{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080100.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080100.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080100.htm","text":"Psalm LXXXIX. 4129\n1. Understand, beloved, this Psalm, which I am about to explain, by the grace of God, of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be of good cheer, because He who promised, will fulfil all, as He has fulfilled much: for it is not our own merit, but His mercy, that gives us confidence in Him. He Himself is meant, in my belief, by \u201cthe understanding of \u00c6than the Israelite:\u201d 4130 which has given this Psalm its title. You see then, who is meant by \u00c6than: but the meaning of the word is \u201cstrong.\u201d No man in this world is strong, except in the hope of God\u2019s promises: for as to our own deservings, we are weak, in His mercy we are strong. Weak then in himself, strong in God\u2019s mercy, the Psalmist thus begins: \u201cI will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy truth unto all generations\u201d (Psa. 89.1).\n2. Let my limbs, he saith, serve the Lord: I speak, but it is of Thine I speak. \u201cWith my mouth will I make known Thy truth:\u201d if I obey not Thee, I am not Thy servant: if I speak on my own part, I am a liar. To speak then from Thee, 4131 and in my own person, are two things: one mine, one Thine: Truth Thine, language mine. Let us hear then what faithfulness he maketh known, what mercies he singeth.\n3. \u201cFor Thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up for ever\u201d (Psa. 89.2). It is this that I sing: this is Thy truth, for the making known of which my mouth serveth. In such wise Thou sayest, I build, as not to destroy: for some Thou destroyest and buildest not; and some whom Thou destroyest Thou dost rebuild. For unless there were some who were destroyed to be rebuilt, Jeremiah would not have written, \u201cSee, I have this day set thee to throw down and to build.\u201d 4132 And indeed all who formerly worshipped images and stones could not be built up in Christ, without being destroyed as to their old error. While, unless some were destroyed not to be built up, it would not be written, \u201cHe shall destroy them, and not build them up.\u201d 4133 \u2026 In what follows, he joins these two words, mercy and faithfulness; \u201cFor Thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: Thy truth shall be established in the Heavens:\u201d in which mercy and truth are repeated, \u201cfor all the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth,\u201d 4134 for truth in the fulfilment of promises could not be shown, unless mercy in the remission of sins preceded. Next, as many p. 430 things were promised in prophecy even to the people of Israel that came according to the flesh from the seed of Abraham, and that people was increased that the promises of God might be fulfilled in it; while yet God did not close the fountain of His goodness even to the Gentiles, whom He had placed under the rule of the Angels, while He reserved the people of Israel as His own portion: the Apostle expressly mentions the Lord\u2019s mercy and truth as referring to these two parties. For he calls Christ \u201ca minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.\u201d 4135 See how God deceived not; see how He cast not off His people, whom He foreknew. For while the Apostle is treating of the fall of the Jews, to prevent any from believing them so far disowned 4136 of God, that no wheat from that floor\u2019s fanning could reach the granary, he saith, \u201cGod hath not cast away His people, whom He foreknew; for I also am an Israelite.\u201d 4137 If all that nation are thorns, how am I who speak unto you wheat? So that the truth of God was fulfilled in those Israelites who believed, and one wall from the circumcision is thus brought to meet the corner stone. But this stone would not form a corner, unless it received another wall from the Gentiles: so that the former wall relates in a special manner to the truth, the latter to the mercy of God. \u201cNow I say,\u201d says the Apostle, \u201cthat Jesus Christ was a minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promise made unto the fathers: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.\u201d 4138 Justly then is it added, \u201cThy truth shalt Thou stablish in the Heavens:\u201d for all those Israelites who were called to be Apostles became as Heavens which declare the glory of God: as it is written by them, \u201cThe Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handywork.\u201d 4139 \u2026Since, although they were taken up from hence before the Church filled the whole world, yet as \u201ctheir words reached to the ends of the world,\u201d we are right in supposing this which we have just read, \u201cThy truth shalt Thou stablish in the Heavens,\u201d fulfilled in them.\n4. \u201cThou hast said, I have made a covenant with My chosen\u201d (Psa. 89.3). What covenant, but the new, by which we are renewed to a fresh inheritance, in our longing desire and love of which we sing a new song. \u201cI have made a covenant with My chosen,\u201d saith the Psalmist: \u201cI have sworn unto David My servant.\u201d How confidently does he speak, who understands, whose mouth serves truth! I speak without fear; since \u201cThou hast said.\u201d If Thou makest me fearless, because Thou hast said, how much more so dost Thou make me, when Thou hast sworn! For the oath of God is the assurance of a promise. Man is justly forbidden to swear: 4140 lest by the habit of swearing, since a man may be deceived, he fall into perjury. God alone swears securely, because He alone is infallible.\n5. Let us see then what God hath sworn. \u201cI have sworn,\u201d He saith, \u201cto David My servant; thy seed will I establish for ever\u201d (Psa. 89.4). But what is the seed of David, but that of Abraham. And what is the seed of Abraham? \u201cAnd to thy seed,\u201d He saith, \u201cwhich is Christ.\u201d 4141 But perhaps that Christ, the Head of the Church, the Saviour of the body, 4142 is the seed of Abraham, and therefore of David; but we are not Abraham\u2019s seed? We are assuredly; as the Apostle saith, \u201cAnd if ye be Christ\u2019s, then are ye Abraham\u2019s seed, and heirs according to the promise.\u201d 4143 In this sense, then, let us take the words, brethren, \u201cThy seed will I stablish for ever,\u201d not only of that Flesh of Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, but also of all of us who believe in Christ, for we are limbs of that Head. This body cannot be deprived of its Head: if the Head is in glory for ever, so are the limbs, so that Christ remains entire for ever. \u201cThy seed will I stablish for ever: and set up thy throne to generation and generation.\u201d We suppose he saith, \u201cfor ever,\u201d because it is \u201cto generation and generation:\u201d since he has said above, with \u201cmy mouth will I ever be showing Thy truth to generation and generation.\u201d What is \u201cto generation and generation\u201d? To every generation: for the word needed not as many repetitions, as the coming and passing away of the several generations. The multiplication of generations is signified and set forth to notice by the repetition. Are possibly two generations to be understood, as ye are aware, my beloved brethren, and as I have before explained? for there is now a generation of flesh and blood: there will be a future generation in the resurrection of the dead. Christ is proclaimed here: He will be proclaimed 4144 there: here He is proclaimed, that He may be believed in: there, He will be welcomed, that He may be seen. \u201cI will set up Thy throne from one generation to another.\u201d Christ hath now a throne in us, His throne is set up in us: for unless he sat enthroned within us, He would not rule us: but if we were not ruled by Him, we should be thrown down by ourselves. He therefore sits within us, reigning over us: He sits also in another generation, which will come from the resurrection of the dead. Christ will reign for ever over His Saints. God has promised this; He hath said it: if this is not enough, God hath sworn it. As then the promise is certain, not on account of our deservp. 431 ings, but of His pity, no one ought to be afraid in proclaiming that which he cannot doubt of. Let that strength then inspire our hearts, whence \u00c6than received his name, \u201cstrong in heart:\u201d let us preach the truth of God, the utterance of God, His promises, His oath; and let us, strengthened on every side by these means, glorify God, and by bearing Him along with us, become Heavens.\n6. \u201cO Lord, the very Heavens shall praise Thy wondrous works\u201d (Psa. 89.5). The Heavens will not praise their own merits, but Thy wondrous works, O Lord. For in every act of mercy on the lost, of justification of the unrighteous, what do we praise but the wondrous works of God? Thou praisest Him, because the dead have risen: praise Him yet more, because the lost are redeemed. What grace, what mercy of God! Thou seest a man yesterday a whirlpool of drunkenness, to-day an ornament of sobriety: a man yesterday the sink of luxury, to-day the beauty of temperance: yesterday a blasphemer of God, to-day His praiser: yesterday the slave of the creature, to-day the worshipper of the Creator. From all these desperate states men are thus converted: let them not look at their own merits: let them become Heavens, and praise the wondrous works of Him by whom they were made Heavens.\u2026\n7. \u201cFor who is he among the clouds, who shall be compared unto Thee, Lord!\u201d (Psa. 89.6). Is this to be the praise of the Heavens, is this to be their rain? What? are the preachers confident, because \u201cnone among the clouds shall be compared unto the Lord\u201d? Does it appear to you, brethren, a high ground of praise, that the clouds cannot be compared with their Creator? If it is taken in its literal, not in its mystical meaning, it is not so: what? are the stars that are above the clouds to be compared with the Lord? what? can the Sun, Moon, Angels, Heavens, be even compared with the Lord? Why is it then that he says, as if he meant some high praise, \u201cFor who is he among the clouds?\u201d etc. We understand, my brethren, those clouds, as the Heavens, to be the preachers of truth; Prophets, Apostles, the announcers of the word of God.\u2026If therefore the clouds are the preachers of the truth, let us first enquire why they are clouds. For the same men are Heavens and clouds: Heavens from the brightness of the truth, clouds from the hidden things of the flesh: for all clouds are obscure, owing to their mortality: and they come and go. It is on account of these very obscurities of the flesh, that is, of the clouds, that the Apostle saith, \u201cTherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness.\u201d 4145 You see at this moment what a man is saying: but what he has in his heart, you cannot see: what is forced from the cloud, you see, what is kept within the cloud, you see not. For whose eyes pierce the cloud? The clouds therefore are the preachers of the truth in the flesh. The Creator of all things Himself came in the flesh.\u2026We are called clouds on account of the flesh, and we are preachers of the truth on account of the showers of the clouds: but our flesh comes in one way, His by another. We too are called sons of God, but He is the Son of God in another sense. His cloud comes from a Virgin, He is the Son from eternity, co-eternal 4146 with the Father. \u201cWho is he then among the clouds, that shall be compared unto the Lord? and what is he among the sons of God, that shall be like unto the Lord?\u201d Let the Lord Himself say whether He can find one like unto Himself. \u201cWhom do men say that I the Son of Man am?\u201d Because I appear, because I am seen, because I walk among you, and perhaps at present I am become common; say, whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? Surely when they see a son of man, they see a cloud; but say, \u201cWhom do men say that I am?\u201d In answer they gave Him the reports of men; \u201cSome say that Thou art John the Baptist: some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.\u201d Many clouds and sons of God are here mentioned: for because they were righteous and holy, as the sons of God, Jeremias, Elias, and John are called also sons of God: in their character of preachers of God, they are styled clouds. Ye have said what clouds men imagine Me to be: do ye too say, \u201cWhom say ye that I am?\u201d Peter replying in behalf of all, one for those who were one, 4147 answered, \u201cThou art the Christ, the Son of the living God;\u201d 4148 not like those sons of God who are not made equal to Thee: Thou hast come in the flesh: but not as the clouds, who are not to be compared unto Thee.\n8. \u2026\u201cGod is very greatly to be feared in the counsel of the righteous, and to be had in dread of all them that are round about Him\u201d (Psa. 89.7). God is everywhere; who therefore are round about Him, who is everywhere? For if He has some round about Him, He is represented as finite on every side. Moreover, if it is truly said to God 4149 and of God, \u201cof His greatness there is no end;\u201d 4150 who remain, who are round about Him, except because He who is everywhere, chose to be born of the flesh on one spot, to dwell among one nation, in one place to be crucified, from one spot to rise again and ascend into Heaven. Where He did this, the Gentiles are round about Him. If He remained p. 432 where He did these things, He would not be \u201cgreat, and be had in dread of all them that are round about Him;\u201d but since He preached when there in such a manner as to send preachers of His own name through all nations over the whole world; by working miracles among His servants, He is become \u201cgreat, and to be had in dread of all them that are round about Him.\u201d\n9. \u201cO Lord God of Hosts, who is like unto Thee? Thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side\u201d (Psa. 89.8). Great is Thy power: Thou hast made Heaven and earth, and all things that in them are: but greater still is thy loving-kindness, which has shown forth Thy truth to all around Thee. For if Thou hadst been preached only on the spot where Thou didst deign to be born, to suffer, to rise again, to ascend; the truth of that promise of God would have been fulfilled, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: but the promise, \u201cthat the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy,\u201d 4151 would not have been fulfilled, had not that truth been explained, and diffused to those around Thee from the spot where Thou didst deign to appear. On that spot Thou didst thunder out of Thy own cloud: but to scatter rain upon the Gentiles round about, Thou hast sent other clouds. Truly in Thy power hast Thou fulfilled what Thou hast said, \u201cHereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven.\u201d 4152\n10. \u2026For ye have heard, like men accustomed to the watering of the clouds of God, \u201cThy truth\u201d then \u201cis in the circuit of Thee.\u201d But when without persecutions, when without opposition, since it is said, that \u201cHe was born for a sign which shall be spoken against\u201d? 4153 Since then that nation, where Thou didst deign to be born, and to dwell, was as a land separated from the waves of the heathen, so that it appeared dry and ready for watering with rain, while the rest of the nations were as a sea in the bitterness of their sterility; what do Thy preachers who scatter Thy truth in circuit of Thee, when the waves of that sea rage furiously? \u201cThou rulest the power of the sea\u201d (Psa. 89.9). For what was the result of the sea raging thus, but the day which we are now keeping holy? It slew Martyrs, scattered seeds of blood, the harvest of the Church sprang up. Safely then let the clouds go forth: let them diffuse Thy truth in circuit of Thee, let them not fear the savage waves. \u201cThou rulest the power of the sea.\u201d The sea swells, buffets, and roars: but \u201cGod is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what ye are able:\u201d 4154 and so, \u201cThou stillest the waves thereof when they rise.\u201d\n11. Lastly, what hast Thou done in the sea itself, to pacify its rage, and to weaken it? \u201cThou hast humbled the proud 4155 as one that is wounded\u201d (Psa. 89.10). There is a certain proud serpent in the sea, of which another passage of Scripture speaks, \u201cI will command the serpent, and he shall bite him;\u201d 4156 and again, \u201cThere is that Leviathan, whom Thou hast made to mock him,\u201d 4157 whose head He bruises above the water. \u201cThou,\u201d he says, \u201chast humbled the proud, as one that is wounded.\u201d Thou hast humbled Thyself, and the proud was humbled: for the proud held the proud ones through pride: but the great One is humbled, and by believing in Him become small. While the little one is nourished by the example of One who from greatness descended to humility, the devil has lost what he held: because the proud held only the proud. When such an example of humility was displayed before them, men learned to condemn their own pride, and to imitate the humility of God. Thus also the devil, by losing those whom he had in his power, has even himself been humbled; not chastened, but thrown prostrate. \u201cThou hast humbled the proud like one that is wounded.\u201d Thou hast been humbled, and hast humbled others: Thou hast been wounded, and hast wounded others: for Thy blood, as it was shed to blot the handwriting of sins, 4158 could not but wound him. For what was the ground of his pride, except the bond which he held against us. This bond, this handwriting, Thou hast blotted out with Thy blood: him therefore hast Thou wounded, from whom Thou hast rescued so many victims. You must understand the devil wounded, not by the piercing of the flesh, which he has not, but by the bruising of his proud heart. \u201cThou hast scattered Thine enemies abroad with Thy mighty arm.\u201d\n12. \u201cThe heavens are thine, the earth also is Thine\u201d (Psa. 89.11). From Thee, over Thy earth they rain. Thine are the heavens, by whom is preached Thy truth in circuit of Thee; \u201cThine is the earth,\u201d which has received Thy truth in circuit of Thee; and what has resulted from that rain? \u201cThou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.\u201d \u201cThou hast created the north and the seas\u201d (Psa. 89.12). For nothing has any power against Thee, against its Creator. The world indeed may rage through its own malice, and the perversity of its will; does it nevertheless pass over the bound laid down by the Creator, who made all things? Why then do I fear the north wind? Why do I fear the seas? In the north indeed is the devil, who said, \u201cI will sit in the sides of the north; I p. 433 will be like the Most High;\u201d 4159 but Thou hast humbled, as one wounded, the proud one. Thus what Thou hast done in them has more force for Thy dominion, than their own will has for their wickedness. \u201cThou hast created the north and the seas.\u201d\n13. \u201cThabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name.\u201d Those mountains are here understood, but they have a meaning. \u201cThabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name.\u201d Thabor, when interpreted, signifies an approaching light. But whence comes the light of which it is said, \u201cYe are the light of the world,\u201d 4160 unless from Him concerning whom it is written, \u201cThat was the true light, which lighteth every man coming into the world\u201d? 4161 The light then which is the light of the world comes from that light which is not kindled from any other source, so that there is no fear lest it be extinguished. The light then comes from Him, who is that candle which is not set beneath the bushel, but on a candlestick, Thabor the coming light. Hermon means his curse. Justly the light comes and is made the curse of him. Of whom but the devil, the wounded one, the proud one? Our illumination then is given from Thee; that he is held accursed of us, who kept us in his own error and pride, is from Thee. \u201cThabor and Hermon, therefore, shall rejoice,\u201d not in their own merits, \u201cbut in Thy name.\u201d For they shall say, \u201cNot unto us, Lord, not unto us, but to Thy name give the praise,\u201d on account of the raging sea: lest \u201cthe heathen say, Where is now their God?\u201d 4162\n14. \u201cThou hast a mighty arm\u201d (Psa. 89.13). Let no man arrogate anything to himself. \u201cThou hast a mighty arm:\u201d by Thee we were created, by Thee we have been defended. \u201cThou hast a mighty arm: strong be Thy hand, and high be Thy right hand.\u201d\n15. \u201cRighteousness and judgment are the preparation of Thy seat\u201d (Psa. 89.14). Thy righteousness and judgment will appear in the end: they are now hidden. Of Thy righteousness it is treated in another Psalm, 4163 \u201con the hidden things of the Son.\u201d There will then be a manifestation of Thy righteousness and judgment: some will be set on the right, others on the left hand: 4164 and the unbelieving will tremble, when they see what now they mock at, and believe not: the righteous will rejoice, when they shall see what they now see not, yet believe. \u201cRighteousness and judgment are the preparation of Thy seat:\u201d especially in the Day of Judgment. What then now? \u201cmercy and truth go before Thy face.\u201d I should fear the preparation of Thy seat, Thy justice, and Thy coming judgment, did not mercy and truth go before Thee: why should I at the end fear Thy righteousness, when with Thy mercy going before Thee Thou blottest out my sins, and by showing forth Thy truth fulfillest Thy promises? \u201cMercy and truth go before Thy face.\u201d For \u201call the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.\u201d 4165\n16. In all these things shall we not rejoice? or shall we contain our joy? or shall words suffice for our gladness? or shall the tongue be able to express our rejoicing? If therefore no words suffice, \u201cBlessed is the people, O Lord, that knoweth glad shouting\u201d (Psa. 89.15). O blessed people! dost thou conceive aright, dost thou understand, glad shouting? For except thou understand glad shouting, thou canst not be blessed. What do I mean by understanding glad shouting? Whether thou knowest the source of that rejoicing which is beyond words to express. For this joy is not of thyself, since \u201che that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.\u201d 4166 Rejoice not then in thy own pride, but in God\u2019s grace. See that that grace is such, that the tongue fails to express its greatness, and then thou understandest glad shouting.\u2026O Lord, \u201cthey shall walk in the light of Thy countenance.\u201d \u201cThey shall rejoice in Thy name all the day\u201d (Psa. 89.16). That Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name: all day shall they rejoice, if they will, in Thy name; but if they will rejoice in their own name, they shall not rejoice all day: for they shall not continue in their joy, when they shall delight in themselves, and fall through pride. That they may rejoice all day, therefore, \u201cthey shall rejoice in Thy name, and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.\u201d Not in their own, but in Thine: lest they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For some are noted by the Apostle, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, \u201cbeing ignorant of God\u2019s righteousness, and going about to establish their own,\u201d and not rejoicing in Thy light, and thus \u201cnot submitting themselves unto the righteousness of God.\u201d 4167 And why? because \u201cthey have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.\u201d But the people who knoweth glad shouting (for the former err from want of knowledge, but blessed is the people not that knoweth not, but that knoweth glad shouting), whence ought it to shout, whence to rejoice, but in Thy name, walking in the light of Thy countenance? And it shall deserve to be exalted, but in Thy righteousness: let every man take away altogether his own righteousness, and be trembled: the righteousness of God shall come, and he shall be exalted, \u201cand in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.\u201d\n17. \u201cFor Thou art the glory of their strength: and in Thy good pleasure Thou shalt lift up our horns\u201d (Psa. 89.17): because it has seemed good to Thee, not because we are worthy.\np. 434 18. \u201cFor of the Lord is our taking up\u201d (Psa. 89.18). For I was moved like a heap of sand, that I might fall; and I should have fallen, had not the Lord taken me up. \u201cFor of the Lord is (our 4168 ) taking up: and of the Holy One of Israel our King.\u201d Himself is thy taking up, Himself thy illumination: in His light thou art safe, in His light thou walkest, in His righteousness thou art exalted. He took thee up, He guards thy weakness: He gives thee strength of Himself, not of thyself.\n19. \u201cThou spakest sometime in vision unto Thy sons, and saidst\u201d (Psa. 89.19). Thou spakest in thy vision. Thou didst reveal this to Thy Prophets. For this reason Thou spakest in vision, that is, in revelation: whence Prophets were called seers. They saw something within, which they were to speak without: and secretly they heard what they preached openly. 4169 Then \u201cThou spakest in vision unto Thy sons, and saidst, I have laid help upon One that is mighty.\u201d Ye understand Who is meant by mighty? \u201cI have exalted One chosen out of the people.\u201d And Who is meant by chosen? One who, ye rejoice, is already exalted.\n20. \u201cI have found David My servant:\u201d that David from David\u2019s seed: \u201cwith My holy oil have I anointed Him\u201d (Psa. 89.20): for it is said of Him, \u201cGod, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.\u201d 4170\n21. \u201cMy hand shall hold Him fast, and My arm shall strengthen Him\u201d (Psa. 89.21): because there was a taking up of man; because flesh was assumed in the Virgin\u2019s womb, 4171 because by Him who in the form of God is coequal with the Father, the form of a servant was taken, and He became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. 4172\n22. \u201cThe enemy shall not be able to do him violence\u201d (Psa. 89.22). The enemy rages indeed but he shall not be able to do Him violence: he is wont to hurt, but he shall not hurt. How then shall he afflict Him? he will exercise Him, but he shall not hurt Him. There shall be profit in his raging; for those against whom he rages shall be crowned in their conquering. For how is he conquered, if he rages not against us? or where is God our helper, if we fight not? The enemy therefore shall do what is in his power; but \u201che shall not be able to do Him violence: the son of wickedness shall not come nigh to hurt Him.\u201d\n23. \u201cI will cut in pieces His enemies before His face\u201d (Psa. 89.23). They are cut in pieces from their conspiracy, and in that they believe they are cut in pieces; for they believe by degrees; as when the calf\u2019s head was ground small, they will come to be the drink of God\u2019s people. For Moses ground down the calf\u2019s head, and sprinkled it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. 4173 All the unbelieving are ground: they believe by degrees; and they are drunk by the people of God, and pass into Christ\u2019s body. \u201cI will cut in pieces His foes before His face: and put to flight them that hate Him.\u201d\n24. \u201cMy truth also and My mercy is with Him\u201d (Psa. 89.24). All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. Remember, as much as ye can, how often these two attributes are urged upon us, that we render them back to God. For as He showed us mercy that He might blot out our sins, and truth in fulfilling His promises; so also we, walking in His path, ought to give back to Him mercy and truth; mercy, in pitying the wretched; truth, in not judging unjustly. Let not truth rob you of mercy, nor mercy hinder truth: for if through mercy you shall have judged contrary to truth, or by rigorous truth shall have forgotten mercy, you will not be walking in the path of God, where \u201cmercy and truth meet together.\u201d 4174 \u201cAnd in My name shall His horn be exalted.\u201d Why should I say more? Ye are Christians, recognise Christ.\n25. \u201cI will set His hand also in the sea\u201d (Psa. 89.25): that is, He shall rule over the Gentiles; \u201cand His right hand in the floods.\u201d Rivers run into the sea: avaricious men roll onwards into the bitterness of this world: yet all these kinds of men will be subject to Christ.\n26. \u201cHe shall call me, Thou art My Father, and the lifter up of My salvation\u201d (Psa. 89.26).\n\u201cAnd I will make Him my first-born; higher than the kings of the earth\u201d (Psa. 89.27). Our Martyrs, whose birthdays we are celebrating, shed their blood on account of these things, which were believed though not yet seen; how much more brave ought we to be, as we see what they believed? For they had not yet seen Christ raised on high among the kings of the earth: as yet princes were taking counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed: what follows in the same Psalm was not then fulfilled, \u201cBe wise now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.\u201d 4175 Now indeed Christ has been exalted among the kings of the earth.\n27. \u201cMy mercy will I keep for Him for ever: and my Testament faithful with Him\u201d (Psa. 89.28). On His account, the Testament is faithful: in Him the Testament is mediated: He is the Sealer, the Mediator of the Testament, the Surety of the Testament, the Witness of the Testament, the Heritage of the Testament, the Coheir of the Testament.\n28. \u201cHis seed will I make to endure world without end\u201d (Psa. 89.29). Not only for this p. 435 world, but unto the world without end: 4176 whither His seed, which is His heritage, the seed of Abraham, which is Christ, will pass. 4177 But if ye are Christ\u2019s, ye are also Abraham\u2019s seed: and if ye are destined His heirs for ever, \u201cHe will establish His seed unto world without end: and His throne as the days of Heaven.\u201d The thrones of earthly kings are as the days of the earth: different are the days of Heaven from those of earth. The days of Heaven are those years of which it is said, \u201cThou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.\u201d 4178 The days of the earth are soon overtaken by their successors: those which precede are shut out from us: nor do those which succeed remain: but they come that they may go, and are almost gone before they are come. Such are the days of earth. But the days of Heaven, which are also the \u201cOne day\u201d of Heaven, 4179 and the never failing years, have neither beginning nor end: nor is any day there narrowed between yesterday and to-morrow: no one there expects the future, nor loses the past: but the days of Heaven are always present, where His throne shall be for ever and ever. 4180 \u2026\n29. This is a strong pledge of the promise of God. The sons of this David are the children of the Bridegroom; all Christians therefore are called His sons. But it is much indeed that God promises, that if Christians, that is, \u201cIf his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments\u201d (Psa. 89.30); \u201cif they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments\u201d (Psa. 89.31); I will not spurn them, nor will I send them away from Me in perdition: but what will I do? \u201cI will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges\u201d (Psa. 89.32). It is not the mercy of one that calls them only; but also that chastises and scourges them. Let therefore thy Father\u2019s hand be upon thee, and if thou art a good son, repel not chastening; for \u201cwhat son is there, to whom his father giveth not chastening?\u201d 4181 Let Him chasten him, so long as He takes not from him His mercy: let Him beat him when obstinate, as long as He does not disinherit him. If thou hast well understood the promises of thy Father, fear not to be scourged, but to be disinherited: \u201cfor whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth: and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.\u201d 4182 Does the sinful son spurn chastening, when he sees the only Son without sin scourged? \u201cI will visit their offences with the rod.\u201d Thus too the Apostle threatens: \u201cWhat will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod?\u201d 4183 Let not pious sons say, if Thou art coming with a rod, come not at all. For it is better to be taught with the Father\u2019s rod, than to perish in the caresses of the robber.\n30. \u201cNevertheless, My mercy will I not utterly take from Him\u201d (Psa. 89.33). From whom? From that David to whom I gave these promises, whom \u201cI anointed with my holy oil of gladness above His fellows.\u201d 4184 Do you recognise Him from whom God will not utterly take away His mercy? That no one may anxiously say, since He speaks of Christ as Him from whom He will not take away His mercy, What then will become of the sinner? Did He say anything like this, \u201cI will not take My loving-kindness utterly from them\u201d? \u201cI will visit,\u201d He saith, \u201ctheir offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges.\u201d Thou didst expect for thy own security, \u201cI will not utterly take my loving-kindness from\u201d them. And indeed this is the reading of some books, but not of the most accurate: though, where they have it, it is a reading by no means inconsistent with the real meaning. For how can it be said that He will not utterly take His mercy from Christ? Has the Saviour of the body committed aught of sin either in Heaven or in earth, \u201cwho sitteth even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us\u201d? 4185 Yet it is from Christ: but from His members, His body which is the Church. For in this sense He speaks of it as a great thing that He will not take away His mercies from Him, supposing us not to recognise the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father; 4186 for there the Man is not counted for His Person, but the One Person is God and Man. He therefore does not utterly take His mercies from Him, when He takes not His mercy from His body, His members, 4187 in which, even while He was enthroned in Heaven, He was still suffering persecutions on earth; and when He cried from Heaven, \u201cSaul, Saul,\u201d not why persecutest thou My servants, nor why persecutest thou My saints, nor My disciples, but, \u201cwhy persecutest thou Me?\u201d 4188 As then, while no one persecuted Him when sitting in Heaven, He cried out, \u201cWhy persecutest thou Me?\u201d when the Head recognised its limbs, and His love allowed not the Head to separate Himself from the union of the body: so, when He taketh not away His mercies from Him, it is surely that He taketh it not from us, who are His limbs and body. Yet ought we not on that account to sin not without apprehension, and perversely to assure ourselves that we shall not p. 436 perish, be our actions what they may. For there are certain sins and certain offences, to define and discourse of which it is either impossible for me, or if it were possible, it would be too tedious for the time we have at present. For no man can say that he is without sin; for if he says so, he will lie; \u201cif we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.\u201d 4189 Each one therefore is needfully scourged for his own sins; but the mercy of God is not taken away from him, if he be a Christian. Certainly if thou committest such offences as to repel the hand of Him who chasteneth, the rod of Him who scourgeth thee, and art angry at the correction of God, and fliest from thy Father when He chasteneth thee, and wilt not suffer Him to be thy Father, because He spares thee not when thou dost sin; thou hast estranged thyself from thy heritage, He has not thrown thee off; for if thou wouldest abide being scourged, thou wouldest not abide disinherited. \u201cNor will I do hurt in My truth.\u201d For His mercy in setting free shall not be taken away, lest His truth in taking vengeance do harm.\n31. \u201cMy covenant will I not profane, nor reject the thing that is gone out of my lips\u201d (Psa. 89.34). Because his sons sin, I will not on this account be found false: I have promised; I will do. Suppose they choose to sin even as past hope, and so fall into sins as to offend their Father\u2019s countenance, and deserve to be disinherited; is it not still God Himself, of whom it is said, \u201cFrom these stones\u201d He \u201cwill raise up sons to Abraham\u201d? 4190 Therefore I tell you, brethren, many Christians sin venially, 4191 many are scourged and so corrected for their sin, chastened, and cured; many turn away altogether, striving with a stiff neck against the discipline of the Father, even wholly refusing God as their Father, though they have the mark of Christ, and so fall into such sins, that it can only be announced against them, \u201cthat they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.\u201d 4192 Nevertheless, Christ shall not be destitute of an inheritance on their account: not for the chaff\u2019s sake shall the wheat also perish: 4193 nor on account of bad fish shall nothing be cast into the vessels from that net. 4194 \u201cThe Lord knows them that are His.\u201d 4195 For He who predestined us before we were born, promised undoubtingly: \u201cFor whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.\u201d 4196 Let desperate sinners sin as far as they choose: let the members of Christ reply, \u201cIf God is with us, who shall be against us?\u201d God will not therefore do hurt in His truth, nor will He \u201cprofane His Testament.\u201d His Testament remains immovable, because in His foreknowledge He predestined His heirs; and \u201cHe will not reject the thing that is gone out of His lips.\u201d\n32. Listen for thy confirmation in hope, for thy security, if thou knowest thyself to be among the members of Christ. \u201cI have sworn once by My holiness that I will not lie unto David\u201d (Psa. 89.35). Dost thou wait till God swear a second time? How often is He to swear, if in one oath He is false? One oath He made for our life, who sent His Only One to die for us. \u201cI have sworn once by My holiness, that I will not lie unto David.\u201d \u201cHis seed shall endure for ever\u201d (Psa. 89.36). His seed endures for ever; because the Lord knows them that are His. \u201cAnd His seat is like as the sun before me:\u201d \u201cand as the moon perfect for evermore: and the faithful witness in heaven\u201d (Psa. 89.37). They are His seat, in whom He sits and reigns. But if His seat, His members also; because even our members are the seat of our head. See how all our other members sustain our head: but the head supports nothing above itself, but is itself supported by the rest of our limbs, as if the whole body of a man were the seat of his head. His seat, therefore, all in whom God reigns, \u201cshall be like as the sun before Me,\u201d He saith: because the righteous in the kingdom of My Father \u201cshall shine like the sun.\u201d 4197 But the sun is meant in a spiritual, not a bodily sense, as that which shines from Heaven, which He maketh to rise upon the just and unjust. 4198 Finally, that sun is not before men\u2019s eyes only, but even those of cattle and the smallest insects; for which of the vilest animals sees not that sun? What does he say to distinguish the sun meant here? \u201cLike as the sun before Me.\u201d Not before men, before the flesh, before mortal animals, but \u201cbefore Me, and as the moon.\u201d But what moon? one \u201cthat is perfect for evermore.\u201d For although that moon which we know becomes perfect, the next day she begins to wane, after her orb is full. \u201cHe shall be as the moon perfect for evermore,\u201d He saith. His seat shall be made perfect as the moon, but that moon is one which will be perfect for evermore. If as the sun, why also as the moon? the Scriptures usually signify by the moon the mortality of this flesh, because of its increasings and decreasings, because of its transitory nature. The moon is also interpreted as Jericho: one who was descending from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among robbers: 4199 for he was descending from immortality to mortality. Similar then is the flesh to p. 437 that moon, which every month suffers increase and decrease: but that flesh of ours will be perfect in the resurrection: \u201cand a faithful witness in heaven.\u201d Thus then, if it was our mind only that would be perfected, he would compare us only to the sun: if our body only, to the moon; but as God will perfect us in both, in respect of the mind it is said, \u201clike as the sun before Me,\u201d because God only seeth the mind: and \u201cas the moon,\u201d so is the flesh: which \u201cshall be made perfect for evermore,\u201d in the resurrection of the dead: \u201cand a faithful witness in Heaven,\u201d because all that was asserted of the resurrection of the dead was true. I beseech you, hear this again more clearly, and remember it: for I know that some understand, while others are yet enquiring perhaps what I meant. There is no article of the Christian faith which has encountered such contradiction as that of the resurrection of the flesh. Finally, He who was born for a sign that should be spoken against, 4200 resumed His own flesh after death to meet the caviller; and He who could have so completely cured His wounds that their scars would have entirely vanished, retained those scars in His body, that He might cure the wounds of doubt in the heart. Indeed nothing has been attacked with the same pertinacious, contentious contradiction, in the Christian faith, as the resurrection of the flesh. On the immortality of the soul many Gentile philosophers have disputed at great length, and in many books they have left it written that the soul is immortal: when they come to the resurrection of the flesh, they doubt not indeed, but they most openly deny it, declaring it to be absolutely impossible that this earthly flesh can ascend to Heaven. Thus that moon shall be perfect for evermore, and shall be the faithful witness in heaven against all gain-sayers.\n33. These promises, so sure, so firm, so open, so unquestioned, were made concerning Christ. For although some are mysteriously veiled, yet some are so clear, that all that is obscure is easily revealed by them. Such being the case, see what follows: \u201cBut Thou hast approved and brought to nothing and forsaken Thine Anointed\u201d (Psa. 89.38). \u201cThou hast overthrown the testament of Thy servant, and profaned His holiness on the ground\u201d (Psa. 89.39). \u201cThou hast broken down all His hedges, and made His strongholds a terror\u201d (Psa. 89.40).\u2026How is this? Thou hast promised all those things: and Thou hast brought to pass their reverse. Where are now the promises which but a little before filled us with delight? which we so joyfully applauded, which we so fearlessly made our boast of? It is as if one promised, and another destroyed. And this is the mystery: for the words are not \u201canother,\u201d but \u201cThou,\u201d Thou who didst promise, who didst even swear in condescension to human doubt, Thou hast promised this, and done thus! Whence shall I get Thy oath, where shall I find Thy promise fulfilled? Would then God promise, or swear thus falsely? and yet why then these promises, and these acts? I answer, that He acted thus in fulfilment of those promises. But who am I, to say this? Let us see therefore whether it is the language of the Truth; what I say will not then be without foundation. It was David to whom the fulfilment of these promises in his seed, that is, in Christ, was promised: and as they were addressed to David, men expected their completion in David. Further, lest when any Christian asserted these promises to have referred to Christ, another by applying them to David, because he described the fulfilment of all of them in David, might thus err; He cancelled them in David, thus obliging us when we see them unfulfilled in David, to look to another quarter for their fulfilment. Thus also in the case of Esau and Jacob, we find the elder worshipped by the younger, though it is written, \u201cThe elder shall serve the younger;\u201d 4201 so when you see it unfulfilled in those two brothers, you look for two peoples in whom to discover the completion of what God in His truth deigns to promise. \u201cFrom the fruit of thy body,\u201d saith the Lord unto David, \u201cshall I set upon thy sea.\u201d 4202 He promised from his seed something for evermore: and, Solomon, born to him, became master of such wisdom, 4203 that the promise of God respecting the fruit of David\u2019s body was believed to have been fulfilled in him; but Solomon fell, 4204 and gave room for hoping for Christ; that since God can neither be deceived nor deceive, He might not make His promise to rest in one who He knew would fall, but you might after the fall of Solomon look back to God, and demand His promise. Hast Thou, O Lord, deceived? Hast Thou failed to fulfil Thy promise? Dost Thou not exhibit what Thou hast sworn? Perhaps God might reply, I swore and promised: but Solomon would not persevere. What then? Didst not Thou, Lord God, know beforehand that he would not persevere? Indeed Thou didst know. Why then didst Thou promise me what should be eternal in one who would not persevere? Hast Thou not answered; \u201cBut if his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; if they keep not My statutes, and profane My testament;\u201d yet My promise shall remain, and My oath shall be fulfilled: \u201cI have sworn once in My Holiness,\u201d within, in a certain mystery, in the very spring whence the Prophets p. 438 drank, whence they burst forth to us of these things, \u201cI have sworn once\u201d that I will not fail David. Show forth then what Thou hast sworn, give us what Thou hast promised. The fulfilment is taken from that David, that it might not be looked for in that David: wait therefore for what I have promised.\n34. Even David himself knew this. Consider his words; \u201cThou hast rejected and brought him down to nothing.\u201d Where then is Thy promise? \u201cThou hast put off Thine anointed.\u201d This expression cheers us, among much that is sorrowful: for the promise of God is still valid; for 4205 Thou hast put off Thine Anointed, not taken Him away. See then what was the fate of that David, in whom the ignorant hoped for the fulfilment of the promises of God, in order that those promises might be more firmly relied upon for their fulfilment in another. \u201cThou hast put off Thine Anointed: Thou hast overthrown the testament of Thy servant.\u201d For where is the Old Testament of the Jews? where that land of promise, in which they sinned while they dwelt in it, on the overthrow of which they wandered afar? Ask you for the kingdom of the Jews; it exists not: you ask for the altar of the Jews; it is not: you ask for the sacrifice of the Jews; it is not: you ask for the priesthood of the Jews; it is not. \u201cThou hast overthrown the testament of Thy servant, and profaned his holiness on the earth.\u201d Thou hast shown that what they thought holy, was earthly. \u201cThou hast broken down all his hedges,\u201d with which Thou hast entrenched him: for how could he have been spoiled unless his hedges had been broken down? \u201cThou hast made his strongholds a terror.\u201d Why terror? That it should be said to the sinners, \u201cFor if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.\u201d 4206\n\u201cAll they that go by the way have spoiled him:\u201d that is, all the heathen that go by the way, meaning, all who pass through this life, have spoiled Israel, have spoiled David. First of all, see his fragments in all nations: for it is of the Jews that it is said, \u201cThey shall be a portion for foxes.\u201d 4207 For the Scripture calls wicked, crafty, and cowardly kings, whom another\u2019s virtue terrifies, foxes. Thus when our Lord Himself was speaking of the threatening Herod, He said, \u201cGo ye, and tell that fox.\u201d 4208 The king who fears no man, is not a fox: like that Lion of Judah, of whom it is said, \u201cStooping down Thou didst rise up, and didst sleep as a lion.\u201d 4209 At Thy will Thou didst stoop down, at Thy will didst rise; because Thou wouldest, Thou didst sleep. And thus in another Psalm he says, \u201cI 4210 slept.\u201d 4211 Was not the sentence complete, \u201cI slept, and took rest, and rose up again, because the Lord shall uphold Me\u201d? Why is the word ego added? and thus with a strong emphasis on the word I, they raged against Me, they troubled Me: but had I not willed, I had not slept. Those then concerning whom it was declared that they should be a portion for foxes, are now spoken of as follows; \u201cAll they that go by have spoiled him: and he is become a reproach to his neighbours\u201d (Psa. 89.41). \u201cThou hast set up the right hand of his enemies, and made all his adversaries to rejoice\u201d (Psa. 89.42). Look at the Jews, and see all things fulfilled that were predicted. \u201cThou hast turned away the help of his sword.\u201d How they were used to fight few in number, and to strike down many. \u201cThou hast turned away the help of his sword, and Thou givest him not victory in the battle\u201d (Psa. 89.43). Naturally 4212 then is he conquered, naturally taken prisoner, naturally made an outcast from his kingdom, naturally scattered abroad: for he lost that land, for which he slew the Lord. \u201cThou hast loosed him from cleansing\u201d (Psa. 89.44). What is this? Amongst all the evils, this is a matter for great fear; for howsoever God may beat, howsoever He may be wroth, howsoever He may flog and scourge, yet let Him scourge him bound, whom He is to cleanse, not \u201cloose him from cleansing.\u201d For if He loose him from being purified, he becomes incapable of cleansing, and must be an outcast. From what cleansing then is the Jew loosed? From faith; for by faith we live: 4213 and it is said of faith, \u201cpurifying their hearts by faith:\u201d 4214 and as it is only the faith of Christ that cleanses; by disbelief in Christ, they are loosed from purification. \u201cThou hast loosed him from cleansing, and cast his throne down to the ground.\u201d And so Thou hast broken it. \u201cThe days of his seat hast Thou shortened\u201d (Psa. 89.45). They imagined that they should reign for ever. \u201cAnd covered him with confusion.\u201d All these things happened to the Jews, Christ yet not being taken away, but His advent deferred.\n35. Let us therefore see whether God fulfils His promises. After these stern penalties which have been recorded as having been inflicted upon this people and kingdom, that God might not be supposed to have fulfilled His promises in it, and so not to grant another kingdom in Christ, of which kingdom there shall be no end; the Prophet addresses Him in these words, \u201cLord, how long wilt Thou hide Thyself unto the end?\u201d (Psa. 89.46). For possibly it was not from them and to the end; because \u201cblindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall p. 439 be saved.\u201d 4215 But in the mean while \u201cshall Thy wrath burn like fire.\u201d\n36. \u201cO remember what my substance is\u201d (Psa. 89.47). That David, who was placed among the Jews in the flesh, in Christ in hope, speaks \u201cRemember what is my substance.\u201d For not because the Jews fell away, did my substance fail: for from that people came the Virgin Mary, and from her the flesh of Christ; that Flesh sins not, but purifies sins; there, saith David, is my substance. \u201cO remember what my substance is.\u201d For the root has not entirely perished; the seed shall come to whom the promise was made, ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediator. 4216 \u201cFor Thou hast not made all the sons of men for nought\u201d (Psa. 89.47). Lo! all the sons of men have gone into vanity: yet Thou hast not made them for nought. If then all went into vanity, whom Thou hast not made for nought; hast Thou not reserved some instrument to purify them from vanity? This which Thou hast reserved to Thyself to cleanse men from vanity is Thy Holy One, in Him is my substance: for from Him are all, whom Thou hast not made for nought, purified from their own vanity. To them it is said, \u201cO ye sons of men, how long are ye heavy in heart? Wherefore have ye such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?\u201d 4217 Perhaps they might become anxious, and turn from their vanity, and when they found themselves polluted with it, might seek for purification from it: then help them, make them secure. \u201cKnow this also, that the Lord hath made wonderful His Holy One.\u201d 4218 He has made His Holy One to be admired: thence He has purified all from their vanity: there, saith David, is my substance: O remember it! \u201cFor Thou hast not made all the sons of men for nought.\u201d Thou hast therefore reserved something to purify them: and who is He whom Thou hast reserved? \u201cWhat man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?\u201d This man then who shall live and not see death, shall purify them from nothingness. For He made not all men for nought, nor can He who made them so despise His own creatures, as not to convert and purify them.\n37. \u201cWhat man is he that shall live, and shall not see death?\u201d (Psa. 89.48). For being raised from the dead He dieth no more, and death hath no more dominion over Him. 4219 And as in another Psalm it is said, \u201cThou shalt not leave my soul in Hell, neither shalt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption,\u201d 4220 the Apostolic teaching takes up this testimony, and in the Acts of the Apostles 4221 thus argues against the unbelieving; Men and brethren, we know that the patriarch David is dead and buried, and his flesh hath seen corruption. Therefore it cannot be said of him, \u201cneither shalt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.\u201d Of whom then is it said? \u201cWhat man is he that shall live, and shall not see death?\u201d Perhaps there is no man such. Nay, but \u201cwho is it?\u201d is said to make thee inquire, not despair. But perhaps there may be some man \u201cthat shall live, and shall not see death,\u201d and yet perhaps he did not speak of Christ, who died? There is no man \u201cthat shall live, and shall not see death,\u201d except Him who died for mortals. That thou mayest be assured that it is said of Him, consider the sequel; \u201cWhat man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?\u201d Did He never die then? He did. How then shall He live, and never see death? \u201cHe shall deliver His own soul from the hands of Hell.\u201d He is spoken of alone indeed, in that He alone of all others \u201cshall live, and shall not see death: He shall deliver His own soul from the hand of Hell,\u201d because although the rest of His faithful shall rise from the dead, and shall themselves live for evermore, without seeing death; yet they shall not themselves deliver their own souls from the hands of Hell. He who delivers His own soul from the hands of Hell, Himself delivers those of His believers: they cannot do so of themselves. Prove that He delivers His own soul. \u201cI have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again. No man taketh \u2018it from Me;\u2019 for I Myself slept, but I lay it down of Myself, and take it again,\u201d 4222 because it is He Himself who delivers His own soul from the hands of Hell.\n38. But in the very faith in Christ great difficulties occurred, and the heathen in their rage long said, \u201cWhen shall he die, and his name perish?\u201d On account of these then who have now long believed in Christ, but were destined to doubt for some time, these words follow, \u201cLord, where are Thy old loving-kindnesses?\u201d (Psa. 89.49). We have now acknowledged Christ our purifier, we now possess Him in whom Thy promises were to be fulfilled; show forth in Him what Thou hast promised. It is He Himself that shall live, and not see death: Himself who delivers His own soul from the hand of Hell: and yet we are still in suffering. Thus spoke the Martyrs, whose birthdays we are celebrating. He shall live, and not see death: He delivers His soul from the hands of Hell: yet \u201cfor Thy sake we are killed all the day long: and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.\u201d 4223 \u201cLord, where are Thy old loving-kindnesses which Thou swarest unto David in Thy truth?\u201d\n39. \u201cRemember, Lord, the rebuke that Thy servants have\u201d (Psa. 89.50). Even while Christ was living, and while He was sitting on His p. 440 Father\u2019s right hand, reproaches were cast against the Christians: they long were reproached with the name of Christ. That widowed one who brought forth, and whose children were more than those of the married wife, 4224 heard ill names, heard reproaches: but the Church, multiplied as she is, extending right and left, no longer remembers the reproach of her widowhood. \u201cRemember, Lord,\u201d in the memory of whom there is abundant sweetness. \u201cRemember,\u201d forget not. Remember what? \u201cthe rebuke that Thy servants have: and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people.\u201d I went, saith he, to preach of Thee, and I heard reproaches, and bore them in my bosom, because I was fulfilling the prophecy. \u201cBeing defamed we entreat: we are made as the filth of the earth, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.\u201d 4225 Long the Christians bore reproaches in their bosom, in their heart: nor dared resist their revilers; before, when it was a crime to answer a heathen: it is now a crime to remain a heathen. Thanks be to the Lord! He remembered our rebukes: He raised the horn of His Anointed on high, He made Him the Wonderful among the kings of the earth. Now no one insults Christians, or if he does, it is not in public: he speaks as if he were still more fearful of being heard, than anxious to be believed. \u201cI bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people.\u201d\n40. \u201cWherewith Thine enemies have blasphemed Thee, O Lord\u201d (Psa. 89.51), both Jews and Pagans. \u201cWherewith they have blasphemed.\u201d Wherewith have they blasphemed Thee? \u201cWith the change of Thine Anointed.\u201d 4226 They objected that Christ died, and was crucified. Madmen, what is your reproach? Although there is now no one to use it: yet supposing some still remaining that so speak, what is your reproach? that Christ died? He was not destroyed, but changed. He is styled \u201cdead\u201d on account of the three days. Wherewith then have thine enemies blasphemed Thee? Not with the loss, not with the perdition of Thine Anointed, but with His \u201cchange.\u201d He was changed from temporal to eternal life: He was changed from the Jews to the Gentiles; He was changed from earth to heaven. Let then Thy vain enemies blaspheme Thee still for the change of Thine Anointed. Would that they may be changed: they will not in that case blaspheme the change of Christ, which displeases them since they themselves will not be changed. \u201cFor there is no change with them, and they fear not God.\u201d 4227\n41. They have blasphemed the change of Christ; but what dost thou answer? \u201cThe blessing of 4228 the Lord for evermore. Amen and Amen\u201d (Psa. 89.52). Thanks to His mercy, 4229 thanks to His grace. We express our thanks: we do not give them, nor return them, nor repay them: we express our thanks in words, while in fact we retain our sense of them. 4230 He saved us for no reward, He heeded not our impieties: He searched us out when we searched not for Him, He found, redeemed, emancipated us from the bondage of the devil and the power of his wicked angels: He drew us to Him to purify us by that faith, from which He releases those enemies only who believe not, and who for that reason cannot be purified. Let those who still remain infidels say every day what they choose; day by day they shall be fewer and fewer that remain; let them revile, mock, accuse, not the death, but the change of Christ. Do they not see that, when they say these things, they fail in purpose either by believing or by dying? For their curse is temporal: but the blessing of the Lord \u201cfor evermore.\u201d To confirm that blessing is added, \u201cAmen and Amen.\u201d This is the signature of the bond of God. Secure then of His promises, let us believe the past, recognise the present, hope for the future. Let not the enemy lead us astray from the way, that He, who gathers us like chickens under His wings, may foster us: lest we stray from His wings, and the hawk of the air carry us off while yet unfledged. For the Christian ought not to hope in himself: if he hopes to be strong, let him be reared by his mother\u2019s warmth. This is the hen who gathers her young together; whence is the reproach of our Saviour against the unbelieving Jerusalem. \u201cBehold, your house shall be left unto you desolate.\u201d 4231 Hence was it said, \u201cThou hast made his strongholds a terror.\u201d Since then they would not be gathered together under the wings of this hen, and have given as a warning to teach us to dread the unclean spirits that fly in the air, seeking daily what they may devour; let us gather ourselves under the wings of this hen, the divine Wisdom, since she is weakened even unto death of her chickens. Let us love our Lord God, let us love His Church: Him as a Father, Her as a Mother: Him as a Lord, Her as His Handmaid, as we are ourselves the Handmaid\u2019s sons. But this marriage is held together by a bond of great love: no man offends the one, and wins favour of the other. Let no man say, \u201cI go indeed to the idols, I consult possessed ones and fortune-tellers: yet I abandon not God\u2019s Church; I am a Catholic.\u201d While thou holdest to thy Mother, thou hast offended thy Father. Another says, Far be it from me; I consult no sorcerer, I seek out no possessed one, I never ask advice p. 441 by sacrilegious divination, I go not to worship idols, I bow not before stones; though I am in the party of Donatus. What does it profit you not to have offended your Father, if he avenges your offended Mother? what does it serve you, if you acknowledge the Lord, honour God, preach His name, acknowledge His Son, confess that He sitteth by His right hand; while you blaspheme His Church? Does not the analogy of human marriages convince you? Suppose you have some patron, whom you court every day, whose threshold you wear with your visits, whom you daily not only salute, but even worship, to whom you pay the most loyal courtesy; if you utter one calumny against his wife, could you re-enter his house? Hold then, most beloved, hold all with one mind to God the Father, and the Church our Mother. Celebrate with temperance the birthdays of the Saints, that we may imitate those who have gone before us, and that they who pray for you may rejoice over you; that \u201cthe blessing of the Lord may abide on you for evermore. Amen and Amen.\u201d\nLat. LXXXVIII. Delivered in the morning, on the festival of some Martyrs.\n429:4130\nSee note on title of Ps. lxxxviii.\n429:4131 429:4132 429:4133 429:4134 430:4135 430:4136 430:4137 430:4138 430:4139 430:4140 430:4141 430:4142 430:4143 430:4144\nOxf. mss. \u201cHe is proclaimed;\u201d and so again below.\n431:4145 431:4146 431:4147 431:4148 431:4149 431:4150 432:4151 432:4152 432:4153 432:4154 432:4155 432:4156 432:4157 432:4158 433:4159\nIsa. 14:13, 14.\n433:4160 433:4161 433:4162 433:4163\nPs. ix. Tit.\n433:4164 433:4165 433:4166 433:4167 434:4168 434:4169 434:4170 434:4171 434:4172 434:4173 434:4174 434:4175 435:4176 435:4177 435:4178 435:4179\nOxf. mss. add \u201cwhich are,\u201d etc.\n435:4180\n[Here he adds: \u201cLet us, if you please, reserve what remains; since the Psalm is a long one, and we have yet some farther opportunity of speaking with you in Christ\u2019s name. Refresh your strength therefore: I do not mean that of your mind, for in mind I see that you are incapable of fatigue; but on account of the slaves of the soul, that your bodies may be sustained in their service, refresh yourselves for a little, and being refreshed return to your meal.\u201d\u2014C.]\n435:4181 435:4182 435:4183 435:4184 435:4185 435:4186 435:4187\ni.e. we may consider it as not said of Him at all, for though He is Man, yet being God also He would not, in His own Person, need assurance; therefore it is said of Him in His members.\n435:4188 436:4189 436:4190 436:4191\nTolerabiliter. [1 John 5:16, 17.\u2014C]\n436:4192 436:4193 436:4194 436:4195 436:4196 436:4197 436:4198 436:4199 437:4200\nLuke ii. 34. [A.N.F. vol. iii. p. 525.\u2014C.]\n437:4201 437:4202 437:4203\nOxf. mss. \u201cand such prudence.\u201d\n437:4204\n1 Kings xi. 1, etc.\n438:4205\nNon abstulisti sed distulisti.\n438:4206 438:4207 438:4208 438:4209 438:4210 438:4211 438:4212 438:4213 438:4214 439:4215 439:4216 439:4217 439:4218 439:4219 439:4220 439:4221 439:4222 439:4223 440:4224 440:4225 440:4226 440:4227 440:4228 440:4229\nOxf. mss. add here, \u201cwhat else shall I say but.\u201d\n440:4230\nOxf. mss. Rem tenemus, while we retain possession of the (unrequited) benefit.\n440:4231","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}