He setteth before himself licence to sin, the reins of
iniquity
being let loose now
that he has no hope of pardon.
that he has no hope of pardon.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v6
How straight soever I seem to myself,
Thou bringest forth a standard from Thy store-house, Thou
fittest me to and am found crooked. Enter not into judgment with Thy servant. Well said, with Thy servant. It unworthy of Thee to enter into judgment with Thy servant, or even with Thy friend for Thou
wouldest not say, say unto you, My friends, hadst not Thou Matt. Thyself made them of servants to become friends. Though 40* Thou callest me friend, confess myself a servant. need Thy pity return from running from Thee seek peace.
am not worthy to be called Thy son. Enter not into Lukeis, judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight every one
living shall not be justified. Judge none blessed before his Ecclus. death; no one living whatever. What of the rams them-*' selves, what of the Apostles themselves, of whose offspring
said, Bring the young rams unto the Lord Of these Paul, who calleth not himself perfect, not as though
had already attained, either were already
Finally, brethren, that ye may perceive at once, they learnt to pray what we pray to them was given the pattern
of prayer by the heavenly Counsellor. After this manner, Matt. saith He, pray ye. And have set down certain things first,9"
He laid down this too to be said by our rams, the leaders of the sheep, the chief members of the Shepherd and Gatherer1 of Con- the one flock even they learnt to say, Forgive us our debts, torus*'
as we too forgive our debtors. They said not, Thanks be to
Thee, Who hast forgiven us our debts, as we too forgive our stores, debtors,' but, Forgive, as we forgive. ' But surely the faith- J^erm" ful prayed then, surely the Apostles prayed then, for thisib- 12. Lord's Prayer was given rather to the faithful. If those
debts only were meant which are forgiven by Baptism,
would befit catechumens rather to say, Forgive us our debts.
Let the Apostles then say, yea let them say, Forgive us our
debts, as we too forgive our debtors. And when said to
them, Wherefore say ye this what are your debts let
them answer, for in Thy sight every one living shall not be
justified.
7. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he huthyer.
perfect.
3.
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Psalm humbled my life on the earth. Here we speak, here our cxliir. IIeaj Speaketh for us: for the enemy hath persecuted my soul. Manifestly both the devil persecuted the Soul of Christ and Judas the Soul of his Master : and now too the
same devil remaineth to persecute the Body of Christ, and one Judas succeedeth another. There lacketh not then of whom the Body too may say, For the enemy hath perse cuted my soul: he hath humbled my life on the earth. He hath humbled, saith he, my life on the earth. In
Ps. 57. another place it is said, They bowed down my soul. For what doth each one who persecuteth ns endeavour save to make us abandon our heavenly hope, and savour of the earth, yield to our persecutor, and love earthly things ? They indeed, as far as in them lies, do this : yet let not this
Col. 3, befall us to whom it is said, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Seek those things which are above, not those which are on earth, for ye are dead. For in
God's sight every one living shall not be justified. They then, either openly raging, or secretly laying snares, en deavour to bring our life to the earth. Against them let us
Phil. 3, watch ; that we may be able to say, Our conversation is in
"
heaven. The enemy, saith he, hath humbled my life upon earth.
8. They have laid me in dark places, as the dead of the world. This ye hear more readily from the Head ; this ye perceive more readily in the Head. For He died indeed for us, yet was He not one of the dead of the world. For who are the dead of the world ? And how was not He one of the dead of the world ? The dead of the world are those who have died of their own desert, receiving the reward of iniquity, deriving death from the sin transmissed to them;
Pt. 51,5. according as it is said, For I
was conceived in iniquity, and in sin did my mother cherish me in her womb. But He
came by a Virgin, taking to Him Flesh pure itself, purify ing others. But they who thought Him a sinner, looked on Him as one of the dead of the world. But He, Who said in another Psalm, / paid them the things that I
never took, John u, and Who said in the Gospel, Behold, the prince of this world 30' 81" cometh, the captain of death, the persuader to evil deeds, the
We too were partakers of His Sufferings. 287
executor of punishment, saith, Behold he cometh, and shall Vfr. find nothing in Me. What shall find nothing in Me *' -
No fault, nothing for which ought to die. But that all, saith He, may know that do the will of My Father, arise, let us go hence. In dying, saith He, do the will of My Father, but am not deserving of death. Nought have
done wherefore should die, yet Mine own doing
that die, that by the death of an innocent One, they may
be freed who had wherefore they should die. They set me
in dark places, as though in Hades, as though the tomb,
as though in His very Passion, as the dead of the world,
even Him they set, Who saith, am become like one that P* ^8, hath no help, free among the dead. What is, free Where fore,^^? Because every one that doeth sin the servant John
of sin. Finally, He would not free from bonds, were He34' not free from bonds Himself. He, Himself free, slew death, bound bondage, led captivity captive, and they set Him in dark places as the dead the world.
8. And My Spirit within me, saith We, suffered weariness, ver. 4. Remember, My soul exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Mat. 26, Here we see one voice. Do we not see plainly the transition28, from the Head to the members, from the members to the
Head My Spirit within Me, saith He, hath suffered weariness. Here we recognise, My soul exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. But we too were there. For
He transfigured in Himself the body our humiliation, Phil. that may be fashioned like unto the Body His glory
and our old man crucified with Him. My heart in Me Rom. is troubled. In Me, He saith, not in others. For they forsook Me, they who had clung to Me left Me, and because
they saw Me die, they thought that was somewhat else,
and were beaten by the thief, who believed, when they failed.
10. Then he goes to the members. have called to tnindvei. 5. the days of old. Did He call to mind the days of old,
by Whom every day was made No, but the body speaketh,
each one who has been justified by His grace, who dwelleth in Him in love and devout humility, speaketh and saith,
have called to mind the days of old, have meditated upon all Thy works plainly because Thou hast made all
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288 Our good works, God's work in us.
Psalm things good, and nothing would have stood fast, which was cl<l'n- not established by Thee. Thy creation is made a spectacle
I have sought in the work the Artificer, in all that is made the Maker. Wherefore this, to what purpose this, save that he might understand, that whatever there
Rom. 10, was of good in himself was made by Him ; lest, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish his own righteousness, he should not submit himself to the righteousness of God: that those words above, in Thy Truth and in Thy Righteousness, might suit him ? In all the works of God then, and in meditation on all the works of God, he introduceth grace, he commendeth grace, he boasteth that he hath found grace, the grace whereby we are saved without price ; for without price we are saved. Why boastest thou of thine own righteousness? why liftest thou up thyself, being ignorant of the righteousness of God? Perchance thou gavest somewhat to be saved? What gavest thou to be made a man ? Look back then upon the Framer of thy life, the Author of thy substance, of
Phil. 2, I2' 13-
unto me :
thy righteousness,
and of thy salvation : meditate upon the
works of His hands, for the righteousness too which is in
thee, thou wilt find to pertain to His hand. Hear the
Eph. 2, Apostle teaching thee this, not of works, he saith, lest any
9' 10.
should boast. Have we no good works ? Plainly we have : but see what follows ; for we are His workmanship, saith he. We are His workmanship : perhaps in thus speaking of workmanship, he meant to mention the nature whereby we are men? Evidently not: he was speaking of works. Not, saith he, of works, lest any should boast. But let us not make conjectures; let the text go on, for we are His work manship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Think not then that thou thyself doest any thing, save in so far as thou art evil. Turn thee from thine own work, to His work Who made thee; He fashioneth thee, and let Him refashion what He had fashioned, and thou hast destroyed. For that thou art, He hath wrought ; that thou art good, if good thou art, He worketh. Work out your own salvation, saith the Apostle, with fear and trembling. If we do work out our own salvation, wherefore with fear, wherefore with trembling, when what we work is in our own power? Hear wherefore
Our souls need to be watered by God's grace. 289
with fear and trembling: for it is God that worketh in you Vrr. both to will and to do, of His good pleasure. Therefore
with fear and trembling, that it may delight our Maker to
work in the lowly valley. For so doth He work, as it were,
in that which is cast down, Who judgeth I theP*- no, among
nations, and repaireth that which hath fallen. meditated on the works of Thine hands. I have seen then and looked into Thy works, that nothing good can there be in us, unless it be wrought by Thee, Who hast made us.
11. And what did I w hen I saw that every good gift and Jam. l, every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the 17, Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning ? When I saw this, I turned me from
the evil work which I had wrought in myself, and
forth my hands unto Thee. 1 stretched forth, saith he, my hands to Thee: my soul is as a land without water to Thee. Rain upon me, saith he, to bring forth from me good fruit.
For the Lord shall give sweetness, that our land may give her Ps. 85, fruit. I have stretched forth my hands to Thee; my soul is as 12"
a land without water, not to me, but, to Thee. I can thirst
for Thee, I cannot water myself. My soul is as a land without water to Thee ; for, my soul is athiisl for the living pa. 42,
God. When shall I come to Him, save when He hath2* come to me? My soul is athirst for the living God; for,
my soul is as a land without water to Thee. The sea aboundeth, floodeth, is full, floweth: but it is bitter. The
water is separated, my dry soul hath appeared: water for Gen. 1,9.
my soul is as a land without water to Thee.
12. Speedily hear me, Lord. For what need of delay tover.
inflame my thirst, when already thirst so eagerly Thou didst delay the rain, that might drink and imbibe, not reject, Thy inflowing. If then Thou didst for this cause delay, now give for, my soul as a land without water to Thee. Speedily hear me, Lord: my spirit hath failed. Let Thy Spirit fill me, for my spirit hath failed me. This
the reason why Thou shouldest speedily hear me, because
my spirit hath failed me. am now become poor in spirit, Matt. make Thou me blessed in the kingdom heaven. For he3-
in whom his own spirit liveth, proud, puffed up with
his own spirit against God. Let that happen in him to his
VOL. vi.
/
stretched ver. 6.
have
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290 God's Face turned from the proud: and so they perish.
Psalm good which elsewhere is written, Thou shalt take away their p*l|"4' spirit, and they shall fail, and be turned to their dust; that 29. they may confess, and say, Remember that we are but dust. Ps. 103, Ijut when lney nave sa\^ Remember that we are but dust, then let them say, my soul is as a land without water to Thee. For what is so much a land without water, as dust? But
do Thou speedily hear me, O God, rain on me, strengthen
me, that I be not dust which the wind driveth away from the Pa. l, 4. face of the earth . Speedily hear me, O God; my spirit hath failed: let not my need suffer longer delay. Thou hast taken
away my spirit, that I might fail, and be turned to dust, and
say unto Thee, my soul is as a land without water to Thee: P*. 104, do Thou also what followeth in that Psalm, Thou shall send
30
2Cor. 5, renew the face of the earth. If any one be in Christ, he is
17-
a new creature; old things are passed away: old things are passed away in his spirit, they are made new in Thy Spirit.
13. Turn not Thou away Thy Face from me. Thou didst turn it away from me when proud. For once I was
Ps. 69, 15.
forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and Thou shalt
P<<. 30, full, and in fulness I was
I in I
6' 7'
my
/said, Ishall never be moved.
puffed up. Once my fulness
said in
not be moved, knowing not Thy Righteousness, and esta
blishing mine own ; but Thou, LorId, in Thy Will hast
didst turn away Thy Face from me, and I was troubled. After this trouble, whereinto I was cast, because Thou didst turn away Thy Face, after the weariness of my spirit, after my heart was troubled within me, because Thou didst turn away Thy Face, then became I like a land without water to Thee: turn not Thou away Thy Face. Thou turnedst itawayfrommewhenproud; giveitbacktomenow1am humble. Turn not away Thy Face from me, because, if Thou turn it away, / shall be like to them that go down into the pit. What that go down into the pit When the sinner has come into the depth of sins, he will shew con tempt. They go down into the pit, who lose even confes- sion against which said, Let not the pit close her mouth
said in my fulness, Ishall not be moved, but from Thee came whatever fulness I had. And to prove to me that it was from Thee, Thou
afforded strength to my beauty.
my
fulness,
shall
;
is, is
?
W? must hope forMercy in the end; $ therefore do good works. 29 1
over me. This depth Scripture calleth mostly a pit, into Via. which depth when a sinner hath come, he sheweth contempt, -i-? -- What is, he sheweth contempt ? He no longer believeth in Providence, or if he do believe, he thinketh that he has no
longer ought to do with it.
He setteth before himself licence to sin, the reins of iniquity being let loose now
that he has no hope of pardon. He saith not, ' 1 will return to God that He maIy return to me he heareth not,
Turn ye unto Me, and
come to the depth of evil, he sheweth contempt. For from ycc\us the dead, saith the wise man, as though he were not, con- 17, 28.
fIession perisheth. Turn not then Thy Face from me, or
shall be like them that doivn into the pit. go
will return to you, for having Mai.
3,
14. Make me to hear in the morning Thy mercy, for vet. e. in Thee have J hoped. Behold, I am in the night, yet
in Tliee have I hoped, until the iniquity of the night pass away. For we have, as Peter saith, a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and
the day-star arise in your hearts. Morning then he calleth
the time after the end of the world, when we shall see what
in this world we believe. For, in the morning Thou shall p<<.
I will stand by Thee, and gaze. Make me to hear in the morning Thy mercy, for in
5, 3.
Thee have 1 hoped. For if we hope for that we see not, Rom. 8, then do we with patience wait for it. The night re quire th 25, patience, the day will give joy. MakeI me to hear in the
hear my voice ; in the morning
morning Thy mercy, for in Thee have
hoped.
15. But what here, until the morning come ? For it is
not enough to hope for the morning ; we must do somewhat. IWhy do somewhat ? Because he saith in another Psalm,
sought God in thIe day my tribulation ; as it were in Pa. 77,2. of
sought God. How didst thIou seek ?
the time of night
With my hands in the night before Him ; and
was not deceived. God is to be sought with the hands in the night. What is, with the hands? By good works. What, before Him ? When Thou doest an alms, do not sound a trumpet
before thee, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee. Since then we must thus hope for the morning, and bear this night, and persevere in this patience until the day U2
292 IVe must flee to God, to be aided against our enemies.
Psalm dawn, what meanwhile must we do here ? lest perchance --~' thou think that thou wilt do ought of thyself, whereby thou
mayest earn to be brought to thIe morning. Make known to
must walk. Therefore did
He kindle the lamp of prophecy, therefore did He send the
' test* Lord in the vessel1, as it were, of the flesh, Who should even
Ps. 22, say, My strength is dried up like a potsherd- Walk by
15,
me, O Lord, the way wherein
prophecy, walk by the lamp of future things predicted, walk John 1, by the word of God. As yet thou seest not the Word in the beginning, God with God: walk by the Form of a servant, thou shalt be brought to the Form of God. Make I should walk ; have it up
known to me, O Lord, the way wherein
I
Ps. 36, to T1iee, not against Thee. With Thee is the Fountain
for unto' Thee have 1 lifted up my soul.
lifted
vet. 9.
of life : to Thee have I lifted up my soul. I have brought it as a vesselIto the Fountain : fill me, therefore, for unto
up my soul.
16". Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord, for unto Thee
have 1 fled for refuge. I who once fled from Thee, now flee to Thee. For Adam fled from the Face of God, and hid himself among the trees of Paradise, so that of him was
Tliee ha ve
lifted
Job 7,2. said in the Book of Job, As a servant that fleeth from his
LXX Lord, and findeth a shadow. He fled from the Face of his
Lord, and found a shadow ; for he fled to the shade among
the trees of Paradise. Woe to him, if he continue in the
Wisd. 5, shade, lest it be said afterward, All things are passed away
"''
like a shadow. Deliver me from mine enemies. I think Eph. 6, not here of men enemies. We wrestle not against flesh
and blood. But against whom ? Against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world. What world ? For he cannot mean earth and sky, for they rule not what they have not made. Rulers of the world. But
of what world ? This darkness. What darkness ?
Eph. 5, the wicked. For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. The rulers of this world, of this darkness, the rulers of the wicked; against these ye
wrestle. Great is your conflict, not to see your enemies, and yet to conquer. Against the rulers of this world, of this darkness, the devil, that is, and his angels; not the
John l, rulers of that world, whereof is said, the world was made 10.
Clearly
The peril of unworthily receiving Christ. 293
by Him, but that world whereof is said, the world knew Ver. Him not. IDeliver me from mine enemies, O Lord, for unto 9" 1Q'
From mine enemies, not
fled for refuge. from
Thee have
Judas, but from him who filled Judas. The one whom
I see, I endure ; the one whom I see not, I fight. For Judas received the sop, and Satan entered into him, that ThatJobnis, David might suffer persecution at the hands of his son.
How many Judases doth Satan fill, unworthily receiving the
sop to their damnation ! For whoso eateth and drinketh 1 Cor. unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation unto himself. 11'"' Not evil is that which is given, but what is good is given to
the evil to damnation. It cannot be well with him who in
evil wise taketh whaIt is good.
have mine enemies, for Jled
Therefore, Deliver me from unto Thee For
whi
Ither should I flee ? Whither shall I
go up into heaven, Thou art there;
If if IfI
? Ps. 139, down to8'
go hell, Thou art there. What then remaineth ?
take wings as a dove, and fly to the farthest parts of the sea: that in hope dwell in the end of the world. For thither shall Thine hand guide me, and Thy right hand bring me. Deliver me from mine enemies, for unto Thee
have Jledfor refuge, Lord.
17. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. ver. 10.
Glorious confession glorious rule For Thou, saith he, art
my God. To another will hasten to be re-made, another was made. Thou art my all, for Thou art my God. Shall seek a father to get an inheritance? Thou art my God, not only the Giver of mine inheritance, but
mine Inheritance itself. The Lord the portion of mine Ps. 16,5. inheritance. Shall seek patron, to obtain redemption
Thou art my God. Lastly, having been created, do desire to be re-created Thou art my God, my Creator, Who hast created me by Thy Word, and re-created me by Thy Word. But Thou createdst me by Thy Word, remaining God with* Thee Thou re-createdst me by Thy Word, made Flesh for our sakes. Teach Thou me then to do Thy will, for Thou
art my God. If Thou teach me not, shall do mine own will, and my God will abandon me. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Teach Thou me for cannot
be that Thou art my God, and yet am to be mine own
I for refuge.
go from Thy Spirit
my
by
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294 Our own deserts, ill deserts; good deserts, from God.
Psalm master. See how grace is commended to us. This hold CxI'"r' fast, this drink in, this let none drive out of your hearts, lest
ye have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge; lest, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish your own righteousness, ye submit not your selves to the righteousness of God. Ye recognise the words of the Apostle. Say then this, Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
18. Thy good Spirit, not my bad one, Thy good Spirit shall lead me into the right land. For my bad spirit hath led me into a crooked land. And what have I deserved ? What can be reckoned as my good works without Thy aid, through which I might obtain and be worthy to be led by Thy Spirit into the right land. What are my works ? what
ver. 11. my deserts? For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shalt quicken me. Listen, then, with all your power, to the com mendation of Grace, whereby ye are saved without price. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shalt quicken me.
Pa. 114, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give the glory. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shalt quicken me in Thy righteousness ; not in mine own : not because I have deserved, but because Thou hast mercy. For were I to shew mine own desert, nought should I deserve of Thee, save punishment. Thou hast pruned off from me mine own merits ; Thou hast grafted in Thine own gifts.
For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shall quicken me in
Thy righteousness. Thou shall bring forth my soul out of ver. 12. tribulation : and in Thy mercy shalt bring mine enemies to destruction : and Thou shalt destroy all them that afflict
Rom. ''
Lat. CxlIII.
PSALM CXLIV. Sermon to the People.
my soul; for I am Thy servant.
1. The title of this Psalm is brief in number of words, but heavy in the weight of its mysteries. To David himself against Goliath. This battle was fought in the time of our fathers, and ye, beloved, remember it with me from Holy Scripture. For when the aliens were fighting against the
David, a type of Christ; Goliath, of the devil. 29,0
people of God, one of them challenged a single adversary, Psalm Goliath challenged David: that in that contest the will of-0-- God for either party's success might be tested. But why
do we trouble ourselves about the victory, when we see the challenger and the challenged ? It was wickedness chal
lenging goodness, pride challenging humility ; lastly, it was the devil challenging Christ. Why wonder ye that the devil was vanquished ? The one was great in bodily stature ; the other small in stature, great in faith. Holy David took to him armour of war, to go forth against Goliath. This armour, through his age, and his smallness of stature, as we
have mentioned, he could not carry. He cast away what burdened him, but helped him not ; he took five stones from
the river, and put them in his shepherd's vessel'. Armed 1 vase in body with these, in spirit with the Name of God, he went forth, and conquered. This did that David ; but let us search for the hidden meaning. For we had set forth above,
that this title was brief in number of words, but heavy in weight of mysteries. But call to mind that sentence of the Apostle, All these things happened unto them in a figure, 1 Cor. that we seem not wantonly to seek for somewhat hidden,10'11- where it may be said that all is simply said without any depth of mystery. We have then authority which makes us eager to seek, watchful to trace out, attentive to hear, faithful
to believe, active to do. In David is Christ; but, as ye that are learned in His school arc wont to understand, Christ is both Head and Body. Hear not then any thing spoken in the person of Christ, as though it concerned not you, who are members of Christ. This being laid down as a foundation, see what followeth.
2. Ye know that the former people were laden with many
rites3 visible and corporeal, with circumcision, with that labo-2 sacra- rious priesthood of theirs, with the temple filled with types, mentls with manifold kinds of whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.
These our David laid aside, as armour that weighed down,
but helped not. For if there had been a law given which Gal. 3, could have given life, verily righteousness should have been21'22' by the Law. To what purpose then was the Law ? It followeth ;
But Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise
by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to all that believe.
206 The ' stones in the scrip,' the Law combined with Grace.
Psalm Finally, this David, that is, Christ, both Head and Body CxlrT' at the time of the revelation of the New Testament, at the
Rom. is, 10.
lb. 5, 5.
time when grace was to be put forward and recommended, what did He? He laid aside His armour, He took five stones: He laid aside, as we have said, the burdensome armour: He laid aside, that is, the rites of the Law, those rites of the Law which are not laid on the Gentiles, which we do not observe. For ye remember how much we read in the old Law, which we do not observe, yet understand to have been sent before, and set forth to signify somewhat; not that we cast away the Law of God, but that we celebrate not the rites of promise, now that the promise is fulfilled. For what they promised has come. For the grace of the new covenant which was veiled under the Law, is unveiled in the Gospel. We have removed the veil, and have seen what was veiled : we have seen it in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Head and Saviour, Who was crucified for us, at Whose crucifixion, moreover, the veil of the temple was rent in twain. Finally, He laid aside His armour, that is, the burden of the rites of the old Law, and took the Law itself. For the five stones signify the five Books of Moses.
He took then those five stones from the river. Ye know what the river is. For this mortal life glideth on, and what ever cometh into the world floweth by. They were then in the river, that is, in that former people, stones ; there they were useless, idle, profited nothing, the river flowed along over them. What did David, that the Law might be profit able? He received grace. For without grace the Law cannot be fulfilled. For love is the fulfilment of the Law : and wnere is ihis love p see ;f ;t come not from grace. The
?
Thou bringest forth a standard from Thy store-house, Thou
fittest me to and am found crooked. Enter not into judgment with Thy servant. Well said, with Thy servant. It unworthy of Thee to enter into judgment with Thy servant, or even with Thy friend for Thou
wouldest not say, say unto you, My friends, hadst not Thou Matt. Thyself made them of servants to become friends. Though 40* Thou callest me friend, confess myself a servant. need Thy pity return from running from Thee seek peace.
am not worthy to be called Thy son. Enter not into Lukeis, judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight every one
living shall not be justified. Judge none blessed before his Ecclus. death; no one living whatever. What of the rams them-*' selves, what of the Apostles themselves, of whose offspring
said, Bring the young rams unto the Lord Of these Paul, who calleth not himself perfect, not as though
had already attained, either were already
Finally, brethren, that ye may perceive at once, they learnt to pray what we pray to them was given the pattern
of prayer by the heavenly Counsellor. After this manner, Matt. saith He, pray ye. And have set down certain things first,9"
He laid down this too to be said by our rams, the leaders of the sheep, the chief members of the Shepherd and Gatherer1 of Con- the one flock even they learnt to say, Forgive us our debts, torus*'
as we too forgive our debtors. They said not, Thanks be to
Thee, Who hast forgiven us our debts, as we too forgive our stores, debtors,' but, Forgive, as we forgive. ' But surely the faith- J^erm" ful prayed then, surely the Apostles prayed then, for thisib- 12. Lord's Prayer was given rather to the faithful. If those
debts only were meant which are forgiven by Baptism,
would befit catechumens rather to say, Forgive us our debts.
Let the Apostles then say, yea let them say, Forgive us our
debts, as we too forgive our debtors. And when said to
them, Wherefore say ye this what are your debts let
them answer, for in Thy sight every one living shall not be
justified.
7. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he huthyer.
perfect.
3.
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Psalm humbled my life on the earth. Here we speak, here our cxliir. IIeaj Speaketh for us: for the enemy hath persecuted my soul. Manifestly both the devil persecuted the Soul of Christ and Judas the Soul of his Master : and now too the
same devil remaineth to persecute the Body of Christ, and one Judas succeedeth another. There lacketh not then of whom the Body too may say, For the enemy hath perse cuted my soul: he hath humbled my life on the earth. He hath humbled, saith he, my life on the earth. In
Ps. 57. another place it is said, They bowed down my soul. For what doth each one who persecuteth ns endeavour save to make us abandon our heavenly hope, and savour of the earth, yield to our persecutor, and love earthly things ? They indeed, as far as in them lies, do this : yet let not this
Col. 3, befall us to whom it is said, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Seek those things which are above, not those which are on earth, for ye are dead. For in
God's sight every one living shall not be justified. They then, either openly raging, or secretly laying snares, en deavour to bring our life to the earth. Against them let us
Phil. 3, watch ; that we may be able to say, Our conversation is in
"
heaven. The enemy, saith he, hath humbled my life upon earth.
8. They have laid me in dark places, as the dead of the world. This ye hear more readily from the Head ; this ye perceive more readily in the Head. For He died indeed for us, yet was He not one of the dead of the world. For who are the dead of the world ? And how was not He one of the dead of the world ? The dead of the world are those who have died of their own desert, receiving the reward of iniquity, deriving death from the sin transmissed to them;
Pt. 51,5. according as it is said, For I
was conceived in iniquity, and in sin did my mother cherish me in her womb. But He
came by a Virgin, taking to Him Flesh pure itself, purify ing others. But they who thought Him a sinner, looked on Him as one of the dead of the world. But He, Who said in another Psalm, / paid them the things that I
never took, John u, and Who said in the Gospel, Behold, the prince of this world 30' 81" cometh, the captain of death, the persuader to evil deeds, the
We too were partakers of His Sufferings. 287
executor of punishment, saith, Behold he cometh, and shall Vfr. find nothing in Me. What shall find nothing in Me *' -
No fault, nothing for which ought to die. But that all, saith He, may know that do the will of My Father, arise, let us go hence. In dying, saith He, do the will of My Father, but am not deserving of death. Nought have
done wherefore should die, yet Mine own doing
that die, that by the death of an innocent One, they may
be freed who had wherefore they should die. They set me
in dark places, as though in Hades, as though the tomb,
as though in His very Passion, as the dead of the world,
even Him they set, Who saith, am become like one that P* ^8, hath no help, free among the dead. What is, free Where fore,^^? Because every one that doeth sin the servant John
of sin. Finally, He would not free from bonds, were He34' not free from bonds Himself. He, Himself free, slew death, bound bondage, led captivity captive, and they set Him in dark places as the dead the world.
8. And My Spirit within me, saith We, suffered weariness, ver. 4. Remember, My soul exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Mat. 26, Here we see one voice. Do we not see plainly the transition28, from the Head to the members, from the members to the
Head My Spirit within Me, saith He, hath suffered weariness. Here we recognise, My soul exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. But we too were there. For
He transfigured in Himself the body our humiliation, Phil. that may be fashioned like unto the Body His glory
and our old man crucified with Him. My heart in Me Rom. is troubled. In Me, He saith, not in others. For they forsook Me, they who had clung to Me left Me, and because
they saw Me die, they thought that was somewhat else,
and were beaten by the thief, who believed, when they failed.
10. Then he goes to the members. have called to tnindvei. 5. the days of old. Did He call to mind the days of old,
by Whom every day was made No, but the body speaketh,
each one who has been justified by His grace, who dwelleth in Him in love and devout humility, speaketh and saith,
have called to mind the days of old, have meditated upon all Thy works plainly because Thou hast made all
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288 Our good works, God's work in us.
Psalm things good, and nothing would have stood fast, which was cl<l'n- not established by Thee. Thy creation is made a spectacle
I have sought in the work the Artificer, in all that is made the Maker. Wherefore this, to what purpose this, save that he might understand, that whatever there
Rom. 10, was of good in himself was made by Him ; lest, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish his own righteousness, he should not submit himself to the righteousness of God: that those words above, in Thy Truth and in Thy Righteousness, might suit him ? In all the works of God then, and in meditation on all the works of God, he introduceth grace, he commendeth grace, he boasteth that he hath found grace, the grace whereby we are saved without price ; for without price we are saved. Why boastest thou of thine own righteousness? why liftest thou up thyself, being ignorant of the righteousness of God? Perchance thou gavest somewhat to be saved? What gavest thou to be made a man ? Look back then upon the Framer of thy life, the Author of thy substance, of
Phil. 2, I2' 13-
unto me :
thy righteousness,
and of thy salvation : meditate upon the
works of His hands, for the righteousness too which is in
thee, thou wilt find to pertain to His hand. Hear the
Eph. 2, Apostle teaching thee this, not of works, he saith, lest any
9' 10.
should boast. Have we no good works ? Plainly we have : but see what follows ; for we are His workmanship, saith he. We are His workmanship : perhaps in thus speaking of workmanship, he meant to mention the nature whereby we are men? Evidently not: he was speaking of works. Not, saith he, of works, lest any should boast. But let us not make conjectures; let the text go on, for we are His work manship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Think not then that thou thyself doest any thing, save in so far as thou art evil. Turn thee from thine own work, to His work Who made thee; He fashioneth thee, and let Him refashion what He had fashioned, and thou hast destroyed. For that thou art, He hath wrought ; that thou art good, if good thou art, He worketh. Work out your own salvation, saith the Apostle, with fear and trembling. If we do work out our own salvation, wherefore with fear, wherefore with trembling, when what we work is in our own power? Hear wherefore
Our souls need to be watered by God's grace. 289
with fear and trembling: for it is God that worketh in you Vrr. both to will and to do, of His good pleasure. Therefore
with fear and trembling, that it may delight our Maker to
work in the lowly valley. For so doth He work, as it were,
in that which is cast down, Who judgeth I theP*- no, among
nations, and repaireth that which hath fallen. meditated on the works of Thine hands. I have seen then and looked into Thy works, that nothing good can there be in us, unless it be wrought by Thee, Who hast made us.
11. And what did I w hen I saw that every good gift and Jam. l, every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the 17, Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning ? When I saw this, I turned me from
the evil work which I had wrought in myself, and
forth my hands unto Thee. 1 stretched forth, saith he, my hands to Thee: my soul is as a land without water to Thee. Rain upon me, saith he, to bring forth from me good fruit.
For the Lord shall give sweetness, that our land may give her Ps. 85, fruit. I have stretched forth my hands to Thee; my soul is as 12"
a land without water, not to me, but, to Thee. I can thirst
for Thee, I cannot water myself. My soul is as a land without water to Thee ; for, my soul is athiisl for the living pa. 42,
God. When shall I come to Him, save when He hath2* come to me? My soul is athirst for the living God; for,
my soul is as a land without water to Thee. The sea aboundeth, floodeth, is full, floweth: but it is bitter. The
water is separated, my dry soul hath appeared: water for Gen. 1,9.
my soul is as a land without water to Thee.
12. Speedily hear me, Lord. For what need of delay tover.
inflame my thirst, when already thirst so eagerly Thou didst delay the rain, that might drink and imbibe, not reject, Thy inflowing. If then Thou didst for this cause delay, now give for, my soul as a land without water to Thee. Speedily hear me, Lord: my spirit hath failed. Let Thy Spirit fill me, for my spirit hath failed me. This
the reason why Thou shouldest speedily hear me, because
my spirit hath failed me. am now become poor in spirit, Matt. make Thou me blessed in the kingdom heaven. For he3-
in whom his own spirit liveth, proud, puffed up with
his own spirit against God. Let that happen in him to his
VOL. vi.
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stretched ver. 6.
have
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290 God's Face turned from the proud: and so they perish.
Psalm good which elsewhere is written, Thou shalt take away their p*l|"4' spirit, and they shall fail, and be turned to their dust; that 29. they may confess, and say, Remember that we are but dust. Ps. 103, Ijut when lney nave sa\^ Remember that we are but dust, then let them say, my soul is as a land without water to Thee. For what is so much a land without water, as dust? But
do Thou speedily hear me, O God, rain on me, strengthen
me, that I be not dust which the wind driveth away from the Pa. l, 4. face of the earth . Speedily hear me, O God; my spirit hath failed: let not my need suffer longer delay. Thou hast taken
away my spirit, that I might fail, and be turned to dust, and
say unto Thee, my soul is as a land without water to Thee: P*. 104, do Thou also what followeth in that Psalm, Thou shall send
30
2Cor. 5, renew the face of the earth. If any one be in Christ, he is
17-
a new creature; old things are passed away: old things are passed away in his spirit, they are made new in Thy Spirit.
13. Turn not Thou away Thy Face from me. Thou didst turn it away from me when proud. For once I was
Ps. 69, 15.
forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and Thou shalt
P<<. 30, full, and in fulness I was
I in I
6' 7'
my
/said, Ishall never be moved.
puffed up. Once my fulness
said in
not be moved, knowing not Thy Righteousness, and esta
blishing mine own ; but Thou, LorId, in Thy Will hast
didst turn away Thy Face from me, and I was troubled. After this trouble, whereinto I was cast, because Thou didst turn away Thy Face, after the weariness of my spirit, after my heart was troubled within me, because Thou didst turn away Thy Face, then became I like a land without water to Thee: turn not Thou away Thy Face. Thou turnedst itawayfrommewhenproud; giveitbacktomenow1am humble. Turn not away Thy Face from me, because, if Thou turn it away, / shall be like to them that go down into the pit. What that go down into the pit When the sinner has come into the depth of sins, he will shew con tempt. They go down into the pit, who lose even confes- sion against which said, Let not the pit close her mouth
said in my fulness, Ishall not be moved, but from Thee came whatever fulness I had. And to prove to me that it was from Thee, Thou
afforded strength to my beauty.
my
fulness,
shall
;
is, is
?
W? must hope forMercy in the end; $ therefore do good works. 29 1
over me. This depth Scripture calleth mostly a pit, into Via. which depth when a sinner hath come, he sheweth contempt, -i-? -- What is, he sheweth contempt ? He no longer believeth in Providence, or if he do believe, he thinketh that he has no
longer ought to do with it.
He setteth before himself licence to sin, the reins of iniquity being let loose now
that he has no hope of pardon. He saith not, ' 1 will return to God that He maIy return to me he heareth not,
Turn ye unto Me, and
come to the depth of evil, he sheweth contempt. For from ycc\us the dead, saith the wise man, as though he were not, con- 17, 28.
fIession perisheth. Turn not then Thy Face from me, or
shall be like them that doivn into the pit. go
will return to you, for having Mai.
3,
14. Make me to hear in the morning Thy mercy, for vet. e. in Thee have J hoped. Behold, I am in the night, yet
in Tliee have I hoped, until the iniquity of the night pass away. For we have, as Peter saith, a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and
the day-star arise in your hearts. Morning then he calleth
the time after the end of the world, when we shall see what
in this world we believe. For, in the morning Thou shall p<<.
I will stand by Thee, and gaze. Make me to hear in the morning Thy mercy, for in
5, 3.
Thee have 1 hoped. For if we hope for that we see not, Rom. 8, then do we with patience wait for it. The night re quire th 25, patience, the day will give joy. MakeI me to hear in the
hear my voice ; in the morning
morning Thy mercy, for in Thee have
hoped.
15. But what here, until the morning come ? For it is
not enough to hope for the morning ; we must do somewhat. IWhy do somewhat ? Because he saith in another Psalm,
sought God in thIe day my tribulation ; as it were in Pa. 77,2. of
sought God. How didst thIou seek ?
the time of night
With my hands in the night before Him ; and
was not deceived. God is to be sought with the hands in the night. What is, with the hands? By good works. What, before Him ? When Thou doest an alms, do not sound a trumpet
before thee, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee. Since then we must thus hope for the morning, and bear this night, and persevere in this patience until the day U2
292 IVe must flee to God, to be aided against our enemies.
Psalm dawn, what meanwhile must we do here ? lest perchance --~' thou think that thou wilt do ought of thyself, whereby thou
mayest earn to be brought to thIe morning. Make known to
must walk. Therefore did
He kindle the lamp of prophecy, therefore did He send the
' test* Lord in the vessel1, as it were, of the flesh, Who should even
Ps. 22, say, My strength is dried up like a potsherd- Walk by
15,
me, O Lord, the way wherein
prophecy, walk by the lamp of future things predicted, walk John 1, by the word of God. As yet thou seest not the Word in the beginning, God with God: walk by the Form of a servant, thou shalt be brought to the Form of God. Make I should walk ; have it up
known to me, O Lord, the way wherein
I
Ps. 36, to T1iee, not against Thee. With Thee is the Fountain
for unto' Thee have 1 lifted up my soul.
lifted
vet. 9.
of life : to Thee have I lifted up my soul. I have brought it as a vesselIto the Fountain : fill me, therefore, for unto
up my soul.
16". Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord, for unto Thee
have 1 fled for refuge. I who once fled from Thee, now flee to Thee. For Adam fled from the Face of God, and hid himself among the trees of Paradise, so that of him was
Tliee ha ve
lifted
Job 7,2. said in the Book of Job, As a servant that fleeth from his
LXX Lord, and findeth a shadow. He fled from the Face of his
Lord, and found a shadow ; for he fled to the shade among
the trees of Paradise. Woe to him, if he continue in the
Wisd. 5, shade, lest it be said afterward, All things are passed away
"''
like a shadow. Deliver me from mine enemies. I think Eph. 6, not here of men enemies. We wrestle not against flesh
and blood. But against whom ? Against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world. What world ? For he cannot mean earth and sky, for they rule not what they have not made. Rulers of the world. But
of what world ? This darkness. What darkness ?
Eph. 5, the wicked. For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. The rulers of this world, of this darkness, the rulers of the wicked; against these ye
wrestle. Great is your conflict, not to see your enemies, and yet to conquer. Against the rulers of this world, of this darkness, the devil, that is, and his angels; not the
John l, rulers of that world, whereof is said, the world was made 10.
Clearly
The peril of unworthily receiving Christ. 293
by Him, but that world whereof is said, the world knew Ver. Him not. IDeliver me from mine enemies, O Lord, for unto 9" 1Q'
From mine enemies, not
fled for refuge. from
Thee have
Judas, but from him who filled Judas. The one whom
I see, I endure ; the one whom I see not, I fight. For Judas received the sop, and Satan entered into him, that ThatJobnis, David might suffer persecution at the hands of his son.
How many Judases doth Satan fill, unworthily receiving the
sop to their damnation ! For whoso eateth and drinketh 1 Cor. unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation unto himself. 11'"' Not evil is that which is given, but what is good is given to
the evil to damnation. It cannot be well with him who in
evil wise taketh whaIt is good.
have mine enemies, for Jled
Therefore, Deliver me from unto Thee For
whi
Ither should I flee ? Whither shall I
go up into heaven, Thou art there;
If if IfI
? Ps. 139, down to8'
go hell, Thou art there. What then remaineth ?
take wings as a dove, and fly to the farthest parts of the sea: that in hope dwell in the end of the world. For thither shall Thine hand guide me, and Thy right hand bring me. Deliver me from mine enemies, for unto Thee
have Jledfor refuge, Lord.
17. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. ver. 10.
Glorious confession glorious rule For Thou, saith he, art
my God. To another will hasten to be re-made, another was made. Thou art my all, for Thou art my God. Shall seek a father to get an inheritance? Thou art my God, not only the Giver of mine inheritance, but
mine Inheritance itself. The Lord the portion of mine Ps. 16,5. inheritance. Shall seek patron, to obtain redemption
Thou art my God. Lastly, having been created, do desire to be re-created Thou art my God, my Creator, Who hast created me by Thy Word, and re-created me by Thy Word. But Thou createdst me by Thy Word, remaining God with* Thee Thou re-createdst me by Thy Word, made Flesh for our sakes. Teach Thou me then to do Thy will, for Thou
art my God. If Thou teach me not, shall do mine own will, and my God will abandon me. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Teach Thou me for cannot
be that Thou art my God, and yet am to be mine own
I for refuge.
go from Thy Spirit
my
by
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294 Our own deserts, ill deserts; good deserts, from God.
Psalm master. See how grace is commended to us. This hold CxI'"r' fast, this drink in, this let none drive out of your hearts, lest
ye have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge; lest, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish your own righteousness, ye submit not your selves to the righteousness of God. Ye recognise the words of the Apostle. Say then this, Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
18. Thy good Spirit, not my bad one, Thy good Spirit shall lead me into the right land. For my bad spirit hath led me into a crooked land. And what have I deserved ? What can be reckoned as my good works without Thy aid, through which I might obtain and be worthy to be led by Thy Spirit into the right land. What are my works ? what
ver. 11. my deserts? For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shalt quicken me. Listen, then, with all your power, to the com mendation of Grace, whereby ye are saved without price. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shalt quicken me.
Pa. 114, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give the glory. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shalt quicken me in Thy righteousness ; not in mine own : not because I have deserved, but because Thou hast mercy. For were I to shew mine own desert, nought should I deserve of Thee, save punishment. Thou hast pruned off from me mine own merits ; Thou hast grafted in Thine own gifts.
For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, Thou shall quicken me in
Thy righteousness. Thou shall bring forth my soul out of ver. 12. tribulation : and in Thy mercy shalt bring mine enemies to destruction : and Thou shalt destroy all them that afflict
Rom. ''
Lat. CxlIII.
PSALM CXLIV. Sermon to the People.
my soul; for I am Thy servant.
1. The title of this Psalm is brief in number of words, but heavy in the weight of its mysteries. To David himself against Goliath. This battle was fought in the time of our fathers, and ye, beloved, remember it with me from Holy Scripture. For when the aliens were fighting against the
David, a type of Christ; Goliath, of the devil. 29,0
people of God, one of them challenged a single adversary, Psalm Goliath challenged David: that in that contest the will of-0-- God for either party's success might be tested. But why
do we trouble ourselves about the victory, when we see the challenger and the challenged ? It was wickedness chal
lenging goodness, pride challenging humility ; lastly, it was the devil challenging Christ. Why wonder ye that the devil was vanquished ? The one was great in bodily stature ; the other small in stature, great in faith. Holy David took to him armour of war, to go forth against Goliath. This armour, through his age, and his smallness of stature, as we
have mentioned, he could not carry. He cast away what burdened him, but helped him not ; he took five stones from
the river, and put them in his shepherd's vessel'. Armed 1 vase in body with these, in spirit with the Name of God, he went forth, and conquered. This did that David ; but let us search for the hidden meaning. For we had set forth above,
that this title was brief in number of words, but heavy in weight of mysteries. But call to mind that sentence of the Apostle, All these things happened unto them in a figure, 1 Cor. that we seem not wantonly to seek for somewhat hidden,10'11- where it may be said that all is simply said without any depth of mystery. We have then authority which makes us eager to seek, watchful to trace out, attentive to hear, faithful
to believe, active to do. In David is Christ; but, as ye that are learned in His school arc wont to understand, Christ is both Head and Body. Hear not then any thing spoken in the person of Christ, as though it concerned not you, who are members of Christ. This being laid down as a foundation, see what followeth.
2. Ye know that the former people were laden with many
rites3 visible and corporeal, with circumcision, with that labo-2 sacra- rious priesthood of theirs, with the temple filled with types, mentls with manifold kinds of whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.
These our David laid aside, as armour that weighed down,
but helped not. For if there had been a law given which Gal. 3, could have given life, verily righteousness should have been21'22' by the Law. To what purpose then was the Law ? It followeth ;
But Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise
by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to all that believe.
206 The ' stones in the scrip,' the Law combined with Grace.
Psalm Finally, this David, that is, Christ, both Head and Body CxlrT' at the time of the revelation of the New Testament, at the
Rom. is, 10.
lb. 5, 5.
time when grace was to be put forward and recommended, what did He? He laid aside His armour, He took five stones: He laid aside, as we have said, the burdensome armour: He laid aside, that is, the rites of the Law, those rites of the Law which are not laid on the Gentiles, which we do not observe. For ye remember how much we read in the old Law, which we do not observe, yet understand to have been sent before, and set forth to signify somewhat; not that we cast away the Law of God, but that we celebrate not the rites of promise, now that the promise is fulfilled. For what they promised has come. For the grace of the new covenant which was veiled under the Law, is unveiled in the Gospel. We have removed the veil, and have seen what was veiled : we have seen it in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Head and Saviour, Who was crucified for us, at Whose crucifixion, moreover, the veil of the temple was rent in twain. Finally, He laid aside His armour, that is, the burden of the rites of the old Law, and took the Law itself. For the five stones signify the five Books of Moses.
He took then those five stones from the river. Ye know what the river is. For this mortal life glideth on, and what ever cometh into the world floweth by. They were then in the river, that is, in that former people, stones ; there they were useless, idle, profited nothing, the river flowed along over them. What did David, that the Law might be profit able? He received grace. For without grace the Law cannot be fulfilled. For love is the fulfilment of the Law : and wnere is ihis love p see ;f ;t come not from grace. The
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