Brethren, when any
powerful
one findeth his title, doth he not justly claim it for his own and say, " He would not
sacra- menta
affix my title, unless it were my property ?
sacra- menta
affix my title, unless it were my property ?
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v1
But
Ver.
they answer, " Nay, without a doubt we too praise Him. "
offer My vows unto the Lord,in thesight ofthem thatfear Him. The sacrifice of peace, the sacrifice of love, the sacrifice of His Body the faithful know : on this I cannot now enlarge. / will offer My vows in the sight of them that fear Him. Let the publicans eat, let the fishermen eat, let them feed,
let them imitate the Lord, let them suffer, let them be filled. The Lord Himself hath died, the poor die also; and the death of the disciples is added to the death of the Master. Wherefore? Give Me the fruit. (V er. 27. ) All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. See here, Brethren !
Why ask ye of me, what answer we should give to Donatus' party? Look at the Psalm: both among us it is read to-day, and among them it is read to-day. Let us write it on our foreheads, let us go
I will
forth with " let not our tongue keep silence, let repeat the words See, Christ hath suffered see, the Merchant displayeth His gains; see, the price which He gave, His Blood was shed. In scrip He bare our price: He was smitten with spear, the scrip was rent, and the price of the whole world flowed forth. What answerest thou, heretic Is not the price of the whole world
Hath Africa only been redeemed Thou darest not say, The whole world
was redeemed, but lost. ' From what spoiler's hand hath Christ so suffered, as to lose His own possession Lo, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. " Let this satisfy thee', and let Him speak. Had he said the ends of the earth, and not all the borders the earth: they had been able to say, " Lo, we have the ends of the earth in Mauritania. " He said, All the borders of the earth, heretic, he said, all. What outlet there for thee to escape the difficulty Outlet hast thou none, but thou hast whereby to enter.
29. appeal to you am unwilling to enlarge upon this, lest should be said, that my words are of any influence
Adbuc satiet te, et dicat. al. adhuc dicant. ' H
attend to the Psalm, read the Psalm.
suffered, His Blood hath been shed: lo, our Redeemer;
Lo, Christ hath thus far let them speak. '
'
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l 62 Donatists urged by the Books they claimed to have kept.
Psalm our Price. Let me be told, what hath He bought ? Why Exp. ii. do we ask? What if one say to me, "why, O foolish ~man, dost thou ask ? Thou hast the volume in thine hands: thou hast therein wherewith He bought, seek therein what He bought. Lo, there thou hast, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. " For
the borders of the earth shall remember themselves. But heretics have forgotten, and therefore do they hear it every
Do they give ear to this, think ye, when their reader says, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and turn to the Lord? Well, perchance it is but one verse : thy thoughts were elsewhere, thou wast talking idly with thy brother, when he spoke thus: mark, how he repeats and knocks at deaf men's ears And all the kindreds of the
nations shall worship in His sight. He still deaf, he does not hear: let the knocking be repeated. (Ver. 28. ) For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. Remember these three verses, Brethren. To-day have they been sung even among them or may be they have erased them. Believe me, my Brethren, am so embarassed, am so pressed, that am astonished at this strange deafness and hardness of their hearts, that sometimes doubt, whether they have in their copies. All run to-day to the Church, all to-day attentively listen to this Psalm, all listen with
uplifted heart. But suppose that they are not attentive
one verse only, All the borders of the earth shall remember
themselves, and be turned to the Lord? Thou art awaking, but art still rubbing thine eyes: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. Shake off sleep, thou art still drowsy listen: For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations.
too let
be burnt What did ye preserve Open, read thou
year.
30. Whether they have any thing yet to allege, know not: let them contend with the Scriptures, not with us. See the volume itself, let them contend against it. Where is
Oxf. their saying " We preserved the Scriptures from being 'There burnt? " They have been preserved, whereby thou mayest
and thou dost impugn them. Why pre- servedst thou from the flames, what thou wouldest destroy
con- didst preserve,
'eod''
p. 159. with the tongue do not believe, do not believe, that
? I
;
I?
2.
1,
it
I
:
I
I
1
it
: is
it,
I
I
is
; it
:
Holy Writ, Christ's Testament, marks out His Inheritance. 163
thou preservedst them; I do not at all believe it; thou didst Ver. not preserve them. Most truly do our party say, that thou. 28 didst deliver them up. He is proved to be the deliverer oftraditor them up, who when on reading the Testament doth not follow it. See, it is read, and I follow ; it is read, and thou refusest to follow. Whose hand hath cast them into the flames ? He that believes and follows, or he that grieves
that there is aught to be read ? I do not wish to know who may have preserved them : in what place soever the volume hath been found, from what cave soever, our Father's testa ment hath come to light, for some thieves or oiher* wished to take it away, some persecutors or other wished to burn it: from what place soever it hath been brought forth, let it be read. Why dost thou quarrel ? We are Brethren, why do we quarrel ? The Father hath not died intestate. He hath made a Testament, and so died : He died, and rose again. So long does the dispute touching the inherit ance of the dead last, until the Testament is publicly produced ; and when the Testament has been publicly pro duced, all are silent, that the instrument may be opened and
read: the judge listens with attention, the advocates hold their peace, the heralds procure silence, every body is in suspense that the words of the deceased, unconscious in the tomb, may be read. He lies without consciousness in the tomb, and his words have force. Christ sitteth in heaven ; and is His Testament gainsaid ? Open, let us read. We are Brethren, why do we contend together? Let us calm our temper, the Father hath not left us without a Testament. He Who made the Testament, liveth for ever : He heareth our words,
He recogniseth His own '. Let us read; why do we quarrel ? ' suan> When the whole inheritance shall have been found, let us
hold to it. Open the Testament, read in the very beginning
of the Psalter itself, Ask of Me. But who speaketh ? Perad- Ps. 2, 8.
I, The Lord said unto ib. 7. venture not Christ. You have there
Son. What then saith He to His Son ? Ask of Me, and will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the bounds of the earth for Thy possession. It is usual, Brethren,
* ' Nescio qui. ' Perhaps here, ' no matter what thieves. ' M2
Me, Thou art My Son, this day have
begotten Thee. The Son of God then speaketh, or the Father speaketh to HisI
164 No limits to Christ's possession. Wrangling for power. ,
Psalm when there is a question of possession, for the borderers to &sp. II. be sought. Between this and that borderer, the heir is sought out, either to whom it is given, or who has bought it.
Between what borderers is he sought? Between h this and that man in possession. He who hath left all borders, hath left no borderers. Wheresoever thou turnest thyself, Christ is. Thou hast the borders of the earth for thine inheritance ;
come hither, with me possess the whole. Why by quarrel ling dost thou call to a part only ? Come hither; to thine own good thou shalt be conquered, thou shalt have the whole. Dost thou wrangle still ?
I have already read the Testament, and thou wranglest. Art thou still wrangling,
because He said, the borders of the earth, and not, all the borders of the earth? Let us read on then. How does it
All the borders
selves, and turn to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. For the kingdom is the
Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. His it is, not yours. Acknowledge ye the Lord : acknowledge the Lord's possession.
3 1 . But ye again because ye would possess your goods privately, and not in common unity, and with Christ, (for ye wish to rule on earth yourselves, not to reign with Him in heaven,) ye have your own houses. And sometimes we come to them, saying, " Let us seek the truth, let us find the truth. " They answer, " Keep what you have: thou hast thy sheep, I have mine ; forbear to meddle with my sheep, for I do not meddle with thine. " Thanks be to God ; the sheep are mine ; the sheep are His ! What hath Christ bought ? Nay, let them be neither mine, nor thine ; but His
l Cor. 3, Who hath bought them, His Who hath marked them. Neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth; but God
Who giveth the increase. Why have I mine, and thou
stand ?
of
the earth shall remember them
If Christ be there, let mine go thither, for they are not mine : if Christ be here, let thine come hither, for they are not thine. Let us kiss head and hands for possessions,
b Oxf. Mss. ' Inter affines ; ilium et That the heir, or he who receives by
thine ?
ilium. Neerret hffires, aut cui donatnr,
aut qui emit, quserit inter quos affines
inter ilium et ilium possidentes. Qui
admisit 'omnes fines, nullos dimisit in all borders, has left no borderers. ' affines. ' Between so and so, borderers.
gift or purchase, may not err, he asks between what borderers P Between so and so, proprietors. He, Who has taken
The Donatists falsely call their possessions Christs. 165
and let the strange children perish'. " It is not my pos- Ver. session," he says. What is this ? Let us see whether it be ---- not thy possession, let us see whether thou dost not claim
it for thyself. I labour for the name of Christ, thou for the
name of Donatus. For if thou look to Christ, Christ is every
where. Thou sayest, Lo, here is Christ: I say, He is through- Mat. 24,
out the world. Praise the Lord, ye servants; praise
Name of the Lord. Wherefrom do they praise ? Where- 1. 3. unto do they praise ? From the rising of the sun unto the
going down thereof, praise ye the Name of the Lord. See the Church which I shew to you, see what Christ hath bought, see what He hath redeemed, see for what He hath given His blood. But what sayest thou ? "
I gather for
Him too. " He that gathereth not with Me, Christ saith, Mat. 12
theP^n3
scattereth. Thou dividest unity, thou seekest thine own30.
And why have they Christ's Name ? Because for the defence of thine own possession thou hast affixed Christ's titles. Do not some do the same with their own houses ? Lest some powerful person should attack his house, he affixes thereon the title of some powerful one, a false title. He would be himself the owner, and would have the front of his house protected by another man's title: that on reading the title one may be scared at the power of the name, and abstain from attacking the house. This they did when they condemned the Maximianists0. They pleaded before judges, and adduced their own council; as it were, shewing their titles, that they might appear to be Bishops. Then the
possessions.
judged asked, " Who is the other Bishop here, of the party of Donatus ? " The official answered, " We know none but Aurelius the Catholic. " In fear of the laws they made answer of one Bishop only. But they, that they might gain the ear of the judge, affixed Christ's Name : on their own
possession they affixed His title. Gracious is the Lord to spare them, and claim that for His own possession, where soever He findeth His title. Powerful is His mercy, Who doeth that for them, Who gathereth together, whomsoever
c ' Propter possessions osculentur
nobis caput et manus et pereant filii
alieni. ' Perhaps, ' so far as possession
is concerned, let our people kiss one of whom is given by St. Augustine, in another, head and hands, and let there Serm. II. on Ps. 37, (Lat. 36. ) ? . 20. be an end of aliens. ' But the meaning See also Labbe, Cone. II. 1089. 1153.
is ohscure,
d The Maximianists were a party
among the Donatists, a fuller account
166 Christ claims to take the house that claims to be His.
Psalm He findeth bearing the name of Christ. And consider, '.
Brethren, when any powerful one findeth his title, doth he not justly claim it for his own and say, " He would not
sacra- menta
affix my title, unless it were my property ? He hath affixed my title, it is my property: that, whereon I find my name, is mine. " Does he change the title ? The title is the very same as before : the owner is changed, the title is not changed. So also with those that have the baptism of Christ, if they return to unity, we do not change or destroy their title ; but we acknowledge the title of our King, the title of our Captain. But what do we say? O wretched house, may He own thee, Whose title thou bearest: thou bearest Christ's title ; be not the possession of Donatus.
32. We have spoken at great length, Brethren; but let not that, which is read to-day, depart from your recollec tion. Lo, I repeat it, and often must it be repeated: by this very day, that is, by the mysteries of this day, I adjure you that it go not out of your hearts, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. Against so clear and so manifestly proven a possession of Christ, listen not to the words of the wrangler. Whatever they say to gainsay they are men that say
but this God saith.
PSALM XXIII. A Psalm of David himself.
The Church speaks to Christ: (ver. I. ) The Lord feedeth me, and shall lack nothing. The Lord Jesus
Lat. XXII.
Christ my Shepherd, and shall lack nothing.
2. Ver. 2. In a place of pasture there hath He placed me. 1pascua>In place of fresh pasture, leading me to faith there hath
enta. "
He placed me to be nourished. By the water of refreshing hath He brought me up. By the water of baptism, whereby they are refreshed who have lost health and strength, hath He brought me up.
3. Ver. 3. He hath converted my soul He hath led me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake.
:
a 1. is
',
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it,
it ;
Christ our Shepherd, Guide, and support through death. 167
He hath brought me forth in the narrow ways, wherein few Ver.
walk, of His righteousness ; not for uiy merit's sake, but for
His Name's sake. I 4. Ver. 4. Yea, though
--
walk in the midst
of death. Yea, though I walk in the midst of this life, which
/ will no evil, Thou art fear for
is the shadow of death.
with me. I will fear no evil, for Thou dwellest in my heart by faith : and Thou art now with me, that after the shadow of death I too may be with Thee. Thy rod and Thy staff, they have comforted me. Thy discipline, like a rod for a flock of sheep, and like a staff for children of some size, and growing out of the natural into spiritual life, they have not been grievous to me ; rather have they comforted me : because Thou art mindful of me.
5. Ver. 5. Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, against them that trouble me. Now after the rod, whereby, whilst a little one, and living the natural life, 1 was brought up among the flock in the pastures ; after that rod, I say, when I began to be under the staff, Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, that I should no more be fed as a babe with milk, but being older should take meat, strengthened against them that trouble me. Thou hast fattened my head with oil. Thou hast gladdened my mind with spiritual joy. And Thy in ebriating cup, how excellent is it ! And Thy cup yielding forgetfulness of former vain delights, how excellent is it !
6. Ver. 6. And Thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: that is, as long Ias I live in this mortal life, not
1 Cor. 3, "
of the shadow
may dwell in the house the of
Thine, but mine. That
Lord for length of days. Now Thy mercy shall follow me not here only, but also that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
PSALM XXIV.
A Psalm of David himself, on the first day of the week.
Lat. win.
1. A Psalm of David himself, touching the glorifying and resurrection of the Lord, which took place early in the morning on the first day of the week, which is now called
the Lord's Day.
Psalm TT YT V
2. Ver. 1. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, ?
168 Who are they whom Christ shall bring to glory.
? the compass of the world, and all they that dwell therein : when the Lord, being glorified, is announced for the believing of all nations; and the whole compass of the world becomes His Church. (Ver. 2. ) He hath founded it above the seas. He hath most firmly established it above all the waves of this world, that they should be subdued by and should not hurt it. And hath prepared above the rivers. The rivers flow into the sea, and men of lust lapse into the world these also the Church, which, when worldly lusts have been con quered by the grace of God, hath been prepared by love for the reception of immortality, subdues.
3. Ver. 3. Who shall ascend into the mount the Lord Who shall ascend to the height of the righteousness of the Lord Or who shall stand in His holy place Orwho
'al. 'hath shall abide in that place, whither He shall ascend founded e(i, n " above the seas, and prepared above the rivers
Rom. 12,
4. Ver. 4. The innocent of hand, and the pure in heart. Who then shall ascend thither, and abide there, but the guiltless in deed, and pure in thought Who hath not received his soul in vain. Who hath not reckoned his soul among things that pass away, but feeling to be immortal, hath longed for an eternity stedfast and unchangeable. And hath not sworn in deceit to his neighbour. And therefore without deceit, as things eternal are simple and undeceiving, hath so behaved himself to his neighbour.
5. Ver. 5. Tliis man shall receive blessing from the Lord, and mercy from the God of his salvation.
6. Ver. 6. This is the generation of them that seek the Lord. For thus are they born that seek Him. Of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Diapsalma. Now they seek the face of God, Who gave the preeminence to the younger born.
7. Ver. 7. Take away your gates, ye princes. All ye, that seek rule among men, remove, that they hinder not, the entrances which ye have made, of desire and fear. And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates. And be ye lift up, ye entrances of eternal life, of renunciation of the world, and conversion to God. And the King of glory shall come in. And the King, in Whom we may glory without pride, shall
9,
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Christ the King of Glory. His triumph over Satan. 169
come in : Who having overcome the gates of death, and Ver. having opened for Himself the heavenlyIplaces, fulfilled that _
which He said, Be of good cheer, for world.
8. Ver. 8. Who is this King of glory ? Mortal nature is awe-struck in wonder, and asks, Who is this King of glory ?
The Lord strong and mighty. He, Whom thou didst deem weak and overwhelmed. The Lord mighty in battle. Handle the scars, and thou wilt find them made whole, and human weakness restored to immortality. The glorifying of the Lord, which was owing to earth, where It warred with death, hath been paid.
9. Ver. 9. Take away your gates, ye princes. Let us go
hence straightway into heaven. Again, let the Prophet's trumpet cry aloud, " Take away too, ye princes of the air,
the gates, which ye have in the minds of men who worship 2 Kings
'
10. Ver. 10. Who is this King ofglory? What! dost thou
too, prince of the power of this air, marvel and ask, Who is Eph. 2,2. this King ofglory? The Lord ofpowers, He is the King of
glory. Yea, His Body now quickened, He Who was tempted marches above thee ; He Who was tempted by the angel,
the deceiver, goes above all angels. Let none of yon put himself before us and stop our way, that he may be wor shipped as a god by us: neither principality, nor angel, Rom. 8, nor power, separateth us from the love of Christ. It is good
the host of heaven. " And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates. And be ye lift up, ye doors of everlasting righteousness, of love, and chastity, through which the soul loveth the One True God, and goeth not a whoring with the many, that are called gods. And the King of glory shall come in. And the King of glory shall come in, that He may at the right hand of the Father intercede for us.
'
118 to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in prince that he9.
? who glorieth, should glory in the Lord. These indeed are 31. powers in the administration of this world, but the Lord of
powers, He is the King of glory.
have overcome the Johnie,
' '
a
;
Ps'
Lat. XXIV.
170 All trust vain but that in God's mercy.
PSALM XXV.
To the end, a Psalm ofDavid himseij.
1 . Christ speaks, but in the person of the Church : for what is said has reference rather to the Christian People turned unto God. I up my soul:
2. Ver. 1. Unto Thee, O Lord, have lift
with spiritual longing have I lift up the soul, that was trodden down on the earth wIith carnal longings. (Ver. 2. )
0 my God, in Thee I trust, shall not be ashamed. O my God, from trusting in myself I was brought even to this weakness of the flesh; and I who on abandoning God wished to be as God, fearing death from the smallest insect, was in derision Iashamed for my pride; now, therefore, in Thee
shall not be ashamed.
3. And let not my enemies mock me. And let them not
mock me, who by ensnaring me with " serpent-like and secret suggestions, and prompting me with, Well done, well done," have brought me down to this. (Ver. 3. ) For all that wait upon Thee shall not be confounded.
4. Let them be confounded who do vain things unrighte
ously. Let them be confounded who act unrighteously for
the acquiring things that pass away. (Ver. 4. ) Make Thy Mat. 7, ways, O Lord, known to me, and teach me Thy paths : not
those which are broad, and lead the many to destruction; but Thy paths, narrow, and known to few, teach Thou me.
1 trust,
5. Ver. 5. In Thy truth guide me: avoiding error. And teach me : for by myself I know nothing, but falsehood. For Thou art the God of my salvation ; and for Thee have
Lukei5, /waited all the day. For dismissed by Thee from Paradise, and having taken my journey into a far country, I cannot by myself return, unless Thou meetest the wanderer : for my return hath throughout the whole tract of this world's time waited for Thy mercy.
6. Ver. 6. Remember Thy compassions, O Lord. Re member the works of Thy mercy, O Lord ; for men deem of Thee as though Thou hadst forgotten. And that Thy mercies are from eternity.
Ver.
they answer, " Nay, without a doubt we too praise Him. "
offer My vows unto the Lord,in thesight ofthem thatfear Him. The sacrifice of peace, the sacrifice of love, the sacrifice of His Body the faithful know : on this I cannot now enlarge. / will offer My vows in the sight of them that fear Him. Let the publicans eat, let the fishermen eat, let them feed,
let them imitate the Lord, let them suffer, let them be filled. The Lord Himself hath died, the poor die also; and the death of the disciples is added to the death of the Master. Wherefore? Give Me the fruit. (V er. 27. ) All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. See here, Brethren !
Why ask ye of me, what answer we should give to Donatus' party? Look at the Psalm: both among us it is read to-day, and among them it is read to-day. Let us write it on our foreheads, let us go
I will
forth with " let not our tongue keep silence, let repeat the words See, Christ hath suffered see, the Merchant displayeth His gains; see, the price which He gave, His Blood was shed. In scrip He bare our price: He was smitten with spear, the scrip was rent, and the price of the whole world flowed forth. What answerest thou, heretic Is not the price of the whole world
Hath Africa only been redeemed Thou darest not say, The whole world
was redeemed, but lost. ' From what spoiler's hand hath Christ so suffered, as to lose His own possession Lo, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. " Let this satisfy thee', and let Him speak. Had he said the ends of the earth, and not all the borders the earth: they had been able to say, " Lo, we have the ends of the earth in Mauritania. " He said, All the borders of the earth, heretic, he said, all. What outlet there for thee to escape the difficulty Outlet hast thou none, but thou hast whereby to enter.
29. appeal to you am unwilling to enlarge upon this, lest should be said, that my words are of any influence
Adbuc satiet te, et dicat. al. adhuc dicant. ' H
attend to the Psalm, read the Psalm.
suffered, His Blood hath been shed: lo, our Redeemer;
Lo, Christ hath thus far let them speak. '
'
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l 62 Donatists urged by the Books they claimed to have kept.
Psalm our Price. Let me be told, what hath He bought ? Why Exp. ii. do we ask? What if one say to me, "why, O foolish ~man, dost thou ask ? Thou hast the volume in thine hands: thou hast therein wherewith He bought, seek therein what He bought. Lo, there thou hast, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. " For
the borders of the earth shall remember themselves. But heretics have forgotten, and therefore do they hear it every
Do they give ear to this, think ye, when their reader says, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and turn to the Lord? Well, perchance it is but one verse : thy thoughts were elsewhere, thou wast talking idly with thy brother, when he spoke thus: mark, how he repeats and knocks at deaf men's ears And all the kindreds of the
nations shall worship in His sight. He still deaf, he does not hear: let the knocking be repeated. (Ver. 28. ) For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. Remember these three verses, Brethren. To-day have they been sung even among them or may be they have erased them. Believe me, my Brethren, am so embarassed, am so pressed, that am astonished at this strange deafness and hardness of their hearts, that sometimes doubt, whether they have in their copies. All run to-day to the Church, all to-day attentively listen to this Psalm, all listen with
uplifted heart. But suppose that they are not attentive
one verse only, All the borders of the earth shall remember
themselves, and be turned to the Lord? Thou art awaking, but art still rubbing thine eyes: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. Shake off sleep, thou art still drowsy listen: For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations.
too let
be burnt What did ye preserve Open, read thou
year.
30. Whether they have any thing yet to allege, know not: let them contend with the Scriptures, not with us. See the volume itself, let them contend against it. Where is
Oxf. their saying " We preserved the Scriptures from being 'There burnt? " They have been preserved, whereby thou mayest
and thou dost impugn them. Why pre- servedst thou from the flames, what thou wouldest destroy
con- didst preserve,
'eod''
p. 159. with the tongue do not believe, do not believe, that
? I
;
I?
2.
1,
it
I
:
I
I
1
it
: is
it,
I
I
is
; it
:
Holy Writ, Christ's Testament, marks out His Inheritance. 163
thou preservedst them; I do not at all believe it; thou didst Ver. not preserve them. Most truly do our party say, that thou. 28 didst deliver them up. He is proved to be the deliverer oftraditor them up, who when on reading the Testament doth not follow it. See, it is read, and I follow ; it is read, and thou refusest to follow. Whose hand hath cast them into the flames ? He that believes and follows, or he that grieves
that there is aught to be read ? I do not wish to know who may have preserved them : in what place soever the volume hath been found, from what cave soever, our Father's testa ment hath come to light, for some thieves or oiher* wished to take it away, some persecutors or other wished to burn it: from what place soever it hath been brought forth, let it be read. Why dost thou quarrel ? We are Brethren, why do we quarrel ? The Father hath not died intestate. He hath made a Testament, and so died : He died, and rose again. So long does the dispute touching the inherit ance of the dead last, until the Testament is publicly produced ; and when the Testament has been publicly pro duced, all are silent, that the instrument may be opened and
read: the judge listens with attention, the advocates hold their peace, the heralds procure silence, every body is in suspense that the words of the deceased, unconscious in the tomb, may be read. He lies without consciousness in the tomb, and his words have force. Christ sitteth in heaven ; and is His Testament gainsaid ? Open, let us read. We are Brethren, why do we contend together? Let us calm our temper, the Father hath not left us without a Testament. He Who made the Testament, liveth for ever : He heareth our words,
He recogniseth His own '. Let us read; why do we quarrel ? ' suan> When the whole inheritance shall have been found, let us
hold to it. Open the Testament, read in the very beginning
of the Psalter itself, Ask of Me. But who speaketh ? Perad- Ps. 2, 8.
I, The Lord said unto ib. 7. venture not Christ. You have there
Son. What then saith He to His Son ? Ask of Me, and will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the bounds of the earth for Thy possession. It is usual, Brethren,
* ' Nescio qui. ' Perhaps here, ' no matter what thieves. ' M2
Me, Thou art My Son, this day have
begotten Thee. The Son of God then speaketh, or the Father speaketh to HisI
164 No limits to Christ's possession. Wrangling for power. ,
Psalm when there is a question of possession, for the borderers to &sp. II. be sought. Between this and that borderer, the heir is sought out, either to whom it is given, or who has bought it.
Between what borderers is he sought? Between h this and that man in possession. He who hath left all borders, hath left no borderers. Wheresoever thou turnest thyself, Christ is. Thou hast the borders of the earth for thine inheritance ;
come hither, with me possess the whole. Why by quarrel ling dost thou call to a part only ? Come hither; to thine own good thou shalt be conquered, thou shalt have the whole. Dost thou wrangle still ?
I have already read the Testament, and thou wranglest. Art thou still wrangling,
because He said, the borders of the earth, and not, all the borders of the earth? Let us read on then. How does it
All the borders
selves, and turn to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. For the kingdom is the
Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. His it is, not yours. Acknowledge ye the Lord : acknowledge the Lord's possession.
3 1 . But ye again because ye would possess your goods privately, and not in common unity, and with Christ, (for ye wish to rule on earth yourselves, not to reign with Him in heaven,) ye have your own houses. And sometimes we come to them, saying, " Let us seek the truth, let us find the truth. " They answer, " Keep what you have: thou hast thy sheep, I have mine ; forbear to meddle with my sheep, for I do not meddle with thine. " Thanks be to God ; the sheep are mine ; the sheep are His ! What hath Christ bought ? Nay, let them be neither mine, nor thine ; but His
l Cor. 3, Who hath bought them, His Who hath marked them. Neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth; but God
Who giveth the increase. Why have I mine, and thou
stand ?
of
the earth shall remember them
If Christ be there, let mine go thither, for they are not mine : if Christ be here, let thine come hither, for they are not thine. Let us kiss head and hands for possessions,
b Oxf. Mss. ' Inter affines ; ilium et That the heir, or he who receives by
thine ?
ilium. Neerret hffires, aut cui donatnr,
aut qui emit, quserit inter quos affines
inter ilium et ilium possidentes. Qui
admisit 'omnes fines, nullos dimisit in all borders, has left no borderers. ' affines. ' Between so and so, borderers.
gift or purchase, may not err, he asks between what borderers P Between so and so, proprietors. He, Who has taken
The Donatists falsely call their possessions Christs. 165
and let the strange children perish'. " It is not my pos- Ver. session," he says. What is this ? Let us see whether it be ---- not thy possession, let us see whether thou dost not claim
it for thyself. I labour for the name of Christ, thou for the
name of Donatus. For if thou look to Christ, Christ is every
where. Thou sayest, Lo, here is Christ: I say, He is through- Mat. 24,
out the world. Praise the Lord, ye servants; praise
Name of the Lord. Wherefrom do they praise ? Where- 1. 3. unto do they praise ? From the rising of the sun unto the
going down thereof, praise ye the Name of the Lord. See the Church which I shew to you, see what Christ hath bought, see what He hath redeemed, see for what He hath given His blood. But what sayest thou ? "
I gather for
Him too. " He that gathereth not with Me, Christ saith, Mat. 12
theP^n3
scattereth. Thou dividest unity, thou seekest thine own30.
And why have they Christ's Name ? Because for the defence of thine own possession thou hast affixed Christ's titles. Do not some do the same with their own houses ? Lest some powerful person should attack his house, he affixes thereon the title of some powerful one, a false title. He would be himself the owner, and would have the front of his house protected by another man's title: that on reading the title one may be scared at the power of the name, and abstain from attacking the house. This they did when they condemned the Maximianists0. They pleaded before judges, and adduced their own council; as it were, shewing their titles, that they might appear to be Bishops. Then the
possessions.
judged asked, " Who is the other Bishop here, of the party of Donatus ? " The official answered, " We know none but Aurelius the Catholic. " In fear of the laws they made answer of one Bishop only. But they, that they might gain the ear of the judge, affixed Christ's Name : on their own
possession they affixed His title. Gracious is the Lord to spare them, and claim that for His own possession, where soever He findeth His title. Powerful is His mercy, Who doeth that for them, Who gathereth together, whomsoever
c ' Propter possessions osculentur
nobis caput et manus et pereant filii
alieni. ' Perhaps, ' so far as possession
is concerned, let our people kiss one of whom is given by St. Augustine, in another, head and hands, and let there Serm. II. on Ps. 37, (Lat. 36. ) ? . 20. be an end of aliens. ' But the meaning See also Labbe, Cone. II. 1089. 1153.
is ohscure,
d The Maximianists were a party
among the Donatists, a fuller account
166 Christ claims to take the house that claims to be His.
Psalm He findeth bearing the name of Christ. And consider, '.
Brethren, when any powerful one findeth his title, doth he not justly claim it for his own and say, " He would not
sacra- menta
affix my title, unless it were my property ? He hath affixed my title, it is my property: that, whereon I find my name, is mine. " Does he change the title ? The title is the very same as before : the owner is changed, the title is not changed. So also with those that have the baptism of Christ, if they return to unity, we do not change or destroy their title ; but we acknowledge the title of our King, the title of our Captain. But what do we say? O wretched house, may He own thee, Whose title thou bearest: thou bearest Christ's title ; be not the possession of Donatus.
32. We have spoken at great length, Brethren; but let not that, which is read to-day, depart from your recollec tion. Lo, I repeat it, and often must it be repeated: by this very day, that is, by the mysteries of this day, I adjure you that it go not out of your hearts, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship in His sight. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall rule over the nations. Against so clear and so manifestly proven a possession of Christ, listen not to the words of the wrangler. Whatever they say to gainsay they are men that say
but this God saith.
PSALM XXIII. A Psalm of David himself.
The Church speaks to Christ: (ver. I. ) The Lord feedeth me, and shall lack nothing. The Lord Jesus
Lat. XXII.
Christ my Shepherd, and shall lack nothing.
2. Ver. 2. In a place of pasture there hath He placed me. 1pascua>In place of fresh pasture, leading me to faith there hath
enta. "
He placed me to be nourished. By the water of refreshing hath He brought me up. By the water of baptism, whereby they are refreshed who have lost health and strength, hath He brought me up.
3. Ver. 3. He hath converted my soul He hath led me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake.
:
a 1. is
',
I I
it,
it ;
Christ our Shepherd, Guide, and support through death. 167
He hath brought me forth in the narrow ways, wherein few Ver.
walk, of His righteousness ; not for uiy merit's sake, but for
His Name's sake. I 4. Ver. 4. Yea, though
--
walk in the midst
of death. Yea, though I walk in the midst of this life, which
/ will no evil, Thou art fear for
is the shadow of death.
with me. I will fear no evil, for Thou dwellest in my heart by faith : and Thou art now with me, that after the shadow of death I too may be with Thee. Thy rod and Thy staff, they have comforted me. Thy discipline, like a rod for a flock of sheep, and like a staff for children of some size, and growing out of the natural into spiritual life, they have not been grievous to me ; rather have they comforted me : because Thou art mindful of me.
5. Ver. 5. Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, against them that trouble me. Now after the rod, whereby, whilst a little one, and living the natural life, 1 was brought up among the flock in the pastures ; after that rod, I say, when I began to be under the staff, Thou hast prepared a table in my sight, that I should no more be fed as a babe with milk, but being older should take meat, strengthened against them that trouble me. Thou hast fattened my head with oil. Thou hast gladdened my mind with spiritual joy. And Thy in ebriating cup, how excellent is it ! And Thy cup yielding forgetfulness of former vain delights, how excellent is it !
6. Ver. 6. And Thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: that is, as long Ias I live in this mortal life, not
1 Cor. 3, "
of the shadow
may dwell in the house the of
Thine, but mine. That
Lord for length of days. Now Thy mercy shall follow me not here only, but also that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
PSALM XXIV.
A Psalm of David himself, on the first day of the week.
Lat. win.
1. A Psalm of David himself, touching the glorifying and resurrection of the Lord, which took place early in the morning on the first day of the week, which is now called
the Lord's Day.
Psalm TT YT V
2. Ver. 1. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, ?
168 Who are they whom Christ shall bring to glory.
? the compass of the world, and all they that dwell therein : when the Lord, being glorified, is announced for the believing of all nations; and the whole compass of the world becomes His Church. (Ver. 2. ) He hath founded it above the seas. He hath most firmly established it above all the waves of this world, that they should be subdued by and should not hurt it. And hath prepared above the rivers. The rivers flow into the sea, and men of lust lapse into the world these also the Church, which, when worldly lusts have been con quered by the grace of God, hath been prepared by love for the reception of immortality, subdues.
3. Ver. 3. Who shall ascend into the mount the Lord Who shall ascend to the height of the righteousness of the Lord Or who shall stand in His holy place Orwho
'al. 'hath shall abide in that place, whither He shall ascend founded e(i, n " above the seas, and prepared above the rivers
Rom. 12,
4. Ver. 4. The innocent of hand, and the pure in heart. Who then shall ascend thither, and abide there, but the guiltless in deed, and pure in thought Who hath not received his soul in vain. Who hath not reckoned his soul among things that pass away, but feeling to be immortal, hath longed for an eternity stedfast and unchangeable. And hath not sworn in deceit to his neighbour. And therefore without deceit, as things eternal are simple and undeceiving, hath so behaved himself to his neighbour.
5. Ver. 5. Tliis man shall receive blessing from the Lord, and mercy from the God of his salvation.
6. Ver. 6. This is the generation of them that seek the Lord. For thus are they born that seek Him. Of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Diapsalma. Now they seek the face of God, Who gave the preeminence to the younger born.
7. Ver. 7. Take away your gates, ye princes. All ye, that seek rule among men, remove, that they hinder not, the entrances which ye have made, of desire and fear. And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates. And be ye lift up, ye entrances of eternal life, of renunciation of the world, and conversion to God. And the King of glory shall come in. And the King, in Whom we may glory without pride, shall
9,
it ?
it,
?
', ?
of
:
?
f
it
Christ the King of Glory. His triumph over Satan. 169
come in : Who having overcome the gates of death, and Ver. having opened for Himself the heavenlyIplaces, fulfilled that _
which He said, Be of good cheer, for world.
8. Ver. 8. Who is this King of glory ? Mortal nature is awe-struck in wonder, and asks, Who is this King of glory ?
The Lord strong and mighty. He, Whom thou didst deem weak and overwhelmed. The Lord mighty in battle. Handle the scars, and thou wilt find them made whole, and human weakness restored to immortality. The glorifying of the Lord, which was owing to earth, where It warred with death, hath been paid.
9. Ver. 9. Take away your gates, ye princes. Let us go
hence straightway into heaven. Again, let the Prophet's trumpet cry aloud, " Take away too, ye princes of the air,
the gates, which ye have in the minds of men who worship 2 Kings
'
10. Ver. 10. Who is this King ofglory? What! dost thou
too, prince of the power of this air, marvel and ask, Who is Eph. 2,2. this King ofglory? The Lord ofpowers, He is the King of
glory. Yea, His Body now quickened, He Who was tempted marches above thee ; He Who was tempted by the angel,
the deceiver, goes above all angels. Let none of yon put himself before us and stop our way, that he may be wor shipped as a god by us: neither principality, nor angel, Rom. 8, nor power, separateth us from the love of Christ. It is good
the host of heaven. " And be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates. And be ye lift up, ye doors of everlasting righteousness, of love, and chastity, through which the soul loveth the One True God, and goeth not a whoring with the many, that are called gods. And the King of glory shall come in. And the King of glory shall come in, that He may at the right hand of the Father intercede for us.
'
118 to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in prince that he9.
? who glorieth, should glory in the Lord. These indeed are 31. powers in the administration of this world, but the Lord of
powers, He is the King of glory.
have overcome the Johnie,
' '
a
;
Ps'
Lat. XXIV.
170 All trust vain but that in God's mercy.
PSALM XXV.
To the end, a Psalm ofDavid himseij.
1 . Christ speaks, but in the person of the Church : for what is said has reference rather to the Christian People turned unto God. I up my soul:
2. Ver. 1. Unto Thee, O Lord, have lift
with spiritual longing have I lift up the soul, that was trodden down on the earth wIith carnal longings. (Ver. 2. )
0 my God, in Thee I trust, shall not be ashamed. O my God, from trusting in myself I was brought even to this weakness of the flesh; and I who on abandoning God wished to be as God, fearing death from the smallest insect, was in derision Iashamed for my pride; now, therefore, in Thee
shall not be ashamed.
3. And let not my enemies mock me. And let them not
mock me, who by ensnaring me with " serpent-like and secret suggestions, and prompting me with, Well done, well done," have brought me down to this. (Ver. 3. ) For all that wait upon Thee shall not be confounded.
4. Let them be confounded who do vain things unrighte
ously. Let them be confounded who act unrighteously for
the acquiring things that pass away. (Ver. 4. ) Make Thy Mat. 7, ways, O Lord, known to me, and teach me Thy paths : not
those which are broad, and lead the many to destruction; but Thy paths, narrow, and known to few, teach Thou me.
1 trust,
5. Ver. 5. In Thy truth guide me: avoiding error. And teach me : for by myself I know nothing, but falsehood. For Thou art the God of my salvation ; and for Thee have
Lukei5, /waited all the day. For dismissed by Thee from Paradise, and having taken my journey into a far country, I cannot by myself return, unless Thou meetest the wanderer : for my return hath throughout the whole tract of this world's time waited for Thy mercy.
6. Ver. 6. Remember Thy compassions, O Lord. Re member the works of Thy mercy, O Lord ; for men deem of Thee as though Thou hadst forgotten. And that Thy mercies are from eternity.
