Behold the reason why the Martyrs endured all things, because they waited
patiently
for what they saw not.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v6
Some hold and shake the garment ; and thence issueth dust, that had clung unto it.
What sayest thou of the dust?
The dust hath been shaken out.
What sayest thou of the garment ?
The garment hath been shaken out.
If, therefore, both that which issueth forth from the shaking, and that from which the dust issueth forth, is said to be shaken out; both the dust hath been shaken out, and the Apostles have been shaken out.
Why then are not the children of those that have been shaken out, called the children of the Apostles?
11. But there is another opinion also which we ought not to pass over. For perhaps the words are rather obscurely expressed for this reason, that they may call forth many understandings, and that men may go away the richer, because they have found that closed which might be opened in many ways, than if they could open and discover it by one interpretation. We say also that any thing is shaken out; that what is perhaps concealed may come out thence. For we say with one meaning that a garment is shaken, that they may shake out dust thence ; and in another sense we say
that a sack is shaken, that what lay concealed within may issue forth. I understand therefore, brethren, as far as I am able, that perhaps the Apostles themselves are styled the sons of those who have been shaken out, the sons of the Prophets. For the Prophets comprised closed and covered mysteries: they were shaken, that they might come forth thence manifestly. Suppose therefore, a Prophet to have said, as one truly saith, The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth nut know Me. This
Hidden meanings; the Ox, the Jew; the Ass, the Oentile. 29 illustration cometh before my mind at present, to speak of a Ver.
prophet; had another occurred, I would have adduced it. When a man heareth this, if he think of an ass and an
ox, and cattle, and beasts of burden, he will be treating an interior meaning in its outward aspect, ignorant of the latent sense. The ass and the ox signify something. What then
is said unto a man who wisheth to know how to preach the truth? Wait; what thou art touching is closed, shake off
the covering; the Prophet conceals something beneath this
veil of language ; he meaneth something by the ass, some
thing by the ox. For the ass, figuring the people of God, is God's beast of burden, carrying the Lord its Rider, that it
may not stray in its path: and that ox whereof the Apostle
saith, Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that Dent. ireadeth out the corn: doth God take care for oxen, he asks, ifctl 9 or saith He it altogether for our sakes? For our sokes, 9. 10. he saith, without doubt this is written. Every preacher of God's Word, therefore, warneth, chideth, frighteneth, thresh-
eth the floor, and filleth the office of the ox. The ox came from the Jews' nation ; for thence came the Apostles, Preachers : the ass came from the nation of the uncircum- cised, that from the Gentiles. He came to carry the Lord and therefore the Lord sat upon an ass that never had carried man; since the Law was not sent to the Gentiles, nor the Prophets. Since therefore our Lord Jesus Christ willed to be our meat, and on this account was laid in the manger at His birth, the ox knew his owner, and the ass his master's crib. But would these meanings issue forth, unless the bag were shaken out? Except the prophecy involved were sifted with diligence, would the concealed meanings come forth unto us? All these meanings were therefore closed before the Lord's advent. The Lord came, and shook out these hidden meanings, and they were made manifest the Prophets were shaken out, and the Apostles were born. Since then they were born of the Prophets who had been shaken out, the Apostles are sons of those that were shaken out. They, placed as the arrows in the hand of the giant, have reached the uttermost parts of the earth. How must needs be said of the end, Lo, children, the reward of the fruit of the womb, are the heritage of the
*'
it
is,
;
:
30 Blessing of those whose desire is for true good.
Psalm Lord. Because this heritage is gathered from the uttermost CXxVI1. parts of the earth : because, Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one, even so are the children of them that are
shaken out; that is, the Apostles the sons of the Prophets have been like as the arrows in the hand of a mighly one. If He is mighty, He hath shaken them out with a mighty hand; if He hath shaken them out with a mighty hand, they whom He hath shaken forth have arrived even at the uttermost parts of the earth.
12. Ver. 5. Blessed is the man who hath filled his desire from them. Well, my brethren, who filleth his desire from them ? Who loveth not the world. He who is filled with
the desire of the world, hath no room for that to enter which they have preached. Pour forth what thou earnest, and become fit for that which thou hast not. That is, thou desirest riches: thou canst not fill thy desire from them : thou desirest honours upon earth, thou desirest those things which God hath given even unto beasts of burden, that is, temporal pleasure, bodily health, and the like ; thou wilt not fulfil thy
Ps. 42,i. desire from them. But if thou desirest thus, even as the Ps. 84,2. hart longeth for the streams of waters; if thou sayest, My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the
Lord ; thou fillest thy desire from them ; not that they can fulfil such a desire, but by imitating such thou comest unto Him Who hath filled their desire.
13. He shall not be ashamed, when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate. Brethren, let us speak in the gate, that is, let all know what we speak. For he who chooseth not to speak in the gate, wisheth what he speaketh to be hidden, and perhaps wisheth it to be hidden for this reason, that it is evil. If he be confident, let him speak in the gate ;
Prov. 8, as it is said of Wisdom, She crieth at the gales, at the entry of
3"
the city. As long as they hold unto righteousness in inno- cency, they shall not be ashamed : this is to preach at the gate. And who is he who preacheth at the gate ? He who preacheth in Christ; because Christ is the gate whereby we
Johnio, enter into that city. I lie, had He not Himself said ; / am the door. If He be the door, He is also the gate; for door is applied to a house ; the door of a city is its gate, the gate of a house is its door. But perhaps the term gate is not
They speak boldly in the ' Gate,' who speak in Christ. 31
aptly used : if that which is called a house be not rightly vTM' termed a city. For both are said a little before : Except
the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build
it; and lest thou shouldest think this house some small thing,
he addeth, Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. The house, therefore, and the city are
the same. The city hath a door like a house, and hath a
gate as a city. He, therefore, Who is the door of the house,
is Himself the gate of the city. If, therefore, Christ be the
gate of the city, he is not ashamed who standeth in Christ,
and thus preacheth. But he who preacheth against Christ, against him the gate is shut. Who are they who preach against Christ? They who deny that the arrows are sentDona- from the hand of the Mighty One, and have reached the utter
most parts of the earth
of which it is said, Desire of Me, and
heathen for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. It was preached, it was listened to, before it was fulfilled ; and now that it hath been fulfilled, they refuse to acknowledge it. They, therefore, who speak against Christ, are without the gate; because they seek their own honours, not those of Christ. But he who preacheth in the gate, seeketh Christ's honour, not his own : and, there fore, he who preacheth in the gate, saith, Trust not in me ; for ye will not enter through me, but through the gate. While they who wish men to trust in themselves, wish them not to enter through the gate : it is no marvel if the gate be closed against them, and if they vainly knock for it to be opened. Be present in mind, therefore, brethren, on account of to-morrow's discourse also, which shall be delivered to you, according to our promise, by the Lord's help, from the Gospel concerning the dovee. In Whose Name we have promised, in His mercy we will fulfil our promise. But, that we may fulfil it worthily, and may not have been too daring in promising, do ye pray for us.
' Vid. Tract, iv. on St. John i. 31, 32. ? . 16. cf. Tract v. and vi.
and this is the I of Lord, ; heritage the
shall give thee theVt. 2, 8.
Lat. CxxVII.
i Cor. 2,
32 Some are misled by the promise of temporal blessings.
PSALM CXXV1II.
EXPOSITION.
A Sermon to the People, on the day of St. Felix the Martyr.
1. Ver. 1 -- 4. As the Apostle saith, dearest brethren, Com paring spiritual things with spiritual ; but the natural man receiveth not the things that are of the Spirit of God; we
must be on our guard lest natural men, not receiving the things that are of the Spirit of God, may rather be scan dalized than edified by this Psalm. For briefly (though we heard it in the singing) I am running through since is brief, not expounding, but reading it. Now consider that if every man hath desired such things as great gift from God, as this Psalm mentioueth and perhaps, not because he
forsaken by God, but because he more loved, hath not received them and seeth that what he hath here heard described as the rewards of them that fear God, abound unto those who fear not God his steps totter, and his footsteps slip, and he saith in his heart, that he hath feared God without a cause, since he hath not received those rewards which God hath promised to them that fear Him; while they have received over and above, who not only have not feared, but have even blasphemed Him. Consider what he saith, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways. For thou shall eat the labours of thy hands. well is thee, and happy shalt thou be. We may, as far as this, though we be natural men, think of the bliss of future life but consider what followeth Thy wife shall be as the
fruitful vine upon the walls of thine house. Thy children like the olive-branches, round about thy table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, that feareth the Lord. How In that his wife shall be as the fruitful vine, upon the walls of his house and his children like the olive-branches, round
about his table. Have they then, who for God's sake have even refused to marry, lost their reward No he who
?
:
:
?
O
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:
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;
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Something beyond this life must be understood. 33
refuseth to marry saith: God will bless me in other ways. Ver. Nay truly: either He will bless thee thus, or He will not ----- bless thee at all ; the language of the Psalm is plain, Lo,
thus shall the man be blessed, thatfeareth the Lord.
2. What then, brethren, is the meaning of this ? That we
may not, by desiring temporal and earthly
our heavenly happiness, the Prophet setteth before us a sort
of veil, this veil hath 1 know not what within. You remem
ber, beloved, when I was expounding the preceding Psalm to
you, which goeth before this, we met with a certain obscure
verse, where it was said, Like as the arrows in the hand of a Pa. 12", mighty one, so are the sons of them that are shaken out ; and 4' when we enquired who the sons of them that are shaken out
were, it seemed to us, that the Apostles (the Lord suggesting
this, as we believe) were termed the sons of them that were
shaken out, the sons of the Prophets: because the Prophets
spoke in enigmas, and under figures as with the veil of mysteries covered their meaning ; which meaning could not
issue forth unto men, unless these veils were shaken out; whence they were called the sons of those that are shaken
out, who gained spiritual profit by the opening out the Prophets. Let us too, therefore, shake out this one, that we
may not be deceived through the coverings, lest touching
what is within and not seeing it, we may perchance wood for gold, and tiles for silver. Let us shake it out, if it seem good unto you, beloved; the Lord will aid, that what is within may come forth ; especially, my brethren, as we are celebrating the birthdays of the Martyrs. How great evils have the Martyrs endured, what deaths, what terrible tortures, what filthy prisons, pinching of chains, fury of wild beasts, heat of flames, stings of insults! Would they have endured all these things, unless they saw somewhat, whither they were tending, not belonging to the happiness of this world ? Now it is shameful for us to celebrate the birthdays of the
Martyrs, that is, of those servants of God who despised this world for the sake of everlasting bliss, and understand what is here written in the sense of present happiness; so that we should say of any faithful man of God, citizen of that Jeru salem, to whom marriage may have brought no issue, This man feareth not the Lord ; for if he feared the Lord, his wife
VOL. VI.
d
blessings, lose
say
34 God does not always give Children to the Righteous.
Psalm would be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of his house, not cxxv'"' barren, so that she could give birth to none; and if this man feared the Lord, his sons would surround his table, like olive- branches. For if we should speak thus, we are natural men, not receiving the things that are of the Spirit of God. Let us also begin to shake them out, that we also may be the sons of them that are shaken out. For if we shall be the sons of them that are shaken out, we shall be like as the arrows in the hand of the giant, and He will dart us from His commandment into the hearts of men who do not as yet
love Him, that, struck by the arrows of God's words, they may love. For if we begin to preach to them such words as these, My sons, or my brethren, fear ye the Lord, that ye may have children and grandchildren, that your house may
be joyful; we are not leading them to love that everlasting Jerusalem ; they will remain in the love of earthly things, and seeing these things abound to the ungodly, though they dare not speak so to us, they will say in their heart, Why hath he who feareth not God, his house full of children ? And if perchance another say to him, As yet thou knowest not what may happen ; what if he shall have to bury them, because he feareth not God ; what if many sons were born unto him for this reason, that he might suffer greater pain from their death ? But if thou speak thus, he will answer
I know of a man who was ungodly, a heathen, sacri legious, a worshipper of idols, (and perhaps he doth know, and saith the truth, and knoweth not one only, nor even two or three only,) whom numerous sons and grandsons have carried to the grave, an old man, bowed down with years, who had died in his bed. Lo, he feared not the Lord, and yet a most numerous offspring of his house hath closed his eyes. What shall we say to this ? Nothing evil can happen to him, for he can never, in his lifetime, bury his children, since he hath already died, and been borne to an honourable tomb by his children.
3. Let us shake this out then, let us shake it out, if we wish to be the sons of them that are shaken out : let some meaning be educed from it. For there is a certain Man who is thus blessed : and no one feareth the Lord, except
he be in the members of this Man : and there are many men,
thee :
The Promise is to the Church, as one in Christ. 35
and there is one Man ; for there are many Christians, and Ver. there is One Christ. The Christians themselves with their ---- Head, Who hath ascended into heaven, are one Christ. He
is not One, and we many, but we many are one in That One.
Christ then is one Man, the Head of the Body. What is
His Body ? His Church, as the Apostle saith : We are Ephea. members of His Body ; and, ye are the body of Christ, and]'TM' His members in particular. Let us therefore understand 12,
the words of this Man, in whose body we are one man ; and we shall there see the true good things of Jerusalem. For thus he saith at the end : That thou mayest see the good things that are ofJerusalem. But if thou hast looked for these good things with an earthly eye, the abundance of children aud grandchildren, and the fecundity and fruitful. ness of his wife, are not the good things of that Jerusalem ; for these good things are in the land of the dying, that is the land of the living. Hold it not as a very great thing, if thou hast sons who will die, although not before thee, yet
certainly after thee. Dost thou wish to have children who will never die, and who will ever live with thee ? Be thou in His Body, of Whom it hath been said, Ye are the Body
of Christ, and His members in particular.
4. That this Psalm also might shew this, since it is so far
obscure that it admonisheth us to knock at so far covered that doth wish to be shaken out, beginneth with speak ing of many Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways. He speaketh to many; but since these many are one in Christ, in the next words he speaketh in the singular For thou shall eat the labours of thy fruits. He had said above, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways why doth he now say, Thou shall eat the labours of thy fruits: and not, ye shall eat? and why, the labours of thy fruits, and not the labours of your fruits. Hath he forgotten that so lately as in the preceding verse he was speaking of more than one If thou hast already shaken out, what doth he answer thee When speak of Christians in the plural, understand one in the One Christ.
Ye are therefore many, and ye are one we are many, and we are one. How are we man}. , and yet one Because we
D 2
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it
it,
?
I
I
it :
it :
;
--
-Head is in heaven, that His members may follow.
5. Let him therefore now go on with his description : for it is now clear Whom he is describing. Thus will all that followeth be open : only do ye fear the Lord, and walk in
36 The Martyrs, as St. Felix, rejoiced in hope.
Psalm cling unto Him Whose members we are ; and since our CxxV1H.
His ways, and do not envy those who walk not in His ways, when ye shall see them happy without happiness. For men of the world are happy without happiness; but the Martyrs were unhappy with happiness. For they were unhappy for a season, but happy for evermore ; and herein that they were unhappy for a season, they were thought to be more
2 Cor. 6, unhappy than they were. For what saith the Apostle? As
l0'
sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing. Why, alway? Both here and there : altogether both here and there. For whence do we rejoice here ? In hope. Whence shall we rejoice there ? In fulfilment. The hope of one rejoicing hath great joy,
Rom. 13, and if rejoicing in hope, see what followeth, patient in
12'
tribulation. The Martyrs were therefore patient in tribula tion, because they rejoiced in hope. But because that which is promised did not yet exist, what saith the Apostle ?
Id. 8,24. For hope which is seen is not hope: but if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Behold the reason why the Martyrs endured all things, because they waited patiently for what they saw not. They who slew them, loved what they saw : they who were slain, sighed for those things which they saw not, and hastened to reach those things which they saw not; and in that they were put to a lingering death, thought they were delayed,
? i-e- Happy
6. Therefore, brethren, Felix the Martyr', truly Felix1 botn in nis name and his crown, whose birthday this is, despised the world. Was he, because he feared the Lord, thence happy, thence blessed, because his wife was as a fruitful vine upon the earth, and his children stood around his table ? All these blessings he hath perfectly, but in the
Body of Him Who is here described; and, because he understood them in this sense, he scorned things present, that he might receive things future. Ye are aware, brethren,
' He is said to have suffered martyr- from Hippo, on the sixth of November, dom at Xhiniasa, or Thimisa, not far Ben. (Mart. Rom. has Tuneti. )
Fear ofpunishment is not a pure fear of God. 37
that he suffered not the death that other martyrs suffered. Ver.
'. --
For he confessed, and was set aside for torments ; on another day his body was discovered lifeless. They had closed the prison to his body, not to his spirit. The exe cutioners found him gone; when they were preparing to torture, they spent their rage for nought. He was lying dead, without sense to them, that he might not be tortured ; with sense with God, that he might be crowned.
Whence was he also happy, brethren, not only in name, but in the
reward of everlasting life, if he loved these things.
7. Let us therefore so hear this Psalm, as considering it to be spoken of Christ: and all of us who cling unto the
Body of Christ, and have been made members of Christ, walk in the ways of the Lord ; and let us fear the Lord with a chaste fear, with a fear that abideth for ever. For it is another fear which charity excludeth, as St. John saith,
There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear. Uohn4, He saith not of every fear that it is cast out by love; for18' thou findest the Psalm saying, The fear of the Lord is clean, Ps. 19, and en dure th for ever. One fear therefore endureth, the9'
other is cast out. The fear which is cast out, is not clean:
but that which endureth, is clean. What is the fear which
is cast out? Deign to consider. Some fear only for this reason, lest they suffer some evil on earth, -- lest sickness
befall them, lest loss, lest bereavement of children, lest the
loss of any that is dear, lest exile, lest condemnation, lest prison', lest any tribulation; for these reasons they fear and tremble: still this fear is not a chaste one. Still hear. Another feareth not on this earth, but feareth hell, whereby
the Lord also alarmed men. Ye have heard when the Gospel was being read, Where their worm dieth not, awcJMark 9, the fire is not quenched. Men hear these words; and because they will really happen to the ungodly, they fear,
and restrain themselves from sin. They have fear, and through fear restrain themselves from sin. They fear indeed, but love not righteousness. But when through fear they restrain themselves from sin, righteousness becometh a habit, and what was hard beginneth to be loved, and good becometh sweet : and man now beginneth to live righte- s Oxf. Mas. ' lest condemnation to imprisonment. '
Psalm
38 A right fear kadi to the sight and love of Christ.
ously for this reason, not because he feareth punishments, but because he loveth eternity. Fear therefore is cast out by love; but a clean fear hath succeeded.
8. What is this clean fear? According to which we ought, my brethren, to understand what is said, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways. If I shall be enabled to speak worthily of this clean fear, by the help of the Lord our God, many will perchance be inflamed by this clean fear unto a clean love. Nor can 1 perhaps explain, unless by putting forward some similitude. Suppose some chaste woman, fearing her husband : suppose another an adulterous woman ; she also feareth her husband. The chaste woman feareth lest her husband depart : the adul terous wife feareth him, lest he come. What if both be absent ? The one feareth lest he come : the latter, lest he delay. He is in a certain sense absent unto Whom we
have been betrothed ; He is absent, Who gave unto us as a pledge His Holy Spirit; He is absent, Who redeemed us with His blood ; that Husband than Whom nothing is more beautiful, Who seemed as it were deformed among the hands of His persecutors, of Whom a little before Tsaiah said, He hath no form or comeliness. Is then our Bride- groom deformed ? God forbid ! for how would the virgins love Him, who have not sought husbands on earth? He therefore seemed deformed to His persecutors : if they thought Him not such, they would not insult Him, they would not strike Him with whips, would not crown Him with thorns, would not defile Him with spittle ; but because
ls. 53,2. Sol, i,
|oug
John l
Philip, Have
He seemed such unto them, they did these things unto Him ; for they had not eyes whereby Christ could seem beautiful. To what sort of eyes did Christ seem beautiful ? To such as CIhrist Himself sought, when He said unto
been so long with you, and hast thou not known Me, Philip ? These eyes must be cleansed, that they may see that light ; and, though slightly touched with the splendour, they are kindled with love, that they may wish to be healed, and may become enlightened. For that ye may know that Christ, Who is loved, is beautiful, the P>>. 45, Prophet saith, Fairer in beauty than the children of men.
Ilis beauty surpasseth all men. W hat is it we love in
How to prove whether our fear of God is pure. 39
His crucified members, His transfixed side, or His Ver. When we hear that He suffered for us, what do we --L-- Love is loved. He loved us, that we might in turn
Christ ?
love ?
love ?
love Him; and that we might return His love, He hath visited us with His Spirit. He is beautiful, and is absent. Let the spouse ask herself if she be chaste. We are all among His members, my brethren ; we are among His members, we are for this reason one Man. Let each man see what sort of fear he hath, whether that which love casteth out, or that clean fear which endureth for evermore.
He hath lately proved this ; I say unto you, He will also prove Our Bridegroom afar ask thy conscience
dost thou wish that He come, or dost thou still wish that He delay? Consider, brethren: have knocked at the doors of your hearts; He hath heard the voice of them that dwell therein. What the consciences of each of you may
have answered, could not reach my ears, since am but man He Who afar in respect of bodily presence, but present in the strength of His Majesty, hath heard you.
be said unto them, Lo, here Christ, the day of judgment; say not, Would that He They who speak thus, love much and they
How many,
to-morrow
may come
are told, He will delay, they fear lest He delay, because their fear clean. And as His delaying now feared so, after His coming, His leaving us will be feared. That will be a clean fear, for tranquil and secure. For we shall not be forsaken of Him, when He hath found us, since He sought us before we sought Him chaste fear therefore, my brethren, hath this source cometh from love. But that fear which not yet chaste, feareth His Presence, and
its punishment. From fear doeth whatever of good doeth not from fear of losing that good, but from fear of suffering that evil. He feareth not lest he lose the embrace of his most comely bridegroom, but lest he be cast into hell. This fear good, useful will not indeed remain for evermore but not as yet of that clean sort, that abideth for evermore.
9. In whom clean
the second time, which ye may ask of yourselves. If God should come and speak unto us with His Own Voice,
am now asking question for
is
is
it is
it
:
it is
is ?
it I is
is
it
: is
; it
:
:
is a;
I is
it
is a
;
it :a
I :
is
!
is
if
if :
it.
40 Fear of losing God's Presence shews some love.
m (although He ceaseth not to speak through His Scriptures,) -- and should say unto man, Thou wishest to sin : sin ; do what
soever pleaseth thee ; whatever thou loveston the earth, let it be thine : whoever thou art angry with, let him perish ; whomsoever thou wishest to seize upon, let him be seized ; whomsoever to kill, let him be killed; whomsoever to con demn, let him be condemned ; whomsoever thou wishest to possess, possess him : let no man resist thee, let no man say unto thee, What art thou doing ? No man, Do it not ; no man, Why hast thou done it? Let all those earthly things which thou hast desired abound unto thee, and live in them, not for a season, but for evermore : only thou shalt never see My Face. My brethren, wherefore did ye groan, save because that already a clean fear, enduring alway, hath been born? Why is your heart stricken? If God should say, Thou shalt never see My Face : lo, thou wilt abound in all that earthly felicity ; temporal goods will surround thee : thou losest them not, thou forsakest them not ; what dost thou wish more ? Clean fear would weep indeed and would groan, and would say, Nay, let all things be taken away, and let me see Thy Face. Clean
80, fear would cry out from the Psalm, and would say, Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts: shew us the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be whole. Clean fear would cryI forth from the Psalm, and would say, One thing have desired of the Lord, which 1 will require. See how ardent
27, is thatIclean fear, that true love, unmixed love. One thing
have
this? Even that I
the days of my life. What if he desire this for the sake of earthly happiness? Hear what followeth : to behold the fair
beauty of the Lord, and to be protected; that is, to be His
Temple, and to be protected by Him, this one thing have I raise' desired of the Lord. If ye ask this one thing, if ye train 1
your hearts toward this one thing, and fear to lose this one thing only, ye will not envy earthly delights, and ye will hope for that true happiness, and will be in His Body to Whom it is sung, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways.
10. Ver. 2. Thou shalt eat the labours of thy fruits. And
desired the Lord, which I will require. What is
of
may dwell in the house
the Lord all
of
The very labours of Godliness are food. -11
ye, O thou, ye many who are One, Thou shalt eat of the Ver. labours of thy fruits. He seemeth to speak perversely to ------ those who understand not: for he should have said, thou
shalt eat the fruit of thy labours. For many eat the fruit
of their labours. They labour in the vineyard ; they eat not
the toil itself ; but what ariseth from their labour they eat.
They labour about trees that bear fruit: who would eat labours ? But the fruit of these labours, the produce of
these trees; it is this that delighteth the husbandman.
What meaneth, Thou shalt eat the labours of thy fruits ?
At present we have toils: the fruits will come afterwards.
But since their labours themselves are not without joy, on account of the hope whereof we have a little before spoken, Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; at present those Rom. 12, very labours delight us, and make us joyful in hope. If12' therefore our toil has been what could be eaten, and could
also delight us ; what will be the fruit of our labour when
eaten ? They who went weeping on their way, scattering p>>. 126, their seed, did eat their labours; with how much greater pleasure will they eat the fruits of their labours, who shall
come again with joy, bearing their sheaves with them ?
And that ye may know, brethren, that this labour is eaten,
in the former Psalm ye have heard it said to the proud, who
wished to rise before light, that before Christ, not through humility, whereby Christ rose; was said unto
them, Rise after ye have sat down that is, be humbled, Pa. 127,
and thence rise since He also, Who hath been exalted on 2" account of you, came to be humbled. And what said? Who eat the bread of grief. This the labour of fruits, the bread grief. For unless were eaten, would not be called bread unless this bread had some sweetness, no
one would eat it. With how much sweetness doth he weep in his groanings, who prayeth The tears of the praying
are sweeter than the joys of theatres. And hear the flame
of longing, wherewith this bread eaten, of which he saith
here, Ye who eat the bread grief. In another passage
this lover saith, whose voice we usually recognise in the
Psalm, My tears have been my meat day and night. How PM2,3. have tears become meat While they daily say unto me,
Where is now thy God? For before we see Him Who loved
?
of ? is
it
;
of ;;
is
it
is,
it
is
4-2 Christians could shew their God to real men.
Psalm us, Who hath given us a pledge, to Whom we are betrothed, the Heathen insult us, and say, Where is that which Christians worship ? Let them shew us Him Whom they adore. Behold, 1 shew them my deity, and let them shew me their Deity. When the Heathen speaketh thus to thee, thou findest not what to shew unto him ; for thou hast no man to shew it unto. Thou returnest therefore, and weepest before God; for thou sighest for Him, before thou seest
Him; and groanest from longing for Him; and because thou weepest in thy longing for Him, tears themselves are even sweet, and will be as meat unto thee, since they have been made unto thee as meat day and night, while it is said to thee, Where is thy God? But thy God, concerning
Rev. 31, Whom it is asked, Where is He? will come, and will wipe away thy tears, and will Himself be in stead of the bread of tears unto thee, and will feed thee for evermore ; because the word of God, upon which Angels feed, will be with us. Meanwhile, now are the labours of our fruits, afterwards will come the fruit of our labours. Thou shall eat the labours of thy fruits. Blessed art thou, and well shall it be with thee. Blessed art thou, is of the present: well shall it be with thee, is of the future. When thou eatest the labours
of thy fruits, blessed art thou ; when thou hast reached the fruit of thy labours, well shall it be with thee. What hath he said ? For if it be well with thee, thou wilt be happy: and if thou wilt be happy, thou wilt also have all well with thee. But there is a difference between hope and attain ment. If hope be so sweet, how much sweeter will reality be?
11. Let us now come to the words, Thy wife: it is said unto Christ. His wife, therefore, is the Church: His Church, His wife, we ourselves are. As a fruitful vineyard. But in whom is the vineyard fruitful ? For we see many barren ones entering those walls; we see that many intemperate, usurious persons, slave dealers, enter these walls, and such as resort to fortune-tellers, go to enchanters and en
chantresses when they have a headache. Is this the fruitful- ness of the vine? Is this the fecundity of the wife? It is not. These are thorns, but the vineyard is not every where thorny. It hath a certain fruitfulness, and is a fruitful vine ;
Children given to the Church, not all who are in her. 43
but in whom? Upon the sides of thy house. Not all are Ver. called the sides of the house. For I ask what are the sides. ------ What shall I say? Are they walls, strong stones, as it were?
If he were speaking of this bodily tenement, we should perhaps understand this by sides. We mean by the sides
of the house, those who cling unto Christ. For we do not say without reason of any person in daily discourse, who per chance is faring ill, owing to the counsels of bad friends,
" He hath bad sides. " What is, " He hath bad sides ? " Bad
men cling to him. It is therefore said of another also, He
hath good sides: he liveth according to good counsels.
What meaneth this ? He is ruled by good counsels. They therefore who cling to Christ are the sides of the house.
Nor hath His wife been created from His side without a
cause. When her spouse slept, Eve was created : when Gen. 2,
,22"
Christ died, the Church was created; she was born of her husband's side, whence a rib had been withdrawn; and the Church was born of the side of Her spouse, when His side
was transfixed with a lance, and the Sacraments flowed forth. Jobnl9, Therefore thy wife shall be fruitful as a vine. But upon34' what? Upon the sides of thine house. Among others, who
cling not unto Christ, it is barren. But I will not even reckon them in the vine.
12. Thy children. The wife and the children are the same. In these carnal marriages and wedlocks, the wife is one, the children other : in the Church, she who is the wife, is the children also. For the Apostles belonged to the
Church, and were among the members of the Church. They
were therefore in His wife, and were His wife according to
their own portion which they held in His members. Why
then it is said concerning them, When the Bridegroom shall Matt. 9,
be taken from them, then shall the children of the Bride- J5- groom fast ?
11. But there is another opinion also which we ought not to pass over. For perhaps the words are rather obscurely expressed for this reason, that they may call forth many understandings, and that men may go away the richer, because they have found that closed which might be opened in many ways, than if they could open and discover it by one interpretation. We say also that any thing is shaken out; that what is perhaps concealed may come out thence. For we say with one meaning that a garment is shaken, that they may shake out dust thence ; and in another sense we say
that a sack is shaken, that what lay concealed within may issue forth. I understand therefore, brethren, as far as I am able, that perhaps the Apostles themselves are styled the sons of those who have been shaken out, the sons of the Prophets. For the Prophets comprised closed and covered mysteries: they were shaken, that they might come forth thence manifestly. Suppose therefore, a Prophet to have said, as one truly saith, The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth nut know Me. This
Hidden meanings; the Ox, the Jew; the Ass, the Oentile. 29 illustration cometh before my mind at present, to speak of a Ver.
prophet; had another occurred, I would have adduced it. When a man heareth this, if he think of an ass and an
ox, and cattle, and beasts of burden, he will be treating an interior meaning in its outward aspect, ignorant of the latent sense. The ass and the ox signify something. What then
is said unto a man who wisheth to know how to preach the truth? Wait; what thou art touching is closed, shake off
the covering; the Prophet conceals something beneath this
veil of language ; he meaneth something by the ass, some
thing by the ox. For the ass, figuring the people of God, is God's beast of burden, carrying the Lord its Rider, that it
may not stray in its path: and that ox whereof the Apostle
saith, Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that Dent. ireadeth out the corn: doth God take care for oxen, he asks, ifctl 9 or saith He it altogether for our sakes? For our sokes, 9. 10. he saith, without doubt this is written. Every preacher of God's Word, therefore, warneth, chideth, frighteneth, thresh-
eth the floor, and filleth the office of the ox. The ox came from the Jews' nation ; for thence came the Apostles, Preachers : the ass came from the nation of the uncircum- cised, that from the Gentiles. He came to carry the Lord and therefore the Lord sat upon an ass that never had carried man; since the Law was not sent to the Gentiles, nor the Prophets. Since therefore our Lord Jesus Christ willed to be our meat, and on this account was laid in the manger at His birth, the ox knew his owner, and the ass his master's crib. But would these meanings issue forth, unless the bag were shaken out? Except the prophecy involved were sifted with diligence, would the concealed meanings come forth unto us? All these meanings were therefore closed before the Lord's advent. The Lord came, and shook out these hidden meanings, and they were made manifest the Prophets were shaken out, and the Apostles were born. Since then they were born of the Prophets who had been shaken out, the Apostles are sons of those that were shaken out. They, placed as the arrows in the hand of the giant, have reached the uttermost parts of the earth. How must needs be said of the end, Lo, children, the reward of the fruit of the womb, are the heritage of the
*'
it
is,
;
:
30 Blessing of those whose desire is for true good.
Psalm Lord. Because this heritage is gathered from the uttermost CXxVI1. parts of the earth : because, Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one, even so are the children of them that are
shaken out; that is, the Apostles the sons of the Prophets have been like as the arrows in the hand of a mighly one. If He is mighty, He hath shaken them out with a mighty hand; if He hath shaken them out with a mighty hand, they whom He hath shaken forth have arrived even at the uttermost parts of the earth.
12. Ver. 5. Blessed is the man who hath filled his desire from them. Well, my brethren, who filleth his desire from them ? Who loveth not the world. He who is filled with
the desire of the world, hath no room for that to enter which they have preached. Pour forth what thou earnest, and become fit for that which thou hast not. That is, thou desirest riches: thou canst not fill thy desire from them : thou desirest honours upon earth, thou desirest those things which God hath given even unto beasts of burden, that is, temporal pleasure, bodily health, and the like ; thou wilt not fulfil thy
Ps. 42,i. desire from them. But if thou desirest thus, even as the Ps. 84,2. hart longeth for the streams of waters; if thou sayest, My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the
Lord ; thou fillest thy desire from them ; not that they can fulfil such a desire, but by imitating such thou comest unto Him Who hath filled their desire.
13. He shall not be ashamed, when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate. Brethren, let us speak in the gate, that is, let all know what we speak. For he who chooseth not to speak in the gate, wisheth what he speaketh to be hidden, and perhaps wisheth it to be hidden for this reason, that it is evil. If he be confident, let him speak in the gate ;
Prov. 8, as it is said of Wisdom, She crieth at the gales, at the entry of
3"
the city. As long as they hold unto righteousness in inno- cency, they shall not be ashamed : this is to preach at the gate. And who is he who preacheth at the gate ? He who preacheth in Christ; because Christ is the gate whereby we
Johnio, enter into that city. I lie, had He not Himself said ; / am the door. If He be the door, He is also the gate; for door is applied to a house ; the door of a city is its gate, the gate of a house is its door. But perhaps the term gate is not
They speak boldly in the ' Gate,' who speak in Christ. 31
aptly used : if that which is called a house be not rightly vTM' termed a city. For both are said a little before : Except
the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build
it; and lest thou shouldest think this house some small thing,
he addeth, Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. The house, therefore, and the city are
the same. The city hath a door like a house, and hath a
gate as a city. He, therefore, Who is the door of the house,
is Himself the gate of the city. If, therefore, Christ be the
gate of the city, he is not ashamed who standeth in Christ,
and thus preacheth. But he who preacheth against Christ, against him the gate is shut. Who are they who preach against Christ? They who deny that the arrows are sentDona- from the hand of the Mighty One, and have reached the utter
most parts of the earth
of which it is said, Desire of Me, and
heathen for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. It was preached, it was listened to, before it was fulfilled ; and now that it hath been fulfilled, they refuse to acknowledge it. They, therefore, who speak against Christ, are without the gate; because they seek their own honours, not those of Christ. But he who preacheth in the gate, seeketh Christ's honour, not his own : and, there fore, he who preacheth in the gate, saith, Trust not in me ; for ye will not enter through me, but through the gate. While they who wish men to trust in themselves, wish them not to enter through the gate : it is no marvel if the gate be closed against them, and if they vainly knock for it to be opened. Be present in mind, therefore, brethren, on account of to-morrow's discourse also, which shall be delivered to you, according to our promise, by the Lord's help, from the Gospel concerning the dovee. In Whose Name we have promised, in His mercy we will fulfil our promise. But, that we may fulfil it worthily, and may not have been too daring in promising, do ye pray for us.
' Vid. Tract, iv. on St. John i. 31, 32. ? . 16. cf. Tract v. and vi.
and this is the I of Lord, ; heritage the
shall give thee theVt. 2, 8.
Lat. CxxVII.
i Cor. 2,
32 Some are misled by the promise of temporal blessings.
PSALM CXXV1II.
EXPOSITION.
A Sermon to the People, on the day of St. Felix the Martyr.
1. Ver. 1 -- 4. As the Apostle saith, dearest brethren, Com paring spiritual things with spiritual ; but the natural man receiveth not the things that are of the Spirit of God; we
must be on our guard lest natural men, not receiving the things that are of the Spirit of God, may rather be scan dalized than edified by this Psalm. For briefly (though we heard it in the singing) I am running through since is brief, not expounding, but reading it. Now consider that if every man hath desired such things as great gift from God, as this Psalm mentioueth and perhaps, not because he
forsaken by God, but because he more loved, hath not received them and seeth that what he hath here heard described as the rewards of them that fear God, abound unto those who fear not God his steps totter, and his footsteps slip, and he saith in his heart, that he hath feared God without a cause, since he hath not received those rewards which God hath promised to them that fear Him; while they have received over and above, who not only have not feared, but have even blasphemed Him. Consider what he saith, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways. For thou shall eat the labours of thy hands. well is thee, and happy shalt thou be. We may, as far as this, though we be natural men, think of the bliss of future life but consider what followeth Thy wife shall be as the
fruitful vine upon the walls of thine house. Thy children like the olive-branches, round about thy table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, that feareth the Lord. How In that his wife shall be as the fruitful vine, upon the walls of his house and his children like the olive-branches, round
about his table. Have they then, who for God's sake have even refused to marry, lost their reward No he who
?
:
:
?
O
: is
:
a
it, it
:
;
;
is
a
Something beyond this life must be understood. 33
refuseth to marry saith: God will bless me in other ways. Ver. Nay truly: either He will bless thee thus, or He will not ----- bless thee at all ; the language of the Psalm is plain, Lo,
thus shall the man be blessed, thatfeareth the Lord.
2. What then, brethren, is the meaning of this ? That we
may not, by desiring temporal and earthly
our heavenly happiness, the Prophet setteth before us a sort
of veil, this veil hath 1 know not what within. You remem
ber, beloved, when I was expounding the preceding Psalm to
you, which goeth before this, we met with a certain obscure
verse, where it was said, Like as the arrows in the hand of a Pa. 12", mighty one, so are the sons of them that are shaken out ; and 4' when we enquired who the sons of them that are shaken out
were, it seemed to us, that the Apostles (the Lord suggesting
this, as we believe) were termed the sons of them that were
shaken out, the sons of the Prophets: because the Prophets
spoke in enigmas, and under figures as with the veil of mysteries covered their meaning ; which meaning could not
issue forth unto men, unless these veils were shaken out; whence they were called the sons of those that are shaken
out, who gained spiritual profit by the opening out the Prophets. Let us too, therefore, shake out this one, that we
may not be deceived through the coverings, lest touching
what is within and not seeing it, we may perchance wood for gold, and tiles for silver. Let us shake it out, if it seem good unto you, beloved; the Lord will aid, that what is within may come forth ; especially, my brethren, as we are celebrating the birthdays of the Martyrs. How great evils have the Martyrs endured, what deaths, what terrible tortures, what filthy prisons, pinching of chains, fury of wild beasts, heat of flames, stings of insults! Would they have endured all these things, unless they saw somewhat, whither they were tending, not belonging to the happiness of this world ? Now it is shameful for us to celebrate the birthdays of the
Martyrs, that is, of those servants of God who despised this world for the sake of everlasting bliss, and understand what is here written in the sense of present happiness; so that we should say of any faithful man of God, citizen of that Jeru salem, to whom marriage may have brought no issue, This man feareth not the Lord ; for if he feared the Lord, his wife
VOL. VI.
d
blessings, lose
say
34 God does not always give Children to the Righteous.
Psalm would be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of his house, not cxxv'"' barren, so that she could give birth to none; and if this man feared the Lord, his sons would surround his table, like olive- branches. For if we should speak thus, we are natural men, not receiving the things that are of the Spirit of God. Let us also begin to shake them out, that we also may be the sons of them that are shaken out. For if we shall be the sons of them that are shaken out, we shall be like as the arrows in the hand of the giant, and He will dart us from His commandment into the hearts of men who do not as yet
love Him, that, struck by the arrows of God's words, they may love. For if we begin to preach to them such words as these, My sons, or my brethren, fear ye the Lord, that ye may have children and grandchildren, that your house may
be joyful; we are not leading them to love that everlasting Jerusalem ; they will remain in the love of earthly things, and seeing these things abound to the ungodly, though they dare not speak so to us, they will say in their heart, Why hath he who feareth not God, his house full of children ? And if perchance another say to him, As yet thou knowest not what may happen ; what if he shall have to bury them, because he feareth not God ; what if many sons were born unto him for this reason, that he might suffer greater pain from their death ? But if thou speak thus, he will answer
I know of a man who was ungodly, a heathen, sacri legious, a worshipper of idols, (and perhaps he doth know, and saith the truth, and knoweth not one only, nor even two or three only,) whom numerous sons and grandsons have carried to the grave, an old man, bowed down with years, who had died in his bed. Lo, he feared not the Lord, and yet a most numerous offspring of his house hath closed his eyes. What shall we say to this ? Nothing evil can happen to him, for he can never, in his lifetime, bury his children, since he hath already died, and been borne to an honourable tomb by his children.
3. Let us shake this out then, let us shake it out, if we wish to be the sons of them that are shaken out : let some meaning be educed from it. For there is a certain Man who is thus blessed : and no one feareth the Lord, except
he be in the members of this Man : and there are many men,
thee :
The Promise is to the Church, as one in Christ. 35
and there is one Man ; for there are many Christians, and Ver. there is One Christ. The Christians themselves with their ---- Head, Who hath ascended into heaven, are one Christ. He
is not One, and we many, but we many are one in That One.
Christ then is one Man, the Head of the Body. What is
His Body ? His Church, as the Apostle saith : We are Ephea. members of His Body ; and, ye are the body of Christ, and]'TM' His members in particular. Let us therefore understand 12,
the words of this Man, in whose body we are one man ; and we shall there see the true good things of Jerusalem. For thus he saith at the end : That thou mayest see the good things that are ofJerusalem. But if thou hast looked for these good things with an earthly eye, the abundance of children aud grandchildren, and the fecundity and fruitful. ness of his wife, are not the good things of that Jerusalem ; for these good things are in the land of the dying, that is the land of the living. Hold it not as a very great thing, if thou hast sons who will die, although not before thee, yet
certainly after thee. Dost thou wish to have children who will never die, and who will ever live with thee ? Be thou in His Body, of Whom it hath been said, Ye are the Body
of Christ, and His members in particular.
4. That this Psalm also might shew this, since it is so far
obscure that it admonisheth us to knock at so far covered that doth wish to be shaken out, beginneth with speak ing of many Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways. He speaketh to many; but since these many are one in Christ, in the next words he speaketh in the singular For thou shall eat the labours of thy fruits. He had said above, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways why doth he now say, Thou shall eat the labours of thy fruits: and not, ye shall eat? and why, the labours of thy fruits, and not the labours of your fruits. Hath he forgotten that so lately as in the preceding verse he was speaking of more than one If thou hast already shaken out, what doth he answer thee When speak of Christians in the plural, understand one in the One Christ.
Ye are therefore many, and ye are one we are many, and we are one. How are we man}. , and yet one Because we
D 2
;
? ?
it
it,
?
I
I
it :
it :
;
--
-Head is in heaven, that His members may follow.
5. Let him therefore now go on with his description : for it is now clear Whom he is describing. Thus will all that followeth be open : only do ye fear the Lord, and walk in
36 The Martyrs, as St. Felix, rejoiced in hope.
Psalm cling unto Him Whose members we are ; and since our CxxV1H.
His ways, and do not envy those who walk not in His ways, when ye shall see them happy without happiness. For men of the world are happy without happiness; but the Martyrs were unhappy with happiness. For they were unhappy for a season, but happy for evermore ; and herein that they were unhappy for a season, they were thought to be more
2 Cor. 6, unhappy than they were. For what saith the Apostle? As
l0'
sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing. Why, alway? Both here and there : altogether both here and there. For whence do we rejoice here ? In hope. Whence shall we rejoice there ? In fulfilment. The hope of one rejoicing hath great joy,
Rom. 13, and if rejoicing in hope, see what followeth, patient in
12'
tribulation. The Martyrs were therefore patient in tribula tion, because they rejoiced in hope. But because that which is promised did not yet exist, what saith the Apostle ?
Id. 8,24. For hope which is seen is not hope: but if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Behold the reason why the Martyrs endured all things, because they waited patiently for what they saw not. They who slew them, loved what they saw : they who were slain, sighed for those things which they saw not, and hastened to reach those things which they saw not; and in that they were put to a lingering death, thought they were delayed,
? i-e- Happy
6. Therefore, brethren, Felix the Martyr', truly Felix1 botn in nis name and his crown, whose birthday this is, despised the world. Was he, because he feared the Lord, thence happy, thence blessed, because his wife was as a fruitful vine upon the earth, and his children stood around his table ? All these blessings he hath perfectly, but in the
Body of Him Who is here described; and, because he understood them in this sense, he scorned things present, that he might receive things future. Ye are aware, brethren,
' He is said to have suffered martyr- from Hippo, on the sixth of November, dom at Xhiniasa, or Thimisa, not far Ben. (Mart. Rom. has Tuneti. )
Fear ofpunishment is not a pure fear of God. 37
that he suffered not the death that other martyrs suffered. Ver.
'. --
For he confessed, and was set aside for torments ; on another day his body was discovered lifeless. They had closed the prison to his body, not to his spirit. The exe cutioners found him gone; when they were preparing to torture, they spent their rage for nought. He was lying dead, without sense to them, that he might not be tortured ; with sense with God, that he might be crowned.
Whence was he also happy, brethren, not only in name, but in the
reward of everlasting life, if he loved these things.
7. Let us therefore so hear this Psalm, as considering it to be spoken of Christ: and all of us who cling unto the
Body of Christ, and have been made members of Christ, walk in the ways of the Lord ; and let us fear the Lord with a chaste fear, with a fear that abideth for ever. For it is another fear which charity excludeth, as St. John saith,
There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear. Uohn4, He saith not of every fear that it is cast out by love; for18' thou findest the Psalm saying, The fear of the Lord is clean, Ps. 19, and en dure th for ever. One fear therefore endureth, the9'
other is cast out. The fear which is cast out, is not clean:
but that which endureth, is clean. What is the fear which
is cast out? Deign to consider. Some fear only for this reason, lest they suffer some evil on earth, -- lest sickness
befall them, lest loss, lest bereavement of children, lest the
loss of any that is dear, lest exile, lest condemnation, lest prison', lest any tribulation; for these reasons they fear and tremble: still this fear is not a chaste one. Still hear. Another feareth not on this earth, but feareth hell, whereby
the Lord also alarmed men. Ye have heard when the Gospel was being read, Where their worm dieth not, awcJMark 9, the fire is not quenched. Men hear these words; and because they will really happen to the ungodly, they fear,
and restrain themselves from sin. They have fear, and through fear restrain themselves from sin. They fear indeed, but love not righteousness. But when through fear they restrain themselves from sin, righteousness becometh a habit, and what was hard beginneth to be loved, and good becometh sweet : and man now beginneth to live righte- s Oxf. Mas. ' lest condemnation to imprisonment. '
Psalm
38 A right fear kadi to the sight and love of Christ.
ously for this reason, not because he feareth punishments, but because he loveth eternity. Fear therefore is cast out by love; but a clean fear hath succeeded.
8. What is this clean fear? According to which we ought, my brethren, to understand what is said, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways. If I shall be enabled to speak worthily of this clean fear, by the help of the Lord our God, many will perchance be inflamed by this clean fear unto a clean love. Nor can 1 perhaps explain, unless by putting forward some similitude. Suppose some chaste woman, fearing her husband : suppose another an adulterous woman ; she also feareth her husband. The chaste woman feareth lest her husband depart : the adul terous wife feareth him, lest he come. What if both be absent ? The one feareth lest he come : the latter, lest he delay. He is in a certain sense absent unto Whom we
have been betrothed ; He is absent, Who gave unto us as a pledge His Holy Spirit; He is absent, Who redeemed us with His blood ; that Husband than Whom nothing is more beautiful, Who seemed as it were deformed among the hands of His persecutors, of Whom a little before Tsaiah said, He hath no form or comeliness. Is then our Bride- groom deformed ? God forbid ! for how would the virgins love Him, who have not sought husbands on earth? He therefore seemed deformed to His persecutors : if they thought Him not such, they would not insult Him, they would not strike Him with whips, would not crown Him with thorns, would not defile Him with spittle ; but because
ls. 53,2. Sol, i,
|oug
John l
Philip, Have
He seemed such unto them, they did these things unto Him ; for they had not eyes whereby Christ could seem beautiful. To what sort of eyes did Christ seem beautiful ? To such as CIhrist Himself sought, when He said unto
been so long with you, and hast thou not known Me, Philip ? These eyes must be cleansed, that they may see that light ; and, though slightly touched with the splendour, they are kindled with love, that they may wish to be healed, and may become enlightened. For that ye may know that Christ, Who is loved, is beautiful, the P>>. 45, Prophet saith, Fairer in beauty than the children of men.
Ilis beauty surpasseth all men. W hat is it we love in
How to prove whether our fear of God is pure. 39
His crucified members, His transfixed side, or His Ver. When we hear that He suffered for us, what do we --L-- Love is loved. He loved us, that we might in turn
Christ ?
love ?
love ?
love Him; and that we might return His love, He hath visited us with His Spirit. He is beautiful, and is absent. Let the spouse ask herself if she be chaste. We are all among His members, my brethren ; we are among His members, we are for this reason one Man. Let each man see what sort of fear he hath, whether that which love casteth out, or that clean fear which endureth for evermore.
He hath lately proved this ; I say unto you, He will also prove Our Bridegroom afar ask thy conscience
dost thou wish that He come, or dost thou still wish that He delay? Consider, brethren: have knocked at the doors of your hearts; He hath heard the voice of them that dwell therein. What the consciences of each of you may
have answered, could not reach my ears, since am but man He Who afar in respect of bodily presence, but present in the strength of His Majesty, hath heard you.
be said unto them, Lo, here Christ, the day of judgment; say not, Would that He They who speak thus, love much and they
How many,
to-morrow
may come
are told, He will delay, they fear lest He delay, because their fear clean. And as His delaying now feared so, after His coming, His leaving us will be feared. That will be a clean fear, for tranquil and secure. For we shall not be forsaken of Him, when He hath found us, since He sought us before we sought Him chaste fear therefore, my brethren, hath this source cometh from love. But that fear which not yet chaste, feareth His Presence, and
its punishment. From fear doeth whatever of good doeth not from fear of losing that good, but from fear of suffering that evil. He feareth not lest he lose the embrace of his most comely bridegroom, but lest he be cast into hell. This fear good, useful will not indeed remain for evermore but not as yet of that clean sort, that abideth for evermore.
9. In whom clean
the second time, which ye may ask of yourselves. If God should come and speak unto us with His Own Voice,
am now asking question for
is
is
it is
it
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it is
is ?
it I is
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it
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; it
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I is
it
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;
it :a
I :
is
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it.
40 Fear of losing God's Presence shews some love.
m (although He ceaseth not to speak through His Scriptures,) -- and should say unto man, Thou wishest to sin : sin ; do what
soever pleaseth thee ; whatever thou loveston the earth, let it be thine : whoever thou art angry with, let him perish ; whomsoever thou wishest to seize upon, let him be seized ; whomsoever to kill, let him be killed; whomsoever to con demn, let him be condemned ; whomsoever thou wishest to possess, possess him : let no man resist thee, let no man say unto thee, What art thou doing ? No man, Do it not ; no man, Why hast thou done it? Let all those earthly things which thou hast desired abound unto thee, and live in them, not for a season, but for evermore : only thou shalt never see My Face. My brethren, wherefore did ye groan, save because that already a clean fear, enduring alway, hath been born? Why is your heart stricken? If God should say, Thou shalt never see My Face : lo, thou wilt abound in all that earthly felicity ; temporal goods will surround thee : thou losest them not, thou forsakest them not ; what dost thou wish more ? Clean fear would weep indeed and would groan, and would say, Nay, let all things be taken away, and let me see Thy Face. Clean
80, fear would cry out from the Psalm, and would say, Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts: shew us the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be whole. Clean fear would cryI forth from the Psalm, and would say, One thing have desired of the Lord, which 1 will require. See how ardent
27, is thatIclean fear, that true love, unmixed love. One thing
have
this? Even that I
the days of my life. What if he desire this for the sake of earthly happiness? Hear what followeth : to behold the fair
beauty of the Lord, and to be protected; that is, to be His
Temple, and to be protected by Him, this one thing have I raise' desired of the Lord. If ye ask this one thing, if ye train 1
your hearts toward this one thing, and fear to lose this one thing only, ye will not envy earthly delights, and ye will hope for that true happiness, and will be in His Body to Whom it is sung, Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways.
10. Ver. 2. Thou shalt eat the labours of thy fruits. And
desired the Lord, which I will require. What is
of
may dwell in the house
the Lord all
of
The very labours of Godliness are food. -11
ye, O thou, ye many who are One, Thou shalt eat of the Ver. labours of thy fruits. He seemeth to speak perversely to ------ those who understand not: for he should have said, thou
shalt eat the fruit of thy labours. For many eat the fruit
of their labours. They labour in the vineyard ; they eat not
the toil itself ; but what ariseth from their labour they eat.
They labour about trees that bear fruit: who would eat labours ? But the fruit of these labours, the produce of
these trees; it is this that delighteth the husbandman.
What meaneth, Thou shalt eat the labours of thy fruits ?
At present we have toils: the fruits will come afterwards.
But since their labours themselves are not without joy, on account of the hope whereof we have a little before spoken, Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; at present those Rom. 12, very labours delight us, and make us joyful in hope. If12' therefore our toil has been what could be eaten, and could
also delight us ; what will be the fruit of our labour when
eaten ? They who went weeping on their way, scattering p>>. 126, their seed, did eat their labours; with how much greater pleasure will they eat the fruits of their labours, who shall
come again with joy, bearing their sheaves with them ?
And that ye may know, brethren, that this labour is eaten,
in the former Psalm ye have heard it said to the proud, who
wished to rise before light, that before Christ, not through humility, whereby Christ rose; was said unto
them, Rise after ye have sat down that is, be humbled, Pa. 127,
and thence rise since He also, Who hath been exalted on 2" account of you, came to be humbled. And what said? Who eat the bread of grief. This the labour of fruits, the bread grief. For unless were eaten, would not be called bread unless this bread had some sweetness, no
one would eat it. With how much sweetness doth he weep in his groanings, who prayeth The tears of the praying
are sweeter than the joys of theatres. And hear the flame
of longing, wherewith this bread eaten, of which he saith
here, Ye who eat the bread grief. In another passage
this lover saith, whose voice we usually recognise in the
Psalm, My tears have been my meat day and night. How PM2,3. have tears become meat While they daily say unto me,
Where is now thy God? For before we see Him Who loved
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it
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4-2 Christians could shew their God to real men.
Psalm us, Who hath given us a pledge, to Whom we are betrothed, the Heathen insult us, and say, Where is that which Christians worship ? Let them shew us Him Whom they adore. Behold, 1 shew them my deity, and let them shew me their Deity. When the Heathen speaketh thus to thee, thou findest not what to shew unto him ; for thou hast no man to shew it unto. Thou returnest therefore, and weepest before God; for thou sighest for Him, before thou seest
Him; and groanest from longing for Him; and because thou weepest in thy longing for Him, tears themselves are even sweet, and will be as meat unto thee, since they have been made unto thee as meat day and night, while it is said to thee, Where is thy God? But thy God, concerning
Rev. 31, Whom it is asked, Where is He? will come, and will wipe away thy tears, and will Himself be in stead of the bread of tears unto thee, and will feed thee for evermore ; because the word of God, upon which Angels feed, will be with us. Meanwhile, now are the labours of our fruits, afterwards will come the fruit of our labours. Thou shall eat the labours of thy fruits. Blessed art thou, and well shall it be with thee. Blessed art thou, is of the present: well shall it be with thee, is of the future. When thou eatest the labours
of thy fruits, blessed art thou ; when thou hast reached the fruit of thy labours, well shall it be with thee. What hath he said ? For if it be well with thee, thou wilt be happy: and if thou wilt be happy, thou wilt also have all well with thee. But there is a difference between hope and attain ment. If hope be so sweet, how much sweeter will reality be?
11. Let us now come to the words, Thy wife: it is said unto Christ. His wife, therefore, is the Church: His Church, His wife, we ourselves are. As a fruitful vineyard. But in whom is the vineyard fruitful ? For we see many barren ones entering those walls; we see that many intemperate, usurious persons, slave dealers, enter these walls, and such as resort to fortune-tellers, go to enchanters and en
chantresses when they have a headache. Is this the fruitful- ness of the vine? Is this the fecundity of the wife? It is not. These are thorns, but the vineyard is not every where thorny. It hath a certain fruitfulness, and is a fruitful vine ;
Children given to the Church, not all who are in her. 43
but in whom? Upon the sides of thy house. Not all are Ver. called the sides of the house. For I ask what are the sides. ------ What shall I say? Are they walls, strong stones, as it were?
If he were speaking of this bodily tenement, we should perhaps understand this by sides. We mean by the sides
of the house, those who cling unto Christ. For we do not say without reason of any person in daily discourse, who per chance is faring ill, owing to the counsels of bad friends,
" He hath bad sides. " What is, " He hath bad sides ? " Bad
men cling to him. It is therefore said of another also, He
hath good sides: he liveth according to good counsels.
What meaneth this ? He is ruled by good counsels. They therefore who cling to Christ are the sides of the house.
Nor hath His wife been created from His side without a
cause. When her spouse slept, Eve was created : when Gen. 2,
,22"
Christ died, the Church was created; she was born of her husband's side, whence a rib had been withdrawn; and the Church was born of the side of Her spouse, when His side
was transfixed with a lance, and the Sacraments flowed forth. Jobnl9, Therefore thy wife shall be fruitful as a vine. But upon34' what? Upon the sides of thine house. Among others, who
cling not unto Christ, it is barren. But I will not even reckon them in the vine.
12. Thy children. The wife and the children are the same. In these carnal marriages and wedlocks, the wife is one, the children other : in the Church, she who is the wife, is the children also. For the Apostles belonged to the
Church, and were among the members of the Church. They
were therefore in His wife, and were His wife according to
their own portion which they held in His members. Why
then it is said concerning them, When the Bridegroom shall Matt. 9,
be taken from them, then shall the children of the Bride- J5- groom fast ?
