For in another
passage?
passage?
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v4
They answer ; this is the meaning of the word answer : for they have a reply to make ; because they are spared, from the longsuffering of God, they discover an argument for their reply.
He spareth them for one reason, they answer for another, because they still live.
For the Apostle telleth us wherefore He spareth, he expoundeth the grounds of the longsuffering of God : And thintest thou this, Oman, that
judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long- suffering; not knowing that the longsuffering of God leadeth thee to repentance ? But thou, that is, he who answereth and . saith, If I displeased God, He would not spare me,
Rom. 2, hear what he worketh for himself; hear the Apostle; But
6'6'
after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds. He therefore increaseth His longsuffering, thou increasest thine iniquity. His treasure will consist in eternal mercy towards those who have not despised His mercy ; but thy treasure will be discovered in wrath, and what thou daily layest up by little and little, thou wilt find in the accumulated mass ; thou layest up by the grain, but thou wilt find the whole heap. Omit not to watch thy slightest daily sins : rivers are filled from the smallest drops.
10. Ver. 5. 6. What do they do, who answer, and will speak unrighteousness, because they sin and are spared? They humbled Thy people, O Lord: that is, all those who live righteously, against whom all the wicked like to vent their pride. They have humbled Thy people, 0 Lord ; and have troubled Thine heritage. They have murdered the widow, and thefatherless : and slain the proselyte ; that is,
God is neither unjust nor unobservant. 858
the traveller, the pilgrim : the comer from far, as the Ver. Psalmist calleth himself. Each of these expressions is -- '-- -- too clear in meaning to make it worth while to dwell upon
them.
11. Ver. 7. And they have said, The Lord shall not see: He observeth not, regardeth not these things : He careth for other matters, He understandeth not. These are the two asser tions of the wicked: one whicIh I have just quoted, These
things hast thou done, and thoughtest unrighteousness, that
held my tongue, and thou
Iwill be like thyself. What I will be like thyself ! Thou thinkest that I see thy deeds, and that they are pleasing unto Me, because I do not punish them. There is another assertion of the wicked : because God neither regardeth these things, nor observeth that He may know how I live, God heedeth me
not. Doth then God make any reckoning of me ? or doth He even take account of me ? or of men in general ? Un- '
happy man ! He cared for thee, that thou mightest exist : doth He not care that thou live well? Such then are the words of these last; and yet they have said, The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
12. Ver. 8. Take heed now, ye that are unwise among the people: 0 yefools, some time understand! He teacheth His people whose feet might slip: any one among them seeth the prosperity of the wicked, himself living well among the Saints of God, that among the number of the sons of the Church he seeth that the wicked flourish, and work iniquity, he envieth, and led to follow them in their actions; because he seeth that apparently profiteth him nothing that he liveth well in humility, hoping for his reward here. For he hopeth for in future, he loseth not
because the time not yet come for him to receive it. Thou art working in vineyard execute thy task, and thou shalt receive thy pay. Thou wouldest not exact from thy
meaneth, that
before thy work was finished, and yet dost thou exact from God before thou dost work? This patience
part of thy work, and thy pay dependeth upon thy work thou who dost not choose to be patient, choosest to work less upon the vineyard: since this act of patience belongeth to thy labouring itself, which to gain thy pay. But
employer,
is
it :
if
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if
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is
is,
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360 God is not defrauded. His teaching of the nations.
Psalm thou art treacherous, take care, lest thou shouklest not onlv
-
'not receive thy pay, but also suffer punishment, because thou hast chosen to be a treacherous labourer. When such a labourer beginneth to do ill, he watcheth his employer's eyes, who hired him for his vineyard, that he may loiter when his eye is turned away ; but the moment his eyes are turned towards him, he worketh diligently. But God, Who hired thee, averteth not His eyes : thou canst not work treacherously : the eyes of thy Master are ever upon thee : seek an opportunity to deceive Him, and loiter if thou canst.
If then any of you had any such ideas, when ye saw the wicked flourishing, and if such thoughts caused your feet to slip in the path of God ; to you this Psalm speaketh : but if perchance none of you be such, through you it doth address others, in these words, Take heed now; since they had said, The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Take heed, it sailh, now, ye that are unwise among the people: and yefools, some time understand!
13. Ver. 9, 10. He that planted the ear, shall He not hear ? He who enabled thee to hear, shall He not be able Himself to hear ? He that planted the ear, shall He not hear ? or He that made the eye, doth He not consider? or He that instructeth the nations, shall not He reprove ? Listen earnestly to this, brethren, He that instructeth the nations, shall not He reprove? This is what God is at present doing: He is instructing the nations: for this reason He sent His word to man throughout the world : He sent it by Angela, by Patriarchs, by Prophets, by servants, through so many heralds going before the Judge. He sent also His own Word Himself, He sent His own Son in Person : He
sent the servants of His Son, and in these very servants His own Son. Throughout the world is every where preached the word of God. Where is it not said unto men, Abandon your former wickedness, and turn yourselves to right paths ?
~He spareth, that ye may correct yourselves: He punished not yesterday, in order that to-day ye may live well. He teacheth the heathen, shall He not therefore reprove ? will He not hear those whom He teacheth ? will He not judge those to whom He hath beforehand sent and sown lessons of
warning ?
If thou wast in a school, wouldest thou receive a
Lessons to be said in the Judgment. God's counsel in sparing. 361
task, and not repeat it ? When therefore thou receivest it Ver. from thy master, thou art being taught : the Master givcth n-~13' thy task into thy hands, and shall He not exact it from thee
when thou comest to repeat it ? or when thou hast begun to repeat shalt thou not be in fear of stripes At present ' then we are receiving our w ork afterwards we are placed before the Master, that we may give up to Him all our
past tasks, that is, that we may give an account of all those things which are now being bestowed upon us. Hear the2Cor. 6, Apostle's words We must all appear before the judgment- j^"^ seat of Christ that every one may receive according to the 10. things done in his body, whether be good or bad.
Or He that instructeth the heathen, shall He not reprove?
is He that teacheth man knowledge. Doth He not know, Who maketh thee to know It is He that teacheth man knowledge.
14. Ver. 11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain. For although thou kuowest not the thoughts of God, that they are righteous He knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain. Even men have known the thoughts of God but those to whom He hath become friend, to them He shewelh His counsel. Do not, brethren, despise yourselves ye approach the Lord with faith, ye hear the thoughts of God these ye are now learning, this told you, and for this reason ye are taught, why God spareth the wicked in this life, that ye may not murmur against God, Who teacheth man knowledge. The
Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain. Abandon therefore the thoughts of man, which are vain that ye may take hold on the thoughts of God, which are wise. But who he who taketh hold on the thoughts of God? He who placed in the firmament of heaven. We have already chaunted that Psalm, and have expounded this expression therein.
15. Ver. 12, 13. Blessed the man whom Thou chastenest, Lord: and teachest him from Thy law; that Thou may est give him patience in time of malice until the pit
be digged up for the ungodly. Behold, thou hast the counsel of God, wherefore He spareth the wicked the pit being digged for the sinner. Thou wishest to bury him at once the pit
as yet being dug for him do not be in haste to bury him.
is O
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it
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362 The pit is preparing for proud sinners.
Psalm What mean the words, until the pit be digged up for the - 'sinner? or whom doth He mean by sinner? One man? No. Whom then ? The whole race of such that are
sinners ? No ; them that are proud ; for he had said before, Reward the proud after their deserving. For that publican, who would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but
Lnkeis,smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a
13'
sinner, was a sinner ; but since he was not proud, and since God will render a recompense to the proud ; the pit is being dug not for him, but for them that are such, until He render a recompense to the proud. In the words then, until the
pit be digged up for the ungodly, understand the proud. Who is the proud ? He who doth not by confession of his sins do penance, that he may be healed through his humility. Who is the proud ? He who chooseth to arrogate to himself those few good things which he seemeth to possess, and who doth detract from the mercy of God. Who is the proud ? He who although he doth ascribe unto God his good works, yet insulteth those who do not those good works, and raiseth himself above them. For even that Pharisee said,
own
/ thank Thee : he said not, I do these works of
my
ib. 11.
power. He thanked God for the works which he did : he was therefore conscious that he did well, and that his doing so was of God. Whence then was he rebuked ? Because he insulted the publican. Attend to this, that ye may become perfect. There ought to come first, whether in man or woman, a confession of sins, a healthful penitence which may avail to reform the man, not to mock God : but when, after repentance, he hath begun a good life, he hath yet to be careful, that he ascribe not his works to himself, but give thanks to Him, by Whose grace he hath been enabled to live well ; for it is He Who called, He Who enlightened him. Is this man then perfect ? No. Something is yet wanting to him. What is that? That he be not proud over those who do not as yet live as he liveth. Such a man is at last safe : the recompense spoken of above is not rendered unto him : he is not among those for whom the pit iIs being dug. Consider him who said,
other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, even asIthis
am
/ thank Thee, that publican. How did he exalt himself, when he said,
am tiol as
Christ the Example and Teacher of Humility. 363
not as this publican ? but the other, with downcast eyes, Ver.
l3'
say unto you, the publican went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee and He saith why For every one
that exalleth himself, shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. My brethren, even hence we learn '
that Christ hath taught us humility, because God became
Man. This the very humility which displeaseth the pagans
whence they mock us. What manner of God do ye worship,
that was born What manner of God do ye worship, that
was crucified The humility of Christ displeaseth the proud:
but pleaseth thee who art Christian, imitate it. If
thou hast imitated thou wilt not labour for Himself hath
said, Come unlo Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, Mat. 11, and will give you rest. Learn from Me, for am meek and28' 29' lowly of heart. This then the Christian doctrine: no
man doeth any thing well, except by His grace. man's bad acts are his own his good he doth of God's bounty. When he hath begun to do well, let him not ascribe unto himself: when he hath not attributed to himself, let him give thanks to Him from Whom he hath received it. But when he doeth well, let him not insult him who doth not as he doth, nor exalt himself above him for the grace of God not stayed at him, so that cannot reach another.
16. That Thou mayest give him patience in days of malice until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. Have patience therefore every one, thou art Christian, in time of malice. Days of malice are those in which the ungodly appear to flourish, and the righteous to suffer; but the suffering of the righteous the rod of the Father, and the
prosperity of the ungodly their own snare. For because God giveth you patience in time of adversity, until the pit be digged up for the ungodly, do not think that the Angels are standing in some place with mattocks, and are digging that great pit which shall be able to contain the whole race
smote his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner !
The one was proud of his good works, the other humble in
his bad deeds. See, brethren, that humility in bad works pleased God more than pride in good works thus God hateth the proud. And therefore He thus concluded, Verily A. 14.
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364 Earthly -prosperity a pitfall to the wicked.
Psalm of ihe ungodly ; and because ye see that the wicked are XCIV- many, and say unto yourselves carnally: Truly what pit can
contain so great a multitude of the wicked, such a crowd of sinners? where is a pit of such dimensions, as to contain all, dug ? when finished ? therefore God spareth them. This is not so : their very prosperity is the pit of the wicked : for into that shall they fall, as it were into a pitfall. Attend, brethren, for it is a great thing to know that prosperity is called a pitfall : until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. For God spareth him whom He knoweth to be ungodly and impious, in His own hidden justice : and this very sparing of God, causeth him to be puffed up through his impunity. He thinketh himself exalted, and he falleth : in this very thing he falleth, in that he thinketh himself exalted. In this he thinketh that he is treading on high, and God calleth this a pit. A pit tendeth downwards, not heavenwards : but the proud ungodly appear to be ascending towards heaven, while actually they are being sunk beneath the earth. On the contrary, the humble seem to bow themselves down to the ground, but really are ascending into heaven. Have patience then, every believer, if thou hast been taught from the law of God, that thy heart may be in the firmament of heaven : for God made the lights, on the fourth day, which is termed the fourth of the week ; whence this Psalm hath taken its title. As thou seest the constellations in per fect patience pursue their own courses, without regarding what men say concerning them ; so also do thou not regard whatever flesh may have done towards thee. For every man is flesh and blood. For thou art not vile in com parison with another's flesh, by which thou seemest to be oppressed : because He assumed the flesh for thee, and for thee He poured forth His blood, Who will bring both thee and that man before His own judgment; and if He gave thee such blessings when thou wast in thy sins, what doth He reserve for thee, if thou art faithful? Hence take patience. How art thou to take patience? When thou sayest, Because it is the will of God, therefore the wicked flourish: He wisheth to spare the wicked, He leadeth to repentance those whom He spareth ; but they do not reform: He knoweth how to judge them. But a man is
Pride falls by departing from God. Chastisement a mercy. 365 impatient, when he chooseth to gainsay either the goodness Ver.
--
Psalm he thus saith, Thou hast cast them down, while they Ps. 72, were being exalted. He said not, Thou hast cast them 18 down, because they were exalted ; or, Thou hast cast them down, after they were exalted ; so that the period of their exaltation be one, of their casting down another : but in the
very act of their exaltation were they cast down. For in proportion as the heart of man is proud, so doth it recede from God; and if it recede from God, it sinketh down into the deep. On the other hand, the humble heart bringeth God unto it from heaven, so that He becometh very near unto it. Surely God is lofty, God is above all the heavens, He surpasseth all the Angels : how high must these be raised, to reach that exalted One ? Do not burst thyself by enlarging thyself; I give thee other advice, lest perchance in enlarging thyself thou burst, through pride : surely God is lofty : do thou humble thyself, and He will descend unto thee.
17. Ver. 14. We have heard why He spareth the wicked: this very thing is their pitfall. God saith to thee, How the pit is dug for them, and why it is dug, it is not thine to know ; but from My law learn that patience is thy duty, until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. And what, thou sayest, of one who suffers, and that among the ungodly themselves ? The next verse answereth thee : For the Lord will not cast off His people. He trieth them, He doth not cast them off. For how speaketh Scripture in another
For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, anrfHeb. 12, scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. He receiveth thee 6'
after thou art scourged ; and dost thou say, that He casteth
thee off? We see men do this in the case of their own
sons : sometimes they allow their sons when despaired of
to go and live at their own pleasure ; those whom they hope
for, they scourge ; those whom they see to be utterly hope
less and intractable, they leave to live as they choose.
The one whom he thus abandons to do as he pleases, he
of the Lord, or His long-suffering, or His power, or the justice of his Judge. The proud man raiseth himself up against God : God sinketh him: and he sinketh by the very act of raising himself up against God.
For in another
passage?
366 The disinherited escape correction at present.
Psalm meaps not to admit to his inheritance : while he scourgeth XCI V ' that son for whom he keepeth the inheritance. But when God scourgeth a son, let him run beneath the hand of his
Father while He scourgeth him ; because He who scourgeth him, is chastening him in preparation for his heritage. He dolh not cast off from the inheritance His son whom He scourgeth : but He scourgeth him, in order that he may receive it. Let him not be so foolish and childish in bis thoughts as to say, My father loveth my brother more, whom he alloweth to do whatever he will : I, if I move against my father's orders, find the scourge. Do thou rejoice beneath the scourge : because the heritage is kept for thee,
for the Lord will not cast off His people. He chasteneth for a season, He condemneth not for ever: the others He spareth for a season, and will condemn them for evermore. Make thy choice : dost thou wish temporary suffering, or eternal punishment? temporal happiness, or eternal life? What doth God threaten ? Eternal punishment. What doth He promise? Eternal rest. His scourging the good, is temporary : His sparing the wicked, is also temporary. For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He
forsake His inheritance.
18. Ver. 15. Until righteousness, he saith, turn again
unto judgment, and all they that have it are right in heart. Listen now, and gain righteousness: for judgment thou canst not yet have. Thou shouldest gain righteousness first; but that very righteousness of thine shall turn unlo
judgment. The Apostles had righteousness here on earth, and bore with the wicked. But what is said unto them?
Mat. 19, Ye shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Their righteousness therefore shall turn unto judg ment. For whoever is righteous in this life, is so for this reason, that he may endure evils with patience : let him suffer patiently the period of suffering, and the day of
judging cometh. But why do I speak of the servants of God? The Lord Himself, Who is the Judge of all living and dead, first chose to be judged, and then to judge.
Until righteousness turn again unto judgment ; and all such as have it are right in heart. Those who have righteous ness at present, are not yet judges. For the first thing is
Righteousness now, leads to judging with Christ. 367
to have righteousness, and afterwards to judge : He first Ver.
16'
endureth the wicked, and afterwards jiulgeth them. Let there be righteousness now : afterwards it shall turn again unto judgment. And so long He endureth wicked men, as God doth will, as long as God's Church shall endure them, that she may be taught through their wickedness. Nevertheless, God will not cast off His people, until righte ousness be turned again unto judgment : all such as have it i are right in heart. Who are those who are right in heart ? Those whose will is the will of God. He spareth sinners : \ thou dost wish Him at once to destroy sinners. Thy heart \ is crooked and thy will perverted, when thy will is one way and the will of God another. God wisheth to spare sinners : thou dost not wish sinners spared. God is of long-suffering
to sinners : thou dost not wish to endure sinners. But as I had begun saying, thou wishest one thing, God willeth another: turn thy heart, and direct it unto God: because the Lord also hath had compassion on the weak. He saw in His body, that is, in His Church, the weak, who first tried to follow their own will, but when they saw that the will of God was different, directed themselves and their heart to undertake and follow the will of God. Wish not to bend the will of God to thy will, but rather correct thy will to His. The will of God is like a rule: behold,
thou hast twisted the rule : whence canst thou be set straight? But the rule itself continueth straight: for it is immutable. As long as the rule is straight, thou hast whither to turn thyself, and straighten thy perversity ; thou hast a means of correcting what is crooked in thee. But what do men will ? It is not enough that their own will is crooked; they even wish to make the will of God crooked according to their own heart, that God may do what they themselves will, when they ought to do that which God willeth.
19. But how did our Lord unite two wills in one, in the Man which He carried with Him? Prefiguring that in His body, that in His Church, there would be some who would wish to do their own will, but would afterwards follow the will of God because He hath shewn that some weak ones belong unto Himself, and hath prefigured them in Himself.
suppose,
;
is,
Joh 1,
Gen. 3, '''
And who are right in heart ? Those who are found as Job was found, who saith, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as the Lord willed, so is it done: blessed be the name ofthe Lord. Behold a righteous heart : a second time under a heavy stroke, what said he to his wife, whom the devil had left and had not slain, that he might have an assistant, and not her husband a consoler ? For he remem- bered that Adam was deceived by that Eve, and he thought this Eve was necessary to him. She came to Job, like Eve : but this Adam was happier when he conquered on the dunghill, than the Adam who was conquered in Paradise; for what did he answer unto that woman ? Behold a heart prepared, a righteous heart. Did he not suffer persecutions, and those heavy ones ? And all Christians suffer them ; and if men rage not, yet the devil rageth : and if emperors have become Christians ; hath the devil also become a Christian ? Attend therefore, holy brethren, to what maketh a righteous
368 Christ's Human Will prefigured the weak in His Body.
Psalm For it was for this reason that He sweated blood from His
XC1V whole body, because in His body, that is, in His Church, ? ulie21'
44. He shewed the blood of Martyrs. From His whole body blood flowed : thus His Church hath her Martyrs, through her whole body is poured forth blood. Prefiguring there fore in Himself, or in His body, some weak persons, in the
Mat. 26, person of the weak, sympathising with them, He saith, O
39'
My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me! He sheweth the will of a man: if He remained in this will, He would then seem to be shewing a heart not right. But if He hath shewn compassion on thee, and in Himself also He freeth thee ; imitate what follows, and say, Nevertheless, not as
I will, but as Thou, Father, wilt. If thy human will hath begun to creep on thee, O that God would slay that mine enemy, so that he could not persecute me! O if it could fall out that I might not suffer so much from him ! But if thou hast persevered, and hast set thy mind on something, though thou seest that it is not the will of God, thou art wicked in heart, thou hast not righteousness that shall turn again unto judgment : for all who have it, are right in heart.
Joh 2, 9. heart. She came and said unto him, Say somewhat against God, and die. She counted all his or her own miseries: Say somewhat against God, she said, and die. And he now
Our Lord truly sorrowed ; but for His Body. 369
recognising Eve, wishing to return
with his heart fixed in God, as a luminary in the firmament, dwelling in his heart in the book of God, saith, Thou speakest3ah 2,
as one ofthefoolish women speaketh. What! Shall we receive 10- good at the hand of God, and shall we not endure evil ? Because his heart was fixed in God, therefore was it right : for because God is right, when thou dost fix thine heart in Him, He becometh thy standard, that thine heart may be
right. Fix therefore thine heart in Him, and it will be right. But the human will was beginning to seduce thee. Some thing of the weakness of the flesh was deceiving thy mind : do not yet despair. The Lord in His weakness prefigured thee, not Himself: for the Lord, Who was to rise again on the third day, feared not to suffer. If He suffered altogether
as a man, and was not about to suffer as God, and if He knew that He would rise again in three days, He could not in any way feel dread when about to die, as Paul feared not, knowing that hIe should rise again at the end of time. For he saith; For
am in a strait
desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which isfar better; 1,2J-24.
nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. For it was a weariness to him to remain in the flesh, he felt an ardent longing in two ways ; to be released and to be with Christ, he said, was far best. Thus when his martyrdomIl was close at hand, how did he exult! how did he I
have fought a good fight, I
kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righleoui Judge, shall
whence he had fallen, Ver.
bettvixl the two, having a Philip.
have course, finished my
have
give me at that day. He rejoiceth when about to be crowned,
and yet He who will crown him is sorrowful : the Apostle
thus rejoiceth, and our Lord Christ saith, O My Father, if il Mat. 26, be possible, let this cup pass from Me. But He took upon Himself sorrow, as He did the flesh. For ye must not think,
that I assert that our Lord was not sorrowful. For if T asserted that He was not sorrowful, when the Gospel saith,
My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; it might Mat. 2o, follow that when the Gospel saith, Jesus slept, He did not rs. 8,24. sleep : when the Gospel saith, Jesus ate, that He did not f^6]4' eat: the worm of corruption hath thus crept in, and left*c. nothing whole. So that it may be said, that He had not a
VOL. iv. B b
glory!
Tim. , '''
370 God's long-suffering is for a good end.
Psalm true body, and had not a true flesh. Whatever therefore is XCIV 'written of Him, brethren, really happened, and is true. Was He therefore sorrowful ? Assuredly sorrowful, but with sorrow
taken of His own free will, even as He assumed the flesh of His own will; as He of His own will took upon Him true flesh, so did He of His own will take upon Him true sorrow. Thus also of His own will hath He shewn in Himself, that if
some weakness hath come over thee, and thou hast begun to wish otherwise than God dolh will, thou mayest see how thine own heart hath turned itself aside from the straight rule, thou mayest fix thy heart after the rule, and thy heart which in the man had begun to be crooked, may
be directed after God. Thus then the Lord, as a guide to Mat. 26,thee, saith: My soul is sorrowful even unto death: and, O
38'
ib. 42.
perchance
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. But say then at once what He said, that He might teach thee:
I will, but as Nevertheless, not as Thou,
Father, wilt. For
if ye follow righ teousness, your heart is right ; if your heart be right, that
if ye do this, ye will have righteousness :
which now endureth, will turn again unto judgment, and afterwards, when thy Lord judgeth, thou shalt not only not dread evils, but shalt also glory in thy crown.
Then shalt thou see how the longsuffering of God hath pro fited, either for their punishment or for thy crown : at present thou seest not : believe what thou seest not as yet, lest thou be ashamed when thou shalt see. Until righteousness turn again unto judgment: all such as have it are right in heart.
20. Ver. 16. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? or who will take my part against the evil doers? Many
us to divers evils : the serpent ceaseth not to whisper to thee to work iniquity : whichever way thou shalt turn, if perchance thou hast done well, thou seekest to live well with some one, and thou hardly findest any one ; many wicked men surround thee, for there are few grains of wheat, and much chaff. This floor hath its grains of corn, but as yet they suffer. Therefore the whole mass of the wheat, when separated from the chaff, will be great : the grains are few, but when compared with the chaff, still many in them selves. When therefore the wicked cry out on every side, and say, Why livest thou thus? Art thou the only Christian?
righteousness,
persuade
Temptation through evil Christians. 371
Why dost thou not do, what others also do ? Why dost thou Ver. not frequent the theatres, as others do ? Why dost thou -17'
not use charms and amulets?
astrologers and soothsayers, even as others do ? And thou
Why dost thou not consult
crossest1 thyself, and sayest, I am a Christian, that
mayest repel them, whosoever they are; but the enemy s,gnast' presses on, urges his attacks ; what is worse, by the example
of Christians he choketh Christians.
midst of heat : the Christian soul suffereth tribulation : yet
it hath power to conquer: hath it such power of itself?
For this reason remark what he saith. For he answereth,
What doth it profit me that I now find charms for myself,
I
repair unto my Lord, Who shall send me into the flames ;
because I have preferred a few days to life eternal, He shall send me into hell. What hell? That of the eternal judg
and gain a few days ?
depart
hence from
this life, and
thou'. Ett? They toil on, in the
ment of God. Is it really so,
unless indeed thou really believest that God carelh how men live ? And perhaps it is not an acquaintance who speaketh thus to thee in the street, but thy wife at home, or possibly the husband to the faithful and holy wife, her deceiver. If it be the woman to her husband, she is as Eve unto him ; if as the husband unto the wife, he is as the devil unto her: either she is herself as Eve unto thee, or thou art a serpent unto her. Sometimes the father would incline his thoughts to his son, and findeth him wicked, utterly depraved : he is in a fever of misery, he wavers, he seeketh how to subdue him, he is almost drawn
in, and consenteth: but may God be *near him. Hear*al- therefore the Psalm : Who will rise up for me against the wicked ? So many are there; wherever I look round, they meet my eyes. Who shall withstand the devil, the prince of iniquity, and bis angels, and the men that have been seduced
by him?
21. Ver. 17. 1/ the Lord, he saith, had not helped me :
within a little my soul had dwelt in hell. I had almost plunged into that pit which is preparing for sinners : that is, my soul had dwelt in hell. Because he already began to waver, and nearly to consent, he looked back unto the Lord. Suppose, for example's sake, he was insulted to
Bb2
(the enemy answereth,)
372 Insults of the proud. The feet near slippiug.
PsAt. M tempt him to iniquity. For sometimes the wicked flock
28'
come imto Thee on the water. He in His own power, Peter by His order; bid me, he saith, come unto Thee. He answered, Come. For the Church also trampleth on the
if they are more in number, and if they have taken him alone, as there is often much chaff about one grain of wheat; (though there
will not be when the heap hath been fanned ;) he is then taken among many wicked ones, is insulted, and surrounded; they wish to place themselves over him, they torment him
-C1V- together, and insult the good ; especially
A great Apostle! say they ; Thou hast flown into heaven, as Elias did ! Men do these things, so that sometime, when he listeneth to the tongue of men, he is ashamed to be good among the wicked. Let him therefore resist the evil; but not of his
own strength, lest he become proud, and when he wishes to escape the proud, himself increase their number. But what should he say ? Who will rise up for me against the wicked: or who will take my part against the evil-doers?
If the Lord had not helped me, within a little my soul had
dwelt in hell. // / said, My fool hath dipt; Thy -2-2. Ver. 18, 19.
O Lord, held me up. See how God loveth con fession. Thy foot hath slipt, and thou sayest not, my foot hath slipt ; but thou sayest thou art firm, when thou art slipping. The moment thou beginnest to slip or waver, confess thou that slip, that thou mayest not bewail thy total fall ; that He may help, so that thy soul be not in bell.
God loveth confession, loveth humility. Thou hast slipped, as a man ; God helpeth thee, nevertheless : yet say, Myfoot hath slipt. Why dost thou slip, and yet sayest, I am firm ?
and insult him for his very righteousness.
mercy,
When
foot
I said, My
hath slipt, Thy mercy, O Lord, hath held me up. Just as Peter presumed, but not in strength
of his own. The Lord was seen to walk upon the sea, trampling on the heads of all the proud in this life. In walking upon the foaming waves, He figured His own course when He trampleth on the heads of the proud. The Church too doth trample upon them : for Peter is the Church Her
self. Nevertheless, Peter dared not by himself walk upon
Mat. M, the waters; but what said he? Lord, if it be Thou, bid me
cI
Trial drives us to God, and teaches Wisdom.
373
heads of the proud; but since it is the Church, and hath Vrr.
human weakness, that these words might be fulfilled, //. .
0 ' J 20'
/ said, My foot hath slipt, Peter tottered on the sea, and lb. 30.
put, If perish.
judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long- suffering; not knowing that the longsuffering of God leadeth thee to repentance ? But thou, that is, he who answereth and . saith, If I displeased God, He would not spare me,
Rom. 2, hear what he worketh for himself; hear the Apostle; But
6'6'
after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds. He therefore increaseth His longsuffering, thou increasest thine iniquity. His treasure will consist in eternal mercy towards those who have not despised His mercy ; but thy treasure will be discovered in wrath, and what thou daily layest up by little and little, thou wilt find in the accumulated mass ; thou layest up by the grain, but thou wilt find the whole heap. Omit not to watch thy slightest daily sins : rivers are filled from the smallest drops.
10. Ver. 5. 6. What do they do, who answer, and will speak unrighteousness, because they sin and are spared? They humbled Thy people, O Lord: that is, all those who live righteously, against whom all the wicked like to vent their pride. They have humbled Thy people, 0 Lord ; and have troubled Thine heritage. They have murdered the widow, and thefatherless : and slain the proselyte ; that is,
God is neither unjust nor unobservant. 858
the traveller, the pilgrim : the comer from far, as the Ver. Psalmist calleth himself. Each of these expressions is -- '-- -- too clear in meaning to make it worth while to dwell upon
them.
11. Ver. 7. And they have said, The Lord shall not see: He observeth not, regardeth not these things : He careth for other matters, He understandeth not. These are the two asser tions of the wicked: one whicIh I have just quoted, These
things hast thou done, and thoughtest unrighteousness, that
held my tongue, and thou
Iwill be like thyself. What I will be like thyself ! Thou thinkest that I see thy deeds, and that they are pleasing unto Me, because I do not punish them. There is another assertion of the wicked : because God neither regardeth these things, nor observeth that He may know how I live, God heedeth me
not. Doth then God make any reckoning of me ? or doth He even take account of me ? or of men in general ? Un- '
happy man ! He cared for thee, that thou mightest exist : doth He not care that thou live well? Such then are the words of these last; and yet they have said, The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
12. Ver. 8. Take heed now, ye that are unwise among the people: 0 yefools, some time understand! He teacheth His people whose feet might slip: any one among them seeth the prosperity of the wicked, himself living well among the Saints of God, that among the number of the sons of the Church he seeth that the wicked flourish, and work iniquity, he envieth, and led to follow them in their actions; because he seeth that apparently profiteth him nothing that he liveth well in humility, hoping for his reward here. For he hopeth for in future, he loseth not
because the time not yet come for him to receive it. Thou art working in vineyard execute thy task, and thou shalt receive thy pay. Thou wouldest not exact from thy
meaneth, that
before thy work was finished, and yet dost thou exact from God before thou dost work? This patience
part of thy work, and thy pay dependeth upon thy work thou who dost not choose to be patient, choosest to work less upon the vineyard: since this act of patience belongeth to thy labouring itself, which to gain thy pay. But
employer,
is
it :
if
:is ;
it
if
:
a is
is
is,
it
it
it
360 God is not defrauded. His teaching of the nations.
Psalm thou art treacherous, take care, lest thou shouklest not onlv
-
'not receive thy pay, but also suffer punishment, because thou hast chosen to be a treacherous labourer. When such a labourer beginneth to do ill, he watcheth his employer's eyes, who hired him for his vineyard, that he may loiter when his eye is turned away ; but the moment his eyes are turned towards him, he worketh diligently. But God, Who hired thee, averteth not His eyes : thou canst not work treacherously : the eyes of thy Master are ever upon thee : seek an opportunity to deceive Him, and loiter if thou canst.
If then any of you had any such ideas, when ye saw the wicked flourishing, and if such thoughts caused your feet to slip in the path of God ; to you this Psalm speaketh : but if perchance none of you be such, through you it doth address others, in these words, Take heed now; since they had said, The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Take heed, it sailh, now, ye that are unwise among the people: and yefools, some time understand!
13. Ver. 9, 10. He that planted the ear, shall He not hear ? He who enabled thee to hear, shall He not be able Himself to hear ? He that planted the ear, shall He not hear ? or He that made the eye, doth He not consider? or He that instructeth the nations, shall not He reprove ? Listen earnestly to this, brethren, He that instructeth the nations, shall not He reprove? This is what God is at present doing: He is instructing the nations: for this reason He sent His word to man throughout the world : He sent it by Angela, by Patriarchs, by Prophets, by servants, through so many heralds going before the Judge. He sent also His own Word Himself, He sent His own Son in Person : He
sent the servants of His Son, and in these very servants His own Son. Throughout the world is every where preached the word of God. Where is it not said unto men, Abandon your former wickedness, and turn yourselves to right paths ?
~He spareth, that ye may correct yourselves: He punished not yesterday, in order that to-day ye may live well. He teacheth the heathen, shall He not therefore reprove ? will He not hear those whom He teacheth ? will He not judge those to whom He hath beforehand sent and sown lessons of
warning ?
If thou wast in a school, wouldest thou receive a
Lessons to be said in the Judgment. God's counsel in sparing. 361
task, and not repeat it ? When therefore thou receivest it Ver. from thy master, thou art being taught : the Master givcth n-~13' thy task into thy hands, and shall He not exact it from thee
when thou comest to repeat it ? or when thou hast begun to repeat shalt thou not be in fear of stripes At present ' then we are receiving our w ork afterwards we are placed before the Master, that we may give up to Him all our
past tasks, that is, that we may give an account of all those things which are now being bestowed upon us. Hear the2Cor. 6, Apostle's words We must all appear before the judgment- j^"^ seat of Christ that every one may receive according to the 10. things done in his body, whether be good or bad.
Or He that instructeth the heathen, shall He not reprove?
is He that teacheth man knowledge. Doth He not know, Who maketh thee to know It is He that teacheth man knowledge.
14. Ver. 11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain. For although thou kuowest not the thoughts of God, that they are righteous He knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain. Even men have known the thoughts of God but those to whom He hath become friend, to them He shewelh His counsel. Do not, brethren, despise yourselves ye approach the Lord with faith, ye hear the thoughts of God these ye are now learning, this told you, and for this reason ye are taught, why God spareth the wicked in this life, that ye may not murmur against God, Who teacheth man knowledge. The
Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are but vain. Abandon therefore the thoughts of man, which are vain that ye may take hold on the thoughts of God, which are wise. But who he who taketh hold on the thoughts of God? He who placed in the firmament of heaven. We have already chaunted that Psalm, and have expounded this expression therein.
15. Ver. 12, 13. Blessed the man whom Thou chastenest, Lord: and teachest him from Thy law; that Thou may est give him patience in time of malice until the pit
be digged up for the ungodly. Behold, thou hast the counsel of God, wherefore He spareth the wicked the pit being digged for the sinner. Thou wishest to bury him at once the pit
as yet being dug for him do not be in haste to bury him.
is O
:
is
:
is is
is
:
:
;
: if
it
:
;
is ?
: :
:
a
it,
it is
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it
362 The pit is preparing for proud sinners.
Psalm What mean the words, until the pit be digged up for the - 'sinner? or whom doth He mean by sinner? One man? No. Whom then ? The whole race of such that are
sinners ? No ; them that are proud ; for he had said before, Reward the proud after their deserving. For that publican, who would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but
Lnkeis,smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a
13'
sinner, was a sinner ; but since he was not proud, and since God will render a recompense to the proud ; the pit is being dug not for him, but for them that are such, until He render a recompense to the proud. In the words then, until the
pit be digged up for the ungodly, understand the proud. Who is the proud ? He who doth not by confession of his sins do penance, that he may be healed through his humility. Who is the proud ? He who chooseth to arrogate to himself those few good things which he seemeth to possess, and who doth detract from the mercy of God. Who is the proud ? He who although he doth ascribe unto God his good works, yet insulteth those who do not those good works, and raiseth himself above them. For even that Pharisee said,
own
/ thank Thee : he said not, I do these works of
my
ib. 11.
power. He thanked God for the works which he did : he was therefore conscious that he did well, and that his doing so was of God. Whence then was he rebuked ? Because he insulted the publican. Attend to this, that ye may become perfect. There ought to come first, whether in man or woman, a confession of sins, a healthful penitence which may avail to reform the man, not to mock God : but when, after repentance, he hath begun a good life, he hath yet to be careful, that he ascribe not his works to himself, but give thanks to Him, by Whose grace he hath been enabled to live well ; for it is He Who called, He Who enlightened him. Is this man then perfect ? No. Something is yet wanting to him. What is that? That he be not proud over those who do not as yet live as he liveth. Such a man is at last safe : the recompense spoken of above is not rendered unto him : he is not among those for whom the pit iIs being dug. Consider him who said,
other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, even asIthis
am
/ thank Thee, that publican. How did he exalt himself, when he said,
am tiol as
Christ the Example and Teacher of Humility. 363
not as this publican ? but the other, with downcast eyes, Ver.
l3'
say unto you, the publican went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee and He saith why For every one
that exalleth himself, shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. My brethren, even hence we learn '
that Christ hath taught us humility, because God became
Man. This the very humility which displeaseth the pagans
whence they mock us. What manner of God do ye worship,
that was born What manner of God do ye worship, that
was crucified The humility of Christ displeaseth the proud:
but pleaseth thee who art Christian, imitate it. If
thou hast imitated thou wilt not labour for Himself hath
said, Come unlo Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, Mat. 11, and will give you rest. Learn from Me, for am meek and28' 29' lowly of heart. This then the Christian doctrine: no
man doeth any thing well, except by His grace. man's bad acts are his own his good he doth of God's bounty. When he hath begun to do well, let him not ascribe unto himself: when he hath not attributed to himself, let him give thanks to Him from Whom he hath received it. But when he doeth well, let him not insult him who doth not as he doth, nor exalt himself above him for the grace of God not stayed at him, so that cannot reach another.
16. That Thou mayest give him patience in days of malice until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. Have patience therefore every one, thou art Christian, in time of malice. Days of malice are those in which the ungodly appear to flourish, and the righteous to suffer; but the suffering of the righteous the rod of the Father, and the
prosperity of the ungodly their own snare. For because God giveth you patience in time of adversity, until the pit be digged up for the ungodly, do not think that the Angels are standing in some place with mattocks, and are digging that great pit which shall be able to contain the whole race
smote his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner !
The one was proud of his good works, the other humble in
his bad deeds. See, brethren, that humility in bad works pleased God more than pride in good works thus God hateth the proud. And therefore He thus concluded, Verily A. 14.
is is
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if a
is
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it
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364 Earthly -prosperity a pitfall to the wicked.
Psalm of ihe ungodly ; and because ye see that the wicked are XCIV- many, and say unto yourselves carnally: Truly what pit can
contain so great a multitude of the wicked, such a crowd of sinners? where is a pit of such dimensions, as to contain all, dug ? when finished ? therefore God spareth them. This is not so : their very prosperity is the pit of the wicked : for into that shall they fall, as it were into a pitfall. Attend, brethren, for it is a great thing to know that prosperity is called a pitfall : until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. For God spareth him whom He knoweth to be ungodly and impious, in His own hidden justice : and this very sparing of God, causeth him to be puffed up through his impunity. He thinketh himself exalted, and he falleth : in this very thing he falleth, in that he thinketh himself exalted. In this he thinketh that he is treading on high, and God calleth this a pit. A pit tendeth downwards, not heavenwards : but the proud ungodly appear to be ascending towards heaven, while actually they are being sunk beneath the earth. On the contrary, the humble seem to bow themselves down to the ground, but really are ascending into heaven. Have patience then, every believer, if thou hast been taught from the law of God, that thy heart may be in the firmament of heaven : for God made the lights, on the fourth day, which is termed the fourth of the week ; whence this Psalm hath taken its title. As thou seest the constellations in per fect patience pursue their own courses, without regarding what men say concerning them ; so also do thou not regard whatever flesh may have done towards thee. For every man is flesh and blood. For thou art not vile in com parison with another's flesh, by which thou seemest to be oppressed : because He assumed the flesh for thee, and for thee He poured forth His blood, Who will bring both thee and that man before His own judgment; and if He gave thee such blessings when thou wast in thy sins, what doth He reserve for thee, if thou art faithful? Hence take patience. How art thou to take patience? When thou sayest, Because it is the will of God, therefore the wicked flourish: He wisheth to spare the wicked, He leadeth to repentance those whom He spareth ; but they do not reform: He knoweth how to judge them. But a man is
Pride falls by departing from God. Chastisement a mercy. 365 impatient, when he chooseth to gainsay either the goodness Ver.
--
Psalm he thus saith, Thou hast cast them down, while they Ps. 72, were being exalted. He said not, Thou hast cast them 18 down, because they were exalted ; or, Thou hast cast them down, after they were exalted ; so that the period of their exaltation be one, of their casting down another : but in the
very act of their exaltation were they cast down. For in proportion as the heart of man is proud, so doth it recede from God; and if it recede from God, it sinketh down into the deep. On the other hand, the humble heart bringeth God unto it from heaven, so that He becometh very near unto it. Surely God is lofty, God is above all the heavens, He surpasseth all the Angels : how high must these be raised, to reach that exalted One ? Do not burst thyself by enlarging thyself; I give thee other advice, lest perchance in enlarging thyself thou burst, through pride : surely God is lofty : do thou humble thyself, and He will descend unto thee.
17. Ver. 14. We have heard why He spareth the wicked: this very thing is their pitfall. God saith to thee, How the pit is dug for them, and why it is dug, it is not thine to know ; but from My law learn that patience is thy duty, until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. And what, thou sayest, of one who suffers, and that among the ungodly themselves ? The next verse answereth thee : For the Lord will not cast off His people. He trieth them, He doth not cast them off. For how speaketh Scripture in another
For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, anrfHeb. 12, scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. He receiveth thee 6'
after thou art scourged ; and dost thou say, that He casteth
thee off? We see men do this in the case of their own
sons : sometimes they allow their sons when despaired of
to go and live at their own pleasure ; those whom they hope
for, they scourge ; those whom they see to be utterly hope
less and intractable, they leave to live as they choose.
The one whom he thus abandons to do as he pleases, he
of the Lord, or His long-suffering, or His power, or the justice of his Judge. The proud man raiseth himself up against God : God sinketh him: and he sinketh by the very act of raising himself up against God.
For in another
passage?
366 The disinherited escape correction at present.
Psalm meaps not to admit to his inheritance : while he scourgeth XCI V ' that son for whom he keepeth the inheritance. But when God scourgeth a son, let him run beneath the hand of his
Father while He scourgeth him ; because He who scourgeth him, is chastening him in preparation for his heritage. He dolh not cast off from the inheritance His son whom He scourgeth : but He scourgeth him, in order that he may receive it. Let him not be so foolish and childish in bis thoughts as to say, My father loveth my brother more, whom he alloweth to do whatever he will : I, if I move against my father's orders, find the scourge. Do thou rejoice beneath the scourge : because the heritage is kept for thee,
for the Lord will not cast off His people. He chasteneth for a season, He condemneth not for ever: the others He spareth for a season, and will condemn them for evermore. Make thy choice : dost thou wish temporary suffering, or eternal punishment? temporal happiness, or eternal life? What doth God threaten ? Eternal punishment. What doth He promise? Eternal rest. His scourging the good, is temporary : His sparing the wicked, is also temporary. For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He
forsake His inheritance.
18. Ver. 15. Until righteousness, he saith, turn again
unto judgment, and all they that have it are right in heart. Listen now, and gain righteousness: for judgment thou canst not yet have. Thou shouldest gain righteousness first; but that very righteousness of thine shall turn unlo
judgment. The Apostles had righteousness here on earth, and bore with the wicked. But what is said unto them?
Mat. 19, Ye shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Their righteousness therefore shall turn unto judg ment. For whoever is righteous in this life, is so for this reason, that he may endure evils with patience : let him suffer patiently the period of suffering, and the day of
judging cometh. But why do I speak of the servants of God? The Lord Himself, Who is the Judge of all living and dead, first chose to be judged, and then to judge.
Until righteousness turn again unto judgment ; and all such as have it are right in heart. Those who have righteous ness at present, are not yet judges. For the first thing is
Righteousness now, leads to judging with Christ. 367
to have righteousness, and afterwards to judge : He first Ver.
16'
endureth the wicked, and afterwards jiulgeth them. Let there be righteousness now : afterwards it shall turn again unto judgment. And so long He endureth wicked men, as God doth will, as long as God's Church shall endure them, that she may be taught through their wickedness. Nevertheless, God will not cast off His people, until righte ousness be turned again unto judgment : all such as have it i are right in heart. Who are those who are right in heart ? Those whose will is the will of God. He spareth sinners : \ thou dost wish Him at once to destroy sinners. Thy heart \ is crooked and thy will perverted, when thy will is one way and the will of God another. God wisheth to spare sinners : thou dost not wish sinners spared. God is of long-suffering
to sinners : thou dost not wish to endure sinners. But as I had begun saying, thou wishest one thing, God willeth another: turn thy heart, and direct it unto God: because the Lord also hath had compassion on the weak. He saw in His body, that is, in His Church, the weak, who first tried to follow their own will, but when they saw that the will of God was different, directed themselves and their heart to undertake and follow the will of God. Wish not to bend the will of God to thy will, but rather correct thy will to His. The will of God is like a rule: behold,
thou hast twisted the rule : whence canst thou be set straight? But the rule itself continueth straight: for it is immutable. As long as the rule is straight, thou hast whither to turn thyself, and straighten thy perversity ; thou hast a means of correcting what is crooked in thee. But what do men will ? It is not enough that their own will is crooked; they even wish to make the will of God crooked according to their own heart, that God may do what they themselves will, when they ought to do that which God willeth.
19. But how did our Lord unite two wills in one, in the Man which He carried with Him? Prefiguring that in His body, that in His Church, there would be some who would wish to do their own will, but would afterwards follow the will of God because He hath shewn that some weak ones belong unto Himself, and hath prefigured them in Himself.
suppose,
;
is,
Joh 1,
Gen. 3, '''
And who are right in heart ? Those who are found as Job was found, who saith, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as the Lord willed, so is it done: blessed be the name ofthe Lord. Behold a righteous heart : a second time under a heavy stroke, what said he to his wife, whom the devil had left and had not slain, that he might have an assistant, and not her husband a consoler ? For he remem- bered that Adam was deceived by that Eve, and he thought this Eve was necessary to him. She came to Job, like Eve : but this Adam was happier when he conquered on the dunghill, than the Adam who was conquered in Paradise; for what did he answer unto that woman ? Behold a heart prepared, a righteous heart. Did he not suffer persecutions, and those heavy ones ? And all Christians suffer them ; and if men rage not, yet the devil rageth : and if emperors have become Christians ; hath the devil also become a Christian ? Attend therefore, holy brethren, to what maketh a righteous
368 Christ's Human Will prefigured the weak in His Body.
Psalm For it was for this reason that He sweated blood from His
XC1V whole body, because in His body, that is, in His Church, ? ulie21'
44. He shewed the blood of Martyrs. From His whole body blood flowed : thus His Church hath her Martyrs, through her whole body is poured forth blood. Prefiguring there fore in Himself, or in His body, some weak persons, in the
Mat. 26, person of the weak, sympathising with them, He saith, O
39'
My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me! He sheweth the will of a man: if He remained in this will, He would then seem to be shewing a heart not right. But if He hath shewn compassion on thee, and in Himself also He freeth thee ; imitate what follows, and say, Nevertheless, not as
I will, but as Thou, Father, wilt. If thy human will hath begun to creep on thee, O that God would slay that mine enemy, so that he could not persecute me! O if it could fall out that I might not suffer so much from him ! But if thou hast persevered, and hast set thy mind on something, though thou seest that it is not the will of God, thou art wicked in heart, thou hast not righteousness that shall turn again unto judgment : for all who have it, are right in heart.
Joh 2, 9. heart. She came and said unto him, Say somewhat against God, and die. She counted all his or her own miseries: Say somewhat against God, she said, and die. And he now
Our Lord truly sorrowed ; but for His Body. 369
recognising Eve, wishing to return
with his heart fixed in God, as a luminary in the firmament, dwelling in his heart in the book of God, saith, Thou speakest3ah 2,
as one ofthefoolish women speaketh. What! Shall we receive 10- good at the hand of God, and shall we not endure evil ? Because his heart was fixed in God, therefore was it right : for because God is right, when thou dost fix thine heart in Him, He becometh thy standard, that thine heart may be
right. Fix therefore thine heart in Him, and it will be right. But the human will was beginning to seduce thee. Some thing of the weakness of the flesh was deceiving thy mind : do not yet despair. The Lord in His weakness prefigured thee, not Himself: for the Lord, Who was to rise again on the third day, feared not to suffer. If He suffered altogether
as a man, and was not about to suffer as God, and if He knew that He would rise again in three days, He could not in any way feel dread when about to die, as Paul feared not, knowing that hIe should rise again at the end of time. For he saith; For
am in a strait
desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which isfar better; 1,2J-24.
nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. For it was a weariness to him to remain in the flesh, he felt an ardent longing in two ways ; to be released and to be with Christ, he said, was far best. Thus when his martyrdomIl was close at hand, how did he exult! how did he I
have fought a good fight, I
kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righleoui Judge, shall
whence he had fallen, Ver.
bettvixl the two, having a Philip.
have course, finished my
have
give me at that day. He rejoiceth when about to be crowned,
and yet He who will crown him is sorrowful : the Apostle
thus rejoiceth, and our Lord Christ saith, O My Father, if il Mat. 26, be possible, let this cup pass from Me. But He took upon Himself sorrow, as He did the flesh. For ye must not think,
that I assert that our Lord was not sorrowful. For if T asserted that He was not sorrowful, when the Gospel saith,
My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; it might Mat. 2o, follow that when the Gospel saith, Jesus slept, He did not rs. 8,24. sleep : when the Gospel saith, Jesus ate, that He did not f^6]4' eat: the worm of corruption hath thus crept in, and left*c. nothing whole. So that it may be said, that He had not a
VOL. iv. B b
glory!
Tim. , '''
370 God's long-suffering is for a good end.
Psalm true body, and had not a true flesh. Whatever therefore is XCIV 'written of Him, brethren, really happened, and is true. Was He therefore sorrowful ? Assuredly sorrowful, but with sorrow
taken of His own free will, even as He assumed the flesh of His own will; as He of His own will took upon Him true flesh, so did He of His own will take upon Him true sorrow. Thus also of His own will hath He shewn in Himself, that if
some weakness hath come over thee, and thou hast begun to wish otherwise than God dolh will, thou mayest see how thine own heart hath turned itself aside from the straight rule, thou mayest fix thy heart after the rule, and thy heart which in the man had begun to be crooked, may
be directed after God. Thus then the Lord, as a guide to Mat. 26,thee, saith: My soul is sorrowful even unto death: and, O
38'
ib. 42.
perchance
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. But say then at once what He said, that He might teach thee:
I will, but as Nevertheless, not as Thou,
Father, wilt. For
if ye follow righ teousness, your heart is right ; if your heart be right, that
if ye do this, ye will have righteousness :
which now endureth, will turn again unto judgment, and afterwards, when thy Lord judgeth, thou shalt not only not dread evils, but shalt also glory in thy crown.
Then shalt thou see how the longsuffering of God hath pro fited, either for their punishment or for thy crown : at present thou seest not : believe what thou seest not as yet, lest thou be ashamed when thou shalt see. Until righteousness turn again unto judgment: all such as have it are right in heart.
20. Ver. 16. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? or who will take my part against the evil doers? Many
us to divers evils : the serpent ceaseth not to whisper to thee to work iniquity : whichever way thou shalt turn, if perchance thou hast done well, thou seekest to live well with some one, and thou hardly findest any one ; many wicked men surround thee, for there are few grains of wheat, and much chaff. This floor hath its grains of corn, but as yet they suffer. Therefore the whole mass of the wheat, when separated from the chaff, will be great : the grains are few, but when compared with the chaff, still many in them selves. When therefore the wicked cry out on every side, and say, Why livest thou thus? Art thou the only Christian?
righteousness,
persuade
Temptation through evil Christians. 371
Why dost thou not do, what others also do ? Why dost thou Ver. not frequent the theatres, as others do ? Why dost thou -17'
not use charms and amulets?
astrologers and soothsayers, even as others do ? And thou
Why dost thou not consult
crossest1 thyself, and sayest, I am a Christian, that
mayest repel them, whosoever they are; but the enemy s,gnast' presses on, urges his attacks ; what is worse, by the example
of Christians he choketh Christians.
midst of heat : the Christian soul suffereth tribulation : yet
it hath power to conquer: hath it such power of itself?
For this reason remark what he saith. For he answereth,
What doth it profit me that I now find charms for myself,
I
repair unto my Lord, Who shall send me into the flames ;
because I have preferred a few days to life eternal, He shall send me into hell. What hell? That of the eternal judg
and gain a few days ?
depart
hence from
this life, and
thou'. Ett? They toil on, in the
ment of God. Is it really so,
unless indeed thou really believest that God carelh how men live ? And perhaps it is not an acquaintance who speaketh thus to thee in the street, but thy wife at home, or possibly the husband to the faithful and holy wife, her deceiver. If it be the woman to her husband, she is as Eve unto him ; if as the husband unto the wife, he is as the devil unto her: either she is herself as Eve unto thee, or thou art a serpent unto her. Sometimes the father would incline his thoughts to his son, and findeth him wicked, utterly depraved : he is in a fever of misery, he wavers, he seeketh how to subdue him, he is almost drawn
in, and consenteth: but may God be *near him. Hear*al- therefore the Psalm : Who will rise up for me against the wicked ? So many are there; wherever I look round, they meet my eyes. Who shall withstand the devil, the prince of iniquity, and bis angels, and the men that have been seduced
by him?
21. Ver. 17. 1/ the Lord, he saith, had not helped me :
within a little my soul had dwelt in hell. I had almost plunged into that pit which is preparing for sinners : that is, my soul had dwelt in hell. Because he already began to waver, and nearly to consent, he looked back unto the Lord. Suppose, for example's sake, he was insulted to
Bb2
(the enemy answereth,)
372 Insults of the proud. The feet near slippiug.
PsAt. M tempt him to iniquity. For sometimes the wicked flock
28'
come imto Thee on the water. He in His own power, Peter by His order; bid me, he saith, come unto Thee. He answered, Come. For the Church also trampleth on the
if they are more in number, and if they have taken him alone, as there is often much chaff about one grain of wheat; (though there
will not be when the heap hath been fanned ;) he is then taken among many wicked ones, is insulted, and surrounded; they wish to place themselves over him, they torment him
-C1V- together, and insult the good ; especially
A great Apostle! say they ; Thou hast flown into heaven, as Elias did ! Men do these things, so that sometime, when he listeneth to the tongue of men, he is ashamed to be good among the wicked. Let him therefore resist the evil; but not of his
own strength, lest he become proud, and when he wishes to escape the proud, himself increase their number. But what should he say ? Who will rise up for me against the wicked: or who will take my part against the evil-doers?
If the Lord had not helped me, within a little my soul had
dwelt in hell. // / said, My fool hath dipt; Thy -2-2. Ver. 18, 19.
O Lord, held me up. See how God loveth con fession. Thy foot hath slipt, and thou sayest not, my foot hath slipt ; but thou sayest thou art firm, when thou art slipping. The moment thou beginnest to slip or waver, confess thou that slip, that thou mayest not bewail thy total fall ; that He may help, so that thy soul be not in bell.
God loveth confession, loveth humility. Thou hast slipped, as a man ; God helpeth thee, nevertheless : yet say, Myfoot hath slipt. Why dost thou slip, and yet sayest, I am firm ?
and insult him for his very righteousness.
mercy,
When
foot
I said, My
hath slipt, Thy mercy, O Lord, hath held me up. Just as Peter presumed, but not in strength
of his own. The Lord was seen to walk upon the sea, trampling on the heads of all the proud in this life. In walking upon the foaming waves, He figured His own course when He trampleth on the heads of the proud. The Church too doth trample upon them : for Peter is the Church Her
self. Nevertheless, Peter dared not by himself walk upon
Mat. M, the waters; but what said he? Lord, if it be Thou, bid me
cI
Trial drives us to God, and teaches Wisdom.
373
heads of the proud; but since it is the Church, and hath Vrr.
human weakness, that these words might be fulfilled, //. .
0 ' J 20'
/ said, My foot hath slipt, Peter tottered on the sea, and lb. 30.
put, If perish.
