But what
hath He delivered ?
hath He delivered ?
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v1
who worthily praise the heaven and the earth, the sea and all things that are therein ?
And these indeed are things visible.
Who can worthily praise Angels, Thrones,
Sovereignties, Principalities, and Powers ? Who can worthily praise that very power that works actively within us, quicken ing the body, moving the limbs, bringing the senses into
the victim of rejoicing.
proclaim
action, embracing so many things by the memory, discri minating so many things by the intellect; who can worthily praise it? But if in these creatures of God human language is so embarrassed, how fares it in the case of the Creator, e/xcept
in default of language there remain rejoicing alone ?
have gone about, and have sacrificed in His tabernacle the victim
of rejoicing.
13. There is another interpretation also, which seems to
Oronviewing the Church victorious. Presentgrief andprayer. 201
me to have a closer reference to the context of the Psalm. VBr.
- which is Christ; and that his Head, which is Christ, was exalted above his enemies ; he would have it understood
that he himself, who was exalted on the Rock, was exalted in the same, his Head, above his enemies : referring this to
For since he had said that he was exalted on the Rock, -6--
the Church's honour, to which the
enemies gave way : and since this was effected through the faith of the whole world, he saith, 1 have gone about, and have sacrificed in His tabernacle the victim ofrejoic ing: that is, I have considered the faith of the whole world, in which faith my Head hath been exalted above them that persecuted me ; and in His very tabernacle, that is, in the Church spread abroad throughout the whole world, have I in
manner unspeakable praised the Lord.
/will
in safety, and sing in safety, and give praise in safety, when
we shall contemplate the delight of the Lord, and shall be protected as His temple in that incorruption, when death l Cor. shall be swallowed up in victory. But what now ? For 1. s, 54, those joys, which we shall have, when we shall have gained
that one petition, have been already spoken of. But what
now? Hear my voice, O Lord. Let us groan now, let us
pray now. Groaning belongs not but to the miserable, prayer belongs not but to the necessitous. Prayer shall
pass away, praise shall take its place ; tears shall pass away,
joy shall take their place. Now in the meanwhile, whilst we are in the days of our evils, let not our prayer to God cease, from Whom we ask that one petition ; and from this petition let us not desist, until by His gift and guidance we attain unto it. (Ver. 7. ) Hear my voice, O Lord, wherewith I have cried unto Thee: have mercy upon me, and hear me. He makes that one petition ; entreating, weeping, groaning so long, he makes but that one. He has put an end to all His desires; there hath remained that one petition, which he asks.
15. Hear why heI makes this petition: (ver. 8. ) My heart
14.
sing
and
to the Lord. We shall give praises be
hath said to Thee,
have sought Thy coIuntenance. This then
is what he said a little before, That I
may contemplate the
delight of the Lord. My heart hath said to Thee,
sought Thy countenance. If our joy were in this visible sun,
persecution of the
have
202 Seek the light of God's countenance, not earthly gifts. Pbalm out heart would not say, / have sought Thy countenance ;
Exp. il out, the eyes of our body. To whom saith our heart, /
have sought Thy countenance, but to Him Who appertaineth to the eye of the heart ? The eyes of the flesh seek this visible
light, the eyes of the heart seek that other light. But thou
wouldest see that light, which is seen by the eyes of the 1 Johu heart ; because this Light is God. For God is Light, saith
' 5'
John, and in Him is no darkness at all. Wouldest thou then see that light? Purify the eye, whereby Christ is seen, for,
Matt. 5, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
16. My heart hath said unto Thee, I have sought Thy
countenance; Thy countenance, O Lord, will I
seek. I have made one petition of the Lord, this will I seek, Thy coun
tenance. Turn not away Thy facefrom me. How he hath planted himself in that one petition ! Wouldest thou obtain thy request ? Seek nothing else. Be thou sufficient but for one petitionI, for one will suffice thee. My heart hath said
unto Thee,
O Lord, will I
have sought Thy countenance; Thy countenance,
seek. Turn not
turn not aside in anger from Thy servant. Magnificent !
nothing can be more divinely spoken ! This is the feeling of those that truly love. Another man would be blessed and immortal in these pleasures of earthly lusts which he loves : and peradventure for this reason would worship God, and pray, that he may long live here in his delights, and that nothing should fail him, which earthly desire has in posses sion, neither gold, nor silver, nor any estate that charms his eyes, that his friends, his children, his wife, his dependents, should not die; in these delights would he live for ever. But since he cannot for ever, for he knows that he is mortal; for this haply does he worship God, and for this pray to God, and for this sigh to God, that all these things may last even to old age. And if God should say to him, Lo ! I make thee immortal in these things, he would accept it as a great boon, and in the exultation of his joy and self- congratulation would be unable to contain himself. Not so doth this man wish, who hath made one petition of the Lord. But what doth he wish ? To contemplate the delight of the Lord all the days of his life. And on the contrary the other, who in this way and for this reason would worship the Lord, if
away Thy face from
me :
God's turning away from us, the greatest punishment. 203 those temporal advantages were at his hand, would not fear Ver.
8' 9'
For what doth he fear His anger? Lest He take
away that which he hath loved. What hath he loved ? Thy countenance. Therefore he deems this to be the anger of
the Lord, if He turn away His countenance from him.
(Ver. 9. ) Turn not aside in anger from Thy servant. He
might by chance be answered thus ; " Why fearest thou lest
He should turn aside from thee in anger? Rather if He should
turn aside from thee in anger, He will not avenge Himself
on thee: if thou meet Him in His anger, He will be avenged
on thee. Rather then desire that He may turn aside from
thee when in anger. " " No," says he ; for he knows what
he longs for; " His anger is nothing else than the turning
away of His countenance. " " What if He will make thee immortal in these delights, and in the"enjoyment of earthly gratifications ? " Such a lover answers, 1 would not have it; whatever I have beside Him has no charms for me : what
ever my Lord would give me, let Him take away all, give
me Himself. " Turn not aside in anger from Thy servant.
From some peradventure He doth turn aside, not in anger ;
as from certain who say to Him, Turn away Thy face from Ps. 51,9.
my sins. When He turneth away His face from thy sins, He doth not turn aside from thee in anger. Let Him then turn away His face from thy sins: but let Him not turn away His face from thee.
17. Be Thou my helper: leave me not. For, lo, I am in
the way, I have made the one petition of Thee, to dwell in
Thy house all the days of my life, to contemplate Thy delight, and be protected as Thy temple : this is my one petition : but that I may attain unto " am in the way. Peradventure Thou wilt say unto me, Strive, walk, have
given thee freewill; thou art master of thine own will, follow
on the way, seek peace, and ensue it; turn not aside from Ps. 34, the way, abide not therein, look not back persevere in walking, for he that shall persevere unto the end, the same Mat. 24, shall be saved. " Now that thou hast received freewill, thou
dost rely as were on the power of walking rely not ou
the anger of his Lord, unless lest He should take them away. This man feareth not His anger on this account;
since he hath said of his enemies, That they may eat my ver. 2.
Jlesh.
it
:
;
I
it, I
2.
Gal. 4, 26.
who is the mother ? There is a certain city, that is called Babylon ; this city is the company of all the lost from the East even unto the West; she hath a kingdom on earth: after this city a certain* state is named, which ye now see growing old and waning. This was our first mother, in this were we born. We have known another father, God; we have left the devil. For how dare he approach those, whom He, Who overcometh all things, hath taken up ? We have known another mother, the heavenly Jerusalem, which
204 GodandthcChnrch,insteadofParents,orofSatanandBabylon.
Psalm thyself; if He should leave thee, thou wilt faint in the very Exrll uay, tnou "*'* ^all, w^t go astray, wilt come to a stand:
-- say then to Him, Thou hast given me indeed a free will, but without Thee my efforts are nothing : Be Thou my helper : leave me not; neither despise me, 0 God of my salvation. For Thou dost help, Who formedst ; Thou dost not desert, Who creatcdst.
18. Ver. 10. For my father and my mother have left me. He hath made himself a babe unto God: he hath made Him Father, he hath made Him Mother. He is Father, in that He made, in that He calleth, in that He ordereth, in that He ruleth him : Mother, in that He cherisheth, in that He nourisheth him, in that He suckleth, in that He beareth him. Myfather and my mother hare left me: but the Lord hath taken me up : both to rule me, and to nourish me. Mortal parents beget, children succeed, mortals to other mortals ; and for this were they born who might succeed,
that those who begot them might depart : He will not depart Who created me, I will not withdraw from Him. My father and my mother have left me: but the Lord hath taken me
Beside those two parents also, of whose flesh we were born, the man the father, the woman the mother, as Adam and Eve ; besides those two parents, we have here auother father and another mother, or rather we had. The father according to the world is the devil, and he was our father when we were unbelievers. For to unbelievers the Lord
John 8, saith, Ye are of your father the devil. If he be the father of &ih 2 a^ tne ungodly, who worketh in the children of disobedience,
up.
? He means the Roman empire, of Italy, A. D. 406, and the capture of which was now as it were waxing old, the city, A. D. 410. Ben.
and failing, from the time of the wasting
J'
Demons not to be worshipped even for temporal blessings. 205
is the holy Church, a portion whereof is a pilgrim on earth: Ver.
we have left Babylon. Myfather and my mother have left me: they have nothing now to give me; since even when they seemed to give to me, it was Thou Who gavest, and I set it down to them.
--
19. For by whom, even with respect to this world, is aught given to man, but by God ? Or what is taken away from man, except He order, or permit, Who gave it? But vain
men imagine, that those spirits 1, whom they adore, give it : ' dte- and sometimes they say to themselves, God is necessary for
life eternal, for that spiritual life ; but these powers ought to be worshipped by us for these temporal things. O the folly of mankind ! thou hast more love for those things for which thou wouldest worship them : in good truth, thou hast more mind to worship them, or, not to say more, at least as much. But God will not be worshipped together with them, not even though He be worshipped much more, and they much less. What then, thou wilt say, are they not necessary too for these things ? No. But we have reason to fear, lest they do one harm in their anger. No harm will they do, unless He permit. They have always the wish to do harm, nor, if they be appeased, or if they be entreated, do they cease to wish to do harm. For this is a property of their malevolence. Therefore what wilt thou gain by worshipping them, save that thou wilt offend Him, by offending Whom thou wilt be given over into their power, that they who could do nothing to thee when He is favourable, may do what they will when He is angry? And that thou mayest know, who soever thou art who thinkest so, how vainly thou dost worship them, as if for temporal benefits: of all that worship Neptune have none suffered shipwreck? or of all who blaspheme Neptune have none arrived in port ? Have all the women who worship Juno had a good delivery ? or all who blas pheme Juno a bad delivery ? From this, beloved brethren, ye may understand the folly of those men who will worship them even for these temporal things. For if for these temporal things they ought to be worshipped, their wor shippers alone would abound in all temporal blessings. And indeed if this were the case, we ought to avoid such gifts, and make one petition of the Lord. To this must be
206 A Law desirable to those who have God's help.
Psalm added, that it is He Who giveth even these things, Who is XXVII offended when these ? are Therefore let
ExPji)
spirits worshipped.
our father and our mother leave us ; let the devil leave us,
the city Babylon leave us: let the Lord take us up to console us with things temporal, and to bless us with things eternal. For my father and my mother have left me : but the Lord hath taken me up.
20. Now then he hath been taken up by the Lord, having abandoned that city, and its ruler the devil, for the devil is the ruler of the ungodly, the ruler of the world, of this darkness. What darkness ? Sinners, unbelievers. Whence the Apostle saith to them that now believe, Ye were some times darkness, but now light in the Lord. Being then now taken up by Him, what say we? (Ver. 11. ) Appoint men late, O Lord, in Thy way. Hast thou dared to ask for a law? What if He should say to thee, " Thou shalt fulfil the law ? if I give a law, thou shalt fulfil it ? " He would not dare ask unless he said first, But the Lord hath taken me up. He would not dare ask unless he said first, Be Tfwu my helper. Therefore Thou helpest, Thou takest me up, give me law. Appoint me, Lord, a law in Thy tray.
Eph. 5,
Therefore, appoint me a law in Thy Christ. For the Way JohnH, Himself hath spoken unto us, and said, am the Way, the
Prov.
Truth, and the Life. law in Christ, law with mercy. This the Wisdom, of Which written, She carrieth law and mercy in her tongue. And thou shalt commit any offence in the law, He Who shed His Blood for thee, pardons thee on confession only forsake not thou the way, say unto Him, Be Thou my upholder, and direct me in the right path, because mine enemies. Give me law, but take not mercy away as he said in another Psalm, For He
will give mercy, Who hath given a law Therefore, Appoint me a law, O Lord, in Thy way this refers to the precept what refers to mercy And direct me, saith he, in the right path, because of mine enemies.
21. Ver. 12. Deliver me not up unto the souls of them that trouble me that is, let me not consent to them that trouble me. For thou shalt consent to him that troubleth thee, unto his soul, he will not, so to say, devour thy flesh, but by
Ps. 84, 6. K<<) yi( ii>. oy',a: Mn ntutirS,. LXX.
i
if is
"
if :
?
is
a
it,
:
:
it
it, O
:
".
if a
: of
A
if
a
is I
The Psalmist prays not to he left, in soul, to his enemies'1 will. 207
a perverted will he will eat up thy soul. Deliver me not up Ver.
unto the souls of them that trouble me. Deliver me, if it please Thee, into the hands of them that trouble me. For
this Martyrs have said to Him, and He hath delivered His
own into the hands of them that trouble them.
But what
hath He delivered ? The flesh. Which is meant in the
book of Job, The earth hath been delivered into the hands Job 9,
'
of the wicked; the flesh hath been delivered into the hands of the persecutor. Deliver me not up, not my flesh, but me. I speak unto Thee as a soul, as mind I speak unto Thee : I do not say, Deliver not up my flesh into the hands of them that trouble me ; but, Deliver me not up unto the souls of them that trouble me. And how are men delivered up unto the souls of them that trouble them ? For unrighteous witnesses have risen up against me. Now, for that there are unrighteous witnesses, and they speak much evil against me, and in many things defame me, if I shall have been delivered up unto their souls, I also shall lie, and shall be their com panion, not a partaker of Thy truth, but a partaker with them in a lie against Thee : Unrighteous witnesses have risen up against me ; and iniquity hath lied unto itself: unto itself, and not unto me : unto itself let it ever lie, but let it not lie unto me. If Thou shalt have delivered me up unto the souls of them that trouble me, that is, if I shall have consented to their wishes; now will not iniquity already havelied unto itself, but unto me also : whereas if they exercise against me all the violence they wish, and endeavour to hinder my free course, and notwithstanding Thou give me not over unto their souls : by not consenting to their wishes, I shall abide and continue in Thy truth, and iniquity will lie not unto me, but unto itself.
22. He returns to that one petition after these dangers, after toils, after difficulties, amid the hands of them that persecute and trouble him, gasping, panting, travailing, yet stedfast, and assured while He upholdeth, helpeth, guideth, ruleth ; yet, after that going about and rejoicing, in joy exulting, in travails groaning, he sighed at last, and said,
(ver. 13. ) 1 believe to see the good things ofthe Lord in the land of the living. O the good things of the Lord, sweet, immortal, incomparable, eternal, unchangeable ! And when
' ? '
208 True good in the earth of the living. Manly endurance.
Psalm shall I see you, ye good things of the Lord ? Exp. il see you, but not in the earth of the dying. /
the good things of the Lord in the earth of the living. The Lord shall deliver me from the earth of the dying, Who for my sake vouchsafed to take upon Himself the earth of the dying, and to die amid the hands of the dying : the Lord
/
to see the good things of the Lord in the earth of the living. Panting he spoke, travailing he spoke, he spoke in peril
shall deliver me from the earth of the dying :
believe
amid a mighty crowd of temptations : but yet wholly de pending on His mercy, to Whom he said, Appoint me a late, O Lord.
23. And what doth He say, Who hath appointed him a law ? Let us hear the Voice of the Lord too exhorting us from on high, consoling us ; His Voice Whom we have for father and mother, who have left us : let us hear His Voice. For He hath heard our groans, He hath seen our deep sighs, He hath beheld our longing ; and our one petition, the one request through Christ our Advocate hath He gladly received ; and until we accomplish this pilgrimage, during which He will defer, not take away, what He hath promised, He hath said unto us, Wait on the Lord. Thou wilt not wait on a false one, not on one that can be deceived, not on one that will not find what to give. The Almighty hath promised, the Sure One hath promised, the True hath promised. Wait on the Lord, quit thyself like a man. Faint not : be not of
Ecclus. them to whom it is said, Woe unto them that have lost
I believe to believe to see
' '
endurance. Wait on the Lord, is said to us all, and to one Man is it said. We are one Man in Christ, we are the Body of Christ, who have that one longing, who make that one petition, who in those days of our evils groan, who believe to see the good things of the Lord in the earth of the living ; to us all who are one in One it is said, (ver. 14. ) Wait on the Lord, quit thyself like a man ; and let thy heart be strong, yea, wait on the Lord. What else saith He to thee, than repeat what thou hast heard? Wait on the Lord, quit thyself
like a man. Therefore he who hath lost endurance, hath
become effeminate, hath lost vigour. Let men, let women, Gal. 3, listen to this ; for in the one man is man and woman. Such an one in Christ is neither male, nor female. Wait on the
The Man, Christ, desires not to be as His enemies shall be. 209
Lord, quit thyself like a man ; let thy heart be strong, yea, Ver. wait on the Lord. By waiting on the Lord thou shall - possess Him, thou shalt possess Him on Whom thou shalt
wait. Long for somewhat else, if thou canst find aught greater, better, sweeter.
PSALM XXVIII. Of David himself.
Lat. XXVII.
1. It is the Voice of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand
in the conflict of the Passion. Now what He seems to wish
for against His enemies, is not the wish of malevolence, but
the declaration of their punishment ; as in the Gospel, with Mat. n,
--
the cities, in which though He had performed miracles, yet they had not believed on Him, He doth not wish in any evil will what He saith, but predicteth what is impending over
them. I cried; My God, be 2. Ver. 1. Unto Thee, O Lord, have
not silent from me. Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried ; My God, separate not the unity of Thy Word from that which as Man I am. Lest at any time Thou be silent from me: and L shall be like them that go down into the pit. For from this, that the Eternity of Thy Word ceaseth not to unite Itself to Me, it comes that I am not such a man as the rest of men, who are born into the deep misery of this world: where,
as if Thou art silent, Thy Word is not recognised. Hear, O Lord, theIvoice of my supplication, whilst
'
(Ver. 2. ) I pray
hold up my hands to Thy holy temple. Whilst I am crucified for their salvation, who on believing
become Thy holy temple.
3. Ver. 3. Draw not My Soul away with sinners, and
destroy me not with them that work iniquity, with them that
speak peace with their neighbours. With them that say unto
Me, We know that Thou art a Master come from God. But John 3, evil in their hearts. But they speak evil in their hearts.
4. Ver. 4. Give unto them according to their works. Give
unto Thee, whilst
unto them according to their works, for this is just.
according to the malice of their affections1. For aiming atnum/
^nd^^*^
210 Judgments foretold. God the Helper of His people.
Psalm evil, they cannot discover good. According to the works of '" their hands give Thou unto them. Although what they have done may avail for salvation to others, yet give Thou unto
them according to the works of their wills. Pay them their
Rom.
have been helped. And My Flesh hath flourished again: that and My Flesh hath risen again. And of my will will confess unto Him. Wherefore, the fear
of death being now destroyed, not by the necessity of fear under the Law, but with free will with the Law, shall they who believe on Me, confess unto Him and because am in them, will confess.
8. Ver. 8. The Lord is the strength of His people. Not that people ignorant of the righteousness of God, and willing to establish their own. For they thought not themselves strong in themselves: for the Lord the strength of His
Because, for the truth which they heard, they wished to recompense deceit; let their own deceit deceive them.
5. Vef. . 5. For they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord. And whence is it clear that this hath befallen them ? From this forsooth, for they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord. This very thing, in truth, hath been, even now, their recompense, that in Him Whom they tempted with malicious intent as a Man, they should not recognise God, with what design the Father sent Him in the Flesh. And the works of His hands. Nor be moved by those visible works, which are laid out before their very eyes.
Thou shall destroy them, and not build them up. Let them do Me no hurt, nay, nor again in their endeavour to raise engines against My Church, let them aught avail.
6. Ver. 6. Blessed be the Lord, for He hath heard the voice of My prayer.
7- Ver. 7. The Lord My Helper and My Protector. The Lord helping Me in so great sufferings, and protecting Me with immortality in My resurrection. In Him hath My
recompense.
Heart trusted, and I
in this life's difficulties with the devil. And the protector of the salvation of His Christ. That,
having saved them by His Christ, after the strength of war, He may protect them at the last with the immortality of peace.
people, struggling
is
;
I
I
I
a
is,
God glorified in the Church. Effects of His Voice. 211
9. Ver. 9. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Ver. I intercede therefore, after My Flesh hath flourished again,
because Thou hast said, Desire of Me, and
the heathen for Thine inheritance, Save Thy people, and
bless Thine inheritance : for all Mine are Thine. And rule Johnir, them, and set them up even for ever. And rule them in this temporal life, and raise them from hence into life eternal.
PSALM XXIX. Lat. XXVIII.
A Psalm of David himself, of the consummation of the tabernacle.
1. A Psalm of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand, of the perfection of the Church in this world, where she wars in time against the devil.
2. The Prophet speaks, (ver. 1. ) Bring unto the Lord, O ye Sons of God, bring unto the Lord the young of rams. Bring unto the Lord yourselves, whom the Apostles, the
leaders of the flocks, have begotten by the Gospel. (Ver. 2. )i Cor. Bring unto the Lord glory and honour. By your works let '
the Lord be glorified and honoured. Bring unto the Lord
glory to His name. Let Him be made known gloriously throughout the world. Worship the Lord in His holy court. Worship the Lord in your heart enlarged and sanctified. For ye are His regal holy habitation.
3. Ver. 3. The Voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The Voice of Christ is upon the peoples. The God of majesty hath thundered. The God of majesty, from the cloud of the flesh, hath awfully preached repentance. The Lord is upon many waters. The Lord Jesus Himself, after that He sent forth His Voice upon the peoples, and struck them with awe, converted them to Himself, and dwelt in them.
4. Ver. 4. The Voice of the Lord is in power. The Voice of the Lord now in them themselves, making them powerful. The Voice of the Lord is in great might. The Voice of the
Lord working great things in them.
5. Ver. 5. The Voice of the Lord breaking the cedars.
The Voice of the Lord humbling the proud in brokenness of p2
I will
give
Thee Pa. 2, 8.
212 Voice of God breaks pride and malice, and strengthens His own.
Psalm heart. The Lord shall break the cedars of Libanus. The ftXIX. Lord by repentance shall break them that are lifted on high by the splendour of earthly nobility, when to confound them
. . . which to display His Divmity.
6. Ver. 6. And shall bruise them as the calf of Libanus. And when their proud exaltation hath been cut off, He will lay them low after the imitation of His Own humility, Who
l Cor. l. He shall have chosen the base things of this world, in the
28
Is. 53,7. like a calf was led to slaughter by the nobility of this world. Ps. 2,2. For the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers agreed together against the Lord, and against His Christ. And the
Beloved is as the young of the unicorns. For even He the Phil. 2, Beloved, and the Only One of the Father, emptied Himself of His glory ; and was made man, like a child of the Jews,
that were ignorant of God's righteousness, and proudly boast- ing of their own righteousness as peculiarly theirs.
7. Ver. 7. The Voice of the Lord cutting short the flame of
The Voice of the Lord, without any harm to Himself, passing through all the excited ardour of them that persecute Him, or dividing the furious rage of His persecutors, so
John 7, that some should say, Is not this haply the very Christ ; ' others, Nay; but He deceiveth the people : and so cutting
short their mad tumult, as to pass some over into His love, and leave others in their malice.
8. Ver.
Sovereignties, Principalities, and Powers ? Who can worthily praise that very power that works actively within us, quicken ing the body, moving the limbs, bringing the senses into
the victim of rejoicing.
proclaim
action, embracing so many things by the memory, discri minating so many things by the intellect; who can worthily praise it? But if in these creatures of God human language is so embarrassed, how fares it in the case of the Creator, e/xcept
in default of language there remain rejoicing alone ?
have gone about, and have sacrificed in His tabernacle the victim
of rejoicing.
13. There is another interpretation also, which seems to
Oronviewing the Church victorious. Presentgrief andprayer. 201
me to have a closer reference to the context of the Psalm. VBr.
- which is Christ; and that his Head, which is Christ, was exalted above his enemies ; he would have it understood
that he himself, who was exalted on the Rock, was exalted in the same, his Head, above his enemies : referring this to
For since he had said that he was exalted on the Rock, -6--
the Church's honour, to which the
enemies gave way : and since this was effected through the faith of the whole world, he saith, 1 have gone about, and have sacrificed in His tabernacle the victim ofrejoic ing: that is, I have considered the faith of the whole world, in which faith my Head hath been exalted above them that persecuted me ; and in His very tabernacle, that is, in the Church spread abroad throughout the whole world, have I in
manner unspeakable praised the Lord.
/will
in safety, and sing in safety, and give praise in safety, when
we shall contemplate the delight of the Lord, and shall be protected as His temple in that incorruption, when death l Cor. shall be swallowed up in victory. But what now ? For 1. s, 54, those joys, which we shall have, when we shall have gained
that one petition, have been already spoken of. But what
now? Hear my voice, O Lord. Let us groan now, let us
pray now. Groaning belongs not but to the miserable, prayer belongs not but to the necessitous. Prayer shall
pass away, praise shall take its place ; tears shall pass away,
joy shall take their place. Now in the meanwhile, whilst we are in the days of our evils, let not our prayer to God cease, from Whom we ask that one petition ; and from this petition let us not desist, until by His gift and guidance we attain unto it. (Ver. 7. ) Hear my voice, O Lord, wherewith I have cried unto Thee: have mercy upon me, and hear me. He makes that one petition ; entreating, weeping, groaning so long, he makes but that one. He has put an end to all His desires; there hath remained that one petition, which he asks.
15. Hear why heI makes this petition: (ver. 8. ) My heart
14.
sing
and
to the Lord. We shall give praises be
hath said to Thee,
have sought Thy coIuntenance. This then
is what he said a little before, That I
may contemplate the
delight of the Lord. My heart hath said to Thee,
sought Thy countenance. If our joy were in this visible sun,
persecution of the
have
202 Seek the light of God's countenance, not earthly gifts. Pbalm out heart would not say, / have sought Thy countenance ;
Exp. il out, the eyes of our body. To whom saith our heart, /
have sought Thy countenance, but to Him Who appertaineth to the eye of the heart ? The eyes of the flesh seek this visible
light, the eyes of the heart seek that other light. But thou
wouldest see that light, which is seen by the eyes of the 1 Johu heart ; because this Light is God. For God is Light, saith
' 5'
John, and in Him is no darkness at all. Wouldest thou then see that light? Purify the eye, whereby Christ is seen, for,
Matt. 5, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
16. My heart hath said unto Thee, I have sought Thy
countenance; Thy countenance, O Lord, will I
seek. I have made one petition of the Lord, this will I seek, Thy coun
tenance. Turn not away Thy facefrom me. How he hath planted himself in that one petition ! Wouldest thou obtain thy request ? Seek nothing else. Be thou sufficient but for one petitionI, for one will suffice thee. My heart hath said
unto Thee,
O Lord, will I
have sought Thy countenance; Thy countenance,
seek. Turn not
turn not aside in anger from Thy servant. Magnificent !
nothing can be more divinely spoken ! This is the feeling of those that truly love. Another man would be blessed and immortal in these pleasures of earthly lusts which he loves : and peradventure for this reason would worship God, and pray, that he may long live here in his delights, and that nothing should fail him, which earthly desire has in posses sion, neither gold, nor silver, nor any estate that charms his eyes, that his friends, his children, his wife, his dependents, should not die; in these delights would he live for ever. But since he cannot for ever, for he knows that he is mortal; for this haply does he worship God, and for this pray to God, and for this sigh to God, that all these things may last even to old age. And if God should say to him, Lo ! I make thee immortal in these things, he would accept it as a great boon, and in the exultation of his joy and self- congratulation would be unable to contain himself. Not so doth this man wish, who hath made one petition of the Lord. But what doth he wish ? To contemplate the delight of the Lord all the days of his life. And on the contrary the other, who in this way and for this reason would worship the Lord, if
away Thy face from
me :
God's turning away from us, the greatest punishment. 203 those temporal advantages were at his hand, would not fear Ver.
8' 9'
For what doth he fear His anger? Lest He take
away that which he hath loved. What hath he loved ? Thy countenance. Therefore he deems this to be the anger of
the Lord, if He turn away His countenance from him.
(Ver. 9. ) Turn not aside in anger from Thy servant. He
might by chance be answered thus ; " Why fearest thou lest
He should turn aside from thee in anger? Rather if He should
turn aside from thee in anger, He will not avenge Himself
on thee: if thou meet Him in His anger, He will be avenged
on thee. Rather then desire that He may turn aside from
thee when in anger. " " No," says he ; for he knows what
he longs for; " His anger is nothing else than the turning
away of His countenance. " " What if He will make thee immortal in these delights, and in the"enjoyment of earthly gratifications ? " Such a lover answers, 1 would not have it; whatever I have beside Him has no charms for me : what
ever my Lord would give me, let Him take away all, give
me Himself. " Turn not aside in anger from Thy servant.
From some peradventure He doth turn aside, not in anger ;
as from certain who say to Him, Turn away Thy face from Ps. 51,9.
my sins. When He turneth away His face from thy sins, He doth not turn aside from thee in anger. Let Him then turn away His face from thy sins: but let Him not turn away His face from thee.
17. Be Thou my helper: leave me not. For, lo, I am in
the way, I have made the one petition of Thee, to dwell in
Thy house all the days of my life, to contemplate Thy delight, and be protected as Thy temple : this is my one petition : but that I may attain unto " am in the way. Peradventure Thou wilt say unto me, Strive, walk, have
given thee freewill; thou art master of thine own will, follow
on the way, seek peace, and ensue it; turn not aside from Ps. 34, the way, abide not therein, look not back persevere in walking, for he that shall persevere unto the end, the same Mat. 24, shall be saved. " Now that thou hast received freewill, thou
dost rely as were on the power of walking rely not ou
the anger of his Lord, unless lest He should take them away. This man feareth not His anger on this account;
since he hath said of his enemies, That they may eat my ver. 2.
Jlesh.
it
:
;
I
it, I
2.
Gal. 4, 26.
who is the mother ? There is a certain city, that is called Babylon ; this city is the company of all the lost from the East even unto the West; she hath a kingdom on earth: after this city a certain* state is named, which ye now see growing old and waning. This was our first mother, in this were we born. We have known another father, God; we have left the devil. For how dare he approach those, whom He, Who overcometh all things, hath taken up ? We have known another mother, the heavenly Jerusalem, which
204 GodandthcChnrch,insteadofParents,orofSatanandBabylon.
Psalm thyself; if He should leave thee, thou wilt faint in the very Exrll uay, tnou "*'* ^all, w^t go astray, wilt come to a stand:
-- say then to Him, Thou hast given me indeed a free will, but without Thee my efforts are nothing : Be Thou my helper : leave me not; neither despise me, 0 God of my salvation. For Thou dost help, Who formedst ; Thou dost not desert, Who creatcdst.
18. Ver. 10. For my father and my mother have left me. He hath made himself a babe unto God: he hath made Him Father, he hath made Him Mother. He is Father, in that He made, in that He calleth, in that He ordereth, in that He ruleth him : Mother, in that He cherisheth, in that He nourisheth him, in that He suckleth, in that He beareth him. Myfather and my mother hare left me: but the Lord hath taken me up : both to rule me, and to nourish me. Mortal parents beget, children succeed, mortals to other mortals ; and for this were they born who might succeed,
that those who begot them might depart : He will not depart Who created me, I will not withdraw from Him. My father and my mother have left me: but the Lord hath taken me
Beside those two parents also, of whose flesh we were born, the man the father, the woman the mother, as Adam and Eve ; besides those two parents, we have here auother father and another mother, or rather we had. The father according to the world is the devil, and he was our father when we were unbelievers. For to unbelievers the Lord
John 8, saith, Ye are of your father the devil. If he be the father of &ih 2 a^ tne ungodly, who worketh in the children of disobedience,
up.
? He means the Roman empire, of Italy, A. D. 406, and the capture of which was now as it were waxing old, the city, A. D. 410. Ben.
and failing, from the time of the wasting
J'
Demons not to be worshipped even for temporal blessings. 205
is the holy Church, a portion whereof is a pilgrim on earth: Ver.
we have left Babylon. Myfather and my mother have left me: they have nothing now to give me; since even when they seemed to give to me, it was Thou Who gavest, and I set it down to them.
--
19. For by whom, even with respect to this world, is aught given to man, but by God ? Or what is taken away from man, except He order, or permit, Who gave it? But vain
men imagine, that those spirits 1, whom they adore, give it : ' dte- and sometimes they say to themselves, God is necessary for
life eternal, for that spiritual life ; but these powers ought to be worshipped by us for these temporal things. O the folly of mankind ! thou hast more love for those things for which thou wouldest worship them : in good truth, thou hast more mind to worship them, or, not to say more, at least as much. But God will not be worshipped together with them, not even though He be worshipped much more, and they much less. What then, thou wilt say, are they not necessary too for these things ? No. But we have reason to fear, lest they do one harm in their anger. No harm will they do, unless He permit. They have always the wish to do harm, nor, if they be appeased, or if they be entreated, do they cease to wish to do harm. For this is a property of their malevolence. Therefore what wilt thou gain by worshipping them, save that thou wilt offend Him, by offending Whom thou wilt be given over into their power, that they who could do nothing to thee when He is favourable, may do what they will when He is angry? And that thou mayest know, who soever thou art who thinkest so, how vainly thou dost worship them, as if for temporal benefits: of all that worship Neptune have none suffered shipwreck? or of all who blaspheme Neptune have none arrived in port ? Have all the women who worship Juno had a good delivery ? or all who blas pheme Juno a bad delivery ? From this, beloved brethren, ye may understand the folly of those men who will worship them even for these temporal things. For if for these temporal things they ought to be worshipped, their wor shippers alone would abound in all temporal blessings. And indeed if this were the case, we ought to avoid such gifts, and make one petition of the Lord. To this must be
206 A Law desirable to those who have God's help.
Psalm added, that it is He Who giveth even these things, Who is XXVII offended when these ? are Therefore let
ExPji)
spirits worshipped.
our father and our mother leave us ; let the devil leave us,
the city Babylon leave us: let the Lord take us up to console us with things temporal, and to bless us with things eternal. For my father and my mother have left me : but the Lord hath taken me up.
20. Now then he hath been taken up by the Lord, having abandoned that city, and its ruler the devil, for the devil is the ruler of the ungodly, the ruler of the world, of this darkness. What darkness ? Sinners, unbelievers. Whence the Apostle saith to them that now believe, Ye were some times darkness, but now light in the Lord. Being then now taken up by Him, what say we? (Ver. 11. ) Appoint men late, O Lord, in Thy way. Hast thou dared to ask for a law? What if He should say to thee, " Thou shalt fulfil the law ? if I give a law, thou shalt fulfil it ? " He would not dare ask unless he said first, But the Lord hath taken me up. He would not dare ask unless he said first, Be Tfwu my helper. Therefore Thou helpest, Thou takest me up, give me law. Appoint me, Lord, a law in Thy tray.
Eph. 5,
Therefore, appoint me a law in Thy Christ. For the Way JohnH, Himself hath spoken unto us, and said, am the Way, the
Prov.
Truth, and the Life. law in Christ, law with mercy. This the Wisdom, of Which written, She carrieth law and mercy in her tongue. And thou shalt commit any offence in the law, He Who shed His Blood for thee, pardons thee on confession only forsake not thou the way, say unto Him, Be Thou my upholder, and direct me in the right path, because mine enemies. Give me law, but take not mercy away as he said in another Psalm, For He
will give mercy, Who hath given a law Therefore, Appoint me a law, O Lord, in Thy way this refers to the precept what refers to mercy And direct me, saith he, in the right path, because of mine enemies.
21. Ver. 12. Deliver me not up unto the souls of them that trouble me that is, let me not consent to them that trouble me. For thou shalt consent to him that troubleth thee, unto his soul, he will not, so to say, devour thy flesh, but by
Ps. 84, 6. K<<) yi( ii>. oy',a: Mn ntutirS,. LXX.
i
if is
"
if :
?
is
a
it,
:
:
it
it, O
:
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if a
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is I
The Psalmist prays not to he left, in soul, to his enemies'1 will. 207
a perverted will he will eat up thy soul. Deliver me not up Ver.
unto the souls of them that trouble me. Deliver me, if it please Thee, into the hands of them that trouble me. For
this Martyrs have said to Him, and He hath delivered His
own into the hands of them that trouble them.
But what
hath He delivered ? The flesh. Which is meant in the
book of Job, The earth hath been delivered into the hands Job 9,
'
of the wicked; the flesh hath been delivered into the hands of the persecutor. Deliver me not up, not my flesh, but me. I speak unto Thee as a soul, as mind I speak unto Thee : I do not say, Deliver not up my flesh into the hands of them that trouble me ; but, Deliver me not up unto the souls of them that trouble me. And how are men delivered up unto the souls of them that trouble them ? For unrighteous witnesses have risen up against me. Now, for that there are unrighteous witnesses, and they speak much evil against me, and in many things defame me, if I shall have been delivered up unto their souls, I also shall lie, and shall be their com panion, not a partaker of Thy truth, but a partaker with them in a lie against Thee : Unrighteous witnesses have risen up against me ; and iniquity hath lied unto itself: unto itself, and not unto me : unto itself let it ever lie, but let it not lie unto me. If Thou shalt have delivered me up unto the souls of them that trouble me, that is, if I shall have consented to their wishes; now will not iniquity already havelied unto itself, but unto me also : whereas if they exercise against me all the violence they wish, and endeavour to hinder my free course, and notwithstanding Thou give me not over unto their souls : by not consenting to their wishes, I shall abide and continue in Thy truth, and iniquity will lie not unto me, but unto itself.
22. He returns to that one petition after these dangers, after toils, after difficulties, amid the hands of them that persecute and trouble him, gasping, panting, travailing, yet stedfast, and assured while He upholdeth, helpeth, guideth, ruleth ; yet, after that going about and rejoicing, in joy exulting, in travails groaning, he sighed at last, and said,
(ver. 13. ) 1 believe to see the good things ofthe Lord in the land of the living. O the good things of the Lord, sweet, immortal, incomparable, eternal, unchangeable ! And when
' ? '
208 True good in the earth of the living. Manly endurance.
Psalm shall I see you, ye good things of the Lord ? Exp. il see you, but not in the earth of the dying. /
the good things of the Lord in the earth of the living. The Lord shall deliver me from the earth of the dying, Who for my sake vouchsafed to take upon Himself the earth of the dying, and to die amid the hands of the dying : the Lord
/
to see the good things of the Lord in the earth of the living. Panting he spoke, travailing he spoke, he spoke in peril
shall deliver me from the earth of the dying :
believe
amid a mighty crowd of temptations : but yet wholly de pending on His mercy, to Whom he said, Appoint me a late, O Lord.
23. And what doth He say, Who hath appointed him a law ? Let us hear the Voice of the Lord too exhorting us from on high, consoling us ; His Voice Whom we have for father and mother, who have left us : let us hear His Voice. For He hath heard our groans, He hath seen our deep sighs, He hath beheld our longing ; and our one petition, the one request through Christ our Advocate hath He gladly received ; and until we accomplish this pilgrimage, during which He will defer, not take away, what He hath promised, He hath said unto us, Wait on the Lord. Thou wilt not wait on a false one, not on one that can be deceived, not on one that will not find what to give. The Almighty hath promised, the Sure One hath promised, the True hath promised. Wait on the Lord, quit thyself like a man. Faint not : be not of
Ecclus. them to whom it is said, Woe unto them that have lost
I believe to believe to see
' '
endurance. Wait on the Lord, is said to us all, and to one Man is it said. We are one Man in Christ, we are the Body of Christ, who have that one longing, who make that one petition, who in those days of our evils groan, who believe to see the good things of the Lord in the earth of the living ; to us all who are one in One it is said, (ver. 14. ) Wait on the Lord, quit thyself like a man ; and let thy heart be strong, yea, wait on the Lord. What else saith He to thee, than repeat what thou hast heard? Wait on the Lord, quit thyself
like a man. Therefore he who hath lost endurance, hath
become effeminate, hath lost vigour. Let men, let women, Gal. 3, listen to this ; for in the one man is man and woman. Such an one in Christ is neither male, nor female. Wait on the
The Man, Christ, desires not to be as His enemies shall be. 209
Lord, quit thyself like a man ; let thy heart be strong, yea, Ver. wait on the Lord. By waiting on the Lord thou shall - possess Him, thou shalt possess Him on Whom thou shalt
wait. Long for somewhat else, if thou canst find aught greater, better, sweeter.
PSALM XXVIII. Of David himself.
Lat. XXVII.
1. It is the Voice of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand
in the conflict of the Passion. Now what He seems to wish
for against His enemies, is not the wish of malevolence, but
the declaration of their punishment ; as in the Gospel, with Mat. n,
--
the cities, in which though He had performed miracles, yet they had not believed on Him, He doth not wish in any evil will what He saith, but predicteth what is impending over
them. I cried; My God, be 2. Ver. 1. Unto Thee, O Lord, have
not silent from me. Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried ; My God, separate not the unity of Thy Word from that which as Man I am. Lest at any time Thou be silent from me: and L shall be like them that go down into the pit. For from this, that the Eternity of Thy Word ceaseth not to unite Itself to Me, it comes that I am not such a man as the rest of men, who are born into the deep misery of this world: where,
as if Thou art silent, Thy Word is not recognised. Hear, O Lord, theIvoice of my supplication, whilst
'
(Ver. 2. ) I pray
hold up my hands to Thy holy temple. Whilst I am crucified for their salvation, who on believing
become Thy holy temple.
3. Ver. 3. Draw not My Soul away with sinners, and
destroy me not with them that work iniquity, with them that
speak peace with their neighbours. With them that say unto
Me, We know that Thou art a Master come from God. But John 3, evil in their hearts. But they speak evil in their hearts.
4. Ver. 4. Give unto them according to their works. Give
unto Thee, whilst
unto them according to their works, for this is just.
according to the malice of their affections1. For aiming atnum/
^nd^^*^
210 Judgments foretold. God the Helper of His people.
Psalm evil, they cannot discover good. According to the works of '" their hands give Thou unto them. Although what they have done may avail for salvation to others, yet give Thou unto
them according to the works of their wills. Pay them their
Rom.
have been helped. And My Flesh hath flourished again: that and My Flesh hath risen again. And of my will will confess unto Him. Wherefore, the fear
of death being now destroyed, not by the necessity of fear under the Law, but with free will with the Law, shall they who believe on Me, confess unto Him and because am in them, will confess.
8. Ver. 8. The Lord is the strength of His people. Not that people ignorant of the righteousness of God, and willing to establish their own. For they thought not themselves strong in themselves: for the Lord the strength of His
Because, for the truth which they heard, they wished to recompense deceit; let their own deceit deceive them.
5. Vef. . 5. For they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord. And whence is it clear that this hath befallen them ? From this forsooth, for they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord. This very thing, in truth, hath been, even now, their recompense, that in Him Whom they tempted with malicious intent as a Man, they should not recognise God, with what design the Father sent Him in the Flesh. And the works of His hands. Nor be moved by those visible works, which are laid out before their very eyes.
Thou shall destroy them, and not build them up. Let them do Me no hurt, nay, nor again in their endeavour to raise engines against My Church, let them aught avail.
6. Ver. 6. Blessed be the Lord, for He hath heard the voice of My prayer.
7- Ver. 7. The Lord My Helper and My Protector. The Lord helping Me in so great sufferings, and protecting Me with immortality in My resurrection. In Him hath My
recompense.
Heart trusted, and I
in this life's difficulties with the devil. And the protector of the salvation of His Christ. That,
having saved them by His Christ, after the strength of war, He may protect them at the last with the immortality of peace.
people, struggling
is
;
I
I
I
a
is,
God glorified in the Church. Effects of His Voice. 211
9. Ver. 9. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Ver. I intercede therefore, after My Flesh hath flourished again,
because Thou hast said, Desire of Me, and
the heathen for Thine inheritance, Save Thy people, and
bless Thine inheritance : for all Mine are Thine. And rule Johnir, them, and set them up even for ever. And rule them in this temporal life, and raise them from hence into life eternal.
PSALM XXIX. Lat. XXVIII.
A Psalm of David himself, of the consummation of the tabernacle.
1. A Psalm of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand, of the perfection of the Church in this world, where she wars in time against the devil.
2. The Prophet speaks, (ver. 1. ) Bring unto the Lord, O ye Sons of God, bring unto the Lord the young of rams. Bring unto the Lord yourselves, whom the Apostles, the
leaders of the flocks, have begotten by the Gospel. (Ver. 2. )i Cor. Bring unto the Lord glory and honour. By your works let '
the Lord be glorified and honoured. Bring unto the Lord
glory to His name. Let Him be made known gloriously throughout the world. Worship the Lord in His holy court. Worship the Lord in your heart enlarged and sanctified. For ye are His regal holy habitation.
3. Ver. 3. The Voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The Voice of Christ is upon the peoples. The God of majesty hath thundered. The God of majesty, from the cloud of the flesh, hath awfully preached repentance. The Lord is upon many waters. The Lord Jesus Himself, after that He sent forth His Voice upon the peoples, and struck them with awe, converted them to Himself, and dwelt in them.
4. Ver. 4. The Voice of the Lord is in power. The Voice of the Lord now in them themselves, making them powerful. The Voice of the Lord is in great might. The Voice of the
Lord working great things in them.
5. Ver. 5. The Voice of the Lord breaking the cedars.
The Voice of the Lord humbling the proud in brokenness of p2
I will
give
Thee Pa. 2, 8.
212 Voice of God breaks pride and malice, and strengthens His own.
Psalm heart. The Lord shall break the cedars of Libanus. The ftXIX. Lord by repentance shall break them that are lifted on high by the splendour of earthly nobility, when to confound them
. . . which to display His Divmity.
6. Ver. 6. And shall bruise them as the calf of Libanus. And when their proud exaltation hath been cut off, He will lay them low after the imitation of His Own humility, Who
l Cor. l. He shall have chosen the base things of this world, in the
28
Is. 53,7. like a calf was led to slaughter by the nobility of this world. Ps. 2,2. For the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers agreed together against the Lord, and against His Christ. And the
Beloved is as the young of the unicorns. For even He the Phil. 2, Beloved, and the Only One of the Father, emptied Himself of His glory ; and was made man, like a child of the Jews,
that were ignorant of God's righteousness, and proudly boast- ing of their own righteousness as peculiarly theirs.
7. Ver. 7. The Voice of the Lord cutting short the flame of
The Voice of the Lord, without any harm to Himself, passing through all the excited ardour of them that persecute Him, or dividing the furious rage of His persecutors, so
John 7, that some should say, Is not this haply the very Christ ; ' others, Nay; but He deceiveth the people : and so cutting
short their mad tumult, as to pass some over into His love, and leave others in their malice.
8. Ver.
