Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127
127.1 Psalm CXXVII PL 36, 1677
1. Among all the Songs entitled the Song of degrees, this Psalm hath a further addition in the title, that it is “Solomon’s.” For thus it is entitled, “A Song of degrees of Solomon.” It hath therefore aroused our attention, and caused us to enquire the reason of this addition, “of Solomon.” For it is needless to repeat explanations of the other words, Song of degrees.…Solomon was in his time David’s son, a great man, through whom many holy precepts and healthful admonitions and divine mysteries have been wrought by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. Solomon himself was a lover of women, and was rejected by God: and this lust was so great a snare unto him, that he was induced by women even to sacrifice to idols, as Scripture witnesseth concerning him. But if, by his fall what was delivered through him were blotted out, it would be judged that he had himself delivered these precepts, and not that they were delivered through him. The mercy of God, therefore, and His Spirit, excellently wrought that whatever of good was declared through Solomon, might be attributed unto God; and the man’s sin, unto the man. What marvel that Solomon fell among God’s people? Did not Adam fall in Paradise? Did not an angel fall from heaven, and become the devil? We are thereby taught, that no hope must be placed in any among men.…The name of Solomon is interpreted to mean peacemaker: now Christ is the True Peacemaker, of whom the Apostle saith, “He is our Peace, who hath made both one.”…Since, therefore, He is the true Solomon; for that Solomon was the figure of this Peace maker, when he built the temple; that thou mayest not think he who built the house unto God was the true Solomon, Scripture showing unto thee another Solomon, thus commences this Psalm: “Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it” (ver. 1). The Lord, therefore, buildeth the house, the Lord Jesus Christ buildeth His own house. Many toil in building: but, except He build, “their labour is but lost that build it.” Who are they who toil in building it? All who preach the word of God in the Church, the ministers of God’s mysteries. We are all running, we are all toiling, we are all building now; and before us others have run, toiled, and built: but “except the Lord build, their labour is but lost.” Thus the Apostles seeing some fall bewailed these men, in that they had laboured in vain for them. We, therefore, speak without, He buildeth within. We can observe with what attention ye hear us; He alone who knoweth your thoughts, knoweth what ye think. He Himself buildeth, He Himself admonisheth, He Himself openeth the understanding, He Himself kindleth your understanding unto faith; nevertheless, we also toil like workmen; but, “except the Lord build,” etc.
[«vers.» 1-4.] Sicut dicit Apostolus, fratres charissimi, «Spiritualibus spiritualia comparamus; animalis autem homo non percipit quae sunt Spiritus Dei» ; cavendum est ne homines animales non percipientes quae sunt Spiritus Dei, scandalizentur potius in hoc psalmo, quam aedificentur. Nam breviter (quanquam eum, cum cantaretur, audivimus), quia brevis est, curro eum, non tractans, sed legens. Et videte quia si talia quisque concupierit pro magno a Deo, qualia continet iste psalmus; et forte non quia desertus est ab illo, sed quia magis diligitur, non acceperit; videritque illa quae hic sic audivit esse praemia timentium Deum, abundare illis qui non timent Deum: nutent gressus illius, et effundantur lapsu vestigia ejus, et dicat in corde suo, sine causa se Deum timuisse, quando illa dona non meruit, quae promisit timentibus se; insuper et illi acceperunt, qui eum non solum non timuerunt, sed etiam blasphemaverunt. Videte enim quid dicat: «Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in viis ejus. Labores fructuum tuorum manducabis; beatus es, et bene tibi erit.» Adhuc possumus hic, et quamvis animales, beatitudinem futuri saeculi cogitare; sed videte quid sequitur: «Uxor tua sicut vinea fertilis, in lateribus domus tuae. Filii tui sicut novellatio olivarum, in circuitu mensae tuae. Ecce sic benedicetur homo qui timet Dominum.» Quomodo? Ut sit uxor ejus tanquam vinea fertilis in lateribus domus ejus, et filii ejus circumdent mensam ejus, tanquam olivarum novellatio. Ergo perdiderunt mercedem suam, qui propter Deum etiam uxores ducere noluerunt? Sed ait qui noluit ducere uxorem: Aliter me benedicet Deus. Imo vero, aut sic te benedicet, aut non te benedicet: aperte dicta sententia est, «Ecce sic benedicetur homo qui timet Dominum.»
127.2 PL 36, 1677
2. But that which is the house of God is also a city. For the house of God is the people of God; for the house of God is the temple of God.…This is Jerusalem: she hath guards: as she hath builders, labouring at her building up, so also hath she guards. To this guardianship these words of the Apostle relate: “I fear, lest by any means your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ.” He was guarding the Church. He kept watch, to the utmost of his power, over those over whom he was set. The Bishops also do this. For a higher place was for this reason given the Bishops, that they might be themselves the superintendents and as it were the guardians of the people. For the Greek word Episcopus, and the vernacular Superintendent, are the same; for the Bishop superintends, in that he looks over. As a higher place is assigned to the vinedresser in the charge of the vineyard, so also to the Bishops a more exalted station is alloted. And a perilous account is rendered of this high station, except we stand here with a heart that causeth us to stand beneath your feet in humility, and pray for you, that He who knoweth your minds may be Himself your keeper. Since we can see you both coming in and going out; but we are so unable to see what are the thoughts of your hearts, that we cannot even see what ye do in your houses. How then can we guard you? As men: as far as we are able, as far as we have received power. And because we guard you like men, and cannot guard you perfectly, shall ye therefore remain without a keeper? Far be it! For where is He of whom it is said, “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain?” (ver. 1). We are watchful on our guard, but vain in our watchfulness, except He who seeth your thoughts guard you. He keepeth guard while ye are awake, He keepeth guard also whilst ye are asleep. For He hath once slept on the Cross, and hath risen again; He no longer sleepeth. Be ye Israel: for “the Keeper of Israel neither sleepeth nor slumbereth.” Yea, brethren, if we wish to be kept beneath the shadow of God’s wings, let us be Israel. For we guard you in our office of stewards; but we wish to be guarded together with you. We are as it were shepherds unto you; but beneath that Shepherd we are fellow-sheep with you. We are as it were your teachers from this station; but beneath Him, the One Master, we are schoolfellows with you in this school.
Quid ergo sibi hoc vult, fratres? Ne desiderando temporalem et terrenam felicitatem, perdamus coelestem, Propheta tanquam involucrum nobis constituit. Involucrum hoc nescio quid habet intus. Meminit autem Charitas vestra, cum superiorem psalmum vobis tractarem, qui est ante istum, incurrisse nos in quemdam versum obscurum, ubi dictum est, «Sicut sagittae in manu potentis, sic filii excussorum» ; et cum quaereremus qui sint «filii excussorum,» visum esse nobis, suggerente quantum credimus Domino, filios excussorum Apostolos dictos esse, filios Prophetarum: quia Prophetae in aenigmatis locuti sunt, et figuris rerum tanquam mysteriorum involucris cooperuerunt intellectum; qui intellectus prodire non potuit ad homines, nisi involucra illa excuterentur: unde dicti sunt illi «filii excussorum,» qui de Prophetis excussis profecerunt. Ergo et nos excutiamus istum, ne per involucra fallamur, et tangentes quod intus est et non videntes, dicamus forte lignum pro auro, aut testam pro argento. Excutiamus, si videtur Charitati vestrae: aderit Dominus, ut procedat quod intus est; maxime, fratres mei, quia martyrum natalitia celebramus. Quanta mala passi sunt martyres, quanta exitia, quanta tormenta, squalores carcerum, stricturam catenarum, saevitiam ferarum, ardorem flammarum, aculeos contumeliarum! Ista omnia passi essent, nisi nescio quid viderent quo se tenderent, quod ad hujus saeculi felicitatem non pertinet? Turpe est autem ut natalitia martyrum celebremus, horum videlicet servorum Dei contemnentium mundum istum propter sempiternam felicitatem, et accipiamus quod hic scriptum est pro praesenti felicitate, ut cuicumque forte homini Dei fideli, civi illius Jerusalem, contingat etiam ducta uxore filios non habere, dicamus: Non timet homo iste Dominum; nam si timeret Dominum, uxor ejus tanquam vinea fertilis esset in domo ejus, non sterilis, ut nullum generaret; et si timeret Dominum homo iste, filii ipsius circumdarent mensam ipsius, tanquam arbores olivarum. Si enim talia dixerimus, animales sumus, non percipientes quae sunt Spiritus Dei. Incipiamus et nos excutere, ut simus et nos filii excussorum. Si enim erimus filii excussorum, erimus in manu potentis tanquam sagittae, et jaculabitur nos de praecepto suo in corda hominum nondum amantium, ut percussa sagittis verborum Dei ament. Nam si talia coeperimus illis praedicare: Filii, aut fratres mei, timete Dominum, ut habeatis filios et nepotes, ut gaudeat domus vestra; non sagittamus ut ametur illa aeterna Jerusalem: remanebunt in amore terrenorum, et videntes ista abundare impiis, etsi nobis non audent, in corde suo dicunt, Quare ille qui non timet Deum, plenam domum habet filiis? Et forte alius dicit illi: Adhuc nescis quid illi possit contingere; quid si efferet illos, quia non timet Deum, et ad hoc illi plures nati sunt, ut majorem dolorem de illorum morte patiatur? Sed si talia dixeris, respondebit tibi ille: Ego novi hominem impium, paganum, sacrilegum, adoratorem idolorum (et forte novit et verum dicit, nec unum tantum novit, nec duos vel tres), quem deduxerunt ad fossam, senem, decrepitum, mortuum in lecto suo, turbae filiorum et nepotum. Ecce non timuit Dominum, et proles fecundissima domus ejus clausit oculos ejus. Quid ad hoc dicturi sumus? Nihil illi potest evenire mali, ut efferat filios suos vivus, quando jam mortuus a filiis ad sepulcrum gloriosum deductus est.
127.3 PL 36, 1678
3. If we wish to be guarded by Him who was humbled for our sakes, and who was exalted to keep us, let us be humble. Let no one assume anything unto himself. No man hath any good, except he hath received it from Him who alone is good. But he who chooseth to arrogate wisdom unto himself, is a fool. Let him be humble, that wisdom may come, and may enlighten him. But if, before wisdom cometh unto him, he imagine that he is wise; he riseth before light, and walketh in darkness. What doth he hear in this Psalm? “It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up before dawn” (ver. 2). What meaneth this? If ye arise before light ariseth, ye must needs lose your labour, because ye will be in the dark. Our light, Christ, hath arisen; it is good for thee to rise after Christ, not to rise before Christ. Who rise before Christ? They who choose to prefer themselves to Christ. And who are they who wish to prefer themselves to Christ? They who wish to be exalted here, where He was humble. Let them, therefore, be humble here, if they wish to be exalted there, where Christ is exalted.…The Lord recalled the sons of Zebedee to humility, and said unto them, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?” I came to be humble: and are ye wishing to be exalted before Me? The way I go, do ye follow, He saith. For if ye choose to go this way where I do not go, your labour is lost, in rising before dawn. Peter too had risen before the light, when he wished to give the Lord advice, deterring Him from suffering for us.…But what did our Lord do? He caused him to rise after the Light: “Get thee behind Me, Satan.” He was Satan, because he wished to rise before Light. “Get thee behind Me:” that I may precede, thou mayest follow: where I go, there thou mayest go; and mayest not wish to lead Me, where thou wouldest go.…
Excutiamus ergo, excutiamus, si volumus esse filii excussorum: exeat huc aliquid. Est enim quidam homo qui sic benedicitur; et nemo timet Dominum, nisi qui est in membris ipsius hominis: et multi homines sunt, et unus homo est; multi enim Christiani, et unus Christus. Ipsi Christiani cum capite suo, quod ascendit in coelum, unus est Christus: non ille unus et nos multi, sed et nos multi in illo uno unum. Unus ergo homo Christus, caput et corpus. Quod est corpus ejus? Ecclesia ejus, dicente Apostolo, «Quoniam membra sumus corporis ejus» ; et, «Vos autem estis corpus Christi et membra» . Intelligamus ergo vocem hujus hominis, in cujus corpore unus sumus homo; et ibi videbimus ista vera bona Jerusalem. Sic enim dixit in fine: «Et videas bona quae sunt Jerusalem.» Si autem ista bona terreno oculo attenderis, abundantiam filiorum et nepotum, et fertilitatem fecunditatemque conjugis, non sunt bona illius Jerusalem; quia bona ista in terra morientium sunt, illa terra viventium est. Noli valde pro magno habere, si habes filios morituros, etsi non ante te, certe post te. Vis habere filios nunquam morituros, et cum semper victuros? Esto in illius corpore, de quo dictum est, «Vos autem estis corpus Christi et membra.»
127.4 PL 36, 1679
4. And as if thou shouldest say, When shall we rise? we are ordered now to sit: when will be our rising? When the Lord’s was. Look unto Him, who went before thee: for if thou heedest not Him, “it is lost labour for thee to rise before dawn.” When was He raised? When He had died. Hope therefore for thine uplifting after thy death: have hope in the resurrection of the dead, because He rose again and ascended. But where did He sleep? On the Cross. When He slept on the Cross, He bore a sign, yea, He fulfilled what had been signified in Adam: for when Adam was asleep, a rib was drawn from him and Eve was created; so also while the Lord slept on the Cross, His side was transfixed with a spear, and the Sacraments flowed forth, whence the Church was born. For the Church the Lord’s Bride was created from His side, as Eve was created from the side of Adam. But as she was made from his side no otherwise than while sleeping, so the Church was created from His side no otherwise than while dying. If therefore He rose not from the dead save when He had died, dost thou hope for exaltation save after this life? But that this Psalm might teach thee, in case thou shouldest ask, When shall I rise? perhaps before I have sat down? he addeth, “When He hath given His beloved sleep” (ver. 3). God giveth this when His beloved have fallen asleep; then His beloved, that is, Christ’s, shall rise. For all indeed shall rise, but not as His beloved. There is a resurrection of all the dead; but what saith the Apostle? “We shall all rise, but we shall not all be changed.” They rise unto punishment: we rise as our Lord rose, that we may follow our Head, if we are members of Him.…Hope for such a resurrection; and for the sake of this be a Christian, not for the sake of this world’s happiness. For if thou wish to be a Christian for the sake of this world’s happiness, since He thy Light sought not worldly happiness; thou art wishing to rise before the light; thou must needs continue in darkness. Be changed, follow thy Light; rise where He rose again: first sit down, and thus rise, “when He giveth His beloved sleep.”
Nam ut hoc ostenderet et ipse Psalmus, quia sic est obscurus ut admoneat pulsari, sic opertus ut velit excuti, a pluribus coepit: «Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in viis ejus.» Multis loquitur; sed quia ipsi multi unum sunt in Christo, sequitur et singulariter jam dicit, «Labores fructuum tuorum manducabis.» Superius dixerat, «Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in viis ejus:» modo quare, «Labores fructuum tuorum manducabis;» et non, manducabitis? et quare, «Labores fructuum tuorum;» et non, Labores fructuum vestrorum? Tam in proximo oblitus est quia pluribus loquebatur? Sed si jam excussisti, quid tibi respondit? Cum plures Christianos appello, in uno Christo unum intelligo. Plures ergo estis, et unus estis; plures sumus, et unus sumus. Quomodo plures sumus, et unus sumus? Quia illi inhaeremus cujus membra sumus; et quorum caput in coelo est, ut membra sequantur.
127.5 PL 36, 1679
5. As if thou shouldest ask again, who are the beloved? “Lo, children, the reward of the fruit of the womb, are an heritage of the Lord” (ver. 3). Since he saith, “fruit of the womb,” these children have been born in travail. There is a certain woman, in whom what was said unto Eve, “in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children,” is shown after a spiritual manner. The Church beareth children, the Bride of Christ; and if she beareth them, she travaileth of them. In figure of her, Eve was called also “the Mother of all living.” He who said, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you,” was amongst the members of her who travaileth. But she travailed not in vain, nor brought forth in vain: there will be a holy seed at the resurrection of the dead: the righteous who are at present scattered over the whole world shall abound. The Church groaneth for them, the Church travaileth of them; but in that resurrection of the dead, the offspring of the Church shall appear, pain and groaning shall pass away.…
Ipse ergo describat jam; quia manifestum est quem describit. Sic patebunt omnia quae sequuntur: tantum vos timete Dominum, et ambulate in viis ejus, et nolite zelare eos qui non ambulant in viis ejus, quando illos videritis esse felices infeliciter. Saeculi enim homines infeliciter felices sunt: martyres autem feliciter infelices erant. Erant enim ad tempus infelices, sed in aeternum felices; et in eo ipso quod erant ad tempus infelices, putabantur magis infelices quam erant. Quid enim dicit Apostolus? «Quasi tristes, semper autem gaudentes» . Quare, «semper?» Et hic et ibi: prorsus et hic et ibi. Hic enim unde gaudemus? De spe. Ibi unde gaudebimus? De re. Magnum gaudium habet spes gaudentis. Et si «spe gaudentes,» videte quid sequitur: «In tribulatione patientes» . Martyres ergo in tribulatione patientes erant, quia spe gaudebant. Sed quia nondum erat illud quod promittitur, quid dicit Apostolus? «Spes enim quae videtur, non est spes: si autem quod non videmus speramus, per patientiam exspectamus» . Ecce quare omnia martyres pertulerunt, quia quod non videbant, per patientiam exspectabant. Illi qui eos occidebant, quae videbant amabant: illi qui occidebantur, ad ea quae non videbant suspirabant, et ea quae non videbant, apprehendere festinabant; et quod tardius occidebantur, moras sibi fieri arbitrabantur.
127.6 PL 36, 1680
6. “Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one, even so are the children of those that are shot out” (ver. 4). Whence hath sprung this heritage, brethren? Whence hath sprung so numerous a heritage? Some have been shot out from the Lord’s hand, as arrows, and have gone far, and have filled the whole earth, whence the Saints spring. For this is the heritage whereof it is said, “Desire of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” And how doth this possession extend and increase unto the world’s uttermost parts? Because, “like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty one,” etc. Arrows are shot forth from the bow, and the stronger the arm which hath sent it forth, the farther flieth the arrow. But what is stronger than the darting of the Lord? From His bow He sendeth forth His Apostles: there could not be a spot left where an arrow shot by so strong an arm would not reach; it hath reached unto the uttermost parts of the earth. The reason it went no farther was, that there were no more of the human race beyond. For He hath such strength, that even if there were a spot beyond, whither the arrow could fly, He would dart the arrow thither. Such are the children of those who are shot forth as they that are shot forth.…
Ergo, fratres, Felix martyr et vere felix et nomine et corona, cujus hodie dies est, contempsit mundum. An forte quia timebat Dominum, inde erat felix, inde erat beatus, quia uxor ejus tanquam vinea fertilis erat in terra, et filii ejus circumdederant mensam ejus? Omnia ista perfecte habet, sed in corpore illius qui hic describitur: et quia sic ille intellexit, contempsit praesentia, ut acciperet futura. Noveritis autem, fratres, non eum passum mortem, quam alii martyres passi sunt. Confessus est enim, dilatus est ad tormenta; alio die inventum est corpus ejus exanime. Clauserant enim illi carcerem, sed corpori, non spiritui. Quem illic parabant torquere carnifices, absentem invenerunt, perdiderunt saevitiam suam. Jacebat exanimis, sine sensu illis, ne torqueretur; cum sensu apud Deum, ut coronaretur. Unde et iste felix, fratres, non tantum nomine, sed et praemio vitae aeternae, si ista dilexit?
127.7 PL 36, 1680
7. Perhaps the Apostles themselves are styled the sons of those who have been shaken out, the sons of the Prophets. For the Prophets comprised closed and covered mysteries: they were shaken, that they might come forth thence manifestly.…Except the prophecy involved were sifted with diligence, would the concealed meanings come forth unto us? All these meanings were therefore closed before the Lord’s advent. The Lord came, and shook out these hidden meanings, and they were made manifest; the Prophets were shaken out, and the Apostles were born. Since then they were born of the Prophets who had been shaken out, the Apostles are sons of those that were shaken out. They, placed as the arrows in the hand of the giant, have reached the uttermost parts of the earth.…The Apostles the sons of the Prophets have been like as the arrows in the hand of a mighty one. If He is mighty, He hath shaken them out with a mighty hand; if He hath shaken them out with a mighty hand, they whom He hath shaken forth have arrived even at the uttermost parts of the earth.
Ergo sic audiamus istum psalmum, tanquam de Christo dicatur: et omnes haerentes corpori Christi et effecti membra Christi, ambulemus vias Domini; et timeamus Dominum timore casto, timore permanente in saeculum saeculi. Est enim alius timor quem charitas excludit, dicente Joanne, «Timor non est in charitate; sed perfecta charitas foras mittit timorem» . Non de omni timore dicit quia mittitur foras a charitate; habes enim psalmum dicentem, «Timor Domini castus, permanens in saeculum saeculi» . Alius ergo timor permanet, alius excluditur. Timor qui excluditur, castus non est; qui autem permanet, castus est. Quis est timor qui excluditur? Dignamini advertere. Aliqui propterea tantum timent, ne aliquid mali in terra patiantur, ne illis aegritudo accidat, ne damnum, ne orbitas, ne alicujus amissio chari, ne exsilium, ne damnatio, ne carcer, ne aliqua tribulatio; propterea timent et tremunt: adhuc iste timor non est castus. Adhuc audi. Alius non in hac terra pati timet, sed gehennas timet, unde terruit et Dominus. Audistis cum Evangelium legeretur: «Ubi vermis eorum non morietur, et ignis eorum non exstinguetur» . Audiunt haec homines; et quia vere futura sunt impiis, timent, et continent se a peccato. Habent timorem, et per timorem continent se a peccato. Timent quidem, sed non amant justitiam. Cum autem per timorem continent se a peccato, fit consuetudo justitiae, et incipit quod durum erat amari, et dulcescit Deus: et jam incipit homo propterea juste vivere, non quia timet poenas, sed quia amat aeternitatem. Exclusus est ergo timor a charitate; sed successit timor castus.
127.8 PL 36, 1681
8. “Blessed is the man who hath filled his desire from them” (ver. 5). Well, my brethren, who filleth his desire from them? Who loveth not the world. He who is filled with the desire of the world, hath no room for that to enter which they have preached. Pour forth what thou carriest, and become fit for that which thou hast not. That is, thou desirest riches: thou canst not fill thy desire from them: thou desirest honours upon earth, thou desirest those things which God hath given even unto beasts of burden, that is, temporal pleasure, bodily health, and the like; thou wilt not fulfil thy desire from them.…“He shall not be ashamed, when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.” Brethren, let us speak in the gate, that is, let all know what we speak. For he who chooseth not to speak in the gate, wisheth what he speaketh to be hidden, and perhaps wisheth it to be hidden for this reason, that it is evil. If he be confident, let him speak in the gate; as it is said of Wisdom, “She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city.” As long as they hold unto righteousness in innocency, they shall not be ashamed: this is to preach at the gate. And who is he who preacheth at the gate? He who preacheth in Christ; because Christ is the gate whereby we enter into that city.…They, therefore, who speak against Christ, are without the gate; because they seek their own honours, not those of Christ. But he who preacheth in the gate, seeketh Christ’s honour, not his own: and, therefore, he who preacheth in the gate, saith, Trust not in me; for ye will not enter through me, but through the gate. While they who wish men to trust in themselves, wish them not to enter through the gate: it is no marvel if the gate be closed against them, and if they vainly knock for it to be opened.
Quis est iste timor castus? Secundum quem debemus, fratres mei, intelligere quod dictum est, «Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in viis ejus.» Si potuero digne dicere de isto timore casto, adjuvante Domino Deo nostro, multi fortasse hoc timore casto inflammabuntur in amorem castum. Nec possum explicare fortassis, nisi proposita aliqua similitudine. Pone aliquam feminam castam, timentem virum suum: aliam pone adulteram; et ipsa timet virum suum. Casta timet ne discedat vir; adultera, ne veniat. Quid si ambo absentes sunt? Illa timet ne veniat; illa, ne tardet. Absens est quodam modo cui desponsati sumus, absens est qui nobis arrham dedit Spiritum sanctum, absens est qui nos redemit sanguine suo; sponsus ille quo nihil est pulchrius, qui quasi foedus apparuit inter manus persequentium, de quo paulo ante dicebat Isaias, «Et vidimus eum, et non habebat speciem neque decorem» . Ergo sponsus noster foedus est? Absit: quomodo enim illum virgines amarent, quae in terra maritos non quaesierunt? Ergo persequentibus foedus apparuit; et nisi eum foedum putarent, non insilirent, non flagellis caederent, non spinis coronarent, non sputis inhonestarent: sed quia foedus illis apparebat, fecerunt illi ista; non enim habebant oculos unde Christus pulcher videretur. Qualibus oculis Christus pulcher apparuit? Quales oculos quaerebat ipse Christus, quando dicebat Philippo: «Tanto tempore vobiscum sum, et non me vidistis» ? Isti oculi mundandi sunt, ut possint videre illam lucem; et leviter tamen perstricti splendore, accenduntur amore, ut sanari velint, et fiant illuminati. Nam ut noveritis quia pulcher est Christus qui amatur, ait Propheta: «Speciosus forma prae filiis hominum» . Omnes homines superat illius pulchritudo. Quam rem amamus in Christo? Membra crucifixa, latus perforatum, an charitatem? Quando audimus quia passus est pro nobis, quid amamus? Charitas amatur. Amavit nos, ut redamaremus eum; et ut redamare possemus, visitavit nos Spiritu suo. Pulcher est ille, et absens est. Interroget se sponsa, si casta est. In membris sumus omnes, fratres mei; in membris ipsius sumus, ideo unus homo sumus. Videat unusquisque qualem timorem habeat, an eum quem excludit charitas, an castum permanentem in saeculum saeculi. Modo probavit ; dico, et probabit. Absens est sponsus noster; interroga conscientiam tuam: vis ut veniat, an adhuc vis ut tardet? Videte, fratres: ego pulsavi ad ostia pectorum vestrorum; vocem inhabitantium ille audivit. Quid singulorum quorumque modo conscientiae dixerint, ad aures meas, quia homo sum, pervenire non potuit: ille qui absens est praesentia corporis, sed praesens est vigore majestatis, audivit vos. Quam multi, si dicatur illis, Ecce jam Christus, cras dies judicii; non dicunt, Utinam veniat! Qui enim dicunt, multum amant: et si dicatur illis, Tardabit; timent ne tardet, quia timor castus est. Quomodo autem nunc timetur ne tardet, sic cum venerit, timebitur ne discedat. Erit autem castus iste timor, quia tranquillus et securus. Non enim deseremur ab eo, cum invenerit nos, quando quaesivit nos antequam quaereremus eum. Castus ergo timor, fratres mei, hoc habet; venit de amore. Ille autem timor nondum castus, praesentiam et poenas timet. Timore facit quidquid boni facit; non timore amittendi bonum illud, sed timore patiendi illud malum. Non timet ne perdat amplexus pulcherrimi sponsi, sed timet ne mittatur in gehennam. Bonus est iste timor, utilis est; non quidem permanebit in saeculum saeculi: sed nondum est ille castus permanens in saeculum saeculi.