Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
ON THE PSALMS. a9,
PsaLm LXIX.]
sitteth at the right hand of the Father. This is what the Apostle saith, "the Same is He that hath ascended above all Heavens." ' For what of Heavens doth remain after the Heaven of Heaven? Which also we may call the Heavens of Heavens, just as He hath called the firmanent Heaven:? which Heaven, however, even as Heavens we read of, in the place where there is written, "and let the waters which are above the Heavens praise the name of the Lord."3 And forasmuch as from thence He is to come,' to judge quick and dead, observe what followeth :
But then by a most glorious changing even of our bodies, " He Himself shall give virtue and strength to His people." For this body is sown in weakness, shall rise in virtue.2!'_ He Himself then shall give the virtue which in His own flesh He hath sent before, whereof the Apostle saith, "the power of His Resurrection." 2? But strength whereby shall be destroyed the enemy death."3 Now then of this long and difficultly understood Psalm we have at length by His own aid made anend. " Blessed be God. Amen."
"behold, He shall give His voice, the voice of power.'"'5 He that like a lamb before the shearer of Him was without voice,° "behold shall give His voice," and not the voice of weakness, as though to be judged; but "the voice of power," as though going to judge. For God shall not be hidden, as before, and in the judgment of men not opening His mouth ; but "God shall come manifest, our God, and He shall not be silent." 7 Why do ye despair, ye unbelieving men? Why do ye mock? What saith the evil servant? "My Lord delayeth to come.' ® "Behold, He shall give His voice, the voice of power."
PSALM LXIX.?4
1. We have been born into this world, and added to the people of God, at that period wherein already the herb froma grain of mustard seed hath spread out its branches; wherein already the leaven, which at first was contemptible, hath leavened three measures,?5 that is, the whole round world repeopled by the three sons of Noe: ?° for from East and West and North and South shall come they that shall sit down with the Patriarchs,?7 while those shall have been driven without, that have been born of their flesh and have not imitated their faith. Unto his glory then of Christ's Church our eyes we have opened ; and that barren one, for whom joy was proclaimed and foretold, because she
39. "Give ye glory to God, above Israel is the magnificence of Him" (ver. 34). Of whom saith the Apostle, " Upon the Israel of God." 9 For "not all that are out of Israel, are Israelites :' !° for there is also an Israel after the flesh. Whence he saith, " See ye Israel after the flesh." *" " For not they that are sons of the flesh, are sons of God, but sons of promise are counted fora seed." 2 Therefore at that time when without any intermixture of evil men His people shall be, like a heap purged by the fan," like Israel in whom guile is not,'* then most pre-eminent "sbdove Israel" shall be " the magnificence" of " Him: and the virtue of Him in the clouds." For not alone He shall come to judgment, but with the elders of His people: '5 to whom He hath promised that they shall sit upon thrones to judge,'° who even shall judge angels.'7 These be the clouds.
was to have more sons than she that had the husband,?8 her we have found to be such an one as hath forgotten the reproaches and infamy of her widowhood : and so we may perhaps wonder when we chance to read in any prophecy the words of Christ's humiliation, or our own. And it may be, that we are less affected by them; because we have not come at that time when these things were read with zest, in that tribulation abounded. But again if we think of the abundance of tribulations, and observe the way wherein we are walking (if indeed we do walk in it), how narrow it is, and how through straits and tribulations it leadeth unto rest everlasting,?? and how that very thing which in human affairs is called felicity, is more to be feared than misery ; since indeed misery ofttimes doth bring out of tribulation a good fruit, but felicity doth corrupt the soul with a perverse security, and giveth place for the Devil the 'ftempter — when,
40. Lastly, lest of anything else the clouds be understood, he hath in continuation added, "Wonderful is God in His saints, the God of Israel" (ver. 35). For at that time even most truly and most fully there shall be fulfilled the name Israel itself, which is one "seeing God :" for we shall see Himas He is.'"® " He Himself shall give virtue '9 and strength to His people, blessed | be God:" to His people now frail and weak. For " we have this treasure in earthen vessels.'' 7°
I say, we shall have judged prudently and rightly, as the salted victim 3° did, that " human life upon earth is trial," 3! and that no one is at all secure, nor ought to be secure, until he be come to that country, whence no one that is a friend goeth forth, into which no one that is an enemy is
21 x Cor, xv. 43. 22 Philip. iii. ro. 23 1 Cor. xv. 26. 24 Lat. LXVIII. 25 Matt. xiii. 31, 33; Luke xiii. 19, 21. 26 Gen, ix. 19. 27 Matt. viii. rr. 28 Isa. liv. 1; Gal. iv. 27. 29 Matt. vil. 14. 30 Salita victima ; most copies have psallit hac victima. ~ Ben. [Mark ix. 4.—C. 31 Job vii. 1, LXX.
1 Eph. iv. 10. 2 Gen. i. 8. 3 Ps. cxlviii. 4. 4 Acts i. 11. 5 Virtutis. 6 Isa. lili. 7. TAPS. Last 8 Luke xii. 45. 9 Gal. vi. 16. 10 Rom. ix. 6. tts Core x: 18. 12 Rom, ix. 8. 13 Matt. ili. 12. 14 John i. 47. 15 Isa. ili. 14. To Matt. xix. 28. 18 John iii. 2. 19 Or, ' power." 17 x Cor, V1. 3. 20 2 Cor. iv. 7.