Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
THE WORKS*OF ST. AUGUSTIN. [Psaim IV.
gladness into my heart." Gladness then is not to be sought without by them, who, being still heavy in heart, "love vanity, and seek a lie;" but within, where the light of God's countenance is stamped. For Christ dwelleth in the inner man,' as the Apostle says; for to Him doth it appertain to see truth, since He hath said, "I am the truth."5 And again, when He spake in the Apostle, saying, "Would you receive a proof of Christ, who speaketh in me?"® He spake not of course from without to him, but in his very heart, that is,in that chamber where we are to pray.
the new life: that on the old man being destroyed or weakened by repentance, the sacrifice of righteousness, according to the regeneration of the new man, may be offered to God ; when the soul now cleansed offers and places itself on the altar of faith, to be encompassed by heavenly fire, that is, by the Holy Ghost. So that this may be the meaning, "Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and hope in the Lord;" that is, live uprightly, and hope for the gift of the Holy Ghost, that the truth, in which you have believed, may shine upon you.
8. But yet, "hope in the Lord," is as yet expressed without' explanation. Now what is hoped for, but good things? But since each one would obtain from God that good, which he loves; and they are not easy to be found who love interior goods, that is, which belong to the inward man, which alone should be loved, but the rest are to be used for necessity, not to be enjoyed for pleasure ; excellently did he subjoin, when he had said, "hope in the Lord" (ver. 6),
9. But men (who doubtless are many) who follow after things temporal, know not to say aught else, than, "Who showeth us good things?" when the true and certain good within their very selves they cannot see. Of these accordingly is most justly said, what he adds next : "From the time of His corn, of wine, and oil, they have been multiplied." For the addition of fis, is not superfluous. For the corn is God's: inasmuch as He is " the living bread which came down from heaven." 7 The wine too is God's: for, " they shall be inebriated,"' he says, " with the fatness of thine house." ® The oil too is God's: of which it is said, '' Thou hast fattened my head with oil." But those many, who say, ''Who showeth us good things?" and who see not that the kingdom of heaven is within them: these, "from the time of His corn, of wine, and oil, are multiplied." For multiplication does not always betoken plentifulness, and not, generally, scantiness: when the soul, given up to temporal pleasures, burns ever with desire, and cannot be satisfied ; and, distracted with manifold and anxious thought, is not permitted to see the simple good. Such is the soul of which it is said, "For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthly tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth on many things." '° A soul like this, by the departure and succession of temporal goods, that is, "from the time of His corn, wine, and oil," filled with numberless idle fancies, is so multiplied, that it cannot do that which is commanded, "' Think on the Lord in goodness, and in simplicity of heart seek Him." !! For this multiplicity is strongly opposed to that simplicity. And therefore leaving these, who are many, multiplied, that is, by the desire of things temporal, and who say, "Who showeth us good things?" which are to be sought not with the eyes without, but with simplicity of heart within, the faithful man rejoices and says, "In peace, together, I will sleep, and take rest"
"Many say, Who showeth us good things?" This is the speech, and this the daily inquiry of all the foolish and unrighteous ; whether of those who long for the peace and quiet of a worldly life, and from the frowardness of mankind find it not ; who even in their blindness dare to find fault with the order of events, when involved in their own deservings they deem the times worse than these which are past: or, of those who doubt and despair of that future life, which is promised us ; who are often saying, Who knows if it's true? or, who ever came from below, to tell us this? Very exquisitely then, and briefly, he shows (to those, that is, who have interior sight), what good things are to be sought; answering their question, who say, "Who showeth us good things?" "The light of Thy countenance," saith he, "is stamped on us, O Lord." This light is the whole and true good of man, which is seen not with the eye, but with the mind. But he says, "stamped on us," as a penny is stamped with the king's image. For man was made after the image and likeness of God,? which he defaced by sin: therefore it is his true and eternal good, if by a new birth he be stamped. And I believe this to be the bearing of that which some understand skilfully; I mean, what the Lord said on seeing Cesar's tribute money, "Render to Cesar the things that are Ceesar's; and to God the things that are God's."3 As if He had said, In like manner as Ceesar exacts from you the impression of his image, so also does God: that as the tribute money is rendered to him, so should the soul to God, illumined and stamped with the light of His countenance. (Ver. 7.) "Thou hast put
(ver. 8). For such men justly hope for all manner of estrangement of mind from things
4 Eph. iii, 16, 17. 5 John xiv. 6, 6 2 Cor. xiii. 3. 7 John vi. 5x. 8 Ps. xxxvi. 8. 9 Ps. xxiii. 5. 10 Wisd. ix. 15. II Wisd. i. 1.
l Clause. 2 Gen. i. 26. 3 Matt. xxii. 21.