{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080077.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080077.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080077.htm","text":"1. This Psalm hath on the title the inscription, \u201cFor the end, a song of a Psalm of Resurrection.\u201d When ye hear \u201cfor the end,\u201d whenever the Psalms are repeated, understand it \u201cfor Christ:\u201d the Apostle saying, \u201cFor the end of the law is Christ, for righteousness to every one believing.\u201d 2582 In what manner therefore here Resurrection is sung, ye wilt hear, and whose Resurrection it is, as far as Himself deigneth to give and disclose. For the Resurrection we Christians know already hath come to pass in our Head, and in the members it is to be. The Head of the Church is Christ, 2583 the members of Christ are the Church. That which hath preceded in the Head, will follow in the Body. This is our hope; for this we believe, for this we endure and persevere amid so great perverseness of this world, hope comforting us, before that hope becometh reality.\u2026The Jews did hold the hope of the resurrection of the dead: and they hoped that themselves alone would rise again to a blessed life because of the work of the Law, and because of the justifications of the Scriptures, which the Jews alone had, and the Gentiles had not. Crucified was Christ, \u201cblindness in part happened unto Israel, in order that the fulness of the Gentiles might enter in:\u201d 2584 as the Apostle saith. The resurrection of the dead beginneth to be promised to the Gentiles also that believe in Jesus Christ, that He hath risen again. Thence this Psalm is against the presumption and pride of the Jews, for the comfort of the Gentiles that are to be called to the same hope of resurrection.\n2. \u2026Thence he beginneth, \u201cBe joyful in God.\u201d Who? \u201cEvery land\u201d (Psa. 66.1). Not therefore Jud\u00e6a alone. See, brethren, after what sort is set forth the universality of the Church in the whole world spread abroad: and mourn ye not only the Jews, who envied the Gentiles that grace, but still more for heretics wail ye. For if they are to be mourned, that have not been gathered together, how much more they that being gathered together have been divided? \u201cJubilate in God every land.\u201d What is \u201cjubilate\u201d? Into the voice of rejoicings break forth if ye cannot into that of words. For \u201cjubilation\u201d is not of words, but the sound alone of men rejoicing is uttered, as of a heart labouring and bringing forth into voice the pleasure of a thing imagined which cannot be expressed. \u201cBe joyful in God every land:\u201d let no one jubilate in a part: let every land be joyful, let the Catholic Church jubilate. The Catholic Church embraceth the whole: whosoever holdeth a part and from the whole is cut off, should howl, not jubilate.\n3. \u201cBut play ye to His name\u201d (Psa. 66.2). What hath he said? By you \u201cplaying\u201d let His name be blessed. But what it is to \u201cplay\u201d? To play is also to take up an instrument which is called a psaltery, and by the striking and action of the hands to accompany voices. If therefore ye jubilate so that God may hear; play also something that men may both see and hear: but not to your own name.\u2026For if for the sake of yourselves being glorified ye do good works, we make the same reply as He made to certain of such men, \u201cVerily I say unto you, they have received their reward:\u201d 2585 and again, \u201cOtherwise no reward ye will have with your Father that is in Heaven.\u201d 2586 Thou wilt say, ought I, then, to hide my works, that I do them not before men? No. But what saith He? \u201cLet your works shine before men.\u201d In doubt then I shall remain. On one side Thou sayest to me, \u201cTake heed that ye do not your righteousness before men:\u201d on the other side Thou sayest to me, \u201cLet your good works shine before men;\u201d what shall I keep? what do? what leave undone? A man can as well serve two masters commanding different things as one commanding different things. I command not, saith the Lord, different things. The end observe, for the end sing: with what end thou doest it, see thou. If for this reason thou doest it, that thou mayest be glorified, I have forbidden it: but if for this reason, that God may be glorified, I have commanded it. Play therefore, not to your own name, but to the name of the Lord your God. Play ye, let Him be lauded: live ye well, let Him be glorified. For whence have ye that same living well? If for everlasting ye had had it, ye would never have lived ill; if from yourselves ye had had it, ye never would have done otherwise than have lived well. \u201cGive glory to His praise.\u201d Our whole attention upon the praise of God he directeth, nothing for us he leaveth whence we should be praised. Let us glory thence the more, and rejoice: to Him let us cleave, in Him let us be praised. Ye heard when the Apostle was being read, \u201cSee ye your calling, brethren, how not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but the foolish things of the world God hath chosen to confound the wise.\u201d 2587 \u2026But the Lord chose afterwards orators also; but they would have been proud, if He had not first chosen fishermen; He chose rich men; but they would have said that on account of their riches they had been chosen, unless at first He had chosen poor men: He chose Emperors afterwards; but better is it, that when an Emperor hath come to Rome, he should lay aside his crown, and weep at the monument of a fisherman, than that a fisherman should weep at the p. 275 monument of an Emperor. \u201cFor the weak things of the world God hath chosen to confound the strong,\u201d etc. 2588 \u2026And what followeth? The Apostle hath concluded, \u201cThat there might not glory before God any flesh.\u201d See ye how from us He hath taken away, that He might give glory: hath taken away ours, that He might give His own; hath taken away empty, that He might give full; hath taken away insecure, that He might give solid.\u2026\n4. \u201cSay ye to God, How to be feared are Thy works!\u201d (Psa. 66.3). Wherefore to be feared and not to be loved? Hear thou another voice of a Psalm: \u201cServe ye the Lord in fear, and exult unto Him with trembling.\u201d 2589 What meaneth this? Hear the voice of the Apostle: \u201cWith fear,\u201d he saith, \u201cand trembling, your own salvation work ye out.\u201d 2590 Wherefore with fear and trembling? He hath subjoined the reason: \u201cfor God it is that worketh in you both to will and to work according to good will.\u201d 2591 If therefore God worketh in thee, by the Grace of God thou workest well, not by thy strength. Therefore if thou rejoicest, fear also: lest perchance that which was given to a humble man be taken away from a proud one.\u2026Brethren, if against the Jews of old, cut off from the root of the Patriarchs, we ought not to exalt ourselves, but rather to fear and say to God, \u201cHow to be feared are Thy works:\u201d how much less ought we not to exalt ourselves against the fresh wounds of the cutting off! Before there had been cut off Jews, graffed in Gentiles; from the very graft there have been cut off heretics; but neither against them ought we to exalt ourselves; lest perchance he deserve to be cut off, that delighteth to revile them that are cut off. My brethren, a bishop\u2019s voice, however unworthy, hath sounded to you: 2592 we pray you to beware, whosoever ye are in the Church, do not revile them that are not within; but pray ye rather, that they too may be within. For God is able again to graft them in. 2593 Of the very Jews the Apostle said this, and it was done in their case. The Lord rose again, and many believed: they perceived not when they crucified, nevertheless afterwards they believed in Him, and there was forgiven them so great a transgression. The shedding of the Lord\u2019s blood was forgiven the manslayers, not to say, God-slayers: \u201cfor if they had known, the Lord of glory they never would have crucified.\u201d 2594 Now to the manslayers hath been forgiven the shedding of the blood of Him innocent: and that same blood which through madness they shed, through grace they have drunk.\u2026O fulness of Gentiles, say thou to God, \u201cHow to be feared are Thy works!\u201d and so rejoice thou as that thou mayest fear, be not exalted above the branches cut off.\n5. \u201cIn the multitude of thy power Thine enemies shall lie to Thee.\u201d For this purpose he saith, \u201cto Thee thine enemies shall lie,\u201d in order that great may be Thy power. What is this? With more attention hearken. The power of our Lord Jesus Christ most chiefly appeared in the Resurrection, from whence this Psalm hath received its title. And rising again, He appeared to His disciples. 2595 He appeared not to His enemies, but to His disciples. Crucified He appeared to all men, rising again to believers: so that afterwards also he that would might believe, and to him that should believe, resurrection might be promised. Many holy men wrought many miracles; no one of them when dead did rise again: because even they that by them were raised to life, were raised to life to die.\u2026Because therefore the Jews might say, when the Lord did miracles, Moses hath done these things, Elias hath done, Eliseus hath done them: they might for themselves say these words, because those men also did raise to life dead men, and did many miracles: therefore when from Him a sign was demanded, of the peculiar sign making mention which in Himself alone was to be, He saith, \u201cThis generation crooked and provoking 2596 seeketh a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonas the Prophet: for as Jonas was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so shall be also the Son of Man in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.\u201d 2597 In what way was Jonas in the belly of the whale? Was it not so that afterwards alive he was vomited out? Hell 2598 was to the Lord what the whale was to Jonas. This sign peculiar to Himself He mentioned, this is the most mighty sign. It is more mighty to live again after having been dead, than not to have been dead. The greatness of the power of the Lord as He was made Man, in the virtue of the Resurrection doth appear.\u2026\n6. Observe also the very lie of the false witnesses in the Gospel, and see how it is about Resurrection. For when to the Lord had been said, \u201cWhat sign showest Thou to us, that Thou doest these things?\u201d 2599 besides that which He had spoken about Jonah 2600 through another similitude of this same thing also He spake, that ye might know this peculiar sign had been especially pointed out: \u201cDestroy this Temple,\u201d He saith, \u201cand in three days I will raise it up.\u201d And they said, \u201cIn forty and six years was builded this temple, and wilt Thou in three p. 276 days raise it up?\u201d 2601 And the evangelist explaining what it was, \u201cBut this,\u201d he saith, \u201cspake Jesus of the Temple of His Body.\u201d 2602 Behold this His power He said He would show to men in the same thing as that from whence He had given the similitude of a Temple, because of His flesh, which was the Temple of the Divinity hidden within. Whence the Jews outwardly saw the Temple, the Deity dwelling within they saw not. Out of those words of the Lord false witnesses made up a lie to say against Him, out of those very words wherein He mentioned His future Resurrection, in speaking of the Temple. For false witnesses, when they were asked what they had heard Him say, alleged against Him: \u201cWe heard Him saying, I will destroy this Temple, and after three days I will raise it up.\u201d 2603 \u201cAfter three days I will raise up,\u201d they had heard: \u201cI will destroy,\u201d they had not heard: but had heard \u201cdestroy ye.\u201d One word they changed and a few letters, in order to support their false testimony. But for whom changest thou a word, O human vanity, O human weakness? For the Word, the Unchangeable, dost thou change a word? Thou changest thy word, dost thou change God\u2019s Word?\u2026Wherefore said they that Thou hadst said, \u201cI will destroy;\u201d and said not that which Thou saidest, \u201cdestroy ye\u201d? It was, as it were, in order that they might defend themselves from the charge of destroying the Temple without cause. For Christ, because He willed it, died: and nevertheless ye killed Him. Behold we grant you, O ye liars, Himself destroyed the Temple. For it hath been said by the Apostle, \u201cThat loved me, and gave up Himself for me.\u201d 2604 It hath been said of the Father, \u201cThat His own Son spared not, but gave Him up for us all.\u201d 2605 \u2026By all means be it that Himself destroyed the Temple, Himself destroyed that said, \u201cPower I have to lay down My Soul, 2606 and power I have again to take it: no one taketh it from Me, but I Myself lay it down from Me, and again I take it.\u201d 2607 Be it that Himself hath destroyed the Temple in His Grace, in your malice. \u201cIn the multitude of Thy power thine enemies shall lie to Thee.\u201d Behold they lie, behold they are believed, behold Thou art oppressed, behold Thou art crucified, behold Thou art insulted, behold head is wagged at Thee, \u201cIf Son of God He is, let Him come down from the Cross.\u201d 2608 Behold when Thou wilt, life Thou layest down, and with lance in the side art pierced, and Sacraments from Thy side flow forth; 2609 Thou art taken down from the Tree, wound in linens, laid in the sepulchre, there are set guards lest Thy disciples take Thee away; there cometh the hour of Thy Resurrection, earth is shaken, tombs are cloven, Thou risest again in secret, appearest openly. Where then are those liars? Where is the false testimony of evil will? Have not Thine enemies in the multitude of Thy power lied to Thee?\n7. Give them also those guards at the Tomb, let them recount what they have seen, let them take money and lie too. 2610 \u2026They too were added to the lie of the enemies: increased was the number of liars, that increased might be the reward of believers. Therefore they lied, \u201cin the multitude of Thy power\u201d they lied: to confound liars Thou hast appeared to men of truth, and Thou hast appeared to those men of truth whom Thou hast made men of truth.\n8. Let Jews remain in their lies: to Thee, because in the multitude of Thy power they lied, let there be done that which followeth, \u201cLet every land worship Thee, and play to Thee, play to Thy name, O Most Highest\u201d (Psa. 66.4). A little before, Most Lowly, now Most Highest: Most Lowly in the hands of lying enemies; Most Highest above the head of praising Angels. O ye Gentiles, O most distant nations, leave lying Jews, come confessing. \u201cCome ye, and see the works of the Lord: terrible in counsels above the sons of men\u201d (Psa. 66.5). Son of Man indeed He too hath been called, and verily Son of Man He became: very Son of God in the form of God; 2611 very Son of Man in form of a servant: but do not judge of that form by the condition of others alike: \u201cterrible\u201d He is \u201cin counsels above the sons of men.\u201d Sons of men took counsel to crucify Christ, being crucified He blinded the crucifiers. What then have ye done, sons of men, by taking keen counsels against your Lord, in whom was hidden Majesty, and to sight shown weakness? Ye were taking counsels to destroy, He to blind and save; to blind proud men, to save humble men: but to blind those same proud men, to the end that, being blinded they might be humbled, being humbled might confess, having confessed might be enlightened. \u201cTerrible in counsels above the sons of men.\u201d Terrible indeed. Behold blindness in part to Israel hath happened: 2612 behold the Jews, out of whom was born Christ, are without: behold the Gentiles, that were against Jud\u00e6a, in Christ are within. \u201cTerrible in counsels above the sons of men.\u201d\n9. Wherefore what hath He done by the terror of His counsel? He hath turned the sea into dry land. For this followeth, \u201cThat hath turned the sea into dry land\u201d (Psa. 66.6). A sea was the world, bitter with saltness, troubled with tempest, raging with waves of persecutions, sea it was: truly into dry land the sea hath been p. 277 turned, now there thirsteth for sweet water the world that with salt water was filled. Who hath done this? He \u201cthat hath turned the sea into dry land.\u201d Now the soul of all the Gentiles saith what? \u201cMy soul is as it were land without water to Thee.\u201d 2613 \u201cThat hath turned the sea into dry land. In the river they shall pass over on foot.\u201d Those same persons that have been turned into dry land, though they were before sea, \u201cin the river on foot shall pass over.\u201d What is the river? The river is all the mortality of the world. Observe a river: some things come and pass by, other things that are to pass by do succeed. Is it not thus with the water of a river, that from earth springeth and floweth? Every one that is born must needs give place to one going to be born: and all this order of things rolling along is a kind of river. Into this river let not the soul greedily throw herself, let her not throw herself, but let her stand still. And how shall she pass over the pleasures of things doomed to perish? Let her believe in Christ, and she will pass over on foot: she passeth over with Him for Leader, on foot she passeth over.\n10. \u201cThere we will be joyous in Him.\u201d O ye Jews, of your own works boast ye: lay aside the pride of boasting of yourselves, take up the Grace of being joyous in Christ. For therein we will be joyous, but not in ourselves: \u201cthere we will be joyous in Him.\u201d When shall we joy? When we shall have passed over the river on foot. Life everlasting is promised, resurrection is promised, there our flesh no longer shall be a river: for a river it is now, while it is mortality. Observe whether there standeth still any age. Boys desire to grow up; and they know not how by succeeding years the span of their life is lessened. For years are not added to but taken from them as they grow: just as the water of a river alway draweth near, but from the source it withdraweth. And boys desire to grow up that they may escape the thraldom of elders; behold they grow up, it cometh to pass quickly, they arrive at youth: let them that have emerged from boyhood retain, if they are able, their youth: that too passeth away. Old age succeedeth: 2614 let even old age be everlasting; with death it is removed. Therefore a river there is 2615 of flesh that is born. This river of mortality, so that it doth not by reason of concupiscence of things mortal undermine and carry him away, he easily passeth over, that humbly, that is on foot, passeth over, He being leader that first hath passed over, that of the flood in the way even unto death hath drunk, and therefore hath lifted up the head. 2616 Passing over therefore on foot that river, that is, easily passing over that mortality that glideth along, \u201cthere we will be joyous in Him.\u201d But now in what save in Him, or in the hope of Him? For even if we are joyous now, in hope we are joyous; but then in Him we shall be joyous. And now in Him, but through hope: \u201cbut then face to face.\u201d 2617 \u201cThere we will be joyous in Him.\u201d\n11. In whom? \u201cIn Him that reigneth in His virtue for everlasting\u201d (Psa. 66.7). For what virtue have we and is it everlasting? If everlasting were our virtue, we should not have slipped, should not have fallen into sin, we should not have deserved penal mortality. He, of His good pleasure, took up that whereunto our desert threw us down. 2618 \u201cThat reigneth in His virtue for everlasting.\u201d Of Him partakers let us be made, in whose virtue we shall be strong, but He in His own. We enlightened, He a light enlightening: we, being turned away from Him, are in darkness; turned away from Himself He cannot be. With the heat of Him we are warmed; from whence withdrawing we had grown cold, to the Same drawing near again we are warmed. Therefore let us speak to Him that He may keep us in His virtue, because \u201cin Him we will be joyous that reigneth in His virtue for everlasting.\u201d\n12. But this thing is not granted to believing Jews alone.\u2026\u201cThe eyes of Him do look upon the Gentiles.\u201d And what do we? The Jews will murmur; the Jews will say, \u201cwhat He hath given to us, the same to them also; to us Gospel, to them Gospel; to us the Grace of Resurrection, and to them the Grace of Resurrection; doth it profit us nothing that we have received the Law, and that in the justifications of the Law we have lived, and have kept the commandments of the fathers? Nothing will it avail? The same to them as to us.\u201d Let them not strive, let them not dispute. \u201cLet not them that are bitter be exalted in their own selves.\u201d 2619 O flesh miserable and wasting, art thou not sinful? Why crieth out thy tongue? Let the conscience be listened to. \u201cFor all men have sinned, and need the glory of God.\u201d 2620 Know thyself, human weakness. Thou didst receive the Law, in order that a transgressor also of the Law thou mightest be: 2621 for thou hast not kept and fulfilled that which thou didst receive. There hath come to thee because of the Law, not the justification which the Law enjoineth, but the transgression which thou hast done. If therefore there hath abounded sin, why enviest thou Grace more abounding. Be not bitter, for \u201clet not them that are bitter be p. 278 exalted in their own selves.\u201d He seemeth in a manner to have uttered a curse in \u201cLet not them that are bitter be exalted;\u201d yea, be they exalted, but not \u201cin themselves.\u201d Let them be humbled in themselves, exalted in Christ. For, \u201che that humbleth himself shall be exalted; and he that exalteth himself shall be humbled.\u201d 2622 \u201cLet not them that are bitter be exalted in their own selves.\u201d\n13. \u201cBless our God, ye nations\u201d (Psa. 66.8). Behold, there have been driven back they that are bitter, reckoning hath been made with them: some have been converted, some have continued proud. Let not them terrify you that grudge the Gentiles Gospel Grace: now hath come the Seed of Abraham, in whom are blessed all nations. 2623 Bless ye Him in whom ye are blessed, \u201cBless our God, ye nations: and hear ye the voice of His praise.\u201d Praise not yourselves, but praise Him. What is the voice of His praise? That by His Grace we are whatever of good we are. \u201cWho hath set my Soul unto life\u201d (Psa. 66.9) Behold the voice of his praise: \u201cWho hath set my Soul unto life.\u201d Therefore in death she was: in death she was, in thyself. Thence it is that ye ought not to have been exalted in yourselves. Therefore in death she was, in thyself: where will it be in life, save in Him that said, \u201cI am the Way, the Truth, and the Life\u201d? 2624 Just as to certain believers the Apostle saith, \u201cYe were sometime darkness, but now light in the Lord.\u201d 2625 \u2026\u201cAnd hath not given unto motion my feet.\u201d He hath set my Soul unto life, He guideth the feet that they stumble not, be not moved and given unto motion; He maketh us to live, He maketh us to persevere even unto the end, in order that for everlasting we may live.\u2026\n14. \u201cFor thou hast proved us, O God; Thou hast fired us as silver is fired\u201d (Psa. 66.10). Hast not fired us like hay, but like silver: by applying to us fire, Thou hast not turned us into ashes, but Thou hast washed off uncleanness, \u201cThou hast fired us, as silver is fired.\u201d And see in what manner God is wroth against them, whose Soul He hath set unto life. \u201cThou hast led us into a trap:\u201d not that we might be caught and die, but that we might be tried and delivered from it. \u201cThou hast laid tribulations upon our back.\u201d For having been to ill purpose lifted up, proud we were: having been to ill purpose lifted up, we were bowed down, in order that being bowed down, we should be lifted up for good. \u201cThou hast laid tribulations on our back:\u201d \u201cThou hast set men over our heads\u201d (Psa. 66.11). All these things the Church hath suffered in sundry and divers persecutions: She hath suffered this in Her individual members, even now doth suffer it. For there is not one, that in this life could say that he was exempt from these trials. Therefore there are set even men over our heads: we endure those whom we would not, we suffer for our betters those whom we know to be worse. But if sins be wanting, a man is justly superior: but by how much there are more sins, by so much he is inferior. And it is a good thing to consider ourselves to be sinners, and thus endure men set over our heads: in order that we also to God may confess that deservedly we suffer. For why dost thou suffer with indignation that which He doeth who is just? \u201cThou hast laid tribulations upon our back: Thou hast set men over our heads.\u201d God seemeth to be wroth, when He doeth these things: fear not, for a Father He is, He is never so wroth as to destroy. When ill thou livest, if He spareth, He is more angry. In a word, these tribulations are the rods of Him correcting, lest there be a sentence from Him punishing.\u2026\n15. \u201cWe have passed through fire and water.\u201d Fire and water are both dangerous in this life. Certainly water seemeth to extinguish fire, and fire seemeth to dry up water. Thus also these are the trials, wherein aboundeth this life. Fire burneth, water corrupteth: both must be feared, both the burning of tribulation and the water of corruption. Whenever there is adversity, and anything which is called unhappiness in this world, there is as it were fire: whenever there is prosperity, and the world\u2019s plenty floweth about one, there is as it were water. See that fire burn thee not, nor water corrupt.\u2026Hasten not to the water: through fire pass over to the water, that thou mayest pass over the water also. Therefore also in the mystic rites 2626 and in catechising and in exorcising, 2627 there is first used fire. For whence ofttimes do the unclean spirits cry out, \u201cI burn,\u201d if that is not fire? But after the fire of Exorcism we come to Baptism: so that from fire to water, from water unto refreshment. But as in the Sacraments, so it is in the temptations of this world: the straitness of fear draweth near first, in place of fire; afterwards fear being removed, we ought to be afraid lest worldly happiness corrupt. But when the fire hath not made thee burst, and when thou hast not sunk in the water, but hast swum out; through discipline thou passest over to rest, and passing over through fire and water, thou art led forth into a place of refreshment. For of those things whereof the signs are in the Sacraments, there are the very realities in that perfection of life everlasting.\u2026But we are not torpid there, but we rest: nor though it be called heat, shall we be hot there, but we shall be fervent in spirit. Observe that same heat in another Psalm: \u201cnor is there any one that hideth himself from the p. 279 heat thereof.\u201d 2628 What saith also the Apostle? \u201cIn spirit fervent.\u201d 2629 Therefore, \u201cwe have gone over through fire and water: and Thou hast led us forth into a cool place.\u201d\n16. Observe how not only concerning a cool place, but neither of that very fire to be desired he hath been silent: \u201cI will enter into Thy House in holocausts\u201d (Psa. 66.13). What is a holocaust? A whole sacrifice burned up, but with fire divine. For a sacrifice is called a holocaust, when the whole is burned. One thing are the parts of sacrifices, another thing a holocaust: when the whole is burned and the whole consumed by fire divine, it is called a holocaust: when a part, a sacrifice. Every holocaust indeed is a sacrifice: but not every sacrifice a holocaust. Holocausts therefore he is promising, the Body of Christ is speaking, the Unity of Christ is speaking, \u201cI will enter into Thy House in holocausts.\u201d All that is mine let Thy fire consume, let nothing of mine remain to me, let all be Thine. But this shall be in the Resurrection of just men, \u201cwhen both this corruptible shall be clad in incorruption, and this mortal shall be clad in immortality: then shall come to pass that which hath been written, \u2018Death is swallowed up in victory.\u2019\u201d 2630 Victory is, as it were, fire divine: when it swalloweth up our death also, it is a holocaust. There remaineth not anything mortal in the flesh, there remaineth not anything culpable in the spirit: the whole of mortal life shall be consumed, in order that in life everlasting it may be consummated, that from death we may be preserved in life. 2631 These therefore will be the holocausts. And what shall there be \u201cin the holocausts\u201d?\n17. \u201cI will render to Thee my vows, which my lips have distinguished\u201d (Psa. 66.14). What is the distinction in vows? This is the distinction, that thyself thou censure, Him thou praise: perceive thyself to be a creature, Him the Creator: thyself darkness, Him the Enlightener, to whom thou shouldest say, \u201cThou shalt light my lamp, O Lord my God, Thou shalt enlighten my darkness.\u201d 2632 For whenever thou shalt have said, O soul, that from thyself thou hast light, thou wilt not distinguish. If thou wilt not distinguish, thou wilt not render distinct vows. Render distinct vows, confess thyself changeable, Him unchangeable: confess thyself without Him to be nothing, but Himself without thee to be perfect; thyself to need Him, but Him not to need thee. Cry to Him, \u201cI have said to the Lord, My God art Thou, for my good things Thou needest not.\u201d 2633 Now though God taketh thee to Him for a holocaust, He groweth not, He is not increased, He is not richer, He becometh not better furnished: whatsoever He maketh of thee for thy sake, is the better for thee, not for Him that maketh. If thou distinguishest these things, thou renderest the vows to thy God which thy lips have distinguished.\n18. \u201cAnd my mouth hath spoken in my tribulation.\u201d How sweet ofttimes is tribulation, how necessary! In that case what hath the mouth of the same spoken in his tribulation? \u201cHolocausts marrowed I will offer to Thee\u201d (Psa. 66.15). What is \u201cmarrowed\u201d? Within may I keep Thy love, it shall not be on the surface, in my marrow it shall be that I love Thee. For there is nothing more inward than our marrow: the bones are more inward than the flesh, the marrow is more inward than those same bones. Whosoever therefore on the surface loveth God, desireth rather to please men, but having some other affection within, he offereth not holocausts of marrow: but into whosesoever marrow He looketh, him He receiveth whole. \u201cWith incense and rams.\u201d The rams are the rulers of the Church: the whole Body of Christ is speaking: this is the thing which he offereth to God. Incense 2634 is what? Prayer. \u201cWith incense and rams.\u201d For especially the rams do pray for the flocks. \u201cI will offer to Thee oxen with he-goats.\u201d Oxen we find treading out corn, and the same are offered to God. The Apostle hath said, that of the preachers of the Gospel must be understood that which hath been written, \u201cOf the ox treading out corn the mouth thou shalt not muzzle. Doth God care for oxen?\u201d 2635 Therefore great are those rams, great the oxen. What of the rest, that perchance are conscious of certain sins, that perchance in the very road have slipped, and, having been wounded, by penitence are being healed? Shall they too continue, and to the holocausts shall they not belong? Let them not fear, he hath added he-goats also. \u201cI will offer to Thee oxen with he-goats.\u201d By the very yoking are saved the he-goats; of themselves they have no strength, being yoked to bulls they are accepted. For they have made friends of the mammon of iniquity, that the same may receive them into everlasting tabernacles. 2636 Therefore those he-goats shall not be on the left, because they have made to themselves friends of the mammon of iniquity. But what he-goats shall be on the left? They to whom shall be said, \u201cI hungred, and ye gave me not to eat:\u201d 2637 not they that have redeemed their sins by almsdeeds.\n19. Come ye, hear, and I will tell, all ye that fear God\u201d (Psa. 66.16). Let us come, let us hear, what he is going to tell, \u201cCome ye, hear, and I will tell.\u201d But to whom, \u201cCome ye, and hear\u201d? p. 280 \u201cAll ye that fear God.\u201d If God ye fear not, I will not tell. It is not possible that it be told to any where the fear of God is not. Let the fear of God open the ears, that there may be something to enter in, and a way whereby may enter in that which I am going to tell. But what is he going to tell? \u201cHow great things He hath done to my soul.\u201d Behold, he would tell: but what is he going to tell? Is it perchance how widely the earth is spread, how much the sky is extended, and how many are the stars, and what are the changes of sun and of moon? This creation fulfilleth its course: but they have very curiously sought it out, the Creator thereof have not known. 2638 This thing hear, this thing receive, \u201cO ye that fear God, how great things He hath done to my soul:\u201d if ye will, to yours also. \u201cHow great things He hath done to my soul.\u201d \u201cTo Him with my mouth I have cried\u201d (Psa. 66.17). \u201cAnd this very thing, he saith, hath been done to his soul; that to Him with his mouth he should cry, hath been done, he saith, to his soul. Behold, brethren, Gentiles we were, even if not in ourselves, in our parents. And what saith the Apostle? \u201cYe know, when Gentiles ye were, to idols without speech how ye went up, being led.\u201d 2639 Let the Church now say, \u201chow great things He hath done to my soul.\u201d \u201cTo Him with my mouth I have cried.\u201d I a man to a stone was crying, to a deaf stock I was crying, to idols deaf and dumb I was speaking: now the image of God hath been turned to the Creator thereof. I that was \u201csaying to a stock, My father thou art; and to a stone, Thou hast begotten me:\u201d 2640 now say, \u201cOur Father, which art in Heaven.\u201d 2641 \u2026\u201cTo Him with my mouth I have cried, and I have exalted Him under my tongue.\u201d See how in secret He would be uncorrupt that offereth marrowed holocausts. This do ye, brethren, this imitate, so that ye may say, \u201cCome ye, see how great things He hath done to my soul.\u201d For all those things of which he telleth, by His Grace are done in our soul. See the other things of which he speaketh.\n20. \u201cIf I have beheld iniquity in my heart, may not the Lord hearken\u201d (Psa. 66.18). Consider now, brethren, how easily, how daily men blushing for fear of men do censure iniquities; He hath done ill, He hath done basely, a villain the fellow is: this perchance for man\u2019s sake he saith. See whether thou beholdest no iniquity in thy heart, whether perchance that which thou censurest in another, thou art meditating to do, and therefore against him dost exclaim, not because he hath done it, but because he hath been found out. Return to thyself, within be to thyself a judge. Behold in thy hid chamber, in the very inmost recess of the heart, where thou and He that seeth are alone, there let iniquity be displeasing to thee, in order that thou mayest be pleasing to God. Do not regard it, that is, do not love it, but rather despise it, that is, contemn it, and turn away from it. Whatever pleasing thing it hath promised to allure thee to sin; whatever grievous thing it hath threatened, to drive thee on to evil doing; all is nought, all passeth away: it is worthy to be despised, in order that it may be trampled upon; not to be eyed lest it be accepted. 2642 \u2026\n21. \u201cTherefore God hath hearkened to me\u201d (Psa. 66.19). Because I have not beheld iniquity in my heart. \u201cAnd He hath listened to the voice of my prayer.\u201d \u201cBlessed be my God, that hath not thrust away my supplication and His mercy from me\u201d (Psa. 66.20). Gather the sense from that place, where he saith, \u201cCome ye, hear, and I will tell you, all ye that fear God, how great things He hath done to my soul:\u201d 2643 he hath both said the words which ye have heard, and at the end thus he hath concluded: \u201cBlessed be my God, that hath not thrust away my supplication and His mercy from me.\u201d For thus there arriveth at the Resurrection he that speaketh, where already we also are by hope: yea both it is we ourselves, and this voice is ours. So long therefore as here we are, this let us ask of God, that He thrust not from us our supplication, and His mercy, that is, that we pray continually, and He continually pity. For many become feeble in praying, and in the newness of their own conversion pray fervently, afterwards feebly, afterwards coldly, afterwards negligently: as if they have become secure. The foe watcheth: thou sleepest. The Lord Himself hath given commandment in the Gospel, how \u201cit behoveth men always to pray and not to faint.\u201d 2644 And he giveth a comparison from that unjust judge, who neither feared God, nor regarded man, whom that widow daily importuned to hear her; and he yielded for weariness, that was not influenced by pity: and the naughty judge saith to himself, \u201cThough neither God I fear, nor men I regard, even because of the weariness which this widow daily putteth upon me, I will hear her cause, and will avenge her.\u201d And the Lord saith, \u201cIf a naughty judge hath done this, shall not your Father avenge His chosen, that to Him do cry day and night? Yea, I say unto you, He shall make judgment of them speedily.\u201d Therefore let us not faint in prayer. Though He putteth off what He is going to grant, He putteth it not away: being secure of His promise, let us not faint in praying, and this is by His goodness. Therefore he hath said, \u201cBlessed is my God, that hath not thrust away my supplication and His mercy from me.\u201d p. 281 When thou hast seen thy supplication \u201cnot thrust away from thee,\u201d be secure, that His mercy hath not been thrust away from thee.\nLat. LXV. Sermon to the Commonalty.\n274:2582 274:2583 274:2584 274:2585 274:2586 274:2587 275:2588 275:2589 275:2590 275:2591 275:2592\nSome Oxf. mss. \u201cMy brethren, however their voice soundeth toward you.\u201d\n275:2593 275:2594 275:2595 275:2596\nAmaricans, etc.; most mss. \u201cevil and adulterous.\u201d\n275:2597 275:2598 275:2599 275:2600 276:2601 276:2602 276:2603\nMatt. 26:61, Mark 14:58, John 2:19.\n276:2604 276:2605 276:2606 276:2607 276:2608 276:2609 276:2610 276:2611 276:2612 277:2613 277:2614\nOxf. mss. add, \u201cLet even old age succeed for everlasting, let,\u201d etc.\n277:2615 277:2616 277:2617 277:2618\nGen. iii. 17, etc.\n277:2619\n[See on Ps. lxix. ver. 10, infra.\u2014C.]\n277:2620 277:2621 278:2622 278:2623 278:2624 278:2625 278:2626 278:2627 279:2628 279:2629 279:2630 279:2631\nOxf. mss. add, \u201cthat from,\u201d etc.\n279:2632 279:2633 279:2634\n[See (A.N.F. vol. vi. p. 528) Arnobius on incense.\u2014C.]\n279:2635 279:2636 279:2637 280:2638 280:2639 280:2640 280:2641 280:2642\nHere followeth in the Oxf. ed. a part in brackets, \u201cwhich is omitted in some good mss.\u2014Ben.\u201d\n280:2643 280:2644\nLuke xviii. 1, etc.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}