Expositions on the Book of Psalms 77
77.1 Psalm LXXVII PL 36, 982
1. This Psalm’s lintel is thus inscribed: “Unto the end, for Idithun, a Psalm to Asaph himself.” What “Unto the end” is, ye know. Idithun is interpreted “leaping over those men,” Asaph is interpreted “a congregation.” Here therefore there is speaking “a congregation that leapeth over,” in order that it may reach the End, which is Christ Jesus.…
[vers. 1.] Psalmus iste ea continet quae in veteri populo acta narrantur: recentior autem et posterior populus admonetur ut caveat ne sit ingratus beneficiis Dei, ejusque in se provocet iracundiam cujus obedienter et fideliter debet suscipere gratiam: Ne fiant, inquit, sicut patres eorum generatio prava et amaricans; generatio quae cor non direxit suum, et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus. Haec est igitur psalmi hujus intentio, haec utilitas, hic uberrimus fructus. Sed cum omnia videantur perspicua et aperta dici atque narrari, primitus movet atque intentos facit titulus ejus. Neque enim frustra inscribitur, Intellectus Asaph; nisi quia fortasse non quod superficies sonat, sed interius aliquid intelligentem quaerunt ista lectorem. Deinde narraturus et commemoraturus haec omnia, quae videntur auditore quam expositore potius indigere, Aperiam, inquit, in parabolis os meum, eloquar propositiones ab initio. Quis non hic de somno excitetur? Quis audeat velut manifestas legendo percurrere parabolas et propositiones, quae nominibus suis indicant altius se perscrutari oportere? Parabola quippe alicujus rei similitudinem prae se gerit; quod licet sit vocabulum graecum, jam tamen pro latino usurpatur. Et notum est quod in parabolis, quae dicuntur rerum similitudines rebus de quibus agitur comparantur. Propositiones autem quae graece appellantur προβλήματα, quaestiones sunt, habentes aliquid quod disputatione solvendum sit. Quis ergo parabolas et proposisitiones transitorie legat? quis non his auditis vigilantia mentis intendat, ut ad earum fructum intelligendo perveniat?
77.2 PL 36, 983
2. “With my voice,” he saith, “to the Lord I have cried” (ver. 1). But many men cry unto the Lord for the sake of getting riches and avoiding losses, for the safety of their friends, for the security of their house, for temporal felicity, for secular dignity, lastly, even for mere soundness of body, which is the inheritance of the poor man. For such and such like things many men do cry unto the Lord; scarce one for the sake of the Lord Himself. For an easy thing it is for a man to desire anything of the Lord, and not to desire the Lord Himself; as if forsooth that which He giveth could be sweeter than Himself that giveth. Whosoever therefore doth cry unto the Lord for the sake of any other thing, is not yet one that leapeth over.…He doth indeed hearken to thee at the time when thou dost seek Himself, not when through Himself thou dost seek any other thing. It hath been said of some men, “They cried, and there was no one to save them; to the Lord, and He hearkened not unto them.” For why? Because the voice of them was not unto the Lord. This the Scripture doth express in another place, where it saith of such men, “On the Lord they have not called.” Unto Him they have not ceased to cry, and yet upon the Lord they have not called. What is, upon the Lord they have not called? They have not called the Lord unto themselves: they have not invited the Lord to their heart, they would not have themselves inhabited by the Lord. And therefore what hath befallen them? “They have trembled with fear where fear was not.” They have trembled about the loss of things present, for the reason that they were not full of Him, upon whom they have not called. They have not loved gratis, so that after the loss of temporal things they could say, “As it hath pleased the Lord, so hath been done, be the name of the Lord blessed.” Therefore this man saith, “My voice is unto the Lord, and He doth hearken unto me.” Let him show us how this cometh to pass.
Attendite, inquit, populus meus, legem meam. Quem hic credamus loqui nisi Deum? Ipse enim legem dedit populo suo, quem liberatum ex Aegypto congregavit, quae congregatio proprie Synagoga nuncupatur, quod interpretatur Asaph. Utrum ergo ita dictum est, Intellectus Asaph, quod ipse Asaph intellexerit; an figurate intelligendum, quod eadem Synagoga, hoc est, idem populus intellexerit, cui dicitur, Attendite, populus meus, legem meam? Quid est ergo quod eumdem populum per prophetam increpat, dicens: Israel autem me non agnovit, et populus meus non intellexit ? Sed profecto erant etiam in illo populo qui intelligerent, habentes fidem quae postea revelata est non ad Legis litteram, sed ad gratiam Spiritus pertinentem. Non enim sine ipsa fide fuerunt, qui ejus in Christo futuram revelationem praevidere et praenuntiare potuerunt; cum et illa vetera sacramenta, significantia fuerint futurorum. An soli Prophetae habebant hanc fidem, non et populus? Imo vero etiam qui Prophetas fideliter audiebant, eadem adjuvabantur gratia, ut intelligerent quod audiebant. Sed utique sacramentum regni coelorum velabatur in Veteri Testamento, quod plenitudine temporis revelaretur in Novo. « Nolo enim vos » ait Apostolus, « ignorare, fratres, quia patres nostri omnes sub nube fuerunt, et omnes per mare transierunt, et omnes per Moysen baptizati sunt in nube et in mari, et omnes eumdem cibum spiritualem manducaverunt, et omnes eumdem potum spiritualem biberunt: bibebant enim de spirituali consequente eos petra; petra autem erat Christus. » Idem itaque in mysterio cibus et potus illorum qui noster; sed significatione idem, non specie; quia idem ipse Christus illis in petra figuratus, nobis in carne manifestatus. « Sed non, » inquit, « in omnibus illis beneplacitum est Deo . Omnes » quidem « eumdem cibum spiritualem manducaverunt, et eumdem potum spiritualem biberunt, » id est, spirituale aliquid significantem; « sed non in omnibus illis beneplacitum est Deo. » Cum dicit, « Non in omnibus, » erant ergo ibi aliqui in quibus beneplacitum est Deo; et cum essent omnia communia sacramenta, non communis erat omnibus gratia, quae sacramentorum virtus est. Sicut et nunc jam revelata fide quae tunc velabatur, omnibus in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti baptizatis , commune est lavacrum regenerationis; sed ipsa gratia cujus ipsa sunt Sacramenta, qua membra corporis Christi cum suo capite regenerata sunt, non communis est omnibus. Nam et haeretici habent eumdem Baptismum, et falsi fratres in communione catholici nominis. Ergo et hic recte dicitur: Sed non in omnibus illis beneplacitum est Deo.
77.3 PL 36, 984
3. “In the day of tribulation I have sought out God” (ver. 2). Who art thou that doest this thing? In the day of thy tribulation take heed what thou seekest out. If a jail be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest to get forth from jail: if fever be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest health: if hunger be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest fulness: if losses be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest gain: if expatriation be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest the home of thy flesh. And why should I name all things, or when could I name all things? Dost thou wish to be one leaping over? In the day of thy tribulation seek out God: not through God some other thing, but out of tribulation God, that to this end God may take away tribulation, that thou mayest without anxiety cleave unto God. “In the day of my tribulation, I have sought out God:” not any other thing, but “God I have sought out.” And how hast thou sought out? “With my hands in the night before Him.”…
Neque tunc tamen, neque nunc infructuosa est vox dicentis: Attendite, populus meus, legem meam. Quae locutio nota est in omnibus litteris, quod non ait, Attende; sed, Attendite. Ex multis enim populus constat; quibus multis quod sequitur pluraliter dicitur: Inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei. Quod est, Attendite; hoc est, Inclinate aurem vestram: et quod illic ait, legem meam; hoc ait hic, verba oris mei. Ille namque pie attendit legem Dei et verba oris ejus, cujus aurem inclinat humilitas; non cujus erigit cervicem superbia. Quod enim infunditur, concavo humilitatis excipitur, eminentia tumoris expellitur. Unde alio loco: Inclina, inquit, aurem tuam, et excipe verba intellectus . Satis itaque admoniti sumus etiam istum psalmum hujus intellectus Asaph (quia genitivo casu in titulo positum est, hujus intellectus; non, hic intellectus) inclinata aure suscipere, id est humili pietate. Nec, ipsius Asaph dictum est; sed, ipsi Asaph: quod graeco articulo apparet, et in quibusdam latinis codicibus invenitur. Verba igitur ista intellectus sunt, id est, intelligentiae sunt quae data est ipsi Asaph; quod non uni homini, sed melius accipimus congregationi populi Dei, unde nequaquam nos alienare debemus. Quamvis enim proprie dicatur, Synagoga Judaeorum, Ecclesia vero Christianorum; quia congregatio magis pecorum, convocatio vero magis hominum intelligi solet: tamen et illam dictam invenimus Ecclesiam, et nobis fortasse potius convenit dicere, Salva nos, Domine Deus noster, et congrega nos de nationibus, ut confiteamur nomini sancto tuo . Neque dedignari nos oportet, imo gratias ineffabiles agere, quod sumus oves manuum ejus, quas praevidebat cum diceret, Habeo alias oves quae non sunt de hoc ovili; oportet me et ipsas adducere, ut sit unus grex et unus pastor : jungendo scilicet fidelem populum Gentilium fideli populo Israelitarum, de quibus prius dixerat, Non sum missus nisi ad oves quae perierunt domus Israel . Nam et congregabuntur ante eum omnes gentes, et separabit eos sicut pastor oves ab haedis . Sic igitur audiamus quod dictum est, Attendite, populus meus, legem meam, inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei, non tanquam Judaeis, sed potius tanquam nobis, vel certe tam etiam nobis ista dicantur. Cum enim dixisset Apostolus, Sed non in omnibus illis beneplacitum est Deo, ita ostendens fuisse ibi etiam illos in quibus beneplacitum est Deo; continuo subjecit, « Prostrati enim sunt in deserto: » deinde adjunxit, « Haec autem figurae nostrae factae sunt, ut non simus concupiscentes mala, sicut et illi concupierunt: neque idolis servientes, sicut quidam eorum; sicut scriptum est, Sedit populus manducare et bibere, et surrexerunt ludere. Neque fornicemur, sicut quidam eorum fornicati sunt, et ceciderunt una die viginti et tria millia. Neque tentemus Christum, sicut quidam eorum tentaverunt, et a serpentibus perierunt. Neque murmuraveritis, sicut quidam eorum murmuraverunt, et perierunt ab exterminatore. Omnia autem haec in figura contingebant illis: scripta autem sunt ad correptionem nostram, in quos finis saeculorum obvenit » . Nobis ergo potius ista cantata sunt. Unde in hoc psalmo inter caetera dictum est: Ut cognoscat generatio altera, filii qui nascentur et exsurgent. Porro si ille interitus a serpentibus, et ab exterminatore illa perditio, et gladii trucidatio, figurae fuerunt, sicut evidenter dicit Apostolus, cum illa omnia contigisse manifestum sit; non enim ait, In figura dicebantur, vel, In figura scripta sunt; sed, In figura, inquit, contingebant illis: quanto majore diligentia pietatis cavendae sunt poenae quarum figurae illae fuerunt! Procul dubio quippe, sicut in bonis rebus multo amplius boni est in eo quod per figuram significatur, quam in ipsa figura; ita et in malis longe utique pejora sunt quae significantur figuris, cum tanta mala sint etiam significantes figurae. Nam sicut terra promissionis, quo ille populus ducebatur, in comparatione regni coelorum nihil est, quo christianus populus ducitur: ita et poenae illae quae figurae fuerunt, cum tam sint atroces, in comparatione poenarum quas significant nihil sunt. Quas autem figuras dixit Apostolus, eas dicit iste psalmus, quantum existimare possumus, parabolas et propositiones: non in eo habentes finem, quod contigerunt; sed in eis rebus ad quas rationabili comparatione referuntur. Attendamus ergo legem Dei, populus ejus, et inclinemus aurem nostram in verba oris ejus.
77.4 PL 36, 985
4. Tribulation must not be thought to be this or that in particular. For every individual that doth not yet leap over, thinketh that as yet to be no tribulation, unless it be a thing which may have befallen this life of some sad occasion: but this man, that leapeth over, doth count this whole life to be his tribulation. For so much doth he love his supernal country, that the earthly pilgrimage is of itself the greatest tribulation. For how can this life be otherwise than a tribulation, I pray you? how can that not be a tribulation, the whole whereof hath been called temptation? Thou hast it written in the book of Job, is not human life a temptation upon earth? Hath he said, human life is tempted upon earth? Nay, but life itself is a temptation. If therefore temptation, it must surely be a tribulation. In this tribulation therefore, that is to say in this life, this man that leapeth over hath sought out God. How? “With my hands,” he saith. What is, “with my hands”? With my works. For he was not seeking any thing corporeal, so that he might find and handle something which he had lost, so that he might seek with hands coin, gold, silver, vesture, in short everything which can be held in the hands. Howbeit, even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself willed Himself to be sought after with hands, when to His doubting disciple He showed the scars.…What then, to us belongeth not the seeking with hands? It belongeth to us, as I have said, to seek with works. When so? “In the night.” What is, “in the night”? In this age. For it is night until there shine forth day in the glorified advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. For would ye see how it is night? Unless we had here had a lantern, we should have remained in darkness. For Peter saith,“ We too have more sure the prophetic discourse, whereunto ye do well to give heed, as to a lantern shining in a dark place, until day shine, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” There is therefore to come day after this night, meanwhile in this night a lantern is not lacking. And this is perchance what we are now doing: by explaining these passages, we are bringing in a lantern, in order that we may rejoice in this night. Which indeed ought alway to be burning in your houses. For to such men is said, “The Spirit quench ye not.” And as though explaining what he was saying, he continueth and saith, “Prophecy despise ye not:” that is, let the lantern alway shine in you. And even this light by comparison with a sort of ineffable day is called night. For the very life of believers by comparison with the life of unbelievers is day.…Night and day—day in comparison with unbelievers, night in comparison with the Angels. For the Angels have a day, which we have not yet. Already we have one that unbelievers have not: but not yet have believers that which Angels have: but they will have, at the time when they will be equal to the Angels of God, that which hath been promised to them in the Resurrection. In this then which is now day and yet night; night in comparison with the future day for which we yearn, day in comparison with the past night which we have renounced: in this night then, I say, let us seek God with our hands. Let not works cease, let us seek God, be there no idle yearning. If we are in the way, let us expend our means in order that we may be able to reach the end. With hands let us seek God.…“With my hands in the night before Him, and I have not been deceived.”
[vers. 2.] Aperiam, inquit, in parabolis os meum; eloquar propositiones ab initio. A quo initio dicat, satis apparet in consequentibus. Non enim ex quo factum est coelum et terra, vel ex quo creatum est in primo homine genus humanum; sed ex quo populi congregatio quae adducta est ex Aegypto: ut sensus pertineat ad Asaph, quod interpretatur Congregatio. Sed utinam qui dixit, Aperiam in parabolis os meum, etiam intellectum nostrum in eas aperire dignetur! Si enim sicut os suum aperuit in parabolis, ita aperiret etiam ipsas parabolas; et sicut eloquitur propositiones, ita eloqueretur et earum expositiones; non hic aestuaremus: nunc vero ita obtecta et clausa sunt omnia, ut etiamsi ad aliquid ipso adjuvante, unde salubriter pascamur pervenire possimus, in sudore tamen vultus nostri edamus panem ; et poenam definitionis antiquae, non corporis tantum, sed et cordis labore pendamus. Dicat ergo, et audiamus parabolas et propositiones.
77.5 PL 36, 985
5. …“My soul hath refused to be comforted” (ver. 2). So great weariness did here possess me, that my soul did close the door against all comfort. Whence such weariness to him? It may be that his vineyard hath been hailed on, or his olive hath yielded no fruit, or the vintage hath been interrupted by rain. Whence the weariness to him? Hear this out of another Psalm. For therein is the voice of the same: “weariness hath bowed me down, because of sinners forsaking Thy law.” He saith then that he was overcome with so great weariness because of this sort of evil thing; so as that his soul refused to be comforted. Weariness had well nigh swallowed him up, and sorrow had ingulfed him altogether beyond remedy, he refuseth to be comforted. What then remained? In the first place, see whence he is comforted. Had he not waited for one who might condole with him?…“I have been mindful of God, and I have been delighted” (ver. 3). My hands had not wrought in vain, they had found a great comforter. While not being idle, “I have been mindful of God, and I have been delighted.” God must therefore be praised, of whom this man being mindful, hath been delighted, and hath been comforted in sorrowful case, and refreshed when safety was in a manner despaired of: God must therefore be praised. In fine, because he hath been comforted, in continuation he saith, “I have babbled.” In that same comfort being made mindful of God, I have been delighted, and have “babbled.” What is, “I have babbled”? I have rejoiced, I have exulted in speaking. For babblers they are properly called, that by the common people are named talkative, who at the approach of joy are neither able nor willing to be silent. This man hath become such an one. And again he saith what? “And my spirit hath fainted.”
[vers. 3.] Quanta audivimus, et cognovimus ea, et patres nostri narraverunt nobis. Dominus superius loquebatur. Nam cujus alterius verba credenda sunt, Attendite, populus meus, legem meam? Quid est ergo quod nunc repente homo loquitur? Jam enim hominis verba sunt, Quanta audivimus, et cognovimus ea, et patres nostri narraverunt nobis. Nimirum jam Deus ex hominis ministerio locuturus, sicut ait Apostolus, An vultis experimentum accipere ejus qui in me loquitur Christus ? ex persona sua primum verba fieri voluit, ne verba ejus loquens homo, contemneretur ut homo. Ita enim se habent locutiones Dei, quae nobis insinuantur per sensum corporis nostri. Creaturam subditam opere invisibili Creator movet; non ejus substantia in aliquid corporale et temporale convertitur, ut corporalibus et temporalibus signis, sive ad oculos sive ad aures pertinentibus, quantum capere homines possunt, suam faciat innotescere voluntatem. Si enim angelus uti potest aethere, aere, nube, igne, et alia qualibet natura vel specie corporali; et homo vultu, lingua, manu, calamo, litteris, aliisve significantibus rebus ad suae mentis indicanda secreta; postremo cum homo sit, nuntios homines mittit, et dicit alii, Vade, et vadit; et alii, Veni, et venit; et servo suo, Fac hoc, et facit : quanto majore et efficaciore potestate Deus, cui Domino universa subjecta sunt, et ipso angelo et homine utitur, ut quod ei placet annuntiet! Quamvis itaque jam homo dicat, Quanta audivimus, et cognovimus ea, et patres nostri narraverunt nobis; tamen tanquam Dei verba, non tanquam humanas fabulas audiamus. Propter hoc enim praemissum est, Attendite populus meus, legem meam, inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei. Aperiam in parabolis os meum, eloquar propositiones ab initio. Quanta ergo audivimus, inquit, et cognovimus ea, et patres nostri narraverunt nobis. Sic est, audivimus, et cognovimus; quomodo, Audi, filia, et vide . Audita enim sunt in Veteri Testamento quae cognoscuntur in Novo; audita cum prophetarentur, cognita cum implerentur. Ubi promissio redditur, non fraudatur auditio. Et patres nostri, Moyses et Prophetae, narraverunt nobis.
77.6 PL 36, 986
6. With weariness he had pined away; by calling to mind God, he had been delighted, again in babbling he had fainted: what followeth? “All mine enemies have anticipated watches” (ver. 4). All mine enemies have kept watch over me; they have exceeded in keeping watch over me; in watching they have been beforehand with me. Where do they not lay traps? Have not mine enemies anticipated all watches? For who are these enemies, but they of whom the Apostle saith, “Ye have not wrestling against flesh and blood.”…Against the devil and his angels we are waging hostilities. Rulers of the world he hath called them, because they do themselves rule the lovers of the world. For they do not rule the world, as if they were rulers of heaven and earth: but he is calling sinners the world.…With the devil and his angels there is no concord. They do themselves grudge us the kingdom of Heaven. They cannot at all be appeased towards us: because “all mine enemies have anticipated watches.” They have watched more to deceive than I to guard myself. For how can they have done otherwise than anticipate watches, that have set everywhere scandals, everywhere traps? Weariness doth invest the heart, we have to fear lest sorrow swallow us up: in joy to fear lest the spirit faint in babbling: “all mine enemies have anticipated watches.” In fine, in the midst of that same babbling, whiles thou art speaking, and art speaking without fear, how much is oft-times found which enemies would lay hold of and censure, whereon they would even found accusation and slander—“he said so, he thought so, he spake so!” What should man do, save that which followeth? “I have been troubled, and I spake not.” Therefore when he was troubled, lest in his babbling enemies anticipating watches should seek and find slanders, he spake not.…
[vers. 4.] Non sunt abscondita a filiis eorum, in generatione altera. Haec est nostra generatio, in qua nobis donata est regeneratio. Annuntiantes laudes Domini, et potentias ejus, et mirabilia ejus quae fecit. Ordo verborum est, Et patres nostri narraverunt nobis, annuntiantes laudes Domini. Laudatur Dominus ut ametur: quid enim salubrius amatur?
77.7 PL 36, 986
7. “I have thought on ancient days” (ver. 5). Now he, as if he were one who had been beaten out of doors, hath taken refuge within: he is conversing in the secret place of his own heart. And let him declare to us what he is doing there. It is well with him. Observe what things he is thinking of, I pray you. He is within, in his own house he is thinking of ancient days. No one saith to him, thou hast spoken ill: no one saith to him, thou hast spoken much: no one saith to him, thou hast thought perversely. Thus may it be well with him, may God aid him: let him think of the ancient days, and let him tell us what he hath done in his very inner chamber, whereunto he hath arrived, over what he hath leaped, where he hath abode. “I have thought on ancient days; and of eternal years I have been mindful.” What are eternal years? It is a mighty thought. See whether this thought requireth anything but great silence. Apart from all noise without, from all tumult of things human let him remain quiet within, that would think of those eternal years. Are the years wherein we are eternal, or those wherein our ancestors have been, or those wherein our posterity are to be? Far be it that they should be esteemed eternal. For what part of these years doth remain? Behold we speak and say, “in this year:” and what have we got of this year, save the one day wherein we are. For the former days of this year have already gone by, and are not to be had; but the future days have not yet come. In one day we are, and we say, in this year: nay rather say thou, to-day, if thou desirest to speak of anything present. For of the whole year what hast thou got that is present? Whatsoever thereof is past, is no longer; whatsoever thereof is future, is not yet: how then, “this year”? Amend the expression: say, to-day. Thou speakest truth, henceforth I will say, “to-day.” Again observe this too, how to-day the morning hours have already past, the future hours have not yet come. This too therefore amend: say, in this hour. And of this hour what hast thou got? Some moments thereof have already gone by, those that are future have not yet come. Say, in this moment. In what moment? While I am uttering syllables, if I shall speak two syllables, the latter doth not sound until the former hath gone by: in a word, in that same one syllable, if it chance to have two letters, the latter letter doth not sound, until the former hath gone by. What then have we got of these years? These years are changeable: the eternal years must be thought on, years that stand, that are not made up of days that come and depart; years whereof in another place the Scripture saith to God, “But Thou art the Self-same, and Thy years shall not fail.” On these years this man that leapeth over, not in babbling without, but in silence hath thought.
[vers. 5-8.] Et suscitavit Testimonium in Jacob, et Legem posuit in Israel. Hoc est initium de quo supra dictum est, Eloquar propositiones ab initio. Initium est ergo Vetus Testamentum, finis Novum. Timor enim praevalet in Lege: et initium sapientiae timor Domini . Finis autem Legis Christus est, ad justitiam omni credenti : quo donante diffunditur charitas in cordibus nostris, per Spiritum sanctum qui datus est nobis ; et consummata charitas foras mittit timorem , quoniam nunc sine Lege justitia Dei manifestata est. Sed quoniam testimonium habet a Lege et Prophetis (Rom. III, 21), ideo suscitavit Testimonium in Jacob, et Legem posuit in Israel. Nam et illud quod tam insigni et pleno tantis significationibus opere tabernaculum constitutum est, tabernaculum Testimonii nominatur , in quo erat velamen contra arcam Legis, sicut velamen contra faciem ministri Legis; quia in illa dispensatione parabolae et propositiones erant. Ea quippe quae praedicabantur et fiebant, velatis significationibus condebantur, et non revelatis manifestationibus cernebantur. Cum autem transieris ad Christum, ait Apostolus, auferetur velamen . Quotquot enim sunt promissiones Dei, in illo Etiam, Amen . Quisquis igitur Christo adhaeret, totum bonum quod etiam in litteris Legis non intelligit, habet; quisquis est autem alienus a Christo, nec intelligit, nec habet. Suscitavit ergo Testimonium in Jacob, et Legem posuit in Israel. More suo repetit. Nam quod est, Suscitavit Testimonium; hoc est, Legem posuit: et quod est, in Jacob; hoc est, in Israel. Nam sicut ista duo nomina sunt hominis unius, ita Lex, et Testimonium duo sunt nomina rei unius. Interest aliquid, ait quispiam, inter suscitavit et posuit. Ita sane; quemadmodum interest etiam inter Jacob, et Israel: non quia erant duo homines, sed eadem duo nomina diversis causis uni homini sunt imposita; Jacob propter supplantationem, quoniam nascentis tenuit plantam fratris; Israel autem propter visionem Dei . Sic aliud est, suscitavit, aliud posuit. Nam, suscitavit Testimonium, quantum existimo, dictum est, quod illo aliquid suscitatum est. Sine Lege enim, ait Apostolus, peccatum mortuum est. Ego autem vivebam aliquando sine Lege: adveniente autem mandato, peccatum revixit. Ecce quod suscitatum est per Testimonium quod est Lex, ut appareat quod latebat, sicut paulo post dicit: Sed peccatum ut appareat peccatum, per bonum mihi operatum est mortem . Posuit autem Legem, dictum est, tanquam jugum peccatoribus: unde dicitur, Quia justo non est lex posita . Testimonium est igitur, in quantum aliquid probat; Lex autem, in quantum jubet; cum sit una eademque res. Quocirca sicut lapis Christus; sed credentibus in caput anguli , non credentibus autem lapis offensionis et petra scandali; ita Testimonium Legis eis qui Lege non legitime utuntur. Testimonium est quo convincantur puniendi peccatores; his vero qui ea legitime utuntur, Testimonium est quo demonstratur ad quem liberandi confugere debent peccatores. In ejus enim gratia est justitia Dei, testimonium habens a Lege et Prophetis, qua justificatur impius: quam quidam ignorantes, et suam volentes constituere, justitiae Dei non sunt subjecti .
77.8 PL 36, 987
8. “And I have meditated in the night with my heart” (ver. 6). No slanderous person seeketh for snares in his words, in his heart he hath meditated. “I babbled.” Behold there is the former babbling. Watch again, that thy spirit faint not. I did not, he saith, I did not so babble as if it were abroad: in another way now. How now? “I did babble, and did search out my spirit.” If he were searching the earth to find veins of gold, no one would say that he was foolish; nay, many men would call him wise, for desiring to come at gold: how great treasures hath a man within, and he diggeth not! This man was examining his spirit, and was speaking with that same his spirit, and in the very speaking he was babbling. He was questioning himself, was examining himself, was judge over himself. And he continueth; “I did search my spirit.” He had to fear lest he should stay within his own spirit: for he had babbled without; and because all his enemies had anticipated watches, he found there sorrow, and his spirit fainted. He that did babble without, lo, now doth begin to babble within in safety, where being alone in secret, he is thinking on eternal years.…
« Quanta, » inquit, « mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis: ut cognoscat generatio altera, filii qui nascentur et exsurgent, et narrent filiis suis; ut ponant in Deo spem suam, et non obliviscantur operum Dei, et mandata ejus exquirant. Ne fiant, sicut patres eorum, generatio prava et amaricans; generatio quae cor non direxit suum, et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus. » Haec verba indicant duos quodammodo populos; alterum ad Vetus, alterum ad Novum Testamentum pertinentem: nam quod ait, Quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis, mandata eos accepisse dixit, nota facere ea filiis suis, non tamen eos agnovisse aut fecisse; sed ad hoc acceperunt ipsi, ut cognoscat generatio altera, quod illa non cognovit. Filii qui nascentur et exsurgent. Nam illi qui nati sunt, non exsurrexerunt, quia non sursum cor, sed in terra potius habuerunt. Cum Christo enim exsurgitur: unde dictum est, Si exsurrexistis cum Christo, quae sursum sunt sapite . Et narrent, inquit, filiis suis, ut ponant in Deo spem suam. Ita enim non suam justitiam justi volunt constituere, sed revelant ad Deum viam suam, et sperant in eum, ut ipse faciat . Et non obliviscantur operum Dei: magnificando scilicet et jactando opera sua, tanquam ipsi faciant; cum Deus sit qui operatur in eis qui bona operantur, et velle, et operari, pro bona voluntate . Et mandata ejus exquirant. Cum jam ea didicerint, quomodo exquirant? Quanta enim, inquit, mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis, ut cognoscat generatio altera. Quid cognoscat? Utique mandata quae mandavit. Quomodo ergo adhuc exquirant, nisi quia ponendo in Deo spem suam, tunc mandata ejus exquirant, ut ab eis illo adjuvante compleantur? Ne fiant, sicut patres eorum, generatio prava et amaricans; generatio quae non direxit cor suum. Et dicit quare, continuo subjungendo, Et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus: id est, quia non habebat fidem, quae impetrat quod Lex imperat. Quando enim cum Spiritu Dei operante spiritus hominis cooperatur, tunc quod Deus jussit impletur; et hoc non fit, nisi credendo in eum qui justificat impium . Quam fidem non habuit generatio prava et amaricans; et ideo de illa dictum est: Non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus. Multo enim hoc expressius dictum est, ad significandam gratiam Dei, quae non solum operatur remissionem peccatorum, sed etiam cooperantem sibi facit hominis spiritum in opere bonorum factorum; quasi diceret, Non credidit Deo spiritus ejus. Hoc est enim habere cum Deo creditum spiritum, non credere spiritum suum posse facere sine Deo justitiam, sed cum Deo. Hoc est etiam credere in Deum; quod utique plus est quam credere Deo. Nam et homini cuilibet plerumque credendum est, quamvis in eum non sit credendum. Hoc est ergo credere in Deum, credendo adhaerere ad bene cooperandum bona operanti Deo: Quia sine me, inquit, nihil potestis facere . Quid autem plus hinc Apostolus dicere potuit, quam quod ait: Qui autem adhaeret Domino, unus spiritus est (I Cor. VI, 17). Alioquin lex illa testimonium est quo damnetur, non quo absolvatur reus. Littera enim est minax, quae convincat praevaricatores; non spiritus adjuvans, qui liberet et justificet peccatores. Generatio ergo illa, cujus exemplum cavendum est, ideo prava et amaricans fuit, quia non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus: quia etsi aliqua credidit Deo, non tamen credidit in Deum; non ex fide adhaesit Deo, ut sanata a Deo bene cooperaretur cum operante in se Deo.
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9. And thou hast found what? “God will not repel for everlasting” (ver. 7). Weariness he had found in this life; in no place a trustworthy, in no place a fearless comfort. Unto whatsoever men he betook himself, in them he found scandal, or feared it. In no place therefore was he free from care. An evil thing it was for him to hold his peace, lest perchance he should keep silence from good words; to speak and babble without was painful to him, lest all his enemies, anticipating watches, should seek slanders in his words. Being exceedingly straitened in this life, he thought much of another life, where there is not this trial. And when is he to arrive thither? For it cannot but be evident that our suffering here is the anger of God. This thing is spoken of in Isaiah, “I will not be an avenger unto you for everlasting, nor will I be angry with you at all times.” …Will this anger of God always abide? This man hath not found this in silence. For he saith what? “God will not repel for everlasting, and He will not add any more that it should be well-pleasing to Him still.” That is, that it should be well-pleasing to Him still to repel, and He will not add the repelling for everlasting. He must needs recall to Himself His servants, He must needs receive fugitives returning to the Lord, He must needs hearken to the voice of them that are in fetters. “Or unto the end will He cut off mercy from generation to generation?” (ver. 8).
[vers. 9.] Denique, Filii Ephraem intendentes et mittentes arcus, conversi sunt in die belli. Persequentes Legem justitiae, in Legem justitiae non pervenerunt . Quare? Quia non ex fide. Generatio enim erat, cujus spiritus cum Deo creditus non est: sed tanquam ex operibus; quia non sicut tetendit et misit arcus (quod foris apparet, tanquam in operibus Legis), ita direxit et cor, ubi justus vivit ex fide , quae per dilectionem operatur , qua inhaeretur Deo, qui operatur in homine, et velle, et operari, pro bona voluntate . Nam quid est aliud tendere arcum, et mittere, et converti in die belli, nisi attendere et promittere in die auditionis, et deserere in die tentationis; armis quasi proludere, et ad horam certaminis nolle pugnare? Quod sane ait, tendentes et mittentes arcus; cum debuisse dicere videatur, tendentes arcus, et mittentes sagittas; non enim arcus mittitur, sed ab arcu aliquid mittitur: aut illa locutio est de qua superius disseruimus, ubi dictum est, Suscitavit Testimonium, quia suscitavit aliquid Testimonio; ita et hic, mittentes arcus, quia miserunt aliquid arcubus: aut obscurus ordo verborum est, cum praetermissione verbi, quod etiam tacitum subaudiendum est, ut iste ordo sit, Filii Ephraem intendentes arcus, et mittentes, et subaudiatur, Sagittas; pleniusque sit, Tendentes arcus, et mittentes sagittas: quia etiam si diceret, Tendentes, et mittentes sagittas, non utique, Tendentes sagittas, intelligere deberemus; sed audito eo quod dixit, Tendentes, subaudire potius, Arcum, quamvis dictum non fuerit. Nonnulli sane codices graeci habere dicuntur, tendentes et mittentes arcubus, ut sine dubitatione subaudiamus Sagittas. Quod vero per filios Ephraem universam illam generationem amaricantem intelligi voluit, locutio est a parte totum significans. Et ideo fortasse electa est ista pars, ex qua ille populus totus significaretur, quia de his potissimum boni aliquid exspectandum fuit; quia ex illo nati sunt, quem nepotem suum Jacob, quamvis a patre ejus tanquam minorem ad sinistram constitutum, manu tamen dextera benedixit, eumque majori fratri arcana benedictione praeposuit ; ut quod ita hoc loco tribus illa culpatur, nec apparuisse in ea quod illa benedictio promittebat ostenditur, satis intelligamus quod etiam tunc ex verbis patriarchae Jacob longe aliud figurabatur, quam prudentia carnis exspectat. Figurabatur enim quod futuri essent novissimi qui erant primi, et primi futuri essent qui erant novissimi , per Salvatoris adventum, de quo dictum est: Qui post me venit, ante me factus est . Sic Abel justus majori praelatus est fratri , sic Ismaeli Isaac , sic Esau congemino suo, sed tamen prius nato, ipse Jacob ; sic Phares et ipse congeminum suum, qui prius manum ex utero miserat, et coeperat nasci, etiam nascendo praecessit ; sic David majoribus praelatus est fratribus : et propter quod istae omnes atque aliae similes, non solum dictorum, sed etiam factorum parabolae praecesserunt, sic populo Judaeorum praelatus est populus christianus, pro quo redimendo, quemadmodum Abel a Cain , sic a Judaeis occisus est Christus. Hoc praefiguratum est enim etiam cum Jacob decussatim porrectis manibus, dextera tetigit Ephraem ad sinistram constitutum; eumque praeposuit Manasse ad dexteram constituto, quem sinistra ipse tangebat. Nam secundum carnem filii Ephraem intendentes et mittentes arcus, conversi sunt in die belli.
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10. “Or will God forget to be merciful?” (ver. 9). In thee, from thee unto another there is no mercy unless God bestow it on thee: and shall God Himself forget mercy? The stream runneth: shall the spring itself be dried up? “Or shall God forget to be merciful: or shall He keep back in anger His mercies?” That is, shall He be so angry, as that He will not have mercy? He will more easily keep back anger than mercy.
[vers. 10.] Quid sit autem quod ait, Conversi sunt in die belli, consequentia docent, quibus id apertissime exposuit: Non custodierunt, inquit, testamentum Dei, et in lege ejus noluerunt ambulare. Ecce quid est, Conversi sunt in die belli: non observaverunt testamentum Dei. Ubi arcus tendentes et mittentes, etiam promissionis promptissimae verba protulerunt, dicentes: Quaecumque locutus est Dominus Deus noster, faciemus et audiemus . Conversi sunt in die belli: quia promissionem obedientiae, non auditio, sed tentatio probat. Cujus est autem cum Deo spiritus creditus, fidelem tenet Deum, qui non eum permittet tentari super quod potest; sed faciet cum tentatione etiam exitum, ut possit sustinere , ne convertatur in die belli. Qui autem in se, non in Deo gloriatur , quantumvis jactet pollicitationem virtutis suae, velut tendens et mittens arcus, convertitur in die belli. Quia enim non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus, non est cum illo etiam Spiritus Dei; et, sicut scriptum est, Quia non credidit, ideo non protegetur . Quod vero cum dixisset, Non observaverunt testamentum Dei, adjecit et ait, Et in lege ejus noluerunt ambulare; repetitio est superioris sententiae, cum quadam ejus expositione: hoc enim appellavit, legem ejus, quod supra dixerat testamentum Dei; ut illud quod dictum est, non custodierunt, repetitum intelligatur in eo, ambulare noluerunt. Sed cum brevius dici posset, Et in lege ejus non ambulaverunt, nonnihil mihi videtur in hoc verbo nos quaerere voluisse, quod maluit dicere, noluerunt ambulare, quam, non ambulaverunt. Poterat enim putari lex operum quasi sufficere ad justificationem, cum ea quae praecipiuntur, forinsecus fiunt ab eis hominibus qui mallent non praecipi quae non ex corde faciunt, et tamen faciunt; ac per hoc quasi videntur ambulare in lege Dei, sed nolunt ambulare: non enim ex corde faciunt. Ex corde autem nullo modo fieri potest, quod formidine fit poenae, non dilectione justitiae. Nam quantum attinet ad facta quae forinsecus aguntur: et qui timent poenam, et qui amant justitiam non furantur; et ideo pares sunt manu, dispares corde; pares opere, dispares voluntate. Ideo illi sic notati sunt: Generatio, inquit, quae cor non direxit suum. Non dictum est, opera: sed, cor. Directo enim corde, recta sunt opera: cum autem cor directum non est, opera recta non sunt, etiamsi recta videantur. Et unde cor non direxit prava generatio, satis aperuit, cum ait: Et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus. Rectus est enim Deus: et ideo recto adhaerens, tanquam incommutabili regulae, potest fieri rectum quod in se fuit pravum cor hominis. Ut autem cor cum illo sit, et per hoc rectum esse possit, acceditur ad eum, non pede, sed fide. Ideo dicitur etiam in Epistola ad Hebraeos de illa ipsa generatione prava et amaricante: Non profuit sermo auditus illis non contemperatis fidei eorum qui obaudierunt . Voluntas igitur quae est in corde recto, paratur a Domino, fide praecedente, qua acceditur ad Deum rectum, ut cor fiat rectum. Quae fides, praeveniente et vocante misericordia Dei, per obedientiam suscitatur; et applicare incipit ad Deum cor, ut dirigatur; et quanto magis magisque dirigitur, tanto magis videt quod non videbat, et valet quod non valebat. Hoc non fecerat Simon, cui Petrus apostolus dixit: Non est tibi pars neque sors in hac fide; cor enim tuum non est rectum cum Deo . Ibi enim ostendit quia non potest esse rectum sine Deo, ut incipiant homines, non tanquam servi sub lege ambulare metuentes, sed in lege tanquam filii volentes, in qua illi ambulare noluerunt, et sub illa rei remanserunt. Hanc enim voluntatem non timor, sed charitas habet, quae diffunditur in cordibus credentium per Spiritum sanctum . Quibus dicitur: « Gratia salvi facti estis per fidem, et hoc non ex vobis, sed Dei donum est; non ex operibus, ne forte quis extollatur. Ipsius enim sumus figmentum, creati in Christo Jesu in operibus bonis, quae praeparavit Deus ut in illis ambulemus » . Non quomodo isti, qui in lege ejus noluerunt ambulare, non credendo in eum, neque viam suam revelando ad eum et sperando in eum, ut ipse faceret.
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11. “And I said.” Now leaping over himself he hath said what? “Now I have begun:” (ver. 10), when I had gone out even from myself. Here henceforth there is no danger: for even to remain in myself, was danger. “And I said, Now I have begun: this is the changing of the right hand of the Lofty One.” Now the Lofty One hath begun to change me: now I have begun something wherein I am secure: now I have entered a certain palace of joys, wherein no enemy is to be feared: now I have begun to be in that region, where all mine enemies do not anticipate watches. “Now I have begun: this is the changing of the right hand of the Lofty One.”
[vers. 11, 12.] Et obliti sunt beneficiorum ejus, et mirabilium ejus quae ostendit eis, coram patribus eorum quae fecit mirabilia. Quid sit hoc, non est quaestio negligenda. De ipsis patribus paulo ante dicebat quod fuisset generatio prava et amaricans. Ne fiant, inquit, sicut patres eorum, generatio prava et amaricans; generatio quae non direxit cor suum, et caetera quae adhuc de ipsa generatione dicuntur, cujus imitationem eo modo cavendam praecipit alteri generationi, ut ponant in Deo spem suam, et non obliviscantur operum Dei, et mandata ejus exquirant: de quibus jam satis quod visum est disseruimus. Quid sibi ergo vult, cum de ipsa generatione prava loquatur quomodo obliti sunt beneficiorum Dei, et mirabilium ejus quae ostendit eis, quod addidit et dicit: Coram patribus eorum quae fecit mirabilia. Quibus patribus, cum isti ipsi sint patres, quorum non vult esse posteros similes? Si illos acceperimus ex quibus isti nati erant, velut Abraham, Isaac et Jacob; jam olim dormierant, quando mirabilia Deus ostendit in Aegypto. Sequitur enim, In terra Aegypti, in campo Thaneos: ubi dicit ostendisse Deum istis mirabilia coram patribus eorum. An forte spiritu praesentes erant, quia de ipsis Dominus in Evangelio ait: Omnes enim illi vivunt ? An accommodatius accipimus patres, Moysen, et Aaron, aliosque seniores qui commemorantur in eadem Scriptura etiam spiritum accepisse, unde acceperat et Moyses, ut eum adjuvarent ad eumdem populum regendum ac ferendum ? Cur enim non appellarentur patres? Non sicut Deus Pater unus est qui regenerat Spiritu suo quos facit filios ad aeternam haereditatem; sed honoris gratia, propter aetatem curamque pietatis: sicut Paulus senior dicit, Non ut confundam vos, haec scribo; sed ut filios meos charissimos moneo; cum sciret utique a Domino dictum, Ne vobis dicatis patrem in terra; unus est enim Pater vester Deus . Quod non ideo dictum est, ut hoc vocabulum honoris humani de loquendi consuetudine tolleretur; sed ne gratia Dei qua in aeternam vitam regeneramur, naturae, vel potestati, vel etiam sanctitati cujusquam hominis tribueretur. Ideo cum diceret, Ego vos genui: praedixit, In Christo, et per Evangelium ; ne ipsius putaretur esse quod Dei est.
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12. “I have been mindful of the works of the Lord” (ver. 11). Now behold him roaming among the works of the Lord. For he was babbling without, and being made sorrowful thereby his spirit fainted: he babbled within with his own heart, and with his spirit, and having searched out that same spirit he was mindful of the eternal years, was mindful of the mercy of the Lord, how God will not repel him for everlasting; and he began now fearlessly to rejoice in His works, fearlessly to exult in the same. Let us hear now those very works, and let us too exult. But let even us leap over in our affections, and not rejoice in things temporal. For we too have our bed. Why do we not enter therein? Why do we not abide in silence? Why do we not search out our spirit? Why do we not think on the eternal years? Why do we not rejoice in the works of God? In such sort now let us hear, and let us take delight in Himself speaking, in order that when we shall have departed hence, we may do that which we used to do while He spake; if only we are making the beginning of Him whereof he spake in, “Now I have begun.” To rejoice in the works of God, is to forget even thyself, if thou canst delight in Him alone. For what is a better thing than He? Dost thou not see that, when thou returnest to thyself, thou returnest to a worse thing? “for I shall be mindful from the beginning of Thy wonderful works.”
Ergo illa generatio prava et amaricans, obliti sunt beneficiorum Dei, et mirabilium ejus quae ostendit eis, coram patribus eorum quae fecit mirabilia in terra Aegypti, in campo Thaneos. Et incipit eadem mirabilia commemorando retexere. Quae si parabolae sunt et propositiones, profecto ad aliquid comparando referendae sunt. Nec oculum intentionis debemus auferre ab eo quod psalmus ipse intendit ostendere, hunc esse fructum omnium quae dicuntur, et quare admoniti sumus haec intentissime audire, Deo dicente, Attendite, populus meus, legem meam; inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei; ut ponamus in Deo spem nostram, et non obliviscamur operum Dei, et mandata ejus exquiramus; ne fiamus, sicut illi patres, generatio prava et amaricans; generatio quae cor non direxit suum, et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus. Ad hoc ergo omnia referenda sunt, ac per hoc quidquid figurata actione ista significant, ita fieri possunt spiritualiter in homine; vel gratia Dei, si bona sunt; vel judicio Dei, si mala sunt: sicut illa bona facta sunt in Israelitas, vel mala, et in ipsos, et in eorum inimicos. Quae si non obliviscamur, sed in Deo spem nostram ponamus, nec ipsius gratiae simus ingrati; eumque timeamus, non timore servili, quo sola mala corporalia formidantur, sed timore casto permanente in saeculum saeculi, qui timor magnam esse judicat poenam privari luce justitiae; non efficiemur, tanquam patres illi, generatio prava et amaricans. Terra itaque Aegypti in figura intelligenda est hujus saeculi. Campus Thaneos planities est mandati humilis. Nam Mandatum humile interpretatur Thanis. In hoc ergo saeculo humilitatis mandatum suscipiamus, ut in alio saeculo exaltationem, quam promisit qui propter nos hic factus est humilis, accipere mereamur.
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13. “And I will meditate on all Thy works, and on Thy affections I will babble” (ver. 12). Behold the third babbling! He babbled without, when he hinted; he babbled in his spirit within, when he advanced: he babbled on the works of God, when he arrived at the place toward which he advanced. “And on Thy affections:” not on any affections. What man doth live without affections? And do ye suppose, brethren, that they who fear God, worship God, love God, have not any affections? Wilt thou indeed suppose and dare to suppose, that painting, the theatre, hunting, hawking, fishing, engage the affections, and the meditation on God doth not engage certain interior affections of its own, while we contemplate the universe, and place before our eyes the spectacle of the natural world, and therein labour to discover the Maker, and find Him nowhere unpleasing, but pleasing above all things?
[vers. 13-16.] Nam qui disrupit mare, et trajecit eos, statuit aquas quasi in utres, ut sic staret unda tanquam fuisset inclusa, potest per suam gratiam cohibere fluida et labentia concupiscentiarum carnalium, cum huic saeculo renuntiatur, ut, tanquam inimicis, peccatis omnibus perdeletis, fidelium populus per sacramentum Baptismatis trajiciatur. Qui deduxit eos in nube diei, et tota nocte in illuminatione ignis, potest etiam spiritualiter dirigere itinera, si ad eum clamet fides: Itinera mea dirige secundum verbum tuum . De quo alibi dicitur, Ipse enim rectos faciet cursus tuos, et itinera tua in pace producet : per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum, cujus in hoc saeculo, tanquam in die, sacramentum manifestatum est in carne, velut in nube; in judicio vero, tanquam in terrore nocturno, quia tunc erit magna tribulatio saeculi tanquam ignis, et lucebit justis, et ardebit injustis. Qui disrupit in deserto petram, et adaquavit eos sicut in abysso multa; et eduxit aquam de petra, et deduxit tanquam flumina aquas, potest utique sitienti fidei donum Spiritus sancti, quod illa res gesta spiritualiter significabat, infundere de spirituali sequente petra, quod est Christus : qui stabat et clamabat, Si quis sitit, veniat ad me; et, Qui biberit de aqua quam ego dabo, flumina aquae vivae fluent de ventre ejus. Hoc enim dicebat, sicut in Evangelio legitur, de Spiritu quem accepturi erant credentes in eum . Ad quem velut virga lignum passionis accessit, ut emanaret credentibus gratia.
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14. “O God, Thy way is in the Holy One” (ver. 13). He is contemplating now the works of the mercy of God around us, out of these he is babbling, and in these affections he is exulting. At first he is beginning from thence, “Thy way is in the Holy One?” What is that way of Thine which is in the Holy One? “I am,” He saith, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Return therefore, ye men, from your affections.…“Who is a great God, like our God?” Gentiles have their affections regarding their gods, they adore idols, they have eyes and they see not; ears they have and they hear not; feet they have and they walk not. Why dost thou walk to a God that walketh not? I do not, he saith, worship such things, and what dost thou worship? The divinity which is there. Thou dost then worship that whereof hath been said elsewhere, “for the Gods of the nations are demons.” Thou dost either worship idols, or devils. Neither idols, nor devils, he saith. And what dost thou worship? The stars, sun, moon, those things celestial. How much better Him that hath made both things earthly and things celestial. “Who is a great God like our God?”
[vers. 17.] Et tamen illi tanquam generatio prava et amaricans, apposuerunt adhuc peccare ei: id est, non credere. Nam hoc est peccatum de quo arguit Spiritus mundum, sicut Dominus dicit: De peccato quidem, quia non crediderunt in me . Et exacerbaverunt Altissimum in siccitate: quod alii codices habent, in inaquoso, quod de graeco est expressius, nec aliud quam siccitatem significat. Utrum in illa eremi siccitate, an potios in sua? Quia licet bibissent de petra, non ventres, sed mentes aridas habebant, nulla virentes fecunditate justitiae. In qua siccitate magis fideliter Deo supplices esse debuerant, ut qui satietatem donaverat faucibus, aequitatem donaret et moribus. Ad eum quippe fidelis anima clamat, Oculi mei videant aequitatem .
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15. “Thou art the God that doest wonderful things alone” (ver. 14). Thou art indeed a great God, doing wonderful things in body, in soul; alone doing them. The deaf have heard, the blind have seen, the feeble have recovered, the dead have risen, the paralytic have been strengthened. But these miracles were at that time performed on bodies, let us see those wrought on the soul. Sober are those that were a little before drunken, believers are those that were a little before worshippers of idols: their goods they bestow on the poor that did rob before those of others.…“Wonderful things alone.” Moses too did them, but not alone: Elias too did them, even Eliseus did them, the Apostles too did them, but no one of them alone. That they might have power to do them, Thou wast with them: when Thou didst them they were not with Thee. For they were not with Thee when Thou didst them, inasmuch as Thou didst make even these very men. How “alone”? Is it perchance the Father, and not the Son? Or the Son, and not the Father? Nay, but Father and Son and Holy Ghost. For it is not three Gods but one God that doeth wonderful things alone, and even in this very leaper-over. For even his leaping over and arriving at these things was a miracle of God: when he was babbling within with his own spirit, in order that he might leap over even that same spirit of his, and might delight in the works of God, he then did wonderful things himself. But God hath done what? “Thou hast made known unto the people Thy power.” Thence this congregation of Asaph leaping over; because He hath made known in the peoples His virtue. What virtue of His hath He made known in the peoples? “But we preach Christ crucified,…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” If then the virtue of God is Christ, He hath made known Christ in the peoples. Do we not yet perceive so much as this; and are we so unwise, are we lying so much below, do we so leap over nothing, as that we see not this?
[vers. 18 20] Et tentaverunt Deum in cordibus suis, ut peterent escas animabus suis Aliud est petere credendo, aliud tentando. Denique sequitur: « Et detraxerunt de Deo, et dixerunt: Numquid poterit Deus parare mensam in deserto? Quoniam percussit petram, et fluxerunt aquae, et torrentes inundaverunt, numquid et panem poterit dare, aut parare mensam populo suo? » Non credentes ergo petierunt escas animabus suis. Non sic apostolus Jacobus escam mentis praecipit postulari; sed a credentibus eam peti admonet, non a tentantibus atque detrahentibus Deo: Si quis autem vestrum, inquit, indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat; et dabitur ei: postulet autem in fide nihil haesitans . Hanc fidem non habebat generatio, quae cor non direxerat suum, et non erat creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus.
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16. “Thou hast redeemed in Thine arm Thy people” (ver. 15). “With Thine arm,” that is, with Thy power. “And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” “Thou hast redeemed in Thine arm Thy people, the sons of Israel and of Joseph.” How as if two peoples, “the sons of Israel and of Joseph”? Are not the sons of Joseph among the sons of Israel?…He hath admonished us of some distinction to be made. Let us search out our spirit, perchance God hath placed there something—God whom we ought even by night to seek with our hands, in order that we may not be deceived—perchance we shall discover even ourselves in this distinction of “sons of Israel and of Joseph.” By Joseph He hath willed another people to be understood, hath willed that the people of the Gentiles be understood. Why the people of the Gentiles by Joseph? Because Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brethren. That Joseph whom the brethren envied, and sold him into Egypt, when sold into Egypt, toiled, was humbled; when made known and exalted, flourished, reigned. And by all these things he hath signified what? What but Christ sold by His brethren, banished from His own land, as it were into the Egypt of the Gentiles? There at first humbled, when the Martyrs were suffering persecutions: now exalted, as we see; inasmuch as there hath been fulfilled in Him, “There shall adore Him all kinds of the earth, all nations shall serve Him.” Therefore Joseph is the people of the Gentiles, but Israel the people of the Hebrew nation. God hath redeemed His people, “the sons of Israel and of Joseph.” By means of what? By means of the corner stone, wherein the two walls have been joined together.
[vers. 21.] Propter hoc audivit Dominus, et distulit, et ignis accensus est in Jacob, et ira ascendit in Israel. Exposuit quid ignem dixerit. Iram quippe appellavit ignem: quanquam multos proprie etiam ignis accenderit. Quid ergo est quod ait, Audivit Dominus, et distulit? An distulit eos introducere in terram promissionis, quo ducebantur; quod intra paucos dies fieri poterat, sed propter peccata in eremo fuerant conterendi, ubi et contriti sunt per quadraginta annos? Quod si ita est, distulit ergo populum, non istos ipsos qui tentantes detrahebant de Deo; nam omnes in eremo perierunt, et filii eorum in terram promissionis ingressi sunt. An distulit poenam, ut prius satiaret etiam infidelem concupiscentiam, ne propterea putaretur iratus quia hoc ab illo, licet tentantes et detrahentes, petebant quod facere non posset? Audivit ergo et distulit vindicare; et posteaquam fecit quod eum illi facere non posse putaverunt, tunc ira ascendit in Israel.
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17. And he continueth how? “The waters have seen Thee, O God, and they have feared and the abysses have been troubled” (ver. 16). What are the waters? The peoples. What are these waters hath been asked in the Apocalypse, the answer was, the peoples. There we find most clearly waters put by a figure for peoples. But above he had said, “Thou hast made known in the peoples Thy virtue.” With reason therefore, “the waters have seen Thee, and they have feared.” They have been changed because they have feared. What are the abysses? The depths of waters. What man among the peoples is not troubled, when the conscience is smitten? Thou seekest the depth of the sea, what is deeper than human conscience? That is the depth which was troubled, when God redeemed with His arm His people. In what manner were the abysses troubled? When all men poured forth their consciences in confession.
[vers. 22 31.] Denique utroque breviter posito, deinceps aperte ordinem narrationis exsequitur. Quia non crediderunt in Deo, nec speraverunt in salutare ejus. Namque cum dixisset quare ignis accensus est in Jacob, et ira ascendit in Israel, id est, quia non crediderunt in Deo, nec speraverunt in salutare ejus, continuo subjiciens quam evidentibus beneficiis ingrati fuerunt, « Et mandavit, » inquit, « nubibus desuper, et januas coeli aperuit. Et pluit illis manna ad manducandum, et panem coeli dedit eis. Panem Angelorum manducavit homo: cibaria misit eis in abundantia. Transtulit Austrum de coelo, et induxit in virtute sua Africum. Et pluit super eos sicut pulverem carnes, et sicut arenam maris volatilia pennata. Et ceciderunt in medio castrorum eorum, circa tabernacula eorum. Et manducaverunt, et saturati sunt nimis; et desiderium eorum attulit eis: non sunt privati a desiderio suo. » Ecce quare distulerat. Quid autem distulerat, audiamus: Adhuc esca erat in ore ipsorum, et ira Dei ascendit super eos. Ecce quod distulerat. Prius enim, distulit; et postea, ignis accensus est in Jacob, et ira ascendit in Israel. Distulerat ergo, ut prius faceret quod eum facere non posse crediderant, deinde inferret quod eos pati oportebat. Nam si ponerent in Deo spem suam, non solum eis illa desideria carnis, sed etiam spiritus, implerentur. Qui enim mandavit nubibus desuper, et januas coeli aperuit, et pluit illis manna ad manducandum, et panem coeli dedit eis, ut panem Angelorum manducaret homo, qui cibaria misit eis in abundantia, ut satiaret incredulos, non est inefficax dare credentibus verum ipsum de coelo panem quem manna significabat; qui vere cibus est Angelorum, quos Dei Verbum incorruptibiles incorruptibiliter pascit; quod ut manducaret homo, caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis . Ipse enim panis per nubes evangelicas universo orbi pluitur; et apertis praedicatorum cordibus tanquam coelestibus januis, non murmuranti et tentanti Synagogae, sed credenti et in illo spem ponenti Ecclesiae praedicatur. Qui « transtulit Austrum de coelo, et induxit in virtute sua Africum, et pluit super eos sicut pulverem carnes, et sicut arenam maris volatilia pennata; et ceciderunt in medio castrorum eorum, circa tabernacula eorum: et manducaverunt, et saturati sunt nimis, et desiderium eorum attulit eis, nec sunt privati a desiderio suo, » potest et non tentantium, sed credentium parvulam fidem, carne editis vocum signis et per aerem transcurrentibus, tanquam volatilibus pascere: non tamen ab Aquilone venientibus ubi frigus et caligo praevalent, id est, eloquentia quae huic saeculo placet; sed transferendo Austrum de coelo. Quo, nisi ad terras? ut qui in fide sunt parvuli, audiendo terrestria nutriantur ad capienda coelestia. Si enim terrestria, inquit, dixi vobis, et non creditis; quomodo si coelestia dixero vobis, credetis ? Translatus enim erat ille de coelo quodammodo, ubi mente excesserat Deo; ut temperans eis esset quibus dicebat: Non potui vobis loqui quasi spiritualibus, sed quasi carnalibus . Ibi enim audierat ineffabilia verba , quae in terra illi non licebat loqui per verba sonantia, quasi per volatilia pennata; et inducendo in virtute sua Africum, hoc est, per ventos meridianos, ferventes et lucentes praedicantium spiritus; et hoc in virtute sua, ne sibi tribuat Africus quod habet ex Deo. Veniunt autem ultro isti venti ad homines, et apportant eis verba divinitus missa; ut in suis sedibus et circa tabernacula sua colligant ejusmodi volatilia, et adoret unusquisque Dominum de loco suo, omnes insulae gentium .
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18. In praises of God, in confessions of sins, in hymns and in songs, in prayers, “There is a multitude of the sound of waters. The clouds have uttered a voice” (ver. 17). Thence that sound of waters, thence the troubling of the abysses, because “the clouds have uttered a voice.” What clouds? The preachers of the word of truth. What clouds? Those concerning which God doth menace a certain vineyard, which instead of grape had brought forth thorns and He saith, “I will command My clouds, that they rain no rain upon it.” In a word, the Apostles forsaking the Jews, went to the Gentiles: in preaching Christ among all nations, “the clouds have uttered a voice.” “For Thine arrows have gone through.” Those same voices of the clouds He hath again called arrows. For the words of the Evangelists were arrows. For these things are allegories. For properly neither an arrow is rain, nor rain is an arrow: but yet the word of God is both an arrow because it doth smite; and rain because it doth water. Let no one therefore any longer wonder at the troubling of the abysses, when “Thine arrows have gone through.” What is, “have gone through”? They have not stopped in the ears, but they have pierced the heart. “The voice of Thy thunder is in the wheel” (ver. 18). What is this? How are we to understand it? May the Lord give aid. When boys we were wont to imagine, whenever we heard thunderings from Heaven, that carriages were going forth as it were from the stables. For thunder doth make a sort of rolling like carriages. Must we return to these boyish thoughts, in order to understand, “the voice of Thy thunder is in the wheel,” as though God hath certain carriages in the clouds, and the passing along of the carriages doth raise that sound? Far be it. This is boyish, vain, trifling. What is then, “The voice of Thy thunder is in the wheel”? Thy voice rolleth. Not even this do I understand. What shall we do? Let us question Idithun himself, to see whether perchance he may himself explain what he hath said: “The voice,” he saith, “of Thy thunder is in the wheel.” I do not understand. I will hear what thou sayest: “Thy lightnings have appeared to the round world.” Say then, I had no understanding. The round world is a wheel. For the circuit of the round world is with reason called also an “orb:” whence also a small wheel is called an “orbiculus.” “The voice of Thy thunder is in the wheel:” Thy “lightnings have appeared to the round world.” Those clouds in a wheel have gone about the round world, have gone about with thundering and with lightning, they have shaken the abyss, with commandments they have thundered, with miracles they have lightened. “Unto every land hath gone forth the sound of them, and unto the ends of the orb the words of them.” “The land hath been moved and made to tremble:” that is, all men that dwell in the land. But by a figure the land itself is sea. Why? Because all nations are called by the name of sea, inasmuch as human life is bitter, and exposed to storms and tempests. Moreover if thou observe this, how men devour one another like fishes, how the stronger doth swallow up the weaker—it is then a sea, unto it the Evangelists went.
Sed infidelibus tanquam pravae et amaricanti generationi, cum adhuc esca esset in ore ipsorum, ira Dei ascendit in eos, et occidit in plurimis eorum: hoc est, plurimos eorum, vel sicut nonnulli codices habent, pingues eorum. Quod quidem in graecis quos habuimus, non invenimus. Sed si hoc est verius, quid aliud intelligendi sunt pingues eorum, nisi superbia praevalentes, de quibus dicitur: Prodiet quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum ? Et electos Israel impedivit. Erant illic etiam electi, quorum fidei non contemperabatur generatio prava et amaricans. Impediti sunt autem ne aliquid eis prodessent, quibus paterno se affectu consulere cupiebant. Quibus enim Deus irascitur, quid misericordia confertur humana? An potius simul cum eis compeditos etiam electos intelligi voluit; ut qui mente et vita discernebantur, ad exemplum non justitiae tantum, sed etiam patientiae, cum illis molestias sustinerent? nam sanctos cum peccatoribus non ob aliam forsitan causam etiam captivos ductos esse didicimus, quoniam in Graecis codicibus non ἐνεπόδισεν, quod est impedivit; sed συνεπόδισεν legimus, quod est potius compedivit.
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19. “Thy way is in the sea” (ver. 19). But now Thy way was in the Holy One, now “Thy way is in the sea:” because the Holy One Himself is in the sea, and with reason even did walk upon the waters of the sea. “Thy way is in the sea,” that is, Thy Christ is preached among the Gentiles.…“Thy way is in the sea, and Thy paths in many waters,” that is, in many peoples. “And Thy footsteps will not be known.” He hath touched certain, and wonder were it if it be not those same Jews. Behold now the mercy of Christ hath been so published to the Gentiles, that “Thy way is in the sea. Thy footsteps will not be known.” How so, by whom will they not be known, save by those who still say, Christ hath not yet come? Why do they say, Christ hath not yet come? Because they do not yet recognise Him walking on the sea.
[vers. 32, 33.] Sed « generatio prava et amaricans, in omnibus his peccaverunt adhuc, et non crediderunt in mirabilibus ejus. Et defecerunt in vanitate dies eorum: » cum possent, si crederent, dies in veritate sine defectu habere apud eum cui dictum est: Anni tui non deficient . Defecerunt ergo in vanitate dies eorum, et anni eorum cum festinatione. Festinatur quippe tota vita mortalium, et quae videtur prolixior, vapor est aliquanto diuturnior.
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20. “Thou hast led home Thy people like sheep in the hand of Moses and of Aaron” (ver. 20). Why He hath added this is somewhat difficult to discover.…They banished Christ; sick as they were, they would not have Him for their Saviour; but He began to be among the Gentiles, and among all nations, among many peoples. Nevertheless, a remnant of that people hath been saved. The ungrateful multitude hath remained without, even the halting breadth of Jacob’s thigh. For the breadth of the thigh is understood of the multitude of lineage, and among the greater part of the Israelites a certain multitude became vain and foolish, so as not to know the steps of Christ on the waters. “Thou hast led home Thy people like sheep,” and they have not known Thee. Though Thou hast done such great benefits unto them, hast divided sea, hast made them pass over dry land between waters, hast drowned in the waves pursuing enemies, in the desert hast rained manna for their hunger, leading them home “by the hand of Moses and Aaron:” still they thrust Thee from them, so that in the sea was Thy Way, and Thy steps they knew not.
[vers. 34, 35.] Verumtamen cum occideret eos, quaerebant eum: non propter aeternam vitam, sed vaporem citius finire metuentes. Quaerebant ergo eum, non utique ii quos occiderat, sed qui exemplo eorum occidi timebant. Sic autem de illis Scriptura locuta est tanquam hi Deum quaererent qui occidebantur, quia unus populus erat, et tanquam de uno corpore dicitur. « Et revertebantur, et diluculo veniebant ad Deum. Et rememorati sunt quia Deus adjutor eorum est, et Deus excelsus redemptor eorum est. » Sed hoc totum propter acquirenda temporalia bona, et vitanda temporalia mala. Nam qui propter beneficia terrena Deum quaerebant, non utique Deum, sed illa quaerebant. Et modo timore servili, non liberali dilectione Deus colitur. Sic ergo Deus non colitur: hoc enim colitur quod diligitur. Unde quia Deus rebus omnibus major et melior invenitur, plus omnibus diligendus est ut colatur.