Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
57° THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN. [Psatm CXIX.
58. Lastly, when he had received this blessing of grace, he saith, "I was ready, and was not disturbed, that I may keep Thy commandments" (ver. 60). Which some have rendered, "to keeping Thy commandments," some "that I should keep," others "to keep," the Greek being rod dv Adbacbar.
produce much fruit ; he next addeth concerning this very fruit, "The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy" (ver. 64). And whence this, save when the ungodly is justified? That we may make progress in the knowledge of this grace, he addeth, "O teach me Thy righteousnesses !"'
59. But in what manner he was ready to keep the divine commandments, he hath added, in these words: "The bands of the ungodly have surrounded me: but I have not forgotten Thy law" (ver. 61). "The bands of the ungodly " are the hindrances of our enemies, whether spiritual, as the devil and his angels, or carnal, the children of disobedience, in whom the devil worketh.' For this word peccatorum is not from peccata, "sins," but from peccatores, "sinners."
Leth.
62. "Thou hast dealt in sweetness with Thy servant: according unto Thy word ;" or rather, "according unto Thine utterance" (ver. 65). The Greek word xpyordrys hath been variously rendered by our translators by the words "sweetness' and " goodness." But since sweetness may exist also in evil, since all unlawful and unclean things afford pleasure, and it may also exist in that carnal pleasure which is permitted ; we ought to understand the word " sweetness," which the Greeks termed xpnororys, of spiritual blessings: for on this account our translators have preferred to term it " goodness." I think therefore that nothing else is meant by the words, "Thou hast dealt in sweetness with Thy servant," than this, Thou hast made me feel delight in that which is good. Forwhenthat whichis good delighteth, it isa great gift of God. But when the good work which the law commandeth is done from a fear of punishment, not from a delight in righteousness, when God is dreaded, not loved ; it is the act of a slave, not of a freeman.5
Therefore when they threaten evils, with which to alarm the righteous, that they may not suffer for the law of God, they, so to speak, entangle them with bands, with a strong and tough cord of their own. For "they draw iniquity like a long rope," ? and thus endeavour to entangle the holy, and sometimes are allowed so to do.
60. "At midnight," he saith, "I rise to give thanks unto Thee: because of Thy righteous judgments" (ver. 62). This very fact, that the bands of the ungodly surround the righteous, is one of the righteous judgments of God. On which account the Apostle Peter saith, '' The time is come when judgment must begin at the house of the Lord." 3 For he saith this of the persecutions which the Church suffered, when the bands of the ungodly surrounded them. I suppose, therefore, that by "' midnight " we should understand the heavier seasons of tribulation. In which he said, "' I arose:" since He did not so afflict him, as to cast him down; but tried him, so that he arose, that is, that through this very tribulation he might advance unto a_ bolder confession.
63. "O learn me sweetness, and understanding, and knowledge," he saith, " for I have believed Thy commandments" (ver. 66). He prayeth these things may be increased and perfected. For they who said, " Lord, increase our faith," © had faith. And as long as we live in this world, these are the words of those who are making progress. But he addeth, "understanding," or, as most copies read, "discipline." Now the word discipline, for which the Greeks use zraudefa, is employed in Scripture, where instruction through tribulation is to be understood: according to the words, 'Whom the Lord loveth He disciplineth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." 7 In the literature of the Church this is usually called discipline. For this word, rasdeia,* is used in the Greek in the Epistle to the Hebrews, where the Latin translator saith, '' No dscipline for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous," etc.? He therefore toward whom the Lord dealeth in sweetness, that is, he in whom He mercifully inspires delight in that which is good, ought to pray instantly, that this gift may be so increased unto him, that he may not only despise all other delights in comparison with it, but also that he may endure any amount of suf-
61. For I imagine that what followeth, "I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and keep Thy commandments" (ver. 63), doth relate to the Head Himself, as it is in the Epistle which is inscribed to the Hebrews: "Both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." 4 . . . Therefore Jesus Himself speaketh in this prophecy: some things in His Members and in the Unity of His Body, as if in one man diffused over the whole world, and growing up in succession throughout the roll of ages: and some things in Himself our Head. And on this account, that since He became the companion of His brethren, God of men, the Immortal of the mortal, for this reason the seed fell upon the earth, that by its death it might
5 John viii. 35; 1 John iv. 18. © Luke xvii. 5. 7 Heb. xii. 6. 8 es Clement, A. N. F. vol. ii. p. 213.] 9 Heb, xii. 11,
1 Eph. ii. 2. 2 Isa. v. 18. 3 x Pet. iv. 17. 4 Heb. ii. 11, 14.