Expositions on the Book of Psalms 64
64.1 Psalm LXIV PL 36, 772
1. Though chiefly the Lord’s Passion is noticed in this Psalm, neither could the Martyrs have been strong, unless they had beheld Him, that first suffered; nor such things would they have endured in suffering, as He did, unless they had hoped for such things in the Resurrection as He had showed of Himself: but your Holiness knoweth that our Head is our Lord Jesus Christ, and that all that cleave unto Him are the members of Him the Head .…And let no one say, that now-a-days in tribulation of passions we are not. For alway ye have heard this fact, how in those times the whole Church together as it were was smitten against, but now through individuals she is tried. Bound indeed is the devil, that he may not do as much as he could, that he may not do as much as he would: nevertheless, he is permitted to tempt as much as is expedient to men advancing. It is not expedient for us to be without temptations: nor should we beseech God that we be not tempted, but that we be not “led into temptation.”
[vers. 1.] Agnoscenda est vox sanctae prophetiae ex ipso titulo psalmi hujus. Inscribitur: In finem, Psalmus David, Canticum Jeremiae et Ezechielis ex populo transmigrationis, cum inciperent exire. Res quemadmodum gesta sit apud patres nostros tempore transmigrationis Babyloniae, non omnibus notum est, sed his qui Scripturas sanctas diligenter advertunt, vel audiendo, vel legendo. Captivatus enim populus Israel, ex civitate Jerusalem ductus est in servitutem Babyloniae . Prophetavit autem Jeremias sanctus, post septuaginta annos rediturum populum de captivitate, et instauraturum civitatem ipsam Jerusalem, quam devictam ab hostibus planxerat . Illo autem tempore fuerunt prophetae, in illa captivitate populi constituti in Babylonia; inter quos erat et Ezechiel propheta. Exspectabat autem ille populus donec implerentur tempora septuaginta annorum, secundum prophetiam Jeremiae. Factum est completis septuaginta annis, restitutum est templum quod dejectum erat; et regressa est de captivitate magna pars illius populi. Sed quoniam dicit Apostolus, Haec in figura contingebant in illis; scripta sunt autem propter nos, in quos finis saeculorum obvenit ; debemus et nos nosse prius captivitatem nostram, deinde liberationem nostram; debemus nosse Babyloniam, in qua captivi sumus, et Jerusalem, ad cujus reditum suspiramus. Istae quippe duae civitates, secundum litteram revera duae civitates. Et illa quidem Jerusalem modo a Judaeis non incolitur. Post crucifixum enim Dominum, vindicatum est in illos flagello magno; et eradicati ab eo loco, ubi impia libertate furiosi adversus medicum insanierant, dispersi sunt per omnes gentes, et data est illa terra Christianis: impletumque est quod eis dixerat Dominus, Propterea auferetur a vobis regnum, et dabitur genti facienti justitiam . Cum autem viderent tunc multas turbas ire post Dominum, praedicantem regnum coelorum, et mirabilia facientem, dixerunt principes illius civitatis: Si dimiserimus eum, omnes ibunt post illum; et venient Romani, et tollent nobis et locum, et gentem . Ne locum perderent, Dominum occiderunt; et ideo perdiderunt, quia occiderunt. Civitas ergo quaedam illa terrena cujusdam civitatis aeternae in coelis umbram gerebat; at ubi coepit illa quae significabatur, evidentius praedicari; umbra qua significabatur, dejecta est: propterea ibi modo templum non est, quod fabricatum fuerat in imaginem futuri corporis Domini. Tenemus lucem; umbra transivit: tamen adhuc in quadam captivitate sumus: Quamdiu sumus, inquit, in corpore, peregrinamur a Domino .
64.2 PL 36, 773
2. Say we, therefore, ourselves also: “Hearken, O God, to my prayer, while I am troubled; from fear of the enemy deliver my soul” (ver. 1). Enemies have raged against the Martyrs: for what was that voice of Christ’s Body praying? For this it was praying, to be delivered from enemies, and that enemies might not have power to slay them. Were they not therefore hearkened to, because they were slain; and hath God forsaken His servants of a contrite heart, and despised men hoping in Him? Far be it. For “who hath called upon God, and hath been forsaken; who hath hoped in Him, and hath been deserted by Him?” They were hearkened to therefore, and they were slain; and yet from enemies they were delivered. Others being afraid gave consent, and lived, and yet the same by enemies were swallowed up. The slain were delivered, the living were swallowed up. Thence is also that voice of thanksgiving, “Perchance alive they would have swallowed us up.”…Therefore for this prayeth the voice of the Martyrs, “From fear of the enemy deliver Thou my soul:” not so that the enemy may not slay me, but that I may not fear an enemy slaying. For that to be fulfilled in the Psalm the servant prayeth, which but now in the Gospel the Lord was commanding. What but now was the Lord commanding? “Fear not them that kill the body, but the soul are not able to kill; but Him rather fear ye, that hath power to kill both body and soul in the hell of fire.” And He repeated, “Yea, I say unto you, fear Him.” Who are they that kill the body? Enemies. What was the Lord commanding? That they should not be feared. Be prayer offered, therefore, that He may grant what He hath commanded. “From fear of the enemy deliver my soul.” Deliver me from fear of the enemy, and make me submit to the fear of Thee. I would not fear him that killeth the body, but I would fear Him that hath power to kill both body and soul in the hell of fire. For not from fear would I be free: but from fear of the enemy being free, under fear of the Lord a servant.
Et videte nomina duarum istarum civitatum, Babylonis et Jerusalem. Babylon Confusio interpretatur, Jerusalem visio pacis. Intendite nunc civitatem confusionis, ut intelligatis visionem pacis: istam toleretis, ad illam suspiretis. Unde dignosci possunt istae duae civitates? Numquid possumus eas modo separare ab invicem? Permixtae sunt, et ab ipso exordio generis humani permixtae currunt usque in finem saeculi. Jerusalem accepit exordium per Abel; Babylon per Cain: aedificia quippe urbium postea facta sunt. Illa Jerusalem in terra Jebusaeorum; nam primo Jebus dicebatur : inde gens Jebusaeorum ejecta est, quando populus Dei liberatus est de Aegypto, et introductus est in terram promissionis. Babylon autem condita est in intimis Persidis regionibus, quae diuturno tempore caput extulit super caeteras gentes. Duae ergo istae urbes certis temporibus conditae sunt, ut manifestaretur figura duarum civitatum olim coeptarum, et usque in finem in isto saeculo mansurarum, sed in fine separandarum. Unde ergo possumus eas modo ostendere, quae permixtae sunt? Ostendet tunc Dominus, cum alios ponet ad dexteram, alios ad sinistram. Jerusalem ad dexteram erit; Babylon ad sinistram. Jerusalem auditura est: Venite, benedicti Patris mei; percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab origine mundi. Babylon auditura est: Ite in ignem aeternum, qui paratus est diabolo et angelis ejus . Possumus tamen et aliquid afferre, quantum Dominus donat, unde distinguantur pii fideles, etiam hoc tempore, cives Jerusalem a civibus Babyloniae. Duas istas civitates faciunt duo amores: Jerusalem facit amor Dei; Babyloniam facit amor saeculi. Interroget ergo se quisque quid amet, et inveniet unde sit civis: et si se invenerit civem Babyloniae, exstirpet cupiditatem, plantet charitatem; si autem se invenerit civem Jerusalem, toleret captivitatem, speret libertatem. Multi enim cives sanctae matris Jerusalem cupiditatibus Babyloniae corrupti tenebantur, et ipsa corruptione cupiditatum tanquam cives inde facti erant; et multi adhuc ita sunt, et multi post nos in hac terra futuri ita erunt: sed novit Dominus, conditor Jerusalem, quos cives ejus praedestinaverit, quos videat adhuc sub dominatu diaboli redimendos sanguine Christi, novit illos ipse antequam se ipsi noverint. Sub hac ergo figura cantatur hic psalmus. In cujus titulo positi sunt etiam duo prophetae, qui illo tempore in captivitate fuerunt, Jeremias et Ezechiel, et cantabant quaedam, cum inciperent exire. Incipit exire qui incipit amare. Exeunt enim multi latenter, et exeuntium pedes sunt cordis affectus: exeunt autem de Babylonia. Quid est de Babylonia? De confusione. Quomodo exitur de Babylone, id est de confusione? Qui primo confusi erant similibus cupiditatibus, incipiunt charitate distingui; jam distincti, non sunt confusi. Etsi adhuc corpore permixti sunt, desiderio tamen sancto discernuntur; et propter permixtionem corporalem nondum exierunt: propter affectum cordis exire coeperunt. Jam ergo audiamus, fratres; audiamus, et cantemus, et desideremus unde cives sumus. Et quae gaudia cantantur nobis? Quomodo in nobis reformatur amor civitatis nostrae, quam diuturna peregrinatione obliti fueramus? Sed misit inde ad nos epistolas Pater noster, ministravit nobis Scripturas Deus, quibus epistolis fieret in nobis redeundi desiderium; quia peregrinationem nostram diligendo, ad hostes faciem posueramus, et dorsum ad patriam. Quid ergo hic cantatur?
64.3 PL 36, 774
3. “Thou hast protected me from the gathering together of malignants, and from the multitude of men working iniquity” (ver. 2). Now upon Himself our Head let us look. Like things many Martyrs have suffered: but nothing doth shine out so brightly as the Head of Martyrs; in Him rather let us behold what they have gone through. Protected He was from the multitude of malignants, God protecting Himself, the Son Himself and the Manhood which He was carrying protecting His flesh: because Son of Man He is, and Son of God He is; Son of God because of the form of God, Son of Man because of the form of a servant: having in His power to lay down His life: and to take it again. To Him what could enemies do? They killed body, soul they killed not. Observe. Too little therefore it were for the Lord to exhort the Martyrs with word, unless He had enforced it by example. Ye know what a gathering together there was of malignant Jews, and what a multitude there was of men working iniquity. What iniquity? That wherewith they willed to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. “So many good works,” He saith, “I have shown to you, for which of these will ye to kill Me?” He endured all their infirm, He healed all their sick, He preached the Kingdom of Heaven, He held not His peace at their vices, so that these same should have been displeasing to them, rather than the Physician by whom they were being made whole: for all these His remedies being ungrateful, like men delirious in high fever raving at the physician, they devised the plan of destroying Him that had come to heal them; as though therein they would prove whether He were indeed a man, that could die, or were somewhat above men, and would not suffer Himself to die. The word of these same men we perceive in the wisdom of Solomon: “with death most vile,” say they, “let us condemn Him; let us question Him, for there will be regard in the discourses of Him; for if truly Son of God He is, let Him deliver Him.” Let us see therefore what was done.
[vers. 2] Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion. Patria illa est Sion: ipsa est Jerusalem quae Sion; et hujus nominis interpretationem nosse debetis. Sicut Jerusalem interpretatur Visio pacis, ita Sion Speculatio, id est visio et contemplatio. Nescio quod nobis magnum spectaculum promittitur; et hoc ipse Deus est qui condidit civitatem. Pulchra et decora civitas, quam pulchriorem habet conditorem! Te decet hymnus, Deus, inquit. Sed ubi? In Sion: in Babylone non decet. Etenim quisque cum coeperit innovari, jam corde in Jerusalem cantat, dicente Apostolo: Conversatio nostra in coelis est . In carne enim ambulantes, inquit, non secundum carnem militamus . Jam desiderio ibi sumus, jam spem in illam terram, quasi anchoram praemisimus, ne in isto mari turbati naufragemus. Quemadmodum ergo de navi quae in anchoris est, recte dicimus quod jam in terra sit; adhuc enim fluctuat, sed in terra quodammodo educta est contra ventos, et contra tempestates: sic contra tentationes hujus peregrinationis nostrae, spes nostra fundata in illa civitate Jerusalem facit nos non abripi in saxa. Qui ergo secundum hanc spem cantat, ibi cantat: ergo dicat, Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion. In Sion, non in Babylone. Sed modo ibi es adhuc in Babylone? Ibi, inquit, sum; amator iste, et civis iste: ibi sum; sed carne, non corde. Cum autem duo quaedam dixerim, quia ibi sum carne, non corde; unde canto, non ibi: non enim carne canto, sed corde. Carnem quidem sonantem audiunt et cives Babyloniae; cordis autem sonum audit conditor Jerusalem. Unde dicit Apostolus, exhortans ipsos cives ad amatoria quaedam cantica, et desideria redeundi ad illam pulcherrimam civitatem, visionem pacis: Cantantes, inquit, et psallentes in cordibus vestris Domino . Quid est, cantantes in cordibus vestris? Ne inde cantetis, unde estis in Babylonia; sed inde cantate, unde sursum habitatis. Ergo, Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion. In Sion te decet hymnus, non in Babylonia. Qui cantant in Babylonia, cives Babyloniae, etiam hymnum Dei non decenter cantant. Audi vocem Scripturae: Non est speciosa laus in ore peccatoris . Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion.
64.4 PL 36, 775
4. “For they have whet like a sword their tongues” (ver. 3). Which saith another Psalm also, “Sons of men; their teeth are arms and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword.” Let not the Jews say, we have not killed Christ. For to this end they gave Him to Pilate the judge, in order that they themselves might seem as it were guiltless of His death.…But if he is guilty because he did it though unwillingly, are they innocent who compelled him to do it? By no means. But he gave sentence against Him, and commanded Him to be crucified: and in a manner himself killed Him; ye also, O ye Jews, killed Him. Whence did ye kill Him? With the sword of the tongue: for ye did whet your tongues. And when did ye smite, except when ye cried out, “Crucify, Crucify”?
Et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Hic vovemus, et bonum est ut ibi reddamus. Qui autem hic vovent, et non reddunt? Qui non perseverant usque in finem in eo quod voverunt. Unde dicit alius psalmus, Vovete, et reddite Domino Deo vestro . Et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Ibi enim erimus toti, id est integri in resurrectione justorum: ibi reddetur votum totum nostrum; non sola anima, sed ipsa etiam caro jam non corruptibilis, quia jam non in Babylonia, sed jam corpus coeleste immutatum. Qualis mutatio promittitur? Omnes enim resurgemus, ait Apostolus, sed non omnes immutabimur. Qui autem immutabuntur ipse dixit: In ictu oculi, in novissima tuba: canet enim tuba, et mortui resurgent incorrupti, id est integri, et nos immutabimur. Qualis autem erit illa immutatio, sequitur et dicit: « Oportet enim corruptibile hoc induere incorruptionem et mortale hoc induere immortalitatem: cum autem corruptibile hoc induerit incorruptionem, et mortale hoc induerit immortalitatem, tunc fiet sermo qui scriptus est: Absorpta est mors in victoriam. Ubi est, mors, aculeus tuus » ? Modo enim inchoatis in nobis primitiis mentis, unde desideramus Jerusalem, multa ex carne corruptibili contendunt adversum nos, quae non contendent, cum fuerit mors absorpta in victoriam. Vincet pax, et finietur bellum. Quando autem vincet pax, vincet illa civitas quae dicitur Visio pacis. Nulla ergo erit a morte contentio. Modo cum morte quanta contendimus! Inde sunt delectiones carnales, quae nobis etiam illicite multa suggerunt: quibus non consentimus, sed tamen non consentiendo contendimus. Primo ergo concupiscentia carnis sequentes duxit nos, postea renitentes traxit nos; deinde accepta gratia coepit nos nec ducere, nec trahere, sed adhuc contendere nobiscum: post contentionem erit et victoria. Modo te etsi oppugnat, non expugnet: postea cum absorpta fuerit mors in victoriam, et pugnare cessabit. Quid dictum est? Novissima inimica destruetur mors . Reddam votum meum. Quod votum? Quasi holocaustum. Holocaustum enim tunc dicitur, quando totum ignis absumit: holocaustum sacrificium est ubi totum consumitur; ὅλον enim totum dicitur, καῦσις, incensio. Holocaustum totum incensum. Arripiat ergo nos ignis, ignis divinus in Jerusalem: incipiamus ardere charitate, donec totum mortale consumatur, et quod contra nos fuerit, eat in sacrificium Domino. Unde alibi dicitur: « Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion, ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem: tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes et holocausta . Te decet hymnus, Deus in Sion; et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. » Quaerimus hic, ne forte Rex nobis ipsius civitatis commendetur, Dominus et Salvator noster Jesus Christus: cantemus ergo donec ad evidentiora perveniamus. Possem enim jam dicere ipsum esse cui dicitur: Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion; et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Sed si dicerem, mihi potius quam Scripturae crederetur; et ideo forte non mihi crederetur. Audiamus sequentia.
64.5 PL 36, 776
5. But on this account we must not pass over that which hath come into mind, lest perchance the reading of the Divine Scriptures should disquiet any one. One Evangelist saith that the Lord was crucified at the sixth hour, and another at the third hour: unless we understand it, we are disquieted. And when the sixth hour was already beginning, Pilate is said to have sat on the judgment-seat: and in reality when the Lord was lifted up upon the tree, it was the sixth hour. But another Evangelist, looking unto the mind of the Jews, how they wished themselves to seem guiltless of the death of the Lord, by his account proveth them guilty, saying, that the Lord was crucified at the third hour. But considering all the circumstance of the history, how many things might have been done, when before Pilate the Lord was being accused, in order that He might be crucified; we find that it might have been the third hour, when they cried out, “Crucify, Crucify.” Therefore with more truth they killed at the time when they cried out. The ministers of the magistrate at the sixth hour crucified, the transgressors of the law at the third hour cried out: that which those did with hands at the sixth hour, these did with tongue at the third hour. More guilty are they that with crying out were raging, than they that in obedience were ministering. This is the whole of the Jews’ sagacity, this is that which they sought as some great matter. Let us kill and let us not kill: so let us kill, as that we may not ourselves be judged to have killed.
[vers. 3.] Exaudi, inquit, orationem meam: ad te omnis caro veniet. Et habemus Dominum dicentem, datam sibi potestatem omnis carnis . Coepit ergo apparere jam Rex ille, cum diceretur, ad te omnis caro veniet. Ad te, inquit, omnis caro veniet. Quare ad illum omnis caro veniet? Quia carnem assumpsit. Quo veniet omnis caro? Tulit inde primitias ex utero virginali: assumptis primitiis caetera consequentur, ut holocaustum compleatur. Unde ergo, omnis caro? Omnis homo. Et unde, omnis homo? Numquid omnes credituri praenuntiati sunt in Christum? Nonne multi impii qui etiam damnabuntur? Nonne quotidie multi non credentes, in sua infidelitate moriuntur? Secundum quid ergo intelligimus, ad te omnis caro veniet? Omnis caro dixit, omnis generis caro: ex omni genere carnis venietur ad te. Quid est, ex omni genere carnis? Numquid venerunt pauperes, et non venerunt divites? numquid venerunt humiles, et non venerunt sublimes? numquid venerunt indocti, et non venerunt docti? numquid venerunt viri, et non venerunt feminae? numquid venerunt domini, et non venerunt servi? numquid venerunt senes, et non venerunt juvenes? aut venerunt juvenes, et non venerunt adolescentes? aut venerunt adolescentes, et non venerunt pueri? aut venerunt pueri, et non allati sunt infantes? Postremo numquid venerunt Judaei (nam inde erant Apostoli, inde multa millia primo tradentium, postea credentium); et non venerunt Graeci? aut venerunt Graeci, et non venerunt Romani? aut venerunt Romani, et non venerunt Barbari? Et quis numeret omnes gentes venientes ad eum cui dictum est: Ad te omnis caro veniet? Exaudi orationem meam: ad te omnis caro veniet.
64.6 PL 36, 776
6. “They have bended the bow, a bitter thing, in order that they may shoot in secret One unspotted” (ver. 4). The bow he calleth lyings in wait. For he that with sword fighteth hand to hand, openly fighteth: he that shooteth an arrow deceiveth, in order to strike. For the arrow smiteth, before it is foreseen to come to wound. But whom could the lyings in wait of the human heart escape? Would they escape our Lord Jesus Christ, who had no need that any one should bear witness to Him of man? “For Himself knew what was in man,” as the Evangelist testifieth. Nevertheless, let us hear them, and look upon them in their doings as if the Lord knew not what they devise. The expression he used, “They have bended the bow,” is the same as, “in secret:” as if they were deceiving by lyings in wait. For ye know by what artifices they did this, how with money they bribed a disciple that clave to Him, in order that He might be betrayed to them, how they procured false witnesses; with what lyings in wait and artifices they wrought, “in order that they might shoot in secret One unspotted.” Great iniquity! Behold from a secret place there cometh an arrow, which striketh One unspotted, who had not even so much of spot as could be pierced with an arrow. A Lamb indeed He is unspotted, wholly unspotted, alway unspotted; not one from whom spots have been removed but that hath contracted not any spots. For He hath made many unspotted by forgiving sins, being Himself unspotted by not having sins. “Suddenly they shall shoot Him, and shall not fear.” O heart hardened, to wish to kill a Man that did raise the dead! “Suddenly:” that is, insidiously, as if unexpectedly, as if not foreseen. For the Lord was like to one knowing not, being among men knowing not what He knew not and what He knew: yea, knowing not that there was nothing that He knew not, and that He knew all things, and to this end had come in order that they might do that which they thought they did by their own power.
[vers. 4.] Sermones iniquorum praevaluerunt super nos; et impietates nostras tu propitiaberis. Quid est Sermones iniquorum praevaluerunt super nos; et impietates nostras tu propitiaberis? Quod nati sumus in hac terra, iniquos invenimus quos loquentes audivimus. Si possim explicare quod sentio, adjuvet me intentio Charitatis Vestrae. Omnis homo ubicumque nascitur, ipsius terrae, vel regionis, vel civitatis linguam discit; illius imbuitur moribus et vita. Quid faceret puer natus inter Paganos, ut non coleret lapidem, quando illum cultum insinuaverunt parentes? Inde prima verba audivit; illum errorem cum lacte suxit: et quia illi qui loquebantur majores erant, et puer qui loqui discebat infans erat, unde poterat parvulus nisi majorum auctoritatem sequi, et id sibi bonum ducere quod illi laudarent? Ergo gentes conversae ad Christum postea, et recordantes impietates parentum suorum, et dicentes jam quod dixit propheta ipse Jeremias, Vere mendacium coluerunt patres nostri; vanitatem quae eis non profuit : cum ergo jam hoc dicunt, renuntiant opinionibus et sacrilegiis parentum suorum iniquorum. Sed quia ut insererentur talibus opinionibus et sacrilegiis, persuasiones fecerunt eorum qui quanto aetate praecedebant, tanto auctoritate praecedere debere putabantur; confitetur jam redire volens ad Jerusalem de Babylonia, et dicit: Sermones iniquorum praevaluerunt adversus nos. Duxerunt nos mala docentes; cives Babyloniae nos fecerunt: dimisimus Creatorem, adoravimus creaturam; dimisimus eum a quo facti sumus, adoravimus quod ipsi fecimus. Sermones enim iniquorum praevaluerunt super nos: sed tamen non oppresserunt nos. Quare? Impietates nostras tu propitiaberis. Intendat Charitas Vestra. Propitiaberis impietates nostras: non dicitur nisi cuidam sacerdoti offerenti aliquid, unde impietas expietur et propitietur. Impietas enim tunc dicitur propitiari, cum propitius fit Deus impietati. Quid est, fieri Deum impietati propitium? id est, ignoscentem et veniam dantem. Sed ut Dei venia impetretur, propitiatio fit per aliquod sacrificium. Exstitit ergo a Deo Domino missus quidam sacerdos noster; assumpsit a nobis quod offerret Domino, ipsas diximus sanctas primitias carnis ex utero virginis. Hoc holocaustum obtulit Deo: extendit manus in cruce, ut diceret, Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo; elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum . Sicut nostis, quia Dominus circa vesperam pependit in cruce : et impietates nostrae propitiatae sunt; alioqui absorbuerant nos: sermones iniquorum praevaluerant super nos; duxerant nos praedicatores Jovis, et Saturni, et Mercurii: Sermones iniquorum praevaluerunt super nos. Sed quid facies? Impietates nostras, tu propitiaberis. Tu sacerdos, tu victima; tu oblator, tu oblatio. Ipse sacerdos est, qui nunc ingressus interiora veli, solus ibi ex his qui carnem gestaverunt, interpellat pro nobis . In cujus rei figura, in illo primo populo, et in illo primo templo, unus sacerdos intrabat in Sancta sanctorum; populus omnis foris stabat: et ille qui solus ingrediebatur in interiora veli, offerebat sacrificium pro populo foris stante . Si intelligatur bene, spiritus vivificat: si non intelligatur, littera occidit. Modo cum legeretur Apostolus, audistis: Littera occidit; spiritus autem vivificat. Quid enim ageretur in illo populo, Judaei nescierunt; sed nec modo sciunt. De illis quippe dictum est: Quamdiu legitur Moyses, velamen super cor eorum positum est. Ibi velamen figura est: sed tolletur figura, et apparebit veritas in eis ipsis. Sed quando tolletur velamen? Audi Apostolum: Cum autem transieris ad Dominum, auferetur velamen. Dum ergo non transeunt ad Dominum, quamdiu legunt Moysen, velamen habent super cor. Ad hoc sacramentum fulgebat tunc facies Moysi, ita ut non possent intendere filii Israel in faciem ejus (audistis modo cum legeretur); et velamen erat inter faciem Moysi loquentis, et populum audientem verba. Per velum verba audiebant; faciem non videbant. Et quid ait Apostolus? Ita ut non possent intendere filii Israel in faciem Moysi. Non intendebant, inquit, usque in finem . Quid est, usque in finem? Usque quo intelligerent Christum. Dicit quippe Apostolus: Finis enim Legis Christus, ad justitiam omni credenti . Est quidem splendor in facie Moysi, tanquam in facie carnali et mortali: numquid diuturnus aut aeternus esse posset? Morte enim succedente, profecto auferretur. Splendor autem gloriae beati Domini nostri Jesu Christi, sempiternus est. Sed illud figura erat temporalis, hoc autem quod illa figura significabatur, veritas. Legunt itaque, et non intelligunt Christum: non perducunt intentionem usque in finem, quia velum oppositum negat eis aspectum splendoris interioris. Et vide ibi sub velo Christum. Ait ipse Dominus noster Jesus Christus: Si crederetis Moysi, crederetis et mihi; de me enim ille scripsit . Propitiatis autem peccatis nostris et impietatibus per illud sacrificium vespertinum, transimus ad Dominum, et aufertur velamen: propterea et Domino crucifixo, velum templi scissum est . Exaudi orationem meam: ad te omnis caro veniet. Sermones iniquorum praevaluerunt super nos; et impietates nostras tu propitiaberis.
64.7 PL 36, 778
7. “They have confirmed to themselves malignant discourse” (ver. 5). There were done so great miracles, they were not moved, they persisted in the design of the evil discourse. He was given up to the judge: the judge trembleth, and they tremble not that have given Him up to the judge: trembleth power, and ferocity trembleth not: he would wash his hands, and they stain their tongues. But wherefore this? “They have confirmed to themselves malignant discourse.” How many things did Pilate, how many things that they might be restrained! What said he? what did he? But “they have confirmed to themselves malignant discourse: Crucify, crucify.” The repetition is the confirmation of the “malignant discourse.” Let us see in what manner “they have confirmed to themselves malignant discourse.” “Your King shall I crucify?” They said, “We have no king but Cæsar alone.” He was offering for King the Son of God: to a man they betook themselves: worthy were they to have the one, and not have the Other. “I find not anything in this Man,” saith the judge, “wherefore He is worthy of death.” And they that “confirmed malignant discourse,” said, “His blood be upon us and upon our sons.” “They confirmed malignant discourse,” not to the Lord, but to “themselves.” For how not to themselves when they say, “Upon us and upon our sons”? That which therefore they confirmed, to themselves they confirmed: because the same voice is elsewhere, “They dug before my face a ditch, and fell into it.” Death killed not the Lord, but He death: but them iniquity killed, because they would not kill iniquity.…
[vers. 5, 6.] Beatus quem elegisti, et assumpsisti. Quis est electus ab eo, et assumptus? Aliquis electus a Salvatore nostro Jesu Christo? An ipse secundum carnem, quod homo est, electus et assumptus est? ut tanquam Verbo Dei dicatur quod erat in principio, sicut dicit evangelista, In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum; quia et ipse est Filius Dei, Verbum Dei, de quo etiam dicit, Omnia per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipso factum est nihil : ut illi dicatur Filio Dei, quia ipse est sacerdos noster, postea carne assumpta, Beatus quem elegisti, et assumpsisti: id est, ille homo quo indutus es, qui coepit ex tempore, natus ex femina templum quodammodo illius qui semper in aeternum est, et in aeternum fuit. An potius ipse Christus assumpsit quemdam beatum, et non dicitur ipse quem assumpsit quasi in plurali numero, sed in singulari? Unum enim assumit, quia unitatem assumit. Schismata non assumit, haereses non assumit: multitudinem de se lecerunt; non est unus qui assumatur. Qui autem manent in compage Christi, et membra ejus sunt, faciunt quodammodo unum virum, de quo dicit Apostolus: Donec occurramus omnes in agnitionem Filii Dei, in virum perfectum, in mensuram aetatis plenitudinis Christi . Itaque unus vir assumitur, cui caput est Christus; quia caput viri Christus est . Ipse est ille beatus vir qui non abiit in consilio impiorum, et caetera quae ibi dicuntur : ipse est qui assumitur. Non est extra nos; in ipsius membris sumus, sub uno capite regimur, uno spiritu omnes vivimus, unam patriam omnes desideramus. Videamus ergo quod ad Christum dicitur, utrum ad nos pertineat, et de nobis dicatur: interrogemus conscientias nostras, amorem illum perscrutemur; et si adhuc parvus est, et modo natus amor iste (forte enim modo in aliquo germinavit), diligenter exstirpet juxta germinantes spinas, id est curas saeculares, ne crescendo sanctum germen offocent. Beatus quem elegisti et assumpsisti. In illo simus, et assumemur; in illo simus, et electi crimus.
64.8 PL 36, 779
8. “They told, in order that they might hide traps: they said, Who shall see them?” (ver. 5). They thought they would escape Him, whom they were killing, that they would escape God. Behold, suppose Christ was a man, like the rest of men, and knew not what was being contrived for Him: doth God also know not? O heart of man! wherefore hast thou said to thyself, Who seeth me? when He seeth that hath made thee? “They said, Who shall see them?” God did see, Christ also was seeing: because Christ is also God. But wherefore did they think that He saw not? Hear the words following.
Et quid nobis dabit? Inhabitabit, inquit, in atriis tuis. Jerusalem illa est, cui cantant qui incipiunt exire de Babylonia: Inhabitabit in atriis tuis. Replebimur in bonis domus tuae. Quae sunt bona domus Dei? Fratres, constituamus nobis aliquam domum divitem; quantis bonis referta sit, quam copiosa sit, vasa quam multa ibi aurea, sed et argentea; quantum familiae, quantum jumentorum et animalium; ipsa denique domus quam delectet picturis, marmore, laquearibus, columnis, spatiis, cubiculis; et desiderantur talia, sed adhuc ex confusione Babyloniae. Amputa omnia ista desideria, o civis Jerusalem; amputa! si vis redire, non te delectet captivitas. Sed jam coepisti exire: noli retro respicere, noli remanere in via. Non desunt adhuc hostes qui tibi persuadeant captivitatem et peregrinationem: jam non praevaleant super te sermones iniquorum. Domum Dei desidera, et bona ejus domus desidera; sed noli talia, qualia desiderare soles vel in domo tua, vel in domo vicini tui, vel in domo patroni tui. Aliud quiddam est bonum domus illius. Quid opus est ut nos dicamus quae sint bona illius domus? Ipse indicet qui cantat exiens de Babylonia: Replebimur, inquit, in bonis domus tuae. Quae sunt bona ista? Erexeramus fortasse cor ad aurum, ad argentum, et caetera pretiosa: noli talia quaerere; ista premunt, non levant. Hic ergo jam bona illa Jerusalem, bona illa domus Domini, bona illa templi Domini meditemur: quia quae domus Domini, hoc ipsum templum Domini. Replebimur in bonis domus tuae: sanctum templum tuum, mirabile in justitia. Ista sunt bona domus illius. Non dixit, Templum sanctum tuum, mirabile in columnis, mirabile in marmoribus, mirabile in tectis auratis; sed mirabile in justitia. Habes loris oculos unde videas marmora et aurum: intus est oculus unde videatur pulchritudo justitiae. Intus, inquam, est oculus unde videatur pulchritudo justitiae. Si nulla est pulchritudo justitiae, unde amatur justus senex? Quid affert in corpore quod oculos delectet? Curva membra, frontem rugatam, caput canis albatum, imbecillitatem undique querelis plenam. Sed forte quia tuos oculos non delectat senex iste decrepitus, aures tuas delectat: quibus vocibus? quo cantu? etsi forte adolescens bene cantavit, omnia cum aetate defecerunt. An forte sonus verborum ejus delectat aures tuas, qui verba vix plena enuntiat lapsis dentibus? Tamen si justus est, si alienum non concupiscit, si de suo quod habet erogat indigentibus, si bene monet, et rectum sapit, si integre credit, si paratus est pro fide veritatis etiam ipsa confracta membra impendere, multi enim martyres etiam senes; unde illum amamus? quid in eo bonum videmus oculis carnis? Nihil. Quaedam ergo est pulchritudo justitiae, quam videmus oculo cordis, et amamus, et exardescimus; quam multum dilexerunt homines in ipsis martyribus, cum eorum membra bestiae laniarent. Nonne cum sanguis foedaret omnia, cum morsibus belluinis viscera funderentur, non habebant oculi nisi quod horrerent? Quid ibi erat quod amaretur, nisi quid erat in illa foeditate dilaniatorum membrorum integra pulchritudo justitiae? Ista sunt bona domus Dei; his te para satiari. Sed ut inde satieris, cum perveneris; hoc te oportet esurire et sitire, cum peregrinaris: hoc siti, hoc esuri; quia ipsa erunt bona Dei. Audi illum regem cui ista dicuntur, qui venit ut te reducat, et se tibi fecit viam . Quid dicit? Beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt justitiam, quoniam ipsi saturabuntur . Sanctum templum tuum, admirabile in justitia. Et ipsum templum, fratres, nolite praeter vos cogitare. Amate justitiam, et vos estis templum Dei.
64.9 PL 36, 780
9. “They have searched out iniquity, they have failed, searching searchings” (ver. 6): that is, deadly and acute designs. Let Him not be betrayed by us, but by His disciple: let Him not be killed by us, but by the judge: let us do all, and let us seem to have done nothing.…
Exaudi nos, Deus, salvator noster. Aperuit modo quem Deum dicat. Salvator est proprie Dominus Jesus Christus. Apparuit modo apertius de quo dixerat: Ad te omnis caro veniet. Exaudi nos, Deus, salvator noster. Ille unus vir qui assumitur in templum Dei, et plures sunt, et unus est. Ex unius persona dixit, Exaudi, Deus, orationem meam: et quia ipse unus ex pluribus constat, modo ait, Exaudi nos, Deus, salvator noster. Audi illum jam apertius praedicari: Exaudi nos, Deus, salvator noster; spes omnium finium terrae, et in mari longe. Ecce unde dictum est: Ad te omnis caro veniet. Undique venitur. Spes omnium finium terrae: non spes unius anguli, non spes solius Judaeae, non spes solius Africae, non spes Pannoniae, non spes Orientis, aut Occidentis; sed spes omnium finium terrae, et in mari longe; ipsorum finium terrae. Et in mari longe: et quia in mari, ideo longe. Mare enim in figura dicitur saeculum hoc, salsitate amarum, procellis turbulentum; ubi homines cupiditatibus perversis et pravis facti sunt velut pisces invicem se devorantes. Attendite mare malum, mare amarum, fluctibus saevum; attendite qualibus hominibus plenum sit. Quis optat haereditatem, nisi morte alterius? quis optat lucrum, nisi damno alterius? Quam multi aliorum defectione cupiunt sublimari! quam multi ut emant optant alios vendere res suas! quomodo se invicem opprimunt, et qui possunt devorant! et cum devoraverit unus piscis major minorem, devoratur et ipse a majore. O piscis male, praedam vis de parvo; praeda efficieris magno. Quotidie ista eveniunt, ante nos sunt; videmus illa, horreamus illa. Non illa agamus, fratres, quia spes est ille finium terrae. Ille si non esset spes, et in mari longe, non diceret discipulis suis: Faciam vos piscatores hominum . Jam in mari capti per retia fidei, gaudeamus nos ibi natare adhuc intra retia; quia adhuc mare hoc saevit procellis, sed retia quae nos ceperunt, perducentur ad littus. Littus est finis maris: ergo perventio in finem saeculi. Interim intra ipsa retia, fratres, bene vivamus: non retia rumpentes foras exeamus. Multi enim ruperunt retia, et schismata fecerunt, et foras exierunt, quia malos pisces intra retia captos tolerare se nolle dixerunt; ipsi mali facti sunt potiusquam illi quos se non potuisse tolerare dixerunt. Namque illa retia ceperunt pisces et bonos, et malos. Dominus dicit: Simile est regnum coelorum sagenae missae in mare, quae congregat ex omni genere; quam cum impleta esset educentes, et secus littus sedentes, elegerunt bonos in vasa, malos autem foras miserunt: sic erit, inquit, in consummatione saeculi. Ostendit littus, ostendit finem maris. Exibunt Angeli, et separabunt malos de medio justorum, et mittent eos in caminum ignis: ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium . Eia, cives Jerusalem, qui intra retia estis, et pisces boni estis, tolerate malos; retia nolite rumpere: cum illis estis in mari; non cum illis eritis in vasis. Spes enim ille finium terrae, ipse spes est, et in mari longe. Longe, quia et in mari.
64.10 PL 36, 781
10. But what befell them? “They failed searching searchings.” Whence? Because he saith, “Who shall see them?” that is, that no one saw them. This they were saying, this among themselves they thought, that no one saw them. See what befalleth an evil soul: it departeth from the light of truth, and because itself seeth not God, it thinketh that itself is not seen by God.…
[vers. 7.] Praeparans montes in fortitudine sua: non in fortitudine illorum. Praeparavit enim magnos praedicatores, et ipsos appellavit montes; humiles in se, excelsos in illo. Praeparans montes in fortitudine sua. Quid dicit unus ex ipsis montibus? Ipsi in nobismetipsis responsum mortis habuimus, ut non fidentes in nobis simus, sed in Deo qui suscitat mortuos . Qui in se fidit, et in Christo non fidit, non est de his montibus quos ille praeparat in fortitudine sua. Praeparans montes in fortitudine sua, circumcinctus in potentatu. Potentatum intelligo: circumcinctus, quid est? Christum qui in medio ponunt, circumcinctum faciunt, id est undique cinctum. Habemus illum omnes communiter; ideo in medio est: circumcingimus illum omnes qui credimus in illum; et quia fides nostra non de viribus nostris, sed de illius potentia est, ideo circumcinctus in potentatu suo, non nostra fortitudine.
64.11 PL 36, 781
11. For what followeth? “There shall draw near a man and a deep heart.” They said, Who shall see us? They failed in searching searchings, evil counsels. There drew near a man to those same counsels, He suffered Himself to be held as a man. For He would not have been held except He were man, or have been seen except He were man, or have been smitten except He were man, or have been crucified or have died except He were man. There drew near a man therefore to all those sufferings, which in Him would have been of no avail except He were Man. But if He were not Man, there would not have been deliverance for man. There hath drawn near a Man “and a deep heart,” that is, a secret “heart:” presenting before human faces Man, keeping within God: concealing the “form of God,” wherein He is equal with the Father, and presenting the form of a servant, wherein He is less than the Father. For Himself hath spoken of both: but one thing there is which He saith in the form of God, another thing in the form of a servant. He hath said in the form of God, “I and the Father are one:” He hath said in the form of a servant, “For the Father is greater than I.” Whence in the form of God saith He, “I and the Father are one”?…
[vers. 8, 9.] Qui conturbas fundum maris. Fecit hoc: videtur quid fecerit. Praeparavit enim montes in fortitudine sua; misit illos praedicare: circumcinctus est a credentibus in potentatu; et commotum est mare; commotum est saeculum, et coepit persequi sanctos ejus. Circumcinctus in potentatu: qui conturbas fundum maris. Non dixit, Qui conturbas mare; sed, fundum maris. Fundum maris est cor impiorum. Sicut enim a fundo vehementius omnia moventur, et fundus continet omnia; sic quidquid processit per linguam per manus, per potestates diversas ad persecutionem Ecclesiae, de fundo processit. Si enim non esset radix iniquitatis in corde, non illa omnia procederent adversus Christum. Fundum conturbavit, forte ut et fundum exhauriret; nam in malis quibusdam exhausit mare a fundo, et posuit mare desertum. Dicit illud alius psalmus: Qui convertit mare in aridam . Omnes impii et pagani qui crediderunt, mare erant; terra facti sunt: salsis fluctibus primo steriles; postea justitiae fructu fecundi. Qui conturbas fundum maris: sonum fluctuum ejus quis sufferet? Quid est, quis sufferet? Quis homo sufferet sonum fluctuum maris, jussiones sublimitatum saeculi? Sed unde sufferuntur? Quia praeparat montes in fortitudine sua. Quod ergo dixit, quis sufferet? hoc ait, Nos ipsi per nosmetipsos sufferre illas persecutiones non possemus, nisi ille daret fortitudinem. Qui conturbas fundum maris: sonum fluctuum ejus quis sufferet?
64.12 PL 36, 782
12. “Arrows of infants have been made the strokes of them” (ver. 7). Where is that savageness? where is that roar of the lion, of the people roaring and saying, “Crucify, Crucify”? Where are the lyings in wait of men bending the bow? Have not “the strokes of them been made the arrows of infants”? Ye know in what manner infants make to themselves arrows of little canes. What do they strike, or whence do they strike? What is the hand, or what the weapon? what are the arms, or what the limbs?
Turbabuntur gentes. Primo turbabuntur: sed illi montes parati in fortitudine Christi, numquid turbati sunt? Turbatum est mare; elisum est in montes: mare fractum est; montes inconcussi manserunt. Turbabuntur gentes: et timebunt omnes. Ecce jam omnes timent: antea qui conturbati sunt, timent jam omnes. Non timuerunt Christiani, et timentur jam Christiani. Omnes qui persequebantur, modo timent. Superavit enim ille qui circumcinctus est in potentatu; sic ad illum venit omnis caro, ut caeteri paucitate ipsa jam timeant. Et timebunt omnes qui inhabitant fines terrae, a signis tuis. Miracula enim fecerunt Apostoli; et inde omnes fines terrae timuerunt, et crediderunt.
64.13 PL 36, 782
13. “And the tongues of them have been made weak upon them” (ver. 8). Let them whet now their tongues like a sword, let them confirm to themselves malignant discourse. Deservedly to themselves they have confirmed it, because “the tongues of them have been made weak upon them.” Could this be strong against God? “Iniquity,” he saith, “hath lied to itself;” “their tongues have been made weak upon them.” Behold, the Lord hath risen, that was killed.…What thinkest thou of Him who from the cross came not down, and from the tomb rose again? What therefore did they effect? But even if the Lord had not risen again, what would they have effected, except what the persecutors of the martyrs have also effected? For the Martyrs have not yet risen again, and nevertheless they have effected nothing; of them not yet rising again we are now celebrating the nativities. Where is the madness of their raging? To what did they bring those their searchings, in which searchings they failed, so that even, when the Lord was dead and buried, they set guards at the tomb? For they said to Pilate, “That deceiver;” by this name the Lord Jesus Christ was called, for the comfort of His servants when they are called deceivers; they say therefore to Pilate, “That deceiver said when yet living, After three days I will rise again:” …They set for guards soldiers at the sepulchre. At the earth quaking, the Lord rose again: such miracles were done about the sepulchre, that even the very soldiers that had come for guards were made witnesses, if they chose to tell the truth: but the same covetousness which had led captive a disciple, the companion of Christ, led captive also the soldier that was guard of the sepulchre. We give you, they say, money; and say ye, while yourselves were sleeping there came His disciples, and took Him away.…Sleeping witnesses ye adduce: truly thou thyself hast fallen asleep, that in searching such devices hast failed. If they were sleeping, what could they see? if nothing they saw, how are they witnesses? But “they failed in searching searchings:” failed of the light of God, failed in the very completion of their designs: when that which they willed, nowise they were able to complete, surely they failed. Wherefore this? Because “there drew near a Man and a deep heart, and God was exalted.”…
Exitus mane et vespere delectabis: id est, delectabiles facis. Jam in ista vita quid nobis promittitur? Exitus delectabis mane et vespere. Sunt exitus mane; sunt exitus vespere. Mane significat prosperitatem saeculi; vespere significat tribulationem saeculi. Intendat Charitas Vestra (in utroque enim tentatur anima humana); et prosperitate ne corrumpatur, et adversitate ne frangatur. Ideo autem mane prosperitatem significat, quia mane laetum est, transacta velut tristitia noctis. Tristes autem sunt tenebrae, veniente vespera: ideo veniente quasi mundi vespera, obtulit sacrificium vespertinum. Non ergo timeat unusquisque vesperam, nec mane corrumpatur. Ecce nescio quis, ut facias mali aliquid, promisit lucrum; mane est arridet tibi ampla pecunia; mane tibi fit. Noli corrumpi, et habebis exitum mane. Si enim habes exitum, non capieris. Sic est enim promissio lucri, quasi esca in muscipula: coarctaris, et non est qua exeas; caperis in muscipula. Dedit autem tibi exitum Dominus Deus tuus, ne lucro capiaris, cum tibi dicit in corde: Ego sum divitiae tuae. Noli attendere quod mundus promittit, sed quod promittit Conditor mundi: attende quod tibi promisit Deus facienti justitiam, et contemne quod tibi promittit homo, ut abducat a justitia, et adducat ad injustitiam. Noli ergo attendere quod mundus promittit, sed quod Conditor mundi; et habebis exitum mane per Domini verbum dicentis: Quid prodest homini, si totum mundum lucretur, animae autem suae detrimentum patiatur ? Sed ille qui te promisso lucro corrumpere, et ad iniquitatem adducere non potuit, minabitur poenas, et convertet se ad inimicitias, et incipiet tibi dicere: Si hoc non feceris, ego ostendam, ego faciam; habebis me inimicum. Primo cum lucrum promittebat, mane tibi erat: modo jam vesperascit; tristis factus es. Sed qui dedit tibi exitum mane, dabit et vespere. Quomodo contempsisti mane saeculi ex luce Domini, sic contemne et vesperam ex passionibus Domini, ut dicas animae tuae: Quid mihi amplius facturus est iste quam passus est pro me Dominus meus? Teneam justitiam, non consentiam ad iniquitatem. Saeviat in carne: frangetur muscipula, et volabo ad Dominum meum qui mihi ait: Nolite timere eos qui corpus occidunt, animam autem non possunt occidere . Et de ipso corpore securitatem dedit dicens: Capillus capitis vestri non peribit . Magnifice hic posuit, Delectabis exitus mane et vespere. Si enim non te delectet ipse exitus, non laborabis exire inde. Mittis caput in lucrum promissum, si non te delectet promissio Salvatoris. Et rursus, cedis tentanti, et terrenti, si non te delectet ille qui prior passus est, ut tibi exitum faceret. Exitus mane et vespere delectabis.
64.14 PL 36, 783
14. “And every man feared” (ver. 9). They that feared not, were not even men. “Every man feared;” that is, every one using reason to perceive the things which were done. Whence they that feared not, must rather be called cattle, rather beasts savage and cruel. A lion ramping and roaring is that people as yet. But in truth every man feared: that is, they that would believe, that trembled at the judgment to come. “And every man feared: and they declared the works of God.”…“And every man hath feared: and they have declared the works of God, and His doings they have perceived.” What is, “His doings they have perceived”? Was it, O Lord Jesus Christ, that Thou wast silent, and like a sheep for a victim wast being led, and didst not open before the shearer Thy mouth, and we thought Thee to be set in smiting and in grief, and knowing how to bear weakness? Was it that Thou wast hiding Thy beauty, O Thou beautiful in form before the sons of men? Was it that Thou didst not seem to have beauty nor grace? Thou didst bear on the Cross men reviling and saying, “If Son of God He is, let Him come down from the Cross.”…This thing they, that would have had Him come down from the Cross, perceived not: but when He rose again, and being glorified ascended into Heaven, they perceived the works of God.
[vers. 10.] Visitasti terram, et inebriasti eam. Unde inebriavit terram? Calix tuus inebrians quam praeclarus est ! Visitasti terram, et inebriasti eam: misisti nubes tuas, pluerunt praedicationem veritatis, inebriata est terra. Multiplicasti ditare eam. Unde multiplicasti eam ditare? Fluvius Dei repletus est aqua. Quis est fluvius Dei? Populus Dei. Primus populus repletus est, unde caetera terra rigaretur. Audi illum promittentem aquam: Si quis sitit, veniat et bibat. Qui credit in me, flumina aquae vivae de ventre ejus fluent . Si flumina, et unus fluvius; quia propter unitatem multi unum sunt. Multae Ecclesiae, et una Ecclesia; multi fideles, et una sponsa Christi: sic multa flumina, et unus fluvius. Crediderunt multi Israelitae, et impleti sunt Spiritu sancto: inde diffusi sunt per Gentes; coeperunt praedicare veritatem, et de fluvio Dei qui impletus est aqua, irrigata est tota terra. Parasti cibum illorum; quia ita est praeparatio tua. Non quia te promeruerunt, quibus peccata donasti: merita illorum mala erant; sed tu propter misericordiam tuam, quia ita est praeparatio tua, ita parasti cibum illorum.
64.15 PL 36, 784
15. “The just man shall rejoice in the Lord” (ver. 10). Now the just man is not sad. For sad were the disciples at the Lord’s being crucified; overcome with sadness, sorrowing they departed, they thought they had lost hope. He rose again, even when appearing to them He found them sad. He held the eyes of two men that walked in the way, so that by them he was not known, and He found them groaning and sighing, and He held them until He had expounded the Scriptures, and by the same Scriptures had shown that so it ought to have been done as it was done. For He showed in the Scriptures, how after the third day it behoved the Lord to rise again. And how on the third day would He have risen again, if from the Cross He had come down?…Therefore let us all rejoice in the Lord, let us all after the faith be One Just Man, and let us all in one Body hold One Head, and let us rejoice in the Lord, not in ourselves: because our Good is not ourselves to ourselves, but He that hath made us. Himself is our good to make us glad. And let no one rejoice in himself, no one rely on himself, no one despair of himself: let no one rely on any man, whom he ought to bring in to be the partner of his own hope, not the giver of the hope.
[vers. 11.] Sulcos ejus inebria. Fiant ergo primo sulci qui inebrientur: duritia pectoris nostri aperiatur vomere sermonis Dei, Sulcos ejus inebria; multiplica generationes ejus. Videmus: credunt, et ex credentibus alii credunt, et ex illis alii credunt; et non sufficit uni homini ut factus ipse fidelis unum lucretur. Sic multiplicatur et semen: pauca grana mittuntur, et segetes exsurgunt. Sulcos ejus inebria; multiplica generationes ejus: in stillicidiis suis laetabitur, cum exorietur. Id est, antequam sit forte idonea capacitati fluminis, cum exorietur, in stillicidiis suis, id est sibi congruis, laetabitur. Parvulis enim adhuc et infirmis stillantur quaedam de sacramentis, quia non possunt capere plenitudinem veritatis. Audi quomodo stillet parvulis dum exoriuntur, id est in recenti ortu minus capacibus. Apostolus dicit: Non potui vobis loqui quasi spiritualibus, sed quasi carnalibus, quasi parvulis in Christo . Cum dicit, parvulis in Christo, jam dicit exortos, sed nondum idoneos ad capiendam illam uberem sapientiam, de qua dicit: Sapientiam loquimur inter perfectos . Laetetur in stillicidiis suis, cum exoritur et augetur; roboratus capiet et sapientiam: quomodo infans nutritur lacte, et fit idoneus cibo; tamen primo de ipso cibo cui minus idoneus erat, illi lac factum est. In stillicidiis suis laetabitur, cum exorietur.
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16. Now because the Lord hath risen again, now because He hath ascended into Heaven, now because He hath showed that there is another life, now because it is evident that His counsels, wherein He lay concealed in deep heart, were not empty, because to this end That Blood was shed to be the price of the redeemed; now because all things are evident, because all things have been preached, because all things have been believed, under the whole of heaven, “the just man shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him; and all men shall be praised that are right in heart.”…God is displeasing to thee, and thou art pleasing to thyself, of perverted and crooked heart thou art: and this is the worse, that the heart of God thou wouldest correct by thy heart, to make Him do what thou wilt have whereas thou oughtest to do what He willeth. What then? Thou wouldest make crooked the heart of God which alway is right, according to the depravity of thy own heart? How much better to correct thy heart by the rectitude of God? Hath not thy Lord taught thee this, of Whose Passion but now were we speaking? Was He not bearing thy weakness, when He said, “Sad is My soul even unto death”? Was He not figuring thyself in Himself, when He was saying, “Father, if it be possible, let there pass from Me this cup”? For the hearts of the Father and of the Son were not two and different: but in the form of a servant He carried thy heart, that He might teach it by His example. Now behold trouble found out as it were another heart of thine, which willed that there should pass away that which was impending: but God would not. God consenteth not to thy heart, do thou consent to the heart of God.
[vers. 12.] Benedices coronam anni benignitatis tuae. Seminatur modo, crescit quod seminatur, erit et messis. Et modo super semen superseminavit inimicus zizania; et exorti sunt mali inter bonos, pseudochristiani, similem habentes herbam, sed non parem fructum. Etenim zizania ea proprie dicuntur, quae nascuntur in similitudine frumentorum; sicuti est lolium, sicuti est avena, et caetera talia quae primam herbam prorsus similem habent. Propterea de seminatione zizaniorum hoc dicit Dominus: Venit inimicus, et superseminavit zizania; cum autem crevisset herba, et fructum fecisset, tunc apparuerunt zizania. Ergo venit inimicus, et superseminavit zizania: sed quid fecit tritico? Non opprimitur zizaniis frumentum; imo per tolerantiam zizaniorum crescit fructus frumentorum. Ipse enim Dominus dixit quibusdam operariis volentibus eradicare zizania: Sinite utraque crescere usque ad messem, ne forte cum vultis eradicare zizania, eradicetis simul et frumentum; sed in tempore messis dicam messoribus: Colligite primum zizania, et alligate fasciculos ad comburendum; frumentum autem recondite in horreum . Ille est finis anni, messis saeculi. Benedices coronam anni benignitatis tuae. Coronam ubi audis, gloria victoriae significatur. Vince Diabolum, et habebis coronam. Benedices coronam anni benignitatis tuae. Rursus commendat benignitatem Dei, ne quisquam de suis meritis glorietur.
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17. What followeth? If “there shall be praised all men right in heart,” there shall be condemned the crooked in heart. Two things are set before thee now, choose while there is time.…If of crooked heart thou hast become, there will come that Judgment, there will appear all the reasons on account of which God doeth all these things: and thou that wouldest not in this life correct thy heart by the rectitude of God, and prepare thyself for the right hand, where “there shall be praised all men right in heart,” wilt be on the left, where at that time thou shalt hear, “Go ye into fire everlasting, that hath been prepared for the devil and his angels.” And will there be then time to correct the heart? Now therefore correct, brethren, now correct. Who doth hinder? Psalm is chanted, Gospel is read, Reader crieth, Preacher crieth; long-suffering is the Lord; thou sinnest, and He spareth; still thou sinnest, still He spareth, and still thou addest sin to sin. How long is God long-suffering? Thou wilt find God just also. We terrify because we fear; teach us not to fear, and we terrify no more. But better it is that God teach us to fear, than that any man teach us not to fear.…Thou bringest forth grain, barn expect thou; bringest forth thorns, fire expect thou. But not yet hath come either the time of the barn or the time of the fire: now let there be preparation, and there will not be fear. In the name of Christ both we who speak are living, and ye to whom we speak are living: for amending our plan, and changing evil life into a good life, is there no place, is there no time? Can it not, if thou wilt, be done to-day? Can it not, if thou wilt, be now done? What must thou buy in order to do it, what specifics must thou seek? To what Indies must thou sail? What ship prepare? Lo, while I am speaking, change the heart; and there is done what so often and so long while is cried out for, that it be done, and which bringeth forth everlasting punishment if it be not done.
[vers. 13.] Et campi tui replebuntur ubertate. Pinguescent fines deserti, et colles exsultatione accingentur. Campi, colles, fines deserti, iidem ipsi sunt homines. Campi propter aequalitatem: ergo propter aequalitatem, inde dicti sunt campi, populi justi. Colles propter erectionem; quia erigit in se Deus eos qui se humiliant. Fines deserti, omnes Gentes. Quare fines deserti? Deserti erant; nullus ad eos Propheta missus erat: sic erant illi quomodo eremus, qua non transit homo. Nullum verbum Dei missum est ad Gentes: soli populo Israel praedicaverunt Prophetae. Ventum est ad Dominum; crediderunt frumenta in ipso populo Judaeorum. Nam dixit tunc discipulis: Dicitis quia longe est messis; respicite, et videte quia albae sunt regiones ad messem. Fuit ergo messis prima; erit secunda in ultimo saeculo. Messis prima de Judaeis; quia mittebantur ad illos Prophetae annuntiantes venturum Salvatorem. Ideo dixit discipulis suis Dominus, Videte quia albae sunt regiones ad messem: regiones utique Judaeae. Alii, inquit, laboraverunt, et vos in eorum labores intrastis . Laboraverunt Prophetae ut seminarent, et vos cum falce intrastis ad illorum labores. Facta est ergo prima messis; et inde, de ipso frumento quod tunc purgatum est, seminatus est orbis terrarum, ut surgat alia messis quae in fine metenda est. In secunda messe superseminata sunt zizania; modo hic laboratur. Quomodo in illa prima laboraverunt Prophetae, quousque veniret Dominus; sic in ista secunda laboraverunt Apostoli, et omnes praedicatores veritatis laborant, quousque in finem Dominus mittat in messem Angelos suos. Antea ergo desertum erat; sed pinguescent fines deserti. Ecce ubi Prophetae non sonuerant, Dominus Prophetarum acceptus est. Pinguescent fines deserti, et exsultatione colles accingentur.