Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
PsaLm LXVIIL] ON THE PSALMS. 287 me:"* and they that have hoped in the Lord, continuing in prayers by night and by day :2 by whose face those men shall be troubled when they shall have seen themselves prevail nothing, for that the whole world hath gone away after Him.3 For out of those orphans and widows, that is, persons destitute of partnership in this world's hope, the Lord for Himself doth build a Temple: whereof in continuation he saith, " The Lord is in His holy place."
these provoking men that dwell in the tombs, are of that kind, which in another passage the Scripture pointeth out, saying, "From a dead man, as from one that is not, confession perisheth."® Whence there is this saying, "' When a sinner shall have come into the depth of evil things, he despiseth."? For it is one thing to long for, another thing to fight against righteousness: one thing from evil to desire to be delivered, another thing one's evil doings to defend rather than to confess: both kinds nevertheless the Grace of Christ leadeth forth in strength. With what strength, but that wherewith against sin even unto blood they are to strive? For out of each kind are made meet persons, whereof to construct His holy place; those being loosened, these being raised to life. For even of the woman, whom Satan had bound for eighteen years, by His command He loosed the bonds ; ® and Lazarus' death by His voice He overcame.?
6. For what is His place he hath disclosed, when he saith, "God that maketh to dwell men of one mood in a house" (ver. 6): men of one mind, of one sentiment: this is the holy place of the Lord. For when he had said, "The Lord is in His holy place :"' as though we were inquiring in what place, since He is everywhere wholly, and no place of corporal space containeth Him; forthwith he hath subjoined: somewhat, that we should not seek Him apart from ourselves, but rather being of one mood dwelling in a house, we should deserve that He also Himself deign to dwell among us. This is the holy place of the Lord, the thing that most men seek to have, a place where in prayer they may be hearkened unto. . . . For as in a great house of a man, the Lord thereof doth not abide in every place whatsoever, but in some place doubtless more private and honourable : so God dwelleth not in all men that are in His house (for He dwelleth not in the vessels of dishonour), but His holy place are they whom "He maketh to dwell of one mood," or "of one manner, in a house." For what are called rpézot in Greek, by both modi and mores (moods and manners), in Latin may be interpreted. Nor hath the Greek writer, 'Who maketh to dwell," but only "maketh to dwell." "The Lord," then, "is in His holy place." ...
He that hath done these things in bodies, is able to do more marvellous things in characters, and to make men of one mood to dwell in a house: "leading forth men fettered in strength, likewise men provoking that dwell in the tombs." *°
8. "O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people" (ver. 7). His going forth is perceived, when He appeareth in His works. But He appeareth not to all men, but to them that know how to spy out His works. For I do not now speak of those works which are conspicuous to all men, Heaven and earth and sea and all things that in them are ; but the works whereby He leadeth forth men fettered in strength, likewise men provoking that dwell in the tombs, and maketh them of one manner to dwell in a house. Thus He goeth forth before His people, that is, before those that do perceive this
His Grace. Lastly, there followeth, " When Thou wentest by in the desert, the earth was moved" (ver. 8). A desert were the nations, which knew not God: a desert they were, where by God Himself no law had been given, where no Prophet had dwelled, and foretold the Lord to come. "When," then, "Thou wentest by in the desert,''? when Thou wast preached in the nations ; "the earth was moved," to the faith earthly men were stirred up. But whence was it moved? "For the heavens dropped from the face of God." Perchance here some one calleth to mind that time, when in the desert God was going over before His people, before the sons of Israel, by day in the pillar of cloud, by night in the brightness of fire ;'! and determineth that thus it is that "the heavens dropped from the face of God," for manna He rained upon His people : '? that the same thing also is that which
7. But to prove that by His Grace He buildeth to Himself this place, not for the sake of the merits preceding of those persons out of whom He buildeth it, see what followeth: "Who leadeth forth men fettered, in strength." For He looseth the heavy bonds of sins, wherewith they were fettered so that they could not walk in the way of the commandments: but He leadeth them forth "in strength," which before His Grace they had not. " Likewise men provoking that dwell in the tombs :"' that is, every way dead, taken up with dead works. For these men provoke Him to anger by withstanding justice: for those fettered men perchance would walk, and are not able, and are praying of God that they may be able, and are saying to Him, "From my necessities lead me forth."4+ By whom being heard, they give thanks, saying, "Thou hast broken asunder my bonds.''5 But
8 Luke xiii. 16. 7 Prov. xviii. 3. reer perme XOd, Xl. 21. 6 Ecclus. xvii. 28. vi to Ps. Ixviii. 6, 9 John xi. 45. 12 Exod. xvi. 15.
2 x Tim. v. 5. 3 John aii. 19. 5 Ps. cxvi. 16. I Ps. xxvii. 10. 4 Ps. xxv. 17.