Expositions on the Book of Psalms 57
57.1 Psalm LVII PL 36, 673
1. We have heard in the Gospel just now, brethren, how loveth us our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God with the Father, Man with us, out of our own selves, now at the right hand of the Father; ye have heard how much He loveth us.…
[vers. 1, 2.] Vox quam cantavimus, audienda nobis magis est, quam clamanda. Omnibus enim tanquam in concione generis humani veritas clamat: Si vere utique justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Cui enim iniquo non facile est loqui justitiam? aut quis de justitia interrogatus, quando non habet causam, non facile respondeat quid sit justum? Quandoquidem manu formatoris nostri in ipsis cordibus nostris veritas scripsit: Quod tibi non vis fieri, ne facias alteri . Hoc et antequam Lex daretur nemo ignorare permissus est, ut esset unde judicarentur et quibus Lex non esset data. Sed ne sibi homines aliquid defuisse quaererentur, scriptum est et in tabulis quod in cordibus non legebant. Non enim scriptum non habebant, sed legere nolebant. Oppositum est oculis eorum quod in conscientia videre cogerentur; et quasi forinsecus admota voce Dei, ad interiora sua homo compulsus est, dicente Scriptura: In cogitationibus enim impii interrogatio erit . Ubi interrogatio, ibi lex. Sed quia homines appetentes ea quae foris sunt, etiam a seipsis exsules facti sunt, data est etiam conscripta lex: non quia in cordibus scripta non erat; sed quia tu fugitivus eras cordis tui, ab illo qui ubique est comprehenderis, et ad teipsum intro revocaris. Propterea scripta lex quid clamat eis qui deseruerunt legem scriptam in cordibus suis ? Redite praevaricatores ad cor . Quis enim te docuit, nolle accedi ab altero ad uxorem tuam? quis te docuit, nolle tibi furtum fieri? quis te docuit, nolle injuriam pati, et quidquid aliud vel universaliter vel particulariter dici potest? Multa enim sunt, de quibus singulis interrogati homines, clara voce respondeant, nolle se pati. Age, si non vis pati ista, numquid solus es homo? nonne in societate vivis generis humani? Qui tecum factus est, socius tuus est; et omnes facti ad imaginem Dei, nisi terrenis cupiditatibus conterant quod ille formavit. Quod ergo tibi non vis fieri, noli alteri facere. Judicas enim malum esse in eo quod pati non vis: et hoc te cogit nosse lex intima, in ipso tuo corde conscripta. Faciebas, et clamabatur inter manus tuas: quomodo cogeris redire ad cor tuum, cum hoc pateris inter manus alienas? Furtum bonum est? Non. Interrogo: Adulterium bonum est? Omnes clamant: Non. Homicidium bonum est? Omnes clamant detestari se. Concupiscere rem proximi bonum est? Non, vox omnium est. Aut si adhuc non confiteris, accedit qui concupiscat rem tuam: placeat tibi, et responde quod vis. Omnes ergo de his rebus interrogati, clamant haec bona non esse. Rursus de beneficiis, non solum de non nocendo, verum etiam de praestando atque tribuendo. Interrogatur omnis anima esuriens, Famem pateris; alius habet panem, et redundat ei ultra sufficientiam, novit te egere, non dat: displicet tibi esurienti; displiceat et satiato, cum alterum esurire cognoveris. Peregrinus tecto indigens venit in patriam tuam, non suscipitur: ille tunc clamat inhumanam esse illam civitatem, facile apud barbaros sibi esse potuisse refugium. Sentit iniquitatem, quia patitur: tu forte non sentis; sed oportet ut et te cogites peregrinum, et videas quomodo tibi possit displicere qui tibi non praestiterit quod tu in patria tua non vis peregrino praestare. Interrogo omnes: Vera sunt haec? Vera. Justa sunt haec? Justa.
57.2 PL 36, 674
2. Because then this Psalm is singing of the Passion of the Lord, see what is the title that it hath: “at the end.” The end is Christ. Why hath He been called end? Not as one that consumeth, but one that consummateth.…
Sed Psalmum audite: Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Non sit justitia labiorum, sed et factorum. Si enim aliter agis quam loqueris, bona loqueris, et male judicas. Si enim agis quomodo judicas? Interrogatus quid sit melius, aurum an fides, non usque adeo perversus et devius es ab omni veritate, ut aurum melius esse respondeas: praeponis ergo interrogatus auro fidem; locutus es justitiam. Audisti Psalmum? Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Et ubi probabo non te ita ut locutus es judicare? Jam teneo responsionem tuam praeponentem auro fidem. Ecce nescio unde amicus venit, et nullo teste aurum commendavit; solus hoc novit, et tu, quantum ad homines attinet. Est ibi alius testis qui non videtur et videt: et ille tibi aurum in secreto et in cubiculo tuo, forte remotis omnibus arbitris, commendavit; testis qui adest, non in cubiculo adest parietum, sed in cubilibus conscientiarum vestrarum. Commendavit ille atque discessit, nulli suorum notum fecit, rediturum se spernas, et ab amico quod dederat recepturum: ut humana sunt, mortuus est, habet haeredem, reliquit filium; ignorat filius quid pater habuerit, quid tibi commendaverit. Eia tu redi, redi, praevaricator, ad cor, ibi scripta lex est: Quod tibi non vis fieri, alii ne feceris. Teipsum cogita commendasse, nulli tuorum dixisse, mortuum esse, filium reliquisse: quid ei velles a tuo amico praestari? Responde, judica causam: judicis tribunal est in mente tua; sedet ibi Deus, adest accusatrix conscientia, tortor timor. In rebus humanis es, in societate humana detineris: cogita quid velles praestari filio tuo ab amico tuo. Novi quid tibi respondeat cogitatio tua: sic judica, sicut audis. Judica, vox erit. Vox veritatis non tacet; non labiis clamat, sed vociferatur ex corde: adhibe aurem; ibi esto cum filio amici tui. Vides fortasse etiam indigentem vagari, nescientem quid pater ejus habuerit, ubi posuerit, cui commendaverit: cogita et filium tuum, fac illum vivere quem contemnis mortuum, te mortuum cogita ut vivas. Sed aliud jubet avaritia, jubet contra Deum; Deus aliud, aliud avaritia; aliud in paradiso conditor noster, aliud de transverso seductor serpens. Veniat in mentem prior casus tuus: propterea mortalis, propterea laborans, propterea in sudore vultus tui panem comedens, propterea spinas et tribulos tibi terra generat : experimento disce, quod noluisti praecepto. Sed vincit cupiditas: cur non potius veritas? Et ubi est quod loquebaris? Ecce cogitas aurum negare, ecce cogitas haeredi amici tui prorsus abscondere. Interrogaveram paulo ante quid sit charius, et quid sit melius, aurum an fides. Quare aliud dicis, aliud agis? Non times hanc vocem, Si vere justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum? Ecce locutus es mihi meliorem esse fidem, et in judicio tuo melius duxisti aurum. Non sic judicasti ut locutus es: vera locutus es, et falsa judicasti. Ergo et cum loquebaris justitiam, non vere loquebaris: Si enim vere justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Quando mihi de justitia respondebas, erubescendo, non fatendo loquebaris.
57.3 PL 36, 675
3. “At the end, corrupt not, for David himself, for the inscription of the title; when he fled from the face of Saul into a cavern.” We referring to holy Scripture, do find indeed how holy David, that king of Israel, from whom too the Psalter of David hath received the name thereof, had suffered for persecutor Saul the king of his own people, as many of you know that have either read or have heard the Scriptures. King David had then for persecutor Saul: and whereas the one was most gentle, the other most ferocious: the one mild, the other envious; the one patient, the other cruel; the one beneficent, the other ungrateful: he endured him with so much mildness, that when he had gotten him into his hands him he touched not, hurt not.…What reference hath this to Christ? If all things which then were being done, were figures of things future, we find there Christ, and by far in the greatest degree. For this, “corrupt not for the inscription of the title,” I see not how it belongeth to that David. For not any “title” was inscribed over David himself which Saul would “corrupt.” But we see in the Passion of the Lord that there had been written a title, “King of the Jews:” in order that this title might put to the blush these very men, seeing that from their King they withheld not their hands. For in them Saul was, in Christ David was. For Christ, as saith the Apostolic Gospel, is, as we know, as we confess, of the seed of David after the flesh; for after the Godhead He is above David, above all men, above heaven and earth, above angels, above all things visible and invisible.…And because already it had been sung through the Holy Spirit, “Unto the end, corrupt not, for the inscription of the title:” Pilate answered them, “What I have written, I have written:” why do ye suggest to me falsehood? I corrupt not truth.
Sed ad causam praesentem jam veniamus, si placet. Vox est enim illa dulcis et nota auribus Ecclesiae, vox Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et vox corporis ejus, vox Ecclesiae laborantis, peregrinantis in terra, inter maledicentium et adulantium pericula viventis. Non timebis comminatorem, si non amas adulatorem. Attendit ergo ille cujus haec vox est, et vidit omnes loqui justitiam. Quis enim audet non loqui eam, ne dicatur injustus? Cum ergo tanquam audiret omnium voces, et intenderet omnium labia, clamabat ad eos: Si vere utique justitiam loquimini, si non falso justitiam loquimini, si non aliud in labiis perstrepit, aliud celatur in cordibus, recta judicate, filii hominum. Audi ex Evangelio propriam vocem, eamdem ipsam quae in hoc psalmo est. Hypocritae, ait Dominus Pharisaeis, quomodo potestis bona loqui, cum sitis mali? Aut facite arborem bonam, et fructum ejus bonum; aut facite arborem malam, et fructum ejus malum . Quid te vis dealbare, paries lutee? Novi interiora tua, non fallor tectorio tuo: novi quid praetendas, novi quid tegas. Neque enim opus ei erat, ait evangelista, ut quisquam ei perhiberet testimonium de homine: ipse enim sciebat quid esset in homine . Sciebat quid esset in homine, qui fecerat hominem, et homo factus erat ut quaereret hominem. Videte ergo si non sequuntur se voces istae: Hypocritae, quomodo potestis bona loqui, cum istis mali? Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Nonne justitiam locuti estis, quando dixistis: Magister, scimus quia justus es, et nullius personam accipis ? Quare dolum in corde tegebatis? quare imaginem Caesaris Creatori vestro ostendebatis, et ejus imaginem in vestris cordibus delebatis? Nonne auditum est quid locuti fueritis, et expertum est quemadmodum judicaveritis? Nonne vos crucifixistis eum quem justum esse dixeratis? Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Utquid audio locutionem vestram, Scimus quia justus es; cum praevideam judicium vestrum, Crucifige, crucifige? Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Quid enim fecistis saeviendo adversus Deum qui homo erat, et occidendo regem vestrum? Non enim ideo rex non erat futurus, quia occisus est a vobis resurrecturus. In titulo ubi scriptum erat, Rex Judaeorum, posito super crucem Domini, linguis tribus, hebraica, graeca, latina , noverat dicere judex homo, Quod scripsi, scripsi: et Deus non noverat dicere, Quod scripsi, scripsi? Prorsus rex vester est: vivus, rex vester est; occisus, rex vester est. Ecce resurrexit, et in coelo rex vester est: ecce venturus est; vae vobis, quia rex vester est. Ite nunc, et loquimini justitiam, et nolite recta judicare, filii hominum. Non vultis recte judicare, recte judicabimini. Vivit enim ille rex vester, et jam non moritur, et mors ei ultra non dominabitur. . Ecce venit; redite, praevaricatores, ad cor . Ecce veniet, corrigimini antequam veniat, praevenite faciem ejus in confessione . Ecce veniet; rex vester est. Recordamini titulum super crucem. Si non eum videtis scriptum, manet tamen: in terra non legitur, sed in coelo servatur. Putatis enim illam inscriptionem fuisse corruptam? Et quid ait titulus psalmi hujus? In finem, ne corrumpas ipsi David in tituli inscriptionem. Non ergo corrumpitur illa inscriptio tituli. Rex vester est Christus, quia omnium rex Christus: quoniam ipsius est regnum, et ipse dominabitur gentium . Si ergo rex est, ecce, antequam veniat, dicit vobis: Adhuc loquor, inquit, nondum judico; qui sic clamo comminando, nolo ferire judicando. Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum.
57.4 PL 36, 676
4. What therefore is, “When he fled from the face of Saul into a cavern”? Which thing indeed the former David also did: but because in him we find not the inscription of the title, in the latter let us find the flight into the cavern. For that cavern wherein David hid himself did figure somewhat. But wherefore hid he himself? It was in order that he might be concealed and not be found. What is to be hidden in a cavern? To be hidden in earth. For he that fleeth into a cavern, with earth is covered so that he may not be seen. But Jesus did carry earth, flesh which He had received from earth: and in it He concealed Himself, in order that by Jews He might not be discovered as God. “For if they had known, never the Lord of glory would they have crucified.” Why therefore the Lord of glory found they not? Because in a cavern He had hidden Himself, that is, the flesh’s weakness to their eyes He presented, but the Majesty of the Godhead in the body’s clothing, as though in a hiding-place of the earth, He hid.…But wherefore even unto death willed He to be patient? It was in order that He might flee from the face of Saul into a cavern. For a cavern may be understood as a lower part of the earth. And certainly, as is manifest and certain to all, His Body in a Tomb was laid, which was cut in a Rock. This Tomb therefore was the Cavern; thither He fled from the face of Saul. For so long the Jews did persecute Him, even until He was laid in a cavern. Whence prove we that so long they persecuted Him, until therein He was laid? Even when dead, and, on the Cross hanging, with lance they wounded Him. But when shrouded, the funeral celebrated, He was laid in a cavern, no longer had they anything which to the Flesh they might do. Rose therefore the Lord again out of that cavern unhurt, uncorrupt, from that place whither He had fled from the face of Saul: concealing Himself from ungodly men, whom Saul prefigured, but showing Himself to His members. For the members of Him rising again by His members were handled: for the members of Him, the Apostles, touched Him rising again and believed; and behold nothing profited the persecution of Saul. Hear we therefore now the Psalm; because concerning the title thereof enough we have spoken, as far as the Lord hath deigned to give.
[vers. 3.] Nunc autem quid facitis? Quare ista vobis dico? Etenim in corde iniquitates operamini in terra. Iniquitates forte in corde solo? Audi quid sequitur: et cor suum sequuntur manus, et cordi suo famulantur manus, cogitatur et fit; aut ideo non fit, non quia nolumus, sed quia non possumus. Quidquid vis, et non potes, factum Deus computat. Etenim in corde iniquitates operamini in terra. Quid deinde? Iniquitates manus vestrae connectunt. Quid est, connectunt? De peccato peccatum, et ad peccatum peccatum, propter peccatum. Quid est hoc? Furtum fecit, peccatum est: visus est, occidere quaerit eum a quo visus est; connexum est peccatum peccato. Permiserit Deus occulto judicio occidere eum quem voluit occidere; sentit sciri, quaerit et alterum occidere; connexuit tertium. Dum ea molitur, forte ne inveniatur, aut quia fecit ne convincatur, consulit mathematicum; additum est quartum. Respondet forte aliqua dura et mala mathematicus; curritur ad aruspicem ut expietur: respondet aruspex non se posse expiare; maleficus quaeritur. Et quis omnia possit numerare quae connectuntur peccata peccatis? Iniquitates manus vestrae connectunt. Quamdiu connectis, ligas peccatum peccato: te solve a peccatis. Sed non possum, inquis. Clama ad illum: Infelix ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis hujus . Veniet enim gratia Dei, ut delectet te justitia, sicut delectabat iniquitas; et homo qui ex vinculis resolutus es, exclamabis ad Deum: Disrupisti vincula mea . Quid est, disrupisti vincula mea, nisi, remisisti peccata mea? Audi quia vincula sunt: respondet Scriptura, Criniculis peccatorum suorum unusquisque constringitur . Non solum vincula, sed et criniculi sunt. Criniculi sunt, qui fiunt intorquendo: hoc est quod peccatis peccata connectebas. Vae his qui trahunt peccata sicut restem longam, Isaias clamat. Vae his qui trahunt peccata sicut vestem longam : quid est aliud, quam vae his quorum manus connectunt iniquitatem? Et quia unusquisque peccatis suis constringitur, sicut et peccatis suis caeditur, Dominus male versantes in templo flagello de resticulis facto exclusit . Sed non vis modo disrumpi vincula tua, quia non sentis vincula tua; etiam delectant te, et voluptati sunt: senties in fine, cum dicetur, Ligate illi manus et pedes, et projicite illum in tenebras exteriores; ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium . Exhorrescis, times, pectus tundis; dicis mala esse peccata, bonam esse justitiam. Si vere ergo justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. In vita vestra inveniantur verba vestra; in factis vestris cognoscantur labia vestra. Nolite ergo connectere iniquitatem; quia vobis ad alligaturam adhibebitur quidquid connectitis. Non audiunt; non omnes tamen: et qui non audiunt praecogniti sunt.
57.5 PL 36, 677
5. “Have pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for in Thee hath trusted my Soul” (ver. 1). Christ in the Passion saith, “Have pity on Me, O God.” To God, God saith, “Have pity on Me!” He that with the Father hath pity on thee, in thee crieth, “Have pity on Me.” For that part of Him which is crying, “Have pity on Me,” is thine: from thee this He received, for the sake of thee, that thou shouldest be delivered, with Flesh He was clothed. The flesh itself crieth: “Have pity on Me, O God, have pity on me:” Man himself, soul and flesh. For whole Man did the Word take upon Him, and whole Man the Word became. Let it not therefore be thought that there Soul was not, because the Evangelist thus saith: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelled in us.” For man is called flesh, as in another place saith the Scripture, “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Shall anywise flesh alone see, and shall Soul not be there?…Thou hearest the Master praying, learn thou to pray. For to this end He prayed, in order that He might teach how to pray: because to this end He suffered, in order that He might teach how to suffer; to this end He rose again, in order that He might teach how to hope for rising again. “And in the shadow of Thy wings I will hope, until iniquity pass over.” This now evidently whole Christ doth say: here is also our voice. For not yet hath passed over, still rife is iniquity. And in the end our Lord Himself said there should be an abounding of iniquity: “And since iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but he that shall have persevered unto the end, the same shall be saved.” But who shall persevere even unto the end, even until iniquity pass over? He that shall have been in the Body of Christ, he that shall have been in the members of Christ, and from the Head shall have learned the patience of persevering. Thou passest away, and behold passed are thy temptations; and thou goest into another life whither have gone holy men, if holy thou hast been. Into another life have gone Martyrs; if Martyr thou shalt have been, thou also goest into another life. Because “thou” hast passed away hence, hath by any means iniquity therefore passed away? There are born other unrighteous men, as there die some unrighteous men. In like manner therefore as some unrighteous men die and others are born: so some just men go, and others are born. Even unto the end of the world neither iniquity will be wanting to oppress, nor righteousness to suffer.…
[vers. 4.] Alienati sunt peccatores a vulva, erraverunt a ventre, locuti sunt falsa. Et cum iniquitatem loquuntur, falsa loquuntur; quia fallax est iniquitas: et cum justitiam loquuntur, falsa loquuntur; quia aliud ore proferunt, aliud in corde obtegunt. Alienati sunt peccatores a vulva: Quid est hoc? Quaeramus diligentius: fortassis enim illud dicit quia Deus praecognovit homines peccatores etiam in uteris matrum. Nam unde cum adhuc praegnans esset Rebecca, et geminos in utero portaret, dictum est: Jacob dilexi, Esaü autem odio habui ? Dictum est enim: Major serviet minori. Occultum ibi judicium Dei; sed tamen a vulva, id est, ab ipsa origine alienati sunt peccatores. Unde alienati? A veritate. Unde alienati? A patria beata, a vita beata. An forte alienati ab ipsa vulva? Et qui peccatores alienati sunt a vulva? Qui enim nascerentur, si non ibi tenerentur? Aut qui hodie viverent, ut haec sine causa audirent, nisi nascerentur? Forte ergo a quadam vulva alienati sunt peccatores, in qua dolores patiebatur charitas, per Apostolum dicens, Quos iterum parturio, donec Christus formetur in vobis . Exspecta ergo; formare. Noli tibi tribuere judicium quod forte non nosti. Carnalis es adhuc, conceptus es: eo ipso quo accepisti nomen Christi, sacramento quodam natus es in visceribus matris. Non enim ex visceribus tantum homo nascitur, sed et in visceribus. Prius nascitur in visceribus, ut possit nasci de visceribus. Propterea dictum est de Maria: Quod enim natum est in ea, de Spiritu sancto est . Nondum de illa natum erat, sed jam in illa natum erat. Ergo nascuntur intra viscera Ecclesiae quidam parvuli; et bonum est ut formati exeant, ne abortu labantur. Generet te mater, non abortiat. Si patiens fueris, usquequo formeris, usquequo in te certa sit doctrina veritatis, continere te debent materna viscera. Si autem impatientia tua concusseris latera matris, cum dolore quidem te excutit foras, sed magis tuo malo quam suo.
57.6 PL 36, 678
6. “I will cry to God most high” (ver. 2). If most high He is, how heareth He thee crying? Confidence hath been engendered by experience: “to God,” he saith, “who had done good to me.” If before that I was seeking Him, He did good to me, when I cry shall He not hearken to me? For good to us the Lord God hath done in sending to us our Saviour Jesus Christ, that He might die for our offences, and rise again for our justification. For what sort of men hath He willed His Son to die? For ungodly men. But ungodly men were not seeking God, and have been sought of God. For He is Most High in such sort, as that not far from Him is our misery and our groaning: because “near is the Lord to them that have bruised the heart.” “God that hath done good to me.”
Alienati sunt peccatores a vulva, erraverunt a ventre, locuti sunt falsa. Ideo ergo erraverunt a ventre, quia locuti sunt falsa? An potius ideo locuti sunt falsa, quia erraverunt a ventre? In ventre quippe Ecclesiae, veritas manet. Quisquis ab hoc ventre Ecclesiae separatus fuerit, necesse est falsa loquatur: necesse est, inquam, falsa loquatur, qui aut concipi noluit, aut quem conceptum mater excussit. Inde haeretici clamant contra Evangelium: ut de his potius loquamur quos dolemus excussos. Recitamus eis: Ecce Christus dixit, Oportebat Christum pati, et a mortuis resurgere tertia die. Agnosco ibi caput nostrum, agnosco ibi sponsum nostrum: agnosce et tu mecum sponsam, vide quid sequitur: Praedicari in nomine ejus poenitentiam et remissionem peccatorum per omnes gentes, incipientibus ab Jerusalem Huc veni, huc veni. Ecce Ecclesia per omnes gentes, incipientibus ab Jerusalem: non dico, Huc veni; ipsa ad te venit. Illi autem obsurdescentes adversus Evangelium, et non nos permittentes legere verba Dei, quae se jactant custodisse a flamma et volunt delere lingua, loquuntur sua, loquuntur inania: Ille tradidit, et ille tradidit. Imo et ego dico, Et ille tradidit, et ille tradidit: et verum dico. Sed quid ad me? Nec tu mihi quos nominas ex Evangelio legis, nec ego quos nomino ex Evangelio lego. Auferantur de medio chartae nostrae, procedat in medium Codex Dei. Audi Christum dicentem, audi veritatem loquentem: Praedicari in nomine ejus, inquit, poenitentiam et remissionem peccatorum per omnes gentes, incipientibus ab Jerusalem. Non, inquiunt; sed quod nos dicimus audite: quod dicit Evangelium nolumus audire. Alienati sunt peccatores a vulva, erraverunt a ventre, locuti sunt falsa. Nos loquamur vera, quia audivimus vera; quod Dominus dicit, non quod homo dicit. Potest fieri ut homo mentiatur: non potest fieri ut veritas mentiatur. Ex veritatis ore agnosco Christum, ipsam veritatem: ex veritatis ore agnosco Ecclesiam, participem veritatis. Nemo mihi falsa loquatur, qui erravit ab utero in visceribus Ecclesiae: primo viderem quid me vellet docere. Video alienatum a vulva, video errasse a ventre, et auditurus sum ab eo, quid nisi falsa? Erraverunt a ventre, locuti sunt falsa.
57.7 PL 36, 679
7. “He hath sent from heaven and hath saved me” (ver. 3). Now the Man Himself, now the Flesh Itself, now the Son of God after His partaking of ourselves, of Him it is manifest, how He was saved, and hath sent from heaven the Father and hath saved Him, hath sent from heaven, and hath raised Him again: but in order that ye may know, that also the Lord Himself hath raised again Himself; both truths are written in Scripture, both that the Father hath raised Him again, and that Himself Himself hath raised again. Hear ye how the Father hath raised Him again: the Apostle saith, “He hath been made,” he saith, “obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross: wherefore God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above every name.” Ye have heard of the Father raising again and exalting the Son; hear ye how that He too Himself His flesh hath raised again. Under the figure of a temple He saith to the Jews, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But the Evangelist hath explained to us what it was that He said: “But this,” he saith, “He spake of the Temple of His Body.” Now therefore out of the person of one praying, out of the person of a man, out of the person of the flesh, He saith, “He hath saved me. He hath given unto reproach those that trampled on me.” Them that have trampled on Him, that over Him dead have insulted, that Him as though man have crucified, because God they perceived not, them He hath given unto reproach. See ye whether it has not been so done. The thing we do not believe as yet to come, but fulfilled we acknowledge it. The Jews raged against Christ, they were overbearing against Christ. Where? In the city of Jerusalem. For where they reigned, there they were puffed up, there their necks they lifted up. After the Passion of the Lord thence they were rooted out; and they lost the kingdom, wherein Christ for King they would not acknowledge. In what manner they have been given unto reproach, see ye: dispersed they have been throughout all nations, nowhere having a settlement, nowhere a sure abode. But for this reason still Jews they are, in order that our books they may carry to their confusion. For whenever we wish to show Christ prophesied of, we produce to the heathen these writings. And lest perchance men hard of belief should say that we Christians have composed these books, so that together with the Gospel which we have preached we have forged the Prophet, through whom there might seem to be foretold that which we preach: by this we convince them; namely, that all the very writings wherein Christ hath been prophesied are with the Jews, all these very writings the Jews have. We produce documents from enemies, to confound other enemies. In what sort of reproach therefore are the Jews? A document the Jew carrieth, wherefrom a Christian may believe. Our librarians they have become, just as slaves are wont behind their masters to carry documents, in such sort that these faint in carrying, those profit by reading. Unto such a reproach have been given the Jews: and there hath been fulfilled that which so long before hath been foretold, “He hath given unto reproach those that trampled on me.” But how great a reproach it is, brethren, that this verse they should read, and themselves being blind should look upon their mirror! For in the same manner the Jews appear in the holy Scripture which they carry, as appeareth the face of a blind man in a mirror: by other men it is seen, by himself not seen.
[vers. 5, 6.] Indignatio eis secundum similitudinem serpentis. Magnam rem audituri estis. Indignatio eis secundum similitudinem serpentis. Quasi dixerimus, quid est quod dixisti? sequitur, Sicut aspidis surdae. Unde surdae? Et obturantis aures suas. Ideo surdae, quia obturat aures suas. Et obturantis aures suas, quae non exaudiet vocem incantantium, et medicamenti medicati a sapiente. Sicut audivimus, quod et homines dicunt, qui ea qua potuerunt haec cognitione didicerunt, sed tamen quod Spiritus Dei multo melius omnibus hominibus novit. Non enim frustra hoc dixit, nisi quia fieri potest ut verum sit etiam illud quod audivimus de aspide. Aspis cum coeperit pati incantatorem Marsum, qui eam quibusdam carminibus propriis evocat, sicut sunt multa etiam magica, audite quid facit. Sed interim in hoc attendite, fratres: hoc enim praeloquendum est, ne quisquam veluti haesitans audiat: non, undecumque datur similitudo, ab Scripturis laudatur ipsa res, sed tantum inde similitudo trahitur. Non enim laudavit iniquum judicem qui nolebat audire illam viduam, et nec Deum timebat, nec homines reverebatur; et tamen inde similitudinem Dominus traxit : nec illum laudavit pigrum qui tres panes, non propter amicitiam dedit petenti, sed taedio victus; et tamen inde similitudinem dedit . Et de rebus ergo non laudandis trahuntur secundum quemdam modum nonnullae similitudines. Aut si propterea putatis eundum esse ad Marsos, quia hoc audistis in Scriptura Dei; eundum est et ad spectacula theatri, quia dicit Apostolus: Non sic pugillor, quasi aerem caedens; pugilari enim est pancratium facere. Jam quia hinc data est similitudo, spectacula ista delectare nos debent? aut quia dixit, Qui in agone contendit, ab omnibus abstinens est ; propterea agonistica ista vana et ludicra debet affectare christianus? Attende quid tibi dicatur ad similitudinem, quid moneatur ad prohibitionem. Ita ergo et hic data est quaedam similitudo de Marso, qui incantat ut educat aspidem de tenebrosa caverna: utique in lucem vult educere; illa autem amando tenebras suas quibus se involutans occultat, dicitur quod cum exire noluerit, recusans tamen audire illas voces quibus se cogi sentit, allidit unam aurem terrae, et de cauda obturat alteram, atque ita voces illas quantum potest evitans, non exit ad incantantem. Huic similes dixit Spiritus Dei quosdam non audientes verbum Dei, et non solum non facientes, sed omnino ne faciant audire nolentes.
57.8 PL 36, 680
8. Thou wast inquiring perhaps when he said, “He hath sent from heaven and hath saved me.” What hath He sent from heaven? Whom hath He sent from heaven? An Angel hath He sent, to save Christ, and through a servant is the Lord saved? For all Angels are creatures serving Christ. For obedience there might have been sent Angels, for service they might have been sent, not for succour: as is written, “Angels ministered unto Him,” not like men merciful to one indigent, but like subjects to One Omnipotent. What therefore “hath He sent from heaven, and hath saved me”? Now we hear in another verse what from heaven He hath sent. “He hath sent from heaven His mercy and His truth.” For what purpose? “And hath drawn out my soul from the midst of the lions’ whelps.” “Hath sent,” he saith, “from heaven His mercy and His truth:” and Christ Himself saith, “I am Truth.” There was sent therefore Truth, that it should draw out my soul hence from the midst of the lions’ whelps: there was sent mercy. Christ Himself we find to be both mercy and truth; mercy in suffering with us, and truth in requiting us.…Who are the lions’ whelps? That lesser people, unto evil deceived, unto evil led away by the chiefs of the Jews: so that these are lions, those lions’ whelps. All roared, all slew. For we are to hear even here the slaying of these very men, presently in the following verses of this Psalm.
Factum est hoc et in primis temporibus fidei. Stephanus martyr praedicabat veritatem, et tanquam tenebrosis mentibus, ut eas in lucem educeret, incantabat: ubi venit ad commemorationem Christi, quem illi omnino audire noluerunt, quid de eis Scriptura dicit? quid de illis narrat? Clauserunt, inquit, aures suas. Quid autem postea fecerint, passio Stephani narrata declarat. Non erant surdi, sed fecerunt se surdos. Quia enim aures patentes in corde non habebant, violentia tamen verbi per aures carnis irruens, etiam ipsis auribus cordis vim faciebat: clauserunt et aures corporis, et ierunt ad lapides . Ecce aspides surdae, duriores lapidibus quibus incantatorem suum lapidaverunt: non audierunt vocem incantantis, et medicamenti medicati a sapiente. Quid est medicamentum medicatum a sapiente? Forte medicamentum confectum, dicat medicamentum medicatum. An quaerimus ibi aliquid, quomodo jam si medicamentum est, etiam medicatum sit? Medicamenta erant in Prophetis, medicamenta erant in Lege, praecepta ipsa omnia medicamenta erant; et hoc medicamentum nondum erat medicatum: adventu Domini medicatum est medicamentum; hoc illi ferre non potuerunt. Quia enim non curabantur medicamento, medicatum est ipsum medicamentum adventu Domini. Jam Stephanus medicamentum medicatum incantabat; hoc illi audire noluerunt: unde medicatum est medicamentum, contra hoc aures clauserunt. Nam ibi hoc fecerunt, ubi nominatus est Christus. Indignatio eorum, sicut indignatio serpentis. Quid aures clauditis? Exspectate, audite; et si potueritis, saevite. Quia nolebant nisi saevire, noluerunt audire. Quod si audirent, forte desaevirent. Indignatio eorum, sicut indignatio serpentis.
57.9 PL 36, 680
9. “And hath drawn out,” he saith, “my soul from the midst of the lions’ whelps” (ver. 4). Why sayest thou, “And hath drawn out my soul”? For what hadst thou suffered, that thy soul should be drawn out? “I have slept troubled.” Christ hath intimated His death.…
Tales etiam istos patimur. Primo sibi veritatem tenere videbantur: non cessavit Deus, non quievit. In Ecclesia sua praedicata est veritas, in visceribus matris aperta sunt eorum mendacia: patefactum est quod lucet; demonstrata est civitas super montem constituta, quae abscondi non potest, et lucerna posita est super candelabrum, quae lucet omnibus qui in domo sunt . Ubi enim latet Ecclesia Christi? ubi latet veritas Christi? Nonne ipse est mons qui crevit ex minimo lapide, et implevit universam faciem terrae ? Convincuntur hinc, non habent quod dicant contra Ecclesiam. Et quid eis remansit? Quid nos quaeritis? quid nos vultis, dicunt? recedite a nobis. Dicunt autem et suis: Nemo cum illis loquatur, nemo illis conjungatur, nemo illos audiat. Indignatio eorum, indignatio serpentium: sicut aspidis surdae et obturantis aures suas, quae non exaudiet vocem incantantium, et medicamenti, hoc est vocem medicamenti, medicati a sapiente. Nonne hinc jam intelligitur quale medicamentum, quando vocem dicit? Numquid medicamentum habet vocem? Est quoddam medicamentum quod habet vocem. Medicamentum portamus; vocem ejus audite, non quomodo aspides surdae. Si vere utique justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Vox est medicamenti, et hoc medicati a sapiente. Jam enim venit Christus qui impleret Legem et Prophetas , qui veritatem ipsam firmaret: in quibus duobus praeceptis tota Lex pendet et Prophetae .
57.10 PL 36, 681
10. Whence “troubled”? Who troubling? Let us see in what manner he brandeth an evil conscience upon the Jews, wishing to excuse themselves of the slaying of the Lord. For to this end, as the Gospel speaketh, to the judge they delivered Him, that they might not themselves seem to have killed Him.…Let us question Him, and say, since Thou hast slept troubled, who have persecuted Thee? who have slain Thee? was it perchance Pilate, who to soldiers gave Thee, on the Tree to be hanged, with nails to be pierced? Hear who they were, “Sons of men” (ver. 5). Of them He speaketh, whom for persecutors He suffered. But how did they slay, that steel bare not? They that sword drew not, that made no assault upon Him to slay; whence slew they? “Their teeth are arms and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.” Do not consider the unarmed hands, but the mouth armed: from thence the sword proceeded, wherewith Christ was to be slain: in like manner also as from the mouth of Christ, that wherewith the Jews were to be slain. For He hath a sword twice whetted: and rising again He hath smitten them, and hath severed from them those whom He would make His faithful people. They an evil sword, He a good sword: they evil arrows, He good arrows. For He hath Himself also arrows good, words good, whence He pierceth the faithful heart, in order that He may be loved. Therefore of one kind are their arrows, and of another kind their sword. “Sons of men, their teeth are arms and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sabre.” Tongue of sons of men is a sharp sabre, and their teeth arms and arrows. When therefore did they smite, save when they clamoured, “Crucify, crucify”?
An forte quaerimus aliquid et in eo quod dicitur aspis ita aures claudere, ut unam earum in terram premat, alteram cauda oppilet? Quid sibi vult hoc? In cauda, posteriora utique intelliguntur; ergo praeterita, quo jam tergum oportet ponere, ut in ea quae nobis promittuntur intendamus: ergo nec ex praeterita vita nostra, nec ex praesenti delectari debemus. Hoc enim Apostolus monet dicens, Quem ergo aliquando fructum habuistis in his in quibus nunc erubescitis ? Revocat a recordandis cum delectatione praeteritis, et cum quadam concupiscentia fruendi, ne redeamus corde in Aegyptum. Quid de praesentibus? quomodo jubet etiam ipsa contemni? Non respicientibus, inquit, quae videntur, sed quae non videntur. Quae enim videntur, temporalia sunt: quae autem non videntur, aeterna . Item de praesenti vita dicit: Si in hac vita tantum in Christo sperantes sumus, miserabiliores sumus omnibus hominibus . Obliviscere ergo praeterita, quibus male vixisti; contemne praesentia, quibus temporaliter vivis, ne te alligando, praesentia non permittant pervenire ad futura. Si enim praesens vita te delectat, aurem in terra posuisti: si tuis praeteritis etiam retro labentibus delectaris, aurem de cauda obturasti. Debes ergo ire in lucem, exire de tenebris, audita voce medicamenti medicati a sapiente; ut jam in luce ambulans, et exsultans dicas: Quae retro oblitus, in ea quae ante sunt extentus . Non dixit: Quae retro oblitus, et ex praesentibus delectatus. Cum dicit, Quae retro oblitus, non obturavit aurem de cauda; cum dicit, In ea quae ante sunt extentus, his et praesentibus non obsurduit: merito audiens, merito praedicans, merito exsultat lingua ejus, praedicans veritatem in luce nova, deposita vetere tunica. Et ad hoc enim valet astutia serpentis, ad quam nos imitandam Dominus exhortatur. Ait enim: Estote astuti sicut serpentes . Quid est, astuti sicut serpentes? Offer omnia membra tua percutienti, dummodo caput integrum serves. Caput viri, Christus . Sed gravat quasi pondus corii cujusdam et quasi senecta veteris hominis. Audi Apostolum dicentem, Exuentes vos veterem hominem, et induentes novum . Et quomodo exuo, inquis, veterem hominem? Imitare astutiam serpentis. Quid enim facit serpens, ut exuat se veterem tunicam? Coarctat se per foramen angustum. Et ubi, inquis, invenio hoc foramen angustum? Audi: Arcta et angusta est via quae ducit ad vitam, et pauci sunt qui ingrediuntur per eam . Reformidas eam, et non vis ambulare, quia pauci sunt? Ibi ponenda est vetus tunica, et alibi poni non potest. Aut si vis vetustate impediri, gravari, premi, noli ire per angustam. Si autem gravaris vetustate quadam peccati tui et praeteritae vitae, transire non potes. Quia ergo corpus quod corrumpitur, aggravat animam ; vel cupiditates corporales non premant, vel concupiscentiae carnis exuantur. Unde exuuntur, nisi ieris per angustam, nisi fueris astutus ut serpens?
57.11 PL 36, 682
11. And what have they done to Thee, O Lord? Let the Prophet here exult! For above, all those verses the Lord was speaking: a Prophet indeed, but in the person of the Lord, because in the Prophet is the Lord.…“Be exalted,” he saith, “above the Heavens, O God.” Man on the Cross, and above the Heavens, God. Let them continue on the earth raging, Thou in Heaven be judging. Where are they that were raging? where are their teeth, the arms and arrows? Have not “the stripes of them been made the arrows of infants”? For in another place a Psalm this saith, desiring to prove them vainly to have raged, and vainly unto frenzies to have been driven headlong: for nothing they were able to do to Christ when for the time crucified, and afterwards when He was rising again, and in Heaven was sitting. How do infants make to themselves arrows? Of reeds? But what arrows? or what powers? or what bows? or what wound? “Be Thou exalted above the Heavens, O God, and above all the earth Thy glory” (ver. 6). Wherefore exalted above the Heavens, O God? Brethren, God exalted above the Heavens we see not, but we believe: but above all the earth His glory to be not only we believe, but also see. But what kind of madness heretics are afflicted with, I pray you observe. They being cut off from the bond of the Church of Christ, and to a part holding, the whole losing, will not communicate with the whole earth, where is spread abroad the glory of Christ. But we Catholics are in all the earth, because with all the world we communicate, wherever the Glory of Christ is spread abroad. For we see that which then was sung, now fulfilled. There hath been exalted above the Heavens our God, and above all the earth the Glory of the Same. O heretical insanity! That which thou seest not thou believest with me, that which thou seest thou deniest: thou believest with me in Christ exalted above the Heavens, a thing which we see not; and deniest His Glory over all the earth, a thing which we see.
[vers. 7.] Deus contrivit dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Quorum? Quibus indignatio est sicut similitudo serpentis, et aspidis obturantis aures suas, ne audiat vocem incantantium, et medicamenti medicati a sapiente. Quid illis fecit Dominus? Contrivit dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Factum est; hoc primo factum est, et modo fit. Sed sufficeret, fratres mei, ut diceretur, Deus contrivit dentes eorum. Quare, in ore ipsorum? Nolebant audire legem, nolebant audire praecepta veritatis a Christo Pharisaei, similes serpenti illi et aspidi. Praeteritis enim suis peccatis delectabantur, et praesentem vitam nolebant amittere, id est gaudia terrena pro gaudiis aeternis. Unam aurem claudebant ex delectatione praeteritorum, alteram ex delectatione praesentium: ideo nolebant audire. Nam unde est illud: Si dimiserimus eum, venient Romani, et tollent nobis et locum et gentem ? Utique nolebant perdere locum, ad terram colliserant aurem suam; et ideo noluerunt audire verba illa medicata a sapiente. Dictum est de illis et quod avari erant et amatores pecuniae: et omnis vita eorum, etiam praeterita, descripta est a Domino in Evangelio. Qui legit diligenter Evangelium, invenit unde illi ambas aures obturabant. Intendat Charitas Vestra: Dominus quid fecit? Contrivit dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Quid est, in ore ipsorum? Ut ore suo contra se pronuntiarent: coegit illos ore suo in se sententiam dicere. Calumniari volebant ei propter tributum: non dixit ille, Licet reddere tributum, aut, non licet reddere. Et volebat dentes eorum, quibus inhiabant ut morderent, conterere; sed in ore ipsorum volebat. Si diceret, Solvatur Caesari tributum; calumniarentur illi quod maledixisset genti Judaeorum, eam tributariam faciendo. Ex peccato enim tributum reddebant humiliati, sicut illis in Lege praedictum erat. Tenemus illum, aiunt, maledictorem gentis nostrae, si nos jusserit tributum persolvere: si autem dixerit, Nolite solvere, tenemus eum quod contradixerit nobis devotos esse Caesari. Talem bicipitem laqueum quasi capiendo Domino posuerunt. Sed ad quem venerant? Qui noverat conterere dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Ostendite mihi nummum, inquit. Quid me tentatis, hypocritae? De tributo solvendo cogitatis? justitiam facere vultis? consilium justitiae quaeritis? Si vere justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum. Nunc autem quia alia loquimini, alia judicatis, hypocritae estis: quid me tentatis? Nunc conteram dentes vestros in ore vestro: ostendite mihi nummum. Et demonstraverunt ei. Et ille non dicit, Caesaris est; sed interrogat, Cujus est? ut eorum dentes in ore ipsorum conterantur. Quaerente quippe illo cujus haberet imaginem et inscriptionem, illi Caesaris dixerunt. Jam nunc Dominus conteret dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Jam respondistis, jam contriti sunt dentes vestri in ore vestro. Reddite Caesari quae Caesaris sunt, et Deo quae Dei sunt . Quaerit Caesar imaginem suam; reddite: quaerit Deus imaginem suam; reddite. Non perdat ex vobis Caesar nummum suum: non perdat Deus in vobis nummum suum. Et illi non invenerunt quid responderent. Missi enim erant ut calumniarentur ei: et redierunt dicentes quod nemo possit ei respondere. Unde? Quia contriti erant dentes eorum in ore ipsorum.
57.12 PL 36, 683
12. …Let your Love see the Lord speaking to us, and exhorting us by His example: “A trap they have prepared for My feet, and have bowed down My Soul” (ver. 7). They wished to bring It down as if from Heaven, and to the lower places to weigh It down: “They have bowed My Soul: they have digged before My face a pit and themselves have fallen into it.” Me have they hurt, or themselves? Behold He hath been exalted above the Heavens, God, and behold above all the earth the Glory of the Same: the kingdom of Christ we see, where is the kingdom of the Jews? Since therefore they did that which to have done they ought not, there hath been done in their case that which to have suffered they ought: themselves have dug a ditch, and themselves have fallen into it. For their persecuting Christ, to Christ did no hurt, but to themselves did hurt. And do not suppose, brethren, that themselves alone hath this befallen. Every one that prepareth a pit for his brother, it must needs be that himself fall into it.…
Inde est et illud: In qua potestate ista facis? Et ego interrogabo vos unum sermonem; respondete mihi. Et interrogavit de Joanne, unde esset baptismus Joannis, de coelo, an ex hominibus; ut si quid responderent, contra illos esset. Noluerunt dicere, Ex hominibus, timentes homines ne lapidarentur ab eis, eo quod Joannem prophetam haberent: dicere, De coelo plus formidabant, ne faterentur ipsum Christum, quia Joannes praedicaverat Christum. Coarctati utrinque, ex hac parte et ex hac parte, qui parabant objicere crimen responderunt ignorantiam; dixerunt: Nescimus . Calumniam enim praeparabant, quando dixerunt, In qua potestate ista facis? ut si diceret, Christus sum, quasi arrogantem, superbum, sacrilegum invaderent. Noluit dicere, Christus sum; sed quaesivit de Joanne, qui dixerat quod ipse esset Christus. Illi non sunt ausi reprehendere Joannem, timentes ne a populo occiderentur: non sunt ausi dicere, Verum dixit Joannes, ne diceretur eis, Credite illi. Obmutuerunt, nescire se dixerunt: jam mordere non valebant. Unde non valebant? Jam occurrit vobis; contriti erant dentes eorum in ore ipsorum.
57.13 PL 36, 683
13. But the patience of good men with preparation of heart accepteth the will of God: and glorieth in tribulations, saying that which followeth: “Prepared is my heart, O God, I will sing and play” (ver. 8). What hath he done to me? He hath prepared a pit, my heart is prepared. He hath prepared pit to deceive, shall I not prepare heart to suffer? He hath prepared pit to oppress, shall I not prepare heart to endure? Therefore he shall fall into it, but I will sing and play. Hear the heart prepared in an Apostle, because he hath imitated his Lord: “We glory,” he saith, “in tribulations: because tribulation worketh patience: patience probation, probation hope, but hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which hath been given to us.” He was in oppressions, in chains, in prisons, in stripes, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in every wasting of toils and pains, and he was saying, “We glory in tribulations.” Whence, but that prepared was his heart? Therefore he was singing and playing.
Pharisaeo displicuit Dominus illi qui ad prandium vocaverat, quod peccatrix mulier accesserit ei ad pedes; et murmuravit adversus eum dicens: Si esset hic propheta, sciret quae mulier illi accessit ad pedes. O tu non propheta, unde scis quod nescierit quae mulier illi accessit ad pedes? Quia non servabat videlicet munditiam Judaeorum, quae a foris quasi custodiebatur in carne, et exsulabat ex corde, hoc de Domino suspicatus est. Dominus autem qui peccata mulieris noverat, etiam cogitationes hospitis audiebat, et respondit quae nostis. Et ne diu hinc loquar, tamen in ore ejus voluit conterere dentes ejus Proposuit enim: Duo debitores erant cuidam feneratori: unus quingentos debebat denarios, alius quinquaginta. Non habebant ambo unde redderent; dimisit ambobus. Quis eum plus dilexit? Ad hoc interrogat ille, ut ille respondeat: ad hoc ille respondet, ut dentes ejus in ore ejus conterantur. Respondit confusus, exclusus est: admissa est illa ad percipiendam misericordiam, quae irruperat in habitaculum alienum, sed non accesserat ad Deum alienum : Contrivit Dominus dentes eorum in ore ipsorum.
57.14 PL 36, 684
14. “Rise up, my glory” (ver. 9). He that had fled from the face of Saul into a cavern, saith, “Rise up, my glory:” glorified be Jesus after His Passion. “Rise up, psaltery and harp.” He calleth upon what to rise? Two organs I see: but Body of Christ one I see, one flesh hath risen again, and two organs have risen. The one organ then is the psaltery, the other the harp. Organs is the word used for all instruments of musicians. Not only is that called an organ, which is great, and blown into with bellows; but whatsoever is adapted to playing and is corporeal, whereof for an instrument the player maketh use, is said to be an organ. But distinguished from one another are these organs.…What therefore do these two organs figure to us? For Christ the Lord our God is waking up His psaltery and His harp; and He saith, “I will rise up at the dawn.” I suppose that here ye now perceive the Lord rising. We have read thereof in the Gospel: see the hour of the Resurrection. How long through shadows was Christ being sought? He hath shone, be He acknowledged; “at the dawn” He rose again. But what is psaltery? what is harp? Through His flesh two kinds of deeds the Lord hath wrought, miracles and sufferings: miracles from above have been, sufferings from below have been. But those miracles which He did were divine; but through Body He did them, through flesh He did them. The flesh therefore working things divine, is the psaltery: the flesh suffering things human is the harp. Let the psaltery sound, let the blind be enlightened, let the deaf hear, let the paralytics be braced to strength, the lame walk, the sick rise up, the dead rise again; this is the sound of the Psaltery. Let there sound also the harp, let Him hunger, thirst, sleep, be held, scourged, derided, crucified, buried. When therefore thou seest in that Flesh certain things to have sounded from above, certain things from the lower part, one flesh hath risen again, and in one flesh we acknowledge both psaltery and harp. And these two kinds of things done have fulfilled the Gospel, and it is preached in the nations: for both the miracles and the sufferings of the Lord are preached.
Molas leonum confregit Dominus. Non tantum aspidum. Quid de aspidibus? Aspides insidiosae volunt venena immittere, et spargere, et insibilare. Apertissime saevierunt gentes, et fremuerunt sicut leones. Quare fremuerunt gentes, et populi meditati sunt inania ? Quando insidiabantur Domino, Licet dare tributum Caesari, an non licet? aspides erant, serpentes erant: contriti sunt dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Postea clamaverunt, Crucifige, crucifige : jam non est lingua aspidis, sed fremitus leonis. Sed et molas leonum confregit Dominus. Forte hic non vacat quod non addidit, in ore eorum. Insidiantes enim captiosis interrogationibus, cogebantur responsione sua vinci: isti autem qui aperte saeviebant, numquid interrogationibus convincendi erant? Tamen et eorum molae contritae sunt: crucifixus resurrexit, ascendit in coelum, glorificatus est Christus, adoratur ab omnibus gentibus, adoratur ab omnibus regibus. Saeviant modo Judaei, si possunt. Non saeviunt. Molas leonum confregit Dominus.
57.15 PL 36, 684
15. Therefore there hath risen psaltery and harp in the dawn, and he confesseth to the Lord; and saith what? “I will confess to Thee among the peoples, O Lord, and will play to Thee among the nations: for magnified even unto the Heavens hath been Thy mercy, and even unto the clouds Thy truth” (ver. 10). Heavens above clouds, and clouds below heavens: and nevertheless to this nearest heaven belong clouds. But sometimes clouds rest upon the mountains, even so far in the nearest air are they rolled. But a Heaven above there is, the habitations of Angels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers. This therefore may perchance seem to be what should have been said: “Unto the Heavens Thy truth, and even unto the clouds Thy mercy.” For in Heaven Angels praise God, seeing the very form of truth, without any darkness of vision, without any admixture of unreality: they see, love, praise, are not wearied. There is truth: but here in our own misery surely there is mercy. For to a miserable one must be rendered mercy. For there is no need of mercy above, where is no miserable one. I have said this because that it seemeth as though it might have been more fittingly said, “Magnified even unto the Heavens hath been Thy truth, and even unto the clouds Thy mercy.” For “clouds” we understand to be preachers of truth, men bearing that flesh in a manner dark, whence God both gleameth in miracles, and thundereth in precepts.…Glory to our Lord, and to the Mercy of the Same, and to the Truth of the Same, because neither hath He forsaken by mercy to make us blessed through His Grace, nor defrauded us of truth: because first Truth veiled in flesh came to us and healed through His flesh the interior eye of our heart, in order that hereafter face to face we may be able to see It. Giving therefore to Him thanks, let us say with the same Psalm the last verses, which sometime since too I have said, “Be Thou exalted above the Heavens, O God, and above all the earth Thy glory” (ver. 11). For this to Him the Prophet said so many years before; this now we see; this therefore let us also say.
Habemus et in haereticis hoc documentum et experimentum, quia et ipsos invenimus esse serpentes indignatione obsurdatos, nolentes audire medicamentum medicatum a sapiente: et in ore ipsorum contrivit Dominus dentes eorum. Quomodo saeviebant in nos, reprehendendo quod quasi persecutores essemus, excludendo illos de basilicis? Modo illos interroga: Debent excludi haeretici de basilicis, an non debent? Respondeant modo. Dicant non debere: repetunt Maximianistae basilicas. Ne autem repetant Maximianistae basilicas, dicunt debere. Quid est ergo quod dicebatis adversum nos? An contriti sunt dentes vestri in ore vestro? Quid nobis et regibus, inquiunt? quid nobis et imperatoribus? Vos de imperatoribus praesumitis. Quaero et ego: Quid vobis ad proconsules, quos miserunt imperatores? quid vobis ad leges, quas contra vos dederunt imperatores? Imperatores communionis nostrae leges adversus omnes haereticos dederunt: eos utique appellant haereticos, qui non sunt communionis eorum, inter quos utique et vos estis. Si verae sunt leges, valeant et in vos haereticos; si falsae sunt leges, quare valent contra vestros haereticos? Fratres, paululum advertite, et intelligite quod diximus: quando egerunt causas suas adversus Maximianistas, ut eos a se damnatos et schismaticos suis ejicerent de locis, quae illi loca tenebant antiquitus, et successerant episcopis decessoribus suis; volentes illos inde excludere, egerunt legibus publicis, ad judices venerunt, dixerunt se catholicos, ut possent excludere haereticos. Quare te dicis catholicum, ut excludatur haereticus, et non potius es catholicus, ne sis exclusus haereticus? Modo catholicus es, ut valeas ad excludendum haereticum. Judex enim non posset nisi legibus suis judicare. Dixerunt se catholicos; admissi sunt agere: dixerunt illos haereticos; quaesivit unde probaretur: lectum est concilium Bagaitanum, ubi damnati sunt Maximianistae; insertum est Actis proconsularibus, probatum est quod illi damnati non deberent tenere basilicas, et pronuntiavit proconsul ex lege. Ex qua lege? Quae lata est contra haereticos. Si contra haereticos, et contra te. Quare, inquit, contra me? non enim ego haereticus sum. Si tu haereticus non es, falsae sunt illae leges: ab his enim imperatoribus latae sunt, qui non sunt communionis tuae; omnes qui non sunt communionis eorum, legibus suis haereticos vocant. Non quaero ultrum verae an falsae; sequestrata illa sit quaestio, si adhuc quaestio est: interim secundum te modo interrogo, Verae leges sunt, an falsae leges sunt? Si verae sunt, credatur eis: si falsae sunt, quare uteris eis? Dixisti proconsuli: Catholicus sum, exclude haereticum. Quaesivit ille unde probaretur haereticus: protulisti concilium tuum, ostendisti quod eum damnaveris. Ille vel connivens, vel non intelligens, usus tamen est lege sicut judex: et fecisti de judice quod de te non vis facere. Si enim judex usus est lege imperatoris ad tuam suggestionem, cur ea tu non uteris ad tuam correctionem? Ecce ejecit haereticum tuum ex lege imperatoris sui: quare te ex eadem lege non vis ut ejiciat? Replicamus quod fecistis: ecce basilicae tenebantur a Maximianistis, modo a vobis tenentur; exclusi sunt ex eis Maximianistae: exstant jussiones proconsulum, exstant memoriae Gestorum; apparitores accipiuntur, civitates excitantur, pelluntur homines de locis suis. Quare? Quia haeretici sunt. Qua lege pelluntur? Responde: videamus si nondum contriti sunt dentes vestri in ore vestro. Falsa lex est? Non valeat in haereticum tuum. Vera lex est? Valeat et in te. Non est quod respondeant; Deus contrivit dentes eorum in ore ipsorum. Ideoque ubi non possunt lubrica fallacia serpere ut aspides, aperta violentia fremunt ut leones. Prosiliunt et saeviunt armatae turbae Circumcellionum; dant stragem quantam possunt, quantamcumque possunt. Sed et molas leonum confregit Dominus.