Expositions on the Book of Psalms
THE WORKS' OF ST. AUGUSTIN, [Psarm CXIX.
forgotten, for he hath not wished to have a righteousness of his own, but that of God, of which he now also saith, " Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth" tion demand this in defence of the truth of the divine testimonies: but where there is not health of the soul, weakness yieldeth, and truth is deserteds iki:
(ver. 142). For how is not the law truth, through which came the knowledge of sin, and that which giveth testimony of the righteousness of God? For thus the Apostle saith: 'The righteousness of God is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets." !
145. "I have prevented in midnight," he saith, "and have cried: In Thy words have I trusted "
(ver. 147). If we refer this to each of the faithful, and to the literal character of the act; it oft happeneth that the love of God is awake in that hour of the night, and, the love of prayer strongly urging us, the time of prayer, which is wont to be after the crowing of the cock, is not awaited, but prevented. But if we understand night of the whole of this world's duration; we indeed cry unto God at midnight, and prevent the fulness of time in which He will restore us what He hath promised, as is elsewhere read, " Let us prevent His presence with confession."3 Although if we choose to understand the unripe season of this night, before the fulness of time had come,' that is, the ripe season when Christ should be manifested in the flesh; neither was the Church then silent, but preventing this fulness of time, in prophecy cried out, and trusted in the words of God, who was able to do what He promised, that in the seed of Abraham all nations should be blessed.5
141. On account of this law the younger suffered persecution from the elder, so that the younger saith what followeth: "Trouble and hardship have taken hold upon me: yet is my meditation in Thy commandments" (ver. 143). Let them rage, let them persecute; as long as the commandments of God be not abandoned, and, after those commandments, let even those who rage be loved.
142. "Thy testimonies are righteousness unto everlasting: O grant me understanding, and I shall live" (ver. 144). This younger one prayeth for understanding ; which if he had not, he would not be " wiser than the aged ;"? but he prayeth for it in trouble and hardships, that he may thereby understand how contemptible is all that his persecuting enemies can take from him, by whom he saith he hath been despised. Therefore he hath said, "and I shall live:" because if trouble and heaviness reached such a pitch, that his life should be terminated by the hands of his persecuting enemies, he will live for ever, who preferreth to temporal things, righteousness which remaineth for evermore. This righteousness in trouble and hardship are the Martyria Dei, that is, the testimonies of God, for which Martyrs have been crowned.
146. The Church saith also what followeth, "Mine eyes have prevented the morning watch, that I might meditate on Thy words" (ver. 148). Let us suppose the morning to mean the season when "a light arose for them that sat in the shadow of death;''® did not the eyes of the Church prevent this morning watch, in those Saints who before were on earth, because they foresaw beforehand that this would come to pass, so that they meditated on the words of God, which then were, and announced these things to be destined in the Law and the Prophets?
Koph.
143. . . . Hewhosingeth this Psalm, mentioneth such a prayer of his own: "TI have called with my whole heart ; hear me, O Lord !" (ver. 145). For to what end his cry profiteth, he addeth: "J will search out Thy righteousnesses."' For this purpose then he hath called with his whole heart, and hath longed that this might be given him by the Lord. listening unto him, that he may search out His righteousnesses. . . . 144. "I have called, save me" (ver. 146) ; or as some copies, both Greek and Latin, have it, "T have called to Thee."" But what is, "I have called to Thee," save that by calling I have invoked Thee? But when he had said, '"' save me ;" what did he add? "And I will keep Thy testimonies:" that is, that I may not, through infirmity, deny Thee. For the health of the soul causeth that to be done which it is known to be our duty to do, and thus in striving even to the death of the body, if the extremity of tempta-
147. 'Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Thy loving-mercy; and quicken Thou me according to Thy judgment" (ver. 149). For first God according to His loving-mercy taketh away punishment from sinners, and will give them life afterwards, when righteous, according to His judgment ; for it-is not without a meaning that it is said unto Him, " My song shall be of mercy and judgment: unto Thee, O Lord;"'7 in this order of the terms : although the season of mercy itself be not without judgment, whereof the Apostle saith, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged of the Lord."® ... And the final season of judgment shall not be without mercy, since as the Psalm saith, " He crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness." But "judgment shall be without mercy," but "unto those '' on the left, " who have not dealt mercy.' 9
4 Gal. iv. 4. 3 Ps, xcv. 2. i 7 Ps, ci. 1. 6 Isa, ix. 2. 9 Jas. ii. 13.
$ Gen. xii. 3 and xxii, 18, 8 x Cor. xi. 31.
! Rom. iii. 20, 21. 2 Ps, cxix. 100,