Is there any reason why we should lend our ears to
revilers?
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v1
dust from the face of the earth, Thou broughtest Me down.
17. Ver. 16. For many dogs came about Me. For many came about Me barking, not for truth, but for custom. The council of the malignant came about Me. [The council ofOxf.
Sfl'
the malignant besieged Me. ] They pierced My hands and feet. They pierced with nails My hands and feet.
18. Ver. 17. They numbered distinctly all My bones. They numbered distinctly all My bones, while extended on the wood of the Cross, Yea, these same regarded, and beheld Me. Yea, these same, that unchanged, regarded and beheld Me.
19. Ver. 18. They divided My garments for themselves, and cast the lot upon My vesture.
20. Ver. 19. But Thou, Lord, withhold not Thy help far from Me. But Thou, Lord, raise Me up again, not as the rest of men, at the end of the world, but immediately. Look
to My defence. Look, that they in no wise hurt Me.
21. Ver. 20. Deliver My soul from the sword. Deliver My soul from the tongue of dissension. And My only One the hand of the dog. And from the power of the
from
people, barking after their custom, deliver My Church.
22. Ver. 21. Save Me from the lion's mouth: save Me from the mouth of the kingdom of this world: and my humility from the horns of the unicorns. And from the
loftiness of the proud, exalting themselves to special pre eminence, and enduring no partakers, save My humility.
23. Ver. 22. will declare Thy name to My brethren. will declare Thy name to the humble and to My Brethren
that love one another as they have been beloved by Me. John!
21
In the midst of the Church will sing of Thee. In the midst of the Church will with rejoicing preach Thee.
24. Ver. 23. Ye thatfear the Lord, praise Him. Ye that fear the Lord, seek not your own praise, but praise Him. All ye seed of Jacob, magnify Him. All ye seed of him whom
the elder shall serve, magnify Hiin.
or, to My Brethren that are humble, aud &c. ' l2
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I
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is,
6 '
7,
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O
Psalm VXTT
148 The humble feed on Christ and are likened to Him.
25. Let all the seed of Israel fear Him. Let all who have been born to new life, and restored to the vision of God/ear Him. (Ver. 24. ) Since He hath not despised, nor disre
garded the prayer of the poor man. Since He hath not despised the prayer, not of him who, crying unto God in the words of sins was loath to overpass vain life, but the prayer of the poor man, not swollen up with transitory pomps. Nor hath He turned away His face from Me. As from him, who said, will cry unto Thee, but Thou wilt not hear. And when cried unto Him He heard Me.
26. Ver. 25. With Thee My praise. For seek not Mine own praise, for Thou art My praise, Who dwellest in the holy place and, praise of Israel, Thou hearest The Holy One now beseeching Thee. In the great Church will
Thee. In the Church of the whole world will confess Thee. will offer My vows in the sight of them that fear Him. will offer the sacraments of My Body and Blood in the sight of them that fear Him.
27. Ver. 26. The poor shall eat, and be filled. The humble and the despisers of the world shall eat, and imitate Me. For so they will neither desire this world's abundance, nor fear its want. And they shall praise the Lord, who seek Him. For the praise of the Lord the pouring out of that fulness.
Their hearts shall live for ever and ever. For that food is the food of the heart.
28. Ver. 27. All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. They shall remember themselves: for, by the Gentiles, born in death and bent on outward things, God had been forgotten; and then shall all the borders of the earth be turned to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in their own consciences.
29. Ver. 28. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. For the kingdom the Lord's, not proud men's: and He shall rule over the nations.
30. Ver. 29. All the rich of the earth have eaten, and worshipped. The rich of the earth too have eaten the Body of their Lord's humiliation, and though they have not, as the poor, been filled even to imitation, yet they have worshipped.
Exp.
John 50.
confess
is
I is
II ;
a
I
I /I
8,
I',
is
a
The new People of God. The Passion yearly celebrated. 149
In His sight shall fall all that descend to earth. For He Ver. alone seeth how all they fall, who abandoning a heavenly 30'31, conversation, make choice, on earth, to appear happy to men,
who see not their fall.
31. And My Soul shall live to Him. And My Soul, Which in the contempt of this world seems to men as it were to die, shall live, not to itself, but to Him. And My seed shall
serve Him. (Ver. 30. ) And My deeds, or they who through Me believe on Him, shall serve Him.
32. Ver. 31. The generation to come shall be declared to the Lord. The generation of the New Testament shall be declared to the honour of the Lord. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness. And the Evangelists shall declare His righteousness. To a people that shall be born, whom the Lord hath made. To a people that shall be born to the
Lord through faith.
year.
PSALM XXII.
SECOND EXPOSITION.
A Sermon delivered on the Anniversary of the Lord's Passion.
1. What God would not have passed over in silence in
His Scripture, must not either by us be passed over in silence,
and by you must be heard. The Lord's Passion, as we
know, happened once: for once hath Christ died, the JustiPeUi,
for the unjust. And we know, and are sure, and hold fast ' with faith unshaken, that Christ rising from the dead diethuom. 6, no more, and death shall have no more dominion over Him. 9. These are the Apostle's words: yet that we may not forget
what once occurred, it is transacted in our memory every
Does Christ die as often as the Easter celebration comes round? but yet the yearly memorial does as it were represent what occurred long since, and causes in us such emotions as if we saw the Lord hanging on the Cross, not of
course as mocking, but believing in Him. For as He hung on the Cross He was mocked, as He sitteth in heaven He is worshipped. Or haply is He mocked still, and now we must not be angry with the Jews, who mocked Him at all
events as He was dying, not as He was reigning ? And who
1 50 Sorrow that Christ is mocked still by sins and schisms.
Psalm is there, who mocks Christ still ? Would it were one, would
XXII. .
Exp. Il! it were two, would that they could be numbered. All the
chaff of His threshing-floor mocks Him, and the wheat sighs for the mocking of the Lord. This I would sigh for with you. For it is the season of sorrow. The Lord's Passion is in course of celebration : it is the season of sighing, the season of weeping, the season of confession and suppli cation. And which of us is sufficient for shedding tears answerable to the just demands of so great sorrow ? But
Jer. 9,l. what now saith the Prophet? Who will give my head water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears? If there were really a fountain of tears in our eyes, even this would not suffice Christ mocked in a"matter that is clear, in a matter wherein no one can say, I understood it not. " For to
Him who possesses the whole world a part is offered ; and to Him who sitteth at the right hand of the Father it is said, " See what Thou hast here ;" and for the whole earth Africa alone is shewn Him.
2. The words which we have just heard, brethren, where shall we place them? O that they could be written with our tears. Who was the woman who came in with the ointment ? Of what was she the type ? was she not of the Church ? Whereof was that ointment the figure ? was it not
2 Cor. 2, of that sweet savour, of which the Apostle says, We are a ' ' sweet savour of Christ in every place? For the Apostle too
was speaking in the person of this same Church. And the ,al. 'of words, we are, he said to1 the faithful. And what said he? We are a sweet savour of Christ in every place. In every
place, Paul said that all the faithful are a sweet savour of Christ; and he is contradicted, and it is said, Africa alone has a sweet savour, all the world besides stinketh. Who says, We are a sweet savour of Christ in every place ? The Church. This sweet savour that box of ointment figured, with which the Lord was anointed. Let us see if the Lord
Himself do not also bear witness to it.
When some who thieves, that is, that Jo? ni2, Judas, said of the ointment, To what purpose is this loss? the costly thing might be sold, and benefit the poor. For
sought their own things, covetous,
he wished to sell the sweet savour
Mat. 26, the Lord's answer ? Why trouble ye the woman? She hath
of Christ.
What was
Deafness of Donatists. Christ as God not forsaken. 151
wrought a good work upon Me. And what shall I say Ver. more ? when He Himself said, And wheresoever this Gospel . . ,. . . W shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, Mat. 26,
13. that this woman hath done, be told. Is there aught to add
to this ? Is there aught to take away ?
Is there any reason why we should lend our ears to revilers? Has the Lord spoken this falsely, or been deceived ? Let them make their choice which to say, let them say either that the Truth hath spoken falsely, or let them say that the Truth was deceived.
Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached. And as if thou
wouldest ask Him; "But where shall it be
He answers, in the whole world. Let us listen to the Psalm ; let us see, if it say the same. Let us listen to that which is
sung in lamentation, and truly a matter it is worthy of plaint, when it is sung to the deaf. I wonder, brethren, if this psalm is read to-day among the party of Donatus too. I ask you, my brethren, I confess to you, Christ's mercy knoweth that I wonder thus, as though they were made of stone, and can not hear. What thing more plain can be spoken to the deaf? Christ's Passion is set forth as clearly as the Gospel, and it was written, I know not how many years before the Lord was born of the Virgin Mary : it was a herald announcing the future Judge. Let us peruse as far as the stress of time permits, not as the promptings of our sorrow would move us but, as said, as far as the stress of time permits.
3. Ver. God, My God, look upon Me: why hast Thou forsaken Me? This first verse we heard on the Cross, where
the Lord said, Eli, Eli, that is, My God, My God, lama Mat. 27,
'
sabachthani? which is, why hast Thou forsaken Me? The Evangelist hath interpreted this, and said that He spoke
in the Hebrew tongue, My God, My God, why hast
Thou forsaken Me? What did the Lord intend to say?
For God had not forsaken Him, forasmuch as He was Himself God of course as the Son of God, God; of course
as the Word of God, God. Hear, at the very com mencement1, that Evangelist, who poured forth what he'acaPite had drunk in from the Lord's Breast: let us see, whether Christ be God: In the beginning was the Word, and the John
Word was with God, and the Word was God. The very
preached? "
l' l.
;
1. O
;
I
it,
152 Christ complains in His Body's name, and seems unheard.
Psalm Word then that was God, was made Flesh, and dwelt in us.
Exp. II. And when the Word, God, was made Flesh, He was hanging
John 1, on the Cross, and said, My God, My God, look upon Me :
14-
l Peter ' 22.
why hast Thou forsaken Me? why is it said, but because we were there, but because the Church is the Body of Christ ? Wherefore said He, My God, My God, look upon Me : why hast Thou forsaken Me? unless in some sort as rousing our attention, and saying, " Was this Psalm written concerning Me ? " Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. What sins in Him, of Whom it is said, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth ? How then saith He, My sins; unless that He prayeth for our sins, and made our sins His sins, that He might make His righteousness our
righteousness ? I will cry unto Thee in the day-time, 4. Vet. 2. My God,
and Tlwu wilt not hear : and in the night-season, and not to my folly. He spake of course of me, of thee, of such an one. For He bare His Body, that is, the Church. Unless haply ye
Mat. 26, think, brethren, that when the Lord said, Father, if it be 39 ?
possible, let this cup pass from Me, He was afraid to die. Mat. 10, The soldier is not braver than the captain; It is enough for the servant, that he be as his lord. Paul, a soldier of Christ Iam in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. He wishes for death,
Phil, 1, the King, says,
2 Cor. ''
have cried by day, and by night-season, and Thou wilt not hear. For many cry in tribulation, and are not heard: but unto salvation, not to folly. Paul cried that the thorn in the flesh might be taken away from him, and he was not heard for it to be taken away ; and it was said to him, My grace is sufficient for thee; for strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore was he not heard ; but not to folly, but to wisdom : to the end that man may understand that God is a Physician, and that tribulation is a remedy for
that he may be with Christ, and is Christ Himself afraid of death ? But what bare He but our weakness, and in behalf of those who, having a place in His body, yet fear death, did He speak thus? Hence came that voice, it was the voice of/His members, not of the Head; and so also in these words,
salvation, not a punishment for
under treatment thou art cauterized, cut, criest out:
condemnation. While the
God tries His own by seeming not to hear them. 153
physician heeds not for thy wish, but he heeds for thy Ver. health. -- m--^.
5. Ver. 3. But Thou <liveliest in the holy place, O Thou
praise of Israel. Thou dwellest in them, whom Thou hast Matt. 8,
sanctified, and whom Thou makest to understand, that some
to their profit Thou hearest not, and some to their con demnation Thou hearest. To his profit, Paul was not heard ;
to condemnation, the devil was heard. He asked to tempt joh l. Job, and it was granted. The devils asked to go into the swine, and they were heard. Devils are heard, an Apostle
is not heard: but they are heard unto condemnation, the
of
is not heard, unto salvation ; for not to my folly.
Apostle
But Tlwu dwellest in the holy place, O Thou praise
Israel. Why dost Thou not hear even Thine own ? Why
say I this ? Remember that it is always said, " Thanks be
to God;" and there is a great concourse here, and those, who are not in the habit of coming, have come.
I say to all, that the Christian when under tribulation is tried, whether he have not forsaken his God. For when
it is well with a man, the Christian is left to him
self. The fire is brought to the furnace ; and the refiner's furnace is a thing of high mysterious meaning1. There is'magni gold there, there is chaff, there is fire working in a confined "tnti
This fire is not diverse, yet its effects are diverse: it re turns chaff into ashes, from gold it takes away its impurities. Now they in whom God dwcllcth, are assuredly made better in tribulation, proved as gold. And if perchance the adversary, the devil, ask (to prove any), and it be granted him, whether by some bodily pain, or some loss, or bereavement, let him keep his heart fixed on Him, Who withdraweth not Himself, and if He seem to withdraw His ear from his lamentations, yet He sheweth mercy to his supplications.
He who made us knoweth what to do, He knoweth how to re-make us. He is a good builder Who built the house ; and if any thing therein hath fallen to decay, He knoweth how to repair it.
6. And see what he says: (ver. 4. ) Our fathers hoped in Thee, they hoped, and Thou didst deliver them. We know, and read how many of our fathers God hath delivered who in Him. He delivered the whole people of Israel
space.
hoped
154 Christ, why called a Worm. Others delivered at once.
Psalm out of the land of Egypt ; He delivered the three children
XXII
Exp. IL out o1 tfte ^ery furnace; He delivered Daniel out of the
Dan. 3. den of lions; He delivered Susanna from a false accusation: HUtl of they a^ caHed upon Him, and were delivered. What ? was
Sue
He wanting to His Own Son, that He should not hear Him when hanging on the Cross? But why is He not delivered forthwith, Who said, Our fathers hoped in Thee, and Thou didst deliver them ?
7. Ver. 6. But I
and no man; for man is a worm also: but He is a worm and no man. How no man? Because God. Why then did He so abase Himself as to say, a worm ? Is it because a worm is born of the flesh without coition, as Christ of the Virgin Mary ? Both a worm even, and yet no man. Why a worm? Because mortal, because born of the flesh, because
am a worm, and no man. A worm,
John 1, born without coition. Why not a man? Because the Word was in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
8. A scorn of men, and the outcast of the people. Con
sider how great things He suffered. Now that we may speak of the Passion, and that we may approach it with the greater grief, consider first how great things He suffers, and then consider wherefore. For what was the fruit thereof? Lo, our fathers hoped, and were delivered out of the land of Egypt. And as I said, so many called upon God, and immediately at the time, not in the life to come, but forth- with, were delivered. Job himself was given up to the devil
Joh 1.
Jr 42' at his request, corrupted w ith worms : yet he recovered his
health in this life, and received twice as much as he had lost. But the Lord was scourged, and there was none to help ; He was defiled with spittle, and there was none to help ; He was smitten with buffetings, and there was none to help ; He was crowned with thorns, there was none to help; He was raised on the tree, there was none to deliver; He crieth out, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ? there is no help. Wherefore, my Brethren ? Where fore ? What the recompense of so great sufferings ? All these His sufferings are a price. What so great sufferings are the price of, let us repeat, let us see what He says. Let us first inquire what He suffered, after that, wherefore : and
To rob Him of the price of His sufferings the act of enemies. 155
let us see how much they are Christ's enemies, who confess that Ver.
He endured so great sufferings, and take away the wherefore. T Hence let us hear the whole in this Psalm, both what He suffered, and wherefore. Keep to these two, the what and the wherefore. At present let me explain the what. Let us not dwell at length on this, so the very words of the Psalm will come to you the better. See what the Lord suffers, take heed ye Christians : The scorn of men, and the outcast of the people.
9. Ver. 7. All that saw Me laughed Me to scorn; they spake with the lips, and shook the head. (Ver. 8. ) He trusted in the Lord, let Him deliver Him; let Him save
Him, since He desireth Him. But why said they this ? Because He was made man, they said it as against a man.
10. Ver. 9. Since Thou art He Who drew Me out of the womb. Would they ever say this to That, Which in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God ? For that Word, by Which all things were made, was not drawn out of the womb, save that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt in us. Since Thou hast drawn Me out of the teomb : My Oodfrom My mother's breasts. For before the worlds, My FathIer ; from My mother's breasts, My God.
Is -
was cast upon Thee the womb. That from
11. Ver. 10.
is, that Thou only shouldest be My hope, now as man, now
as weak, now the Word made Flesh. From My mother's womb Thou art My God. Not from Thyself My God, for from Thyself My Father ; but from My mother's womb My God.
12. Ver. 11. Depart not from Me; for trouble is hard at hand, for there is none to help. See Him forsaken ; and woe to us, if He forsake us, for there is none to help.
13. Ver. 12. Many calves came about Me; fat bulls closed Me in. The people, and their leaders : the people, many calves ; the leaders, fat bulls.
1 4 . Ver. 1 3. They opened their mouth upon Me, as a ravening and roaring lion. Let us hearken to their roaring in the Gospel, Crucify, Crucify.
Johni9, / was poured out like water, and all My Bones were scattered. He calleth His strong ones His
15. Ver. 14.
Bones. For bones are strong in the body. When did He
1 56 Christ poured forth, melted, dried up, pierced with wounds.
Psalm scatter His Bones ? When He said to them, Behold Isend xxir. yoU foyih as sheep {n the midst of wolves. Then scattered Hat'io'He His strong ones, and He was poured out like water. l6.
For when water is poured out, it either cleanses, or waters. Christ was poured out like water, the filthy were cleansed, minds were watered. My heart became as melting wax, in the midst of My Belly. He calls the weak ones in His Church His Belly. How did His Heart become as wax ? His Heart is His Scripture, that is, His wisdom which was in the Scriptures. For the Scripture was closed, no one understood it: the Lord was crucified, and the Scripture was melted like wax, that all the weak ones should under-
Mat27, stand it. For hence too the veil of the temple was rent: because what was veiled hath been unveiled.
1 6. Ver. 1 5 . My strength dried up as a potsherd. Gloriously expressed ; for, My name has been made stronger by tribu lation. For as a potsherd is before the fire soft, after the fire hard ; so the Lord's name was before the Passion despised, after the Passion it is honoured.
17. Ver. 16. For many dogs came about Me. For many came about Me barking, not for truth, but for custom. The council of the malignant came about Me. [The council ofOxf.
Sfl'
the malignant besieged Me. ] They pierced My hands and feet. They pierced with nails My hands and feet.
18. Ver. 17. They numbered distinctly all My bones. They numbered distinctly all My bones, while extended on the wood of the Cross, Yea, these same regarded, and beheld Me. Yea, these same, that unchanged, regarded and beheld Me.
19. Ver. 18. They divided My garments for themselves, and cast the lot upon My vesture.
20. Ver. 19. But Thou, Lord, withhold not Thy help far from Me. But Thou, Lord, raise Me up again, not as the rest of men, at the end of the world, but immediately. Look
to My defence. Look, that they in no wise hurt Me.
21. Ver. 20. Deliver My soul from the sword. Deliver My soul from the tongue of dissension. And My only One the hand of the dog. And from the power of the
from
people, barking after their custom, deliver My Church.
22. Ver. 21. Save Me from the lion's mouth: save Me from the mouth of the kingdom of this world: and my humility from the horns of the unicorns. And from the
loftiness of the proud, exalting themselves to special pre eminence, and enduring no partakers, save My humility.
23. Ver. 22. will declare Thy name to My brethren. will declare Thy name to the humble and to My Brethren
that love one another as they have been beloved by Me. John!
21
In the midst of the Church will sing of Thee. In the midst of the Church will with rejoicing preach Thee.
24. Ver. 23. Ye thatfear the Lord, praise Him. Ye that fear the Lord, seek not your own praise, but praise Him. All ye seed of Jacob, magnify Him. All ye seed of him whom
the elder shall serve, magnify Hiin.
or, to My Brethren that are humble, aud &c. ' l2
? <<
/ I
I
%
is,
6 '
7,
I
O
O
Psalm VXTT
148 The humble feed on Christ and are likened to Him.
25. Let all the seed of Israel fear Him. Let all who have been born to new life, and restored to the vision of God/ear Him. (Ver. 24. ) Since He hath not despised, nor disre
garded the prayer of the poor man. Since He hath not despised the prayer, not of him who, crying unto God in the words of sins was loath to overpass vain life, but the prayer of the poor man, not swollen up with transitory pomps. Nor hath He turned away His face from Me. As from him, who said, will cry unto Thee, but Thou wilt not hear. And when cried unto Him He heard Me.
26. Ver. 25. With Thee My praise. For seek not Mine own praise, for Thou art My praise, Who dwellest in the holy place and, praise of Israel, Thou hearest The Holy One now beseeching Thee. In the great Church will
Thee. In the Church of the whole world will confess Thee. will offer My vows in the sight of them that fear Him. will offer the sacraments of My Body and Blood in the sight of them that fear Him.
27. Ver. 26. The poor shall eat, and be filled. The humble and the despisers of the world shall eat, and imitate Me. For so they will neither desire this world's abundance, nor fear its want. And they shall praise the Lord, who seek Him. For the praise of the Lord the pouring out of that fulness.
Their hearts shall live for ever and ever. For that food is the food of the heart.
28. Ver. 27. All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. They shall remember themselves: for, by the Gentiles, born in death and bent on outward things, God had been forgotten; and then shall all the borders of the earth be turned to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in their own consciences.
29. Ver. 28. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. For the kingdom the Lord's, not proud men's: and He shall rule over the nations.
30. Ver. 29. All the rich of the earth have eaten, and worshipped. The rich of the earth too have eaten the Body of their Lord's humiliation, and though they have not, as the poor, been filled even to imitation, yet they have worshipped.
Exp.
John 50.
confess
is
I is
II ;
a
I
I /I
8,
I',
is
a
The new People of God. The Passion yearly celebrated. 149
In His sight shall fall all that descend to earth. For He Ver. alone seeth how all they fall, who abandoning a heavenly 30'31, conversation, make choice, on earth, to appear happy to men,
who see not their fall.
31. And My Soul shall live to Him. And My Soul, Which in the contempt of this world seems to men as it were to die, shall live, not to itself, but to Him. And My seed shall
serve Him. (Ver. 30. ) And My deeds, or they who through Me believe on Him, shall serve Him.
32. Ver. 31. The generation to come shall be declared to the Lord. The generation of the New Testament shall be declared to the honour of the Lord. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness. And the Evangelists shall declare His righteousness. To a people that shall be born, whom the Lord hath made. To a people that shall be born to the
Lord through faith.
year.
PSALM XXII.
SECOND EXPOSITION.
A Sermon delivered on the Anniversary of the Lord's Passion.
1. What God would not have passed over in silence in
His Scripture, must not either by us be passed over in silence,
and by you must be heard. The Lord's Passion, as we
know, happened once: for once hath Christ died, the JustiPeUi,
for the unjust. And we know, and are sure, and hold fast ' with faith unshaken, that Christ rising from the dead diethuom. 6, no more, and death shall have no more dominion over Him. 9. These are the Apostle's words: yet that we may not forget
what once occurred, it is transacted in our memory every
Does Christ die as often as the Easter celebration comes round? but yet the yearly memorial does as it were represent what occurred long since, and causes in us such emotions as if we saw the Lord hanging on the Cross, not of
course as mocking, but believing in Him. For as He hung on the Cross He was mocked, as He sitteth in heaven He is worshipped. Or haply is He mocked still, and now we must not be angry with the Jews, who mocked Him at all
events as He was dying, not as He was reigning ? And who
1 50 Sorrow that Christ is mocked still by sins and schisms.
Psalm is there, who mocks Christ still ? Would it were one, would
XXII. .
Exp. Il! it were two, would that they could be numbered. All the
chaff of His threshing-floor mocks Him, and the wheat sighs for the mocking of the Lord. This I would sigh for with you. For it is the season of sorrow. The Lord's Passion is in course of celebration : it is the season of sighing, the season of weeping, the season of confession and suppli cation. And which of us is sufficient for shedding tears answerable to the just demands of so great sorrow ? But
Jer. 9,l. what now saith the Prophet? Who will give my head water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears? If there were really a fountain of tears in our eyes, even this would not suffice Christ mocked in a"matter that is clear, in a matter wherein no one can say, I understood it not. " For to
Him who possesses the whole world a part is offered ; and to Him who sitteth at the right hand of the Father it is said, " See what Thou hast here ;" and for the whole earth Africa alone is shewn Him.
2. The words which we have just heard, brethren, where shall we place them? O that they could be written with our tears. Who was the woman who came in with the ointment ? Of what was she the type ? was she not of the Church ? Whereof was that ointment the figure ? was it not
2 Cor. 2, of that sweet savour, of which the Apostle says, We are a ' ' sweet savour of Christ in every place? For the Apostle too
was speaking in the person of this same Church. And the ,al. 'of words, we are, he said to1 the faithful. And what said he? We are a sweet savour of Christ in every place. In every
place, Paul said that all the faithful are a sweet savour of Christ; and he is contradicted, and it is said, Africa alone has a sweet savour, all the world besides stinketh. Who says, We are a sweet savour of Christ in every place ? The Church. This sweet savour that box of ointment figured, with which the Lord was anointed. Let us see if the Lord
Himself do not also bear witness to it.
When some who thieves, that is, that Jo? ni2, Judas, said of the ointment, To what purpose is this loss? the costly thing might be sold, and benefit the poor. For
sought their own things, covetous,
he wished to sell the sweet savour
Mat. 26, the Lord's answer ? Why trouble ye the woman? She hath
of Christ.
What was
Deafness of Donatists. Christ as God not forsaken. 151
wrought a good work upon Me. And what shall I say Ver. more ? when He Himself said, And wheresoever this Gospel . . ,. . . W shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, Mat. 26,
13. that this woman hath done, be told. Is there aught to add
to this ? Is there aught to take away ?
Is there any reason why we should lend our ears to revilers? Has the Lord spoken this falsely, or been deceived ? Let them make their choice which to say, let them say either that the Truth hath spoken falsely, or let them say that the Truth was deceived.
Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached. And as if thou
wouldest ask Him; "But where shall it be
He answers, in the whole world. Let us listen to the Psalm ; let us see, if it say the same. Let us listen to that which is
sung in lamentation, and truly a matter it is worthy of plaint, when it is sung to the deaf. I wonder, brethren, if this psalm is read to-day among the party of Donatus too. I ask you, my brethren, I confess to you, Christ's mercy knoweth that I wonder thus, as though they were made of stone, and can not hear. What thing more plain can be spoken to the deaf? Christ's Passion is set forth as clearly as the Gospel, and it was written, I know not how many years before the Lord was born of the Virgin Mary : it was a herald announcing the future Judge. Let us peruse as far as the stress of time permits, not as the promptings of our sorrow would move us but, as said, as far as the stress of time permits.
3. Ver. God, My God, look upon Me: why hast Thou forsaken Me? This first verse we heard on the Cross, where
the Lord said, Eli, Eli, that is, My God, My God, lama Mat. 27,
'
sabachthani? which is, why hast Thou forsaken Me? The Evangelist hath interpreted this, and said that He spoke
in the Hebrew tongue, My God, My God, why hast
Thou forsaken Me? What did the Lord intend to say?
For God had not forsaken Him, forasmuch as He was Himself God of course as the Son of God, God; of course
as the Word of God, God. Hear, at the very com mencement1, that Evangelist, who poured forth what he'acaPite had drunk in from the Lord's Breast: let us see, whether Christ be God: In the beginning was the Word, and the John
Word was with God, and the Word was God. The very
preached? "
l' l.
;
1. O
;
I
it,
152 Christ complains in His Body's name, and seems unheard.
Psalm Word then that was God, was made Flesh, and dwelt in us.
Exp. II. And when the Word, God, was made Flesh, He was hanging
John 1, on the Cross, and said, My God, My God, look upon Me :
14-
l Peter ' 22.
why hast Thou forsaken Me? why is it said, but because we were there, but because the Church is the Body of Christ ? Wherefore said He, My God, My God, look upon Me : why hast Thou forsaken Me? unless in some sort as rousing our attention, and saying, " Was this Psalm written concerning Me ? " Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. What sins in Him, of Whom it is said, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth ? How then saith He, My sins; unless that He prayeth for our sins, and made our sins His sins, that He might make His righteousness our
righteousness ? I will cry unto Thee in the day-time, 4. Vet. 2. My God,
and Tlwu wilt not hear : and in the night-season, and not to my folly. He spake of course of me, of thee, of such an one. For He bare His Body, that is, the Church. Unless haply ye
Mat. 26, think, brethren, that when the Lord said, Father, if it be 39 ?
possible, let this cup pass from Me, He was afraid to die. Mat. 10, The soldier is not braver than the captain; It is enough for the servant, that he be as his lord. Paul, a soldier of Christ Iam in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. He wishes for death,
Phil, 1, the King, says,
2 Cor. ''
have cried by day, and by night-season, and Thou wilt not hear. For many cry in tribulation, and are not heard: but unto salvation, not to folly. Paul cried that the thorn in the flesh might be taken away from him, and he was not heard for it to be taken away ; and it was said to him, My grace is sufficient for thee; for strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore was he not heard ; but not to folly, but to wisdom : to the end that man may understand that God is a Physician, and that tribulation is a remedy for
that he may be with Christ, and is Christ Himself afraid of death ? But what bare He but our weakness, and in behalf of those who, having a place in His body, yet fear death, did He speak thus? Hence came that voice, it was the voice of/His members, not of the Head; and so also in these words,
salvation, not a punishment for
under treatment thou art cauterized, cut, criest out:
condemnation. While the
God tries His own by seeming not to hear them. 153
physician heeds not for thy wish, but he heeds for thy Ver. health. -- m--^.
5. Ver. 3. But Thou <liveliest in the holy place, O Thou
praise of Israel. Thou dwellest in them, whom Thou hast Matt. 8,
sanctified, and whom Thou makest to understand, that some
to their profit Thou hearest not, and some to their con demnation Thou hearest. To his profit, Paul was not heard ;
to condemnation, the devil was heard. He asked to tempt joh l. Job, and it was granted. The devils asked to go into the swine, and they were heard. Devils are heard, an Apostle
is not heard: but they are heard unto condemnation, the
of
is not heard, unto salvation ; for not to my folly.
Apostle
But Tlwu dwellest in the holy place, O Thou praise
Israel. Why dost Thou not hear even Thine own ? Why
say I this ? Remember that it is always said, " Thanks be
to God;" and there is a great concourse here, and those, who are not in the habit of coming, have come.
I say to all, that the Christian when under tribulation is tried, whether he have not forsaken his God. For when
it is well with a man, the Christian is left to him
self. The fire is brought to the furnace ; and the refiner's furnace is a thing of high mysterious meaning1. There is'magni gold there, there is chaff, there is fire working in a confined "tnti
This fire is not diverse, yet its effects are diverse: it re turns chaff into ashes, from gold it takes away its impurities. Now they in whom God dwcllcth, are assuredly made better in tribulation, proved as gold. And if perchance the adversary, the devil, ask (to prove any), and it be granted him, whether by some bodily pain, or some loss, or bereavement, let him keep his heart fixed on Him, Who withdraweth not Himself, and if He seem to withdraw His ear from his lamentations, yet He sheweth mercy to his supplications.
He who made us knoweth what to do, He knoweth how to re-make us. He is a good builder Who built the house ; and if any thing therein hath fallen to decay, He knoweth how to repair it.
6. And see what he says: (ver. 4. ) Our fathers hoped in Thee, they hoped, and Thou didst deliver them. We know, and read how many of our fathers God hath delivered who in Him. He delivered the whole people of Israel
space.
hoped
154 Christ, why called a Worm. Others delivered at once.
Psalm out of the land of Egypt ; He delivered the three children
XXII
Exp. IL out o1 tfte ^ery furnace; He delivered Daniel out of the
Dan. 3. den of lions; He delivered Susanna from a false accusation: HUtl of they a^ caHed upon Him, and were delivered. What ? was
Sue
He wanting to His Own Son, that He should not hear Him when hanging on the Cross? But why is He not delivered forthwith, Who said, Our fathers hoped in Thee, and Thou didst deliver them ?
7. Ver. 6. But I
and no man; for man is a worm also: but He is a worm and no man. How no man? Because God. Why then did He so abase Himself as to say, a worm ? Is it because a worm is born of the flesh without coition, as Christ of the Virgin Mary ? Both a worm even, and yet no man. Why a worm? Because mortal, because born of the flesh, because
am a worm, and no man. A worm,
John 1, born without coition. Why not a man? Because the Word was in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
8. A scorn of men, and the outcast of the people. Con
sider how great things He suffered. Now that we may speak of the Passion, and that we may approach it with the greater grief, consider first how great things He suffers, and then consider wherefore. For what was the fruit thereof? Lo, our fathers hoped, and were delivered out of the land of Egypt. And as I said, so many called upon God, and immediately at the time, not in the life to come, but forth- with, were delivered. Job himself was given up to the devil
Joh 1.
Jr 42' at his request, corrupted w ith worms : yet he recovered his
health in this life, and received twice as much as he had lost. But the Lord was scourged, and there was none to help ; He was defiled with spittle, and there was none to help ; He was smitten with buffetings, and there was none to help ; He was crowned with thorns, there was none to help; He was raised on the tree, there was none to deliver; He crieth out, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ? there is no help. Wherefore, my Brethren ? Where fore ? What the recompense of so great sufferings ? All these His sufferings are a price. What so great sufferings are the price of, let us repeat, let us see what He says. Let us first inquire what He suffered, after that, wherefore : and
To rob Him of the price of His sufferings the act of enemies. 155
let us see how much they are Christ's enemies, who confess that Ver.
He endured so great sufferings, and take away the wherefore. T Hence let us hear the whole in this Psalm, both what He suffered, and wherefore. Keep to these two, the what and the wherefore. At present let me explain the what. Let us not dwell at length on this, so the very words of the Psalm will come to you the better. See what the Lord suffers, take heed ye Christians : The scorn of men, and the outcast of the people.
9. Ver. 7. All that saw Me laughed Me to scorn; they spake with the lips, and shook the head. (Ver. 8. ) He trusted in the Lord, let Him deliver Him; let Him save
Him, since He desireth Him. But why said they this ? Because He was made man, they said it as against a man.
10. Ver. 9. Since Thou art He Who drew Me out of the womb. Would they ever say this to That, Which in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God ? For that Word, by Which all things were made, was not drawn out of the womb, save that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt in us. Since Thou hast drawn Me out of the teomb : My Oodfrom My mother's breasts. For before the worlds, My FathIer ; from My mother's breasts, My God.
Is -
was cast upon Thee the womb. That from
11. Ver. 10.
is, that Thou only shouldest be My hope, now as man, now
as weak, now the Word made Flesh. From My mother's womb Thou art My God. Not from Thyself My God, for from Thyself My Father ; but from My mother's womb My God.
12. Ver. 11. Depart not from Me; for trouble is hard at hand, for there is none to help. See Him forsaken ; and woe to us, if He forsake us, for there is none to help.
13. Ver. 12. Many calves came about Me; fat bulls closed Me in. The people, and their leaders : the people, many calves ; the leaders, fat bulls.
1 4 . Ver. 1 3. They opened their mouth upon Me, as a ravening and roaring lion. Let us hearken to their roaring in the Gospel, Crucify, Crucify.
Johni9, / was poured out like water, and all My Bones were scattered. He calleth His strong ones His
15. Ver. 14.
Bones. For bones are strong in the body. When did He
1 56 Christ poured forth, melted, dried up, pierced with wounds.
Psalm scatter His Bones ? When He said to them, Behold Isend xxir. yoU foyih as sheep {n the midst of wolves. Then scattered Hat'io'He His strong ones, and He was poured out like water. l6.
For when water is poured out, it either cleanses, or waters. Christ was poured out like water, the filthy were cleansed, minds were watered. My heart became as melting wax, in the midst of My Belly. He calls the weak ones in His Church His Belly. How did His Heart become as wax ? His Heart is His Scripture, that is, His wisdom which was in the Scriptures. For the Scripture was closed, no one understood it: the Lord was crucified, and the Scripture was melted like wax, that all the weak ones should under-
Mat27, stand it. For hence too the veil of the temple was rent: because what was veiled hath been unveiled.
1 6. Ver. 1 5 . My strength dried up as a potsherd. Gloriously expressed ; for, My name has been made stronger by tribu lation. For as a potsherd is before the fire soft, after the fire hard ; so the Lord's name was before the Passion despised, after the Passion it is honoured.
