The
righteous
Lord, he
saith, shall hew the necks of the sinners.
saith, shall hew the necks of the sinners.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v6
What therefore saith the Lord in the Gospel to those who refused to do
Mat,ll,tnis? \ye yive pipd unt0 y0u, and ye hare not danced : we hir e mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Let
h al. ' in season to the willing, out of season to the unwilling. '
77ie Church has ever had trouble from the wicked. 51
Him therefore sing; we trust in God's mercy, for there will Ver. be those by whom He consoleth us. For they who are *~3' obstinate, continuing in wickedness, although they hear the
Word of God, by their offences daily disturb the Church.
She endureth : and as if it were asked, " Is it now ? " The Church is of ancient birth : since saints have been so called,
the Church hath been on earth. At one time the Church
was in Abel only, and he was fought against by his wicked Gen. 4, and lost brother Cain. At one time the Church was in
Enoch alone : and he was translated from the unrighteous. Gen. 5, At one time the Church was in the house of Noah alone, and 24 endured all who perished by the flood, and the ark alone Genesis swam upon the waves, and escaped to shore. At one time T1--Tm- the Church was in Abraham alone, and we know what he endured from the wicked. The Church was in his brother's
son, Lot, alone, and in his house, in Sodom, and he endured Genesis the iniquities and perversities of Sodom, until God freed
him from amidst them. The Church also began to exist in
the people of Israel: She endured Pharaoh and the Egyp
Of such this Psalm speaketh ; for thus it commenceth ;
2. Ver. 1 -- 3. Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up. The Church speaketh of those whom
tians. The number of the saints began to be also in the Church, that is, in the people of Israel ; Moses and the rest of the saints endured the wicked Jews, the people of Israel. We come unto our Lord Jesus Chr/ist : the Gospel was preached, as it was said in the Psalms :
have preachedPsA0,5. and have spoken: they have been multiplied above number.
What meaneth, above number? Not only have they believed
who belong to the number of the saints, but some have entered above number: many righteous, but also more un righteous ; and the righteous have endured the unrighteous. When ? In the Church. Is it now only, since he counteth, since he mentioneth them ? For this reason, lest the Church wonder now, or lest any one wonder in the Church, who wisheth to be a good member of the Church, let him hear the Church herself his Mother saying to him, Marvel not at these things, my son : Many a time have theyfought against me from my youth up.
3. There is great feeling in this commencement of the E2
52 The wicked vex the Church for condemning
their ways.
Psaim Psalm: Manila time hare they vexed me from my youth
---- up. She now seemeth to be speaking of herself : for she seemed not to have commenced herself, but to have answered.
But to whom hath she replied ? To them that think and
How great evils do we endure, how great are the scandals that every day thicken, as the wicked enter into the Church, and we have to endure them ? But let the Church reply through some, that is, through the voice of the stronger, let her reply to the complaints of the weak, and let the stable confirm the unstable, and the full grown the infant,
and let the Church say, Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up. Now may Israel say, (ver. 2. )
Many a time have they vexed me from my youth up. Let the Church say this: let her not fear it. For what is the meaning of this addition, From my youth up, after the words, Many a time have they fought against me? At present the old age of the Church is assailed : but let her not fear : let her say, Many a time have they fought against me from my
say,
Hath she then failed to arrive at old age, because they have not ceased to fight against her from her youth up? have they been able to blot her out? Now may Israel say; and let Israel comfort herself, let the Church console herself with past examples, and say, Many a time have they fought
against me from my youth up.
4. Why have they fought against me? For they could
not prevail against me. (Ver. 3. ) Upon my back have sinners built; they have done their iniquity afar off. Why have they fought against me? Because they could not prevail upon me. What is this ? They could not build upon me. 1 consented not with them unto sin. For every wicked man persecuteth the good on this account, because the good man consenteth not with him to evil. Suppose he do some evil, and the Bishop censure him not, the Bishop is a good man: suppose the Bishop censure him, the Bishop is a bad man.
Suppose he carry off any thing, let the man robbed be silent, he is a good man: let him only speak and rebuke, even though he doth not reclaim his goods, he is every thing bad. He is bad then who blameth the robber, and he is good who
<< ' Am- robbeth ! Let him go on ', Let us eat and drink,for to-morrow
ne sn? H die. On the contrary the Apostle saith, Evil com
li! . 38 13.
youth up.
Men hate God's Word, and blame those who speak it. 53
,
munications corrupt good manners. Be ye sober, righteous, Ver. and sin not. The word soundetb, the discourse soundeth . -- --
' Lot. that gainsayeth lust: but he, the lover of his own lust, and 15,32--
the enemy of the discourse that gainsayeth his mistress, is34' hostile, and hateth the word of God. Lust is become his beloved, God his enemy. For God opposeth avarice, and wisheth nothing to be possessed by avarice. Let Me be possessed, He saith. Why wishest thou to be possessed by avarice? It commandeth hard things, I command light Mat-",
is hard, Mine is gentle. Wish not to be possessed by avarice.
things: its load is heavy, My burden is light; its yoke
Avarice commands thee to cross the sea, and thou obeyest : it commands thee to trust thyself to the winds and waves ; I command thee to give before thy door out of what thou hast to the poor: thou art slothful in doing a good work before thy door, and thou art strenuous to pass over the sea. Because avarice commands, thou obeyest : because God commands, thou hatest. And why? When he beginneth to hate, he be- ginneth to wish to accuse those from whom he heareth good precepts, and to wish to seek out charges against the servants of God through his suspicions. Do not those who tell us these things, do such things themselves ? These things, whether done or undone, are said to be done : and what are done well, are said to be done ill: and what we endure, are ascribed to us as a fault. What do we answer ? Heed not
me : heed this word : it speaketh to thee through any channel; thou art its enemy. Agree with thine adversary, Matt. 5, while thou art with him in the way: thou hast made the25, word of God thine adversary. Heed not that such an one speaketh to thee: it is a wicked man through whom It speaketh to thee; but the word of God, that speaketh to thee,
is not wicked'. Accuse God: accuse Him, if thou canst!
5. Do ye believe, brethren, that they of whom it is said, Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, reached such a pitch as even not to hesitate to accuse God ? Thou accusest a man of avarice, and he accuseth God on the ground that He made gold. Be not covetous.
i Oxf. Mss. "Heed not through to thee. He is evil through whom it whom It speaketh to thee, but take speaketh to thee, but the Word of God, heed that it is That, which speaketh That speaketh to thee, is not evil. "
54 Sins are not God's works: ah things else praise Him.
Psalm And God, thou repliest, should not make gold. This now -- 'rcmaineth, because thou canst not restrain thine evil deeds, thou accusest the good works of God : the Creator and
Architect of the world displeaseth thee. He ought not to make the sun either; for many contend concerning the lights of their windows, and drag each other before courts of law. 0 if we could restrain our vices! for all things are good, because a good God made all things : and His works praise Him, when their goodness is considered by him who hath the spirit of considering them, the spirit of piety and wisdom. God is on every side praised by His works. How do His works praise Him through the mouth of the Three Children?
Song of What is passed over? The heavens praise Him, the Angels
praise Him, the stars, the sun and moon, praise Him, the dren, days and the nights praise Him, whatever blossoms on earth &c. ' 35' praises Him, whatever swims upon the sea praises Him, what
ever flies in the air praises Him, all the mountains and hills praise Him, the cold and the heat praise Him; and all things else that God hath made, ye have heard, praise God: heard ye there that avarice praiseth God, that luxury praiseth God ? These things praise Him not, for He made them not. There, men praise God : God is man's creator. Avarice is the work of a wicked man : man himself is the work of God. And what doth God wish ? To kill in thee what thou
hast thyself made, and to save what He hath Himself made. 6. Lend not money at interest. Thou accusest Scripture Ps 15,5. which saith, He that hath not given his money upon usury.
1 wrote not this: it went not forth first from my mouth: hear God. He replieth : let not the clergy lend upon usury. Perchance he who speaketh to thee, lendeth not at interest:
but if he do so lend; suppose that he doth so lend; doth He Who speaketh through him lend at interest? If he doth what he enjoineth thee, and thou dost it not; thou wilt go into the flame, he into the kingdom. If he doth not what he enjoineth thee, and equally with thee doth evil deeds, and preaches duties which he doth not; ye will both equally go into the flames. The hay will burn ; but
Ia. 40,8. the word of the Lord abideth for evermore. Doth the word which hath spoken to thee through him burn ? Either Moses speaketh to thee, that is, a good and righteous
Chil*
The Church must endure many whose deeds are evil. 55 servant of God; or a Pharisee sitting in the seat of Moses, ver.
Ye have heard
bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not ye after iJ^* their works. Thou hast no means whereby lo excuse thyself,
when the word of God speaketh unto thee. Because thou couldest not slay the word of God, thou seekest to accuse
those through whom the word of God speaketh unto thee.
Seek as far as thou wilt, speak as far as thou wilt, blaspheme
as far as thou wilt. Many a time have they fought against
me from my youth up, now may Israel say, many a time
have they fought against me from my youth up. Usurers
even dare to say : 1 have no other means of livelihood.
This a robber might also say, when caught in a hollow way;
this a housebreaker might say, caught about another man's
wall ; this a pander might tell me, in the act of buying girls
for prostitution ; this an enchanter uttering curses, and sell
ing his iniquity, might say: whatsoever of this sort we should endeavour to prohibit, all might answer that they
had no other means of life, and that they lived on this resource ; as if this very thing were not a chief cause for punishment in them, that they chose a wicked trade to support their life by, and that they choose to feed them
selves by means offensive to Him by Whom all are fed.
concerning these too: all whatsoever then
3-
7. But when thou hast cried and spoken thus, they answer, If it be thus, we come not hither; if it be thus, we enter not into the Church. Let them come, let them enter, let them hear. Many a time have they fought against me
from my youth up. But they could not prevail against me. upon my back have sinners built; that is, they could not prevail upon me to consent; they have given me somewhat to bear. How admirably is it said, how excellently hath he signified this: They could not prevail against me; upon my back have the sinners built. They endeavour to pre vail with us, first to consent unto them to do evil deeds : if we consent not, sutler us, they say. Since therefore thou
hast not prevailed against me, mount upon my back : I can carry thee until the end come: for thus it is commanded me, to bring forth fruit with patience. I chasten thee not, I suffer thee: or perchance, when 1 suffer thee, thou chast- enest thyself. If thou chastenest not thyself unto the end,
8
f:ulie
56 The doings of sinners arc far from the Church.
Psalm I suffer thee unto the end ; and unto the end thou shalt be CXX1X. Upon my hack, evcn to the time. Wilt thou ever be upon my back? No: one will come who will shake thee off: harvest season will come, the end of the world will come ; God will send in the reapers. The reapers are the angels: they separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous, as the tares from the wheat ; they will store the corn in the barn,
but the chaff they will burn with unquenchable fire. I have carried as far as I could, now with joy do I pass into the Lord's barn, and securely sing, Many a time have they
fought against me from my youth up.
8. What could they do unto me, in that they have fought
against me from my youth up ? They have exercised me, they have not crushed me. They have been to me what fire is to gold, not what fire is to hay. For fire when it approacheth gold, removeth dross: when it approacheth
turneth it into ashes. For they could not prevail against me; for I consented not, for they have not made me what they are themselves. The sinners have built upon my back; they hare made their iniquity afar off. They have given me what to endure, and have not prevailed upon me to consent to them. Their injustice therefore is afar from me. The evil are mingled with the good, not only in
the world, but within the Church herself the evil are mingled with the good. Ye know, and ye have proved this : and ye will still further prove it, if ye are good. For
Mat. 13, when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit,
~h'
then appeared the tares also. There seem to be none evil in the Church, save unto the good man. Ye know therefore that they are mingled, and always and every where Scripture saith they shall not be separated, except in the end. Thus, as they are mingled, they are afar from one another. Lest then any man should suppose, that because evil are mingled among good men, therefore wickedness is near unto righ teousness, he saith, They could not prevail against me ;
hay,
Is. 22, that is, they said, and wickedly said, Let us eat and drink,
for to-mmrow we shall die. Evil communications corrupted 15, 32. not good manners : in that which 1 heard from God, I have not yielded to the discourses of men. Sinners have given me what to carry, not what I must mingle with, and their
\3Cor
Likeness of character is the real neighbourhood. 57
iniquity Lath been made afar from me. For what is so Ver. near, as two men in one Church ? what is so distant, as ------ iniquity from righteousness ? For where there is consent
there is neighbourhood. Two men are handcuffed together,
and brought before a judge ; one is a robber, one is merely in bonds: the one wicked, the other innocent, bound with one chain, and far from one another. How far are they from one another? As far as wickedness is from innocence. Behold these are far from one another. One robber per petrates his crimes in Spain, his next neighbour is the robber who doth the same in Africa. How near ? As near as crime and crime are joined, as near as robbery is to robbery. Let no man fear therefore evil men mingled with him in the body. Let him be afar from them in heart, and he beareth safely what he feareth not : They have made
their iniquity afar off.
9. What is the result? They who reign unjustly flourish,
and, to use the vulgar phrase, the unrighteous thunder,
and are puffed up unto vain airs and calumnies. What
then ? Will this be alway ? No. Hear what follow-
eth : (ver. 4. ) Tlie righteous Lord shall hew the necks of
the sinners. Listen, my beloved.
The righteous Lord, he
saith, shall hew the necks of the sinners. Who would not tremble? For who hath not sinned? The righteous Lord
will hew the necks of the sinners. In all that hear, there entereth a trembling of heart, if they believe God's Scripture.
For if men beat their breasts without cause, they lie in that
they beat their breasts ; if they be righteous, even in that
they lie unto God, they become sinners. Iftherefore they
truly beat their breasts, they are sinners. And which of us
doth not beat his breast? And which of us doth not fix
his eyes upon the earth, like the Publican, and say, Lord, Lukels, be merciful unto me a sinner? If therefore all are sinners,13'
aud none is found without sin ; all must fear the sword that hangs above their neck, because the righteous Lord shall hew the necks of the sinners. I do not imagine, my brethren, of all sinners; but in the member which He striketh, He marks what sinners He striketh. For it is not said, The righteous Lord will hew the hands of the sinners ; or their feet; but because proud sinners were meant to be
58 God's hewing the necks, means, destroying the proud.
Psalm understood, and all proud men carry lofty necks, and not
rxxix
---
-- do evil deeds, but even refuse to them to
'only acknowledge
be such, and when they arej rebuked, justify themselves1': (Behold thou hast done this ; at least acknowledge thine act: God hateth a sinner, do thou also hate one; join thyself unto God: persecute with Him thy sin. No, he replieth: I have done well, God hath done ill. What is this ? I, he saith, have done no evil ; for Saturn did this, Mars did Venus did have done nothing, the stars have done it. Thou justifiest thyself, thou accusest God Who made the stars, Who adorned the heaven therefore since thou justifiest thy sin, and art proud against God, because thou placest thyself out of fault, and God in fault, and hast only raised thy neck, and hast run against God, as
written in Job, (he was speaking of an ungodly sinner,) Job is, he runneth against God, even upon his neck, upon the thick
lb'
merciful to me a sinner, but boastest thyself in thy deserts, Jerem. and wishest, saith God, to plead with Me, to enter into
2,i9"
bosses of his bucklers and he here nameth the neck, because thus thou exaltest thyself, and dost not fix thine eyes upon the ground, and beat thy breast, and say, Lord, be
judgment with Me; while thou shouldest in thy guilty state atone unto God, and cry unto Him, as cried in another
Ps. 130, Psalm, If Thou, Lord, art extreme to mark what amiss, who may abide it? shouldest cry unto Him, as cried in
Ps. 4 1,4. another Psalm, said, Lord, be merciful unto me, for have sin ned against Thee since thou dost not choose to say this, but justifiest thy deeds against the Word of God; what followeth in Scripture cometh upon thee the righteous Lord shall hew the necks of sinners.
10. Ver. 5. Let them be confounded and turned back ward, as many as have evil will at Sion. They who hate Sion, hate the Church Sion the Church. And they who hypocritically enter into the Church, hate the Church. They who refuse to keep the Word of God, hate the Church:
Upon my back have they built: what will the Church do, save endure the burden even unto the end
11. Ver. 6. 7. But what saith he of them? The next words are, Let them be even as the grass the house tops;
Oxf. Mas. add, did not this, but the stars. '
k
it,
:
/
' : it I;
of
?
it is
is
I
:
I
it
is is
:)
it is
it is
;
The work of the wicked is withered mid unblest. 59
that withereth before it be plucked up. The grass of the Ver. house tops is that which groweth on house tops, on a tiled 8-- roof: it is seen on high, and hath not a root. How much
better would it be if it grew lower, and how much more
joyfully would it bloom ? As it riseth higher to quicker withering. It hath not yet been plucked up, yet hath withered not yet have they received sentence from the judgment of God, and already they have not the sap of bloom. Observe their works, and see
that they have withered. But they live, and are here: not as yet therefore
have thry been plucked up. They have withered, but have not as yet been plucked up they hare become as the grass of the house tops: which witlwreth afore be plucked up.
12. But the reapers will come, but they fill not their sheaves from these. For the reapers will come, and will gather the wheat into the barn, and will bind the tares together, and cast them into the fire. Thus also the grass of the house tops cleared off, and whatever plucked from thrown into the fire because had withered even before was plucked up. The reaper filleth not his hands thence. His next words are, (ver. 7. ) W hereof the reaper filleth not his hand; neither he that bindeth up the
sheaves his bosom. And, the reapers are the angels, the Mat. 13, Lord saith.
13. Ver. 8. So that they who go say not so much as, The blessing the Lord be upon you: we hare blessed you in the name of the Lord. For ye know, brethren, when men pass by others at work, customary to address them, The blessing of the Lord be upon you. And this was especially the custom in the Jewish nation. No one passed by and saw any one doing any work in the field, or in the vineyard, or in harvest, or any thing of the sort; was not
lawful to pass by without blessing. They who bind the sheaves, are different from the passers by on the way. They who gather the sheaves, do not fill their hands with them; because the grass of the house tops not gathered for the barn. Who are they who gather together the sheaves The reapers. Who are the reapers The Lord hath said, The reapers are the angels. Who are the passers by?
a
:
it ? is is
;
of
it
by
is, it
it ? a
it, is
it
it
is
is
it
:
60 The saints, who have passed by, have blessed the righteous.
Psai m They who have already passed hence to their country pYYTV--through this road, that is, through this life: the Apostles were passers by in this life, the Prophets were passers by. Whom did the Prophets and Apostles bless? Those in whom they saw the root of charity. But those whom they found lifted on high on their house tops, and proud in the bosses of their bucklers, they declared against these what
they were doomed to become, but they gave them no bless ing. Ye therefore who read in the Scriptures, fmd all those wicked men whom the Church beareth, who are declared cursed, pertain unto Antichrist, pertain unto the devil, per tain to the chaff, pertain to the tares. Innumerable things
Matt. 7, are said through figures of them: for not every one that
S1"
snith uulo Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Ye find no passage of Scripture which speaketh
well of them, because they who passed by on the way blessed them not. The Prophets who passed by said all evil things of them. Behold, he also whom we hold in our
1 'quemhand1, David, passed along the way; ye have heard what he masT sa^ of 'hem: The righteous Lord shall hew the necks of
the sinners. Lei them be confounded, and turned back ward, as many as have evil will at Sion. Let them be even as the grass of the house tops, which withereth afore it be plucked up; whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom. Thus he hath spoken of them. David then, when he passed by, blessed not these, and even through him was fulfilled what he him self said, So that they who go by say not so much as, We have blessed you in the name of the Lord. These men, when they passed by, whether Prophets, or Patriarchs, or Apostles, whoever passed by, if we live well, brethren, have blessed us in the name of the Lord. When, thou askest, did Paul bless me ? When did Peter bless me ? Observe in the Scriptures, see if thou livest well, and see that thou hast therein been pronounced blessed. They have blessed all who live well. And how have they blessed? In the
Dona- name of the Lord ; not in their own names, as heretics. t,s,>>- For they who say, What we give, this is holy; wish to bless in their own name, not in the name of the Lord. But they
JfTiat is the ' deep' from which we cry unto God. 61
who say, None save God sanctifieth, nor is any mat1 good vEn. save by the gift of God ; they bless in the name of the
Lord, not in their own name: because they are the friends
of the bridegroom, they refuse to be adulterers of the bride. J? Im 3,
PSALM CXXX.
EXPOSITION.
A Sermon to the People.
L>>t. Cxx1x.
voice of one ascending, belonging to the ' Song of Degrees. ' Each of us ought therefore to see in what deep he out of which he crieth unto the Lord. Jonas cried from the deep; Jonah from the whale's belly. He was not only beneath the waves, 2" but also in the entrails of the beast nevertheless, those waves and that body prevented not his prayer from reach
ing God, and the beast's belly could not contain the voice
1 -- 3.
1. Ver.
only with the eyes of the body, but also with the heIart, we
Since we presume that
ye are
watchful not
must sing with understanding: Out of the deep have
called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. For this is the
of his prayer. It penetrated all things,
things, reached the ears of God:
say that, bursting through all things,
God, since the ears of God were in the heart of him who prayed. For where hath not he God present, whose voice is faithful? Nevertheless, we also ought to understand from what deep we cry unto the Lord. For this mortal life our deep. Whoever hath understood himself to be in the deep, crieth out, groaneth, sigheth, until he be delivered from the deep, and come unto Him Who sitteth above all the deeps and above Cherubim, above all things He hath created, not
only bodily, but also spiritual things until the soul come unto Him, until His own image be liberated by Him, that image which man, which in this deep tossed by constant billows, hath thereby been worn away and except be renewed and repaired by God, Who impressed when He formed man, (man could be equal to his own fall, he not
burst through all indeed we ought to
reached the ears of
it is
is,
;
it
it
is
is
;
it if
;
it
2,
62 They lie deepest who know not the deep they are in.
CXXX ecl,la^ to own r's'n8 aoa'n,) ')e 'g always in the deep; ------ unless, as I have said, he be freed, he is ever in the deep. But when he crieth from the deep, he riseth from the deep,
and his very cry snffereth him not to be long at the bottom.
For they are very deep in the deep, who do not even cry Prov. 18, from the deep. The Scripture saith, When the wicked
hath reached the depth of evils, he despiseth. Now con sider, brethren, what sort of deep that is, where God is despised. When each man seeth himself overwhelmed with daily sins, pressed down by heaps and weights, so to speak, of iniquities: if it be said unto him, Pray unto God, he laughs. In what manner? He first saith, If crimes were displeasing unto God, should I live ? If God regarded human affairs, considering the great crimes which I have committed, should I not only live, but be prosperous ? For this is wont
to happen to those, who are far in the deep, and are pros perous in their iniquities : and they are the more plunged in the deep, in proportion as they seem to be more happy ; for a deceitful happiness is itself a greater unhappiness. Then men are also wont to say this: Since I have now committed many crimes, and condemnation is hanging over me, I lose by foregoing the opportunity of doing what ever I can ; and, From henceforth I am lost, why do I
not do whatever I have the power to do ? What is the usual language of desperate robbers ? The judge will put me to the same death for ten murders as for five, as for one : why then do I not take advantage of every fresh opportunity? This The wicked, when he hath reached the depth evil deeds, despiseth. But our Lord Jesus Christ, Who despised not even our deeps, Who hath deigned to descend to this life, promising remission of all sins; He raised man even from the deep, that he might cry from the deep beneath the weight of his sins, and that the sinner's voice might reach unto God crying whence, save from the depth of evils
2. See also that the voice of the sinner crieth from the
Out the deep have called unto Thee, Lord: Lord, hear my voice. let Thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. Whence doth he cry? From the
Who then who crieth sinner. And with
deep:
deep.
of it
is
? A
; O
I
O
?
is,
of
Man's only hope is in the S acrifice of Christ. 63
what hope doth he cry? Because He who came to absolve Ver from sins, gave hope even to the sinner down in the deep. What therefore followeth after these words : // Tliou, Lord,
will be extreme to mark what is amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? So, he hath disclosed from what deep he cried
out. For he crieth beneath the weights and billows of his iniquities. He hath looked round about himself, he hath looked round upon his own life; he hath seen it every where covered with excesses and crimes: wherever he looketh round, he findeth nothing good in himself, none of the calmness of righteousness can meet his gaze. And when he seeth so many and so great sins, and such troops of his own crimes,
he crieth out, as if terror-struck, If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss, O Lord, who may abide it ? He said not, I may not abide it : but, who may abide it ? For he saw that nigh the whole of human life on every side was ever bayed at by its sins, that all consciences were accused by their thoughts, that a clean heart trusting in its own righteousness could not be found. If therefore a clean heart cannot be found, that can trust in its own righteous
ness; let the heart of all trust in the mercy of God, and say, IfThou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss, who, O Lord, may abide it ?
3. Ver. 4 -- 6. But wherefore is there hope ? For there is propitiation with Thee. And what is this propitiation, except sacrifice ? And what is sacrifice, save that which
hath been offered for us ? The pouring forth of innocent blood blotted out all the sins of the guilty : so great a price paid down redeemed all captives from the hand of the enemy who captured them. With Thee, then, there is propitiation.
--
For if there were not mercy with Thee, if Thou chosest to be Judge only, and didst refuse to be merciful, Thou wouldest mark all our iniquities, and search after them. Who could abide this? Who could stand before Thee, and say, I am innocent? Who could stand in Thy judgment ? There is therefore one hope : For with Thee tIhere is propiti ation : for the sake of Thy law have
borne Thee, O Lord. What law ? That which made men guilty. For a
law, holy, just, and good, was given to the Jews ; but its Rom. 7, effect was to make them guilty. A law was not given that12'
64 God's law of mercy enables us to wait for Him.
Psalm could give life, but which might shew his sins to the sinner. CXXX. For the sinner had forgotten himself, and saw not himself;
'
1 Impe- rator"
the law was given him, that he might see himself. The law made him guilty, the Lawgiver freed him : for the Lawgiver is the Supreme Power1. A law was given that should terrify and bind unto guiltiness ; and the law doth not release from sins, but sheweth sins, and perchance placed beneath this law, he observeth in the deep how great transgressions he hath been guilty of against the law, and crieth out thus, If
Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss, O Lord, who may abide it ? There is therefore a law of the mercy of God, a law of the propitiation of God. The one was a law of fear, the other is a law of love. The law of love giveth forgiveness to sins, blotteth out the past, warneth concerning the future ; forsakelh not its companion by the way, becometh a companion to him whom it leadeth on the way. But it is needful to agree with the adversary, whilst
21.
Matt. 5, thou art with him in the way. For the Word of God is
25
Id. 6, 12.
to forgive me all my sins, to give me for the future warnings that 1 may not offend : if I perchance have slipped after these warnings, Thou hast given me a remedy, whereby I may pray Thee, in these words, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Thou hast decreed this law for me, that, as I forgive, so I may be forgiven.
thine adversary, as long as thou dost not agree with it. But thou agreest, when it has begun to be thy delight to do what God's Word commandeth. Then he who was thine adver sary becometh thy friend : so, when the way is finished, there will be none to deliveIr thee to the Judge. Therefore, For the sake of Thy law for
have waited Tliee, O Lord, because thou hast condescended to bring in a law of mercy,
For the sake, therefore, of this law I
O Lord. I have waited until Thou mayest come and free me from all need, for in my very need Thou hast not for saken the law of mercy.
4. Hear what law he speaketh of, if thou hast not yet understood that he is now speaking of the law of love ; hear the Apostle ; Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ . Who bear one another's burdens, save they who have love ? They who have not love, are offensive to
have waited Thee, for
Duty of bearing one another's burdens. 65
one another; but they who have love, bear with one another. Ver. Some one hath injured thee, he asketh thy pardon: if thou *~6 forgive him not, thou bearest not thy brother's burden ; if
thou dost forgive, thou bearest the weak: and if perchance
thou hast fallen into any infirmity, as a man, he also should
bear with thee, as thou didst with him.
before : Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault, ye Gal. 6, that are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meek- ' 2' ness. And lest perchance, since he had warned the spiritual,
they might seem to themselves secure, he at once added, Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. He then
subjoins what I have just quoted, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ: whence saith
David, For the sake of Thy law I
O Lord. Stags are said, when they cross straits to the
Hear what went
have waited Thee, for
nearest islands, for the sake of pasture, to lay their heads one upon the other; but one, who goes before, carries his head alone, and doth not lay it upon another: but when he himself also faints, he retreats from his position in front and retires behind, that he also may rest upon another : and thus all bear their own burdens, and reach what they desire; and suffer not shipwreck, because love is as a ship unto them.
Mat,ll,tnis? \ye yive pipd unt0 y0u, and ye hare not danced : we hir e mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Let
h al. ' in season to the willing, out of season to the unwilling. '
77ie Church has ever had trouble from the wicked. 51
Him therefore sing; we trust in God's mercy, for there will Ver. be those by whom He consoleth us. For they who are *~3' obstinate, continuing in wickedness, although they hear the
Word of God, by their offences daily disturb the Church.
She endureth : and as if it were asked, " Is it now ? " The Church is of ancient birth : since saints have been so called,
the Church hath been on earth. At one time the Church
was in Abel only, and he was fought against by his wicked Gen. 4, and lost brother Cain. At one time the Church was in
Enoch alone : and he was translated from the unrighteous. Gen. 5, At one time the Church was in the house of Noah alone, and 24 endured all who perished by the flood, and the ark alone Genesis swam upon the waves, and escaped to shore. At one time T1--Tm- the Church was in Abraham alone, and we know what he endured from the wicked. The Church was in his brother's
son, Lot, alone, and in his house, in Sodom, and he endured Genesis the iniquities and perversities of Sodom, until God freed
him from amidst them. The Church also began to exist in
the people of Israel: She endured Pharaoh and the Egyp
Of such this Psalm speaketh ; for thus it commenceth ;
2. Ver. 1 -- 3. Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up. The Church speaketh of those whom
tians. The number of the saints began to be also in the Church, that is, in the people of Israel ; Moses and the rest of the saints endured the wicked Jews, the people of Israel. We come unto our Lord Jesus Chr/ist : the Gospel was preached, as it was said in the Psalms :
have preachedPsA0,5. and have spoken: they have been multiplied above number.
What meaneth, above number? Not only have they believed
who belong to the number of the saints, but some have entered above number: many righteous, but also more un righteous ; and the righteous have endured the unrighteous. When ? In the Church. Is it now only, since he counteth, since he mentioneth them ? For this reason, lest the Church wonder now, or lest any one wonder in the Church, who wisheth to be a good member of the Church, let him hear the Church herself his Mother saying to him, Marvel not at these things, my son : Many a time have theyfought against me from my youth up.
3. There is great feeling in this commencement of the E2
52 The wicked vex the Church for condemning
their ways.
Psaim Psalm: Manila time hare they vexed me from my youth
---- up. She now seemeth to be speaking of herself : for she seemed not to have commenced herself, but to have answered.
But to whom hath she replied ? To them that think and
How great evils do we endure, how great are the scandals that every day thicken, as the wicked enter into the Church, and we have to endure them ? But let the Church reply through some, that is, through the voice of the stronger, let her reply to the complaints of the weak, and let the stable confirm the unstable, and the full grown the infant,
and let the Church say, Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up. Now may Israel say, (ver. 2. )
Many a time have they vexed me from my youth up. Let the Church say this: let her not fear it. For what is the meaning of this addition, From my youth up, after the words, Many a time have they fought against me? At present the old age of the Church is assailed : but let her not fear : let her say, Many a time have they fought against me from my
say,
Hath she then failed to arrive at old age, because they have not ceased to fight against her from her youth up? have they been able to blot her out? Now may Israel say; and let Israel comfort herself, let the Church console herself with past examples, and say, Many a time have they fought
against me from my youth up.
4. Why have they fought against me? For they could
not prevail against me. (Ver. 3. ) Upon my back have sinners built; they have done their iniquity afar off. Why have they fought against me? Because they could not prevail upon me. What is this ? They could not build upon me. 1 consented not with them unto sin. For every wicked man persecuteth the good on this account, because the good man consenteth not with him to evil. Suppose he do some evil, and the Bishop censure him not, the Bishop is a good man: suppose the Bishop censure him, the Bishop is a bad man.
Suppose he carry off any thing, let the man robbed be silent, he is a good man: let him only speak and rebuke, even though he doth not reclaim his goods, he is every thing bad. He is bad then who blameth the robber, and he is good who
<< ' Am- robbeth ! Let him go on ', Let us eat and drink,for to-morrow
ne sn? H die. On the contrary the Apostle saith, Evil com
li! . 38 13.
youth up.
Men hate God's Word, and blame those who speak it. 53
,
munications corrupt good manners. Be ye sober, righteous, Ver. and sin not. The word soundetb, the discourse soundeth . -- --
' Lot. that gainsayeth lust: but he, the lover of his own lust, and 15,32--
the enemy of the discourse that gainsayeth his mistress, is34' hostile, and hateth the word of God. Lust is become his beloved, God his enemy. For God opposeth avarice, and wisheth nothing to be possessed by avarice. Let Me be possessed, He saith. Why wishest thou to be possessed by avarice? It commandeth hard things, I command light Mat-",
is hard, Mine is gentle. Wish not to be possessed by avarice.
things: its load is heavy, My burden is light; its yoke
Avarice commands thee to cross the sea, and thou obeyest : it commands thee to trust thyself to the winds and waves ; I command thee to give before thy door out of what thou hast to the poor: thou art slothful in doing a good work before thy door, and thou art strenuous to pass over the sea. Because avarice commands, thou obeyest : because God commands, thou hatest. And why? When he beginneth to hate, he be- ginneth to wish to accuse those from whom he heareth good precepts, and to wish to seek out charges against the servants of God through his suspicions. Do not those who tell us these things, do such things themselves ? These things, whether done or undone, are said to be done : and what are done well, are said to be done ill: and what we endure, are ascribed to us as a fault. What do we answer ? Heed not
me : heed this word : it speaketh to thee through any channel; thou art its enemy. Agree with thine adversary, Matt. 5, while thou art with him in the way: thou hast made the25, word of God thine adversary. Heed not that such an one speaketh to thee: it is a wicked man through whom It speaketh to thee; but the word of God, that speaketh to thee,
is not wicked'. Accuse God: accuse Him, if thou canst!
5. Do ye believe, brethren, that they of whom it is said, Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, reached such a pitch as even not to hesitate to accuse God ? Thou accusest a man of avarice, and he accuseth God on the ground that He made gold. Be not covetous.
i Oxf. Mss. "Heed not through to thee. He is evil through whom it whom It speaketh to thee, but take speaketh to thee, but the Word of God, heed that it is That, which speaketh That speaketh to thee, is not evil. "
54 Sins are not God's works: ah things else praise Him.
Psalm And God, thou repliest, should not make gold. This now -- 'rcmaineth, because thou canst not restrain thine evil deeds, thou accusest the good works of God : the Creator and
Architect of the world displeaseth thee. He ought not to make the sun either; for many contend concerning the lights of their windows, and drag each other before courts of law. 0 if we could restrain our vices! for all things are good, because a good God made all things : and His works praise Him, when their goodness is considered by him who hath the spirit of considering them, the spirit of piety and wisdom. God is on every side praised by His works. How do His works praise Him through the mouth of the Three Children?
Song of What is passed over? The heavens praise Him, the Angels
praise Him, the stars, the sun and moon, praise Him, the dren, days and the nights praise Him, whatever blossoms on earth &c. ' 35' praises Him, whatever swims upon the sea praises Him, what
ever flies in the air praises Him, all the mountains and hills praise Him, the cold and the heat praise Him; and all things else that God hath made, ye have heard, praise God: heard ye there that avarice praiseth God, that luxury praiseth God ? These things praise Him not, for He made them not. There, men praise God : God is man's creator. Avarice is the work of a wicked man : man himself is the work of God. And what doth God wish ? To kill in thee what thou
hast thyself made, and to save what He hath Himself made. 6. Lend not money at interest. Thou accusest Scripture Ps 15,5. which saith, He that hath not given his money upon usury.
1 wrote not this: it went not forth first from my mouth: hear God. He replieth : let not the clergy lend upon usury. Perchance he who speaketh to thee, lendeth not at interest:
but if he do so lend; suppose that he doth so lend; doth He Who speaketh through him lend at interest? If he doth what he enjoineth thee, and thou dost it not; thou wilt go into the flame, he into the kingdom. If he doth not what he enjoineth thee, and equally with thee doth evil deeds, and preaches duties which he doth not; ye will both equally go into the flames. The hay will burn ; but
Ia. 40,8. the word of the Lord abideth for evermore. Doth the word which hath spoken to thee through him burn ? Either Moses speaketh to thee, that is, a good and righteous
Chil*
The Church must endure many whose deeds are evil. 55 servant of God; or a Pharisee sitting in the seat of Moses, ver.
Ye have heard
bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not ye after iJ^* their works. Thou hast no means whereby lo excuse thyself,
when the word of God speaketh unto thee. Because thou couldest not slay the word of God, thou seekest to accuse
those through whom the word of God speaketh unto thee.
Seek as far as thou wilt, speak as far as thou wilt, blaspheme
as far as thou wilt. Many a time have they fought against
me from my youth up, now may Israel say, many a time
have they fought against me from my youth up. Usurers
even dare to say : 1 have no other means of livelihood.
This a robber might also say, when caught in a hollow way;
this a housebreaker might say, caught about another man's
wall ; this a pander might tell me, in the act of buying girls
for prostitution ; this an enchanter uttering curses, and sell
ing his iniquity, might say: whatsoever of this sort we should endeavour to prohibit, all might answer that they
had no other means of life, and that they lived on this resource ; as if this very thing were not a chief cause for punishment in them, that they chose a wicked trade to support their life by, and that they choose to feed them
selves by means offensive to Him by Whom all are fed.
concerning these too: all whatsoever then
3-
7. But when thou hast cried and spoken thus, they answer, If it be thus, we come not hither; if it be thus, we enter not into the Church. Let them come, let them enter, let them hear. Many a time have they fought against me
from my youth up. But they could not prevail against me. upon my back have sinners built; that is, they could not prevail upon me to consent; they have given me somewhat to bear. How admirably is it said, how excellently hath he signified this: They could not prevail against me; upon my back have the sinners built. They endeavour to pre vail with us, first to consent unto them to do evil deeds : if we consent not, sutler us, they say. Since therefore thou
hast not prevailed against me, mount upon my back : I can carry thee until the end come: for thus it is commanded me, to bring forth fruit with patience. I chasten thee not, I suffer thee: or perchance, when 1 suffer thee, thou chast- enest thyself. If thou chastenest not thyself unto the end,
8
f:ulie
56 The doings of sinners arc far from the Church.
Psalm I suffer thee unto the end ; and unto the end thou shalt be CXX1X. Upon my hack, evcn to the time. Wilt thou ever be upon my back? No: one will come who will shake thee off: harvest season will come, the end of the world will come ; God will send in the reapers. The reapers are the angels: they separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous, as the tares from the wheat ; they will store the corn in the barn,
but the chaff they will burn with unquenchable fire. I have carried as far as I could, now with joy do I pass into the Lord's barn, and securely sing, Many a time have they
fought against me from my youth up.
8. What could they do unto me, in that they have fought
against me from my youth up ? They have exercised me, they have not crushed me. They have been to me what fire is to gold, not what fire is to hay. For fire when it approacheth gold, removeth dross: when it approacheth
turneth it into ashes. For they could not prevail against me; for I consented not, for they have not made me what they are themselves. The sinners have built upon my back; they hare made their iniquity afar off. They have given me what to endure, and have not prevailed upon me to consent to them. Their injustice therefore is afar from me. The evil are mingled with the good, not only in
the world, but within the Church herself the evil are mingled with the good. Ye know, and ye have proved this : and ye will still further prove it, if ye are good. For
Mat. 13, when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit,
~h'
then appeared the tares also. There seem to be none evil in the Church, save unto the good man. Ye know therefore that they are mingled, and always and every where Scripture saith they shall not be separated, except in the end. Thus, as they are mingled, they are afar from one another. Lest then any man should suppose, that because evil are mingled among good men, therefore wickedness is near unto righ teousness, he saith, They could not prevail against me ;
hay,
Is. 22, that is, they said, and wickedly said, Let us eat and drink,
for to-mmrow we shall die. Evil communications corrupted 15, 32. not good manners : in that which 1 heard from God, I have not yielded to the discourses of men. Sinners have given me what to carry, not what I must mingle with, and their
\3Cor
Likeness of character is the real neighbourhood. 57
iniquity Lath been made afar from me. For what is so Ver. near, as two men in one Church ? what is so distant, as ------ iniquity from righteousness ? For where there is consent
there is neighbourhood. Two men are handcuffed together,
and brought before a judge ; one is a robber, one is merely in bonds: the one wicked, the other innocent, bound with one chain, and far from one another. How far are they from one another? As far as wickedness is from innocence. Behold these are far from one another. One robber per petrates his crimes in Spain, his next neighbour is the robber who doth the same in Africa. How near ? As near as crime and crime are joined, as near as robbery is to robbery. Let no man fear therefore evil men mingled with him in the body. Let him be afar from them in heart, and he beareth safely what he feareth not : They have made
their iniquity afar off.
9. What is the result? They who reign unjustly flourish,
and, to use the vulgar phrase, the unrighteous thunder,
and are puffed up unto vain airs and calumnies. What
then ? Will this be alway ? No. Hear what follow-
eth : (ver. 4. ) Tlie righteous Lord shall hew the necks of
the sinners. Listen, my beloved.
The righteous Lord, he
saith, shall hew the necks of the sinners. Who would not tremble? For who hath not sinned? The righteous Lord
will hew the necks of the sinners. In all that hear, there entereth a trembling of heart, if they believe God's Scripture.
For if men beat their breasts without cause, they lie in that
they beat their breasts ; if they be righteous, even in that
they lie unto God, they become sinners. Iftherefore they
truly beat their breasts, they are sinners. And which of us
doth not beat his breast? And which of us doth not fix
his eyes upon the earth, like the Publican, and say, Lord, Lukels, be merciful unto me a sinner? If therefore all are sinners,13'
aud none is found without sin ; all must fear the sword that hangs above their neck, because the righteous Lord shall hew the necks of the sinners. I do not imagine, my brethren, of all sinners; but in the member which He striketh, He marks what sinners He striketh. For it is not said, The righteous Lord will hew the hands of the sinners ; or their feet; but because proud sinners were meant to be
58 God's hewing the necks, means, destroying the proud.
Psalm understood, and all proud men carry lofty necks, and not
rxxix
---
-- do evil deeds, but even refuse to them to
'only acknowledge
be such, and when they arej rebuked, justify themselves1': (Behold thou hast done this ; at least acknowledge thine act: God hateth a sinner, do thou also hate one; join thyself unto God: persecute with Him thy sin. No, he replieth: I have done well, God hath done ill. What is this ? I, he saith, have done no evil ; for Saturn did this, Mars did Venus did have done nothing, the stars have done it. Thou justifiest thyself, thou accusest God Who made the stars, Who adorned the heaven therefore since thou justifiest thy sin, and art proud against God, because thou placest thyself out of fault, and God in fault, and hast only raised thy neck, and hast run against God, as
written in Job, (he was speaking of an ungodly sinner,) Job is, he runneth against God, even upon his neck, upon the thick
lb'
merciful to me a sinner, but boastest thyself in thy deserts, Jerem. and wishest, saith God, to plead with Me, to enter into
2,i9"
bosses of his bucklers and he here nameth the neck, because thus thou exaltest thyself, and dost not fix thine eyes upon the ground, and beat thy breast, and say, Lord, be
judgment with Me; while thou shouldest in thy guilty state atone unto God, and cry unto Him, as cried in another
Ps. 130, Psalm, If Thou, Lord, art extreme to mark what amiss, who may abide it? shouldest cry unto Him, as cried in
Ps. 4 1,4. another Psalm, said, Lord, be merciful unto me, for have sin ned against Thee since thou dost not choose to say this, but justifiest thy deeds against the Word of God; what followeth in Scripture cometh upon thee the righteous Lord shall hew the necks of sinners.
10. Ver. 5. Let them be confounded and turned back ward, as many as have evil will at Sion. They who hate Sion, hate the Church Sion the Church. And they who hypocritically enter into the Church, hate the Church. They who refuse to keep the Word of God, hate the Church:
Upon my back have they built: what will the Church do, save endure the burden even unto the end
11. Ver. 6. 7. But what saith he of them? The next words are, Let them be even as the grass the house tops;
Oxf. Mas. add, did not this, but the stars. '
k
it,
:
/
' : it I;
of
?
it is
is
I
:
I
it
is is
:)
it is
it is
;
The work of the wicked is withered mid unblest. 59
that withereth before it be plucked up. The grass of the Ver. house tops is that which groweth on house tops, on a tiled 8-- roof: it is seen on high, and hath not a root. How much
better would it be if it grew lower, and how much more
joyfully would it bloom ? As it riseth higher to quicker withering. It hath not yet been plucked up, yet hath withered not yet have they received sentence from the judgment of God, and already they have not the sap of bloom. Observe their works, and see
that they have withered. But they live, and are here: not as yet therefore
have thry been plucked up. They have withered, but have not as yet been plucked up they hare become as the grass of the house tops: which witlwreth afore be plucked up.
12. But the reapers will come, but they fill not their sheaves from these. For the reapers will come, and will gather the wheat into the barn, and will bind the tares together, and cast them into the fire. Thus also the grass of the house tops cleared off, and whatever plucked from thrown into the fire because had withered even before was plucked up. The reaper filleth not his hands thence. His next words are, (ver. 7. ) W hereof the reaper filleth not his hand; neither he that bindeth up the
sheaves his bosom. And, the reapers are the angels, the Mat. 13, Lord saith.
13. Ver. 8. So that they who go say not so much as, The blessing the Lord be upon you: we hare blessed you in the name of the Lord. For ye know, brethren, when men pass by others at work, customary to address them, The blessing of the Lord be upon you. And this was especially the custom in the Jewish nation. No one passed by and saw any one doing any work in the field, or in the vineyard, or in harvest, or any thing of the sort; was not
lawful to pass by without blessing. They who bind the sheaves, are different from the passers by on the way. They who gather the sheaves, do not fill their hands with them; because the grass of the house tops not gathered for the barn. Who are they who gather together the sheaves The reapers. Who are the reapers The Lord hath said, The reapers are the angels. Who are the passers by?
a
:
it ? is is
;
of
it
by
is, it
it ? a
it, is
it
it
is
is
it
:
60 The saints, who have passed by, have blessed the righteous.
Psai m They who have already passed hence to their country pYYTV--through this road, that is, through this life: the Apostles were passers by in this life, the Prophets were passers by. Whom did the Prophets and Apostles bless? Those in whom they saw the root of charity. But those whom they found lifted on high on their house tops, and proud in the bosses of their bucklers, they declared against these what
they were doomed to become, but they gave them no bless ing. Ye therefore who read in the Scriptures, fmd all those wicked men whom the Church beareth, who are declared cursed, pertain unto Antichrist, pertain unto the devil, per tain to the chaff, pertain to the tares. Innumerable things
Matt. 7, are said through figures of them: for not every one that
S1"
snith uulo Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Ye find no passage of Scripture which speaketh
well of them, because they who passed by on the way blessed them not. The Prophets who passed by said all evil things of them. Behold, he also whom we hold in our
1 'quemhand1, David, passed along the way; ye have heard what he masT sa^ of 'hem: The righteous Lord shall hew the necks of
the sinners. Lei them be confounded, and turned back ward, as many as have evil will at Sion. Let them be even as the grass of the house tops, which withereth afore it be plucked up; whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom. Thus he hath spoken of them. David then, when he passed by, blessed not these, and even through him was fulfilled what he him self said, So that they who go by say not so much as, We have blessed you in the name of the Lord. These men, when they passed by, whether Prophets, or Patriarchs, or Apostles, whoever passed by, if we live well, brethren, have blessed us in the name of the Lord. When, thou askest, did Paul bless me ? When did Peter bless me ? Observe in the Scriptures, see if thou livest well, and see that thou hast therein been pronounced blessed. They have blessed all who live well. And how have they blessed? In the
Dona- name of the Lord ; not in their own names, as heretics. t,s,>>- For they who say, What we give, this is holy; wish to bless in their own name, not in the name of the Lord. But they
JfTiat is the ' deep' from which we cry unto God. 61
who say, None save God sanctifieth, nor is any mat1 good vEn. save by the gift of God ; they bless in the name of the
Lord, not in their own name: because they are the friends
of the bridegroom, they refuse to be adulterers of the bride. J? Im 3,
PSALM CXXX.
EXPOSITION.
A Sermon to the People.
L>>t. Cxx1x.
voice of one ascending, belonging to the ' Song of Degrees. ' Each of us ought therefore to see in what deep he out of which he crieth unto the Lord. Jonas cried from the deep; Jonah from the whale's belly. He was not only beneath the waves, 2" but also in the entrails of the beast nevertheless, those waves and that body prevented not his prayer from reach
ing God, and the beast's belly could not contain the voice
1 -- 3.
1. Ver.
only with the eyes of the body, but also with the heIart, we
Since we presume that
ye are
watchful not
must sing with understanding: Out of the deep have
called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. For this is the
of his prayer. It penetrated all things,
things, reached the ears of God:
say that, bursting through all things,
God, since the ears of God were in the heart of him who prayed. For where hath not he God present, whose voice is faithful? Nevertheless, we also ought to understand from what deep we cry unto the Lord. For this mortal life our deep. Whoever hath understood himself to be in the deep, crieth out, groaneth, sigheth, until he be delivered from the deep, and come unto Him Who sitteth above all the deeps and above Cherubim, above all things He hath created, not
only bodily, but also spiritual things until the soul come unto Him, until His own image be liberated by Him, that image which man, which in this deep tossed by constant billows, hath thereby been worn away and except be renewed and repaired by God, Who impressed when He formed man, (man could be equal to his own fall, he not
burst through all indeed we ought to
reached the ears of
it is
is,
;
it
it
is
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62 They lie deepest who know not the deep they are in.
CXXX ecl,la^ to own r's'n8 aoa'n,) ')e 'g always in the deep; ------ unless, as I have said, he be freed, he is ever in the deep. But when he crieth from the deep, he riseth from the deep,
and his very cry snffereth him not to be long at the bottom.
For they are very deep in the deep, who do not even cry Prov. 18, from the deep. The Scripture saith, When the wicked
hath reached the depth of evils, he despiseth. Now con sider, brethren, what sort of deep that is, where God is despised. When each man seeth himself overwhelmed with daily sins, pressed down by heaps and weights, so to speak, of iniquities: if it be said unto him, Pray unto God, he laughs. In what manner? He first saith, If crimes were displeasing unto God, should I live ? If God regarded human affairs, considering the great crimes which I have committed, should I not only live, but be prosperous ? For this is wont
to happen to those, who are far in the deep, and are pros perous in their iniquities : and they are the more plunged in the deep, in proportion as they seem to be more happy ; for a deceitful happiness is itself a greater unhappiness. Then men are also wont to say this: Since I have now committed many crimes, and condemnation is hanging over me, I lose by foregoing the opportunity of doing what ever I can ; and, From henceforth I am lost, why do I
not do whatever I have the power to do ? What is the usual language of desperate robbers ? The judge will put me to the same death for ten murders as for five, as for one : why then do I not take advantage of every fresh opportunity? This The wicked, when he hath reached the depth evil deeds, despiseth. But our Lord Jesus Christ, Who despised not even our deeps, Who hath deigned to descend to this life, promising remission of all sins; He raised man even from the deep, that he might cry from the deep beneath the weight of his sins, and that the sinner's voice might reach unto God crying whence, save from the depth of evils
2. See also that the voice of the sinner crieth from the
Out the deep have called unto Thee, Lord: Lord, hear my voice. let Thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. Whence doth he cry? From the
Who then who crieth sinner. And with
deep:
deep.
of it
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Man's only hope is in the S acrifice of Christ. 63
what hope doth he cry? Because He who came to absolve Ver from sins, gave hope even to the sinner down in the deep. What therefore followeth after these words : // Tliou, Lord,
will be extreme to mark what is amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? So, he hath disclosed from what deep he cried
out. For he crieth beneath the weights and billows of his iniquities. He hath looked round about himself, he hath looked round upon his own life; he hath seen it every where covered with excesses and crimes: wherever he looketh round, he findeth nothing good in himself, none of the calmness of righteousness can meet his gaze. And when he seeth so many and so great sins, and such troops of his own crimes,
he crieth out, as if terror-struck, If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss, O Lord, who may abide it ? He said not, I may not abide it : but, who may abide it ? For he saw that nigh the whole of human life on every side was ever bayed at by its sins, that all consciences were accused by their thoughts, that a clean heart trusting in its own righteousness could not be found. If therefore a clean heart cannot be found, that can trust in its own righteous
ness; let the heart of all trust in the mercy of God, and say, IfThou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss, who, O Lord, may abide it ?
3. Ver. 4 -- 6. But wherefore is there hope ? For there is propitiation with Thee. And what is this propitiation, except sacrifice ? And what is sacrifice, save that which
hath been offered for us ? The pouring forth of innocent blood blotted out all the sins of the guilty : so great a price paid down redeemed all captives from the hand of the enemy who captured them. With Thee, then, there is propitiation.
--
For if there were not mercy with Thee, if Thou chosest to be Judge only, and didst refuse to be merciful, Thou wouldest mark all our iniquities, and search after them. Who could abide this? Who could stand before Thee, and say, I am innocent? Who could stand in Thy judgment ? There is therefore one hope : For with Thee tIhere is propiti ation : for the sake of Thy law have
borne Thee, O Lord. What law ? That which made men guilty. For a
law, holy, just, and good, was given to the Jews ; but its Rom. 7, effect was to make them guilty. A law was not given that12'
64 God's law of mercy enables us to wait for Him.
Psalm could give life, but which might shew his sins to the sinner. CXXX. For the sinner had forgotten himself, and saw not himself;
'
1 Impe- rator"
the law was given him, that he might see himself. The law made him guilty, the Lawgiver freed him : for the Lawgiver is the Supreme Power1. A law was given that should terrify and bind unto guiltiness ; and the law doth not release from sins, but sheweth sins, and perchance placed beneath this law, he observeth in the deep how great transgressions he hath been guilty of against the law, and crieth out thus, If
Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss, O Lord, who may abide it ? There is therefore a law of the mercy of God, a law of the propitiation of God. The one was a law of fear, the other is a law of love. The law of love giveth forgiveness to sins, blotteth out the past, warneth concerning the future ; forsakelh not its companion by the way, becometh a companion to him whom it leadeth on the way. But it is needful to agree with the adversary, whilst
21.
Matt. 5, thou art with him in the way. For the Word of God is
25
Id. 6, 12.
to forgive me all my sins, to give me for the future warnings that 1 may not offend : if I perchance have slipped after these warnings, Thou hast given me a remedy, whereby I may pray Thee, in these words, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Thou hast decreed this law for me, that, as I forgive, so I may be forgiven.
thine adversary, as long as thou dost not agree with it. But thou agreest, when it has begun to be thy delight to do what God's Word commandeth. Then he who was thine adver sary becometh thy friend : so, when the way is finished, there will be none to deliveIr thee to the Judge. Therefore, For the sake of Thy law for
have waited Tliee, O Lord, because thou hast condescended to bring in a law of mercy,
For the sake, therefore, of this law I
O Lord. I have waited until Thou mayest come and free me from all need, for in my very need Thou hast not for saken the law of mercy.
4. Hear what law he speaketh of, if thou hast not yet understood that he is now speaking of the law of love ; hear the Apostle ; Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ . Who bear one another's burdens, save they who have love ? They who have not love, are offensive to
have waited Thee, for
Duty of bearing one another's burdens. 65
one another; but they who have love, bear with one another. Ver. Some one hath injured thee, he asketh thy pardon: if thou *~6 forgive him not, thou bearest not thy brother's burden ; if
thou dost forgive, thou bearest the weak: and if perchance
thou hast fallen into any infirmity, as a man, he also should
bear with thee, as thou didst with him.
before : Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault, ye Gal. 6, that are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meek- ' 2' ness. And lest perchance, since he had warned the spiritual,
they might seem to themselves secure, he at once added, Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. He then
subjoins what I have just quoted, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ: whence saith
David, For the sake of Thy law I
O Lord. Stags are said, when they cross straits to the
Hear what went
have waited Thee, for
nearest islands, for the sake of pasture, to lay their heads one upon the other; but one, who goes before, carries his head alone, and doth not lay it upon another: but when he himself also faints, he retreats from his position in front and retires behind, that he also may rest upon another : and thus all bear their own burdens, and reach what they desire; and suffer not shipwreck, because love is as a ship unto them.
