Expositions on the Book of Psalms 1
1.0 Psalm I PL 36, 67
1.1 Psalm I PL 36, 229
1. “Blessed is the man that hath not gone away in the counsel of the ungodly” (ver. 1). This is to be understood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Man. “Blessed is the man that hath not gone away in the counsel of the ungodly,” as “the man of earth did,” who consented to his wife deceived by the serpent, to the transgressing the commandment of God. “Nor stood in the way of sinners.” For He came indeed in the way of sinners, by being born as sinners are; but He “stood” not therein, for that the enticements of the world held Him not. “And hath not sat in the seat of pestilence.” He willed not an earthly kingdom, with pride, which is well taken for “the seat of pestilence;” for that there is hardly any one who is free from the love of rule, and craves not human glory. For a “pestilence” is disease widely spread, and involving all or nearly all. Yet “the seat of pestilence” may be more appropriately understood of hurtful doctrine; “whose word spreadeth as a canker.” The order too of the words must be considered: “went away, stood, sat.” For he “went away,” when he drew back from God. He “stood,” when he took pleasure in sin. He “sat,” when, confirmed in his pride, he could not go back, unless set free by Him, who neither “hath gone away in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of pestilence.”
[vers. 1.] Psalmi hujus quem modo cantavimus, quantum possumus secreta rimemur, et inde sermonem exsculptum reddamus auribus et mentibus vestris. Titulus ejus est: In finem, Psalmus ipsi David ecstasis. In finem quid sit, novimus, si Christum novimus; dicit enim Apostolus: Finis enim legis Christus ad justitiam omni credenti Finis non consumens, sed perficiens: duobus enim modis dicimus finem; vel quo fit ut non sit quod erat, vel quo fit ut perfectum sit quod inchoatum erat. Ergo in finem, in Christum.
1.2 PL 36, 230
2. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law will he meditate by day and by night (ver. 2). The law is not made for a righteous man,” says the Apostle. But it is one thing to be in the law, another under the law. Whoso is in the law, acteth according to the law; whoso is under the law, is acted upon according to the law: the one therefore is free, the other a slave. Again, the law, which is written and imposed upon the servant, is one thing; the law, which is mentally discerned by him who needeth not its “letter,” is another thing. “He will meditate by day and by night,” is to be understood either as without ceasing; or “by day” in joy, “by night” in tribulations. For it is said, “Abraham saw my day, and was glad:” and of tribulation it is said, “my reins also have instructed me, even unto the night.”
Psalmus David ecstasis. Verbum ectasis graecum, latine, quantum datur intelligi, verbo uno exponi potest, si dicatur excessus: excessus autem mentis proprie solet ecstasis dici. In excessu vero mentis duo intelliguntur; aut pavor, aut intentio ad superna, ita ut quodam modo de memoria labantur inferna: in hac ecstasi fuerunt omnes sancti, quibus arcana Dei mundum istum excedentia revelata sunt. De hoc mentis excessu, id est ecstasi, Paulus cum loqueretur, seipsum insinuans, ait: Sive enim mente excessimus Deo, sive temperantes sumus vobis, charitas enim Christi compellit nos . Hoc est, si ea tantum agere vellemus, et ea tantum contemplari quae mentis excessu intuemur, vobiscum non essemus, sed essemus in supernis, tanquam contemptis vobis: et quando nos ad illa superiora et interiora infirmo passu sequeremini, nisi rursus compellente nos charitate Christi , nos consideraremus esse servos, et non ingrati ei a quo accepimus altiora, propter eos qui infirmi sunt non contemneremus inferiora, et temperaremus nos eis qui non possunt nobiscum videre sublimia? Hoc ergo ait, Sive mente excessimus Deo: ille enim videt quod nos videmus in mentis excessu, ille solus revelat secreta sua. Quippe ille hoc loquitur, qui se dicit abreptum esse et ablatum in tertium coelum, et audivisse ineffabilia verba, quae non licet homini loqui: tantus autem fuit ille mentis excessus, ut diceret: Sive in corpore, sive extra corpus, nescio, Deus scit Ergo si hunc excessum mentis, id est hanc ecstasim, significat titulus psalmi hujus, magna profecto et alta quaedam sperare debemus dicturum eum qui condidit Psalmum, id est Prophetam, imo vero per Prophetam Spiritum sanctum.
1.3 PL 36, 230
3. “And he shall be like a tree planted hard by the running streams of waters” (ver. 3); that is either Very “Wisdom,” which vouchsafed to assume man’s nature for our salvation; that as man He might be “the tree planted hard by the running streams of waters;” for in this sense can that too be taken which is said in another Psalm, “the river of God is full of water.” Or by the Holy Ghost, of whom it is said, “He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost;” and again, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink;” and again, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that asketh water of thee, thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water, of which whoso drinketh shall never thirst, but it shall be made in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Or, “by the running streams of waters” may be by the sins of the people, because first the waters are called “peoples” in the Apocalypse; and again, by “running stream” is not unreasonably understood “fall,” which hath relation to sin. That “tree” then, that is, our Lord, from the running streams of water, that is, from the sinful people’s drawing them by the way into the roots of His discipline, will “bring forth fruit,” that is, will establish Churches; “in His season,” that is, after He hath been glorified by His Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. For then, by the sending of the Holy Ghost to the Apostles, and by the confirming of their faith in Him, and their mission to the world, He made the Churches to “bring forth fruit.” “His leaf also shall not fall,” that is, His Word shall not be in vain. For, “all flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass; the grass withereth, and the flower falleth, but the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And whatsoever He doeth shall prosper” that is, whatsoever that tree shall bear; which all must be taken of fruit and leaves, that is, deeds and words.
Si vero haec ecstasis pavor intelligendus est, neque huic significationi verbi deerit hujus psalmi contextus; videtur enim de passione locuturus esse, in qua pavor est. Sed cujus pavor est, utrum Christi, quia dixit, In finem, et intelligimus finem Christum? an forte noster pavor? Numquid enim possumus pavorem bene intelligere in Christo propinquante passione, qui propter eam venerat? cum venisset ad quod venerat, numquid pavebat moriturus? Si prorsus ita homo esset, ut Deus non esset, magis gauderet resurrecturus, quam paveret moriturus? Verumtamen quia dignatus est assumere formam servi, et in ea nos vestire se; qui non est dedignatus assumere nos in se, non est dedignatus transfigurare nos in se, et loqui verbis nostris, ut et nos loqueremur verbis ipsius. Haec enim mira commutatio facta est, et divina sunt peracta commercia, mutatio rerum celebrata in hoc mundo a negotiatore coelesti: venit accipere contumelias, dare honores; venit haurire dolorem, dare salutem; venit subire mortem, dare vitam. Moriturus ergo ex eo quod nostrum habebat, non in se, sed in nobis pavebat; quia et hoc dixit, tristem esse animam suam usque ad mortem , et utique nos ipsi omnes cum illo. Nam sine illo, nos nihil; in illo autem, ipse Christus et nos. Quare? Quia totus Christus caput et corpus. Caput ille salvator corporis, qui jam ascendit in coelum; corpus autem Ecclesia, quae laborat in terra . Hoc autem corpus nisi connexione charitatis adhaereret capiti suo, ut unus fieret ex capite et corpore, non de coelo quemdam persecutorem corripiens diceret, Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris ? quando eum jam in coelo sedentem nullus homo tangebat, quomodo eum Saulus in terra saeviens adversus Christianos aliquo modo injuria percellebat? Non ait, Quid sanctos meos, quid servos meos? sed, quid me persequeris, hoc est, quid membra mea? caput pro membris clamabat, et membra in se caput transfigurabat. Vocem namque pedis suscipit lingua. Quando forte in turba contritus pes dolet, clamat lingua, Calcas me; non enim ait, Calcas pedem meum, sed se dixit calcari, quam nemo tetigit: sed pes qui calcatus est, a lingua non separatus est. Ergo etiam sic non incongrue intelligitur ecstasis, pavor. Quid enim dicam, fratres? Si nullus omnino pavor esset passuris, diceretur ipsi Petro quod audivimus natali Apostolorum die, quando ei Dominus praedixit futuram suam passionem: Cum esses junior, cingebas te, et ibas quo volebas; cum autem senior factus fueris, alter te cinget, et ducet quo tu non vis? Hoc autem, inquit, dixit significans qua morte moreretur ? Ergo si Petrus apostolus tanta perfectione quo nollet iit nolens (nolens mortuus est, sed volens coronatus est), quid mirum si est aliquis pavor in passione etiam justorum, etiam sanctorum? Pavor est ex humana infirmitate, spes ex divina promissione. Quod paves tuum est, quod speras donum Dei est in te. Et melius in pavore tuo agnoscis te, ut in liberatione tua glorifices qui fecit te. Paveat humana infirmitas, non in eo pavore deficit divina misericordia. Denique pavens iste inde coepit: In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum. Videtis quia et pavet, et sperat: videtis quia pavor iste non est sine spe. Etiam si est aliqua in humano corde conturbatio, non recedit divina consolatio.
1.4 PL 36, 231
4. “The ungodly are not so,” they are not so, “but are like the dust which the wind casteth forth from the face of the earth” (ver. 4). “The earth” is here to be taken as that stedfastness in God, with a view to which it is said, “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, yea, I have a goodly heritage.” With a view to this it is said, “Wait on the Lord and keep His ways, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the earth.” With a view to this it is said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” A comparison too is derived hence, for as this visible earth supports and contains the outer man, so that earth invisible the inner man. “From the face of” which “earth the wind casteth forth the ungodly,” that is, pride, in that it puffeth him up. On his guard against which he, who was inebriated by the richness of the house of the Lord, and drunken of the torrent stream of its pleasures, saith, “Let not the foot of pride come against me.” From this earth pride cast forth him who said, “I will place my seat in the north, and I will be like the Most High.” From the face of the earth it cast forth him also who, after that he had consented and tasted of the forbidden tree that he might be as God, hid himself from the Face of God. That his earth has reference to the inner man, and that man is cast forth thence by pride, may be particularly seen in that which is written, “Why is earth and ashes proud? Because, in his life, he cast forth his bowels.” For, whence he hath been cast forth, he is not unreasonably said to have cast forth himself.
Loquitur hic ergo Christus in Propheta; audeo dicere, Christus loquitur. Dicturus est quaedam in hoc psalmo, quae quasi Christo videantur non posse congruere, illi excellentiae capitis nostri, maximeque illi Verbo quod in principio erat Deus apud Deum: nec ei in forma servi fortasse videbuntur quaedam hic verba congruere, quam formam servi suscepit ex virgine; et tamen Christus loquitur, quia in membris Christi Christus. Et ut noveritis, quia unus dicitur Christus caput et corpus suum; ipse dicit cum de conjugio loqueretur: Erunt duo in carne una: igitur jam non duo, sed una caro . Sed forte hoc dicat de quocumque conjugio? Audi apostolum Paulum: Et erunt duo, inquit, in carne una: sacramentum hoc magnum est, ego autem dico in Christo et in Ecclesia ? Fit ergo tanquam ex duobus una quaedam persona, ex capite et corpore, ex sponso et sponsa. Nam unitatem personae hujus miram et excellentem, commendat etiam Isaias propheta: nam loquens etiam in eo Christus in prophetia ait: Sicut sponso alligavit mihi mitram, et sicut sponsam ornavit me ornamento . Se dixit sponsum, se sponsam: quare se sponsum, se sponsam, nisi quia erunt duo in carne una? Si duo in carne una, cur non duo in voce una? Loquatur ergo Christus, quia in Christo loquitur Ecclesia, et in Ecclesia loquitur Christus; et corpus in capite, et caput in corpore. Audi Apostolum hoc ipsum evidentius exprimentem: Sicut enim corpus unum est et membra habet multa, omnia autem membra corporis cum sint multa, unum est corpus, sic et Christus . Loquens de membris Christi, hoc est de fidelibus, non ait, sic et membra Christi; sed totum hoc quod dixit, Christum appellavit. Sicut enim corpus unum, et membra habet multa, omnia autem membra corporis cum sint multa, unum est corpus; sic et Christus membra multa, unum corpus. Ergo simul omnes nos cum capite nostro Christo, sine capite nostro nihil valentes. Quare? Quia nos cum capite nostro vitis: sine capite nostro, quod absit, sarmenta praecisa, non alicui operi agricolarum, sed igni tantummodo destinata. Ideo et ipse in Evangelio: Ego sum vitis, vos estis palmites, Pater meus agricola est; et: Sine me, inquit, nihil potestis facere . Domine, si sine te nihil, totum in te. Etenim quidquid ille operatur per nos, nos videmur operari. Potest ille multum et totum sine nobis, nos nihil sine ipso.
1.5 PL 36, 232
5. “Therefore the ungodly rise not in the judgment” (ver. 5): “therefore,” namely, because “as dust they are cast forth from the face of the earth.” And well did he say that this should be taken away from them, which in their pride they court, namely, that they may judge; so that this same idea is more clearly expressed in the following sentence, “nor sinners in the counsel of the righteous.” For it is usual for what goes before, to be thus repeated more clearly. So that by “sinners” should be understood the “ungodly;” what is before “in the judgment,” should be here “in the counsel of the righteous.” Or if indeed the ungodly are one thing, and sinners another, so that although every ungodly man is a sinner, yet every sinner is not ungodly; “The ungodly rise not in the judgment,” that is, they shall rise indeed, but not that they should be judged, for they are already appointed to most certain punishment. But “sinners” do not rise “in counsel of the just,” that is, that they may judge, but peradventure that they may be judged; so as of these it were said, “The fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall then suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
[vers. 2.] Ergo in quacumque ecstasi loquatur, sive pavore, sive excessu mentis, congruunt quae dicuntur. Dicamus in Christi corpore, dicamus omnes quasi unus, quia omnes unitas, dicamus: In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum. Illam, inquit, confusionem perhorresco, quae est in aeternum. Nam est quaedam confusio temporalis utilis, perturbatio animi respicientis peccata sua, respectione horrentis, horrore erubescentis, erubescentia corrigentis; unde dicit et Apostolus: Quam enim gloriam habuistis tunc in his, in quibus nunc erubescitis ? Ergo erubescere illos dicit jam fideles, non de praesentibus donis, sed de praeteritis peccatis. Hanc confusionem non formidet christianus: imo si hanc non habuerit, aeternam habebit. Quae est aeterna confusio? Quando fiet illud quod dictum est, Et traducent eos ex adverso iniquitates eorum . Et fiet traducentibus ex adverso iniquitatibus omnis grex malus ad sinistram, tanquam hoedis ab ovibus separatis; et audient, Ite in ignem aeternum, qui paratus est diabolo et angelis ejus. Quaerunt quare? Esurivi enim, et non dedistis mihi manducare . Contemnebant tunc quando esurienti Christo non dabant cibum, quando sitienti non dabant potum, quando nudum non vestiebant, peregrinum non suscipiebant, aegrotantem non visitabant, tunc contemnebant: cum coeperint illis ista enumerari, confundentur, et haec confusio in aeternum erit. Hanc timens iste qui pavet, vel cujus ad Deum est mentis excessus, hoc rogat, In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum.
1.6 PL 36, 233
6. “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous” (ver. 6). As it is said, medicine knows health, but knows not disease, and yet disease is recognised by the art of medicine. In like manner can it be said that “the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous,” but the way of the ungodly He knoweth not. Not that the Lord is ignorant of anything, and yet He says to sinners, “I never knew you.” “But the way of the ungodly shall perish;” is the same as if it were said, the way of the ungodly the Lord knoweth not. But it is expressed more plainly that this should be not to be known of the Lord, namely, to “perish;” and this to be known of the Lord, namely, to “abide;” so as that to be should appertain to the knowledge of God, but to His not knowing not to be. For the Lord saith, “I Am that I Am,” and, “I Am hath sent me.”
Et in tua justitia erue me, et exime me: nam si attendas ad justitiam meam, damnas me. In tua justitia erue me. Est enim justitia Dei, quae et nostra fit, cum donatur nobis. Ideo autem Dei justitia dicitur, ne homo se putet a seipso habere justitiam. Sic enim dicit apostolus Paulus: Credenti in eum qui justificat impium (quid est, qui justificat impium? qui ex impio facit justum) deputatur fides ejus ad justitiam . Judaei vero quia suis viribus se putabant implere posse justitiam, offenderunt in lapidem offensionis et petram scandali, et gratiam Christi non agnoverunt. Acceperunt enim Legem qua fierent rei, non qua liberarentur a reatu. Denique quid de illis Apostolus dicit? Testimonium enim perhibeo illis quod zelum Dei habent, sed non secundum scientiam. Quid est quod dixit, Zelum Dei habent Judaei, sed non secundum scientiam? Audi quid sit, non secundum scientiam: Ignorantes enim Dei justitiam et suam volentes constituere, justitiae Dei non sunt subjecti . Si ergo ideo non secundum scientiam zelum Dei habent, quia ignorant Dei justitiam et volunt suam constituere, quasi ex seipsis justi fiant; ideo gratiam Dei non cognoverunt, quia gratis salvari noluerunt. Quis est qui salvatur gratis? In quo non invenit Salvator quod coronet, sed quod damnet; non invenit merita bonorum, sed invenit merita suppliciorum. Si agat tanquam veraciter ex regula Legis proposita, damnandus est peccator. Hac regula si ageret, quem liberaret? Omnes peccatores invenit: solus sine peccato venit, qui nos peccatores invenit. Hoc ait Apostolus: Omnes enim peccaverunt, et egent gloria Dei . Quid est, egent gloria Dei? Ut ipse liberet, non tu: quia tu te liberare non potes, indiges liberatore. Quid est quod te jactas? Quid est quod de Lege et justitia praesumis? Non vides quid intus confligat in te, de te, adversus te? Non audis pugnantem, et confitentem, et adjutorium in pugna desiderantem? Non audis athletam Domini ab agonotheta petentem adjutorium pugnae suae? Non enim sic te exspectat Deus certantem, quomodo te exspectat editor, si forte pugnes in amphitheatro: ille tibi praemium dare potest si viceris, adjuvare te periclitantem non potest. Non sic exspectat Deus. Vide ergo, attende eum qui dicit: Condelector enim legi Dei secundum interiorem hominem, video autem aliam legem in membris meis repugnantem legi mentis meae, et captivum me ducentem in lege peccati, quae est in membris meis. Miser ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis hujus? Gratia Dei per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum . Quare gratia? Quia gratis datur. Quare gratis datur? Quia merita tua non praecesserunt, sed beneficia Dei te praevenerunt. Illi ergo gloria qui nos liberat. Omnes enim peccaverunt, et egent gloria Dei. In te ergo, Domine, speravi, non in me: non confundar in aeternum, quia in eo spero qui non confundit. In tua justitia erue me, et exime me: quia non invenisti in me justitiam meam, erue me in tua; hoc est, illud me eruat quod me justificat, quod ex impio pium facit, quod ex iniquo justum, quod ex caeco videntem, quod ex cadente surgentem, quod ex flente gaudentem. Hoc me liberat, non ego. In justitia tua erue me, et exime me.