From the en
lightening
of the knowledge of Thee, let Me judge truth.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v1
5.
) There they trembled for fear, where nofear was : that is, for the loss of things temporal.
Johnn,For they said, Ifwe let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him ; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation. They feared to lose an earthly king dom, where no fear was; and they lost the kingdom of heaven, which they ought to have feared. And this must be understood of all temporal goods, the loss of which when men fear, they come not to things eternal.
7. For God is in the just* generation. [It refers to what went before, so that the sense is, ' shall not all they that work iniquity know that the Lord is in the just generation;'] that is, He is not in them who love the world. For it is unjust
Rom. l, to leave the Maker of the worlds, and serve the creature more than the Creator. (Ver. 6. ) Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, for the Lord is his hope : that is, ye have despised the humble coming of the Son of God, because ye saw not in Him the pomp of the world : that they, whom He was calling, should put their hope in God alone, not in the things
that pass away.
* The words in brackets are from the Oxford Mss.
Salvation in Christ alone. His life on earth our Tent in war.
8. Ver. 7. Who^will give salvation to Israel out of Sion ? Ver. 7. Who but He Whose humiliation ye have despised ? is under
stood. For He will come in glory to the judgment of the quick
and the dead, and the kingdom of the just : that, forasmuch as
in that humble coming blindness hath happened in part unto Rom. ll, Israel, that the fulness of the Gentiles might enter in, in
that other should happen what follows, and so all Israel
should be saved. For the Apostle too takes that testimony
of Isaiah, where it is said, There shall come out of Sion Hels. 59, Who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob : for the Jews, 20
as it is here, Who shall give salvation to Israel out of Sion ? When the Lord shall turn away the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. It is a repetition, as is usual : for I suppose, Israel shall be glad, is
Lat. xiV.
tation yet when tabernacle taken in its proper meaning, thing of war. Hence soldiers are called tent. fellows, contu- as having their tents together. This sense assisted by the J^TM"
words, Who shall sojourn For we war with the devil for time, and then we need tabernacle wherein we may refresh ourselves. Which specially points out the faith of the
1. Touching this title there is no question. (Ver. Lord, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle Although tabernacle be sometimes used even for an everlasting habi
which was wrought for us in time through the Incarnation of the Lord. And who shall rest in Thy holy mountain Here perhaps he signifies at
once the eternal habitation itself, that we should understand
by mountain the superemineuce of the love of Christ in life2Cor. 5,
eternal.
2. Ver. 2. He who walketh without stain, and worketh
righteousness. Here He has laid down the proposition in what follows he sets forth in detail.
3. Who speaketh the truth in his heart. For some have truth on their lips, and not in their heart. As one should
temporal Dispensation,
109
the same as, Jacob shall rejoice.
PSALM XV.
A Psalm of David himself .
it
;
?
is
is
if ?
a
?
it is a:
0
a 1. )
110 Truth in heart is of those who see that sin rests on nothing.
Psalm deceitfully point out a road, knowing tha^there were robbers ? there, and should say, If you go this way, you will be safe from robbers ; and it should turn out that in fact there were no robbers found there : he has spoken the truth, but not in
his heart. For he supposed it to be otherwise, and spoke the truth in ignorance. Therefore it is not enough to speak the truth, unless it be so also in heart, (Ver. Who hath
practised no deceit in his tongue.
the tongue, when one thing
another concealed in the breast.
bour. It well known that by neighbour, every man should be understood. And hath not entertained slander against his neighbour, that is, hath not readily or rashly given credence to an accuser.
4. Ver. 4. The malicious one hath been brought to nought in his sight. This perfection, that the malicious one have no force against man and that this be in his sight that is, that he know most surely that the malicious not,
save when the mind turns itself away from the eternal and specie, immutable form1 of her own Creator to the form of the Ps. in, creature, which was made out of nothing. But those that fear the Lord, He glorifieth the Lord Himself, that is. Ecclus. Now the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As then the things above belong to the perfect, so what he now
5. Who sweareth unto his neighbour, and deceiveth him not. (Ver. 5. ) Who hath not given his money upon usury, and hath not taken rewards against the innocent. These are no great things but he who not able to do even this, much less able he to speak the truth in his heart, and to practise no deceit in his tongue, but as the truth in the heart, so to profess and have in his mouth, yea, yea; nay, nay and to do no evil to his neighbour, that is, to any man and to entertain no slander against his neighbour all which are the virtues of the perfect, in whose sight the malicious one hath been brought to nought. Yet he concludes even these lesser things thus, Whoso doeth these things shall not be
moved for ever that he shall attain unto those greater things, wherein great and unshaken stability. For even the very tenses are, perhaps not without cause, so varied, as
Deceit practised with professed with the mouth,
Nor done evil to his neigh
Prov'
going to say belongs to beginners.
Matt.
is : is,
is
5, ;
:
is
is
3. )
;
it
is
:
is ;
:
7.
1
1
is
is
;
a
is
is
The Saints in God's earth new men in Christ their Head. 1 1 1
that in the conclusion above the past tense should be used, Ver.
but in this the future. For there it was said, The malicious one hath been brought to nought in his sight : but here, shall not be moved for ever.
--
Lat. XV.
PSALM XVI.
The inscription of the title, of David himself.
1. Our King in this Psalm speaks in the character of the
human1 nature He assumed, of Whom the royal title at thelsusceP- ,? . . , . . tionis
time of His passion was eminently set forth. huma- 2. Now He saith as follows; (ver. 1. ) Preserve me, O Lord,n<p.
for in Thee have I hoped: (ver. 2. ) / have said to the Lord, Thou art my God, for Thou requirest not my goods : for
with my goods Thou dost not look to be made blessed.
3. Ver. 3. To the saints who are on His earth: to the saints who have placed their hope in the land of the living,
the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, whose spiritual conversation is, by the anchor of hope, fixed in that country, which is rightly called God's earth ; although as yet in this earth too they be conversant in the flesh. He hath wonder fully fulfilled all My wishes in them. To those saints then He hath wonderfully fulfilled all My wishes in their ad vancement, whereby they have perceived, how both the humanity of My divinity hath profited them that I might die, and the divinity of the humanity that I might rise again.
4. Ver. 4. Their infirmities have been multiplied: thcirSoOxf. infirmities have been multiplied not for their destruction, but
that they might long for the Physician.
made haste. Accordingly after infirmities
made haste, that they might be healed. / will not gather together their assemblies by blood. For their assemblies
shall not be carnal, nor will I gather them together as oneIsl,H.
be propitiated by the blood of cattle. Nor will I mindful
of their names within My lips. But by a spiritual change what they have been shall be forgotten; nor by Me shall they be any more called either sinners, or enemies, or men ; but righteous, and My brethren, and Sons of God through My peace.
Afterwards they multiplied they
1 ] 2 God Christs portion in His Saints. His human experience.
Psalm 5. Ver. 5. The Lord is the portion of Mine inheritance,
XVI. and of My cup. For together with Me they shall possess the inheritance, the Lord Himself. Let others choose for
themselves portions, earthly and temporal, to enjoy : the portion of the Saints is the Lord eternal. Let others drink of deadly pleasures, the portion of My cup is the Lord. In that I say, Mine, I include the Church : for where the Head is, there is the body also. For into the inheritance will I gather together their assemblies, and by the inebriation of the cup I will forget their old names. Thou art He who will restore to Me My inheritance: that toIthese too, whom
was with before the world was made. For Thou wilt not restore to Me that which I never lost, but Thou wilt restore to these, who have lost the knowledge of that glory in whom
because am, Thou wilt restore to Me.
6. Ver. 6. The lines have fallen to me in glorious places.
The boundaries of my possession have fallen in Thy glory Numb. as were lot, like as God the possession of the Priests ' and Levites. For Mine inheritance glorious to Me.
For Mine inheritance glorious, not to all, but to them that see; in whom because am, to Me.
7. Ver. 7. will bless the Lord, Who hath given Me understanding whereby this inheritance may be seen and possessed. Yea moreover too even unto night my reins have chastened Me. Yea besides understanding, even unto death, My inferior part, the assumption of flesh, hath instructed Me, that might experience the darkness of mortality, which that understanding hath not.
8. Ver. 8. foresaw the Lord in My sight always. But coming into things that pass away, removed not Mine eye from Him Who abide th ever, foreseeing this, that to Him
should return after passing through the things temporal. For He on My right hand, that should not be moved. For He favoureth Me, that should abide fixedly in Him.
Ver. 9. Wherefore My heart was glad, and My tongue exulted. Wherefore both in My thoughts gladness, and in my words exultation. Moreover too Myflesh shall rest in hope. Moreover too My flesh shall not fail unto de struction, but shall sleep in hope of the resurrection.
Johni7, 1 free, may be known the glory wherein Thee
I 9.
it
I is
I
it is
is
I by
I I
is I
I:/
is
'
is
it,
:
Christ raised up, blessed, and glorified in His Saints. 113
10. Ver. 10. For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell. Ver. io. For Thou will neither give My soul for a possession to those
parts below. Neither wilt Thou grant Thine Holy One to
see corruption. Neither wilt Thou suffer that sanctified body, whereby others are to be also sanctified, to see
Thou hast made known to Me the paths of life. Thou hast made known through Me the
paths of humiliation, that1 men might return to life, from'Oxf. whence they fell through pride; in whom because I am,,thatby
Thou hast made known to Me. Thou wilt fill Me with joy "' with Thy countenance. Thou wilt fill them with joy, that they should seek nothing further, when they shall see Thee
face to face ; in whom because I am, Thou wilt fill Me. Pleasure is at Thy right hand even to the end. Pleasure is in Thy favour and mercy in this life's journey, leading on even to the end of the glory of Thy countenance.
corruption. (Ver. 11. )
PSALM XVII. Aprayer ofDavid himself.
Lat. XVI.
1. This prayer must be assigned to the Person of the Lord, with the addition of the Church, which is His body.
2. Ver. 1. Hear My righteousness, O God, consider My
Hearken unto My prayer, not in deceitful lips: not going forth to Thee in deceitful lips. (Ver. 2. ) Let
My judgment from Thy countenance go forth.
From the en lightening of the knowledge of Thee, let Me judge truth. Or at least, let My judgment go forth, not in deceitful lips, from Thy countenance, that is, that I may not in judging utter aught else than I understand in Thee. Let Mine eyes see equity : the eyes, of course, of the heart.
3. Ver. 3. Thou hast proved and visited Mine heart in the
supplication.
For this Mine heart hath been proved by the visitation of tribulation. Thou hast examined Me by fire, and iniquity hath not been found in Me. Now not night
only, in that it is wont to disturb, but fire also, in that it burns, is this tribulation to be called ; whereby when I was examined I was found righteous.
i
night-season.
114 Christ in the Church prays for grace and protection.
Psalm 4. That My mouth may not speak (ver. 4. ) the works of xVn. men. That nothing may proceed out of My mouth, but what relates to Thy glory and praise ; not to the works of men,
whereby she arrives at Thy rest. That Myfootsteps be not moved. That the signs of My way, which, like footsteps, have been imprinted on the Sacraments and Apostolical
which they do beside Thy will. Because of the words See on of Thy lips. Because of the words of Thy peace, or of Thy
' prophets. / have kept hard ways. I have kept the toilsome word of ways of human mortality and suffering.
fheTik 5. Ver. 5. To perfect My steps in Thy paths. That the ofgrace. '}ove of tne Church might be perfected in the strait ways,
? Pthe8'2
be not moved, that they may mark them who would follow Me. Or at least, that I may still abide fixedly in eternity, after that I have accomplished the hard ways, and have finished My steps in the straits of Thy paths.
writings,
/
hast heard Me when praying more weakly. Incline Thine ear to Me, and hear My words. Let not Thy hearing forsake My humiliation.
7. Ver. 7. Make Thy mercies marvellous. Let not Thy mercies be disesteemed, lest they be loved too little.
8. Who savest them that hope in Thee from such as resist Thy right hand: from such as resist the favour, whereby Thou favourest Me. (Ver. 8. ) Keep Me, O Lord, as the
apple of Thine eye: which seems very little and minute: yet by it is the sight of the eye directed, whereby the light is distinguished from the darkness ; as by Christ's humanity,
,al. <<thethe divinity of the Judgment1 distinguishing between the ment of righteous and sinners. In the covering of Thy toings protect
jtfe. ln the defence of Thy love and mercy protect Me. _ (Ver. 9. ) From the face of the ungodly who have troubled Me. 9. Mine enemies have compassed about My soul ; (ver. 10. )
they have shut up their own fat. They have been covered with their own gross joy, after that their desire hath been satiated with wickedness. Their mouth hath spoken pride.
Mat. 27,And therefore their mouth spoke pride, in saying, Hail, King ofthe Jews, and other like words.
God-
Thou hast heard Me, O God. With a free and strong effort have I directed My prayers unto Thee : for that I might have this power, Thou
6. Ver 6.
have cried out,
for
Christ compassed by enemies to their own confusion. 1 15
10. Ver. 11. Casting Me forth they have now compassed Ver. Me about. Casting Me forth outside the city, they have
now compassed Me about on the Cross. Their eyes they
have determined to turn down on the earth. The bent
of their heart they have determined to turn down on these earthly things : deeming Him, Who was slain, to endure a mighty evil, and themselves, that slew Him, none.
11. Ver. 12. As a lion ready for prey, have they taken Me.
They have taken Me, like that adversary who walketh about, i Pet 5, seeking whom he may devour. And as a lion's whelp dwell
ing in secret places. And as his whelp, the people to whom
it was said, Ye are of your father the devil: meditating John 8, on the snares, whereby they might circumvent and destroy 4 4' the just One.
12. Ver. 13. Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down. Arise, O Lord, Thou Whom they suppose to be asleep, and regardless of men's iniquities ; be they blinded before by their own malice, that vengeance may prevent their deed ; and so cast them down.
13. Deliver My soul from the ungodly. Deliver My soul, by restoring Me after the death, which the ungodly have inflicted on Me. Thy weapon (ver. 14. ) from the enemies of Thine hand. For My soul is Thy weapon, which Thy hand, that is, Thy eternal Power, hath taken to subdue thereby the
of iniquity, and divide the righteous from the ungodly. This weapon then deliver from the enemies of Thine
kingdoms
of Thy Power, that from Mine enemies. Lord, from off the earth, scatter them in Lord, destroy them from off the earth, which they inhabit, scatter them throughout the world in
this life, which only they think their life, who1 despair of Hfe'aL'be- eternal. And Thy hidden things their belly hath been^^'
hand, that Destroy them,
their life.
Now not only this visible punishment shall overtake them, but also their memory hath been filled with sins, which as darkness are hidden from the light of Thy truth, that they should forget God. They have been filled with swine's
They have been filled with uncleanness, treading
under foot the pearls of God's words. And they have left
the rest to their babes: crying out, This sin be upon us and Mat. 27, upon our children.
filled.
flesh.
i 2
by
is, OO
is,
? <<. T
secun- minem.
1 6 Good and evil satisfying. Names of David and Saul.
14. Ver. 15. But I shall appear in Thy righteousness in Thy sight. But I, Who have not appeared to them that, with
their filthy and darkened heart, can not see the light of wisdom, shall appear in Thy righteousness in Thy sight.
I
And when they have been satiated with their uncleanness, that they could not know Me, I shall be satiated, when Thy glory shall be manifested, in them that know Me. In that verse indeed where it is said, filled rnith swine's flesh, some copies have, filled with children : for from the ambiguity of the Greek* a double interpretation has resulted. Now by children we understand works; and as by good children, good works, so by, evil evil.
PSALM XVIII.
To the end, for the servant of the Lord, David himself.
That is, for the strong of hand, Christ in His Man- hood. The words of this song which he spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him out of the hands of his enemies, and of the hand of Saul ; and he said, On the day when the Lord delivered him out of the hands of his enemies and of the hand of Saul: namely, the king of the Jews,
shall be satiated, when Thy
glory
shall be
manifested.
iSam. 8, whom they had demanded for themselves. For as David is said to be by interpretation, strong of hand ; so Saul, is said to be demanding. Now it is well known, how that People demanded for themselves a king, and received him for their king, not according to the will of God, but according to their
own will.
2. Christ, then, and the Church, that is, whole Christ, the
Head and the Body, saith here, (ver. will love Thee, Lord, My strength. will love Thee, Lord, by Whom
am strong.
3. Ver. 2. Lord, My stay, and My refuge, and My
deliverer. Lord, Who hast stayed Me, because
refuge with Thee and sought refuge, because Thou hast delivered Me. My God is My helper and will hope in Him. My God, Who hast first afforded me the help of Thy
tISt, bii, iii>>. Var. readings. Ben.
sought
*
O
O
;
1. ) I
:
I
I
O I
I
I
O
Christ, in His Church, finds God a sure Helper. 117
call, that I might be able to hope in Thee. My defender, Ver. and the horn of My salvation, and My redeemer. My de- l -- ' fender, because I have not leant upon Myself, lifting up as it
were the horn of pride against Thee ; but have found Thee
a horn indeed, that is, the sure height of salvation : and that I might find Thou redeemedst Me.
Ver. 3. With praise will call upon the Lord, and shall be safe from Mine enemies. Seeking not My own but the Lord's glory, will call upon Him, and there shall
be no means whereby the errors of ungodliness can hurt Me. Ver. 4. The pains of death, that of the flesh, have compassed Me about. And the overflowings of ungodliness
have troubled Me. Ungodly troubles1 stirred up for time, or like torrents of rain which will soon subside, have come on,c^owds? , to trouble Me.
Ver. 5. The pains ofhell compassed Me about. Among those that compassed Me about to destroy Me, were pains of envy, which work death, and lead on to the hell of sin. The snares ofdeath prevented Me. They prevented Me, so that they wished to hurt Me first, which shall afterwards be re compensed unto them. Now they seize unto destruction such men as they have evilly persuaded by the boast of righteous ness: in the name but not in the reality of which they glory against the Gentiles.
7. Ver. 6. And in Mine oppression called upon the Lord, and cried unto My God. And He heard My voice from His holy temple. He heard from My heart, wherein He dwelleth, My voice. And My cry in His sight entered
into His ears; and My cry, which utter, not in the ears of men but inwardly before Him Himself, entered into His ears.
8. Ver. 7. And the earth was moved and trembled. When the Son of Man was thus glorified, sinners were moved and trembled. And the foundations of the mountains were troubled. And the hopes of the proud, which were in this life, were troubled. And were moved, for God was wroth with them. That is, that the hope of temporal goods might have now no more establishment in the hearts of men.
9. Ver. 8. There went up smoke in His wrath.
tearful supplication of penitents went up, when they came to
The
I
I
I is,
I
6. 5. 4.
a l
it, I
Psalm
118 God, though above knowledge, dwells with His own in love.
know God's threatenings against the ungodly. And fire ' burnetil from His face. And the ardour of love after repentance burns by the knowledge of Him. Coals were kindledfrom Him. They, who were already dead, abandoned by the fire of good desire and the light of righteousness, and who remained in coldness and darkness, re-enkindled and
enlightened, have come to life again.
1 0. Ver. 9. And He bowed the heaven, and came down. And
He humbled the just One, that He might descend to men's infirmity. And darkness under His feet. And the ungodly, who savour of things earthly, in the darkness of their own malice, knew not Him: for the earth under His feet is as it were His footstool.
11. Ver. 10. And He mounted above the cherubim, and did fly. And He was exalted above the fulness of knowledge,
Rom. 13,that no man should come to Him but by love: for love is the fulfilling of the law. And full soon He shewed to His lovers that He is incomprehensible, lest they should suppose that He is comprehended by corporeal imagina tions. He flew above the wings of the winds.
Johnn,For they said, Ifwe let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him ; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation. They feared to lose an earthly king dom, where no fear was; and they lost the kingdom of heaven, which they ought to have feared. And this must be understood of all temporal goods, the loss of which when men fear, they come not to things eternal.
7. For God is in the just* generation. [It refers to what went before, so that the sense is, ' shall not all they that work iniquity know that the Lord is in the just generation;'] that is, He is not in them who love the world. For it is unjust
Rom. l, to leave the Maker of the worlds, and serve the creature more than the Creator. (Ver. 6. ) Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, for the Lord is his hope : that is, ye have despised the humble coming of the Son of God, because ye saw not in Him the pomp of the world : that they, whom He was calling, should put their hope in God alone, not in the things
that pass away.
* The words in brackets are from the Oxford Mss.
Salvation in Christ alone. His life on earth our Tent in war.
8. Ver. 7. Who^will give salvation to Israel out of Sion ? Ver. 7. Who but He Whose humiliation ye have despised ? is under
stood. For He will come in glory to the judgment of the quick
and the dead, and the kingdom of the just : that, forasmuch as
in that humble coming blindness hath happened in part unto Rom. ll, Israel, that the fulness of the Gentiles might enter in, in
that other should happen what follows, and so all Israel
should be saved. For the Apostle too takes that testimony
of Isaiah, where it is said, There shall come out of Sion Hels. 59, Who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob : for the Jews, 20
as it is here, Who shall give salvation to Israel out of Sion ? When the Lord shall turn away the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. It is a repetition, as is usual : for I suppose, Israel shall be glad, is
Lat. xiV.
tation yet when tabernacle taken in its proper meaning, thing of war. Hence soldiers are called tent. fellows, contu- as having their tents together. This sense assisted by the J^TM"
words, Who shall sojourn For we war with the devil for time, and then we need tabernacle wherein we may refresh ourselves. Which specially points out the faith of the
1. Touching this title there is no question. (Ver. Lord, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle Although tabernacle be sometimes used even for an everlasting habi
which was wrought for us in time through the Incarnation of the Lord. And who shall rest in Thy holy mountain Here perhaps he signifies at
once the eternal habitation itself, that we should understand
by mountain the superemineuce of the love of Christ in life2Cor. 5,
eternal.
2. Ver. 2. He who walketh without stain, and worketh
righteousness. Here He has laid down the proposition in what follows he sets forth in detail.
3. Who speaketh the truth in his heart. For some have truth on their lips, and not in their heart. As one should
temporal Dispensation,
109
the same as, Jacob shall rejoice.
PSALM XV.
A Psalm of David himself .
it
;
?
is
is
if ?
a
?
it is a:
0
a 1. )
110 Truth in heart is of those who see that sin rests on nothing.
Psalm deceitfully point out a road, knowing tha^there were robbers ? there, and should say, If you go this way, you will be safe from robbers ; and it should turn out that in fact there were no robbers found there : he has spoken the truth, but not in
his heart. For he supposed it to be otherwise, and spoke the truth in ignorance. Therefore it is not enough to speak the truth, unless it be so also in heart, (Ver. Who hath
practised no deceit in his tongue.
the tongue, when one thing
another concealed in the breast.
bour. It well known that by neighbour, every man should be understood. And hath not entertained slander against his neighbour, that is, hath not readily or rashly given credence to an accuser.
4. Ver. 4. The malicious one hath been brought to nought in his sight. This perfection, that the malicious one have no force against man and that this be in his sight that is, that he know most surely that the malicious not,
save when the mind turns itself away from the eternal and specie, immutable form1 of her own Creator to the form of the Ps. in, creature, which was made out of nothing. But those that fear the Lord, He glorifieth the Lord Himself, that is. Ecclus. Now the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As then the things above belong to the perfect, so what he now
5. Who sweareth unto his neighbour, and deceiveth him not. (Ver. 5. ) Who hath not given his money upon usury, and hath not taken rewards against the innocent. These are no great things but he who not able to do even this, much less able he to speak the truth in his heart, and to practise no deceit in his tongue, but as the truth in the heart, so to profess and have in his mouth, yea, yea; nay, nay and to do no evil to his neighbour, that is, to any man and to entertain no slander against his neighbour all which are the virtues of the perfect, in whose sight the malicious one hath been brought to nought. Yet he concludes even these lesser things thus, Whoso doeth these things shall not be
moved for ever that he shall attain unto those greater things, wherein great and unshaken stability. For even the very tenses are, perhaps not without cause, so varied, as
Deceit practised with professed with the mouth,
Nor done evil to his neigh
Prov'
going to say belongs to beginners.
Matt.
is : is,
is
5, ;
:
is
is
3. )
;
it
is
:
is ;
:
7.
1
1
is
is
;
a
is
is
The Saints in God's earth new men in Christ their Head. 1 1 1
that in the conclusion above the past tense should be used, Ver.
but in this the future. For there it was said, The malicious one hath been brought to nought in his sight : but here, shall not be moved for ever.
--
Lat. XV.
PSALM XVI.
The inscription of the title, of David himself.
1. Our King in this Psalm speaks in the character of the
human1 nature He assumed, of Whom the royal title at thelsusceP- ,? . . , . . tionis
time of His passion was eminently set forth. huma- 2. Now He saith as follows; (ver. 1. ) Preserve me, O Lord,n<p.
for in Thee have I hoped: (ver. 2. ) / have said to the Lord, Thou art my God, for Thou requirest not my goods : for
with my goods Thou dost not look to be made blessed.
3. Ver. 3. To the saints who are on His earth: to the saints who have placed their hope in the land of the living,
the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, whose spiritual conversation is, by the anchor of hope, fixed in that country, which is rightly called God's earth ; although as yet in this earth too they be conversant in the flesh. He hath wonder fully fulfilled all My wishes in them. To those saints then He hath wonderfully fulfilled all My wishes in their ad vancement, whereby they have perceived, how both the humanity of My divinity hath profited them that I might die, and the divinity of the humanity that I might rise again.
4. Ver. 4. Their infirmities have been multiplied: thcirSoOxf. infirmities have been multiplied not for their destruction, but
that they might long for the Physician.
made haste. Accordingly after infirmities
made haste, that they might be healed. / will not gather together their assemblies by blood. For their assemblies
shall not be carnal, nor will I gather them together as oneIsl,H.
be propitiated by the blood of cattle. Nor will I mindful
of their names within My lips. But by a spiritual change what they have been shall be forgotten; nor by Me shall they be any more called either sinners, or enemies, or men ; but righteous, and My brethren, and Sons of God through My peace.
Afterwards they multiplied they
1 ] 2 God Christs portion in His Saints. His human experience.
Psalm 5. Ver. 5. The Lord is the portion of Mine inheritance,
XVI. and of My cup. For together with Me they shall possess the inheritance, the Lord Himself. Let others choose for
themselves portions, earthly and temporal, to enjoy : the portion of the Saints is the Lord eternal. Let others drink of deadly pleasures, the portion of My cup is the Lord. In that I say, Mine, I include the Church : for where the Head is, there is the body also. For into the inheritance will I gather together their assemblies, and by the inebriation of the cup I will forget their old names. Thou art He who will restore to Me My inheritance: that toIthese too, whom
was with before the world was made. For Thou wilt not restore to Me that which I never lost, but Thou wilt restore to these, who have lost the knowledge of that glory in whom
because am, Thou wilt restore to Me.
6. Ver. 6. The lines have fallen to me in glorious places.
The boundaries of my possession have fallen in Thy glory Numb. as were lot, like as God the possession of the Priests ' and Levites. For Mine inheritance glorious to Me.
For Mine inheritance glorious, not to all, but to them that see; in whom because am, to Me.
7. Ver. 7. will bless the Lord, Who hath given Me understanding whereby this inheritance may be seen and possessed. Yea moreover too even unto night my reins have chastened Me. Yea besides understanding, even unto death, My inferior part, the assumption of flesh, hath instructed Me, that might experience the darkness of mortality, which that understanding hath not.
8. Ver. 8. foresaw the Lord in My sight always. But coming into things that pass away, removed not Mine eye from Him Who abide th ever, foreseeing this, that to Him
should return after passing through the things temporal. For He on My right hand, that should not be moved. For He favoureth Me, that should abide fixedly in Him.
Ver. 9. Wherefore My heart was glad, and My tongue exulted. Wherefore both in My thoughts gladness, and in my words exultation. Moreover too Myflesh shall rest in hope. Moreover too My flesh shall not fail unto de struction, but shall sleep in hope of the resurrection.
Johni7, 1 free, may be known the glory wherein Thee
I 9.
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it is
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:
Christ raised up, blessed, and glorified in His Saints. 113
10. Ver. 10. For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell. Ver. io. For Thou will neither give My soul for a possession to those
parts below. Neither wilt Thou grant Thine Holy One to
see corruption. Neither wilt Thou suffer that sanctified body, whereby others are to be also sanctified, to see
Thou hast made known to Me the paths of life. Thou hast made known through Me the
paths of humiliation, that1 men might return to life, from'Oxf. whence they fell through pride; in whom because I am,,thatby
Thou hast made known to Me. Thou wilt fill Me with joy "' with Thy countenance. Thou wilt fill them with joy, that they should seek nothing further, when they shall see Thee
face to face ; in whom because I am, Thou wilt fill Me. Pleasure is at Thy right hand even to the end. Pleasure is in Thy favour and mercy in this life's journey, leading on even to the end of the glory of Thy countenance.
corruption. (Ver. 11. )
PSALM XVII. Aprayer ofDavid himself.
Lat. XVI.
1. This prayer must be assigned to the Person of the Lord, with the addition of the Church, which is His body.
2. Ver. 1. Hear My righteousness, O God, consider My
Hearken unto My prayer, not in deceitful lips: not going forth to Thee in deceitful lips. (Ver. 2. ) Let
My judgment from Thy countenance go forth.
From the en lightening of the knowledge of Thee, let Me judge truth. Or at least, let My judgment go forth, not in deceitful lips, from Thy countenance, that is, that I may not in judging utter aught else than I understand in Thee. Let Mine eyes see equity : the eyes, of course, of the heart.
3. Ver. 3. Thou hast proved and visited Mine heart in the
supplication.
For this Mine heart hath been proved by the visitation of tribulation. Thou hast examined Me by fire, and iniquity hath not been found in Me. Now not night
only, in that it is wont to disturb, but fire also, in that it burns, is this tribulation to be called ; whereby when I was examined I was found righteous.
i
night-season.
114 Christ in the Church prays for grace and protection.
Psalm 4. That My mouth may not speak (ver. 4. ) the works of xVn. men. That nothing may proceed out of My mouth, but what relates to Thy glory and praise ; not to the works of men,
whereby she arrives at Thy rest. That Myfootsteps be not moved. That the signs of My way, which, like footsteps, have been imprinted on the Sacraments and Apostolical
which they do beside Thy will. Because of the words See on of Thy lips. Because of the words of Thy peace, or of Thy
' prophets. / have kept hard ways. I have kept the toilsome word of ways of human mortality and suffering.
fheTik 5. Ver. 5. To perfect My steps in Thy paths. That the ofgrace. '}ove of tne Church might be perfected in the strait ways,
? Pthe8'2
be not moved, that they may mark them who would follow Me. Or at least, that I may still abide fixedly in eternity, after that I have accomplished the hard ways, and have finished My steps in the straits of Thy paths.
writings,
/
hast heard Me when praying more weakly. Incline Thine ear to Me, and hear My words. Let not Thy hearing forsake My humiliation.
7. Ver. 7. Make Thy mercies marvellous. Let not Thy mercies be disesteemed, lest they be loved too little.
8. Who savest them that hope in Thee from such as resist Thy right hand: from such as resist the favour, whereby Thou favourest Me. (Ver. 8. ) Keep Me, O Lord, as the
apple of Thine eye: which seems very little and minute: yet by it is the sight of the eye directed, whereby the light is distinguished from the darkness ; as by Christ's humanity,
,al. <<thethe divinity of the Judgment1 distinguishing between the ment of righteous and sinners. In the covering of Thy toings protect
jtfe. ln the defence of Thy love and mercy protect Me. _ (Ver. 9. ) From the face of the ungodly who have troubled Me. 9. Mine enemies have compassed about My soul ; (ver. 10. )
they have shut up their own fat. They have been covered with their own gross joy, after that their desire hath been satiated with wickedness. Their mouth hath spoken pride.
Mat. 27,And therefore their mouth spoke pride, in saying, Hail, King ofthe Jews, and other like words.
God-
Thou hast heard Me, O God. With a free and strong effort have I directed My prayers unto Thee : for that I might have this power, Thou
6. Ver 6.
have cried out,
for
Christ compassed by enemies to their own confusion. 1 15
10. Ver. 11. Casting Me forth they have now compassed Ver. Me about. Casting Me forth outside the city, they have
now compassed Me about on the Cross. Their eyes they
have determined to turn down on the earth. The bent
of their heart they have determined to turn down on these earthly things : deeming Him, Who was slain, to endure a mighty evil, and themselves, that slew Him, none.
11. Ver. 12. As a lion ready for prey, have they taken Me.
They have taken Me, like that adversary who walketh about, i Pet 5, seeking whom he may devour. And as a lion's whelp dwell
ing in secret places. And as his whelp, the people to whom
it was said, Ye are of your father the devil: meditating John 8, on the snares, whereby they might circumvent and destroy 4 4' the just One.
12. Ver. 13. Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down. Arise, O Lord, Thou Whom they suppose to be asleep, and regardless of men's iniquities ; be they blinded before by their own malice, that vengeance may prevent their deed ; and so cast them down.
13. Deliver My soul from the ungodly. Deliver My soul, by restoring Me after the death, which the ungodly have inflicted on Me. Thy weapon (ver. 14. ) from the enemies of Thine hand. For My soul is Thy weapon, which Thy hand, that is, Thy eternal Power, hath taken to subdue thereby the
of iniquity, and divide the righteous from the ungodly. This weapon then deliver from the enemies of Thine
kingdoms
of Thy Power, that from Mine enemies. Lord, from off the earth, scatter them in Lord, destroy them from off the earth, which they inhabit, scatter them throughout the world in
this life, which only they think their life, who1 despair of Hfe'aL'be- eternal. And Thy hidden things their belly hath been^^'
hand, that Destroy them,
their life.
Now not only this visible punishment shall overtake them, but also their memory hath been filled with sins, which as darkness are hidden from the light of Thy truth, that they should forget God. They have been filled with swine's
They have been filled with uncleanness, treading
under foot the pearls of God's words. And they have left
the rest to their babes: crying out, This sin be upon us and Mat. 27, upon our children.
filled.
flesh.
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secun- minem.
1 6 Good and evil satisfying. Names of David and Saul.
14. Ver. 15. But I shall appear in Thy righteousness in Thy sight. But I, Who have not appeared to them that, with
their filthy and darkened heart, can not see the light of wisdom, shall appear in Thy righteousness in Thy sight.
I
And when they have been satiated with their uncleanness, that they could not know Me, I shall be satiated, when Thy glory shall be manifested, in them that know Me. In that verse indeed where it is said, filled rnith swine's flesh, some copies have, filled with children : for from the ambiguity of the Greek* a double interpretation has resulted. Now by children we understand works; and as by good children, good works, so by, evil evil.
PSALM XVIII.
To the end, for the servant of the Lord, David himself.
That is, for the strong of hand, Christ in His Man- hood. The words of this song which he spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him out of the hands of his enemies, and of the hand of Saul ; and he said, On the day when the Lord delivered him out of the hands of his enemies and of the hand of Saul: namely, the king of the Jews,
shall be satiated, when Thy
glory
shall be
manifested.
iSam. 8, whom they had demanded for themselves. For as David is said to be by interpretation, strong of hand ; so Saul, is said to be demanding. Now it is well known, how that People demanded for themselves a king, and received him for their king, not according to the will of God, but according to their
own will.
2. Christ, then, and the Church, that is, whole Christ, the
Head and the Body, saith here, (ver. will love Thee, Lord, My strength. will love Thee, Lord, by Whom
am strong.
3. Ver. 2. Lord, My stay, and My refuge, and My
deliverer. Lord, Who hast stayed Me, because
refuge with Thee and sought refuge, because Thou hast delivered Me. My God is My helper and will hope in Him. My God, Who hast first afforded me the help of Thy
tISt, bii, iii>>. Var. readings. Ben.
sought
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:
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Christ, in His Church, finds God a sure Helper. 117
call, that I might be able to hope in Thee. My defender, Ver. and the horn of My salvation, and My redeemer. My de- l -- ' fender, because I have not leant upon Myself, lifting up as it
were the horn of pride against Thee ; but have found Thee
a horn indeed, that is, the sure height of salvation : and that I might find Thou redeemedst Me.
Ver. 3. With praise will call upon the Lord, and shall be safe from Mine enemies. Seeking not My own but the Lord's glory, will call upon Him, and there shall
be no means whereby the errors of ungodliness can hurt Me. Ver. 4. The pains of death, that of the flesh, have compassed Me about. And the overflowings of ungodliness
have troubled Me. Ungodly troubles1 stirred up for time, or like torrents of rain which will soon subside, have come on,c^owds? , to trouble Me.
Ver. 5. The pains ofhell compassed Me about. Among those that compassed Me about to destroy Me, were pains of envy, which work death, and lead on to the hell of sin. The snares ofdeath prevented Me. They prevented Me, so that they wished to hurt Me first, which shall afterwards be re compensed unto them. Now they seize unto destruction such men as they have evilly persuaded by the boast of righteous ness: in the name but not in the reality of which they glory against the Gentiles.
7. Ver. 6. And in Mine oppression called upon the Lord, and cried unto My God. And He heard My voice from His holy temple. He heard from My heart, wherein He dwelleth, My voice. And My cry in His sight entered
into His ears; and My cry, which utter, not in the ears of men but inwardly before Him Himself, entered into His ears.
8. Ver. 7. And the earth was moved and trembled. When the Son of Man was thus glorified, sinners were moved and trembled. And the foundations of the mountains were troubled. And the hopes of the proud, which were in this life, were troubled. And were moved, for God was wroth with them. That is, that the hope of temporal goods might have now no more establishment in the hearts of men.
9. Ver. 8. There went up smoke in His wrath.
tearful supplication of penitents went up, when they came to
The
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Psalm
118 God, though above knowledge, dwells with His own in love.
know God's threatenings against the ungodly. And fire ' burnetil from His face. And the ardour of love after repentance burns by the knowledge of Him. Coals were kindledfrom Him. They, who were already dead, abandoned by the fire of good desire and the light of righteousness, and who remained in coldness and darkness, re-enkindled and
enlightened, have come to life again.
1 0. Ver. 9. And He bowed the heaven, and came down. And
He humbled the just One, that He might descend to men's infirmity. And darkness under His feet. And the ungodly, who savour of things earthly, in the darkness of their own malice, knew not Him: for the earth under His feet is as it were His footstool.
11. Ver. 10. And He mounted above the cherubim, and did fly. And He was exalted above the fulness of knowledge,
Rom. 13,that no man should come to Him but by love: for love is the fulfilling of the law. And full soon He shewed to His lovers that He is incomprehensible, lest they should suppose that He is comprehended by corporeal imagina tions. He flew above the wings of the winds.
