Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN.
[PsALM CXXXII.
ing: and he hath a point to stretch towards. Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, and search not the things that are above thy strength ; that is, things which thou art not as yet fit to understand. And what am I to do? thou repliest. Shall I remain thus? " But what things the Lord hath commanded thee, think thereupon always." ? What hath the Lord commanded thee? Do works of mercy, part not with the peace of the Church, place not thy trust in man, tempt not God by longing for miracles.143.% where necessity shall compel us: that we may, if the Lord permit, explain the whole. For ye also ought not to hear everything as men untaught ; ye ought in some degree to aid us from your past listenings, so that it may not be needful that everything should be declared to you as though new.?
2. "Lord, remember David, and all his meekness' (ver. 1). David according to the truth of history was one man, king of Israel, son of Jesse. He was indeed meek, as the Divine Scriptures themselves mark and command him, and so meek that he did not even render evil for evil to his persecutor Saul. He preserved towards him so great humility, that he acknowledged him a king, and himself a dog: and answered the king not proudly nor rudely, though he was more powerful in God; but he rather endeavoured to appease him by humility, than to provoke him by pride. Saul was even given into his power, and this by the Lord God, that he might do to him what he listed: but since he-was not commanded to slay him, but had it only placed in his power (now a man is permitted to use his power), he rather turned towards mercy what God gave him... . The humility of David is therefore commended, the meekness of David is commended ; and it is said to God, " Lord, remember David, and all his meekness." For what purpose? 'How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed a vow unto the Almighty God of Jacob" (ver. 2). Therefore remember for this, that he may fulfil what he hath promised. David himself vowed as though he had it in his power, and he prayeth God to fulfil his vow: there is devotion in the vow, but there is humility in the prayer. Let no one presume to think he fulfilled by his own strength what he hath vowed. He who exhorteth thee to vow, Himself aideth thee to fulfil. Let us therefore see what he vowed, and hence we comprehend how David should be understood in a figure. " David" is interpreted, "Strong of hand," for he was a great warrior. 'Trusting indeed in the Lord his God, he despatched all wars, he laid low all his enemies, God helping him, according to the dispensation of that kingdom; prefiguring nevertheless some One strong of hand to destroy His enemies, the devil and his angels. These enemies the Church warreth against, and conquereth. . . . What then doth he mean, " How he sware," etc.? Let us see what vow is this. We can offer God nothing more pleasing than to swear.' Now to swear is to promise firmly.?
7. Forif ye be not exalted, if ye raise not your heart on high, if ye tread not in great matters that are too high for you, but preserve humility, God will reveal unto you what ye are otherwise minded in.2 But if ye choose to defend this very thing, which ye are otherwise minded about, and with pertinacity assert it, and against the peace of the Church ; this curse which he hath described is entailed upon you; when ye are upon your mother's breast, and are removed away from the milk, ye shall die of hunger apart from your mother's breast. But if ye continue in Catholic peace, if perchance ye are in anything otherwise minded than ye ought to be, God will reveal it to you, if ye be humble. Wherefore? Because "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble." 3
8. This Psalm therefore concludeth to this purpose: 'O Israel, trust in the Lord, from this time forth and even unto eternity''4 (ver. 3). But the word secw/um doth not always mean this world, but sometimes eternity ; since eternity is understood in two ways; until eternity, that is, either evermore without end, or until we arrive at eternity. How then is it to be understood here? Until we arrive at eternity, let us trust in the Lord God ; because when we have reached eternity, there will be no longer hope, but the thing itself will be ours.
PSALM CXXXII.s
1. It was right indeed, most beloved, that we should rather hear our Brother,° my colleague, when present before all of us. And just now he refused not, but put us off; for he extorted from me that he might now listen to me, on the condition that I also may listen to him, for in charity itself we are all listening unto Him, who is our One Master in heaven. Attend therefore to the Psalm, entitled A Song of Degrees ; considerably longer than the rest under the same title. Let us not therefore linger, save
1 Ecclus. ili. 22. 2 Philip. iii. 15. 3 Jas iv. 6 and x Pet. v. 5. 4 |Headds: '' The Greek words, ad Tov viv Kat Ews Tod aidvos are rendered in the Latin, ex hoc nunc et usque tn seculum," =e]
7 [On this principle, I have been forced to sacrifice many repetitions excellent in themselves. — C.
Ben, thinks these words are repeated by mistake from above, in some MSS.; but they are also in our copies, and come in very much after the manner of St. Augustin.
Lat. CXXXI. A sermon to the common people. 6 Ed. Ben. supposes this to be Severus, Bishop of Milevis; and refers to Exp of Ps. xcvi. § 1, p. 470, supra.
9 [his sufficiently modifies and expounds what he means. — C.J