The
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Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v4
These let us bring, and without fear we shall await the coming of our Judge, Who with righteousness shall judge the world, and the peoples with His truth.
PSALM XCVII. A Ditcourie to the people.
God affordeth mighty spectacles to the Christian heart, than which truly nothing more delightful can be discovered ; if only the palate of faith be at hand to taste the honey of God. We believe that in all of you, who have with all your heart believed in our Saviour, there dwelleth His Spirit, that may delight you when the Prophecies are read, so many
years ago uttered by the mouth of the Saints, and so many years after fulfilled in the faith of nations. For those holy Prophets felt the liveliest joy, when they saw those
The Prophets rejoiced in prospect of what we have. 413
things in the Spirit, not as yet fulfilled, but destined to be Title. fulfilled. They felt great delight: and yet, by reason of the
love with which they were inspired for us, whom they saw not
as yet, but in the Spirit travailed of us; they wished, if possible, to live with us in these times, and to see what they
were prophesying in the Spirit, fulfilled. Thence our Lord
saith unto His disciples, when they began to discern these things: Many righteous men and prophets have desired to Mat. 13, see those things which ye see, and have not seen them ; and
to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
For although they saw these things in the Spirit, yet they
were figured unto them as future : but to the Apostles they
were fulfilled before their eyes. Whence that Simeon, a righteous old man, rejoiced much when he saw the infant
Jesus, recognising the great in the small, and in that little
body the Creator of heaven and earth. He rejoiced therefore
much, because he had been answered, that he should not
depart from this life, before he should see the salvation of
God. He therefore recognised Him, he was delighted, and exulted with joy ; saying these words, Lord, now leltest Thou Lute 2,
Thy servant depart in peace : for mine eyes have seen Thy25~30' salvation. Great therefore is this gladness ; and love createth
it. We were pleased, when this Psalm was sung: and some things therein were understood by all ; but some, as I think, either by few, or certainly not by all. Let us therefore at
once consider it in this discourse, in which we are serving you ; and let us see with how great goodness God hath been pleased to make us glad, by making what He hath promised present to us, and by displaying unto us the truth of His promises.
2. (Title. ) This Psalm is entitled, A Psalm ofDavid's, when
his land was restored. Let us refer the whole to Christ, if we
wish to keep the road of a right understanding: let us not de
part from the corner-stone, lest our understanding suffer a fall: Ephes.
'
in Him let that become fixed, which wavered with unstable motion; let that rest upon Him, which before was waving to and fro in uncertainly. Whatever doubt a man hath in his mind when he heareth the Scriptures of God, let him not depart from Christ; when Christ hath been revealed to him in the words, let him then be assured that he hath understood ; but before
414 The 'land" of Judcea 'restored' to the Spiritual David. Psalm he arriveth at the understanding of Christ, let him not pre-
XCVII '
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t; sume that he hath understood. For Christ is the end o~f the
Rom.
10,4. law for righteousness to every one that believeth. What
doth this mean, and how are these words understood in Christ, When his land was restored ? For it is easy to understand how Christ is represented by David ; for Christ was born of Mary, and from David's seed; and since He was to be born of David's seed, on that account He is prophesied of, figuratively, under David's name. David is therefore Christ ; because also the signification of David is Strong of Hand : and who is so strong, as He Who by the Cross conquered the world ? For after His resurrection and ascen sion, when the Holy Spirit had been received, and the
Acts 2, Apostles were speaking with different tongues, a multitude 4. 37. &0. 0f tnose verv persons who had crucified Him, were roused
to seek the counsel of salvation ; received and believed they were forgiven, their guilt in the blood of Christ was remitted unto them, the drinking of His blood imparted unto them they became faithful disciples of Him whose per-
Mat. 27, secutors they had been; they believed in Him Whom they crucified, and before Whom they bowed their heads in mockery; Himself they chose to hold as their Head. Thus then in the words of the title of the Psalm, was His land restored; for this land was Judsea, all of which had been lost, when in their ignorance they crucified their Lord, like delirious men raving against their physician, and in their frenzy rejecting the means of safety. The whole of Judaea then had as were been lost: how the whole? The very Apostles even wavered Peter, who was following Him with
courageous devotion, thrice in the confusion of fear denied Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on His resurrection, found some of them talking together about Himself in the road, in such state as to reply unto Him on His asking
Lnlie24, them the subject of their conversation Art thou alone a ig 21 stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that are come to pass there in these days? And He said unto
them, What things? And they said unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to
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Many of the Jews believed. The Gentiles called in. 415
- death, and have crucified Him. But we hoped that it had Title. been He that should have redeemed Israel. They had already
lost their hope in Christ. For they said not, we hope that
He shall redeem Israel ; but, ue hoped that it had been He
that should have redeemed Israel. He was with them in Person, and hope in Him was not in them. He shewed Himself unto them, He was manifested even to the rest of His disciples, seen, touched, and found by those to whom He seemed already to have perished : the faith of those who had fallen was brought back ; His land was restored. Then after speaking forty days with them, He ascended into heaven ; and,
Aots 1, as 1 mentioned a little before, by sending His Holy Spirit, He3'9'2'4'
caused His disciples, unlearned men, to speak with the tongues of all nations. Then they, in whose behalf He had prayed not in vain, Father, forgive them, for they know not Luke23, what they do, moved, as I have said, sought for safety,34, received counsel to believe in Him ; three thousand be- Acts 2, lieved in one day, and again five thousand; the Church^,
of Christ began to be rife throughout Judaea, where the reproach of Christ had been rife ; and His land was restored.
But since He had Himself said, IOther sheep 1 have which John 10,
are not of this fold; them also
shall be one fold, and one Shepherd; the Apostles were sent to the Gentiles also, to whom the Prophets had not been sent. They were sought, who had not sought; they were found, who were expecting nothing ; that God, Whom they knew not as Promiser, they found a Redeemer. For the Jews before His advent held Him bounden unto them by promises, because the Prophets had there preached
Christ, there had promised Christ ; but they had not recog nised Him when present Whom they had heard promised ; while to the Gentiles no promise was made ; although that they should believe also had been mentioned in the Pro phets. Though not addressed to them, it was said of them. The Gospel was sent unto them also : and ye have heard this from the dispensation of God ; for that lesson hath just been read unto you in the Acts of the Apostles, how the centurion Cornelins believed : for Cornelins the centurion was not of the Jewish nation. He prayed, fasted, gave alms. God deserted him not, although placed among the
must bring; and there16'
416 Christ's ' earth? His Body, restored. His Reign.
Psalm Gentiles : and an Angel was sent to announce unto him, XCVII '- that his prayer and his alms were had in remembrance in Acis 10. the sight of God ; he believed, when he had invited Peter unto
him. Could not the Angel teach him ? He sent him unto Peter, that his faith might be the rather made sure unto him by a man, that God had deigned to visit men : nor did He, Who deigned to be Man, disdain to teach by means of men. Thus then was His land restored; one wall coming from the Jews, another wall from the Gentiles ; which two walls meeting from opposite sides, He was Himself the corner
Eph. 2, stone, where both should be joined together.
3. Again, how do we understand the words, when His
earth was restored ? When His Flesh was raised again.
For another interpretation, not departing from Christ, may thus occur to us: the earth restored is the resurrection of the flesh ; for after His resurrection, all those things which are sung of in the Psalm were done. Let us then hear a Psalm full of joy on the restoration of the Earth. Let the Lord our God excite in us a hope and a pleasure worthy of so great a thing ; may He rule our discourse, that it be fit for your hearts, that whatever joy our heart doth feel in such sights, He may bring on to our tongue, and thence conduct it into your ears, then to your heart, thence to your
actions.
4. Ver. 1. The Lord is King. He Who stood before the
judge, He Who received blows, He Who was scourged, He Who was spit upon, He Who was crowned with thorns, He Who was struck with fists, He Who hung upon the cross, He Who as He hung upon the wood was mocked, He Who died upon the cross, He Who was pierced with the spear, He W7ho
was buried, Himself arose from the dead. The Lord is King. Let kingdoms rage as much as they can ; what can they do to the King of kingdoms, the Lord of all kings, the Creator of all worlds? Is He despised, because He appeared so submissive, so humble ? That was His mercy, not His want of power : for He appeared humble, that we might take Him. But let us now see: The Lord is King, let the earth be
glad: yea, let the multitude of the isles be joyous. It is so indeed, because the word of God hath been preached not in the continent alone, but also in those isles which lie in mid
The ' Isles. ' Darknessfor the wicked, the good God's seat. 4 IT
sea : even these are full of Christians, full of the servants of Ver.
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God. For the sea doth not retard Him Who made it. Where ships can approach, can not the words of God ? The isles are filled. But figuratively the isles may be taken for all the Churches. Why isles ? Because the waves of all temptations roar around them. But as an isle may be beaten by the waves which on every side dash around yet cannot be broken, and rather itself dolh break the advancing waves, than by them broken so also the Churches of God, springing up throughout the world, have suffered the persecutions of the ungodly, who roar around them on every side and behold the isles stand fixed, and at last the sea calmed. Yea, let the multitude of the isles be joyous. Him;
5. Ver. 2. Clouds and darkness are round about righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat. For whom are clouds and darkness round about Him For whom are righteousness and judgment the direction of His seat? Clouds and darkness for the ungodly, who have not understood Him: righteousness and judgment for the faithful, who have believed in Him for the former have not seen through pride, the latter have deserved to be guided by their humility. Hear the clouds and darkness, and hear righteous
ness and judgment. The Lord Himself saith For judg- John merit am come into this world; that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made- blind. What meaneth, that they which see might be made blind? They who seem unto themselves to see, who think themselves wise, who think healing not needful for them, that they may
be made blind, may not understand. And that they which see not may see; that they who confess their blindness may obtain to be enlightened. Let there be therefore clouds and darkness round about Him, for those who have not understood Him for those who confess and humble them selves, righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat. He called those who believe in Him His seat: for
from them hath He made Himself seat, since in them Wisdom sitteth for the Son of God the Wisdom of God.
But we have heard from another passage of Scripture
strong confirmation of this interpretation. The soul of Me^rov. i2,
righteous the seat of Wisdom. Because then they whoirjor-
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418 Fire goes ' before Christ, before Judgment.
Psalm have believed in Him have been made righteous : justified ^'AHby failh, they have become His own seat: He sitteth in them, judging from them, and guiding them. Wherefore ? because He found them meek, like obedient cattle, not kicking backward, not shaking their heads in pride against His yoke, not refusing His scourge : they became good and obedient cattle of His; and deserved what is said in another Ps. 26,8. Psalm, " Them that are meek shall He guide in judgment ;
and such as are gentle, them shall He learn His way. " Clouds and darkness, therefore, are around Him, unto them who are not righteous ; but to the meek, righteousness and
judgment shall be the habitation of His seat.
6. Ver. 8. There shall go a fire before Him, and burn up
His enemies on every side. Of what fire doth he say, brethren, a fire shall go before Him, and burn up His enemies on every aide ? I do not think it is said of that fire, into which the ungodly are to be sent by that sentence of the last judgment, to whom when set apart on the left, as we remember having read in the Gospel, He shall say,
Mat. ? 6, Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
4I-
angels. I do not think it is said of that fire. Why do I not? Because he spcaketh of some fire, which shall go before Him, before He cometh to judgment. For it is said, that the fire goeth before Him, and burueth up His enemies on every side, that is, throughout the whole world. That
fire will burn after His advent: this, on the contrary, will go before Him. What fire then is this ? We may understand it of the punishment of the wicked, we may understand it of the salvation of the redeemed. Of the punishment of the wicked, how ? Because when Christ was preached, the heathen were enraged, and stirred up persecution : which was the fury of fire, consuming rather those who persecuted, than those whom they persecuted. For when we see two persons, the one enraged, the other meekly enduring, it is for you to judge, which of them is on fire. Ye may behold such a spectacle in the human race. Place before your eves an unjust man, excited in mind, savage in countenance, with flaming eyes, with flashing words, carried on to another's death, to depredations, injury, insult, not able to hold, to restrain himself; the other patiently enduring his words, his
The tricked devoured by fire of evil passions. 4 19
blows, whatsoever he chooseth to inflict
when he striketh his cheek, offering unto him the other: ---- when thou hast seen on the one side fury, on the other mildness ; on the one anger, on the other endurance : on the
one flames, on the other patience ; wilt thou hesitate to pro nounce which of these is on fire, and snffereth punishment ?
He whose body is assaulted, or he whose mind is laid
waste ? On which account the prophet Isaiah also saith,
The fire of thine enemies shall devour them, even now. Is. 26,
What is, even now? Before that great day of judg-11'
ment cometh, those who will afterwards burn punishment of eternal fire, already burn in their own rage. Unless indeed ye imagine, brethren, that injustice, which
proceedeth out of one man to the injury of another, hurteth him to whom it proceedeth, and hurteth not him from whom it proceedeth. How can it be so ? Some times a burning brand is applied to a damp and green log of wood, without burning though on fire itself thus also thine enemy. If perchance there be any unjust man who plotteth snares against thee, or deviseth any trouble, he unjust: then thou art green wood, that is, vigorous and flourishing with spiritual sap, thou shalt resist
the fire of his hostilities, by praying for him who perseouteth thee he on fire, thou remainest whole and his injustice hurteth him, thee not al all. Unless indeed thou thinkest that hurteth thee, he hath doue ought unto thy body, and thy soul hath come patient and incorrupt to be crowned before God, following the example of its Lord, Who chose rather to suffer from the Jews, and who could have avoided death, but yet died, just as He was born, though He needed not to have been born. For thou wast born by the law of thy nature, He of His own will thou diest from thy nature, He from His mercy. As then the Jews did Him no harm so neither doth any persecuting enemy hurt thee, thou
hast chosen to be member of Him thy Head.
7. Behold, we have understood the fire that goeth before
Him, that to be understood of kind of temporal punish ment of the unbelieving and ungodly let us understand the fire, possible, of the salvation of the redeemed also for thus we had proposed. The Lord Himself saith
upon him, and Ver. -
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420 Fire ofgrace and Divine Love in the Elect.
Psalm / am come to send fire on the earth : ' fire' in the same way
xcvn. as a , gword i as in anoiner passage He saith, that He was Luke I --? 49. not come to send peace, but sword, upon earth. Ine
^at-10' sword to divide, the fire to burn but each salutary for the sword of His own word hath in salutary wise separated us from evil habits. For He brought sword, and separated every believer either from his father who believed not in Christ, or from his mother in like manner unbelieving or at least, we were born of Christian parents, from his ancestors. For no man among us had not either a grandsire, or great grandsire, or some ancestry among the heathen, and in that unbelief which accursed before God. We are separated from that which we were before but the sword which separateth, but slayeth not, hath cut between us. In the same way the fire also am come to send fire upon the earth. Believers in Him were set on fire, they received the
Acts
flame of love and for this reason when the Holy Spirit itself had been sent to the Apostles, It thus appeared There appeared, he saith, unto them cloven tongues, like as offire, and sat upon each of them. Burning with this fire they set out on their march through the world, to burn and set on fire His enemies on every side. What enemies of His They who forsaking the God Who made them, adored the idols they had made. They were burnt, they were
evil, unto their consumption good, unto their restoration either the man was burnt, who refused to believe, by that fire, becoming worse when he heard the word of God, being burnt up and consumed by his own malice or he were converted and believed, yet was not as nothing had burnt within him. For the grass had burnt, that the gold might be
ls. 40, refined. Faith gold, carnal lust grass. All flesh is grass, e' saith Isaiah, and all the goodliness thereof as theflower
the grass. Whatever there therefore in carnal man lusting for things vain and worldly, grass. How many perchance, even brethren of ours, have been to the theatre they were led by grass. Is not this fire to be desired by them, that the grass may burn, and the gold be refined? For what ever faith there be in them, choked by the grass. It therefore good for them to burn with holy fire, that when the grass hath been consumed, the treasure which Christ
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Lightnings of Christ, from the clouds, holy Preachers. 421
redeemed may shine. Therefore, there shall go afire before Him, and shall burn up His enemies on every side. There are some who have burned for their own health, they are to-day His faithful; they were His enemies, and they are now at last His faithful : thou seekest for enemies, they are not; they are consumed, they have been on fire; love hath consumed in them that which made them persecute Christ, and halh refined within them their belief in Christ. And it
shall burn up His enemies on every side.
8. Ver. 4. His lightnings gave shine unto the world.
This is great joy. Do we not see? is it not clear? His lightnings have shined unto the whole world : His enemies have been set on fire, and burnt. All that gainsaid hath been burnt, and His lightnings have given shine unto the world. How have they shone ? That the world might at length believe. Whence were the lightnings? From the clouds. What are the clouds of God ?
The preachers of the truth. But thou seest a cloud, misty and dark in the sky, and it hath I know not what hidden within it. If there be lightning from the cloud, a brightness shineth forth : from that which thou didst despise, hath burst forth that
which thou mayest dread. Our Lord Jesus Christ therefore sent His Apostles, as His preachers, like clouds : they were seen as men, and were despised ; as clouds appear, and are despised, until what thou wonderest at gleameth from them. For they were in the first place men encumbered with flesh, weak ; then, men of low station, unlearned, ignoble : but there was within what could lighten forth ; there was in them what could flash abroad. Peter a fisherman ap
proached, prayed, and the dead arose. His human form Acts was a cloud, the splendour of the miracle was the lightning. 40- So in their words, so in their deeds, when they do things to
be wondered at, and utter words to be wondered at, His lightnings gave shine unto the world; the earth saw it, and was afraid. Is it not true ? Doth not the whole Christian world at length exclaim, Amen, afraid at the lightnings which burst forth from those clouds 1 The earth saw it,
and was afraid.
9. Ver. 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of
the Lord. Who are the hills? The proud. Every high
422 Melting of the hills. Apostles are ' Heavens. '
Psai m thing raising itself against God, at the deeds of Christ and XCVIL of the Christians, trembled, yielded, and when I say, what hath been already said, melted, a better word cannot be
found. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. Where is the elevation of powers ? where the hardness of the unbelieving? The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. The Lord was a fire unto them, they melted at His presence like wax ; so long hard, until that fire was applied. Every height hath been levelled ; it dareth not now blaspheme Christ : and though the Pagan believeth not in Him, he blasphemeth Him not; though not as yet become a living stone, yet the hard hill hath been subdued. The hills melted like wax at the
presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth : net of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles Rom. 3, also, as the Apostle saith; for He is not the God of the
Jews alone, but of the Gentiles also. He is therefore the Lord of the whole earth, the Lord Jesus Christ born in Judaea, but not born for Judxa alone, because before He was born He created all men ; and He Who created, also new created, all men. At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
10. Ver. 6. The heavens have declared His righteousness : and all the people have seen His glory. What heavens hare Ps. 19,1. declared ? The heavens declare the glory of God. Who are the heavens ? Those who have become His seat ; for as God
sitteth in the heavens, so doth He sit in the Apostles, so doth He sit in the preachers of the Gospel. Even thou, if thou wilt, shalt be a heaven. Dost thou wish to be so? Purge from thy heart the earth. If thou hast not earthly lusts, and hast not in vain uttered the response, that thou
Colos. 3,hast 'lifted up thy heart,' thou shalt be a heaven. Ifye be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle to believers, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth upon the right hand of God: set your affection on things above, not on things ofthe earth. Thou hast begun to set thine affection upon things above, not on things upon earth ; hast thou not become a heaven ? Thou carriest flesh, and in thy heart
Phil. 3, thou art already a heaven ; for thy conversation will be in
20
heaven. Being such, thou also declarest Christ; for who of
All the faithful, as Heavens, declare Christ.
423
the faithful declareth not Christ? Attend, beloved: do ye Ver. imagine that we standing here alone declare Christ, and do ---- ye not declare Him? Whence do they come unto us, wishing to be Christians, whom we have never seen, whom
we know not, unto whom we have never preached ? Have they believed, perchance, without any preacher? The Apo
stle saith : How shall they believe in Him, of Whom they Rom. have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a 10' 14'
preacher? Therefore the whole Church preacheth Christ, and the heavens declare His righteousness ; for all the faithful, whose care it is to gain unto God those who have not yet believed, and who do this from love, are heavens. From them God thunderelh forth the tenor of His judg ment ; and he who was unbelieving trembleth, and is alarmed, and believeth. He shows unto men what power Christ had throughout the world, by pleading with them, and leading them to love Christ. For how
many this day have led their friends either to some pantomimist, or
flute-player? Why, except from their liking him? And do ye love Christ. For He Who conquered the world hath exhibited such spectacles, as that no man can say that he findeth in them cause for blame. For each per
son's' favourite in the theatre is often vanquished there. But no man is vanquished in Christ : there is no reason for shame. Seize, lead, draw, whom ye may : be without fear, ye are leading unto Him, Who displeaseth not those who see Him; and ask ye Him to enlighten them, that
they may behold to good account. The heavens have de clared His righteousness : and all the people have seen His glory.
11. Ver. 7. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Hath not this come to pass ? Have they not been confounded ? Are they not daily confounded ? For carved images are images wrought by the hand. Why are all who worship carved images confounded? Because all people have seen His glory. All nations now confess the glory of
Christ: let those who worship stones be ashamed. Because those stones were dead, we have found a living stone : indeed those stones never lived, so that they cannot be called even dead ; but our Stone is living, and hath ever lived with the
424 Idolaters confounded. Their plea refuted.
Psalm Father, and though He died for us, He revived, and liveth
XCVII
h'now, and death shall no more have dominion over Him.
Rom. U, 9.
This glory of His the nations have acknowledged ; they leave the temples, they run to the Churches. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Do they still seek to worship carved images? Have they not chosen to forsake their idols ? They have been forsaken by their idols. Con
founded be all they that worship carved images, who glory in their idols. But there is a certain disputer who seemeth unto himself learned, and saith, I do not worship that stone, nor
Pf. l16, that image which is without sense; your prophet could not
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be aware that they have eyes and see not, and 1 be ignorant that this image neither hath a soul, nor seeth with its eyes, nor heareth with its ears : I worship not this image ; but I
' i. e. fall adore 1 what I see, and serve him whom I see not Who is
before, that? Some invisible deity, he replieth, who presideth over
that image. By giving this account of their images, they
seem to themselves able disputants, because they do not
l Cor. worship idols, and yet do worship devils. The things,
10, 20. I
brethren, saith the Apostle, which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice unto devils, and not to God ; and
iCor. 8, addeth, that ye should have fellowship with devils ; for we 4' know that an idol is nothing in the world. The Apostle
himself saith this, we know that an idol is nothing: and that what the GentiIles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Let them not therefore excuse themselves on this ground, that they are not devoted to insensate idols; they are rather devoted to devils, which is more dangerous. For if they were only worshipping idols, as they would not help them, so they would not hurt them ; but if thou worship and serve devils, they themselves will be thy masters. And who
will be thy masters? Those who are jealous of thee: they must necessarily be jealous of thy freedom, always wish to possess thee, always to render thee such, as they may be able to draw along with them. For those evil spirits have a sort of inherent malevolence, and love of destruction : thej- rejoice in the evil of man ; and feed upon our delusion, if they have deceived us. And what do they seek? Not those over whom they may for ever have dominion, but with whom they
would not, he
Satan's envy. Divine worship is not for creatures. 4-25
may for ever undergo damnation ; just as an evil-minded Veti. robber is wont to accuse the innocent. If a man is burnt ------ alive, doth he burn the less, if two men are burning? doth he
die the less, if he die in company with another ? His punishment is not lessened, but his malignity is fed. ' Let
him die with me ;' not meaning that he will the less himself
die, but another's ill brings consolation. Such is the devil ;
he wisheth to seduce those who with him may be punished :
and because God is a Judge whom he cannot deceive, (for
he accuseth not before Him the innocent,) wishing to have
true charges to prefer, he persuadeth to sin. Behold what master they who worship idols and devils create for them
selves : for the things which the GentileIs sacrifice, they l Cor.
would not lhat10,m'
12. But what sort of God have we ? Hear what followeth. For when he had said, Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that glory in their idols: lest men should try to stand in defence of their images, by saying, We are not worshipping stones, but deities : what deities dost thou worship ? Tell me, dost thou worship devils, or good spirits, such as are the Angels ? For there are holy Angels, and there are evil spirits. I say, that in thy temples none are worshipped but evil spirits; who in their pride exact sacrifice for themselves, and wish themselves to be worshipped as gods ; who are malignant and proud. Such also are wicked men, who seek their own glory, and despise the glory of
God. But observe holy men, who are like the Angels. When thou hast found some holy man who serveth God, if thou wish to worship him instead of God, he forbiddeth thee: he will not arrogate to himself the honour due to God, he will not be unto thee as God, but be with thee under God. Thus did the holy Apostles Paul and Barnabas. They preached the word of God in Lycaonia. When they had
wonderful works in Lycaonia, the people of that country brought victims, and wished to sacrifice to them, calling Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury: they were not pleased. Did they perchance refuse to be sacrificed to, because they abhorred to be compared to devils ? No, but because they shuddered at divine honour being paid
sacrifice unto devils, and not to God; and ye should have fellowship with devils.
performed
4-26 Saints and Angels refuse divine honours.
Psalm to men. Their own words shew this : it is no guess of ours; xcvix ror tne tex^ of the 000k goeth on to say how they were Acts 14, moved: then Barnabas and Paul rent their clothes, and 14, 16' ran in among the people, crying out, Men and brethren,
why do ye these things? we also are men of like passions with you. Attend. Just then, as good men forbid those who had wished to worship them as gods, and wish rather that God alone be worshipped, God alone be adored, to God alone sacrifice be offered, not to themselves ; so also all the holy Angels seek His glory Whom they love; endeavour to impel and to excite to the contemplation of Him all whom they love : Him they declare to them, not themselves, since they are angels ; and because they are soldiers, they study only how to seek the glory of their Captain ; but if they have sought their own glory, they are condemned as
'tyranni usurpers1. Such were the devil and his angels: he claimed for himself divine honour, and for all his demons ; he filled the pagan temples, and persuaded them to offer images and sacrifices to himself. Was it not better to worship holy Angels than devils ? They answer : we do not worship devils; we worship angels, as ye call them, the powers and the ministers of the great God. I wish ye would worship them : ye would easily learn from themselves not to worship them. Hear an Angel teaching. He was teaching a disciple of Christ, and shewing him many wonders in the Revelation of John : and when some wonderful vision had
been shewn him, he trembled, and fell down at the Angel's feet; but that Angel, who sought not but the glory of God,
I
Rev. 19, said, See thou do it not ; for fellow of
am a servant thee, I0- and of thy brethren the prophets. What then, my brethren ? Let no man say, I fear lest the Angel may be angry with me, if I worship him not as my God. He is then angry with thee, when thou hast chosen to worship him : for he is righteous, and loveth God. As devils are angry if they are
not worshipped, so are Angels angry if they are worshipped instead of God. But lest the weak and trembling heart perchance say unto itself: If then the demons are incensed because they are not worshipped, I fear to offend them ; what can even their chief the devil do unto thee ? If he had any power over us, no one of us would remain. Are not
Satan's impotence. Angels worship God, and teach us so. 427
daily so many things said against him by the mouth of Ver. Christians, and yet the harvest of Christians increaseth. ------ When thou art angry with the most depraved of thy slaves,
thou givest him the name, Satan, Devil. Perhaps in this thou
dost err, since thou sayest it to a man, and thy immoderate
anger hurrieth thee to revile the image of God : and yet thou choosest a term thou deeply hatest, to apply to him. If he could, would he not revenge himself? But it is not allowed:
and he doth so much only as is allowed him. For when he wished to tempt Job, he had to ask power to do so : and he Joh l, could do nothing had he not received power. Why then11- dost thou not fearlessly worship God, without Whose will
no one hurteth thee, and by Whose permission thou art chastened, not overcome ? For if it shall have pleased the
Lord thy God to permit some man to hurt thee, or some
spirit: He will chasten thee, that thou maycst cry unto Him:
" The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: but He hath Ps. lis, not given me over unto death. " Confounded, therefore, 18'
be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: worship Him, all ye His angels. Let pagans learn to worship God : they wish to worship Angels : let them imitate Angels, and worship Him Who is worshipped by Angels. Worship Him, all ye His angels. Let that Angel worship who was sent to Cornelins, (for worshipping Him he sent Cornelins to Peter,) himself Peter's fellow- servaut; let him worship Christ, Peter's Lord. Worship Him, all ye gods !
13. Ver. 8. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced. What did
Sion hear? That all His Angels worship Him. What
heard Sion ? Behold what she heard : The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people have seen
His glory. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in their idols. For the Church
was not as yet among the Gentiles ; in Judaea the Jews had
some of them believed, and the very Jews who believed thought that they only belonged to Christ : the Apostles
were sent to the Gentiles, Cornelins was preached to; Cornelins believed, was baptized, and they who were with Acts to, Cornelins were also baptized. But ye know what happened,
that they might be baptized: the reader indeed hath not
428 Joy of the Jewish Church at conversion of Gentiles.
Psalm reached this point, but, nevertheless, some recollect; and XCT II- let those who do not recollect, hear briefly from me. The Angel was sent to Cornelins : the Angel sent Cornelins to
Peter; Peter came to Cornelins. And because Cornelins and his household were Gentiles, and uncircumcised : lest they might hesitate to give the Gospel to the uncircumcised: before Cornelins and his household were baptized, the Holy Spirit came, and filled them, and they began to speak with tongues. Now the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any one who had not been baptized: but upon these It fell before
For Peter might hesitate whether he might baptize the uncircumcised: the Holy Spirit came, they began to speak with tongues ; the invisible gift was given, and took away all doubt about the visible Sacrament ; they were all
Acts ll, baptized. And thou hast it there written ; And the apostles
1-
and brethren that were in JucLea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. This is what he here mentions ; Sion heard ofit, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. What did Sion hear, and rejoice at ? That the Gentiles also had received the word of God. One wall had come, but the comer existed not as yet. The name Sion is here peculiarly given to the Church which was in Judaea. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. Thus it is written, The apostles and brethren that were in Judcea heard. See if the daughters of Judaea rejoiced not. What did they hear ? That the Gentiles had also received the word of God. Where did this Psalm express this? The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people hare seen His glory. And because even the Gentiles, who used to
baptism.
yer. B.
ver. 7.
PSALM XCVII. A Ditcourie to the people.
God affordeth mighty spectacles to the Christian heart, than which truly nothing more delightful can be discovered ; if only the palate of faith be at hand to taste the honey of God. We believe that in all of you, who have with all your heart believed in our Saviour, there dwelleth His Spirit, that may delight you when the Prophecies are read, so many
years ago uttered by the mouth of the Saints, and so many years after fulfilled in the faith of nations. For those holy Prophets felt the liveliest joy, when they saw those
The Prophets rejoiced in prospect of what we have. 413
things in the Spirit, not as yet fulfilled, but destined to be Title. fulfilled. They felt great delight: and yet, by reason of the
love with which they were inspired for us, whom they saw not
as yet, but in the Spirit travailed of us; they wished, if possible, to live with us in these times, and to see what they
were prophesying in the Spirit, fulfilled. Thence our Lord
saith unto His disciples, when they began to discern these things: Many righteous men and prophets have desired to Mat. 13, see those things which ye see, and have not seen them ; and
to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
For although they saw these things in the Spirit, yet they
were figured unto them as future : but to the Apostles they
were fulfilled before their eyes. Whence that Simeon, a righteous old man, rejoiced much when he saw the infant
Jesus, recognising the great in the small, and in that little
body the Creator of heaven and earth. He rejoiced therefore
much, because he had been answered, that he should not
depart from this life, before he should see the salvation of
God. He therefore recognised Him, he was delighted, and exulted with joy ; saying these words, Lord, now leltest Thou Lute 2,
Thy servant depart in peace : for mine eyes have seen Thy25~30' salvation. Great therefore is this gladness ; and love createth
it. We were pleased, when this Psalm was sung: and some things therein were understood by all ; but some, as I think, either by few, or certainly not by all. Let us therefore at
once consider it in this discourse, in which we are serving you ; and let us see with how great goodness God hath been pleased to make us glad, by making what He hath promised present to us, and by displaying unto us the truth of His promises.
2. (Title. ) This Psalm is entitled, A Psalm ofDavid's, when
his land was restored. Let us refer the whole to Christ, if we
wish to keep the road of a right understanding: let us not de
part from the corner-stone, lest our understanding suffer a fall: Ephes.
'
in Him let that become fixed, which wavered with unstable motion; let that rest upon Him, which before was waving to and fro in uncertainly. Whatever doubt a man hath in his mind when he heareth the Scriptures of God, let him not depart from Christ; when Christ hath been revealed to him in the words, let him then be assured that he hath understood ; but before
414 The 'land" of Judcea 'restored' to the Spiritual David. Psalm he arriveth at the understanding of Christ, let him not pre-
XCVII '
1
--
t; sume that he hath understood. For Christ is the end o~f the
Rom.
10,4. law for righteousness to every one that believeth. What
doth this mean, and how are these words understood in Christ, When his land was restored ? For it is easy to understand how Christ is represented by David ; for Christ was born of Mary, and from David's seed; and since He was to be born of David's seed, on that account He is prophesied of, figuratively, under David's name. David is therefore Christ ; because also the signification of David is Strong of Hand : and who is so strong, as He Who by the Cross conquered the world ? For after His resurrection and ascen sion, when the Holy Spirit had been received, and the
Acts 2, Apostles were speaking with different tongues, a multitude 4. 37. &0. 0f tnose verv persons who had crucified Him, were roused
to seek the counsel of salvation ; received and believed they were forgiven, their guilt in the blood of Christ was remitted unto them, the drinking of His blood imparted unto them they became faithful disciples of Him whose per-
Mat. 27, secutors they had been; they believed in Him Whom they crucified, and before Whom they bowed their heads in mockery; Himself they chose to hold as their Head. Thus then in the words of the title of the Psalm, was His land restored; for this land was Judsea, all of which had been lost, when in their ignorance they crucified their Lord, like delirious men raving against their physician, and in their frenzy rejecting the means of safety. The whole of Judaea then had as were been lost: how the whole? The very Apostles even wavered Peter, who was following Him with
courageous devotion, thrice in the confusion of fear denied Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on His resurrection, found some of them talking together about Himself in the road, in such state as to reply unto Him on His asking
Lnlie24, them the subject of their conversation Art thou alone a ig 21 stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that are come to pass there in these days? And He said unto
them, What things? And they said unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to
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Many of the Jews believed. The Gentiles called in. 415
- death, and have crucified Him. But we hoped that it had Title. been He that should have redeemed Israel. They had already
lost their hope in Christ. For they said not, we hope that
He shall redeem Israel ; but, ue hoped that it had been He
that should have redeemed Israel. He was with them in Person, and hope in Him was not in them. He shewed Himself unto them, He was manifested even to the rest of His disciples, seen, touched, and found by those to whom He seemed already to have perished : the faith of those who had fallen was brought back ; His land was restored. Then after speaking forty days with them, He ascended into heaven ; and,
Aots 1, as 1 mentioned a little before, by sending His Holy Spirit, He3'9'2'4'
caused His disciples, unlearned men, to speak with the tongues of all nations. Then they, in whose behalf He had prayed not in vain, Father, forgive them, for they know not Luke23, what they do, moved, as I have said, sought for safety,34, received counsel to believe in Him ; three thousand be- Acts 2, lieved in one day, and again five thousand; the Church^,
of Christ began to be rife throughout Judaea, where the reproach of Christ had been rife ; and His land was restored.
But since He had Himself said, IOther sheep 1 have which John 10,
are not of this fold; them also
shall be one fold, and one Shepherd; the Apostles were sent to the Gentiles also, to whom the Prophets had not been sent. They were sought, who had not sought; they were found, who were expecting nothing ; that God, Whom they knew not as Promiser, they found a Redeemer. For the Jews before His advent held Him bounden unto them by promises, because the Prophets had there preached
Christ, there had promised Christ ; but they had not recog nised Him when present Whom they had heard promised ; while to the Gentiles no promise was made ; although that they should believe also had been mentioned in the Pro phets. Though not addressed to them, it was said of them. The Gospel was sent unto them also : and ye have heard this from the dispensation of God ; for that lesson hath just been read unto you in the Acts of the Apostles, how the centurion Cornelins believed : for Cornelins the centurion was not of the Jewish nation. He prayed, fasted, gave alms. God deserted him not, although placed among the
must bring; and there16'
416 Christ's ' earth? His Body, restored. His Reign.
Psalm Gentiles : and an Angel was sent to announce unto him, XCVII '- that his prayer and his alms were had in remembrance in Acis 10. the sight of God ; he believed, when he had invited Peter unto
him. Could not the Angel teach him ? He sent him unto Peter, that his faith might be the rather made sure unto him by a man, that God had deigned to visit men : nor did He, Who deigned to be Man, disdain to teach by means of men. Thus then was His land restored; one wall coming from the Jews, another wall from the Gentiles ; which two walls meeting from opposite sides, He was Himself the corner
Eph. 2, stone, where both should be joined together.
3. Again, how do we understand the words, when His
earth was restored ? When His Flesh was raised again.
For another interpretation, not departing from Christ, may thus occur to us: the earth restored is the resurrection of the flesh ; for after His resurrection, all those things which are sung of in the Psalm were done. Let us then hear a Psalm full of joy on the restoration of the Earth. Let the Lord our God excite in us a hope and a pleasure worthy of so great a thing ; may He rule our discourse, that it be fit for your hearts, that whatever joy our heart doth feel in such sights, He may bring on to our tongue, and thence conduct it into your ears, then to your heart, thence to your
actions.
4. Ver. 1. The Lord is King. He Who stood before the
judge, He Who received blows, He Who was scourged, He Who was spit upon, He Who was crowned with thorns, He Who was struck with fists, He Who hung upon the cross, He Who as He hung upon the wood was mocked, He Who died upon the cross, He Who was pierced with the spear, He W7ho
was buried, Himself arose from the dead. The Lord is King. Let kingdoms rage as much as they can ; what can they do to the King of kingdoms, the Lord of all kings, the Creator of all worlds? Is He despised, because He appeared so submissive, so humble ? That was His mercy, not His want of power : for He appeared humble, that we might take Him. But let us now see: The Lord is King, let the earth be
glad: yea, let the multitude of the isles be joyous. It is so indeed, because the word of God hath been preached not in the continent alone, but also in those isles which lie in mid
The ' Isles. ' Darknessfor the wicked, the good God's seat. 4 IT
sea : even these are full of Christians, full of the servants of Ver.
'---
God. For the sea doth not retard Him Who made it. Where ships can approach, can not the words of God ? The isles are filled. But figuratively the isles may be taken for all the Churches. Why isles ? Because the waves of all temptations roar around them. But as an isle may be beaten by the waves which on every side dash around yet cannot be broken, and rather itself dolh break the advancing waves, than by them broken so also the Churches of God, springing up throughout the world, have suffered the persecutions of the ungodly, who roar around them on every side and behold the isles stand fixed, and at last the sea calmed. Yea, let the multitude of the isles be joyous. Him;
5. Ver. 2. Clouds and darkness are round about righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat. For whom are clouds and darkness round about Him For whom are righteousness and judgment the direction of His seat? Clouds and darkness for the ungodly, who have not understood Him: righteousness and judgment for the faithful, who have believed in Him for the former have not seen through pride, the latter have deserved to be guided by their humility. Hear the clouds and darkness, and hear righteous
ness and judgment. The Lord Himself saith For judg- John merit am come into this world; that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made- blind. What meaneth, that they which see might be made blind? They who seem unto themselves to see, who think themselves wise, who think healing not needful for them, that they may
be made blind, may not understand. And that they which see not may see; that they who confess their blindness may obtain to be enlightened. Let there be therefore clouds and darkness round about Him, for those who have not understood Him for those who confess and humble them selves, righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat. He called those who believe in Him His seat: for
from them hath He made Himself seat, since in them Wisdom sitteth for the Son of God the Wisdom of God.
But we have heard from another passage of Scripture
strong confirmation of this interpretation. The soul of Me^rov. i2,
righteous the seat of Wisdom. Because then they whoirjor-
vol. iv.
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418 Fire goes ' before Christ, before Judgment.
Psalm have believed in Him have been made righteous : justified ^'AHby failh, they have become His own seat: He sitteth in them, judging from them, and guiding them. Wherefore ? because He found them meek, like obedient cattle, not kicking backward, not shaking their heads in pride against His yoke, not refusing His scourge : they became good and obedient cattle of His; and deserved what is said in another Ps. 26,8. Psalm, " Them that are meek shall He guide in judgment ;
and such as are gentle, them shall He learn His way. " Clouds and darkness, therefore, are around Him, unto them who are not righteous ; but to the meek, righteousness and
judgment shall be the habitation of His seat.
6. Ver. 8. There shall go a fire before Him, and burn up
His enemies on every side. Of what fire doth he say, brethren, a fire shall go before Him, and burn up His enemies on every aide ? I do not think it is said of that fire, into which the ungodly are to be sent by that sentence of the last judgment, to whom when set apart on the left, as we remember having read in the Gospel, He shall say,
Mat. ? 6, Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
4I-
angels. I do not think it is said of that fire. Why do I not? Because he spcaketh of some fire, which shall go before Him, before He cometh to judgment. For it is said, that the fire goeth before Him, and burueth up His enemies on every side, that is, throughout the whole world. That
fire will burn after His advent: this, on the contrary, will go before Him. What fire then is this ? We may understand it of the punishment of the wicked, we may understand it of the salvation of the redeemed. Of the punishment of the wicked, how ? Because when Christ was preached, the heathen were enraged, and stirred up persecution : which was the fury of fire, consuming rather those who persecuted, than those whom they persecuted. For when we see two persons, the one enraged, the other meekly enduring, it is for you to judge, which of them is on fire. Ye may behold such a spectacle in the human race. Place before your eves an unjust man, excited in mind, savage in countenance, with flaming eyes, with flashing words, carried on to another's death, to depredations, injury, insult, not able to hold, to restrain himself; the other patiently enduring his words, his
The tricked devoured by fire of evil passions. 4 19
blows, whatsoever he chooseth to inflict
when he striketh his cheek, offering unto him the other: ---- when thou hast seen on the one side fury, on the other mildness ; on the one anger, on the other endurance : on the
one flames, on the other patience ; wilt thou hesitate to pro nounce which of these is on fire, and snffereth punishment ?
He whose body is assaulted, or he whose mind is laid
waste ? On which account the prophet Isaiah also saith,
The fire of thine enemies shall devour them, even now. Is. 26,
What is, even now? Before that great day of judg-11'
ment cometh, those who will afterwards burn punishment of eternal fire, already burn in their own rage. Unless indeed ye imagine, brethren, that injustice, which
proceedeth out of one man to the injury of another, hurteth him to whom it proceedeth, and hurteth not him from whom it proceedeth. How can it be so ? Some times a burning brand is applied to a damp and green log of wood, without burning though on fire itself thus also thine enemy. If perchance there be any unjust man who plotteth snares against thee, or deviseth any trouble, he unjust: then thou art green wood, that is, vigorous and flourishing with spiritual sap, thou shalt resist
the fire of his hostilities, by praying for him who perseouteth thee he on fire, thou remainest whole and his injustice hurteth him, thee not al all. Unless indeed thou thinkest that hurteth thee, he hath doue ought unto thy body, and thy soul hath come patient and incorrupt to be crowned before God, following the example of its Lord, Who chose rather to suffer from the Jews, and who could have avoided death, but yet died, just as He was born, though He needed not to have been born. For thou wast born by the law of thy nature, He of His own will thou diest from thy nature, He from His mercy. As then the Jews did Him no harm so neither doth any persecuting enemy hurt thee, thou
hast chosen to be member of Him thy Head.
7. Behold, we have understood the fire that goeth before
Him, that to be understood of kind of temporal punish ment of the unbelieving and ungodly let us understand the fire, possible, of the salvation of the redeemed also for thus we had proposed. The Lord Himself saith
upon him, and Ver. -
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420 Fire ofgrace and Divine Love in the Elect.
Psalm / am come to send fire on the earth : ' fire' in the same way
xcvn. as a , gword i as in anoiner passage He saith, that He was Luke I --? 49. not come to send peace, but sword, upon earth. Ine
^at-10' sword to divide, the fire to burn but each salutary for the sword of His own word hath in salutary wise separated us from evil habits. For He brought sword, and separated every believer either from his father who believed not in Christ, or from his mother in like manner unbelieving or at least, we were born of Christian parents, from his ancestors. For no man among us had not either a grandsire, or great grandsire, or some ancestry among the heathen, and in that unbelief which accursed before God. We are separated from that which we were before but the sword which separateth, but slayeth not, hath cut between us. In the same way the fire also am come to send fire upon the earth. Believers in Him were set on fire, they received the
Acts
flame of love and for this reason when the Holy Spirit itself had been sent to the Apostles, It thus appeared There appeared, he saith, unto them cloven tongues, like as offire, and sat upon each of them. Burning with this fire they set out on their march through the world, to burn and set on fire His enemies on every side. What enemies of His They who forsaking the God Who made them, adored the idols they had made. They were burnt, they were
evil, unto their consumption good, unto their restoration either the man was burnt, who refused to believe, by that fire, becoming worse when he heard the word of God, being burnt up and consumed by his own malice or he were converted and believed, yet was not as nothing had burnt within him. For the grass had burnt, that the gold might be
ls. 40, refined. Faith gold, carnal lust grass. All flesh is grass, e' saith Isaiah, and all the goodliness thereof as theflower
the grass. Whatever there therefore in carnal man lusting for things vain and worldly, grass. How many perchance, even brethren of ours, have been to the theatre they were led by grass. Is not this fire to be desired by them, that the grass may burn, and the gold be refined? For what ever faith there be in them, choked by the grass. It therefore good for them to burn with holy fire, that when the grass hath been consumed, the treasure which Christ
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Lightnings of Christ, from the clouds, holy Preachers. 421
redeemed may shine. Therefore, there shall go afire before Him, and shall burn up His enemies on every side. There are some who have burned for their own health, they are to-day His faithful; they were His enemies, and they are now at last His faithful : thou seekest for enemies, they are not; they are consumed, they have been on fire; love hath consumed in them that which made them persecute Christ, and halh refined within them their belief in Christ. And it
shall burn up His enemies on every side.
8. Ver. 4. His lightnings gave shine unto the world.
This is great joy. Do we not see? is it not clear? His lightnings have shined unto the whole world : His enemies have been set on fire, and burnt. All that gainsaid hath been burnt, and His lightnings have given shine unto the world. How have they shone ? That the world might at length believe. Whence were the lightnings? From the clouds. What are the clouds of God ?
The preachers of the truth. But thou seest a cloud, misty and dark in the sky, and it hath I know not what hidden within it. If there be lightning from the cloud, a brightness shineth forth : from that which thou didst despise, hath burst forth that
which thou mayest dread. Our Lord Jesus Christ therefore sent His Apostles, as His preachers, like clouds : they were seen as men, and were despised ; as clouds appear, and are despised, until what thou wonderest at gleameth from them. For they were in the first place men encumbered with flesh, weak ; then, men of low station, unlearned, ignoble : but there was within what could lighten forth ; there was in them what could flash abroad. Peter a fisherman ap
proached, prayed, and the dead arose. His human form Acts was a cloud, the splendour of the miracle was the lightning. 40- So in their words, so in their deeds, when they do things to
be wondered at, and utter words to be wondered at, His lightnings gave shine unto the world; the earth saw it, and was afraid. Is it not true ? Doth not the whole Christian world at length exclaim, Amen, afraid at the lightnings which burst forth from those clouds 1 The earth saw it,
and was afraid.
9. Ver. 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of
the Lord. Who are the hills? The proud. Every high
422 Melting of the hills. Apostles are ' Heavens. '
Psai m thing raising itself against God, at the deeds of Christ and XCVIL of the Christians, trembled, yielded, and when I say, what hath been already said, melted, a better word cannot be
found. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. Where is the elevation of powers ? where the hardness of the unbelieving? The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. The Lord was a fire unto them, they melted at His presence like wax ; so long hard, until that fire was applied. Every height hath been levelled ; it dareth not now blaspheme Christ : and though the Pagan believeth not in Him, he blasphemeth Him not; though not as yet become a living stone, yet the hard hill hath been subdued. The hills melted like wax at the
presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth : net of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles Rom. 3, also, as the Apostle saith; for He is not the God of the
Jews alone, but of the Gentiles also. He is therefore the Lord of the whole earth, the Lord Jesus Christ born in Judaea, but not born for Judxa alone, because before He was born He created all men ; and He Who created, also new created, all men. At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
10. Ver. 6. The heavens have declared His righteousness : and all the people have seen His glory. What heavens hare Ps. 19,1. declared ? The heavens declare the glory of God. Who are the heavens ? Those who have become His seat ; for as God
sitteth in the heavens, so doth He sit in the Apostles, so doth He sit in the preachers of the Gospel. Even thou, if thou wilt, shalt be a heaven. Dost thou wish to be so? Purge from thy heart the earth. If thou hast not earthly lusts, and hast not in vain uttered the response, that thou
Colos. 3,hast 'lifted up thy heart,' thou shalt be a heaven. Ifye be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle to believers, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth upon the right hand of God: set your affection on things above, not on things ofthe earth. Thou hast begun to set thine affection upon things above, not on things upon earth ; hast thou not become a heaven ? Thou carriest flesh, and in thy heart
Phil. 3, thou art already a heaven ; for thy conversation will be in
20
heaven. Being such, thou also declarest Christ; for who of
All the faithful, as Heavens, declare Christ.
423
the faithful declareth not Christ? Attend, beloved: do ye Ver. imagine that we standing here alone declare Christ, and do ---- ye not declare Him? Whence do they come unto us, wishing to be Christians, whom we have never seen, whom
we know not, unto whom we have never preached ? Have they believed, perchance, without any preacher? The Apo
stle saith : How shall they believe in Him, of Whom they Rom. have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a 10' 14'
preacher? Therefore the whole Church preacheth Christ, and the heavens declare His righteousness ; for all the faithful, whose care it is to gain unto God those who have not yet believed, and who do this from love, are heavens. From them God thunderelh forth the tenor of His judg ment ; and he who was unbelieving trembleth, and is alarmed, and believeth. He shows unto men what power Christ had throughout the world, by pleading with them, and leading them to love Christ. For how
many this day have led their friends either to some pantomimist, or
flute-player? Why, except from their liking him? And do ye love Christ. For He Who conquered the world hath exhibited such spectacles, as that no man can say that he findeth in them cause for blame. For each per
son's' favourite in the theatre is often vanquished there. But no man is vanquished in Christ : there is no reason for shame. Seize, lead, draw, whom ye may : be without fear, ye are leading unto Him, Who displeaseth not those who see Him; and ask ye Him to enlighten them, that
they may behold to good account. The heavens have de clared His righteousness : and all the people have seen His glory.
11. Ver. 7. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Hath not this come to pass ? Have they not been confounded ? Are they not daily confounded ? For carved images are images wrought by the hand. Why are all who worship carved images confounded? Because all people have seen His glory. All nations now confess the glory of
Christ: let those who worship stones be ashamed. Because those stones were dead, we have found a living stone : indeed those stones never lived, so that they cannot be called even dead ; but our Stone is living, and hath ever lived with the
424 Idolaters confounded. Their plea refuted.
Psalm Father, and though He died for us, He revived, and liveth
XCVII
h'now, and death shall no more have dominion over Him.
Rom. U, 9.
This glory of His the nations have acknowledged ; they leave the temples, they run to the Churches. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Do they still seek to worship carved images? Have they not chosen to forsake their idols ? They have been forsaken by their idols. Con
founded be all they that worship carved images, who glory in their idols. But there is a certain disputer who seemeth unto himself learned, and saith, I do not worship that stone, nor
Pf. l16, that image which is without sense; your prophet could not
-'-
be aware that they have eyes and see not, and 1 be ignorant that this image neither hath a soul, nor seeth with its eyes, nor heareth with its ears : I worship not this image ; but I
' i. e. fall adore 1 what I see, and serve him whom I see not Who is
before, that? Some invisible deity, he replieth, who presideth over
that image. By giving this account of their images, they
seem to themselves able disputants, because they do not
l Cor. worship idols, and yet do worship devils. The things,
10, 20. I
brethren, saith the Apostle, which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice unto devils, and not to God ; and
iCor. 8, addeth, that ye should have fellowship with devils ; for we 4' know that an idol is nothing in the world. The Apostle
himself saith this, we know that an idol is nothing: and that what the GentiIles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Let them not therefore excuse themselves on this ground, that they are not devoted to insensate idols; they are rather devoted to devils, which is more dangerous. For if they were only worshipping idols, as they would not help them, so they would not hurt them ; but if thou worship and serve devils, they themselves will be thy masters. And who
will be thy masters? Those who are jealous of thee: they must necessarily be jealous of thy freedom, always wish to possess thee, always to render thee such, as they may be able to draw along with them. For those evil spirits have a sort of inherent malevolence, and love of destruction : thej- rejoice in the evil of man ; and feed upon our delusion, if they have deceived us. And what do they seek? Not those over whom they may for ever have dominion, but with whom they
would not, he
Satan's envy. Divine worship is not for creatures. 4-25
may for ever undergo damnation ; just as an evil-minded Veti. robber is wont to accuse the innocent. If a man is burnt ------ alive, doth he burn the less, if two men are burning? doth he
die the less, if he die in company with another ? His punishment is not lessened, but his malignity is fed. ' Let
him die with me ;' not meaning that he will the less himself
die, but another's ill brings consolation. Such is the devil ;
he wisheth to seduce those who with him may be punished :
and because God is a Judge whom he cannot deceive, (for
he accuseth not before Him the innocent,) wishing to have
true charges to prefer, he persuadeth to sin. Behold what master they who worship idols and devils create for them
selves : for the things which the GentileIs sacrifice, they l Cor.
would not lhat10,m'
12. But what sort of God have we ? Hear what followeth. For when he had said, Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that glory in their idols: lest men should try to stand in defence of their images, by saying, We are not worshipping stones, but deities : what deities dost thou worship ? Tell me, dost thou worship devils, or good spirits, such as are the Angels ? For there are holy Angels, and there are evil spirits. I say, that in thy temples none are worshipped but evil spirits; who in their pride exact sacrifice for themselves, and wish themselves to be worshipped as gods ; who are malignant and proud. Such also are wicked men, who seek their own glory, and despise the glory of
God. But observe holy men, who are like the Angels. When thou hast found some holy man who serveth God, if thou wish to worship him instead of God, he forbiddeth thee: he will not arrogate to himself the honour due to God, he will not be unto thee as God, but be with thee under God. Thus did the holy Apostles Paul and Barnabas. They preached the word of God in Lycaonia. When they had
wonderful works in Lycaonia, the people of that country brought victims, and wished to sacrifice to them, calling Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury: they were not pleased. Did they perchance refuse to be sacrificed to, because they abhorred to be compared to devils ? No, but because they shuddered at divine honour being paid
sacrifice unto devils, and not to God; and ye should have fellowship with devils.
performed
4-26 Saints and Angels refuse divine honours.
Psalm to men. Their own words shew this : it is no guess of ours; xcvix ror tne tex^ of the 000k goeth on to say how they were Acts 14, moved: then Barnabas and Paul rent their clothes, and 14, 16' ran in among the people, crying out, Men and brethren,
why do ye these things? we also are men of like passions with you. Attend. Just then, as good men forbid those who had wished to worship them as gods, and wish rather that God alone be worshipped, God alone be adored, to God alone sacrifice be offered, not to themselves ; so also all the holy Angels seek His glory Whom they love; endeavour to impel and to excite to the contemplation of Him all whom they love : Him they declare to them, not themselves, since they are angels ; and because they are soldiers, they study only how to seek the glory of their Captain ; but if they have sought their own glory, they are condemned as
'tyranni usurpers1. Such were the devil and his angels: he claimed for himself divine honour, and for all his demons ; he filled the pagan temples, and persuaded them to offer images and sacrifices to himself. Was it not better to worship holy Angels than devils ? They answer : we do not worship devils; we worship angels, as ye call them, the powers and the ministers of the great God. I wish ye would worship them : ye would easily learn from themselves not to worship them. Hear an Angel teaching. He was teaching a disciple of Christ, and shewing him many wonders in the Revelation of John : and when some wonderful vision had
been shewn him, he trembled, and fell down at the Angel's feet; but that Angel, who sought not but the glory of God,
I
Rev. 19, said, See thou do it not ; for fellow of
am a servant thee, I0- and of thy brethren the prophets. What then, my brethren ? Let no man say, I fear lest the Angel may be angry with me, if I worship him not as my God. He is then angry with thee, when thou hast chosen to worship him : for he is righteous, and loveth God. As devils are angry if they are
not worshipped, so are Angels angry if they are worshipped instead of God. But lest the weak and trembling heart perchance say unto itself: If then the demons are incensed because they are not worshipped, I fear to offend them ; what can even their chief the devil do unto thee ? If he had any power over us, no one of us would remain. Are not
Satan's impotence. Angels worship God, and teach us so. 427
daily so many things said against him by the mouth of Ver. Christians, and yet the harvest of Christians increaseth. ------ When thou art angry with the most depraved of thy slaves,
thou givest him the name, Satan, Devil. Perhaps in this thou
dost err, since thou sayest it to a man, and thy immoderate
anger hurrieth thee to revile the image of God : and yet thou choosest a term thou deeply hatest, to apply to him. If he could, would he not revenge himself? But it is not allowed:
and he doth so much only as is allowed him. For when he wished to tempt Job, he had to ask power to do so : and he Joh l, could do nothing had he not received power. Why then11- dost thou not fearlessly worship God, without Whose will
no one hurteth thee, and by Whose permission thou art chastened, not overcome ? For if it shall have pleased the
Lord thy God to permit some man to hurt thee, or some
spirit: He will chasten thee, that thou maycst cry unto Him:
" The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: but He hath Ps. lis, not given me over unto death. " Confounded, therefore, 18'
be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: worship Him, all ye His angels. Let pagans learn to worship God : they wish to worship Angels : let them imitate Angels, and worship Him Who is worshipped by Angels. Worship Him, all ye His angels. Let that Angel worship who was sent to Cornelins, (for worshipping Him he sent Cornelins to Peter,) himself Peter's fellow- servaut; let him worship Christ, Peter's Lord. Worship Him, all ye gods !
13. Ver. 8. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced. What did
Sion hear? That all His Angels worship Him. What
heard Sion ? Behold what she heard : The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people have seen
His glory. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in their idols. For the Church
was not as yet among the Gentiles ; in Judaea the Jews had
some of them believed, and the very Jews who believed thought that they only belonged to Christ : the Apostles
were sent to the Gentiles, Cornelins was preached to; Cornelins believed, was baptized, and they who were with Acts to, Cornelins were also baptized. But ye know what happened,
that they might be baptized: the reader indeed hath not
428 Joy of the Jewish Church at conversion of Gentiles.
Psalm reached this point, but, nevertheless, some recollect; and XCT II- let those who do not recollect, hear briefly from me. The Angel was sent to Cornelins : the Angel sent Cornelins to
Peter; Peter came to Cornelins. And because Cornelins and his household were Gentiles, and uncircumcised : lest they might hesitate to give the Gospel to the uncircumcised: before Cornelins and his household were baptized, the Holy Spirit came, and filled them, and they began to speak with tongues. Now the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any one who had not been baptized: but upon these It fell before
For Peter might hesitate whether he might baptize the uncircumcised: the Holy Spirit came, they began to speak with tongues ; the invisible gift was given, and took away all doubt about the visible Sacrament ; they were all
Acts ll, baptized. And thou hast it there written ; And the apostles
1-
and brethren that were in JucLea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. This is what he here mentions ; Sion heard ofit, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. What did Sion hear, and rejoice at ? That the Gentiles also had received the word of God. One wall had come, but the comer existed not as yet. The name Sion is here peculiarly given to the Church which was in Judaea. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. Thus it is written, The apostles and brethren that were in Judcea heard. See if the daughters of Judaea rejoiced not. What did they hear ? That the Gentiles had also received the word of God. Where did this Psalm express this? The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people hare seen His glory. And because even the Gentiles, who used to
baptism.
yer. B.
ver. 7.
