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Holy Writ, Christ's Testament, marks out His Inheritance. 163
thou preservedst them; I do not at all believe it; thou didst Ver. not preserve them. Most truly do our party say, that thou. 28 didst deliver them up. He is proved to be the deliverer oftraditor them up, who when on reading the Testament doth not follow it. See, it is read, and I follow ; it is read, and thou refusest to follow. Whose hand hath cast them into the flames ? He that believes and follows, or he that grieves
that there is aught to be read ? I do not wish to know who may have preserved them : in what place soever the volume hath been found, from what cave soever, our Father's testa ment hath come to light, for some thieves or oiher* wished to take it away, some persecutors or other wished to burn it: from what place soever it hath been brought forth, let it be read. Why dost thou quarrel ? We are Brethren, why do we quarrel ? The Father hath not died intestate. He hath made a Testament, and so died : He died, and rose again. So long does the dispute touching the inherit ance of the dead last, until the Testament is publicly produced ; and when the Testament has been publicly pro duced, all are silent, that the instrument may be opened and
read: the judge listens with attention, the advocates hold their peace, the heralds procure silence, every body is in suspense that the words of the deceased, unconscious in the tomb, may be read. He lies without consciousness in the tomb, and his words have force. Christ sitteth in heaven ; and is His Testament gainsaid ? Open, let us read. We are Brethren, why do we contend together? Let us calm our temper, the Father hath not left us without a Testament. He Who made the Testament, liveth for ever : He heareth our words,
He recogniseth His own '. Let us read; why do we quarrel ? ' suan> When the whole inheritance shall have been found, let us
hold to it. Open the Testament, read in the very beginning
of the Psalter itself, Ask of Me. But who speaketh ? Perad- Ps. 2, 8.
I, The Lord said unto ib. 7. venture not Christ. You have there
Son. What then saith He to His Son ? Ask of Me, and will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the bounds of the earth for Thy possession. It is usual, Brethren,
* ' Nescio qui. ' Perhaps here, ' no matter what thieves. ' M2
Me, Thou art My Son, this day have
begotten Thee. The Son of God then speaketh, or the Father speaketh to HisI
164 No limits to Christ's possession. Wrangling for power. ,
Psalm when there is a question of possession, for the borderers to &sp. II. be sought. Between this and that borderer, the heir is sought out, either to whom it is given, or who has bought it.
Between what borderers is he sought? Between h this and that man in possession. He who hath left all borders, hath left no borderers. Wheresoever thou turnest thyself, Christ is. Thou hast the borders of the earth for thine inheritance ;
come hither, with me possess the whole. Why by quarrel ling dost thou call to a part only ? Come hither; to thine own good thou shalt be conquered, thou shalt have the whole. Dost thou wrangle still ?
I have already read the Testament, and thou wranglest. Art thou still wrangling,
because He said, the borders of the earth, and not, all the borders of the earth? Let us read on then. How does it
All the borders
selves, and turn to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. For the kingdom is the
Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. His it is, not yours. Acknowledge ye the Lord : acknowledge the Lord's possession.
3 1 . But ye again because ye would possess your goods privately, and not in common unity, and with Christ, (for ye wish to rule on earth yourselves, not to reign with Him in heaven,) ye have your own houses. And sometimes we come to them, saying, " Let us seek the truth, let us find the truth. " They answer, " Keep what you have: thou hast thy sheep, I have mine ; forbear to meddle with my sheep, for I do not meddle with thine. " Thanks be to God ; the sheep are mine ; the sheep are His ! What hath Christ bought ? Nay, let them be neither mine, nor thine ; but His
l Cor. 3, Who hath bought them, His Who hath marked them. Neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth; but God
Who giveth the increase. Why have I mine, and thou
stand ?
of
the earth shall remember them
If Christ be there, let mine go thither, for they are not mine : if Christ be here, let thine come hither, for they are not thine. Let us kiss head and hands for possessions,
b Oxf. Mss. ' Inter affines ; ilium et That the heir, or he who receives by
thine ?
ilium. Neerret hffires, aut cui donatnr,
aut qui emit, quserit inter quos affines
inter ilium et ilium possidentes. Qui
admisit 'omnes fines, nullos dimisit in all borders, has left no borderers. ' affines. ' Between so and so, borderers.
gift or purchase, may not err, he asks between what borderers P Between so and so, proprietors. He, Who has taken
The Donatists falsely call their possessions Christs. 165
and let the strange children perish'. " It is not my pos- Ver. session," he says. What is this ? Let us see whether it be ---- not thy possession, let us see whether thou dost not claim
it for thyself. I labour for the name of Christ, thou for the
name of Donatus. For if thou look to Christ, Christ is every
where. Thou sayest, Lo, here is Christ: I say, He is through- Mat. 24,
out the world. Praise the Lord, ye servants; praise
Name of the Lord. Wherefrom do they praise ? Where- 1. 3. unto do they praise ? From the rising of the sun unto the
going down thereof, praise ye the Name of the Lord. See the Church which I shew to you, see what Christ hath bought, see what He hath redeemed, see for what He hath given His blood. But what sayest thou ? "
I gather for
Him too. " He that gathereth not with Me, Christ saith, Mat. 12
theP^n3
scattereth. Thou dividest unity, thou seekest thine own30.
And why have they Christ's Name ? Because for the defence of thine own possession thou hast affixed Christ's titles. Do not some do the same with their own houses ? Lest some powerful person should attack his house, he affixes thereon the title of some powerful one, a false title. He would be himself the owner, and would have the front of his house protected by another man's title: that on reading the title one may be scared at the power of the name, and abstain from attacking the house. This they did when they condemned the Maximianists0. They pleaded before judges, and adduced their own council; as it were, shewing their titles, that they might appear to be Bishops. Then the
possessions.
judged asked, " Who is the other Bishop here, of the party of Donatus ? " The official answered, " We know none but Aurelius the Catholic. " In fear of the laws they made answer of one Bishop only. But they, that they might gain the ear of the judge, affixed Christ's Name : on their own
possession they affixed His title. Gracious is the Lord to spare them, and claim that for His own possession, where soever He findeth His title. Powerful is His mercy, Who doeth that for them, Who gathereth together, whomsoever
c ' Propter possessions osculentur
nobis caput et manus et pereant filii
alieni. ' Perhaps, ' so far as possession
is concerned, let our people kiss one of whom is given by St. Augustine, in another, head and hands, and let there Serm. II. on Ps. 37, (Lat. 36. ) ? . 20. be an end of aliens. ' But the meaning See also Labbe, Cone. II. 1089. 1153.
is ohscure,
d The Maximianists were a party
among the Donatists, a fuller account
166 Christ claims to take the house that claims to be His.
Psalm He findeth bearing the name of Christ. And consider, '. Brethren, when any powerful one findeth his title, doth he not justly claim it for his own and say, " He would not
sacra- menta
affix my title, unless it were my property ? He hath affixed my title, it is my property: that, whereon I find my name, is mine. " Does he change the title ? The title is the very same as before : the owner is changed, the title is not changed. So also with those that have the baptism of Christ, if they return to unity, we do not change or destroy their title ; but we acknowledge the title of our King, the title of our Captain. But what do we say? O wretched house, may He own thee, Whose title thou bearest: thou bearest Christ's title ; be not the possession of Donatus.
32. We have spoken at great length, Brethren; but let not that, which is read to-day, depart from your recollec tion. Lo, I repeat it, and often must it be repeated: by this very day, that is, by the mysteries of this day, I adjure you that it go not out of your hearts, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. Against so clear and so manifestly proven a possession of Christ, listen not to the words of the wrangler. Whatever they say to gainsay they are men that say
but this God saith.
PSALM XXIII. A Psalm of David himself.
The Church speaks to Christ: (ver. I. ) The Lord feedeth me, and shall lack nothing. The Lord Jesus
Lat. XXII.
Christ my Shepherd, and shall lack nothing.
2. Ver. 2. In a place of pasture there hath He placed me. 1pascua>In place of fresh pasture, leading me to faith there hath
enta. "
He placed me to be nourished. By the water of refreshing hath He brought me up. By the water of baptism, whereby they are refreshed who have lost health and strength, hath He brought me up.
3. Ver. 3. He hath converted my soul He hath led me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake.
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Christ our Shepherd, Guide, and support through death. 167
He hath brought me forth in the narrow ways, wherein few Ver.
walk, of His righteousness ; not for uiy merit's sake, but for
His Name's sake. I 4. Ver. 4. Yea, though
--
walk in the midst
of death. Yea, though I walk in the midst of this life, which
/ will no evil, Thou art fear for
is the shadow of death.
with me. I will fear no evil, for Thou dwellest in my heart by faith : and Thou art now with me, that after the shadow of death I too may be with Thee. Thy rod and Thy staff, they have comforted me. Thy discipline, like a rod for a flock of sheep, and like a staff for children of some size, and growing out of the natural into spiritual life, they have not been grievous to me ; rather have they comforted me : because Thou art mindful of me.
5. Ver. 5. Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, against them that trouble me. Now after the rod, whereby, whilst a little one, and living the natural life, 1 was brought up among the flock in the pastures ; after that rod, I say, when I began to be under the staff, Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, that I should no more be fed as a babe with milk, but being older should take meat, strengthened against them that trouble me. Thou hast fattened my head with oil. Thou hast gladdened my mind with spiritual joy. And Thy in ebriating cup, how excellent is it ! And Thy cup yielding forgetfulness of former vain delights, how excellent is it !
6. Ver. 6. And Thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: that is, as long Ias I live in this mortal life, not
1 Cor. 3, "
of the shadow
may dwell in the house the of
Thine, but mine. That
Lord for length of days. Now Thy mercy shall follow me not here only, but also that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
PSALM XXIV.
A Psalm of David himself, on the first day of the week.
Lat. win.
1.
A Psalm of David himself, touching the glorifying and resurrection of the Lord, which took place early in the morning on the first day of the week, which is now called
the Lord's Day.
Psalm TT YT V
2. Ver. 1. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, ?
168 Who are they whom Christ shall bring to glory.
? the compass of the world, and all they that dwell therein : when the Lord, being glorified, is announced for the believing of all nations; and the whole compass of the world becomes His Church. (Ver. 2. ) He hath founded it above the seas. He hath most firmly established it above all the waves of this world, that they should be subdued by and should not hurt it. And hath prepared above the rivers. The rivers flow into the sea, and men of lust lapse into the world these also the Church, which, when worldly lusts have been con quered by the grace of God, hath been prepared by love for the reception of immortality, subdues.
3. Ver. 3. Who shall ascend into the mount the Lord Who shall ascend to the height of the righteousness of the Lord Or who shall stand in His holy place Orwho
'al. 'hath shall abide in that place, whither He shall ascend founded e(i, n " above the seas, and prepared above the rivers
Rom. 12,
4. Ver. 4. The innocent of hand, and the pure in heart. Who then shall ascend thither, and abide there, but the guiltless in deed, and pure in thought Who hath not received his soul in vain. Who hath not reckoned his soul among things that pass away, but feeling to be immortal, hath longed for an eternity stedfast and unchangeable. And hath not sworn in deceit to his neighbour. And therefore without deceit, as things eternal are simple and undeceiving, hath so behaved himself to his neighbour.
5. Ver. 5. Tliis man shall receive blessing from the Lord, and mercy from the God of his salvation.
6. Ver. 6. This is the generation of them that seek the Lord. For thus are they born that seek Him. Of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Diapsalma. Now they seek the face of God, Who gave the preeminence to the younger born.
7. Ver. 7. Take away your gates, ye princes. All ye, that seek rule among men, remove, that they hinder not, the entrances which ye have made, of desire and fear. And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates. And be ye lift up, ye entrances of eternal life, of renunciation of the world, and conversion to God. And the King of glory shall come in. And the King, in Whom we may glory without pride, shall
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Christ the King of Glory. His triumph over Satan. 169
come in : Who having overcome the gates of death, and Ver. having opened for Himself the heavenlyIplaces, fulfilled that _
which He said, Be of good cheer, for world.
8. Ver. 8. Who is this King of glory ? Mortal nature is awe-struck in wonder, and asks, Who is this King of glory ?
The Lord strong and mighty. He, Whom thou didst deem weak and overwhelmed. The Lord mighty in battle. Handle the scars, and thou wilt find them made whole, and human weakness restored to immortality. The glorifying of the Lord, which was owing to earth, where It warred with death, hath been paid.
9. Ver. 9. Take away your gates, ye princes. Let us go
hence straightway into heaven. Again, let the Prophet's trumpet cry aloud, " Take away too, ye princes of the air,
the gates, which ye have in the minds of men who worship 2 Kings
'
10. Ver. 10. Who is this King ofglory? What! dost thou
too, prince of the power of this air, marvel and ask, Who is Eph. 2,2. this King ofglory? The Lord ofpowers, He is the King of
glory. Yea, His Body now quickened, He Who was tempted marches above thee ; He Who was tempted by the angel,
the deceiver, goes above all angels. Let none of yon put himself before us and stop our way, that he may be wor shipped as a god by us: neither principality, nor angel, Rom. 8, nor power, separateth us from the love of Christ. It is good
the host of heaven. " And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates. And be ye lift up, ye doors of everlasting righteousness, of love, and chastity, through which the soul loveth the One True God, and goeth not a whoring with the many, that are called gods. And the King of glory shall come in. And the King of glory shall come in, that He may at the right hand of the Father intercede for us.
'
118 to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in prince that he9.
? who glorieth, should glory in the Lord. These indeed are 31. powers in the administration of this world, but the Lord of
powers, He is the King of glory.
have overcome the Johnie,
' '
a
;
Ps'
Lat. XXIV.
170 All trust vain but that in God's mercy.
PSALM XXV.
To the end, a Psalm ofDavid himseij.
1 . Christ speaks, but in the person of the Church : for what is said has reference rather to the Christian People turned unto God. I up my soul:
2. Ver. 1. Unto Thee, O Lord, have lift
with spiritual longing have I lift up the soul, that was trodden down on the earth wIith carnal longings. (Ver. 2. )
0 my God, in Thee I trust, shall not be ashamed. O my God, from trusting in myself I was brought even to this weakness of the flesh; and I who on abandoning God wished to be as God, fearing death from the smallest insect, was in derision Iashamed for my pride; now, therefore, in Thee
shall not be ashamed.
3. And let not my enemies mock me. And let them not
mock me, who by ensnaring me with " serpent-like and secret suggestions, and prompting me with, Well done, well done," have brought me down to this. (Ver. 3. ) For all that wait upon Thee shall not be confounded.
4. Let them be confounded who do vain things unrighte
ously. Let them be confounded who act unrighteously for
the acquiring things that pass away. (Ver. 4. ) Make Thy Mat. 7, ways, O Lord, known to me, and teach me Thy paths : not
those which are broad, and lead the many to destruction; but Thy paths, narrow, and known to few, teach Thou me.
1 trust,
5. Ver. 5. In Thy truth guide me: avoiding error. And teach me : for by myself I know nothing, but falsehood. For Thou art the God of my salvation ; and for Thee have
Lukei5, /waited all the day. For dismissed by Thee from Paradise, and having taken my journey into a far country, I cannot by myself return, unless Thou meetest the wanderer : for my return hath throughout the whole tract of this world's time waited for Thy mercy.
6. Ver. 6. Remember Thy compassions, O Lord. Re member the works of Thy mercy, O Lord ; for men deem of Thee as though Thou hadst forgotten. And that Thy mercies are from eternity. And remember this, that Thy mercies
God's mercy and judgment. His ways in Christ. 171
Ver,
are from eternity. For Thou never wast without them,
Who hast subjected even sinful man to vanity indeed, but in i~10' hope; and hast not deprived him of so many and great 20. consolations of Thy creation.
7. Ver. 7. Remember not the offences of my youth, and of my ignorance. The offences of my presumptuous boldness and of my ignorance reserve not for vengeance, but let them be as if forgotten by Thee. According to Thy mercy, be mindful ofme, O God. Be mindful indeed of me, not according to the anger of which I am worthy, but according to Thy mercy which is worthy of Thee. For Thy goodness, O Lord. Not for my deservings, but for Thy goodness, O Lord.
8. Ver. 8. Gracious and upright is the Lord. The Lord is gracious, since even sinners and the ungodly He so pitied, as to forgive all that is past ; but the Lord is upright too, Who after the mercy of vocation and pardon, which is of grace without merit, will require merits meet for the last judgment. Wherefore He will establish a law for them thatfail in the way. For He hath first bestowed mercy to bring them into the way.
9. Ver. 9. He will guide the meek in judgment. He will
guide the meek, and will not confound in the judgment those,
that follow His will, and do not, in withstanding It, prefer
their own. The gentle He will teach His ways. He will teach His ways, not to those that desire to run before, as if
they were better able to rule themselves ; but to those who
do not exalt the neck, nor lift the heel, when the easy yokeMat. 11,
30,
and the light burden is laid upon them.
10. Ver. 10. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and
truth. And what ways will He teach them, but mercy wherein He is placable, and truth wherein He is incorrupt ?
Whereof He hath exhibited the one in forgiving sins, the other in judging deserts. And therefore ' all the ways of the Lord' are the two advents of the Son of God, the one in mercy, the other in judgment. He then attaineth unto Him holding on His ways, who seeing himself freed by no deserts of his own, lays pride aside, and henceforward bewares of the severity of His trial, having experienced the clemency
of His help. testimonies.
To them that seek His testament and His For they understand the Lord as merciful at
172 Pardon of manifold sin. Wholesome fear. Safety in God.
Psalm His first advent, and as the Judge at His second, who in meek- XXVl ness and gentleness seek His testament, when with His Own Blood He redeemed us to a new life; and in the
Prophets and Evangelists, His testimonies.
11. Ver. 11. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou wilt
be favourable to my sin ; for it is manifold. Thou hast not only forgiven my sins, which 1 committed before I believed ; but also to my sin, which is manifold, since even in the way there is no lack of stumbling, Thou wilt be made favourable by the sacrifice of a troubled spirit.
12. Ver. 12. Who is the man, that feareth the Lord? from which fear he begins to come to wisdom. He shall establish a law for him in the way, which he hath chosen. He shall establish a law for him in the way, which in his free dom he has taken, that he may not sin now with impunity.
13. Ver. 13. 1 lis soul shall dwell in good, and his seed shall, by inheritance, possess the earth. And his work shall possess the stable inheritance of a renewed body.
14. Ver. 14. The Lord is the stay of them that fear Him. Fear seems to belong to the weak, but the Lord is the stay of them that fear Him. And the Name of the Lord, which hath been glorified throughout the whole world, is a stay to them that fear Him. And His testament, that it may be manifested unto them. And He maketh His testament to be manifested unto them, for the Gentiles and the bounds of the earth are-Christ's inheritance. .