cast off, but
also all His people. For He speaketh in the corner-stone to Ephes. each wall : that is, prophecy speaketh in Christ, both to the 2' 20' people of the Jews, and the people of the Gentiles. To-day
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For some
time ye heard His voice through Moses, and hardened your hearts. He then, when you hardened your hearts, spoke through a herald ; He now speaketh by Himself, let your hearts soften. He who used to send heralds before Him,
hath now deigned to come Himself; He here speaketh by
His own mouth, He Who used to speak by the mouths of the Prophets. To-day, therefore, ifye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
13. Ver. 9. Why hath he said, Harden not your hearts ? Because ye remember what your fathers used to do. Harden
not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness. Ye surely remember, brethren,
that that people tempted God, received chastening, and was Exod. governed in the desert as it were by an excellent rider, with
the curb of laws, the curb of commandments and was not forsaken by God even when unsubdued, not only in His present blessings, but in the rod of correction that never ceased. Therefore harden not your hearts, as in the pro vocation, in the day of temptation in the desert -- where your fathers --proved me. Let such be no more your fathers: imitate them not. They were your fathers, but ye do not imitate them, they shall not be your fathers yet as ye were born of them, they were your fathers. And the heathen who came from the ends of the earth, in the words of
Jeremias, The Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends jei. 16, of the earth, and shall say, Surely our forefathers have 19,
from
: if
;
if
17'
396 The forty years a type of this world's duration.
Psalm inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is nv profit : Lif the heathen forsook their idols, to come to the God of
E*-
lb. 16, through the Red Sea, wherein He overwhelmed their pur- 13--36. suing foes; whom He led out into the wilderness, fed
Israel ; ought Israel whom their own God led from Egypt
with manna, never took His rod from correcting them, never deprived them of the blessings of His mercy ; ought
to desert their own God, when the heathen have come unto Him ? When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works. For forty years they saw My works, for forty years they provoked Me : before them I repeatedly wrought miracles by the hand of Moses, and yet they more and more hardened their heaIrts.
they
14. Ver. 10. Forty years long was
generation. What doth very near mean ?
present in signs and good workIs : not on one day, not on
very near unto this gene ration, and said, It is a people that do always err in their hearts; for they have not known My ways. The forty years have the same meaning as the word always. For that number forty indicates the fulness of ages, as if the ages were perfected in this number. Hence our Lord fasted Matt. 4, forty days, forty days He was tempted in the desert, and ^Tj, V forty days He was with His disciples after His resurrection.
3. On the first forty days He shewed us temptation, on the latter forty days consolation : since beyond doubt when we are tempted we are consoled. For His body, that is, the Church, must needs suffer temptations in this world : but
20'
very near unto this
two ; but forty years long was
Mat. 28, that Comforter, Who said, Lo, I I
unto the end of the world, is not wanting. And
It is a people that do always err in their hearts.
was I with them forty years, to shew such a race of men, which alway provoketh Me, even unto the end of the world: because by those forty years He meant to signify the whole of this world's duration.
15. Ver. 4. What then ? In their stead shall there not be others to enter into God's rest? Those whom God's mercy displeased are rejected, they who resisted God with a hard ened heart; they being rejected, hath God lost His people?
Matt. 3, It will not then be true, that God is able out of these stones
a
I made Myself
am with you even alway,
*
said. For this
God's oath to punish, as sure as His promise. 397
to raise up children unto Abraham. Therefore, Isaid, It is Ver. a people that do ahcay err in theirIhearts, and they have ---- not known My ways; unto whom sware in My wrath,
that they should not enter into My rest: this is an awful
threat. We began with exulting joy I: but this Psalm hath
ended with great fear : Unto whom
that they should not enter into My rest. It is a great thing
for God to speak : how much greater for Him to swear ?
Thou shouldest fear a man when he sweareth, lest he do somewhat on account of his oath against his will : how much
more shouldest thou fear God, when He sweareth, seeing He
can swear nought rashly ? He chose the act of swearing
for a confirmation. And by whom doth God swear? By Himself: for He hath no greater by whom to swear. By Heb. 6, Himself He confinneth His promises: by Himself He con-13'
firmeth His threats. Let no man say in his heart, His promise is true; His threat is false: as His promise is true,
so is His threat sure. Thou oughtest to be equally assured
of rest, of happiness, of eternity, of immortality, if thou
hast executed His commandments ; as of destruction, of the burning of eternal fire, of damnation with the devil, if thou
hast despised His commandments. He therefore swore unto
them in His anger, that they should not enter into His rest :
and yet some must enter into His rest ; for it will not be Heb. 4, given to none. They therefore being reprobate, we shall 6- enter: for although some of the boughs have been broken Rom. l1,
for their want of resemblance and infidelity, we shall be19,20- engrafted on account of our faith and humility. Let us therefore enter into His rest. But by what means did they
who entered enter, those who were chosen, who resisted not
with an hardened heart ? Because it is true, that God will not cast off His people.
PSALM XCVL' LAT.
My
we shall feel in his discourse, which he oweth us ; for he
xcv.
lord and brother Severus1" still defers the pleasure
? Delivered perhaps in the year 406, b Bishop of Milevis, mentioned in when the Donatists prevailed through the discourse of the preceding day on the violence of the Circumcelliones. Ps. 132. Ben.
sware in My wrath,
898 What is meant by the building of God's House.
Psalm acknowledged, that he is held a debtor. For all the XCVI' Churches through which he hath passed, by his tongue the Lord hath gladdened : much more therefore ought that
Church to be rejoiced, out of which the Lord hath propa
his preaching among the rest. But what shall we do, but obey his will ? I said, however, brethren, that he deferred, not that he defrauded us. Therefore let us keep him as a debtor bound, and release him not until he hath paid. Attend therefore, beloved: as far as the Lord alloweth, let us say somewhat of this Psalm, which indeed you already know ; for the fresh mention of truth is sweet. Possibly when its title was pronounced, some heard it with wonder. For the Psalm is inscribed : When the house was being built after the Captivity. This title having been prefixed, ye were perhaps expecting in the text of the Psalm to hear
what stones were hewn from the mountains, what masses
were drawn to the spot, what foundations were laid, what . beams were placed on high, what columns raised. Its song is of nothing of this kind: and if its song be of another
sort, doth then the Psalm not agree with its title, but beareth one thing in its title, another in its words ? It doth nothing of the sort, but only seeketh those who can under stand it. For it speaketh of the building of the house. Let
all the stones of that house know what they have sung. For the house is built unto God, not in the place where Solomon built. For he built a temple: and ye have just heard what the Lord said of that very temple. When His
disciples were admiring the stones and vast masses of the temple, they discovered their admiration and wonderIunto
Mat. 24, the Lord; and He said unto them, Verily, verily,
unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. It is no such house that is in building; for behold where it is built, not in one spot, not in any particular region. For thus he commenceth.
gated
ictiron. '
say
o. Ver. 1. 0 sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. If all the earth singeth a new song, it is* thus building while it singeth : the very act of singing is building: but only, if it singeth not the old song. The lust of the flesh singeth the old song : the love of God singeth the new. Whatever thou singest of lust, thou art
Singing and building. Error of Rebuptizing. 399
singing lhe old song ; although the words of the new song Ver.
