Expositions on the Book of Psalms 61
61.1 Psalm LXI PL 36, 729
1. The title of it doth not detain us. For it is “Unto the end, in hymns, to David himself. “In hymns,” to wit in praises. “Unto the end,” to wit unto Christ.…But the voice in this Psalm (if we are among the members of Him, and in the Body, even as upon His exhortation we have the boldness to trust) we ought to acknowledge to be our own, not that of any foreigner. But I have not so called it our own, as if it were of those only that are now in presence; but our own, as being of us that are throughout the whole world, that are from the East even unto the West. And in order that ye may know it thus to be our voice, He speaketh here as if one Man: but He is not One Man; but even as One, the Unity is speaking. But in Christ we all are one man: because of this One Man the Head is in Heaven, and the members are yet toiling on earth: and because they are toiling see what He saith.
[vers. 1.] Delectatio divinorum eloquiorum, et dulcedo intelligendi verbi Dei, adjuvante ipso qui dat suavitatem, ut terra nostra det fructum suum , et nos ad loquendum, et vos ad audiendum exhortatur. Video vos sine fastidio audire, et gaudeo palato cordis vestri, a quo id quod salubre est non respuitur, sed cum aviditate percipitur, et utiliter continetur. Loquamur ergo vobis et hodie, quantum Dominus donat, de isto psalmo quem modo cantavimus. Titulus ejus est, In finem, pro Idithun, Psalmus ipsi David. Jam vobis insinuatum esse quid sit Idithun, recolo. Ex interpretatione enim hebraeae linguae ut ad nos pervenit, latine dicitur Idithun Transiliens eos. Transilit ergo iste qui cantat quosdam, quos desuper despicit. Videamus quousque transilierit, et quos transilierit, et ubi quamvis quosdam transilierit positus sit: de quo spirituali quodam et securo loco intueatur ima; non ita respiciens ut cadat, sed ut moveat qui transilivit pigros ut sequantur, et laudet locum quo transiliendo pervenit. Ita enim iste transiliens super aliquid est, ut sub aliquo sit: unde prius nobis insinuare voluit sub quo tutus sit, ut illud quod transilivit, non sit superbiae sed provectus.
61.2 PL 36, 729
2. “Hearken, O God, to my supplication, give heed to my prayer” (ver. 1). Who saith? He, as if One. See whether one: “From the ends of the earth to Thee I have cried, while my heart was being vexed” (ver. 2). Now therefore not one: but for this reason one, because Christ is One, of whom all we are the members. For what one man crieth from the ends of the earth? There crieth not from the ends of the earth any but that inheritance, of which hath been said to the Son Himself, “Demand of Me, and I will give to Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and for Thy possession the boundaries of the earth.” This therefore Christ’s possession, this Christ’s inheritance, this Christ’s Body, this Christ’s one Church, this the Unity which we are, is crying from the ends of the earth.…But wherefore have I cried this thing? “While my heart was being vexed.” He showeth himself to be throughout all nations in the whole round world, in great glory, but in great tribulation. For our life in this sojourning cannot be without temptation: because our advance is made through our temptation, nor does a man become known to himself unless tempted, nor can he be crowned except he shall have conquered, nor can he conquer except he shall have striven, nor can he strive except he shall have experienced an enemy, and temptations. This Man therefore is being vexed, that from the ends of the earth is crying, but nevertheless He is not forsaken. For ourselves who are His Body He hath willed to prefigure also in that His Body wherein already He hath both died and hath risen again, and into Heaven hath ascended, in order that whither the Head hath gone before, thither the members may be assured that they shall follow. Therefore us He did transfer by a figure into Himself, when He willed to be tempted of Satan.
[vers. 2-4.] In quodam ergo loco munito positus ait, Nonne Deo subjicietur anima mea? Audierat enim, Qui se exaltat, humiliabitur; et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur : et trepidus ne transiliendo superbiret, non elatus ex his quae infra essent, sed humilis ex eo qui supra esset; tanquam minantibus ei ruinam invidis qui eum transilivisse doluerant, respondit, Nonne Deo subjicietur anima mea? Quid est quod mihi veluti transilienti quaeritis laqueos? Insultatione dejicere me vultis, aut seductione decipere. Numquid ita memini supra quod sum, ut oblitus sim sub quo sum? Nonne Deo subjecta erit anima mea? Quantumcumque accedam, quantumcumque ascendam, quantumcumque transiliam, sub Deo ero, non contra Deum. Securus ergo transcendo caetera, quando ille me sub se tenet, qui est super omnia. Nonne Deo subjecta erit anima mea? Ab ipso enim salutare meum. Etenim ipse est Deus meus et salutaris meus, susceptor meus, non movebor amplius. Scio quis supra me sit, scio quis praetendat misericordiam suam scientibus se, scio sub cujus alarum tegmine sperem: non movebor amplius. Agitis quidem vos, ait quibusdam, transiliens eos ipsos quibus dicit: agitis quidem vos ut movear, sed non veniat mihi pes superbiae. Ex hoc enim fit quod et in ipso psalmo sequitur, Nec manus peccatorum dimoveat me : cui consonat, Non movebor amplius. Ad illud enim quod ibi dictum est, Nec manus peccatorum dimoveat me, respondet hic, Non movebor amplius: ad illud autem quod ibi dictum est, Non veniat mihi pes superbiae, respondet hic, Nonne Deo subjecta erit anima mea?
61.3 PL 36, 730
3. But now there was read in the Gospel, how the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness was being tempted of the devil. Christ entirely was tempted of the devil. For in Christ thou wast being tempted, because Christ of thee had for Himself flesh, of Himself for thee salvation; of thee for Himself death, of Himself for thee life; of thee for Himself revilings, of Himself for thee honours; therefore of thee for Himself temptation, of Himself for thee victory. If in Him tempted we have been, in Him we overcome the devil.…“On the Rock Thou hast exalted me.” Now therefore here we perceive who is crying from the ends of the earth. Let us call to mind the Gospel: “Upon this Rock I will build My Church.” Therefore She crieth from the ends of the earth, whom He hath willed to be builded upon a Rock. But in order that the Church might be builded upon the Rock, who was made the Rock? Hear Paul saying: “But the Rock was Christ.” On Him therefore builded we have been. For this reason that Rock whereon we have been builded, first hath been smitten with winds, flood, rain, when Christ of the devil was being tempted. Behold on what firmness He hath willed to stablish thee. With reason our voice is not in vain, but is hearkened unto: for on great hope we have been set: “On the Rock Thou hast exalted me.”…
Ergo de superiore loco munitus et tutus, cui factus est Dominus refugium, cui est ipse Deus in locum munitum, respicit ad eos quos transilivit, et despiciens eos loquitur, tanquam de turri excelsa; nam et hoc dictum est de eo, Turris fortitudinis a facie inimici : attendit ergo ad eos, et dicit, Quousque apponitis super hominem? Insultando, opprobria jaciendo, insidiando, persequendo, apponitis super hominem onera; apponitis super hominem quantum potest ferre homo: sed ut ferat homo, sub illo est qui fecit hominem. Quousque apponitis super hominem? Si ad hominem attenditis, Interficite omnes. Ecce apponite, saevite, interficite omnes. Tanquam parieti inclinato et maceriae impulsae: instate, impellite, quasi dejecturi. Et ubi est, Non movebor amplius? Sed quare, Non movebor amplius? Quia ipse est Deus salutaris meus, susceptor meus. Ergo homines potestis apponere onera super hominem: numquid super Deum qui tuetur hominem?
61.4 PL 36, 730
4. “Thou hast led me down, because Thou hast been made my hope: a tower of strength from the face of the enemy” (ver. 3). My heart is vexed, saith that Unity from the ends of the earth, and I toil amid temptations and offences: the heathen envy, because they have been conquered; the heretics lie in wait, hidden in the cloak of the Christian name: within in the Church itself the wheat suffereth violence from the chaff: amid all these things when my heart is vexed, I will cry from the ends of the earth. But there forsaketh me not the Same that hath exalted me upon the Rock, in order to lead me down even unto Himself, because even if I labour, while the devil through so many places and times and occasions lieth in wait against me, He is to me a tower of strength, to whom when I shall have fled for refuge, not only I shall escape the weapons of the enemy, but even against him securely I shall myself hurl whatever darts I shall please. For Christ Himself is the tower, Himself for us hath been made a tower from the face of the enemy, who is also the Rock whereon hath been builded the Church. Art thou taking heed that thou be not smitten of the devil? Flee to the Tower; never to that tower will the devil’s darts follow thee: there thou wilt stand protected and fixed. But in what manner shalt thou flee to the Tower? Let not a man, set perchance in temptation, in body seek that Tower, and when he shall not have found it, be wearied, or faint in temptation. Before thee is the Tower: call to mind Christ, and go into the Tower. …
Interficite omnes. Quod tantum spatium corporis in uno homine, ubi possit interfici ab omnibus? Sed debemus intelligere personam nostram, personam Ecclesiae nostrae, personam corporis Christi. Unus enim homo cum capite et corpore suo Jesus Christus, salvator corporis et membra corporis, duo in carne una , et in voce una, et in passione una; et cum transierit iniquitas, in requie una. Passiones itaque Christi non in solo Christo; imo passiones Christi nonnisi in Christo. Si enim Christum intelligas caput et corpus, passiones Christi nonnisi in Christo: si autem Christum intelligas solum caput, passiones Christi non in solo Christo. Si enim passiones Christi in solo Christo, imo in solo capite; unde dicit quoddam membrum ejus Paulus apostolus, Ut suppleam quae desunt pressurarum Christi in carne mea ? Si ergo in membris Christi es, quicumque homo, quisquis haec audis, quisquis haec nunc non audis (sed tamen audis, si in membris Christi es); quidquid pateris ab eis qui non sunt in membris Christi, deerat passionibus Christi. Ideo additur, quia deerat; mensuram imples, non superfundis: tantum pateris, quantum ex passionibus tuis inferendum erat universae passioni Christi, qui passus est in capite nostro, et patitur in membris suis, id est in nobis ipsis. Ad communem hanc quasi rempublicam nostram quisque pro modulo nostro exsolvimus quod debemus, et pro possessione virium nostrarum quasi canonem passionum inferimus. Pariatoria plenaria passionum omnium non erit, nisi cum saeculum finitum fuerit. Quousque apponitis super hominem? Quidquid passi sunt Prophetae a sanguine Abel justi usque ad sanguinem Zachariae , appositum est super hominem, quia praecesserunt adventum incarnationis Christi quaedam membra Christi: sicut in nascente quodam, nondum quidem procedente capite, processit manus , sed tamen capiti connectebatur et manus. Nolite ergo putare, fratres, omnes justos qui passi sunt persecutionem iniquorum, etiam illos qui venerunt missi ante Domini adventum praenuntiare Domini adventum, non pertinuisse ad membra Christi. Absit ut non pertineat ad membra Christi, qui pertinet ad civitatem quae regem habet Christum. Illa una est Jerusalem coelestis, civitas sancta: haec una civitas unum habet regem. Rex hujus civitatis Christus est: ipse enim ei dicit, Mater Sion, dicet homo. Dicit ei, Mater; sed homo. Mater enim Sion, dicet homo; et homo factus est in ea, et ipse fundavit eam Altissimus . Ille ergo rex ejus, qui eam fundavit Altissimus; ipse in ea homo factus est humillimus. Ipse ergo ante adventum incarnationis suae praemisit quaedam membra sua, post quae praenuntiantia se venturum venit et ipse, connexus eis. Refer ad similitudinem nascentis illius; quia manus ante caput procedens, et cum capite est, et sub capite. De Christo enim dictum est, cum laudaretur excellentia populi primi, et dolerentur fracti rami naturales : Quorum adoptio, inquit, et testamenta et Legis constitutio; quorum patres, et ex quibus Christus secundum carnem, qui est super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula . Ex quibus Christus secundum carnem, tanquam ex Sion, quia homo factus est in ea: quia Christus super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula, quia ipse fundavit eam Altissimus. Ex quibus Christus secundum carnem, filius David: qui est super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula, Dominus David. Tota ergo illa civitas loquitur, a sanguine Abel justi usque ad sanguinem Zachariae. Inde et deinceps a sanguine Joannis, per sanguinem Apostolorum, per sanguinem martyrum, per sanguinem fidelium Christi, una civitas loquitur, unus homo dicit: Quousque apponitis super hominem? Interficite omnes. Videamus si deletis, videamus si exstinguitis, videamus si tollitis de terra nomen ejus, videamus si non populi inania meditamini , dicentes: Quando morietur, et peribit nomen ejus . Tanquam parieti inclinato, et maceriae impulsae incumbite, impellite. Audite supra: Susceptor meus, non movebor amplius; quia tanquam cumulus arenae impulsus sum ut caderem, et Dominus suscepit me .
61.5 PL 36, 732
5. “A sojourner I will be in Thy tabernacle even unto ages” (ver. 4). Ye see how he, of whom we have spoken, is he that crieth. Which of us is a sojourner even unto ages? For a few days here we live, and we pass away: for sojourners here we are, inhabitants in Heaven we shall be. Thou art a sojourner in that place where thou art to hear the voice of the Lord thy God, “Remove.” For from that Home everlasting in the Heavens no one will bid thee to remove. Here therefore a sojourner thou art. Whence also is said in another Psalm, “A sojourner I am with Thee and a stranger, as all my fathers were.” Here therefore sojourners we are; there the Lord shall give to us mansions everlasting: “Many are,” He saith, “the mansions in My Father’s house.” Those mansions not as though to sojourners He will give, but as though to citizens to abide for everlasting. Here however, brethren, because for no small time the Church was to be on this earth, but because here shall be the Church even unto the end of the world: therefore here He hath said, “A dweller I will be in Thy tabernacle even unto ages.”…Well, of a few days thou wouldest choose that the temptations should be: but how would She gather together all Her sons, unless for a long time She were to be here, unless even unto the end She were to be prolonged? Do not envy the rest of mankind that hereafter shall be: do not, because thou hast already passed over, wish to cut down the bridge of mercy: be it here even for ever. And what of temptations, which needs must abound, by how much the more offences come? For Himself saith, “Because iniquity hath abounded, the love of many shall wax cold.” But that Church, which crieth from the ends of the earth, is in these circumstances whereof he speaketh in continuation. “But he that shall have persevered even unto the end, the same shall be saved.” But whence shalt thou persevere?…“I shall be covered up in the veiling of Thy wings.” Behold the reason why we are in safety amid so great temptations, until there come the end of the world, and ages everlasting receive us; namely, because we are covered up in the veiling of His Wings. There is heat in the world, but there is a great shade under the wings of God.
[vers. 5.] Verumtamen honorem meum cogitaverunt repellere: victi dum interficiunt cedentes, sanguine interfectorum multiplicantes fideles, cedentes his et jam non valentes occidere. Verumtamen honorem meum cogitaverunt repellere. Modo quia non potest occidi christianus, agitur ut exhonoretur christianus. Nunc enim honore Christianorum corda torquentur impiorum: jam Joseph ille spiritualis post venditionem a fratribus, post translationem de patria sua ad gentes tanquam in Aegyptum, post humiliationem carceris, post factionem falsae testis, postquam factum est quod de illo dictum est, Ferrum pertransivit animam ejus ; jam honorificatus est, jam non est subditus fratribus vendentibus, sed frumenta erogat esurientibus . Victi ejus humilitate et castitate, incorruptione, tentationibus, passionibus, jam eum honoratum vident, et honorem ipsius cogitant repellere. In cogitationibus quippe eorum est illud, Peccator videbit: neque enim non videbit, quando non potest civitas abscondi supra montem constituta . Peccator ergo videbit, et irascetur; dentibus suis frendet, et tabescet . Latet in corde, et tegitur fronte venenum in saevientibus et indignantibus. Propterea et hic cogitationes eorum dicit, Honorem, inquit, meum cogitaverunt repellere. Non enim audent verbis proferre quod cogitant. Optemus illis bona, etiamsi optant mala. Judica illos, Deus; decidant a cogitationibus suis . Quid enim illis melius, quid utilius, quam ut inde cadant ubi male stant? ut possint ipsi correcti dicere, Statuisti pedes meos supra petram .
61.6 PL 36, 733
6. “For Thou, O God, hast hearkened to my prayer” (ver. 5). What prayer? That wherewith he beginneth: “Hearken, O God, to my supplication.”…“Thou hast given inheritance to men fearing Thy name.” Let us continue therefore in the fear of God’s name: the eternal Father deceiveth us not. Sons labour, that they may receive the inheritance of their parents, to whom when dead they are to succeed: are we not labouring to receive an inheritance from that Father, to whom not dying we succeed; but together with Him in the very inheritance for everlasting are to live?
Verumtamen cogitaverunt honorem meum repellere. Omnes contra unum, an unus contra omnes; an omnes contra omnes, an unus contra unum? Interim cum dicit, Apponitis super hominem; tanquam super unum: et cum dicit, Interficite omnes; quasi omnes contra unum: sed tamen et omnes contra omnes, quia et Christiani omnes, sed in uno. Quid autem illi diversi errores inimici Christi, omnes tantum dicendi sunt? nonne et unus? Plane audeo et unum dicere: quia una civitas et una civitas, unus populus et unus populus, rex et rex. Quid est, una civitas et una civitas? Babylonia una; Jerusalem una. Quibuslibet aliis etiam mysticis nominibus appelletur, una tamen civitas et una civitas: illa rege diabolo; ista rege Christo. Intendo enim Evangelio quodam loco, et movet me, puto quod et vos. Posteaquam invitati sunt multi ad nuptias boni et mali, et impletae sunt nuptiae recumbentium; servi enim missi, ut praeceptum erat, invitaverunt et bonos et malos; et ingressus est rex inspicere recumbentes, et invenit hominem non habentem vestem nuptialem, et ait illi quod nostis: Amice, unde huc venisti, non habens vestem nuptialem? At ille obmutuit. Et jussit ei ligari manus et pedes, et projici eum in tenebras exteriores. Levatus est de convivio, et missus est in poenas nescio quis homo in tam magna turba recumbentium. Sed tamen Dominus volens ostendere unum illum hominem, unum corpus esse quod constat ex multis, ubi jussit eum projici foras, et mittit in debitas poenas, subjecit continuo: Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi . Quid est hoc? Convocasti turbas, venit ingens multitudo; annuntiasti, locutus es, multiplicati sunt super numerum , impletae sunt nuptiae recumbentium; projectus est inde solus unus, et dicis, Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi. Cur non potius: Omnes vocati, multi electi, unus projectus? Si diceret, Multi enim sunt vocati, et plures electi, pauci vero reprobi; in paucis forte verisimilius intelligeremus unum illum. Nunc vero dicit quod unus inde projectus est, et subdit: Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi. Qui sunt electi, nisi qui remanserunt? Projecto uno, electi remanserunt. Quomodo, projecto uno de multis, pauci electi, nisi quia in illo uno multi? Omnes qui terrena sapiunt, omnes qui felicitatem terrenam Deo praeferunt, omnes qui sua quaerunt, non quae Jesu Christi , ad unam illam civitatem pertinent, quae dicitur Babylonia mystice, et habet regem diabolum. Omnes autem qui ea quae sursum sunt sapiunt, qui coelestia meditantur, qui cum sollicitudine in saeculo vivunt ne Deum offendant, qui cavent peccare, quos peccantes non pudet confiteri, humiles, mites, sancti, justi, pii, boni; omnes ad unam civitatem pertinent, quae regem habet Christum. Illa enim in terra quasi major est tempore; non sublimitate, non honore. Civitas illa prior nata; civitas ista posterior nata. Illa enim incoepit a Cain; haec ab Abel. Haec duo corpora sub duobus regibus agentia, ad singulas civitates pertinentia, adversantur sibi usque in finem saeculi, donec fiat ex commixtione separatio, et alii ponantur ad dexteram, alii ad sinistram, dicaturque illis: Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab exordio mundi; illis autem: Ite in ignem aeternum, qui paratus est diabolo et angelis ejus . Christus enim hoc dicit: Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab initio mundi. Rex civitatis suae, victor super omnia. Illis autem ad sinistram constitutis tanquam civitati iniquorum: Ite, inquit, in ignem aeternum. Numquid separat ab eis regem? Non: addidit enim, qui paratus est diabolo et angelis ejus.
61.7 PL 36, 734
7. “Days upon days of the King Thou shalt add to the years of Him” (ver. 6). This is therefore the King of whom we are the members. A King Christ is, our Head, our King. Thou hast given to Him days upon days; not only those days in that time that hath end, but days upon those days without end. “I will dwell,” he saith, “in the house of the Lord, for length of days.” Wherefore for length of days, but because now is the shortness of days? For everything which hath an end, is short: but of this King are days upon days, so that not only while these days pass away, Christ reigneth in His Church, but the Saints shall reign together with Him in those days which have no end.…For years of God have been also spoken of: “But Thou art the very Same, and Thy years shall not fail.” In the same manner as years, so days, so one day. Whatsoever thou wilt thou sayest of eternity. Whatever thou wilt thou sayest for this reason, because whatever thou shalt have said, it is too little that thou hast said. For thou must needs say somewhat, to the end that there may be something whereby thou mayest meditate on that which cannot be told. “Even unto the day of generation and of generation.” Of this generation and of the generation that shall be: of this generation which is compared to the moon, because as the moon is new, waxeth, is full, waneth, and vanisheth, so are these mortal generations; and of the generation wherein we are born anew by rising again, and shall abide for everlasting with God, when now no longer we are like the moon, but like that of which saith the Lord, “Then the righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” For the moon by a figure in the Scriptures is put for the mutability of this mortal state.…
Intendite, fratres, intendite, rogo vos. Delectat enim me pauca adhuc loqui vobis de civitate hac dulci. Gloriosissima enim de te dicta sunt, civitas Dei . Et si oblitus fuero tui, Jerusalem, obliviscatur me dextera mea . Dulcis est enim una patria, et vere una patria, sola patria: praeter illam quidquid nobis est, peregrinatio est. Dicam ergo quod agnoscatis, quod approbetis: commemorabo quod nostis; non docebo quod ignoratis. Non prius, inquit Apostolus, quod spirituale est, sed quod animale; postea quod spirituale . Ideo civitas illa major aetate, quia prior natus est Cain, et postea Abel : sed in his major serviet minori . Illa major aetate; ista major dignitate. Quare illa major aetate? Quia non prius quod spirituale est, sed quod animale. Quare ista major dignitate? Quia major serviet minori. Aedificavit autem civitatem Cain, sicut legimus : antequam esset ulla civitas, in primordio rerum humanarum, aedificavit civitatem Cain. Procul dubio intelligas jam natos fuisse multos homines ex illis duobus, et ex his quos genuerant, ut posset esse aptus et congruus numerus cui nomen civitatis imponeretur. Aedificavit ergo civitatem Cain, ubi non erat civitas. Aedificata est et postea Jerusalem, regnum Dei, civitas sancta, civitas Dei; et posita in specie quadam umbrae significantis futura. Intelligite itaque magnum mysterium, et tenete quod praelocutus sum, Non prius quod spirituale, sed quod animale, postea spirituale: ideo ergo Cain prior aedificavit civitatem, et ibi aedificavit ubi nulla erat civitas. Ut vero aedificaretur Jerusalem, non ibi aedificata est ubi non erat civitas, sed erat civitas primo quae appellabatur Jebus, unde Jebusaei. Ea capta, devicta, subjecta, aedificata est nova civitas tanquam destructa vetere; et appellata Jerusalem, Visio pacis, civitas Dei . Unusquisque ergo natus ex Adam, nondum pertinet ad Jerusalem: portat enim secum traducem iniquitatis, poenamque peccati, deputatus morti; et pertinet quodammodo ad veterem quamdam civitatem. Sed si futurus est in populo Dei, destruetur vetus, et aedificabitur novus. Ideo ergo Cain civitatem aedificavit ubi non erat civitas. A mortalitate enim et a malitia quisque incipit, ut fiat bonus postea. Sicut enim per inobedientiam unius hominis, peccatores constituti sunt multi; ita per obedientiam unius hominis, justi constituentur multi . Et omnes in Adam morimur ; et unusquisque nostrum ab Adam natus est. Transeat ad Jerusalem; destruetur vetus, et aedificabitur novus. Tanquam devictis Jebusaeis, ut aedificetur Jerusalem, dicitur: Exuite vos veterem hominem, et induite novum . Jamque aedificatis in Jerusalem, et gratiae luce fulgentibus, dicitur: Fuistis aliquando tenebrae; nunc autem lux in Domino . Mala ergo civitas ab initio usque in finem currit; et bona civitas mutatione malorum conditur.
61.8 PL 36, 735
8. “He shall abide for everlasting in the sight of God” (ver. 7); according to what, or because of what? “His mercy and truth who shall seek for Him?” He saith also in another place, “All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to men seeking His testament and His testimonies.” Large is the discourse of truth and mercy, but shortness we have promised. Briefly hear ye what is truth and mercy: because no small thing is that which hath been said, “All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth.” Mercy is spoken of, because our merits God regarded not, but His own goodness, in order that He might forgive us all our sins, and might promise life everlasting: but truth is spoken of, because He faileth not to render those things which He hath promised. Let us acknowledge it here, and let us do it; so that, just as to us God hath shown forth His mercy and His truth, mercy in forgiving our sins, truth in showing forth His promises; so also, I say, let us execute mercy and truth, mercy concerning the weak, concerning the needy, concerning even our enemies; truth in not sinning, and in not adding sin upon sin.…Who is therefore he that doeth this, save one out of those few, of whom is said, “He that shall have continued unto the end, the same shall be saved”? With reason here also “His mercy and truth who shall seek for Him?” Why is there “for Him”? “Who shall seek,” would be sufficient. Why hath he added, “for Him,” but because many men seek to learn His mercy and truth in His books? And when they have learned, for themselves they live, not for Him; their own things they seek, not the things which are of Jesus Christ: they preach mercy and truth, and do not mercy and truth. But by preaching it, they know it: for they would not preach it, unless they knew it. But he that loveth God and Christ, in preaching the mercy and truth of the Same, doth himself seek her for Him, not for himself: that is, not in order that himself may have by this preaching temporal advantages, but in order that he may do good to His members, that is, His faithful ones, by ministering with truth of that which he knoweth: in order that he that liveth, no longer for himself may live, but for Him that for all men hath died.
Et sunt istae duae civitates permixtae interim; in fine separandae: adversus se invicem confligentes; una pro iniquitate, altera pro justitia; una pro vanitate, altera pro veritate. Et aliquando ipsa commixtio temporalis facit, ut quidam pertinentes ad civitatem Babyloniam, administrent res pertinentes ad Jerusalem; et rursum quidam pertinentes ad Jerusalem, administrent res pertinentes ad Babyloniam. Difficile aliquid promisisse videor. Patientes estote, donec demonstretur exemplis. Omnia enim in vetere populo, sicut scribit Apostolus, in figura contingebant eis: scripta sunt autem ad correctionem nostram in quos finis saeculorum obvenit . Respicite ergo populum illum primum, positum etiam ad significandum populum posteriorem; et videte ibi quae dico. Fuerunt reges magni in Jerusalem; notum est; numerantur, nominantur. Omnes ergo iniqui cives erant Babyloniae, et administrabant res Jerusalem: omnes in finem inde separandi, nonnisi ad diabolum pertinent. Rursus invenimus cives de Jerusalem administrasse res quasdam pertinentes ad Babyloniam. Nam tres illos pueros victus miraculo Nabuchodonosor regni sui administratores fecit, et constituit eos super satrapas suos; et administrabant res Babyloniae cives de Jerusalem . Respicite nunc impleri hoc et agi in Ecclesia, et his temporibus. Omnes de quibus dictum est, Quae dicunt facite; quae autem faciunt facere nolite, cives sunt Babyloniae, administrantes rempublicam civitatis Jerusalem. Si enim nihil administrarent civitatis Jerusalem, unde, Quae dicunt facite? unde, super cathedram Moysi sedent? Rursus si cives sunt ipsius Jerusalem qui regnabunt in aeternum cum Christo, unde, Quae faciunt facere nolite , nisi quia et audituri sunt, Recedite a me, omnes qui operamini iniquitatem ? Notum est ergo vobis, cives malae civitatis administrare quosdam actus bonae civitatis. Videamus si et nunc cives bonae civitatis administrent quosdam actus malae civitatis. Terrena omnis respublica, quandoque utique peritura; cujus regnum transiturum est, cum veniet illud regnum de quo oramus, Veniat regnum tuum , et de quo praedictum est, Et regni ejus non erit finis : terrena ergo respublica habet cives nostros administrantes res ejus. Quam multi enim fideles, quam multi boni et magistratus sunt in civitatibus suis, et judices sunt, et duces sunt, et comites sunt, et reges sunt? Omnes justi et boni, non habentes in corde nisi gloriosissima quae de te dicta sunt, civitas Dei . Et quasi angariam faciunt in civitate transitura, et illic a doctoribus civitatis sanctae jubentur servare fidem praepositis suis, sive regi quasi praecellenti, sive ducibus tanquam ab eo missis ad vindictam malorum, laudem vero bonorum; sive servi, ut dominis suis subditi sint , et Christiani Paganis; et servet fidem melior deteriori, ad tempus serviturus, in aeternum dominaturus. Fiunt enim ista donec transeat iniquitas . Jubentur servi ferre dominos iniquos et difficiles: cives Babyloniae jubentur tolerari a civibus Jerusalem, et amplius obsequiorum exhibentibus, quam si cives essent ex ipsa Babylonia; tanquam implentibus, Qui te angariaverit mille passus, vade cum illo alia duo . Hanc totam civitatem dispersam, diffusam, permixtam, alloquitur his verbis et dicit: Quousque apponitis super hominem? Interficite omnes: et qui foris estis tanquam spinae in sepibus, aut tanquam ligna infructuosa in silvis; quique intus estis tanquam zizania, vel tanquam palea; omnes quotquot estis, separati, permixti, tolerandi, separandi, interficite omnes: tanquam parieti inclinato et maceriae depulsae. Verumtamen honorem meum cogitaverunt repellere. Non dixerunt, sed tamen cogitaverunt. Cogitaverunt repellere honorem meum.
61.9 PL 36, 736
9. “So I will play music to Thy name, that I may render my vows from day unto day” (ver. 8). If thou playest music to the name of God, play not for a time. Wilt thou for ever play? wilt thou for everlasting play? Render to Him thy vows from day unto day. What is, render to Him thy vows from day unto day? From this day unto that day. Continue to render vows in this day, until thou come to that day: that is, “He that shall have continued even unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Cucurri in siti. Retribuebant enim mala pro bonis . Illi interficiebant, illi repellebant; ego eos sitiebam: illi honorem meum cogitaverunt repellere; ego eos in corpus meum sitiebam trajicere. Bibendo enim quid facimus, nisi humorem foris positum in membra mittimus, et in corpus nostrum ducimus? Hoc fecit Moyses in illo capite vituli. Caput vituli, magnum sacramentum. Caput enim vituli corpus erat impiorum, in similitudine vituli manducantis fenum , terrena quaerentium: quia omnis caro fenum . Erat ergo, ut dixi, corpus impiorum. Iratus Moyses in ignem misit, comminuit, in aqua sparsit, bibendum populo dedit ; et ira Prophetae administratio facta est prophetiae. Corpus enim illud in ignem mittitur tribulationum, et verbo Dei comminuitur. Paulatim enim desistunt ab unitate corporis ejus. Sicut enim vestimentum, ita per tempus absumitur. Et unusquisque qui fit christianus, separatur ab illo populo, et quasi a massa comminuitur. Conspirati oderunt; comminuti credunt. Et quid jam evidentius, quam quod in corpus illud civitatis Jerusalem, cujus imago erat populus Israel, per Baptismum trajiciendi erant homines? Ideo in aqua sparsum est, ut in potum daretur. Hoc usque in finem sitit iste; currit, et sitit. Multos enim bibit; sed nunquam erit sine siti. Inde est enim, Sitio, mulier, da mihi bibere . Samaritana illa ad puteum sitientem Dominum sensit, et a sitiente satiata est: sensit prior illa sitientem, ut biberet ille credentem. Et in cruce positus, Sitio, dixit ; quamvis illi non hoc dederint quod sitiebat. Ipsos enim ille sitiebat: at illi acetum dederunt; non vinum novum quo implentur utres novi , sed vinum vetus, sed male vetus. Dicitur enim et acetum vetus, veteres homines de quibus dictum est, Non enim est illis commutatio , ut eversis Jebusaeis aedificaretur Jerusalem .