Expositions on the Book of Psalms
THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN. [Psatm LIX. of a Psalm with the high announcement of a Mystery,5 in order that we that are about to go in may know (when as it were upon the door-post we have read what within is doing) either of whom the house is, or who is the owner of that estate: so also in this Psalm there hath been written a title, of a title. For it hath, " At the end, corrupt not for David himself unto the inscription of the title." This is that which I have spoken of, title of Title. For what the inscription of this title is, which to be corrupted he forbiddeth, the Gospel to us doth indicate. For when the Lord was being crucified, a title by Pilate was inscribed and set, " King of the Jews," ® in three tongues, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin : 7 which tongues in the whole world mostly do prevail. . . . Therefore "corrupt not' is most proper and prophetic ; since indeed even those Jews made suggestion at that time to Pilate, and said, " Do not write King of the Jews, but write, that Himself said that He was King of the Jews:" ® for this title, say they, hath established Him King over us. And Pilate, "What I have written, I have written.'' And there was fulfilled, "corrupt not." 2. Nor is this the only Psalm which hath an inscription of such sort, that the Title be not corrupted. Several Psalms thus are marked on the face, but however in all the Passion of the Lord is foretold. 'Therefore here also let us perceive the Lord's Passion, and let there speak to us Christ, Head and Body. So always, or nearly always, let us hear the words of Christ from the that there is given life everlasting, before that ungodly men are cast forth into fire everlasting, here in this life there is fruit to the just man. What fruit? "In hope rejoicing, in tribulation enduring."* What fruit to the just man? "We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, but patience probation, but probation hope: but hope confoundeth not: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, that hath been given to us."? Doth he rejoice that is a drunkard; and doth he not rejoice that is just? In love there is fruit toa just man. Miserable the one, even when he maketh himself drunken: blessed the other, even when he hungereth and thirsteth. The one wine-bibbing doth gorge, the other hope doth feed. Let him see therefore the punishment of the other, his own rejoicing, and let him think of God. He that hath given even now such joy of faith, of hope, of charity, of the truth of His Scriptures, what manner of joy is He making ready against the end? In the way thus He feedeth, in his home how shall He fill him? "And a man shall say, If therefore there is fruit to the just man." Let them that see believe, and see, and perceive. Rejoice shall the just man when he shall have seen vengeance. But if he hath not eyes whence he may see vengeance, he will be made sad, and will not be amended by it. But if he seeth it, he seeth what difference there is between the darkened eye of the heart, and the eye enlightened of the heart: between the coolness of chastity and the flame of lust, between the security of hope and the fear there is in crime. When he shall have seen this, let him separate himself, and wash his hands in the blood of the same. Let him profit by the comparison, and say, 'Therefore there is fruit to the just man: therefore there is a God judging them in the earth." Not yet in that life, not yet in fire eternal, not yet in the lower places, but here in Carthi nivext 17. If somewhat too prolix we have been, pardon us. We exhort you in the name of Christ, to meditate profitably on those things which ye have heard. Because even to preach the truth is nought, if heart from tongue dissenteth ; and to hear the truth nothing profiteth, if a man upon the rock build not. He that buildeth upon a Rock, is the same that heareth and doeth :3 but he that heareth and doeth not, buildeth upon sand: he that neither heareth nor doeth, buildeth nothing. ...
Psalm, as that we look not only upon that Head, the one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.2. . . But let us think of Christ, Head and whole Body, asort of entire Man. For to us is said, " But ye are the Body of Christ and members," ?° by the Apostle Paul. If therefore He is Head, we Body ; whole Christ is Head and Body. For sometimes thou findest words which do not suit the Head, and unless thou shalt have attached them to the Body, thy understanding will waver: again thou findest words which are proper for the Body, and Christ nevertheless is speaking. In that place we must have no fear lest a man be mistaken: for quickly he proceedeth to adapt to the Head, that which he seeth is not proper for the Body... . 3. Let us hear, therefore, what followeth: "When Saul sent and guarded his house in order that he might kill him." This though not to the Cross of the Lord, yet to the Passion of the Lord doth belong. For Crucified was Christ, and dead, and buried. That sepulchre was therefore as it were the house: to guard which the government of the Jews sent, when guards were set to the sepulchre of Christ." There is PSALM LIX.4
The First Part.
1. As the Scripture is wont to set mysteries of the Psalms on the titles, and to deck the brow t Rom. xii. 12. 2 Rom. v. 3-5. 4 Lat. LVIII. Pelagius.
6 Matt. xxvii. 37. 7 John xix. 20.
3 Matt. vii. 24. Delivered ete the discovery of the error of 5 Sacramentt?. 8 John xix. 21. Il Matt. xxvii. 66.