Expositions on the Book of Psalms
PsaLm XCVII.] ON THE PSALMS. 479 above idols, not only above devils ; but above all righteous men. Even this is not enough; above all Angels also: for whence otherwise is this, "Worship Him, all ye gods"? "Thou art far exalted above all gods." put off a patched garment? He will give thee a robe of glory. What robe dost thou tell me of? "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."? This very flesh of thine shall not perish. Thine enemy can rage as far as to thy death: he hath not power beyond, either over thy soul, or even over thy flesh ; for although he scatter thy flesh about, he hindereth not the resurrection. Men were fearful for their life: and what said the Lord unto them? "The very hairs of your head are all numbered."3 Dost thou, who losest not a single hair, fear the loss of thy life? All things are numbered with God. He who created all things, will restore all things. They were not, and they were created: they were, and shall they not be restored? . . . "He shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly."
13. What then do we all, who have assembled before Him, before Him who is exalted far above all gods? He hath given us a brief commandment, ""O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil!" (ver. 10). Christ doth not deserve that with Him thou shouldest love avarice. Thou lovest Him: thou shouldest hate what He hateth. There is a man who is thine enemy, he is what thou art; ye are the work of one Creator, with the same nature: and yet if thy son were to speak unto thine enemy, and come to his house, and constantly converse with him, thou wouldest be inclined to disinherit him; because he speaketh with thine enemy. And how so? Because thou seemest to say justly, Thou art my enemy's friend, and seekest thou aught of my property? Attend then. Thou lovest Christ: avarice is Christ's foe ; why speak with her? I say not, speak with her ; why dost thou serve her? For Christ commandeth thee to do many things, and thou dost them not ; she commandeth thee, and thou dost them. Christ commandeth thee to clothe the poor man: and thou dost it not; avarice biddeth thee defraud, and this thou dost in preference. If such be the case, if such thou art, do not very confidently promise thyself Christ's heritage. But thou sayest, I love Christ. Hence it appeareth that thou lovest what is good, if thou shalt be found to hate what is evil... . 14. Because then he had said above, "see that ye hate the thing which is evil," lest ye should fear to hate evil, lest he should kill thee, he addeth instantly, "The Lord preserveth the souls of His servants." Hear Him preserving the souls of His servants, and saying, " Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to} kill the soul."* He who hath most power against thee, slayeth the body. What hath he done unto thee?» What he also did to the Lord thy God. Why lovest thou to have what Christ hath, if thou fearest to suffer what Christ did? He came to bear thy life, temporal, weak, sub-
15. But perhaps thou wilt say, I lose this light. "There is sprung up a light for the righteous" (ver. 11). What light fearest thou thou mayest lose? fearest thou thou mayest be in darkness? Fear not thou mayest lose light; nay, fear lest while thou art guarding against the loss of this light, thou mayest lose that true light. For we see to whom that light is given which thou fearest losing, and with whom it is shared. Do | the righteous only see this sun, when He maketh it rise over the just and unjust, and raineth upon the just and unjust?+ Wicked men, robbers, the unchaste, beasts, flies, worms, see that light together with thee. What sort of light doth He keep for the righteous, who giveth this even to such as these? Deservedly the Martyrs beheld this light in faith ; for they who despised this light of the sun, had some light in their eyes, which they longed for, who rejected this. Do you imagine that they were really in misery, when they walked in chains? Spacicus was the prison to the faithful, light were the chains to the confessors. They who preached Christ amid their torments, had joy in the iron-chair. What light hath sprung up for the righteous? Not that which springeth up for the unrighteous ; not that which He causeth to rise over the good and bad. There is a different light which springeth up to the righteous; of which light, that never rose upon themselves, the unrighteous shall in the end say, "Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness hath not shined upon us, and the sun of righteousness rose not upon us."5 Behold, by loving this sun they have lain in the darkness of the heart. What did it profit them to have seen with their eyes this sun, and not in mind to have seen that light? Tobit was blind, but he used to teach his son the way of God. Ye know this, that Tobit warned his son, and said ject unto death. Surely fear to die, if thou canst avoid dying. What thou canst not avoid through thy nature, why dost thou not undergo by faith? Let the adversary who threateneth take away from thee that life, God giveth thee another life : for He gave thee this life also, and without His will even this shall not be taken from thee; but if it be His will that it be taken from thee, He hath a life to give thee in exchange; fear not to be robbed for His sake. Art thou unwilling to 2 x Cor. xv. 53. 3 Matt. x. 30. 4 Matt. v. 45. 5 Wisd. v. 6.
1 Matt x 28,
THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN.
[PsaLm XCVIII.
we are speaking to Christians; we ought not to disobey the faith. The Gospel saith this, that in the last times many evils, many stumbling-blocks, many tribulations, much iniquity, shall abound ; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.4 "The love," it saith, "of many shall wax cold." Whosoever then hath been stedfastly fervent in spirit, as the Apostle saith, "fervent in spirit,' 5 his love shall not wax cold: because "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.''?® Let no man therefore promise himself what the Gospel doth not promise. Behold, happier times will come, and Iam doing this, and purchasing this. It is good for thee to listen to Him who is not deceived, nor hath deceived any man, who promised thee joy not here, but in Himself; and when all here hath passed away, to hope that with Him thou wilt for ever reign; lest when thou dost wish to reign here, thou mayest neither enjoy gladness here, nor find it there. to him, "Son, give alms of thy substance ; because that alms suffer not to come into darkness."' Even he who was in darkness spoke thus. . Be true-hearted. What is, be true-hearted? Be not of a crooked heart before God, withstanding. . Dost thou wish to know that light ?j
His will, and wishing to bend Him unto thee, and not to rule thyself to please Him; and thou wilt feel the joyful gladness which all the truehearted know.
16. "Be glad, ye righteous" (ver. 12). Perhaps already the faithful hearing the word, " Be glad," are thinking of banquets, preparing cups, waiting for the season of roses; because it is said, " Be glad, ye righteous!' See what, followeth, " Be glad in the Lord." 'Thou art waiting for the season of spring, that thou mayest be glad: thou hast the Lord for joyful gladness, the Lord is always with thee, He hath no special season ; thou hast Him by night, thou hast Him by day. Be true-hearted ; and thou hast ever joy from Him. For that joy which is after the fashion of the world, is not true joy. Hear the prophet Isaiah: " There is no joy, saith my God, to the wicked." ? What the wicked call joy is not joy, such as he knew who made no account of their joy: let us believe him, brethren. He was a man, but he knew both kinds of joy. He certainly knew the joys of the cup, for he was a man, he knew the joy of the table, he knew the PSALM XCVIILI.7
1. "Osing unto the Lord a new song" (ver. 1). The new man knoweth this, the old man knoweth it not. The old man is the old life, and the new man the new life: the old life is derived from Adam, the new life is formed in Christ. But in this Psalm, the whole world is enjoined to sing a new song. More openly elsewhere the words are these: '"'O sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth ;'"§ that they who cut themselves off from the communion of the whole earth,? may understand that they cannot sing the new song, because it is sung in the whole, and not in a part of it. Attend here also, and see that this is said. And when the whole earth is enjoined to sing a new song, it is meant, that peace singeth anew song. '" For He hath done marvellous things." What marvellous things? Behold, the Gospel was just now being read, and we heard the marvellous things of the Lord. The only son of his mother, who was a widow, was being carried out dead: the Lord, in compassion, made them stand still ; they laid him down, and the Lord said, " Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." 1° . . . "The Lord hath done marvellous things." What marvellous things? Hear: ' His own right hand, and His holy arm, hath healed for Him." What is the Lord's holy Arm? Our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear Isaiah: 'Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?"' ™! joys of marriage, he knew those joys worldly and luxurious. He who knew them saith with confidence, "'There is no joy to the wicked, saith the Lord." But it is not man who speaks, it is the Lord. . . . But thou sayest, I see not that light which Isaiah saw. Believe, and thou shalt see it. For perhaps thou hast not the eye to see it; for it is an eye by which that beauty is discerned. Fora; there is an eye of the flesh, by means of which this light is seen: so there is an eye of the heart, by which that joy is perceived: perhaps that eye is wounded, dimmed, disturbed by passion, by avarice, by indulgence, by senseless lust ; thine eye is disturbed: thou canst not see that light. Believe, before thou seest: thou shalt be healed, and shalt see.
17. "And confess to the remembrance of His holiness.'' Now made glad, now rejoicing in the Lord, confess unto Him; for unless it were His will, ye would not rejoice in Him. For the Lord Himself saith: 'These things I have spoken to you: that in Me ye might have peace. But in the world ye shall have tribulation.''3 If ye are Christians, look for tribulations in this world ; look not for more peaceful and better times. Brethren, ye deceive yourselves ; what the Gospel doth not promise you, promise not to yourselves. Ye know what the Gospel saith ; His holy arm then, and His own right hand, is 4 Matt. xxiv. 3-13. 5 Rom, xii. 11. 7 Lat. XCVII. A discourse to the people. 8 Ps. xcvi. 1. 9 Donatists. It Isa. lili. 1, 6 Rom. v. 5.
10 Luke vii. 12-14.
1 Tobit iv. 7, 10. 2 Isa. lvil. 21. 3 John xvi. 33.
ONrTHE PSALMS: 481
PsaALm XCVIII.]
Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore the arm of God, and the right hand of God: for this reason is it said, "hath He healed for Him." It is not said only, " His right hand hath healed the world," but "hath healed for Him." For many are healed for themselves, not for Him. Behold how many long for that bodily health, and receive it from Him: they are healed by Him, but not for Him. How are they healed by Him, and not for Him? When they have received health, they become wanton: they who when sick were chaste, when cured become adulterers: they who when in illness injured no man, on the recovery of their strength attack and crush the innocent: they are healed, but not unto Him. Who is he who is healed unto Him? He whois healed inwardly. Who is he that is healed inwardly? He who trusteth in Him, that when he shall have been healed inwardly, reformed into a new man, afterwards this mortal flesh too, which doth languish for a time, may in the end itself even recover its most perfect health. Let us therefore be healed for Him. But that we may be healed for Him, let us believe in His right hand. the salvation of our God." It is not said, all the earth: but, "all the ends of the world: " as it is said, from one end to the other. Let no man cut this down, let no man scatter it abroad ; strong is the unity of Christ. He who gave so great a price, hath bought the whole: "All the ends of the world."
4. Because they have seen, then, " Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands" (ver. 4).
Ye already know what it is to make a joyful noise. Rejoice, and speak. If ye cannot express your joy, shout ye; let the shout manifest your joy, if your speech cannot: yet let not joy be mute ; let not your heart be silent respecting its God, let it not be mute concerning His gifts. If thou speakest to thyself, unto thyself art thou healed ; if His right hand hath healed thee for Him, speak thou unto Him for whom thou hast been healed. "Sing, rejoice, and make melody." 5. "Make melody unto the Lord upon the harp: on the harp and with the voice of a Psalm" (ver. 5). Praise Him not with the voice only ; take up works, that ye may not only sing, but work also. He who singeth and worketh, maketh melody with psaltery and upon the harp. Now see what sort of instruments are next spoken of, in figure: 'With ductile trumpets also, and the sound of the pipe of horn"' (ver. 6). What are ductile trumpets, and pipes of horn? Ductile trumpets are of brass: they are drawn out by hammering ; if by hammering, by being beaten, ye shall be ductile trumpets, drawn out unto the praise of God, if ye improve when in tribulation: tribulation is hammering, improvement is the being drawn out. Job was a ductile trumpet, when suddenly assailed by the heaviest losses, and the death of his sons, become like a ductile trumpet by the beating of so heavy tribulation, he sounded thus: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord."+ How did he sound? How pleasantly doth his voice sound? This ductile trumpet is still under the hammer. . . . We have heard how he was hammered ; let us hear how he soundeth: let us, if it please you, hear the sweet sound of this ductile trumpet: 'What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?'' O courageous, O sweet sound ! whom will not that sound awake from sleep? whom will not confidence in God awake, to march to battle fearlessly against the devil; not to struggle with his own strength, but His who proveth him. For He it is who hammereth: for the hammer could not do so of itself... . See how (I dare so speak, my brethren) even the Apostle was beaten with this very hammer : he saith, " there was given to me a thorn in the
2. " The Lord hath made known His salvation" (ver. 2). This very right hand, this very arm, this very salvation, is our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it is said, "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God ;"'! of whom also that Simeon who embraced the Infant in his arms, spoke, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace ; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." ? "The Lord hath made known His salvation." To whom did He make it known? 'To a part, or to the whole? Not to any part specially. Let no man betray, no man deceive, no man say, "Lo, here is Christ, or there:''3 the man who saith, Lo, He is here, or there, pointeth to some particular spots.. To whom "hath the Lord declared His salvation"? Hear what followeth: "His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen."" Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the right hand of God, the arm of God, the salvation of God, and the righteousness of God.
3. " He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel" (ver. 3). What meaneth this, "He hath remembered His mercy and truth"? He hath pitied, so that He promised ; because He promised and showed His mercy, truth hath followed: mercy hath gone before promise, promise hath been fulfilled in truth. . . "And His truth unto the house of Israel." Who is this Israel? 'That ye may not perchance think of one nation of the Jews, hear what followeth: "All the 'ends of the world have seen
4 Job i. ar.
© Luke iii. 6. 2 Luke ii. 28-30. 3 Matt. xxiv. 23.