Not Israel
according
to the flesh, of which
he saith, Behold Israel after the flesh.
he saith, Behold Israel after the flesh.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v4
Yet although the properly of the one true God, instead of the greatest and highest benefits, they used to ask Him for carnal, earthly, temporal things.
We find that they were also often called sons, not by that grace which belongs to the New Testament, but by that of the Old, the grace by which He chose Abraham, and from his flesh raised up so great a nation, by which before they were yet born he loved Jacob but hated Esau, by which He freed them from Egypt, by which He cast out the nations, and brought them into the land of promise.
For if this also" were not grace, it certainly
am always by
John 1, would not presently be said of us, who have power given us to become sons of God, not for the sake of obtaining an earthly but an heavenly kingdom, in the same Gospel, that we have received grace for grace, that for the promises of the Old Testament the promises of the New Testament. think then that clear in what synagogue of gods God stood.
2. The next question is, whether we should understand the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit, or the Trinity, to have stood among the congregation gods, and in the midst to distinguish the gods because Each One God, and the Trinity Itself One God. It not indeed easy to make this clear, because cannot be denied that not bodily but spiritual presence of God, agreeable to His nature, exists widi created things in wonderful manner, and one which but few
e. the Old Testament adoption, as well as the New.
? i.
it is
a it
a
a
I
a
is
;
is
of
is
is,
God's presence universal. Christ's, as Man, special. 135
do understand, and that imperfectly : as to God it is said, IfI Ver.
shall ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I shall qo down -- Ps. 139 '
into hell, Thou art there also. Hence it is rightly said, that 8. God stands in the congregation of men invisibly, as He fills heaven and earth, which He asserts of Himself by the Pro- Jer. 23, phet's mouth; and He is not only said, but is, in a way, 24. known to stand in those things which He hath created, as
far as the human mind can conceive, if man also stands and hears Him, and rejoices greatly on account of His voice within. But I think that the Psalm intimates something that took place at a particular time, by God's standing in the con gregation of gods. For that standing by which He fills heaven and earth, neither belongs peculiarly to the synagogue, nor varies from time to time. God, therefore, stood inIthe
congregation of gods; that is, He Who said of Himself,
not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
cause too is mentioned ; but in the midst, to judge of the
gods. I acknowledge that God stood in the congregation of
gods, of those whose are the fathers, and from whom ac-Rom. 9, cording to the flesh Christ came. For in order that He6' might stand in the congregation of gods, on that account Rom. l, He was of them according to the flesh. But what is God? J'
Not such as those gods in whose synagogue of gods He
stood : but as the Apostle continues, Who is over all, God
blessed for ever. I acknowledge, I say, that He stood ;
I acknowledge God the Bridegroom in the midst ? , of Whom
one who was His friend said, He standeth in the midst of you, John l, Whom ye know not. For they are those of whom a little
after it is said in the Psalm, Theg did not know, neither did
they understand, they walk on in darkness. The Apostle
also bears witness, That blindness hath in part happened^0"*-
'
His grace, of the same lump making some vessels for honour Rom. 9,
unto Israel, that the fulness of the Gentiles might come in.
For they saw Him when He stood in the midst of them ; but
they did not see Him to be God, as He wished to be seen,
Who said, He who hath seen Me hath seen the Father also. Johnl4, He distinguishes the gods, not by their own merits, but by 9
and others for dishonour. For who distinguishelh
What hast thou that thou hast not received? But if thou 7.
* Oxf. Mss. ' in the midst of the gods. '
am Mat. 16, The24,
'/'ee? iCor4
136 The Jews called on to give just judgment for Christ.
Psalm hast received it, why boastest thou as if thou hast not re- cetvedf
3. Hear now the voice of God decreeing, hear the voice Ps. 29,7. of the Lord dividing the flames of fire: (ver. 2. ) How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of the Ps. 4, 2. ungodly ; as in another place, How long are ye heavy in heart ? Until He shall come Who is the light of the heart ?
I have given a law, ye have resisted stubbornly: I sent Prophets, ye treated them unjustly, or slew them, or con nived at those who did so. But if they are not worthy to be even spoken to, who slew the servants of God that were
sent to them, ye who were silent when these things were doing, that is, ye who would imitate as if they were innocent those who then were silent, how long will ye judge un righteously, and accept the persons of the ungodly ? If the Heir comes eveu now, is He to be slain ? Was He not willing for your sake to become as it were a child under guardians ? Did not He for your sake hunger and thirst like
Mat. 11,one in need ? Did He not cry to you, Learn of Me, for I
29Cor 8,9.
ipupMo
am meek ana- lowly of heart? Did He not become poor, when He was rich, that by His poverty we might be made rich ?
Ver. 3. Give sentence, therefore,_/br the fatherless1 and the poor man, justify the humble and needy. Not them who for their own sake are rich and proud, but Him Who for your sake was humble and poor, believe ye to be righteous : pro
claim Him righteous.
4. But they w ill envy Him, and will not at all spare Him,
saying, " This is the Heir, come, let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours. "
Ver. 4. Deliver, then, the poor man, and save the needy from the hands ofthe ungodly. This is said that it might
be known, that in that nation where Christ was born and put to death, those persons were not guiltless of so great a crime, who being so numerous, that, as the Gospel says, the Jews feared them, and therefore dared not lay hands on Christ, afterwards consented, and permitted Him to be slain by the malicious and envious Jewish rulers: yet if they had so willed, they would still have been feared, so that the hands of the wicked would never have prevailed
Sin of connivance. ' Foundations of the earth' moved. 137
against Him. For of these it is said elsewhere, Dumb dogs, they know not how to bark. Of them too is that said, Lo, - how the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart. ^'
10'; 67, He perished1 as far as lay in them, who would have Him \-Qx{ to perish ; for how could He perish by dying, Who in that M>>s.
If then
5. To all of them, verily, what follows is most fitly suited: (ver. 5. ) They did not know nor understand, they walk
on in darkness. " For if even they had known, they would i Cor. never have crucified the Lord ofglory and those others, if2' 8.
they had known, would never have consented to ask that Barabbas should be freed, and Christ should be crucified.
But as the above-mentioned blindness happened in part
unto Israel until the fulness of the Genliles should come in,
this blindness of that People having caused the crucifixion
of Christ, all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
So have they been moved, and shall they be moved, until
the predestined fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. For
at the actual death of the Lord the earth was moved, and Mat. 27, the rocks rent. And if we understand by the foundations of61'
the earth those who are rich in the abundance of earthly possessions, it was truly foretold that they should be moved, either by wondering that lowliness, poverty, death, should be so loved and honoured in Christ, when it is to their mind great misery ; or even in that themselves should love and follow and set at nought the vain happiness of this world. So are all the foundations of the earth moved, while they partly admire, and partly are even altered. For as without absurdity we call foundations of heaven those on whom the kingdom of heaven built up in the persons of saints and faithful; whose first foundation Christ Himself, born of the
Virgin, of whom the Apostle says, Other foundation can no Cor. man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus; next11,
the Apostles and Prophets themselves, by whose authority the
way rather was seeking again what had perished ?
they are justly blamed and deservedly rebuked, who by their ' lieth-' dissembling suffered such a wicked deed to be committed ;
how must they be blamed, or rather not only blamed, but how severely must they be condemned, who did this of design
and malice ?
l 3,
is
is
it,
1 38 Lowliness of Christ the cure of earthly pride.
Psalm heavenly place is chosen', that by obeying them we may be
'^irTTui builded together with them ; whence he says to the Ephesians,
Eph. 2, Now are ye no longer strangers and sojourners, but ye are
19-
fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God, built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner stone, in Whom all the building
fitly joined together increases to a holy temple in the Lord; so it is not unsuitable to understand by the foundations of the world, those who by the envy which their superabundant possession of earthly happiness excites, lead men to lust after such enjoyments, and by acquiring them to be built together like earth upon earth, as in that building above like heaven
Gen. 3, upon heaven : since to the sinner it was said, Earth thou art,
Ps. 19 i- *'
and uni0 earth shall thou return ; and, The Heavens declare the glory of God, when their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the end of the world*.
6. But the kingdom of earthly happiness is pride, to oppose which came the lowliness of Christ, rebuking those whom He wished by lowliness to make the children of the Most High, and blaming them :
(ver. 6. )
/ said, Ye are gods, ye are all
the children of the Most High. (Ver. 7. ) But ye shall die like
men, and I like one the princes. Whether to those He
fall of
said, Ye are gods, and to those who particularly
said this,
are unpredestined to eternal life ; and to the other, 8fc. But ye shall die like men, Sgc. and shallfall like one of the princes, in this way also distinguishing the gods ; or whether He blames all together, in order to distinguish the obedient and those who received correction, I said, Ye are gods, and ye are all the children of the Most High : that is, to all of you I promised celestial happiness, but ye, through the infirmity of your flesh, shall die like men, and through haughtiness of soul, like one of the princes, that is, the devil, shall not be exalted, but shall
As if He said : Though the days of your life are so few, that ye speedily die like men, this avails not to your correction : but like the devil, whose days are many in this world, because he dies not in the flesh, ye are lifted up so that ye fall. For by devilish pride it came to pass that the perverse and blind rulers of the Jews envied the glory of Christ : by this will it
? This text being explained in the New Testament of the Apostles.
fall.
Christ risen 'judges the earth. ' Two ' Congregations' 189
came to pass, and still does, that the lowliness of Christ Vrr. crucified unto death is lightfy esteemed in the eyes of them 8- - who love the excellence of this world.
7. And therefore that this vice may be cured, in the person of the Prophet himself it is said, (ver. 8. ) Arise, 0 God, and judge the earth ; for the earth swelled high when it crucified
Thee: rise from the dead, and judge the earth. For Thou shall destroy among all nations. What, but the earth? that is, destroying those who savour of earthly things, or destroying the feeling itself of earthly lust and pride in believers ; or separating those who do not believe, as earth to be trodden under foot and to perish. Thus by His members, whose con versation is in heaven, He judges the earth, and destroys it among all nations. But 1 must not omit to remark, that some copies have, for Thou shall inherit among all nations. This too may be understood agreeably to the sense, nor does any thing prevent both meanings existing at once. His inheritance takes place by love, which in that He cultivates by His com mands and gracious mercy, He destroys earthly desires.
PSALM LXXXIII.
l^t;i
Of this Psalm the tide song of a Psalm of Asaph. We have already often said what the interpretation of Asaph, that is, congregation. That man, therefore, who was called Asaph, named in representation of the congregation of God's people in the titles of many Psalms. But in Greek, congregation called synagogue, which has come to be held for a kind of proper name for the Jewish people, that should be called The Synagogue; even as the Christian people
more usually called The Church, in that too congre gated.
2. The people of God, then, in this Psalm saith, (ver. I. ) God, who shall be like unto Thee Which suppose to be more fitly taken of Christ, because, being made in the
likeness of men, He was thought by those by whom He was Phil. despised to be comparable to other men for He was even reckoned among the unrighteous, but for this purpose, that u. 53,
12.
? :
is
7.
2,
O is
it I
is
it
is is
is, A
140 Christ, in this Psalm, addressed as God the Judge. Psalm He might be judged. But when He shall come to judge,
lxxxiii.
Ps. 46, the faithful can doubt was spoken unto Christ. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity ; therefore hath God, Thy God, anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. To Him therefore also now it is said, O God, who shall be like unto Thee ? For unto many Thou didst vouchsafe to be likened in Thy humiliation, even so far as to the robbers that were crucified with Thee : but when in glory Thou sbalt come, who shall be like unto Thee ? For what great thing is said, when it is said to God, " Who shall be like unto Thee? " unless it be said to Him, Who vouchsafed to be like men,
Phil. 2, taking unto Him the form of a servant, made in the '- likeness of men, and found in fashion as a man? And therefore he saith not, " Who is like unto Thee," which in fact would be right to say if it referred to the Godhead. But because it referred to the form of a servant, it is then His
unlikeness to other men will appear, when He shall appear in glory. Therefore it follows, Keep not silence, nor be restrained, O God. Because at first He was sileul, that He
Is. 63,7. might be judged; when like as a lamb before him that sheared him was dumb, so He opened not His mouth, and restrained His power. And that He might shew that He
g^all ^e done what is here said, O God, who is like unto Thee ? For if the Psalms did not use to speak to the Lord Christ, that too would not be spoken which not one of
John 18, was holding it back, upon that word of His when He said, /
G'
Is. 42, 14,
Ps. 60,3.
am He, they who were seeking Him that they might take Him, went backward, and fell. Would He therefore ever have fallen within their hands and suffered, unless He had held Himself back and restrained Himself, and in a manner made Himself mild ? For so also have some translated the word used here, neither be Thou restrained, O God, as to say, neither grow Thou mild, O God. Himself saith elsewhere, 1 was silent, shall I alway be silent ? To Whom it is here said, Keep not silence, of the Same it is said elsewhere, God shall come manifest, our God, and shall not keep silence. It is said here, Keep not silence. For He was silent, that He might be judged, when He came hidden;
Enemies of God's people to perish with Antichrist. 141
but He will not be silent, that He may judge, when He shall Vsn.
3- 5-
that hate Thee have lifted up the head. He seems to me
to signify the last days, when these things that are now repressed by fear are to break forth into free utterance, but
quite irrational, so that it should rather be called a sound,
than speech or discourse. They will not, therefore, then
begin to hate, but they that hate Thee will then lift up the
head. And not ' heads,' but head; since they are to come
even to that point, that they shall have that head, which <<s 2 These. lifted up above all that is called God, and that is worshipped ; 2, 4,
so that in him especially is to be fulfilled, He that exalteth LukeU, himself shall be abased; and when He to Whom it is said, n'
come manifest.
3. Ver. 2. For lo Thine enemies have sounded, and they
Keep not silence, nor grow mild, O God, shall slay him with the breath ofHis mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.
*. Ver. 3. Upon Thy people they have malignantly taken counsel. Or, as other copies have They have cunningly devised counsel, and have devised against Thy saints. In scorn this said. For how should they be able to hurt the nation or people of God, or His saints, who know how to say, If God be for us, who shall be against us
5. Ver. 4. They have said, Come, and let us destroy them from a nation. He"has put the singular number for the plural as said, Whose this cattle," even though the
question be of flock, and the meaning "these cattle. " Lastly, other copies have 'from nations,' where the translators have rather followed the sense than the word. Come, and lei us destroy them from a nation. This that sound whereby they sounded rather than spake, since they did vainly make noise with vain sayings. And let not be mentioned
the name of Israel any more. This others have expressed more plainly, and let there not be remembrance cf the name of Israel any more. Since, let be mentioned of the name,
2 Thess. 2' 8-
Rom 31-
nominis,) an unusual phrase in the Latin for rather customary to say, let the name be mentioned, {memoretur nomen;) but the sense the same.
For he who said, let be mentioned of the name, translated the Greek phrase. But Israel must here be understood in
(memoretur language
it
is
is
;
it is
a
it
it
is is
it,
a
of
:
it is
is
g
?
142 Conspiracy and divers names of Enemies.
Psalm fact of the seed of Abraham, to which the Apostle sailh, (j>>Tir1 Therefore ye are the seed of Abraham, according to the 29. promise heirs.
Not Israel according to the flesh, of which
he saith, Behold Israel after the flesh.
6. Ver. 5. Since they have imagined with one consent;
together against Thee have they disposed a testament: as though they could be the stronger. In fact, a testament is a name given in the Scriptures not only to that which is of no avail till the death of the testators, but every covenant and decree they used to call a testament. For Laban and
Gen. 3l, Jacob made a testament, which was certainly to have force
4i'
between the living; and such cases without number are read in the words of God.
7. Then he begins to make mention of the enemies of Christ, under certain proper names of nations ; the interpre tation of which names sufficiently indicates what he would have to be understood. For by such names are most suitably figured the enemies of the truth. Idumceans, for instance, are interpreted either ' men of blood,' or ' of earth. ' Ismaelites, are ' obedient to themselves,' and therefore not to God, but to themselves. Moab, ' from the father ;' which in a bad sense has no better explanation, than by considering it so
Gen. 19, connected with the actual history, that Lot, a father, by the 36. 37. illicit intercourse procured by his daughter, begat him;
since it was from that very circumstance he was so named, t Tim. 1, Good, however, was his father, but as the Law is good if one
H'
use it lawfully, not impurely and unlawfully. Hagarens, proselytes, that is strangers, by which name also are signified, among the enemies of God's people, not those who become citizens, but those who persevere in a foreign and alien mind, and when an opportunity of doing harm occurs, shew them selves. Gebal, " a vain valley," that humble in pretence. Amon, " an unquiet people," or " people of sadness. '' Amalech, " people licking;" whence elsewhere said,
Ps. 72,9. "and his enemies shall lick the earth. " The alien race, though by their very name in Latin, they sufficiently shew themselves to be aliens, and for this cause of course enemies, yet in the Hebrew are called Philistines, which explained,
falling from drink, as of persons made drunken by worldly luxury. Tyre in Hebrew called Sor; which whether be
is
it
is
it
a
is
a is,
The devil and his crew. Their names significant. 143
interpreted straitness or tribulation, must be taken in the case Ver. of these enemies of God's people in that sense, of which the -8~11, Apostle speaks, Tribulation and straitness on every soul o/Eom. 2, man that doeth evil. All these are thus enumerated in the Psalms: The tabernacles of the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moab
and the Hagarenes, Gebal,and Amon, and Amalech, and the Philistines with those who inhabit Tyre.
8. And as if to point out the cause why they are enemies of God's people, he adds, For Assur came with them. Now Assur
is often used figuratively for the devil, who works in the chil- Eph. 2, dren of disobedience, as in his own vessels, that they may 2- assail the people of God. They have holpen the children of
Lot, be saith : for all enemies, by the working in them of the
devil, their prince, have holpen the children of Lot, who is explained to mean one declining. But the apostate angels
are well explained as the children of declension, for by declining from truth they swerved to become followers of the
devil. These are they of whom the Apostle speaks; ' Ye Eph. 6,
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities 12, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places? Those in visible1 enemies are holpen then by unbelieving men, in 1 Oxf. whom they work in order to assail the people of God.
9. Now let us see what the prophetic spirit prays may fall sP'ri- upon them, rather foretelling than cursing.
Ver. 9. Do thou to them, he saith, as unto Madian and Sisera, as unto Jab in at the brook of Kishon.
Ver. 10. They perished at Endor, they became as the dung of Uie earth. All these, the history relates, were subdued and conquered by Israel, which then was the people of God: as was the case also with those whom he next mentions ;
Ver. 1 1. Make their princes like Oreb and Zeb, and Zebee
and Salmana. The meaning of these names is as follows : Madian is explained a perverted judgment: Sisera, shutting judges
8'
out of joy : Jabin, wise. But in these enemies conquered by4' God's people is to be understood that wise man of whom the Apostle speaketh, Where is the wise? where is the scribe ? 1 Cor. 1, where is the dispuler of this world? Oreb is dryness, Zeeb, 20- wolf, Zebee, a victim, namely of the wolf; for he too has his
victims; Salmana, shadow of commotion. All these agree
144 God s Temple attacked. Figures of His judgment.
Psalm to the evils which the people of God conquers by good. lxxxn- Moreover Kishon, the torrent in which they were conquered, is explained, their hardness. Endor, where they perished, is explained, the Fountain of generation, but of the carnal generation namely, to which they were given up, and there-
Luke20,fore perished, not heeding the regeneration which leadeth
36-
unto life, where they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage, for they shall die no more. Rightly then it is said of these ; they became as the dung of the earth, in that nothing was produced of them but fruitfulness of the earth. As then
all these were in figure conquered by the people of God, as figures, so he prays that those other enemies may be conquered in truth.
10. All their princes, (ver. 12. ) who said, Let us take to our selves the sanctuary of God in possession. This is that vain noise, with which, as said above, Thy enemies have made a murmuring. But what must be understood by the sanctuary of God, except the temple of God 1 as saith the Apostle :
For the temple of God is holy1, which temple ye are. For
1 Cor.
"'row- what else do the enemies aim at, but to take into possession,
tum'
that is, to make subject to themselves the temple of God, that it may give in to their ungodly wills ?
11. But what follows? (Ver. 13. ) My God, make them like unto a wheel. This is fitly taken as meaning that they should be constant in nothing that they think ; but I think it may also be rightly explained, make them like unto a wheel, because a wheel is lifted up on the part of what is behind? , is thrown down on the part of what is in front; and so it happens to all the enemies of the people of God. For this is not a wish, but a prophecy. He adds: as the stubble in the face of the wind. By face he means presence; for what face hath the wind, which has no bodily features, being only a motion, in that it is a kind ofwave ofair? But it is put for temptation, by which light and vain hearts are hurried away.
12. This levity, by which consent is easily given to what is evil, is followed by severe torment; therefore he proceeds:
Ver. 14. Like as the fire that burneth up the wood, and as the flame that consumeth the mountains: (ver. 15. ) so shall
Thou persecute them with Thy tempest, and in Thy anger ? Ex his que retro suut extollitur, ex his que ante sunt dejicitur.
Some of God's enemies made ashamed to their profit. 145
shall disturb them. Wood, he saith, for its barrenness, Ver.
mountains for their loftiness ; for such are the enemies of God's people, barren of righteousness, full of pride. When he says, fire and flame, he means to repeat under auother term, the idea of God judging and punishing. But in saying, with Thy tempest, he means, as he goes on to explain, Thy anger: and the former expression, Thou shall persecute, answers to, Thou sha/t disturb. We must take care, however, to understand, that the anger of God is free from any turbulent emotion: for His anger is an expression for His just method of taking vengeance : as the law might be said to be angry when its ministers are moved to punish by its sanction.
13. Ver. 16. Fill their faces with shame, and they shall seek
Thy name, O Lord. Good and desirable is this which he
prophesieth for them : and he would not prophesy thus, unless there were even in that company of the enemies of God's people, some men of such kind that this would be granted to them before the last judgment: for now they are mixed together, and this is the body of the enemies, in respect of the envy whereby they rival the people of God. And now, where they can, they make a noise and lift up their head : but severally, not universally as they will do at the end of the world, when the last judgment is about to fall. But it is the same body, even in those who out of this number shall believe and pass into another body, (for the faces of these are filled with shame, that they may seek the name of the Lord,) as well as in those others who persevere unto the end in the same wickedness, who are made as stubble before
the wind, and are consumed like a wood and barren moun tains. To these he again returns, saying, (ver. 17. ) They shall blush and be vexed for ever and ever. For those are not vexed for ever and ever who seek the name of the Lord, but having respect unto the shame of their sins, they are vexed for this purpose, that they may seek the name of the Lord, through which they may be no more vexed.
14. Again, he returns to these last, who in the same company of enemies are to be made ashamed for this purpose, that they may not be ashamed for ever : and for this purpose to be destroyed in as far as they are wicked, that being made good they may be found alive for ever. For having said of
VOL. IV. L
16' 17'
146 God alone is Lord. Spiritual ' winepresses. '
Psalm them, Let them be ashamed and perish, he instantly adds,
ijixxni.
Exod. Lord are not lords; as it is said, I Am thAt I Am: as if
' 14'
Gen. that is, man ceaseth, to whom was said, Thou art dust;
19. and, Why is earth and ashes proud? when he saith that the Ec'clus.
10, 9.
jg^ afKj ^ know that Thy name is the Lord, Thou art only the Most Highest in all the earth. Coming to this knowledge, let them be so confounded as to please God : let them so perish, as that they may abide. Let them
know, he says, that Thy name is the Lord: as if whoever else are called lords are named so not truly but by falsehood, for they rule but as servants, and compared with the true
those things which are made are not, compared with Him by Whom they are made. He adds, Thou only art the Most Highest in all the earth : or, as other copies have over all the earth; as might be said, in all the heaven, or over all the heaven but he used the latter word in preference, to depress the pride of earth. For earth ceaseth to be proud,
Lord the Most Highest above all the earth, that is, that no Hom. man's thoughts avail against those who are called according 28. 31. j0 jjfe pUrp0se^ an 0f whom said, If God is for us,
who can be against us?
PSALM LXXXIV.
This Psalm entitled, For the winepresses. And, as you observed with me, my beloved, (for saw that you attended most closely,) nothing said in its text either of any press, or wine-basket; or vat, or of any of the instruments or the build ing of winepress nothing of this kind did we hear read; so that no easy question what the meaning of this title inscribed upon for the winepresses. For certainly, after the title mentioned any thing about such things as
enumerated, carnal persons might have believed that was song concerning those visible winepresses but as has
this title, yet says nothing afterwards of those winepresses which we know so well, cannot doubt that there are other winepresses, which the Spirit of God intended us to look for and to understand here. Therefore, let us recall to mind what takes place in these visible winepresses, and see how
I
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3,
;
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if
it
is is
it
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it a
; it,
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Pressure brings out the wine. Sons of Core. 147
this takes place spiritually in the Church. The grape hangs Titlr. on the vines, and the olive on its trees, (for it is for these two
fruits that presses are usually made ready ;) aud as long as
they hang on their boughs, they seem to enjoy free air; and neither is the grape wine, nor the olive oil, before they
are pressed. Thus it is with men whom God predestined
before the world to be conformed to the image of His only- Rom. 8, begotten Son, Who has been first and especially pressed in29. His Passion, as the great Cluster. Men of this kind, there
fore, before they draw near to the service of God, enjoy in
the world a kind of delicious liberty, like hanging grapes or
olives : but as it is said, My son, when thou draicest near icEcclu*. the service of God, stand in judgment and fear, and make2' 1- thy soul ready for temptation : so each, as he draweth near
to the service of God, funic th that he is come to the wine
press ; he shall undergo tribulation, shall be crushed, shall
be pressed, not that he may perish in this world, but that he
may flow down into the storehouses of God. He hath the coverings of carnal desires stripped off from him, like grape-
skins : for this hath taken place in him in carnal desires, of
which the Apostle speaks, Put ye off the old man, and put Colos*. on the new man. All this is not done but by pressure: ? ph-. therefore the Churches of God of this time are called wine-22' presses.
2. But who are we who are placed in the winepresses
Sons of Core. For this follows For the winepresses, to the
sons of Core. The sons of Core has been explained, sons of
the bald as far as those could explain to us, who know
that language, according to their service due to God: and in
this do not deny that behold a great mystery, and by the
help of the Lord, would find out with you. For all bald
ness ought not to be mocked, as by the sons of wicked
ness but one mock at consecrated baldness, he torn
by demons. For Elisha too was walking, and senseless Kings
23'
children called after him, Baldhead, baldhead and to accomplish the figure, he turned and prayed the Lord that ib. 24. bears might come out of the wood and devour them. Their infancy was punished by death in this world they perished
as children, who would one day have perished in old age
but fear of the mystery was impressed on men. For Elisha
L -2
it
:
:
:
is
:I
:
if
it is
:? 2, 2
I
it
4"'
148 Pressure of this life teaches right thoughts of its good. Psalm bore the then character of One, whose sons we are, the sons
--:
Mat. 9, His sons, when He saith, The children of the Bridegroom lo' cannot fast, while the Bridegroom is with them. These
winepresses, then, are presses of Christians.
3. But being placed under pressure, we are crushed for
this purpose, that for our love by which we were borne towards those worldly, secular, temporal, unstable, and perishable things, having suffered in them, in this life, torments, and tribulations of pressures, and abundance of temptations, we
' may begin to seek that rest which is not of this life, nor of Ps. 9, 9. this earth; and the Lord becomes, as is written, a refuge
' of Core, namely, of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now it occurs to 1calvus. you, my beloved, out of the Gospel, why being bald1 he
bore the figure of Christ : ye remember that He was crucified, on Calvary. Whether then this be the meaning of Sons of
Core, as I have explained from what others tell me ; or whether there is any other sacred meaning unknown to us; meantime do ye behold what a fulness of sacred truths we meet with. Sons of Core, sons of Christ, for the Bridegroom speaketh of
l Tim. 6'
for the poor man. What is, for the poor man? For him who is, as it were, destitute, without aid, without help, without any thing on which he may rest, in earth. For to such poor men, God is present. For though men abound in money on earth, they think of what the Apostle saith, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches; and considering how uncertain that is in which they rejoiced before they drew near to the service of God, that is, before they entered into the wine presses, they see that from their very wealth, they either have the pressure of care, how it is to be managed, how guarded ;
or if they have a little given way to desire, so as to love they are filled more with fear than with enjoyment. For what so uncertain as rolling thing It not unfitly that money itself stamped round, because remains not still. Such men, therefore, though they have something, are yet poor. But those who have none of this wealth, but only desire are counted also among rich men who will be
rejected; for God takes account not of power, but of will. The poor then are destitute of all this world's substance, for even though abounds around them, they know how fleeting
it
is it,
is
a
?
it is
it,
Impatience condemned in Holy Scripture. 149
it is; and crying unto God, having nothing in this world Title. with which they may delight themselves, and be held down, placed in abundant pressures and temptations, as if in wine presses, they flow down, having become oil or wine. What
are these latter but good desires ? For God remains their only object of desire ; now they love not earth. For they love Him Who made heaven and earth; they love Him, and are not yet with Him. Their desire is delayed, in order that it may increase ; it increases, in order that it may receive. For it is not any little thing that God will give to him who desires, nor does he need to be little exercised to be made fit to receive so great a good : not any thing which He hath made will God give, but Himself Who made all things. Exercise thyself to receive God : that which thou shalt have for ever, desire thou for a long time. In the people of Israel, those were rejected who were hasty : continually in Scripture this temper of haste is blamed. For who are they
who make haste ! Those who, having turned to God, when they did not find here that rest which they were seeking, and those joys which were promised them, as if fainting by the way and thinking some long time remained before they should have done with this world or with this life, and seeking here some rest, which, if it is enjoyed, is false, they look back, and fall from their purpose : and forget that terrible saying,
Remember Lots wife. For why was she made a pillar ofLukei7, salt, if she seasons not men to make them wise1? Therefore ? ? -ut her bad example, if thou take care, becomes good to thee, sapiant. ? Remember , he saith, Lot's wife: for she looked back, whence Gen. 19, she had been set free, to Sodom, and there remained where26'
she looked back ; herself to remain on that spot, to season
others who should pass. Therefore being freed from the Sodom of our past life, let us not look back: for this is to be
in haste, not to wait for what God hath promised because it
is far ofl-, and to look back to that which is near, whence thou
hast been once set free. Of such what saith the Apostle
Peter?
am always by
John 1, would not presently be said of us, who have power given us to become sons of God, not for the sake of obtaining an earthly but an heavenly kingdom, in the same Gospel, that we have received grace for grace, that for the promises of the Old Testament the promises of the New Testament. think then that clear in what synagogue of gods God stood.
2. The next question is, whether we should understand the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit, or the Trinity, to have stood among the congregation gods, and in the midst to distinguish the gods because Each One God, and the Trinity Itself One God. It not indeed easy to make this clear, because cannot be denied that not bodily but spiritual presence of God, agreeable to His nature, exists widi created things in wonderful manner, and one which but few
e. the Old Testament adoption, as well as the New.
? i.
it is
a it
a
a
I
a
is
;
is
of
is
is,
God's presence universal. Christ's, as Man, special. 135
do understand, and that imperfectly : as to God it is said, IfI Ver.
shall ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I shall qo down -- Ps. 139 '
into hell, Thou art there also. Hence it is rightly said, that 8. God stands in the congregation of men invisibly, as He fills heaven and earth, which He asserts of Himself by the Pro- Jer. 23, phet's mouth; and He is not only said, but is, in a way, 24. known to stand in those things which He hath created, as
far as the human mind can conceive, if man also stands and hears Him, and rejoices greatly on account of His voice within. But I think that the Psalm intimates something that took place at a particular time, by God's standing in the con gregation of gods. For that standing by which He fills heaven and earth, neither belongs peculiarly to the synagogue, nor varies from time to time. God, therefore, stood inIthe
congregation of gods; that is, He Who said of Himself,
not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
cause too is mentioned ; but in the midst, to judge of the
gods. I acknowledge that God stood in the congregation of
gods, of those whose are the fathers, and from whom ac-Rom. 9, cording to the flesh Christ came. For in order that He6' might stand in the congregation of gods, on that account Rom. l, He was of them according to the flesh. But what is God? J'
Not such as those gods in whose synagogue of gods He
stood : but as the Apostle continues, Who is over all, God
blessed for ever. I acknowledge, I say, that He stood ;
I acknowledge God the Bridegroom in the midst ? , of Whom
one who was His friend said, He standeth in the midst of you, John l, Whom ye know not. For they are those of whom a little
after it is said in the Psalm, Theg did not know, neither did
they understand, they walk on in darkness. The Apostle
also bears witness, That blindness hath in part happened^0"*-
'
His grace, of the same lump making some vessels for honour Rom. 9,
unto Israel, that the fulness of the Gentiles might come in.
For they saw Him when He stood in the midst of them ; but
they did not see Him to be God, as He wished to be seen,
Who said, He who hath seen Me hath seen the Father also. Johnl4, He distinguishes the gods, not by their own merits, but by 9
and others for dishonour. For who distinguishelh
What hast thou that thou hast not received? But if thou 7.
* Oxf. Mss. ' in the midst of the gods. '
am Mat. 16, The24,
'/'ee? iCor4
136 The Jews called on to give just judgment for Christ.
Psalm hast received it, why boastest thou as if thou hast not re- cetvedf
3. Hear now the voice of God decreeing, hear the voice Ps. 29,7. of the Lord dividing the flames of fire: (ver. 2. ) How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of the Ps. 4, 2. ungodly ; as in another place, How long are ye heavy in heart ? Until He shall come Who is the light of the heart ?
I have given a law, ye have resisted stubbornly: I sent Prophets, ye treated them unjustly, or slew them, or con nived at those who did so. But if they are not worthy to be even spoken to, who slew the servants of God that were
sent to them, ye who were silent when these things were doing, that is, ye who would imitate as if they were innocent those who then were silent, how long will ye judge un righteously, and accept the persons of the ungodly ? If the Heir comes eveu now, is He to be slain ? Was He not willing for your sake to become as it were a child under guardians ? Did not He for your sake hunger and thirst like
Mat. 11,one in need ? Did He not cry to you, Learn of Me, for I
29Cor 8,9.
ipupMo
am meek ana- lowly of heart? Did He not become poor, when He was rich, that by His poverty we might be made rich ?
Ver. 3. Give sentence, therefore,_/br the fatherless1 and the poor man, justify the humble and needy. Not them who for their own sake are rich and proud, but Him Who for your sake was humble and poor, believe ye to be righteous : pro
claim Him righteous.
4. But they w ill envy Him, and will not at all spare Him,
saying, " This is the Heir, come, let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours. "
Ver. 4. Deliver, then, the poor man, and save the needy from the hands ofthe ungodly. This is said that it might
be known, that in that nation where Christ was born and put to death, those persons were not guiltless of so great a crime, who being so numerous, that, as the Gospel says, the Jews feared them, and therefore dared not lay hands on Christ, afterwards consented, and permitted Him to be slain by the malicious and envious Jewish rulers: yet if they had so willed, they would still have been feared, so that the hands of the wicked would never have prevailed
Sin of connivance. ' Foundations of the earth' moved. 137
against Him. For of these it is said elsewhere, Dumb dogs, they know not how to bark. Of them too is that said, Lo, - how the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart. ^'
10'; 67, He perished1 as far as lay in them, who would have Him \-Qx{ to perish ; for how could He perish by dying, Who in that M>>s.
If then
5. To all of them, verily, what follows is most fitly suited: (ver. 5. ) They did not know nor understand, they walk
on in darkness. " For if even they had known, they would i Cor. never have crucified the Lord ofglory and those others, if2' 8.
they had known, would never have consented to ask that Barabbas should be freed, and Christ should be crucified.
But as the above-mentioned blindness happened in part
unto Israel until the fulness of the Genliles should come in,
this blindness of that People having caused the crucifixion
of Christ, all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
So have they been moved, and shall they be moved, until
the predestined fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. For
at the actual death of the Lord the earth was moved, and Mat. 27, the rocks rent. And if we understand by the foundations of61'
the earth those who are rich in the abundance of earthly possessions, it was truly foretold that they should be moved, either by wondering that lowliness, poverty, death, should be so loved and honoured in Christ, when it is to their mind great misery ; or even in that themselves should love and follow and set at nought the vain happiness of this world. So are all the foundations of the earth moved, while they partly admire, and partly are even altered. For as without absurdity we call foundations of heaven those on whom the kingdom of heaven built up in the persons of saints and faithful; whose first foundation Christ Himself, born of the
Virgin, of whom the Apostle says, Other foundation can no Cor. man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus; next11,
the Apostles and Prophets themselves, by whose authority the
way rather was seeking again what had perished ?
they are justly blamed and deservedly rebuked, who by their ' lieth-' dissembling suffered such a wicked deed to be committed ;
how must they be blamed, or rather not only blamed, but how severely must they be condemned, who did this of design
and malice ?
l 3,
is
is
it,
1 38 Lowliness of Christ the cure of earthly pride.
Psalm heavenly place is chosen', that by obeying them we may be
'^irTTui builded together with them ; whence he says to the Ephesians,
Eph. 2, Now are ye no longer strangers and sojourners, but ye are
19-
fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God, built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner stone, in Whom all the building
fitly joined together increases to a holy temple in the Lord; so it is not unsuitable to understand by the foundations of the world, those who by the envy which their superabundant possession of earthly happiness excites, lead men to lust after such enjoyments, and by acquiring them to be built together like earth upon earth, as in that building above like heaven
Gen. 3, upon heaven : since to the sinner it was said, Earth thou art,
Ps. 19 i- *'
and uni0 earth shall thou return ; and, The Heavens declare the glory of God, when their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the end of the world*.
6. But the kingdom of earthly happiness is pride, to oppose which came the lowliness of Christ, rebuking those whom He wished by lowliness to make the children of the Most High, and blaming them :
(ver. 6. )
/ said, Ye are gods, ye are all
the children of the Most High. (Ver. 7. ) But ye shall die like
men, and I like one the princes. Whether to those He
fall of
said, Ye are gods, and to those who particularly
said this,
are unpredestined to eternal life ; and to the other, 8fc. But ye shall die like men, Sgc. and shallfall like one of the princes, in this way also distinguishing the gods ; or whether He blames all together, in order to distinguish the obedient and those who received correction, I said, Ye are gods, and ye are all the children of the Most High : that is, to all of you I promised celestial happiness, but ye, through the infirmity of your flesh, shall die like men, and through haughtiness of soul, like one of the princes, that is, the devil, shall not be exalted, but shall
As if He said : Though the days of your life are so few, that ye speedily die like men, this avails not to your correction : but like the devil, whose days are many in this world, because he dies not in the flesh, ye are lifted up so that ye fall. For by devilish pride it came to pass that the perverse and blind rulers of the Jews envied the glory of Christ : by this will it
? This text being explained in the New Testament of the Apostles.
fall.
Christ risen 'judges the earth. ' Two ' Congregations' 189
came to pass, and still does, that the lowliness of Christ Vrr. crucified unto death is lightfy esteemed in the eyes of them 8- - who love the excellence of this world.
7. And therefore that this vice may be cured, in the person of the Prophet himself it is said, (ver. 8. ) Arise, 0 God, and judge the earth ; for the earth swelled high when it crucified
Thee: rise from the dead, and judge the earth. For Thou shall destroy among all nations. What, but the earth? that is, destroying those who savour of earthly things, or destroying the feeling itself of earthly lust and pride in believers ; or separating those who do not believe, as earth to be trodden under foot and to perish. Thus by His members, whose con versation is in heaven, He judges the earth, and destroys it among all nations. But 1 must not omit to remark, that some copies have, for Thou shall inherit among all nations. This too may be understood agreeably to the sense, nor does any thing prevent both meanings existing at once. His inheritance takes place by love, which in that He cultivates by His com mands and gracious mercy, He destroys earthly desires.
PSALM LXXXIII.
l^t;i
Of this Psalm the tide song of a Psalm of Asaph. We have already often said what the interpretation of Asaph, that is, congregation. That man, therefore, who was called Asaph, named in representation of the congregation of God's people in the titles of many Psalms. But in Greek, congregation called synagogue, which has come to be held for a kind of proper name for the Jewish people, that should be called The Synagogue; even as the Christian people
more usually called The Church, in that too congre gated.
2. The people of God, then, in this Psalm saith, (ver. I. ) God, who shall be like unto Thee Which suppose to be more fitly taken of Christ, because, being made in the
likeness of men, He was thought by those by whom He was Phil. despised to be comparable to other men for He was even reckoned among the unrighteous, but for this purpose, that u. 53,
12.
? :
is
7.
2,
O is
it I
is
it
is is
is, A
140 Christ, in this Psalm, addressed as God the Judge. Psalm He might be judged. But when He shall come to judge,
lxxxiii.
Ps. 46, the faithful can doubt was spoken unto Christ. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity ; therefore hath God, Thy God, anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. To Him therefore also now it is said, O God, who shall be like unto Thee ? For unto many Thou didst vouchsafe to be likened in Thy humiliation, even so far as to the robbers that were crucified with Thee : but when in glory Thou sbalt come, who shall be like unto Thee ? For what great thing is said, when it is said to God, " Who shall be like unto Thee? " unless it be said to Him, Who vouchsafed to be like men,
Phil. 2, taking unto Him the form of a servant, made in the '- likeness of men, and found in fashion as a man? And therefore he saith not, " Who is like unto Thee," which in fact would be right to say if it referred to the Godhead. But because it referred to the form of a servant, it is then His
unlikeness to other men will appear, when He shall appear in glory. Therefore it follows, Keep not silence, nor be restrained, O God. Because at first He was sileul, that He
Is. 63,7. might be judged; when like as a lamb before him that sheared him was dumb, so He opened not His mouth, and restrained His power. And that He might shew that He
g^all ^e done what is here said, O God, who is like unto Thee ? For if the Psalms did not use to speak to the Lord Christ, that too would not be spoken which not one of
John 18, was holding it back, upon that word of His when He said, /
G'
Is. 42, 14,
Ps. 60,3.
am He, they who were seeking Him that they might take Him, went backward, and fell. Would He therefore ever have fallen within their hands and suffered, unless He had held Himself back and restrained Himself, and in a manner made Himself mild ? For so also have some translated the word used here, neither be Thou restrained, O God, as to say, neither grow Thou mild, O God. Himself saith elsewhere, 1 was silent, shall I alway be silent ? To Whom it is here said, Keep not silence, of the Same it is said elsewhere, God shall come manifest, our God, and shall not keep silence. It is said here, Keep not silence. For He was silent, that He might be judged, when He came hidden;
Enemies of God's people to perish with Antichrist. 141
but He will not be silent, that He may judge, when He shall Vsn.
3- 5-
that hate Thee have lifted up the head. He seems to me
to signify the last days, when these things that are now repressed by fear are to break forth into free utterance, but
quite irrational, so that it should rather be called a sound,
than speech or discourse. They will not, therefore, then
begin to hate, but they that hate Thee will then lift up the
head. And not ' heads,' but head; since they are to come
even to that point, that they shall have that head, which <<s 2 These. lifted up above all that is called God, and that is worshipped ; 2, 4,
so that in him especially is to be fulfilled, He that exalteth LukeU, himself shall be abased; and when He to Whom it is said, n'
come manifest.
3. Ver. 2. For lo Thine enemies have sounded, and they
Keep not silence, nor grow mild, O God, shall slay him with the breath ofHis mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.
*. Ver. 3. Upon Thy people they have malignantly taken counsel. Or, as other copies have They have cunningly devised counsel, and have devised against Thy saints. In scorn this said. For how should they be able to hurt the nation or people of God, or His saints, who know how to say, If God be for us, who shall be against us
5. Ver. 4. They have said, Come, and let us destroy them from a nation. He"has put the singular number for the plural as said, Whose this cattle," even though the
question be of flock, and the meaning "these cattle. " Lastly, other copies have 'from nations,' where the translators have rather followed the sense than the word. Come, and lei us destroy them from a nation. This that sound whereby they sounded rather than spake, since they did vainly make noise with vain sayings. And let not be mentioned
the name of Israel any more. This others have expressed more plainly, and let there not be remembrance cf the name of Israel any more. Since, let be mentioned of the name,
2 Thess. 2' 8-
Rom 31-
nominis,) an unusual phrase in the Latin for rather customary to say, let the name be mentioned, {memoretur nomen;) but the sense the same.
For he who said, let be mentioned of the name, translated the Greek phrase. But Israel must here be understood in
(memoretur language
it
is
is
;
it is
a
it
it
is is
it,
a
of
:
it is
is
g
?
142 Conspiracy and divers names of Enemies.
Psalm fact of the seed of Abraham, to which the Apostle sailh, (j>>Tir1 Therefore ye are the seed of Abraham, according to the 29. promise heirs.
Not Israel according to the flesh, of which
he saith, Behold Israel after the flesh.
6. Ver. 5. Since they have imagined with one consent;
together against Thee have they disposed a testament: as though they could be the stronger. In fact, a testament is a name given in the Scriptures not only to that which is of no avail till the death of the testators, but every covenant and decree they used to call a testament. For Laban and
Gen. 3l, Jacob made a testament, which was certainly to have force
4i'
between the living; and such cases without number are read in the words of God.
7. Then he begins to make mention of the enemies of Christ, under certain proper names of nations ; the interpre tation of which names sufficiently indicates what he would have to be understood. For by such names are most suitably figured the enemies of the truth. Idumceans, for instance, are interpreted either ' men of blood,' or ' of earth. ' Ismaelites, are ' obedient to themselves,' and therefore not to God, but to themselves. Moab, ' from the father ;' which in a bad sense has no better explanation, than by considering it so
Gen. 19, connected with the actual history, that Lot, a father, by the 36. 37. illicit intercourse procured by his daughter, begat him;
since it was from that very circumstance he was so named, t Tim. 1, Good, however, was his father, but as the Law is good if one
H'
use it lawfully, not impurely and unlawfully. Hagarens, proselytes, that is strangers, by which name also are signified, among the enemies of God's people, not those who become citizens, but those who persevere in a foreign and alien mind, and when an opportunity of doing harm occurs, shew them selves. Gebal, " a vain valley," that humble in pretence. Amon, " an unquiet people," or " people of sadness. '' Amalech, " people licking;" whence elsewhere said,
Ps. 72,9. "and his enemies shall lick the earth. " The alien race, though by their very name in Latin, they sufficiently shew themselves to be aliens, and for this cause of course enemies, yet in the Hebrew are called Philistines, which explained,
falling from drink, as of persons made drunken by worldly luxury. Tyre in Hebrew called Sor; which whether be
is
it
is
it
a
is
a is,
The devil and his crew. Their names significant. 143
interpreted straitness or tribulation, must be taken in the case Ver. of these enemies of God's people in that sense, of which the -8~11, Apostle speaks, Tribulation and straitness on every soul o/Eom. 2, man that doeth evil. All these are thus enumerated in the Psalms: The tabernacles of the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moab
and the Hagarenes, Gebal,and Amon, and Amalech, and the Philistines with those who inhabit Tyre.
8. And as if to point out the cause why they are enemies of God's people, he adds, For Assur came with them. Now Assur
is often used figuratively for the devil, who works in the chil- Eph. 2, dren of disobedience, as in his own vessels, that they may 2- assail the people of God. They have holpen the children of
Lot, be saith : for all enemies, by the working in them of the
devil, their prince, have holpen the children of Lot, who is explained to mean one declining. But the apostate angels
are well explained as the children of declension, for by declining from truth they swerved to become followers of the
devil. These are they of whom the Apostle speaks; ' Ye Eph. 6,
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities 12, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places? Those in visible1 enemies are holpen then by unbelieving men, in 1 Oxf. whom they work in order to assail the people of God.
9. Now let us see what the prophetic spirit prays may fall sP'ri- upon them, rather foretelling than cursing.
Ver. 9. Do thou to them, he saith, as unto Madian and Sisera, as unto Jab in at the brook of Kishon.
Ver. 10. They perished at Endor, they became as the dung of Uie earth. All these, the history relates, were subdued and conquered by Israel, which then was the people of God: as was the case also with those whom he next mentions ;
Ver. 1 1. Make their princes like Oreb and Zeb, and Zebee
and Salmana. The meaning of these names is as follows : Madian is explained a perverted judgment: Sisera, shutting judges
8'
out of joy : Jabin, wise. But in these enemies conquered by4' God's people is to be understood that wise man of whom the Apostle speaketh, Where is the wise? where is the scribe ? 1 Cor. 1, where is the dispuler of this world? Oreb is dryness, Zeeb, 20- wolf, Zebee, a victim, namely of the wolf; for he too has his
victims; Salmana, shadow of commotion. All these agree
144 God s Temple attacked. Figures of His judgment.
Psalm to the evils which the people of God conquers by good. lxxxn- Moreover Kishon, the torrent in which they were conquered, is explained, their hardness. Endor, where they perished, is explained, the Fountain of generation, but of the carnal generation namely, to which they were given up, and there-
Luke20,fore perished, not heeding the regeneration which leadeth
36-
unto life, where they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage, for they shall die no more. Rightly then it is said of these ; they became as the dung of the earth, in that nothing was produced of them but fruitfulness of the earth. As then
all these were in figure conquered by the people of God, as figures, so he prays that those other enemies may be conquered in truth.
10. All their princes, (ver. 12. ) who said, Let us take to our selves the sanctuary of God in possession. This is that vain noise, with which, as said above, Thy enemies have made a murmuring. But what must be understood by the sanctuary of God, except the temple of God 1 as saith the Apostle :
For the temple of God is holy1, which temple ye are. For
1 Cor.
"'row- what else do the enemies aim at, but to take into possession,
tum'
that is, to make subject to themselves the temple of God, that it may give in to their ungodly wills ?
11. But what follows? (Ver. 13. ) My God, make them like unto a wheel. This is fitly taken as meaning that they should be constant in nothing that they think ; but I think it may also be rightly explained, make them like unto a wheel, because a wheel is lifted up on the part of what is behind? , is thrown down on the part of what is in front; and so it happens to all the enemies of the people of God. For this is not a wish, but a prophecy. He adds: as the stubble in the face of the wind. By face he means presence; for what face hath the wind, which has no bodily features, being only a motion, in that it is a kind ofwave ofair? But it is put for temptation, by which light and vain hearts are hurried away.
12. This levity, by which consent is easily given to what is evil, is followed by severe torment; therefore he proceeds:
Ver. 14. Like as the fire that burneth up the wood, and as the flame that consumeth the mountains: (ver. 15. ) so shall
Thou persecute them with Thy tempest, and in Thy anger ? Ex his que retro suut extollitur, ex his que ante sunt dejicitur.
Some of God's enemies made ashamed to their profit. 145
shall disturb them. Wood, he saith, for its barrenness, Ver.
mountains for their loftiness ; for such are the enemies of God's people, barren of righteousness, full of pride. When he says, fire and flame, he means to repeat under auother term, the idea of God judging and punishing. But in saying, with Thy tempest, he means, as he goes on to explain, Thy anger: and the former expression, Thou shall persecute, answers to, Thou sha/t disturb. We must take care, however, to understand, that the anger of God is free from any turbulent emotion: for His anger is an expression for His just method of taking vengeance : as the law might be said to be angry when its ministers are moved to punish by its sanction.
13. Ver. 16. Fill their faces with shame, and they shall seek
Thy name, O Lord. Good and desirable is this which he
prophesieth for them : and he would not prophesy thus, unless there were even in that company of the enemies of God's people, some men of such kind that this would be granted to them before the last judgment: for now they are mixed together, and this is the body of the enemies, in respect of the envy whereby they rival the people of God. And now, where they can, they make a noise and lift up their head : but severally, not universally as they will do at the end of the world, when the last judgment is about to fall. But it is the same body, even in those who out of this number shall believe and pass into another body, (for the faces of these are filled with shame, that they may seek the name of the Lord,) as well as in those others who persevere unto the end in the same wickedness, who are made as stubble before
the wind, and are consumed like a wood and barren moun tains. To these he again returns, saying, (ver. 17. ) They shall blush and be vexed for ever and ever. For those are not vexed for ever and ever who seek the name of the Lord, but having respect unto the shame of their sins, they are vexed for this purpose, that they may seek the name of the Lord, through which they may be no more vexed.
14. Again, he returns to these last, who in the same company of enemies are to be made ashamed for this purpose, that they may not be ashamed for ever : and for this purpose to be destroyed in as far as they are wicked, that being made good they may be found alive for ever. For having said of
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146 God alone is Lord. Spiritual ' winepresses. '
Psalm them, Let them be ashamed and perish, he instantly adds,
ijixxni.
Exod. Lord are not lords; as it is said, I Am thAt I Am: as if
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Gen. that is, man ceaseth, to whom was said, Thou art dust;
19. and, Why is earth and ashes proud? when he saith that the Ec'clus.
10, 9.
jg^ afKj ^ know that Thy name is the Lord, Thou art only the Most Highest in all the earth. Coming to this knowledge, let them be so confounded as to please God : let them so perish, as that they may abide. Let them
know, he says, that Thy name is the Lord: as if whoever else are called lords are named so not truly but by falsehood, for they rule but as servants, and compared with the true
those things which are made are not, compared with Him by Whom they are made. He adds, Thou only art the Most Highest in all the earth : or, as other copies have over all the earth; as might be said, in all the heaven, or over all the heaven but he used the latter word in preference, to depress the pride of earth. For earth ceaseth to be proud,
Lord the Most Highest above all the earth, that is, that no Hom. man's thoughts avail against those who are called according 28. 31. j0 jjfe pUrp0se^ an 0f whom said, If God is for us,
who can be against us?
PSALM LXXXIV.
This Psalm entitled, For the winepresses. And, as you observed with me, my beloved, (for saw that you attended most closely,) nothing said in its text either of any press, or wine-basket; or vat, or of any of the instruments or the build ing of winepress nothing of this kind did we hear read; so that no easy question what the meaning of this title inscribed upon for the winepresses. For certainly, after the title mentioned any thing about such things as
enumerated, carnal persons might have believed that was song concerning those visible winepresses but as has
this title, yet says nothing afterwards of those winepresses which we know so well, cannot doubt that there are other winepresses, which the Spirit of God intended us to look for and to understand here. Therefore, let us recall to mind what takes place in these visible winepresses, and see how
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Pressure brings out the wine. Sons of Core. 147
this takes place spiritually in the Church. The grape hangs Titlr. on the vines, and the olive on its trees, (for it is for these two
fruits that presses are usually made ready ;) aud as long as
they hang on their boughs, they seem to enjoy free air; and neither is the grape wine, nor the olive oil, before they
are pressed. Thus it is with men whom God predestined
before the world to be conformed to the image of His only- Rom. 8, begotten Son, Who has been first and especially pressed in29. His Passion, as the great Cluster. Men of this kind, there
fore, before they draw near to the service of God, enjoy in
the world a kind of delicious liberty, like hanging grapes or
olives : but as it is said, My son, when thou draicest near icEcclu*. the service of God, stand in judgment and fear, and make2' 1- thy soul ready for temptation : so each, as he draweth near
to the service of God, funic th that he is come to the wine
press ; he shall undergo tribulation, shall be crushed, shall
be pressed, not that he may perish in this world, but that he
may flow down into the storehouses of God. He hath the coverings of carnal desires stripped off from him, like grape-
skins : for this hath taken place in him in carnal desires, of
which the Apostle speaks, Put ye off the old man, and put Colos*. on the new man. All this is not done but by pressure: ? ph-. therefore the Churches of God of this time are called wine-22' presses.
2. But who are we who are placed in the winepresses
Sons of Core. For this follows For the winepresses, to the
sons of Core. The sons of Core has been explained, sons of
the bald as far as those could explain to us, who know
that language, according to their service due to God: and in
this do not deny that behold a great mystery, and by the
help of the Lord, would find out with you. For all bald
ness ought not to be mocked, as by the sons of wicked
ness but one mock at consecrated baldness, he torn
by demons. For Elisha too was walking, and senseless Kings
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children called after him, Baldhead, baldhead and to accomplish the figure, he turned and prayed the Lord that ib. 24. bears might come out of the wood and devour them. Their infancy was punished by death in this world they perished
as children, who would one day have perished in old age
but fear of the mystery was impressed on men. For Elisha
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148 Pressure of this life teaches right thoughts of its good. Psalm bore the then character of One, whose sons we are, the sons
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Mat. 9, His sons, when He saith, The children of the Bridegroom lo' cannot fast, while the Bridegroom is with them. These
winepresses, then, are presses of Christians.
3. But being placed under pressure, we are crushed for
this purpose, that for our love by which we were borne towards those worldly, secular, temporal, unstable, and perishable things, having suffered in them, in this life, torments, and tribulations of pressures, and abundance of temptations, we
' may begin to seek that rest which is not of this life, nor of Ps. 9, 9. this earth; and the Lord becomes, as is written, a refuge
' of Core, namely, of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now it occurs to 1calvus. you, my beloved, out of the Gospel, why being bald1 he
bore the figure of Christ : ye remember that He was crucified, on Calvary. Whether then this be the meaning of Sons of
Core, as I have explained from what others tell me ; or whether there is any other sacred meaning unknown to us; meantime do ye behold what a fulness of sacred truths we meet with. Sons of Core, sons of Christ, for the Bridegroom speaketh of
l Tim. 6'
for the poor man. What is, for the poor man? For him who is, as it were, destitute, without aid, without help, without any thing on which he may rest, in earth. For to such poor men, God is present. For though men abound in money on earth, they think of what the Apostle saith, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches; and considering how uncertain that is in which they rejoiced before they drew near to the service of God, that is, before they entered into the wine presses, they see that from their very wealth, they either have the pressure of care, how it is to be managed, how guarded ;
or if they have a little given way to desire, so as to love they are filled more with fear than with enjoyment. For what so uncertain as rolling thing It not unfitly that money itself stamped round, because remains not still. Such men, therefore, though they have something, are yet poor. But those who have none of this wealth, but only desire are counted also among rich men who will be
rejected; for God takes account not of power, but of will. The poor then are destitute of all this world's substance, for even though abounds around them, they know how fleeting
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Impatience condemned in Holy Scripture. 149
it is; and crying unto God, having nothing in this world Title. with which they may delight themselves, and be held down, placed in abundant pressures and temptations, as if in wine presses, they flow down, having become oil or wine. What
are these latter but good desires ? For God remains their only object of desire ; now they love not earth. For they love Him Who made heaven and earth; they love Him, and are not yet with Him. Their desire is delayed, in order that it may increase ; it increases, in order that it may receive. For it is not any little thing that God will give to him who desires, nor does he need to be little exercised to be made fit to receive so great a good : not any thing which He hath made will God give, but Himself Who made all things. Exercise thyself to receive God : that which thou shalt have for ever, desire thou for a long time. In the people of Israel, those were rejected who were hasty : continually in Scripture this temper of haste is blamed. For who are they
who make haste ! Those who, having turned to God, when they did not find here that rest which they were seeking, and those joys which were promised them, as if fainting by the way and thinking some long time remained before they should have done with this world or with this life, and seeking here some rest, which, if it is enjoyed, is false, they look back, and fall from their purpose : and forget that terrible saying,
Remember Lots wife. For why was she made a pillar ofLukei7, salt, if she seasons not men to make them wise1? Therefore ? ? -ut her bad example, if thou take care, becomes good to thee, sapiant. ? Remember , he saith, Lot's wife: for she looked back, whence Gen. 19, she had been set free, to Sodom, and there remained where26'
she looked back ; herself to remain on that spot, to season
others who should pass. Therefore being freed from the Sodom of our past life, let us not look back: for this is to be
in haste, not to wait for what God hath promised because it
is far ofl-, and to look back to that which is near, whence thou
hast been once set free. Of such what saith the Apostle
Peter?
