Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95
95.1 Psalm XCV PL 36, 1227
1. I could wish, brethren, that we were rather listening to our father: but even this is a good thing, to obey our father. Since therefore he who deigneth to pray for us, hath ordered us, I will speak unto you, beloved, what from the present Psalm Jesus Christ our common Lord shall deign to give us. Now the title of the Psalm is “David’s Song of praise.” The “Song of praise” signifieth both cheerfulness, in that it is a song; and devotion, for it is praise. For what ought a man to praise more than that which pleaseth him so, that it is impossible that it can displease him? In the praising of God therefore we praise with security. There he who praiseth is safe, where he feareth not lest he be ashamed for the object of his praise. Let us therefore both praise and sing; that is, let us praise with cheerfulness and joy. But what we are about to praise, this Psalm in the following verses showeth us.
[«vers.» 1.] Dominus et frater meus Severus adhuc differt laetitiam nostram de sermone quem nobis debet: nam quod debitor teneatur, agnoscit. Omnes enim Ecclesias quacumque transitum fecit, laetificavit Dominus per os ipsius: multo magis ergo ista laetificanda est, de qua caeteris eum Dominus propagavit. Sed quid facturi sumus, nisi ut serviamus voluntati ipsius? Differre illum tamen dixi, fratres, non fraudare. Itaque tenete debitorem, nec dimittatis, nisi cum solverit. Advertat itaque Charitas vestra: quantum donat Dominus, de isto psalmo dicamus aliquid quod quidem jam nostis; sed dulcis est commemoratio veritatis. Forte cum pronuntiaretur titulus ejus, cum admiratione aliqui audierunt. Inscribitur enim titulus Psalmi: «Quando domus aedificabatur post captivitatem.» Hoc titulo praedicto, jam in ipso textu Psalmi exspectabatis fortasse qui lapides praeciderentur de montibus, quae moles attraherentur, quae fundamenta jacerentur, quae trabes imponerentur, quae columnae erigerentur. Nihil horum cantat: et si aliud aliquid, non ergo consonat Psalmus titulo suo, et aliud portat in fronte, aliud in voce? Imo nihil aliud, sed intellectores quaerit. Loquitur enim de aedificatione domus. Omnes lapides ipsius domus intelligant quod cantarunt. Aedificatur enim domus Deo, non illo loco ubi aedificavit Salomon. Aedificavit enim templum : et de ipso templo audistis modo quae dixerit Dominus. Cum saxa templi et moles ingentes admirarentur discipuli, indicaverunt Domino admirationem et stuporem suum; et Dominus illis: «Amen dico vobis, non relinquetur hic lapis super lapidem, qui non destruetur» . Non talis aedificatur domus. Nam videte ubi aedificatur, quia non uno loco, aliqua in parte. Sic enim incipit:
95.2 PL 36, 1227
2. “O come, let us sing unto the Lord” (ver. 1). He calleth us to a great banquet of joy, not one of this world, but in the Lord. For if there were not in this life a wicked joy which is to be distinguished from a righteous joy, it would be enough to say, “Come, let us rejoice;” but he has briefly distinguished it. What is it to rejoice aright? To rejoice in the Lord. Thou shouldest piously joy in the Lord, if thou dost wish safely to trample upon the world. But what is the word, “Come”? Whence doth He call them to come, with whom he wisheth to rejoice in the Lord; except that, while they are afar, they may by coming draw nearer, by drawing nearer they may approach, and by approaching rejoice? But whence are they afar? Can a man be locally distant from Him who is everywhere?…It is not by place, but by being unlike Him, that a man is afar from God. What is to be unlike Him? it meaneth, a bad life, bad habits; for if by good habits we approach God, by bad habits we recede from God.…If therefore by unlikeness we recede from God, by likeness we approach unto God. What likeness? That after which we were created, which by sinning we had corrupted in ourselves, which we have received again through the remission of sins, which is renewed in us in the mind within, that it may be engraved a second time as if on coin, that is, the image of our God upon our soul, and that we may return to His treasures.…
«Cantate Domino canticum novum, cantate Domino omnis terra.» Si canticum novum cantat omnis terra; sic aedificatur, cum cantat: ipsum cantare, aedificare est; sed si non vetus cantet. Vetus cantat cupiditas carnis: novum cantat charitas Dei. Quidquid cantaveris de cupiditate, vetus cantas; etsi sonant in ore verba cantici novi, non est speciosa laus in ore peccatoris . Melius est ut novus taceas, quam ut vetus cantes; quia si fueris novus, et tacueris, auribus hominum non sonat: nam cor tuum non tacet canticum novum; et pervenit ad aures Dei, qui te fecit hominem novum. Diligis, et taces: dilectio ipsa vox est ad Deum, et ipsa dilectio canticum novum est. Audi quia canticum novum est: Dominus dicit, «Mandatum novum do vobis, ut vos invicem diligatis» . Omnis ergo terra cantat canticum novum: ibi aedificatur domus. Omnis ergo terra est domus Dei. Si omnis terra domus Dei, qui non haeret omni terrae, ruina est, non domus; ruina illa vetus, cujus umbram habebat templum illud vetus. Ibi enim diruebatur vetustas, ut novitas aedificaretur. Et quomodo diruitur vetustas? «Amen dico vobis,» inquit, «non relinquetur lapis super lapidem, qui non destruetur.» Lapis Christus est: dicit autem Apostolus, «Quotquot in Christo baptizati estis, Christum induistis» . Si Christum induit quisquis baptizatur in Christo; quis ponit lapidem super lapidem, nisi qui Baptismum super Baptismum imponit? Sed nolite terreri; «non relinquetur qui non destruetur.» Lapides enim ad fabricam novam, quae aedificatur post captivitatem, sic colliguntur, et sic illos charitas in unitate constringit, ut non sit lapis super lapidem, sed unus lapis sint omnes lapides. Ne miremini: hoc fecit canticum novum, id est, hoc fecit innovatio charitatis. Ad ipsam structuram nos compingit Apostolus, et in illa unitate nos constrictos compaginat, dicens: «Sufferentes invicem in dilectione, studentes servare unitatem spiritus, in vinculo pacis» . Ubi unitas Spiritus, unus lapis; sed unus lapis de multis factus. Quomodo de multis unus factus? Sufferendo invicem in dilectione. Aedificatur ergo domus Domini Dei nostri, aedificatur: hoc fit, hoc agitur, hoc voces istae agunt, hoc lectiones, hoc praedicatio Evangelii toto orbe terrarum; adhuc aedificatur. Crevit multum domus haec, et multas gentes implevit: nondum tamen omnes gentes occupavit: crescendo multas tenuit, omnes occupatura est; et contradicitur ab eis qui domesticos ejus se esse gloriantur, et dicitur, Jam decrevit. Adhuc crescit, adhuc crediturae sunt omnes gentes quae nondum crediderunt: ne quis dicat, Et illa lingua creditura est? et Barbari credituri sunt? Et quid sibi vult quod Spiritus sanctus apparuit in linguis igneis , nisi quia nullius linguae duritia est quae non illo igne solvatur? Neque enim non habemus jam multas gentes Barbaras credidisse Christo: quo nondum porrectum est Romanum imperium, jam Christus possidet; quod adhuc clausum est eis qui ferro pugnant, non est clausum illi qui ligno pugnat. Dominus enim regnavit a ligno. Quis est qui ligno pugnat? Christus. De cruce sua vicit reges, et subjugatis ipsam crucem in fronte fixit; et gloriantur de illa, quia ibi est salus eorum. Hoc agitur, sic crescit domus, sic aedificatur: et ut noveritis, sequentia Psalmi audite; videte operantes et fabricantes domum. «Cantate Domino canticum novum, cantate Domino omnis terra.»
95.3 PL 36, 1228
3. “Let us make a joyful noise unto God, our salvation.”…Consider, beloved, those who make a joyful noise in any ordinary songs, as in a sort of competition of worldly joy; and ye see them while reciting the written lines bursting forth with a joy, that the tongue sufficeth not to express the measure of; how they shout, indicating by that utterance the feeling of the mind, which cannot in words express what is conceived in the heart. If they then in earthly joy make a joyful noise; might we not do so from heavenly joy, which truly we cannot express in words?
[«vers. 2, 3]. Cantate Domino», «benedicite nomen ejus, bene nuntiate de die in diem salutare ejus.» Quomodo crescit aedificium? «Bene,» inquit, «nuntiate de die in diem salutare ejus.» De die in diem praedicetur; de die in diem, inquit, aedificetur; crescat, inquit Deus, domus mea. Et quasi diceretur ab operariis, Ubi jubes aedificari? ubi vis crescere domum tuam? Elige nobis aliquem locum aequalem, aliquem locum spatiosum, si tibi amplam domum vis aedificari. Ubi jubes ut bene nuntiemus de die in diem? Ostendit locum: «Annuntiate in gentibus gloriam ejus. Gloriam,» inquit, «ejus annuntiate in gentibus:» gloriam ejus, non gloriam vestram. O structores, gloriam ejus bene nuntiate in gentibus. Si gloriam vestram annuntiare volueritis, cadetis; si ejus aedificabimini, cum aedificatis. Ideo qui gloriam suam annuntiare voluerunt, noluerunt esse in ista domo; et propterea non cantant canticum novum cum omni terra. Non enim communicant universo orbi terrarum: et ideo non sunt aedificantes in domo, sed parietem dealbatum erexerunt. Quanta minatur Deus parieti dealbato? Sunt testimonia Prophetarum innumera, unde maledicit parieti dealbato? Quid est paries dealbatus, nisi hypocrisis, id est simulatio? Foris lucet, intus lutum est. Quod dicturus sum, jam dictum est, sed quia eo spiritu dictum est, quem nobis quoque Dominus impertire dignatus est, nos illud diximus; et quidquid modo eodem Spiritu dicimus, illi dixerunt qui fuerumt ante nos. Non est ergo praetermittendum, sed dicendum est, quia dono Dei dictum est. Quidam de isto pariete dealbato cum diceret, hoc ait: «Quomodo in pariete non conjuncto aliis parietibus, sed singulariter erecto, si ostium facias, quisquis intraverit foris est; sic in illa parte quae noluit cantare cum domo canticum novum, sed parietem voluit struere, et hunc dealbatum, non solidatum quid valet quod habet januam? Si intraveris, foris inveniris.» Quia enim ipsi non per januam introierunt, et janua ipsorum non intromittit. Dominus enim dicit: «Ego sum janua; per me intratur.» Qui sunt qui intrant per januam? Qui gloriam Domini quaerunt, non suam. Qui intrant per januam? Qui faciunt quod dictum est, «Bene nuntiate in gentibus gloriam ejus. Qui intrat per januam, pastor ovium est,» ait Dominus; «qui autem per aliam partem ascendit, ille fur est et latro» . Qui per januam intrat, humilis est; qui per aliam partem ascendit, superbus est: ideo illum dixit intrare, illum ascendere. Sed ille intrando recipitur; ille ascendendo praecipitatur. «Annuntiate in gentibus gloriam ejus.» Quid est, «in gentibus?» Forte gentes nominantur et paucae; et adhuc habet quod dicat illa pars quae erexit parietem dealbatum: Quare non gentes sunt Getulia, Numidia, Mauritania, Byzacium? Provinciae gentes sunt. Auferat sermonem hypocrisi parieti dealbato, sermo Dei, aedificans domum toto orbe terrarum. Parum est quod dixit, «Annuntiate» «in gentibus gloriam ejus;» ne aliquas gentes exceptas putares, sequitur et dicit, «In omnibus populis mirabilia ejus.»
95.4 PL 36, 1230
4. “Let us prevent His face by confession” (ver. 2). Confession hath a double meaning in Scripture. There is a confession of him who praiseth, there is that of him who groaneth. The confession of praise pertaineth to the honour of Him who is praised: the confession of groaning to the repentance of him who confesseth. For men confess when they praise God: they confess when they accuse themselves; and the tongue hath no more worthy use. Truly, I believe these to be the very vows, of which he speaketh in another Psalm: “I will pay Thee my vows, which I distinguished with my lips.” Nothing is more elevated than that distinguishing, nothing is so necessary both to understand and to do. How then dost thou distinguish the vows which thou payest unto God? By praising Him, by accusing thyself; because it is His mercy, to forgive us our sins. For if He chose to deal with us after our deserts, He would find cause only to condemn. “O come,” he said therefore, that we may at last go back from our sins, and that He may not cast up with us our accounts for the past; but that as it were a new account may be commenced, all the bonds of our debts having been burnt.…The more therefore thou despairedst of thyself on account of thy iniquities, do thou confess thy sins; for so much greater is the praise of Him who forgiveth, as is the fulness of the penitent’s confession more abundant. Let us not therefore imagine that we have receded from the song of praise, in understanding here that confession by which we acknowledge our transgressions: this is even a part of the song of praise; for when we confess our sins, we praise the glory of God.
[«vers. 4.] Quoniam magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis.» Quis «Dominus,» nisi Jesus Christus, «magnus et laudabilis nimis?» Nostis certe quia homo apparuit; nostis certe quia in utero feminae conceptus est, nostis quia ex utero natus est, nostis quia lactatus est, quia manibus portatus est, quia circumcisus, quia hostia pro illo oblata est, quia crevit; postremo nostis quia expalmatus est, consputus, spinis coronatus, crucifixus est, mortuus est, lancea percussus est; nostis quia haec omnia passus est: «Magnus» est «et laudabilis nimis.» Nolite contemnere parvum, intelligite magnum. Parvus factus est, quia parvi eratis; intelligatur magnus, et in illo magni eritis. Sic enim aedificatur domus, sic eriguntur moles in ipsa domo: crescunt lapides qui ducuntur ad aedificium. Crescite ergo, intelligite Christum magnum: et parvus magnus est, magnus nimis. Finivit verba: volebat dicere quantum magnus; etsi tota die diceret, Magnus, magnus, quid diceret? Tota die dicens, Magnus finiret aliquando; quia finitur dies: magnitudo illius ante dies, ultra dies, sine die. Ergo quid diceret? «Quoniam magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis.» Quid enim dictura est lingua parva ad laudandum magnum? Dicendo, «nimis,» emisit vocem, et dedit cogitationi quod sapiat: tanquam dicens, Quod sonare non possum, tu cogita; et cum cogitaveris, parum erit. Quod cogitatio nullius explicat, lingua alicujus explicat? «Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis.» Ipse laudetur, ipse praedicetur, ejus gloria nuntietur, et aedificatur domus.
95.5 PL 36, 1230
5. “And make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms.” We have already said what it is “to make a joyful noise:” the word is repeated, that it may be confirmed by the act: the very repetition is an exhortation. For we have not forgotten, so as to wish to be again admonished what was said above, that we should make a joyful noise: but usually in passages of strong feeling a well-known word is repeated, not to make it more familiar, but that the very repetition may strengthen the impression made: for it is repeated that we may understand the feeling of the speaker.…Hear now: “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (ver. 3) “For the Lord will not cast off His people.” Praise be unto Him, and shouts of joy be unto Him! What people shall He not cast off? we have no right to make our own explanation here: for the Apostle hath prescribed this unto us, he hath explained whereof it is said. For this was the Jewish people, the people where were the prophets, the people where were the patriarchs, the people begotten according to the flesh from the seed of Abraham; the people in which all the mysteries which promised our Saviour preceded us; the people among whom was instituted the temple, the anointing, the Priest for a figure, that when all these shadows were past, the Light itself might come; this therefore was the people of God; to it were the prophets sent, in it those who were sent were born; to it were delivered and entrusted the revelations of God. What then? is the whole of that people condemned? far be it. It is called the good olive-tree by the Apostle, for it commenced with the patriarchs.…This then is the tree itself: though some of its boughs have been broken, yet all have not. For if all the boughs were broken, whence is Peter? whence John? whence Thomas? whence Matthew? whence Andrew? whence are all those Apostles? whence that very Apostle Paul who was speaking to us but now, and by his own fruit bearing witness to the good olive? Were not all these of that people? Whence also those five hundred brethren to whom our Lord appeared after His resurrection? Whence were so many thousands at the words of Peter (when the Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke with the tongues of all nations) converted with such zeal for the honour of God and their own accusation, that they who first shed the Lord’s blood in their rage, learnt how to drink it now that they believed? And all these five thousand were so converted that they sold their own property, and laid the price of it at the Apostles’ feet. That which one rich man did not do, when he heard from the Lord’s mouth, and sorrowfully departed from Him, this so many thousands of those men by whose hands Christ had been crucified, did on a sudden. In proportion as the wound was deeper in their own hearts, with the greater eagerness did they seek for a physician. Since therefore all these were from thence, the Psalm saith of them, “For the Lord will not cast off His people.”…
«Terribilis est super omnes deos.» Sunt enim dii super quos sit terribilis ille? Videamus quos dicat, et videbimus quare dicat. Interim antequam dicat, charissimi, advertite. Ille qui quasi territus videtur inter homines, «terribilis est super omnes deos.» Numquid non fremuerunt gentes? numquid non populi meditati sunt inania adversus Dominum et adversus Christum ejus ? Numquid illi tauri pingues non circumdederunt eum? numquid non leo ille rugiens fremuit super illum , et intrans in corda saevientium exclamavit, «Crucifige, crucifige» ; quasi ille isto fremitu terreretur qui «terribilis est,» non super omnes homines, sed «super omnes deos?» Ubi enim vult aedificare domum, locus ipse silvosus est, unde dictum est hesterno die, «Invenimus eam in campis silvae». Domum enim ipsam quaerebat, cum diceret, «In campis silvae.» Et unde silvosus est locus ille? Simulacra colebant homines: non mirum quia porcos pascebant. Filius enim ille erat qui dimisit patrem, et omnia sua consumpsit in meretricibus, vivens prodige; pascebat porcos , id est, colebat daemonia: et ipsa superstitione Gentilium, silva facta erat omnis terra. Sed exstirpat silvam qui aedificat domum; et propterea dictum est, «Cum domus aedificaretur post captivitatem.» Tenebantur enim homines captivi sub diabolo, et daemonibus serviebant; sed redempti sunt a captivitate. Vendere se potuerunt, sed redimere non potuerunt. Venit Redemptor, et dedit pretium; fudit sanguinem suum, emit orbem terrarum. Quaeritis quid emerit? Videte quid dederit, et invenite quid emerit. Sanguis Christi, pretium est. Tanti quid valet? Quid, nisi totus orbis? quid, nisi omnes gentes? Valde ingrati sunt pretio suo, aut multum superbi sunt, qui dicunt, aut illud tam parvum esse, ut solos Afros emerit; aut se tam magnos esse, pro quibus solis illud sit datum. Non ergo exsultent, non superbiant: pro toto dedit, quantum dedit. Novit quid emerit, quia novit quanti emerit. Inde quia redempti sumus post captivitatem aedificatur domus. Et qui sunt qui nos tenebant in captivitate? Quia illi quibus dicitur, «Annuntiate,» exstirpatores silvae sunt: ut exstirpent silvam, liberent de captivitate terram, et struant, aedificent, annuntiando magnitudinem domus Domini. Unde silva daemonum exstirpatur, nisi praedicetur ille qui super omnes est? Ergo omnes gentes daemonia habebant deos: quos dicebant deos, daemonia erant, Apostolo dicente apertius, «Quoniam quae immolant gentes, daemoniis immolant, et non Deo» . Quia ergo ideo erant in captivitate, quia daemoniis immolabant, et propterea tota terra silvosa remanserat; annuntiatur iste «magnus et laudabilis nimis.»
95.6 PL 36, 1231
6. What doth the Psalm add? “In His hand are all the corners of the earth” (ver. 4): we recognise the corner stone: the corner stone is Christ. There cannot be a corner, unless it hath united in itself two walls: they come from different sides to one corner, but they are not opposed to each other in the corner. The circumcision cometh from one side: the uncircumcision from the other; in Christ both peoples have met together: because He hath become the stone, of which it is written, “The stone which the builders rejected, hath become the head of the corner.”…
[«vers.» 5.] Et quomodo ostenditur magnitudo ejus, ut eradicet illas superstitiones, sub quibus captivus populus tenebatur, quem redimere advenit «terribilis super omnes deos?» Et quasi diceretur illi, Quare dixisti, «super omnes deos?» sunt enim dii? sequitur et dicit, «Quoniam omnes dii Gentium daemonia.» Intendat Charitas vestra. Magnum aliquid dicebat paulo ante, «Magnus Dominus;» et tanquam deficiens in laudi ipsius, «et laudabilis nimis.» Nonne hoc dixeram, quia dimisit tibi cogitare quod non poterat ipse verbis explicare? Explicans autem ipse verbis, quid magnum mihi dixit de Domino Jesu Christo? An quia super omnia daemonia est? Cum enim dixisset, «Terribilis super omnes deos;» subjunxit, «Quoniam omnes dii Gentium daemonia.» Non est magnum, esse super daemonia: et tu; si volueris, eris; sed si in illum credideris. Itane ipsa est illa magnitudo laudis, «Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis?» Volens enim explicare, ut poterat humana lingua, et quamvis magnus sit tactor organi Spiritus sanctus, tamen per angustias spiritus humani syllabas sonat, sed cogitationes generat: explicare ergo per hanc linguam volens, quid ait? «Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis.» Dic, dic, quantum laudabilis; dic. «Terribilis est,» inquit, «super omnes deos.» Quare dixisti, «super omnes deos? Quoniam omnes dii Gentium daemonia.» Et ipsa est tota laus illius qui laudabilis est nimis, quia superat omnes deos Gentium, qui sunt daemonia? Exspecta, et audi quod sequitur: «Dominus autem coelos fecit.» Jam ergo non super daemonia solum, sed super omnes coelos quos fecit. Si diceret, «Super omnes deos, quoniam omnes dii Gentium daemonia,» et ibi tantummodo remaneret laudatio Domini, minus dixerat quam nos solemus de Christo cogitare: cum autem dixit, «Dominus autem coelos fecit;» videte quid intersit inter coelos et daemonia; et videte quid intersit inter ipsos coelos et illum qui fecit coelos; ecce quantum excelsus est Dominus. Non dixit, Dominus autem super coelos sedet; fortasse enim alius illos fecisse putaretur, super quos sederet: sed dixit, «Dominus autem coelos fecit.» Si coelos fecit, etiam Angelos fecit: ipse fecit Angelos, ipse fecit Apostolos. Apostolis cedebant daemonia: sed ipsi Apostoli coeli erant, qui Dominum portabant. Et quem Dominum portabant? A quo facti erant. Audi quia coeli sunt: «Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei» . Ipsis coelis dicitur, «Annuntiate in gentibus gloriam ejus, in omnibus populis mirabilia ejus. Quoniam magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis, terribilis est super omnes deos.» Quos deos? «Quoniam omnes dii Gentium daemonia.» Et ipse est terribilis super omnes istos deos. «Dominus autem coelos fecit.» O coeli, quos fecit, annuntiate in gentibus gloriam ejus! Aedificetur domus per omnem terram, cantet omnis terra canticum novum.
95.7 PL 36, 1232
7. “For the sea is His and He made it” (ver. 5). For the sea is this world, but God made also the sea: nor can the waves rage save only so far as to the shore, where He hath marked their bounds. There is therefore no temptation, that hath not received its measure.…“And His hands prepared the dry land.” Be thou the dry land: thirst for the grace of God: that as a sweet shower it may come upon thee, may find in thee fruit. He alloweth not the waves to cover what He hath sown. “And His hands prepared the dry land.” Hence also therefore let us shout unto the Lord.
[«vers. 6.] Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus.» Pulchritudinem amas? vis esse pulcher? Confitere. Non dixit, Pulchritudo et confessio; sed, «Confessio et pulchritudo.» Foedus eras, confitere ut sis pulcher: peccator eras, confitere ut sis justus. Foedare te potuisti; formosum te facere non potes. Qualis autem est sponsus noster, qui foedam amavit, ut pulchram faceret? Quomodo, ait aliquis, foedam amavit? «Non veni,» inquit, «vocare justos, sed peccatores» . Quos vocas peccatores, ut remaneant peccatores? Non, inquit. Et quomodo non erunt peccatores? «Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus.» Confitentur enim peccata sua, vomunt mala quae avide voraverant; non redeunt ad vomitum suum, sicut canis immundus : et erit confessio et pulchritudo. Amamus pulchritudinem; prius eligamus confessionem, ut sequatur pulchritudo. Iterum existit qui amat potentiam, amat et magnificentiam; vult esse magnus quomodo Angeli sunt. Magnificentia quaedam est in Angelis; et tanta potentia, ut si faciant Angeli quidquid possunt, sustineri non possit. Et omnis homo desiderat potentiam Angelorum, sed justitiam Angelorum non amat. Prius justitiam dilige, et sequetur te potentia. Quid enim sequitur et hic? «Sanctitas et magnificentia in sanctificatione ejus.» Tu jam quaerebas magnificentiam: prius dilige sanctitatem; cum sanctificatus fueris, eris et magnificus. Nam si praepostere prius esse volueris magnificus, ante cadis quam surgas: non enim surgis, sed extolleris. Melius surgis, si te ille erigat qui non cadit. Descendit enim ad te ille qui non cadit: tu cecideras, ille descendit, porrexit tibi manum; non potes viribus tuis surgere, amplectere manum descendentis, ut erigaris a forti.
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8. “O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him; and mourn before the Lord our Maker” (ver. 6).…Perhaps thou art burning with the consciousness of a fault; blot out with tears the flame of thy sin: mourn before the Lord: fearlessly mourn before the Lord, who made thee; for He despiseth not the work of His own hands in thee. Think not thou canst be restored by thyself. By thyself thou mayest fall off, thou canst not restore thyself: He who made thee restoreth thee. “Let us mourn before the Lord our Maker:” weep before Him, confess unto Him, prevent His face in confession. For who art thou who mournest before Him, and confessest unto Him, but one whom He created? The thing created hath no slight confidence in Him who created it, and that in no indifferent fashion, but according to His own image and likeness.
[«vers.» 7.] Quid ergo? Si «confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus, sanctitas et magnificentia in sanctificatione ejus» (hoc annuntiamus, cum aedificamus domum; ecce jam annuntiatum est gentibus); quid debent facere gentes, quibus annuntiaverunt illi qui silvam exstirpaverunt? Jam ad ipsas gentes dicit, «Afferte Domino patriae gentium, afferte Domino gloriam et honorem:» nolite vobis; quia et illi qui vobis annuntiaverunt, non suam, sed illius gloriam annuntiaverunt: et vos «afferte Domino gloriam et honorem;» et dicite, «Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam» . Nolite spem in homine ponere. Si baptizatur unusquisque vestrum, dicat: Ille me baptizat, de quo amicus sponsi dixit, «Hic est qui baptizat» . Si enim haec dixeritis, affertis Domino gloriam et honorem: «Afferte Domino gloriam et honorem.»
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9. “For He is the Lord our God” (ver. 7). But that we may without fear fall down and kneel before Him, what are we? “We are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” See how elegantly he hath transposed the order of the words, and as it were not given its own attribute to each word; that we may understand these very same to be the sheep, who are also the people. He said not, the sheep of His pasture, and the people of His hand; which might be thought more congruous, since the sheep belong to the pasture; but He said, “the people of His pasture.” The people are therefore sheep, since he saith, “the people of His pasture:” the people themselves are sheep.…He praiseth these sheep also in the Song of Solomon, speaking of some perfect ones as the teeth of His Spouse the Holy Church: “Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which come up from the washing; whereof every one beareth twins, and there is none barren.” What meaneth, “Thy teeth”? These by whom thou speakest: for the teeth of the Church are those through whom she speaketh. Of what sort are thy teeth? “Like a flock of sheep that are shorn.” Why, “that are shorn”? Because they have laid aside the burdens of the world. Were not those sheep, of which I was a little before speaking, shorn, whom the bidding of God had shorn, when He saith, “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shalt find treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me”? They performed this bidding: shorn they came. And because those who believe in Christ are baptized, what is there said? “which come up from the washing;” that is, come up from the cleansing. “Whereof every one beareth twins.” What twins? Those two commandments, wherefrom hang all the Law and the Prophets.
[«vers. 8.] Afferte Domino gloriam nomini ejus.» Non nomini hominum, non nomini vestro, sed nomini ejus afferte gloriam. «Tollite hostias, et introite in atria ejus. Tollite hostias:» quid allaturi estis, ut introeatis in atria ejus? Jam enim crevit domus, et facta sunt atria; qui afferunt hostias, intrent in atria. Tauros allaturi sumus, hircos vel oves? Absit. «Si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique.» Ille nobis hostiam commendabat, quam offerre debemus. Videte ne illa sit hostia, de quo jamdudum dixit, «Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus.» Confessio hostia est Deo. O ergo gentes, si vultis intrare in atria ejus, nolite vacuae intrare, «Tollite hostias.» Quas hostias nobiscum portaturi sumus? «Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus; cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non spernit» . Cum humili corde intra in domum Dei, et cum hostia intrasti. Si autem superbus es, inanis intras. Nam unde superbires, nisi inanis esses? Nam si plenus esses, non inflareris. Quomodo plenus esses? Si tecum tolleres hostiam, quam portares ad atria Domini. Jam ne diu teneamus, curramus caetera. Videte crescentem domum, videte aedificium ire per totum orbem terrarum. Gaudete, quia intrastis in atria; gaudete, quia aedificamini in templum Dei. Qui enim intrant, ipsi aedificantur, ipsi sunt domus Dei: ille est inhabitator, cui aedificatur domus toto orbe terrarum, et hoc post captivitatem. «Tollite hostias, et introite in atria ejus.»
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10. Therefore, “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (ver. 8). O my people, the people of God! God addresses His people: not only the people of His which He shall not cast off, but also all His people. For He speaketh in the corner stone to each wall: that is, prophecy speaketh in Christ, both to the people of the Jews, and the people of the Gentiles. For some time ye heard His voice through Moses, and hardened your hearts. He then, when you hardened your hearts, spoke through a herald; He now speaketh by Himself, let your hearts soften. He who used to send heralds before Him, hath now deigned to come Himself; He here speaketh by His own mouth, He who used to speak by the mouths of the Prophets.
[«vers. 9, 10.] Adorate Dominum in atrio sancto ejus:» in catholica Ecclesia; hoc est atrium sanctum ejus. Nemo dicat, «Ecce hic est Christus, ecce illic. Exsurgent enim pseudoprophetae.» Dic cis istud, «Lapis super lapidem non relinquetur, qui non destruatur» : ad parietem dealbatum vocatis; in atrio sancto adoro Deum meum.
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11. “As in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers proved Me” (ver. 9). Let such be no more your fathers: imitate them not. They were your fathers, but if ye do not imitate them, they shall not be your fathers: yet as ye were born of them, they were your fathers. And if the heathen who came from the ends of the earth, in the words of Jeremias, “The Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our forefathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit:” if the heathen forsook their idols, to come to the God of Israel; ought Israel whom their own God led from Egypt through the Red Sea, wherein He overwhelmed their pursuing foes; whom He led out into the wilderness, fed with manna, never took His rod from correcting them, never deprived them of the blessings of His mercy; ought they to desert their own God, when the heathen have come unto Him? “When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works.…
«Commoveatur a facie ejus universa terra: dicite in nationibus, Dominus regnavit a ligno. Etenim correxit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur.» Quae testimonia aedificationis domus Dei! Intonant nubes coelorum per totum orbem terrarum aedificari domum Dei; et clamant ranae de palude, Nos soli sumus christiani. Quae testimonia profero? Psalterii. Profero quod surdus cantas: aperi aures, tu cantas ista; cantas mecum, et non concordas mecum; lingna tua sonat quod sonat mea, et cor tuum dissonat a corde meo. Nonne tu cantas ista? Vide testimonia orbis terrarum: «Commoveatur a facie ejus universa terra:» et tu dicis non commoveri? «Dicite in nationibus, Dominus regnavit a ligno.» An forte hic obtinebunt, et dicent se regnare a ligno, quia fustibus Circumcellionum regnant? De cruce Christi regna, si a ligno regnaturus es. Nam lignum hoc tuum ligneum te facit: lignum Christi per mare te trajicit. Audis Psalmum dicentem, «Correxit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur;» et tu dicis non solum motum post correctionem, sed etiam diminutum. Tu verum dicis; iste mentitur? Pseudoprophetae clamantes, «Ecce hic est Christus, ecce illic,» verum dicunt; et propheta iste mentitur? Fratres, contra istas apertissimas voces auditis in angulis strepitum, Ille tradidit, et ille tradidit. Quid dicis? Voces tuae audiendae sunt, an voces Dei? «Etenim correxit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur.» Ego tibi orbem terrarum ostendo aedificatum; tolle hostiam, intra in atria Domini. Hostias non habes, propterea non vis intrare. Quid est hoc? Si hostiam tibi indiceret Deus taurum, hircum, arietem, invenires quod afferres: indixit tibi humile cor, et non vis intrare. Hoc enim in te non invenis, quia superbia tumuisti. «Etenim correxit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur. Judicabit populos in aequitate.» Tunc se illi plangent, qui nolunt modo diligere aequitatem.
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12. “Forty years long was I very near unto this generation, and said, It is a people that do always err in their hearts; for they have not known My ways” (ver. 10). The forty years have the same meaning as the word “always.” For that number forty indicates the fulness of ages, as if the ages were perfected in this number. Hence our Lord fasted forty days, forty days He was tempted in the desert, and forty days He was with His disciples after His resurrection. On the first forty days He showed us temptation, on the latter forty days consolation: since beyond doubt when we are tempted we are consoled. For His body, that is, the Church, must needs suffer temptations in this world: but that Comforter, who said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” is not wanting. For this was I with them forty years, to show such a race of men, which alway provoketh Me, even unto the end of the world: because by those forty years He meant to signify the whole of this world’s duration.
[«vers. 11.] Jucundentur coeli, et exultet terra.» Jucundentur coeli, qui enarrant gloriam Dei; jucundentur coeli, quos Dominus fecit: exsultet terra, quam compluunt coeli. Coeli enim praedicatores, terra auditores. «Commoveatur mare et plenitudo ejus.» Quod mare? Saeculum. Commotum est mare, et plenitudo maris: omne saeculum concitatum est adversus Ecclesiam, cum dilataretur et aedificaretur, toto orbe terrarum. De ipsa commotione audistis in Evangelio, «Tradent vos ad judicia» . Commotum est mare: sed quando vinceret mare eum qui coelos fecit?
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13. …We began with exulting joy: but this Psalm hath ended with great fear: “Unto whom I sware in My wrath, that they should not enter into My rest” (ver. 11). It is a great thing for God to speak: how much greater for Him to swear? Thou shouldest fear a man when he sweareth, lest he do somewhat on account of his oath against his will: how much more shouldest thou fear God, when He sweareth, seeing He can swear nought rashly? He chose the act of swearing for a confirmation. And by whom doth God swear? By Himself: for He hath no greater by whom to swear. By Himself He confirmeth His promises: by Himself He confirmeth His threats. Let no man say in his heart, His promise is true; His threat is false: as His promise is true, so is His threat sure. Thou oughtest to be equally assured of rest, of happiness, of eternity, of immortality, if thou hast executed His commandments; as of destruction, of the burning of eternal fire, of damnation with the devil, if thou hast despised His commandments.…
[«vers. 12, 13.] Gaudebunt campi, et omnia quae in eis sunt.» Omnes lenes, omnes mites, omnes aequi, campi sunt Dei. «Tunc exsultabunt omnia ligna silvarum.» Ligna silvarum, Pagani sunt. Quare jam gaudent? Quia praecisi sunt de oleastro, et inserti in oliva . «Tunc exsultabunt omnia ligna silvarum:» quia praecisae sunt ingentes arbores cedrinae et cyparissinae, et imputribilia ligna translata sunt ad aedificationem domus. Ligna silvarum erant, sed antequam irent in aedificium; ligna silvarum erant, sed antequam olivam parerent.