Expositions on the Book of Psalms 65
65.1 Psalm LXV PL 36, 785
1. The voice of holy prophecy must be confessed in the very title of this Psalm. It is inscribed, “Unto the end, a Psalm of David, a song of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, on account of the people of transmigration when they were beginning to go forth.” How it fared with our fathers in the time of the transmigration to Babylon, is not known to all, but only to those that diligently study the Holy Scriptures, either by hearing or by reading. For the captive people Israel from the city of Jerusalem was led into slavery unto Babylon. But holy Jeremiah prophesied, that after seventy years the people would return out of captivity, and would rebuild the very city Jerusalem, which they had mourned as having been overthrown by enemies. But at that time there were prophets in that captivity of the people dwelling in Babylon, among whom was also the prophet Ezekiel. But that people was waiting until there should be fulfilled the space of seventy years, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah. It came to pass, when the seventy years had been completed, the temple was restored which had been thrown down: and there returned from captivity a great part of that people. But whereas the Apostle saith, “these things in figure happened unto them, but they have been written for our sakes, upon whom the end of the world hath come:” we also ought to know first our captivity, then our deliverance: we ought to know the Babylon wherein we are captives, and the Jerusalem for a return to which we are sighing. For these two cities, according to the letter, in reality are two cities. And the former Jerusalem indeed by the Jews is not now inhabited. For after the crucifixion of the Lord vengeance was taken upon them with a great scourge, and being rooted up from that place where, with impious licentiousness being infuriated, they had madly raged against their Physician, they have been dispersed throughout all nations, and that land hath been given to Christians: and there is fulfilled what the Lord had said to them, “Therefore the kingdom shall be taken away from you, and it shall be given to a nation doing justice.” But when they saw great multitudes then following the Lord, preaching the kingdom of Heaven, and doing wonderful things, the rulers of that city said, “If we shall have let Him go, all men will go after Him, and there shall come the Romans, and shall take from us both place and nation.” That they might not lose their place, they killed the Lord; and they lost it, even because they killed. Therefore that city, being one earthly, did bear the figure of a certain city everlasting in the Heavens: but when that which was signified began more evidently to be preached, the shadow, whereby it was being signified, was thrown down: for this reason in that place now the temple is no more, which had been constructed for the image of the future Body of the Lord. We have the light, the shadow hath passed away: nevertheless, still in a kind of captivity we are: “So long as we are,” he saith, “in the body, we are sojourning afar from the Lord.”
[vers. 1.] Inscribitur in titulo psalmus iste, In finem, canticum Psalmi resurrectionis. In finem cum auditis, quando Psalmi pronuntiantur, in Christum intelligite; dicente Apostolo: Finis enim Legis Christus, ad justitiam omni credenti . Quomodo ergo hic cantetur resurrectio, et cujus resurrectio, quantum ipse donare et aperire dignatur, audietis. Resurrectionem enim Christiani novimus in capite nostro jam factam, et in membris futuram. Caput Ecclesiae Christus est, membra Christi Ecclesia . Quod praecessit in capite, sequetur in corpore. Haec est spes nostra: ad hoc credimus, ad hoc duramus, et perseveramus in tanta malignitate hujus saeculi, consolante nos spe, antequam spes fiat res. Res enim erit cum et nos resurrexerimus, et in coelestem habitum commutati, aequales Angelis facti fuerimus. Quis hoc sperare auderet, nisi veritas promitteret? Hanc autem spem promissam sibi Judaei tenebant; et de bonis et quasi justis operibus multum gloriabantur, quod acceperant Legem secundum quam vivendo et hic haberent bona carnalia, et in resurrectione mortuorum talia sperabant de qualibus hic gaudebant. Propterea Sadducaeis, qui negabant futuram resurrectionem, Judaei respondere non poterant proponentibus quaestionem, quam Domino proposuerunt iidem Sadducaei. Hinc enim intelligimus eos hanc quaestionem solvere non potuisse, quia Domino solvente mirati sunt. Proponebant ergo Sadducaei quaestionem de quadam muliere, quae habuit septem viros; non simul, sed succedentes sibi. Erat enim hoc legis ad populum propagandum, ut qui forte sine liberis defungeretur, frater ejus, si haberet, acciperet uxorem ejus, ad suscitandum semen fratri suo . Proposita ergo illa muliere, quae habuit septem viros omnes mortuos sine liberis, et ad hoc officium implendum ducentes fratris uxorem, dixerunt quaerentes: In resurrectione cujus eorum erit uxor? Procul dubio Judaei non fatigarentur, non deficerent in ista quaestione, si non talia sibi in resurrectione sperarent, qualia agebant in hac vita. Dominus autem aequalitatem Angelorum promittens, non humanam carnis corruptionem, ait illis: Erratis, nescientes Scripturas, neque virtutem Dei. In resurrectione enim neque nubent, neque uxores ducent: neque enim incipient mori, sed erunt aequales Angelis Dei . Demonstravit quod ibi sit necessaria successio, ubi doletur decessio: ibi quia decessores non erunt, nec successores quaerentur. Ad hoc enim subjecit: Non enim incipient mori. Verumtamen quia Judaei tenebant, etsi carnaliter, spem resurrectionis futurae, gavisi sunt responsum esse Sadducaeis, cum quibus illis erat de hac ancipiti et obscura quaestione certamen. Tenebant ergo Judaei spem resurrectionis mortuorum; et solos se ad beatam vitam resurrecturos sperabant propter opus Legis, et propter justificationes Scripturarum, quas habebant soli Judaei, et Gentes non habebant. Crucifixus est Christus; caecitas ex parte Israel facta est, ut plenitudo Gentium intraret : hoc Apostolo dicente. Coepit etiam Gentibus promitti resurrectio mortuorum, credentibus in Jesum Christum quod resurrexerit. Inde psalmus iste est adversus praesumptionem et superbiam Judaeorum, pro fide Gentium ad eamdem spem resurrectionis vocatarum.
65.2 PL 36, 787
2. And see ye the names of those two cities, Babylon and Jerusalem. Babylon is interpreted confusion, Jerusalem vision of peace. Observe now the city of confusion, in order that ye may perceive the vision of peace; that ye may endure that, sigh for this. Whereby can those two cities be distinguished? Can we anywise now separate them from each other? They are mingled, and from the very beginning of mankind mingled they run on unto the end of the world. Jerusalem received beginning through Abel, Babylon through Cain: for the buildings of the cities were afterwards erected. That Jerusalem in the land of the Jebusites was builded: for at first it used to be called Jebus, from thence the nation of the Jebusites was expelled, when the people of God was delivered from Egypt, and led into the land of promise. But Babylon was builded in the most interior regions of Persia, which for a long time raised its head above the rest of nations. These two cities then at particular times were builded, so that there might be shown a figure of two cities begun of old, and to remain even unto the end in this world, but at the end to be severed. Whereby then can we now show them, that are mingled? At that time the Lord shall show, when some He shall set on the right hand, others on the left. Jerusalem on the right hand shall be, Babylon on the left.…Two loves make up these two cities: love of God maketh Jerusalem, love of the world maketh Babylon. Therefore let each one question himself as to what he loveth: and he shall find of which he is a citizen: and if he shall have found himself to be a citizen of Babylon, let him root out cupidity, implant charity: but if he shall have found himself a citizen of Jerusalem, let him endure captivity, hope for liberty.…Now therefore let us hear of, brethren, hear of, and sing of, and long for, that city whereof we are citizens. And what are the joys which are sung of to us? In what manner in ourselves is formed again the love of our city, which by long sojourning we had forgotten? But our Father hath sent from thence letters to us, God hath supplied to us the Scriptures, by which letters there should be wrought in us a longing for return: because by loving our sojourning, to enemies we had turned our face, and our back to our fatherland. What then is here sung?
Quodammodo, fratres mei, animum Psalmi audistis. In hoc quod dixi, in hoc quod proposui, tota vestra suspendatur intentio; hinc vos nulla cogitatio avertat: contra praesumptionem dicitur Judaeorum, qui de justificationibus Legis sperabant sibi resurrectionem, et crucifixerunt Christum qui primus resurrexit, non membra resurrectura solos Judaeos habiturus, sed omnes qui in eum credidissent, id est omnes gentes. Inde coepit: Jubilate Deo. Qui? Omnis terra. Non ergo sola Judaea. Videte, fratres, quemadmodum commendetur universitas Ecclesiae toto orbe diffusae; et non solum dolete Judaeos qui gratiam istam Gentibus invidebant, sed plus haereticos plangite. Si enim dolendi sunt qui collecti non sunt, quanto amplius qui collecti divisi sunt? Jubilate Deo, omnis terra. Quid est, Jubilate? In vocem erumpite gaudiorum, si non potestis verborum. Non enim verbis jubilatur; sed solus gaudentium sonitus redditur, quasi parturientis et parientis cordis laetitiam in vocem rei conceptae, quae verbis explicari non possit. Jubilate Deo, omnis terra: nemo jubilet in parte. Nemo, inquam, jubilet in parte: omnis terra jubilet, Catholica jubilet. Catholica totum tenet: quicumque partem tenet, et a toto praecisus est, ululare vult, non jubilare. Jubilate Deo, omnis terra.
65.3 PL 36, 787
3. “For Thee a hymn is meet, O God, in Sion” (ver. 1). That fatherland is Sion: Jerusalem is the very same as Sion; and of this name the interpretation ye ought to know. As Jerusalem is interpreted vision of peace, so Sion Beholding, that is, vision and contemplation. Some great inexplicable sight to us is promised: and this is God Himself that hath builded the city. Beauteous and graceful the city, how much more beauteous a Builder it hath! “For Thee a hymn is meet, O God,” he saith. But where? “In Sion:” in Babylon it is not meet. For when a man beginneth to be renewed, already with heart in Jerusalem he singeth, with the Apostle saying, “Our conversation is in the Heavens.” For “in the flesh though walking,” he saith, “not after the flesh we war.” Already in longing we are there, already hope into that land, as it were an anchor, we have sent before, lest in this sea being tossed we suffer shipwreck. In like manner therefore as of a ship which is at anchor, we rightly say that already she is come to land, for still she rolleth, but to land in a manner she hath been brought safe in the teeth of winds and in the teeth of storms; so against the temptations of this sojourning, our hope being grounded in that city Jerusalem causeth us not to be carried away upon rocks. He therefore that according to this hope singeth, in that city singeth: let him therefore say, “For Thee a hymn is meet, O God, in Sion.”…
[vers. 2.] Psallite autem nomini ejus. Quid dixit? Psallentibus vobis benedicatur nomen ejus. Quid sit autem psallere, heri dixi, et credo meminisse Charitatem Vestram. Psallere, est organum etiam assumere quod psalterium dicitur, et pulsu atque opere manuum vocibus concordare. Si ergo jubilatis quod Deus audiat, psallite etiam quod homines et videant et audiant; sed non nomini vestro. Cavete enim facere justitiam vestram coram hominibus, ut videamini ab eis . Et propter cujus nomen, inquies, psallam, ut non videantur ab hominibus opera mea? Attendite alio loco: Luceant opera vestra coram hominibus, ut videant bona facta vestra, et glorificent Patrem vestrum qui in coelis est . Videant bona facta vestra, et glorificent, non vos, sed Deum. Nam si propter vos glorificandos facitis opera bona, respondetur quod ipse dixit de quibusdam talibus: Amen dico vobis; perceperunt mercedem suam. Et iterum: Alioquin mercedem non habebitis apud Patrem vestrum qui in coelis est . Ergo, inquies, debeo abscondere opera mea, ne faciam coram hominibus? Non. Sed quid ait? Luceant opera vestra coram hominibus. Anceps ergo remanebo: hac mihi dicis, Cavete facere justitiam vestram coram hominibus; hac mihi dicis, Luceant opera vestra bona coram hominibus; quid observabo? quid faciam? quid relinquam? Tam non potest homo servire duobus dominis diversa jubentibus, quam nec uni diversa jubenti. Non, ait Dominus, diversa jubeo. Finem attende, in finem canta; quo fine facias, vide. Si ideo facis ut tu glorificeris, hoc prohibui; si autem ideo ut Deus glorificetur, hoc jussi. Psallite ergo, non nomini vestro, sed nomini Domini Dei vestri. Vos psallite; ille laudetur: vos bene vivite; ille glorificetur. Unde enim habetis ipsum bene vivere? Si aeternum haberetis, nunquam male vixissetis; si a vobis haberetis, nunquam non bene vixissetis: Psallite autem nomini ejus.
65.4 PL 36, 788
4. “And to Thee shall there be paid a vow in Jerusalem.” Here we vow, and a good thing it is that there we should pay. But who are they that here do vow and pay not? They that persevere not even unto the end in that which they have vowed. Whence saith another Psalm, “Vow ye, and pay ye unto the Lord your God:” and, “to Thee shall it be paid in Jerusalem.” For there shall we be whole, that is, entire in the resurrection of just men: there shall be paid our whole vow, not soul alone, but the very flesh also, no longer corruptible, because no longer in Babylon, but now a body heavenly and changed. What sort of change is promised? “For we all shall rise again,” saith the Apostle, “but we shall not all be changed.…Where is, O death, thy sting?” For now while there begin in use the first-fruits of the mind, from whence is the longing for Jerusalem, many things of corruptible flesh do contend against us, which will not contend, when death shall have been swallowed up in victory. Peace shall conquer, and war shall be ended. But when peace shall conquer, that city shall conquer which is called the vision of peace. On the part of death therefore shall be no contention. Now with how great a death do we contend! For thence are carnal pleasures, which to us even unlawfully do suggest many things: to which we give no consent, but nevertheless in giving no consent we contend.…
Date gloriam laudi ejus. Totam intentionem nostram in laudem Dei mittit; nihil nobis relinquit unde laudemur. Gloriemur inde magis, et gaudeamus; illi inhaereamus, in illo laudemur. Audistis cum legeretur Apostolus: Videte vocationem vestram, fratres; quia non multi sapientes secundum carnem, non multi potentes, non multi nobiles, sed stulta mundi elegit Deus ut confundat sapientes; et infirma mundi elegit Deus ut confundat fortia; et ignobilia mundi elegit Deus, et ea quae non sunt, tanquam quae sunt, ut ea quae sunt evacuentur . Quid voluit dicere? quid voluit ostendere? Descendit Dominus Deus noster Jesus Christus reparare genus humanum, et dare gratiam suam omnibus intelligentibus quia gratia illius est, non merita eorum; et ne quaelibet persona gloriaretur in carne, infirmos elegit. Nam inde non est electus etiam ille Nathanael. Quid enim tibi videtur, ut publicanum in telonio sedentem eligeret Matthaeum , et non eligeret Nathanael cui perhibuit testimonium ipse Dominus, dicens: Ecce verus Israelita, in quo dolus non est? Intelligitur ergo Nathanael iste doctus fuisse in Lege. Non quia doctos non erat electurus: sed si ipsos primo elegisset, doctrinae suae merito se electos putarent; ita illorum scientia laudaretur, et laus Christi gratiae minueretur. Perhibuit testimonium tanquam bono fideli, in quo dolus non erat; sed tamen eum non assumpsit inter illos discipulos, quos primum idiotas elegit. Et unde intelligimus quod ille peritus erat Legis? Quando audivit ab uno ex eis qui secuti erant Dominum, dicente, Invenimus Messiam, quod interpretatur Christus, quaesivit unde; et dictum est, A Nazareth: et ille, A Nazareth potest aliquid boni esse. Procul dubio, qui intellexit quia a Nazareth potest aliquid boni esse, peritus erat Legis, et bene Prophetas inspexerat. Novi esse in illis verbis aliam pronuntiationem; sed a prudentioribus non est approbata: ut quasi desperasse videretur ille, cum audiens dixisset, A Nazareth potest aliquid boni esse? id est, numquid potest? Sic pronuntiando quasi desperaret. Sequitur autem ibi, Veni, et vide . Haec verba, id est, Veni, et vide, utramque possunt pronuntiationem sequi. Si dicas, quasi non credens, A Nazareth potest aliquid boni esse? respondetur, Veni, et vide quod non credis. Rursus si dicas confirmans, A Nazareth potest aliquid boni esse; respondetur, Veni, et vide quam vere sit bonum quod nuntio a Nazareth; et quam recte credas, veni, et experire. Hinc tamen existimatur doctus ille in Lege fuisse, quia non est electus inter discipulos ab illo qui stulta mundi prius elegit; cum tantum el perhibuerit testimonium Dominus dicens: Ecce vere Israelita, in quo dolus non est. Elegit ergo Dominus postea et oratores; sed illi superbirent, si non prius eligeret piscatores: elegit divites; sed dicerent merito divitiarum suarum se electos esse, nisi primo elegisset pauperes: elegit imperatores postea; sed melius est ut Romam cum venerit imperator, deposito diademate, ploret ad memoriam piscatoris, quam ut piscator ploret ad memoriam imperatoris. Infirma enim mundi elegit Deus, ut confundat fortia; et ignobilia mundi elegit, et ea quae non sunt, tanquam quae sunt, ut ea quae sunt evacuentur. Et quid sequitur? Conclusit Apostolus: Ut non glorietur coram Deo omnis caro. Videte quemadmodum nobis abstulit gloriam, ut daret gloriam: abstulit nostram, ut daret suam; abstulit inanem, ut daret plenam; abstulit nutantem, ut daret solidam. Quanto ergo gloria nostra fortior et firmior, quia in Deo est! Non ergo in te debes gloriari; prohibuit veritas: sed quod ait Apostolus, hoc praecepit veritas, Qui gloriatur, in Domino glorietur . Date ergo gloriam laudi ejus. Nolite imitari Judaeos, qui quasi meritis suis volebant tribuere justificationes suas, et invidebant Gentibus accedentibus ad gratiam evangelicam, ut peccata omnia donarentur eis; quasi illi non haberent quod sibi donaretur; jam, quasi boni operarii, mercedem exspectantes. Et cum adhuc aegroti essent, sanos se esse putabant, et inde periculosius aegrotabant. Nam si vel mitius aegrotassent, non quasi phrenetici medicum occidissent. Date gloriam laudi ejus.
65.5 PL 36, 789
5. “Hearken,” he saith, “to my prayer, unto Thee every flesh shall come” (ver. 2). And we have the Lord saying, that there was given to Him “power over every flesh.” That King therefore began even now to appear, when there was being said, “Unto Thee every flesh shall come.” “To Thee,” he saith, “every flesh shall come.” Wherefore to Him shall “every” flesh come? Because flesh He hath taken to Him. Whither shall there come every flesh? He took the first-fruits thereof out of the womb of the Virgin; and now that the first-fruits have been taken to Him, the rest shall follow, in order that the holocaust may be completed. Whence then “every flesh”? Every man. And whence every man? Have all been foretold, as going to believe in Christ? Have not many ungodly men been foretold, that shall be condemned also? Do not daily men not believing die in their own unbelief? After what manner therefore do we understand, “Unto Thee every flesh shall come”? By “every flesh” he hath signified, “flesh of every kind:” out of every kind of flesh they shall come to Thee. What is, out of every kind of flesh? Have there come poor men, and have there not come rich men? Have there come humble men, and not come lofty men? Have there come unlearned men, and not come learned men? Have there come men, and not come women? Have there come masters, and not come servants? Have there come old men, and not come young men; or have there come young men, and not come youths; or have there come youths, and not come boys; or have there come boys, and have there not been brought infants? In a word, have there come Jews (for thence were the Apostles, thence many thousands of men at first betraying, afterwards believing), and have there not come Greeks; or have there come Greeks, and not come Romans; or have there come Romans, and not come Barbarians? And who could number all nations coming to Him, to whom hath been said, “Unto Thee every flesh shall come”?
[vers. 3.] Dicite Deo: Quam timenda sunt opera tua! Quare timenda, et non amanda? Audi aliam vocem psalmi: Servite Domino in timore, et exsultate ei cum tremore . Quid sibi hoc vult? Audi vocem Apostoli: Cum timore, inquit, et tremore vestram ipsorum salutem operamini. Quare, cum timore et tremore? Subjecit causam: Deus est enim qui operatur in vobis, et velle, et operari, pro bona voluntate . Si ergo Deus operatur in te, gratia Dei bene operaris, non viribus tuis. Ergo si gaudes, et time; ne forte quod datum est humili, auferatur superbo. Nam, ut noveritis hoc esse factum de ipsa superbia Judaeorum, quasi se ex operibus Legis justificantium, et ideo cadentium, dicit alius psalmus: Hi in curribus, et hi in equis, quasi in suis quibusdam passibus et instrumentis ad erectionem suam; nos autem, inquit, in nomine Domini Dei nostri magnificabimur: Hi in curribus, et hi in equis; nos autem in nomine Domini Dei nostri magnificabimur. Vide quemadmodum illi extollebantur in se; vide quemadmodum isti gloriabantur in Deo. Propterea quid secutum est? Illis obligati sunt pedes, et ceciderunt; nos autem surreximus, et erecti sumus . Audi ipsum Dominum nostrum hoc idem dicentem: Ego inquit, veni; ut qui non vident, videant; et qui vident, caeci fiant. Vide in una parte bonitatem; in alia quasi malitiam. Sed quid illo melius? quid misericordius? quid justius? Quare ergo, qui non vident, videant? Propter benitatem. Quare, et qui vident, caeci fiant? Propter elationem. Et vere videbant, et facti sunt caeci? Non videbant, sed videre sibi videbantur. Nam ecce videte, fratres: cum dicerent ipsi Judaei, Num sumus caeci? ait illis Dominus; Si caeci essetis, peccatum non haberetis: modo autem quia dicitis, Videmus, peccatum vestrum in vobis manet . Ad medicum venisti; videre te dicis? Cessabunt collyria; semper caecus remanebis: confitere te caecum, ut illuminari mercaris. Attende Judaeos; attende Gentes. Qui non vident, videant, inquit: ideo veni, ut qui vident, caeci fiant. Ipsum Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum in carne videbant Judaei; Gentes non videbant: ecce qui viderunt, crucifixerunt; qui non viderunt, crediderunt. Ergo quid fecisti, o Christe, adversus superbos? quid fecisti? Videmus, quia dignatus es, et membra tua sumus; videmus: abscondisti Deum; objecisti hominem. Quare hoc? Ut caecitas ex parte Israel fieret, et plenitudo Gentium intraret. Ad hoc abscondisti Deum, et hominem aspectibus objecisti. Videbant, et non videbant: videbant quod acceperas, et non videbant quod eras: videbant formam servi, non videbant formam Dei ; formam servi, qua major est Pater ; non formam Dei, propter quam modo audistis, Ego et Pater unum sumus . Tenuerunt quod videbant, cruxifixerunt quod videbant; insultaverunt ei quem videbant, non agnoverunt qui latebat. Audi Apostolum dicentem: Si enim cognovissent, nunquam Dominum gloriae crucifixissent . Ergo Gentes quae vocatae estis, attendite ramos praecisos propter severitatem; vos autem insertos propter bonitatem, et participes factos pinguedinis oleae, non altum sapientes; id est non superbientes. Non enim tu radicem portas, ait; sed radix te. Magis terreamini, quia videtis amputatos ramos naturales. Judaei enim per Patriarchas venerunt; de carne Abrahae nati sunt. Et quid ait Apostolus? Sed dicis: Fracti sunt rami, ut ego inserar. Bene; propter infidelitatem fracti sunt. Tu autem, inquit, fide stas; noli altum sapere, sed time: si enim naturalibus ramis Deus non pepercit, neque tibi parcet. Attende ergo ramos fractos, et te insertum: noli extolli super ramos fractos; sed magis dicito Deo, Quam metuenda sunt opera tua! Fratres, si adversus Judaeos olim praecisos de radice Patriarcharum extollere nos non debemus, sed timere potius, et dicere Deo, Quam timenda sunt opera tua! quanto minus non nos debemus extollere adversus recentia vulnera praecisionum? Praecisi sunt ante Judaei, insertae sunt Gentes; de ipsa insertione praecisi sunt haeretici; sed neque contra illos nos extollere debemus, ne forte praecidi mereatur, quem delectat insultare praecisis. Fratres mei, qualiscumque episcopi vox sonuit vobis, rogamus vos ut caveatis: quicumque in Ecclesia estis, nolite insultare eis qui non sunt intus; sed orate potius ut et ipsi intus sint. Potens est enim Deus iterum inserere illos. De ipsis Judaeis dixit hoc Apostolus; et factum est in eis. Resurrexit Dominus, et multi crediderunt: non intellexerunt cum crucifigerent; tamen postea crediderunt in eum, et donatum est eis tam magnum delictum. Fusus Domini sanguis donatus est homicidis, ut non dicam deicidis; quia si cognovissent, nunquam Dominum gloriae crucifixissent. Modo homicidis donatus est fusus sanguis innocentis; et ipsum sanguinem quem per insaniam fuderunt, per gratiam biberunt. Dicite ergo Deo: Quam timenda sunt opera tua! Unde timenda? Quia caecitas ex parte Israel facta est, ut plenitudo Gentium intraret . O Gentium plenitudo, dic Deo, Quam timenda sunt opera tua! et sic gaude ut contremiscas; noli extolli super ramos praecisos. Dicite Deo: Quam timenda sunt opera tua!
65.6 PL 36, 791
6. “The discourses of unjust men have prevailed over us, and our iniquities Thou shalt propitiate” (ver. 3).…Every man, in whatsoever place he is born, of that same land or region or city learneth the language, is habituated to the manners and life of that place. What should a boy do, born among Heathens, to avoid worshipping a stone, inasmuch as his parents have suggested that worship? from them the first words he hath heard, that error with his milk he hath sucked in; and because they that used to speak were elders, and the boy that was learning to speak was an infant, what could the little one do but follow the authority of elders, and deem that to be good which they recommended? Therefore nations that are converted to Christ afterwards, and taking to heart the impieties of their parents, and saying now what the prophet Jeremias himself said, “Truly a lie our fathers have worshipped, vanity which hath not profited them”—when, I say, they now say this, they renounce the opinions and blasphemies of their unjust parents.…There have led us away men teaching evil things, citizens of Babylon they have made us, we have left the Creator, have adored the creature: have left Him by whom we were made, have adored that which we ourselves have made. For “the discourses of unjust men have prevailed over us:” but nevertheless they have not crushed us. Wherefore? “Our impieties Thou shalt propitiate,” is not said except to some priest offering somewhat, whereby impiety may be expiated and propitiated. For impiety is then said to be propitiated, when God is made propitious to the impiety. What is it for God to be made propitious to impiety? It is, His becoming forgiving, and giving pardon. But in order that God’s pardon may be obtained, propitiation is made through some sacrifice. There hath come forth therefore, sent from God the Lord, One our Priest; He took upon Him from us that which He might offer to the Lord; we are speaking of those same first-fruits of the flesh from the womb of the Virgin. This holocaust He offered to God. He stretched out His hands on the Cross, in order that He might say, “Let My prayer be directed as incense in Thy sight, and the lifting up of My hands an evening sacrifice.” As ye know, the Lord about eventide hung on the Cross: and our impieties were propitiated; otherwise they had swallowed up: the discourses of unjust men had prevailed over us; there had led us astray preachers of Jupiter, and of Saturn, and of Mercury: “the discourses of ungodly men had prevailed over us.” But what wilt Thou do? “Our impieties Thou wilt propitiate.” Thou art the priest, Thou the victim; Thou the offerer, Thou the offering.…
In multitudine potentiae tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui. Ad hoc tibi, inquit, mentientur inimici tui, ut multa sit potentia tua. Quid est hoc? Intentius audite. Potentia Domini nostri Jesu Christi maxime apparuit in resurrectione, unde psalmus iste titulum accepit. Et resurgens apparuit discipulis suis. Non apparuit inimicis suis, sed discipulis suis . Crucifixus apparuit omnibus; resurgens fidelibus: ut etiam postea qui vellet crederet, et credenti resurrectio promitteretur. Multi sancti multa miracula fecerunt; nullus ipsorum mortuus resurrexit: quia et qui ab eis resuscitati sunt, morituri resuscitati sunt. Intendat Charitas Vestra. Commendans Dominus opera sua dixit: Operibus credite, si mihi non vultis credere . Et commendantur etiam praeterita opera Prophetarum; et si non eadem, tamen multa eadem, multa ejusdem potentiae. Ambulavit Dominus super mare, jussit et Petrum . Numquid non ibi erat ipse Dominus, quando se divisit mare, ut Moyses cum populo Israel transiret ? Idem Dominus illa faciebat. Qui fecit ista per carnem suam, ipse illa faciebat per carnem servorum suorum. Illud tamen per servos suos non fecit (nam ipse omnia faciebat), ut aliquis ipsorum mortuus esset, et resurgeret in vitam aeternam. Quia ergo possent dicere Judaei, cum miracula faceret Dominus, Fecit haec et Moyses, fecit Elias, fecit Elisaeus: possent sibi ista dicere, quia et illi mortuos resuscitaverunt, et multa miracula fecerunt: propterea cum ab illo signum peteretur; proprium signum commendans quod in se solo futurum erat, ait: Generatio ista prava et amaricans signum quaerit; et signum non dabitur ei, nisi signum Jonae prophetae. Sicut enim fuit Jonas in ventre ceti tribus diebus, et tribus noctibus; sic erit et filius hominis in corde terrae tribus diebus, et tribus noctibus . Quomodo fuit Jonas in ventre ceti? Nonne ut postea vivus evomeretur? Hoc fuit infernus Domino, quod Jonae cetus. Hoc signum proprium commendavit; hoc est potentissimum. Potentius est revixisse mortuum, quam non fuisse mortuum. Magnitudo potentiae Domini secundum quod homo factus est, in virtute resurrectionis apparet. Hanc commendat Apostolus, cum dicit: Non habens meam justitiam quae ex Lege est; sed eam quae est per fidem Christi, quae est ex Deo justitia in fide, ad cognoscendum eum, et virtutem resurrectionis ejus . Sic commandatur et alio loco: Et si crucifixus est ex infirmitate, sed vivit in virtute Dei . Cum ergo ista magna potentia Domini in resurrectione intelligatur, unde titulum psalmus iste accepit; quid sibi vult, In multitudine potentiae tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui, nisi ut sic intelligas: Ideo tibi mentientur inimici tui ut crucifigaris; ideo crucifigeris ut resurgas? Mendacium ergo illorum ad commendandam multam potentiam tuam valebit. Quare solent inimici mentiri? Ut potentiam cujusque minuant de quo mentiuntur. Tibi, inquit, contra accidit. Nam minus appareret potentia tua, si tibi illi non mentirentur.
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7. “Blessed is he whom Thou hast chosen, and hast taken to Thee” (ver. 4). Who is he that is chosen by Him and taken to Him? Was any one chosen by our Saviour Jesus Christ, or was Himself after the flesh, because He is man, chosen and taken to Him?…Or hath not rather Christ Himself taken to Him some blessed one, and the same whom He hath taken to Him is not spoken of in the plural number but in the singular? For one man He hath taken to Him, because unity He hath taken to Him. Schisms He hath not taken to Him, heresies He hath not taken to Him: a multitude they have made of themselves, there is not one to be taken to Him. But they that abide in the bond of Christ and are the members of Him, make in a manner one man, of whom saith the Apostle, “Until we all arrive at the acknowledging of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ.” Therefore one man is taken to Him, to which the Head is Christ; because “the Head of the man is Christ.” The same is that blessed man that “hath not departed in the counsel of ungodly men,” and the like things which there are spoken of: the same is He that is taken to Him. He is not without us, in His own members we are, under one Head we are governed, by one Spirit we all live, one fatherland we all long for.…And to us He will give what? “He shall inhabit,” he saith, “in Thy courts.” Jerusalem, that is, to which they sing that begin to go forth from Babylon: “He shall inhabit in Thy courts: we shall be filled with the good things of Thy House.” What are the good things of the House of God? Brethren, let us set before ourselves some rich house, with what numerous good things it is crowded, how abundantly it is furnished, how many vessels there are there of gold and also of silver; how great an establishment of servants, how many horses and animals, in a word, how much the house itself delights us with pictures, marble, ceilings, pillars, recesses, chambers:—all such things are indeed objects of desire, but still they are of the confusion of Babylon. Cut off all such longings, O citizen of Jerusalem, cut them off; if thou wilt return, let not captivity delight thee. But hast thou already begun to go forth? Do not look back, do not loiter on the road. Still there are not wanting foes to recommend thee captivity and sojourning: no longer let there prevail against thee the discourses of ungodly men. For the House of God long thou, and for the good things of that House long thou: but do not long for such things as thou art wont to long for either in thy house, or in the house of thy neighbour, or in the house of thy patron.…
Attendite et ipsum mendacium falsorum testium in Evangelio, et videte quia de resurrectione est. Cum enim Domino dictum esset, Quod signum ostendis nobis, quia ista facis? excepto eo quod dixerat de Jona, per aliam similitudinem hoc ipsum item dixit, ut noveritis hoc proprium signum maxime commendatum: Solvite templum, inquit, hoc; et in tribus diebus excitabo illud. Et illi dixerunt: Quadraginta et sex annis aedificatum est templum hoc; et tu in triduo excitabis illud? Et evangelista, quid illud esset exponens: Hoc autem, inquit, dicebat Jesus de templo corporis sui . Ecce hanc potentiam suam hominibus se demonstraturum dicebat, unde similitudinem de templo dederat, propter carnem suam quae erat templum latentis intus divinitatis. Unde Judaei templum foris videbant; numen intus habitans non videbant. Ex istis verbis Domini concinnaverunt falsi testes mendacium, quod contra eum dicerent, ex his ipsis ubi commendavit resurrectionem suam futuram, loquens de templo. Dixerunt enim falsi testes adversus eum, cum quaereretur ab eis quid illum audissent dixisse: Audivimus eum dicentem, Solvam templum hoc, et post triduum resuscitabo illud . Post triduum resuscitabo, audierant: Solvam, non audierant; sed audierant, Solvite. Unum verbum mutaverunt, et paucas litteras, ut falsum testimonium molirentur. Sed cui mutas verbum, o humana vanitas, o humana infirmitas? Verbo incommutabili verbum mutas! Mutas tu tuum verbum; numquid mutas Dei Verbum? Unde alio loco dicitur: Et mentita est iniquitas sibi . Quare ergo tibi mentiti sunt inimici tui, o Domine, cui jubilat omnis terra? In multitudine potentiae tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui. Dicent, Solvam; cum tu dixeris, Solvite. Quare te dixerunt dixisse, Solvam; et non dixerunt quod tu dixisti, Solvite? Ut quasi ipsi se a crimine soluti templi defenderent sine causa. Christus enim, quia voluit, mortuus est: et tamen vos occidistis. Ecce concedimus vobis, o mendaces; ipse solvit templum. Dictum est enim ab Apostolo: Qui me dilexit et tradidit semetipsum pro me . Dictum est de Patre: Qui proprio Filio suo non pepercit; sed pro nobis omnibus tradidit illum . Si ergo Pater Filium tradidit, et Filius semetipsum tradidit; Judas quid fecit? Pater tradendo Filium ad mortem pro nobis, bene fecit: Christus tradendo seipsum pro nobis, fecit bene: tradendo Judas magistrum pro avaritia sua, fecit male. Non enim quod nobis praestitum est de passione Christi, malitiae Judae deputabitur: habebit ille mercedem malitiae; Christus laudem gratiae. Prorsus ipse solverit templum; ipse solverit qui dixit: Potestatem habeo ponendi animam meam; et potestatem habeo iterum sumendi eam: nemo tollit eam a me; sed ego ipse pono eam a me, et iterum sumo eam . Ipse solverit templum gratia sua, malitia vestra. In multitudine potentiae tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui. Ecce mentiuntur, ecce creditur eis, ecce opprimeris, ecce crucifigeris, ecce insultatur tibi, ecce caput agitatur: Si Filius Dei est, descendat de cruce . Ecce quando vis animam ponis, et lancea latus percuteris , et Sacramenta de latere tuo defluunt; deponeris de ligno, involveris linteaminibus, poneris in sepulcro, adduntur custodes ne tollant te discipuli tui; venit hora resurrectionis tuae, terra concutitur, monumenta scinduntur, resurgis occultus, appares manifestus. Ubi sunt ergo illi mendaces? ubi est falsum testimonium malevolentiae? Nonne in multitudine potentiae tuae mentiti sunt tibi inimici tui?
65.8 PL 36, 793
8. “Thy holy Temple is marvellous in righteousness” (ver. 5). These are the good things of that House. He hath not said, Thy holy Temple is marvellous in pillars, marvellous in marbles, marvellous in glided ceilings; but is “marvellous in righteousness.” Without thou hast eyes wherewith thou mayest see marbles, and gold: within is an eye wherewith may be seen the beauty of righteousness. If there is no beauty in righteousness, why is a righteous old man loved? What bringeth he in body that may please the eyes? Crooked limbs, brow wrinkled, head blanched with gray hairs, dotage everywhere full of plaints. But perchance because thine eyes this decrepit old man pleaseth not, thine ears he pleaseth: with what words? with what song? Even if perchance when a young man he sang well, all with age hath been lost. Doth perchance the sound of his words please thine ears, that can hardly articulate whole words for loss of teeth? Nevertheless, if righteous he is, if another man’s goods he coveteth not, if of his own that he possesseth he distributeth to the needy, if he giveth good advice, and soundly judgeth, if he believeth the entire faith, if for his belief in the faith he is ready to expend even those very shattered limbs, for many Martyrs are even old men; why do we love him? What good thing in him do we see with the eyes of the flesh? Not any. There is therefore a kind of beauty in righteousness, which we see with the eye of the heart, and we love, and we kindle with affection: how much men found to love in those same Martyrs, though beasts tare their limbs! Is it possible but that when blood was staining all parts, when with the teeth of monsters their bowels gushed out, the eyes had nothing but objects to shudder at? What was there to be loved, except that in that hideous spectacle of mangled limbs, entire was the beauty of righteousness? These are the good things of the House of God, with these prepare thyself to be satisfied.…“Blessed they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” “Thy holy Temple is marvellous in righteousness.” And that same temple, brethren, do not imagine to be aught but yourselves. Love ye righteousness, and ye are the Temple of God.
Da et illos sepulcri custodes; referant quid viderint: accipiant pecuniam, et ipsi mentiantur; dicant etiam ipsi moniti perversi a perversis, dicant a Judaeis corrupti, qui in Christo noluerunt esse integri; dicant, mentiantur etiam ipsi. Quid dicturi sunt? Dicite; videamus: mentiemini et vos in multitudine potentiae Domini. Quid dicturi estis? Cum dormiremus nos, venerunt discipuli ejus, et abstulerunt eum de monumento . O vere stultitia dormiens! Aut vigilabas; et prohibere debuisti: aut dormiebas; et quid sit gestum nescisti. Accesserunt et ipsi mendacio inimicorum: auctus est numerus mentientium, ut augeretur merces credentium; quia in multitudine potentiae tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui. Ergo mentiti sunt; in multitudine potentiae tuae mentiti sunt: apparuisti contra mendaces veracibus et apparuisti eis veracibus quos tu veraces fecisti.
65.9 PL 36, 793
9. “Hearken to us, O God, our Saviour” (ver. 5). He hath disclosed now Whom he nameth as God. The “Saviour” specially is the Lord Jesus Christ. It hath appeared now more openly of Whom he had said, “Unto Thee every flesh shall come.” That One Man that is taken unto Him into the Temple of God, is both many and is One. In the person of One he hath said, “Hearken, O God, i.e., to my hunger:” and because the same One of many is composed, now he saith, “Hearken to us, O God, our Saviour.” Hear Him now more openly preached: “Hearken to us, O God, our Saviour, the Hope of all the ends of the earth and in the sea afar.” Behold wherefore hath been said “Unto Thee every flesh shall come.” From every quarter they come. “Hope of all the ends of the earth,” not hope of one corner, not hope of Judæa alone, not hope of Africa alone, not hope of Pannonia, not hope of East or of West: but “Hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar:” of the very ends of the earth. “And in the sea afar:” and because in the sea, therefore afar. For the sea by a figure is spoken of this world, with saltness bitter, with storms troubled; where men of perverse and depraved appetites have become like fishes devouring one another. Observe the evil sea, bitter sea, with waves violent, observe with what sort of men it is filled. Who desireth an inheritance except through the death of another? Who desireth gain except by the loss of another? By the fall of others how many men wish to be exalted? How many, in order that they may buy, desire for other men to sell their goods? How they mutually oppress, and how they that are able do devour! And when one fish hath devoured, the greater the less, itself also is devoured by some greater.…Because evil fishes that were taken within the nets they said they would not endure; they themselves have become more evil than they whom they said they could not endure. For those nets did take fishes both good and evil. The Lord saith, “The kingdom of Heaven is like to a sein cast into the sea, which gathereth of every kind, which, when it had been filled, drawing out, and sitting on the shore, they gathered the good into vessels, but the evil they cast out: so it shall be,” He saith, “in the consummation of the world.” He showeth what is the shore, He showeth what is the end of the sea. “The angels shall go forth, and shall sever the evil from the midst of the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Ha! ye citizens of Jerusalem that are within the nets, and are good fishes; endure the evil, the nets break ye not: together with them ye are in a sea, not together with them will ye be in the vessels. For “Hope” He is “of the ends of the earth,” Himself is Hope “also in the sea afar.” Afar, because also in the sea.
[vers. 4.] Remaneant Judaei in mendaciis suis: tibi, quia in multitudine potentiae tuae mentiti sunt, fiat quod sequitur: Omnis terra adoret te, et psallat tibi; psallat nomini tuo, Altissime. Paulo ante humillime; modo Altissime: humillime inter manus mentientium inimicorum; Altissime super verticem laudantium Angelorum. Omnis terra adoret te, et psallat tibi; psallat nomini tuo, Altissime.
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10. “Preparing mountains in His strength” (ver. 6). Not in their strength. For He hath prepared great preachers, and those same He hath called mountains; humble in themselves, exalted in Him. “Preparing mountains in His strength.” What saith one of those same mountains? “We ourselves in our own selves have had the answer of death, in order that in ourselves we should not trust, but in God that raiseth the dead.” He that in himself doth trust, and in Christ trusteth not, is not of those mountains which He hath prepared in His strength. “Preparing mountains in His strength: girded about in power.” “Power,” I understand: “girded about,” is what? They that put Christ in the midst, “girded about” they make Him, that is on all sides begirt. We all have Him in common, therefore in the midst He is: all we gird Him about that believe in Him: and because our faith is not of our strength, but of His power; therefore girded about He is in His power; not in our own strength.
[vers. 5.] Venite, et videte opera Domini. O Gentes, o ultimae nationes, relinquite Judaeos mentientes, venite confitentes. Venite, et videte opera Domini: terribilis in consiliis super filios hominum. Filius hominis quidem et ipse dictus est, et vere filius hominis factus est: verus Filius Dei in forma Dei; verus filius hominis in forma servi : sed nolite formam istam servi ex aliorum similium conditione pensare; terribilis est in consiliis super filios hominum. Machinati sunt filii hominum consilium ad crucifigendum Christum; crucifixus excaecavit crucifigentes. Quid ergo fecistis, filii hominum, machinando acuta consilia adversus Dominum vestrum, in quo latebat majestas, et apparebat infirmitas? Vos machinati estis consilia perdendi, ille excaecandi et salvandi; excaecandi superbos, salvandi humiles: ad hoc autem superbos ipsos excaecandi, ut caecati humiliarentur, humiliati confiterentur, confessi illuminarentur. Terribilis in consiliis super filios hominum. Vere terribilis! Ecce caecitas ex parte Israel facta est: ecce Judaei ex quibus natus est Christus, foris sunt: ecce Gentes quae contra Judaeam erant, in Christo intus sunt . Terribilis in consiliis super filios hominum.
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11. “That troublest the bottom of the sea” (ver. 7). He hath done this: it is seen what He hath done. For He hath prepared mountains in His strength, hath sent them to preach: girded about He is by believers in power: and moved is the sea, moved is the world, and it beginneth to persecute His saints. “Girded about in power: that troublest the bottom of the sea.” He hath not said, that troublest the sea; but “the bottom of the sea.” The bottom of the sea is the heart of ungodly men. For just as from the bottom more thoroughly all things are stirred, and the bottom holdeth firm all things: so whatsoever hath gone forth: by tongue, by hands, by divers powers for the persecution of the Church, from the bottom hath gone forth. For if there were not the root of iniquity in the heart, all those things would not have gone forth against Christ. The bottom He troubled, perchance in order that the bottom He might also empty: for in the case of certain evil men He emptied the sea from the bottom, and made the sea a desert place. Another Psalm saith this, “That turneth sea into dry land.” All ungodly and heathen men that have believed were sea, have been made land; with salt waves at first barren, afterwards with the fruit of righteousness productive. “That troublest the bottom of the sea: the sound of its waves who shall endure?” “Who shall endure,” is what? What man shall endure the sound of the waves of the sea, the behests of the high powers of the world? But whence are they endured? Because He prepareth mountains in His strength. In that therefore which he hath said “who shall” endure he saith thus: We ourselves of our own selves should not be able to endure those persecutions, unless He gave strength.
[vers. 6.] Propterea quid fecit terrore consilii sui? Convertit mare in aridam. Hoc enim sequitur: Qui convertit mare in aridam. Mare erat mundus; amarus salsitate, turbulentus tempestate, saeviens fluctibus persecutionum, mare erat: certe in aridam conversum est mare; modo sitit aquam dulcem mundus, qui salsa plenus erat. Quis hoc fecit? Qui convertit mare in aridam. Jam anima Gentium omnium quid dicit? Anima mea velut terra sine aqua tibi . Qui convertit mare in aridam. In flumine pertransibunt pede. Illi ipsi qui conversi sunt in aridam, cum essent antea mare, in flumine pede pertransibunt. Quid est flumen? Flumen est omnis mortalitas saeculi. Videte flumen: alia veniunt et transeunt, alia transitura succedunt. Nonne sic fit in aqua fluminis, quae de terra nascitur, et manat? Omnis qui natus est, cedat oportet nascituro: et omnis iste ordo rerum labentium, fluvius quidam est. In istum fluvium non se mittat cupida anima, non se mittat; stet. Et quomodo transibit delectationes rerum periturarum? Credat in Christum, et transibit pede: transit illo duce, pede transit. Quid est, pede transire? Facile transire. Non quaerit equum ut transeat; non erigitur superbia ad transeundum flumen: humilis transit, et tutius transit. In flumine pertransibunt pede.
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12. “The nations shall be troubled” (ver. 8). At first they shall be troubled: but those mountains prepared in the strength of Christ, are they troubled? Troubled is the sea, against the mountains it dasheth: the sea breaketh, unshaken the mountains have remained. “The nations shall be troubled, and all men shall fear.” Behold now all men fear: they that before have been troubled do now all fear. The Christians feared not, and now the Christians are feared. All that did persecute do now fear. For He hath overcome that is girded about with power, to Him hath come every flesh in such sort, that the rest by their very minority do now fear. And all men shall fear, that inhabit the ends of the earth, because of Thy signs. For miracles the Apostles wrought, and thence all the ends of the earth have feared and have believed. “Outgoings in morning and in evening Thou shalt delight:” that is, Thou makest delightful. Already in this life what is there being promised to us? There are outgoings in morning, there are outgoings in the evening. By the morning he signifieth the prosperity of the world, by the evening he signifieth the trouble of the world.…At first when he was promising gain, it was morning to thee: but now evening draweth on, sad thou hast become. But He that hath given thee an outgoing in the morning, will give one also in the evening. In the same manner as thou hast contemned the morning of the world by the light of the Lord, so contemn the evening also by the sufferings of the Lord, in saying to thy soul, What more will this man do to me, than my Lord hath suffered for me? May I hold fast justice, not consent to iniquity. Let him vent his rage on the flesh, the trap will be broken, and I will fly to my Lord, that saith to me, “Do not fear them that kill the body, but the soul are not able to kill.” And for the body itself He hath given security, saying, “A hair of your head shall not perish.” Nobly here he hath set down, “Thou wilt delight outgoings in morning and in evening.” For if thou take not delight in the very outgoing, thou wilt not labour to go out thence. Thou runnest thy head into the promised gain, if thou art not delighted with the promise of the Saviour. And again thou yieldest to one tempting and terrifying, if thou find no delight in Him that suffered before thee, in order that He might make an outgoing for thee.
Ibi jucundabimur in ipso. O Judaei, de vestris operibus gloriamini: ponite superbiam gloriandi de vobis; sumite gratiam jucundandi in Christo. Ibi enim jucundabimur: sed non in nobis: ibi jucundabimur in ipso. Quando jucundabimur? Cum flumen transierimus pede, Vita aeterna promittitur, resurrectio promittitur; ibi caro nostra jam non erit flumen: flumen enim modo est, quando mortalitas est. Videte si stat aliqua aetas. Pueri crescere volunt; et nesciunt spatium vitae suae annis succedentibus minui. Non enim adduntur anni, sed subtrahuntur crescentibus: sicut aqua fluminis prorsus accedit, sed a fonte recedit. Et volunt crescere pueri, ut careant dominatu majorum; ecce crescunt, agitur cito, perveniunt ad juventutem: qui excesserunt pueritiam, si possunt teneant juventutem; transit et ipsa. Senectus succedit; vel senectus aeterna sit: morte aufertur. Ergo fluvius est carnis nascentis. Hunc fluvium mortalitatis, ne mortalium rerum concupiscentia subvertat et rapiat, facile transit qui humiliter, id est, pede transit, duce illo qui prior transiit, qui de torrente in via usque ad mortem bibit, propterea exaltavit caput . Transeuntes ergo pede fluvium istum, id est facile transeuntes mortalitatem istam fluentem, ibi jucundabimur in ipso. Modo autem in quo, nisi vel in ipso, vel in spe ipsius? Etsi enim jucundamur modo, in spe jucundamur; tunc autem in ipso jucundabimur. Et modo in ipso, sed per spem; tunc autem facie ad faciem .
65.13 PL 36, 795
13. “Thou hast visited the earth, and hast inebriated it” (ver. 9). Whence hast inebriated the earth? “Thy cup inebriating how glorious it is!” “Thou hast visited the earth, and hast inebriated it.” Thou hast sent Thy clouds, they have rained down the preaching of the truth, inebriated is the earth. “Thou hast multiplied to enrich it.” Whence? “The river of God is filled with water.” What is the river of God? The people of God. The first people was filled with water, wherewith the rest of the earth might be watered. Hear Him promising water: “If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink: he that believeth on Me, rivers of living water from his belly shall flow:” if rivers, one river also; for in respect of unity many are one. Many Churches and one Church, many faithful and one Bride of Christ: so many rivers and one river. Many Israelites believed, and were fulfilled with the Holy Spirit; from thence they were scattered abroad through the nations, they began to preach the truth, and from the river of God that was filled with water, was the whole earth watered. “Thou hast prepared food for them: because thus is Thy preparing.” Not because they have deserved of Thee, whom Thou hast forgiven sins: the merits of them were evil, but Thou for Thy mercy’s sake, “because thus is Thy preparing,” thus “Thou hast prepared food for them.”
[vers. 7.] Ibi jucundabimur in ipso. In quo? Qui dominatur in virtute sua in aeternum. Nam nos quam virtutem habemus? et num quid aeternam? Si aeterna esset virtus nostra, non lapsi essemus, non cecidissemus in peccatum, non meruissemus mortalitatem poenalem. Ille voluntate suscepit, quo nos meritum nostrum dejecit, Qui dominatur in virtute sua in aeternum. Ejus participes efficiamur, in cujus virtute nos erimus fortes; ille autem in sua. Nos illuminati; ille lumen illuminans: nos aversi ab illo, contenebramur; ille averti a se non potest. Calore ipsius accendimur; unde recedentes frigueramus, accedentes rursum accendimur. Ergo dicamus ei ut custodiat nos in virtute sua, quia in ipso jucundabimur qui dominatur in virtute sua in aeternum.
65.14 PL 36, 795
14. “The furrows thereof inebriate Thou” (ver. 10). Let there be made therefore at first furrows to be inebriated: let the hardness of our breast be opened with the share of the word of God, “The furrows thereof inebriate Thou: multiply the generations thereof.” We see, they believe, and by them believing other men believe, and because of those others believe; and it is not sufficient for one man, that having become himself a believer, he should gain one. So is multiplied seed too: a few grains are scattered, and fields spring up. “In the drops thereof it shall rejoice, when it shall rise up.” That is, before it be perchance enlarged to the bulk of a river, “when it shall rise up, in its drops,” that is, in those meet for it, “it shall rejoice.” For upon those that are yet babes, and upon the weak, are dropped some portions of the sacraments, because they cannot receive the fulness of the truth. Hear in what manner he droppeth upon babes, while they are rising up, that is, in their recent rising having small capacities: the Apostle saith, “To you I could not speak as if to spiritual, but as if to carnal, as if to babes in Christ.” When he saith, “to babes in Christ,” he speaketh of them as already risen up, but not yet meet to receive that plenteous wisdom, whereof he saith, “Wisdom we speak among perfect men.” Let it rejoice in its drops, while it is rising up and is growing, when strengthened it shall receive wisdom also: in the same manner as an infant is fed with milk, and becometh fit for meat, and nevertheless at first out of that very meat for which it was not fit, for it milk is made.
Sed non hoc solis Judaeis praestat credentibus, Quia multum se extulerunt Judaei de virtute sua praesumentes, postea cognoverunt in cujus virtute fuerunt salubriter fortes, et quidam eorum crediderunt: sed non sufficit Christo; multum est quod dedit, magnum pretium dedit, non pro solis Judaeis debuit valere quod dedit. Oculi ejus super Gentes respiciunt. Ergo, Oculi ejus super Gentes respiciunt. Et quid facimus? Murmurabunt Judaei; dicturi sunt Judaei: Quod nobis, hoc et illis; nobis Evangelium, illis Evangelium; nobis gratiam resurrectionis, et illis gratiam resurrectionis: nihil nobis prodest quod nos Legem accepimus. et in justificationibus Legis viximus, et tenuimus praecepta patrum: nihil valebit hoc; illis quod nobis! Non litigent, non contendant. Qui amaricant, non exaltentur in semetipsis. O caro misera et tabescens, nonne peccatrix es? Quid clamat lingua tua? Attendatur conscientia. Omnes enim peccaverunt, et egent gloria Dei . Agnosce te, infirmitas humana. Accepisti Legem, ut et praevaricatrix Legis esses; non enim tenuisti et implesti quod accepisti. Accessit tibi ex Lege, non justificatio quam Lex jubet, sed praevaricatio quam tu fecisti. Si ergo abundavit peccatum, quid invides superabundanti gratiae ? Noli amaricare, quia qui amaricant, non exaltentur. Quasi maledixisse videtur, Qui amaricant, non exaltentur: imo exaltentur, sed non in seipsis. Humilientur in seipsis; exaltentur in Christo. Qui enim se humiliat, exaltabitur; et qui se exaltat, humiliabitur . Qui amaricant, non exaltentur in semetipsis.
65.15 PL 36, 796
15. “Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of Thy goodness” (ver. 11). Seed is now sowing, that which is sown is growing, there will be the harvest too. And now over the seed the enemy hath sown tares; and there have risen up evil ones among the good, false Christians, having like leaf, but not like fruit. For those are properly called tares, which spring up in the manner of wheat, for instance darnel, for instance wild oats, and all such as have the first leaf the same. Therefore of the sowing of the tares thus saith the Lord: “There hath come an enemy, and hath sown over them tares;” but what hath he done to the grain? The wheat is not choked by the tares, nay, through endurance of the tares the fruit of the wheat is increased. For the Lord Himself said to certain workmen desiring to root up the tares, “Suffer ye both to grow unto the harvest.”…Conquer the devil, and thou wilt have a crown. “Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of Thy goodness.” Again he maketh reference to the goodness of God, lest any one boast of his own merits. “Thy plains shall be filled with abundance.”
[vers. 8, 9.] Benedicite, Gentes, Deum nostrum. Ecce repulsi sunt qui amaricant; reddita est illis ratio: aliqui conversi sunt, aliqui superbi remanserunt. Non vos terreant qui gratiam evangelicam invident Gentibus; jam venit semen Abrahae, in quo benedicuntur omnes Gentes . Benedicite eum in quo benedicimini; Benedicite, Gentes, Deum nostrum: et audite vocem laudis ejus. Ne vos ipsos laudetis; sed ipsum laudetis. Quae est vox laudis ejus? Quia gratia ipsius sumus, quidquid boni sumus. Qui posuit animam meam in vitam. Ecce vox laudis ejus: Qui posuit animam meam in vitam. Ergo in morte erat; in morte erat in te. Inde est quod non debuistis exaltari in vobis ipsis. Ecce in morte erat in te: ubi erit in vita, nisi in illo qui dixit, Ego sum via, veritas, et vita ? Quomodo quibusdam credentibus ait Apostolus: Fuistis aliquando tenebrae; nunc autem lux in Domino . Tenebrae ergo in vobis; lux in Domino: sic mors in vobis; vita in Domino. Qui posuit animam meam in vitam. Ecce posuit animam nostram in vitam, quia credimus in eum; in vitam posuit animam nostram: sed quid deinde opus est, nisi ut perseveremus usque in finem? Et hoc quis dabit, nisi de quo consequenter dictum est, Et non dedit in motum pedes meos? Ipse posuit animam in vitam, ipse regit pedes, ne nutent, ne moveantur, et dentur in motum; ipse nos facit vivere, ipse perseverare usque in finem, ut in aeternum vivamus. Et non dedit in motum pedes meos.
65.16 PL 36, 796
16. “The ends of the desert shall grow fat, and the hills shall be encircled with exultation” (ver. 12). Plains, hills, ends of the desert, the same are also men. Plains, because of the equality: because of equality, I say, from thence just peoples have been called plains. Hills, because of lifting up: because God doth lift up in Himself those that humble themselves. Ends of the desert are all nations. Wherefore ends of the desert? Deserted they were, to them no Prophet had been sent: they were in like case as is a desert where no man passeth by. No word of God was sent to the nations: to the people Israel alone the Prophets preached. We came to the Lord; the wheat believed among that same people of the Jews. For He said at that time to the disciples, “Ye say, far off is the harvest: look back, and see how white are the lands to harvest.” There hath been therefore a first harvest, there will be a second in the last age. The first harvest was of Jews, because there were sent to them Prophets proclaiming a coming Saviour. Therefore the Lord said to His disciples, “See how white are the lands to harvest:” the lands, to wit, of Judæa. “Other men,” He saith, “have laboured, and into their labours ye have entered.” The Prophets laboured to sow, and ye with the sickle have entered into their labours. There hath been finished therefore the first harvest, and thence, with that very wheat which then was purged, hath been sown the round world; so that there ariseth an other harvest, which at the end is to be reaped. In the second harvest have been sown tares, now here there is labour. Just as in that first harvest the Prophets laboured until the Lord came: so in that second harvest the Apostles laboured, and all preachers of the truth labour, even until at the end the Lord send unto the harvest His Angels. Aforetime, I say, a desert there was, “but the ends of the desert shall grow fat.” Behold where the Prophets had given no sound, the Lord of the Prophets hath been received, “The ends of the desert shall grow fat, and with exultation the hills shall be encircled.”
[vers. 10-12.] Quare hoc dixisti, Et non dedit in motum pedes meos? Quid enim passus es, aut quid pati potuisti, ut moverentur pedes tui? Quid? audi quae sequantur. Quare dixi, non dedit in motum pedes meos? Quia multa passi sumus, de quibus moverentur de via pedes nostri, nisi ipse regeret, et eos in motum non daret. Quae sunt ista? Quoniam probasti nos Deus; ignisti nos, sicut ignitur argentum. Non ignisti sicut fenum, sed sicut argentum: adhibendo nobis ignem, non in cinerem convertisti, sed sordes abluisti. Ignisti nos, sicut ignitur argentum. Et vide quomodo saevit Deus in illos, quorum animam posuit in vitam. Induxisti nos in muscipulam: non ut capti moreremur, sed unde liberati experiremur. Posuisti tribulationes in dorso nostro. Erecti enim male, superbi eramus: male erecti curvati sumus, ut curvati bene erigeremur. Posuisti tribulationes in dorso nostro: imposuisti homines super capita nostra. Haec omnia passa est Ecclesia variis et diversis persecutionibus; passa est hoc singillatim, etiam modo patitur. Non enim quisquam est, qui se in hac vita ab his tentationibus possit dicere immunem. Ergo imponuntur et homines super capita nostra: toleramus quos nolumus, patimur superiores aliquando quos novimus pejores. Peccata autem si desint, bene superior est homo; quanto autem plura adsunt, tanto est inferior. Et bonum est ut consideremus nos peccatores esse, et sic toleremus impositos super capita nostra; ut et nos Deo confiteamur quia digne patimur. Quid enim indigne pateris quod facit qui justus est? Posuisti tribulationes in dorso nostro: imposuisti homines super capita nostra. Saevire videtur Deus, cum ista facit: ne metuas; quoniam Pater est, nunquam sic saevit ut perdat. Quando male vivis, si parcit, plus irascitur. Omnino istae tribulationes flagella sunt corrigentis, ne sit sententia punientis. Posuisti tribulationes in dorso nostro: imposuisti homines super capita nostra.
65.17 PL 36, 797
17. “Clothed have been the rams of the sheep” (ver. 13): “with exultation” must be understood. For with what exultation the hills are encircled, with the same are clothed the rams of the sheep. Rams are the very same as hills. For hills they are because of more eminent grace; rams, because they are leaders of the flocks.…“They shall shout:” thence they shall abound with wheat, because they shall shout. What shall they shout? “For a hymn they shall say.” For one thing it is to shout against God, another thing to say a hymn; one thing to shout iniquities, another thing to shout the praises of God. If thou shout in blasphemy, thorns thou hast brought forth: if thou shoutest in a hymn, thou aboundest in wheat.
Transivimus per ignem et aquam. Ignis et aqua, utrumque periculosum est in hac vita. Certe videtur aqua ignem exstinguere, et ignis videtur aquam siccare. Ita et ipsae tentationes sunt, quibus abundat haec vita. Ignis urit, aqua corrumpit: utrumque metuendum; et ustio tribulationis, et aqua corruptionis. Quando sunt res angustae, et aliqua quae infelicitas dicitur in hoc mundo, quasi ignis est: quando sunt res prosperae, et abundantia saeculi circumfluit, quasi aqua est. Vide ne te ignis exurat, ne aqua corrumpat. Firmus esto adversus ignem; coqui te oportet: tanquam vas fictum mitteris in caminum ignis, ut firmetur quod formatum est. Vas ergo jam igne firmatum aquam non timet; vas autem si solidatum igne non fuerit, tanquam lutum aqua solvetur. Noli festinare ad aquam; per ignem transi ad aquam, ut transeas et aquam. Propterea et in Sacramentis, et in catechizando, et in exorcizando, adhibetur prius ignis. Nam unde plerumque immundi spiritus clamant, Ardeo, si ille ignis non est? Post ignem autem exorcismi venitur ad Baptismum; ut ab igne ad aquam, ab aqua in refrigerium. Quod autem in Sacramentis, hoc in tentationibus hujus saeculi: angustia timoris accedit prima, vice ignis; postea ablato timore, metuendum est ne felicitas mundana corrumpat. Cum autem te ignis crepare non fecerit, et in aquam non merseris, sed enataveris; per disciplinam transis ad requiem, et transiens per ignem et aquam educeris in refrigerium. Quarum enim rerum signa sunt in Sacramenti, ipsae res sunt in illa perfectione vitae aeternae. Jam cum transierimus ad illud refrigerium, fratres charissimi, nullum ibi timebimus inimicum, nullum tentatorem, nullum invidum, nullum ignem, nullam aquam; perpetuum ibi refrigerium erit. Refrigerium propter quietem dicitur. Nam si dicas, Calor est, verum est: si dicas, Refrigerium, verum est. Si enim refrigerium male accipias, quasi torpescimus ibi. Non autem torpescimus ibi, sed requiescimus: nec quia calor dicitur, aestuabimus ibi, sed fervebimus spiritu. Attende ipsum calorem in alio psalmo: Nec est qui se abscondat a calore ejus . Quid dicit et Apostolus? Spiritu ferventes . Ergo, Transivimus per ignem et aquam: Et eduxisti nos in refrigerium.