{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080122.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080122.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080122.htm","text":"1. The days have come for us to sing Allelujah. 4983 \u2026Now these days come only to pass away, and pass away to come, again, and typify the day which does not come and pass away, because it is neither preceded by yesterday to cause it to come, nor pressed upon by the morrow to cause it to pass.\u2026For as these days succeed in regular season, with a joyful cheerfulness, the past days of Lent, whereby the misery of this life before the Resurrection of the Lord\u2019s body is signified; so that day which after the Resurrection shall be given to the full body of the Lord, that is, to the holy Church, when all the troubles and sorrows of this life have been shut out, shall succeed with perpetual bliss. But this life demandeth from us self-restraint, that although groaning and weighed down with our toil and struggles, and desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, 4984 we may refrain from secular pleasures: and this is signified by the number of forty, which was the period of the fasts of Moses, and Elias, 4985 and our Lord Himself.\u2026But by the number fifty after our Lord\u2019s resurrection, during which season we sing Allelujah, not the term and passing away of a certain season is signified, but that blessed eternity; because the denary 4986 added to forty signifieth the reward paid to the faithful who toil in this life, which our Father hath prepared an equal share of for the first and for the last. Let us therefore hear the heart of the people of God full of divine praises. He representeth in this Psalm some one exulting in happy joyfulness, he prefigureth the people whose hearts are overflowing with the love of God, that is, the body of Christ, freed from all evil.\n2. \u201cI will make confession unto Thee, O Lord,\u201d he saith, \u201cwith my whole heart\u201d (Psa. 111.1). Confession is not always confession of sins, but the praise of God is poured forth in the devotion of confession. The former mourneth, the latter rejoiceth: the former showeth the wound to the physician, the latter giveth thanks for health. The latter confession signifieth some one, not merely freed from every evil, but even separate from all the ill-disposed. And for this reason let us consider the place where he confesseth unto the Lord with all his heart. \u201cIn the counsel,\u201d he saith, \u201cof the upright, and in the congregation:\u201d I suppose, of those who shall \u201csit upon the twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\u201d 4987 For there will be no longer an unjust man among them, the thefts of no Judas are allowed, no Simon Magus is baptized, wishing to buy the Spirit, whilst he designeth to sell it; 4988 no coppersmith like Alexander doth many evil deeds, 4989 no man covered with sheep\u2019s clothing creepeth in with feigned fraternity; such as those among whom the Church must now groan, and such as she must then shut out, when all the righteous shall be gathered together.\n\u201cThese are the great works of the Lord, sought out unto all His wills\u201d (Psa. 111.2): through which mercy forsaketh none who confesseth, no man\u2019s wickedness is unpunished. 4990 \u2026Let man choose for himself what he listeth: the works of the Lord are not so constituted, that the creature, having free discretion allowed him, should transcend the will of the Creator, even though he act contrary to His will. God willeth not that thou shouldest sin; for He forbiddeth it: yet if thou hast sinned, imagine not that the man hath done what he willed, and that hath happened to God which He willed not. For as He would that man would not sin, so would He spare the sinner, that he may return and live; He so willeth finally to punish him who persisteth in his sin, that the rebellious cannot escape the power of justice. Thus whatever choice thou hast made, the Almighty will not be at a loss to fulfil His will concerning thee.\n3. \u201cConfession and glorious deeds are His work\u201d (Psa. 111.3). What is a more glorious deed than to justify the ungodly? But perhaps the work of man preventeth that glorious work of God, so that when he hath confessed his sins, he deserveth to be justified.\u2026This is the glorious work of the Lord: for he loveth most, to whom most is forgiven. 4991 This is the glorious work of the Lord: for \u201cwhere sin abounded, there did grace much more abound.\u201d 4992 But perhaps a man would deserve justification from works. \u201cNot,\u201d saith he, \u201cof works, lest any man boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.\u201d 4993 For a man worketh not righteousness save he be justified: but by \u201cbelieving on Him that justifieth the ungodly,\u201d 4994 he beginneth with faith; that good may not by preceding show what he hath deserved, but by following what he hath received.\u2026\n4. \u201cHe hath made His wonderful works to be remembered\u201d (Psa. 111.4): by abasing this man, exalting that. Reserving unusual miracles for a fit season, that thus human weakness, intent upon novelty, may remember them, although His daily miracles be greater. He created so many trees throughout the whole earth, and no one wondereth: He dried up one with a word, and the hearts of mortals were thunderstruck. 4995 For that miracle, which hath not through its frequency p. 546 become common, will cling most firmly to the heart. But of what use were the miracles, save that He might be feared? What too would fear profit, unless \u201cthe gracious and merciful Lord\u201d gave \u201cmeat unto them that fear Him\u201d? (Psa. 111.5); meat that doth not spoil, \u201cbread that cometh down from heaven,\u201d 4996 which He gave to no deservings of ours. For \u201cChrist died for the ungodly.\u201d 4997 No one then would give such food, save a gracious and merciful Lord. But if He gave so much to this life, if the sinner who was to be justified received the Word made flesh; what shall he receive when glorified in a future world? For, \u201cHe shall ever be mindful of His covenant.\u201d Nor hath He who hath given a pledge, given the whole.\n5. \u201cHe shall show His people the power of His works\u201d (Psa. 111.6). Let not the holy Israelites, who have left all their possessions and have followed Him, be saddened; let them not be sorrowful and say, \u201cWho then can be saved?\u201d For \u201cit is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\u201d For \u201cwith men these things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.\u201d 4998 \u201cThat He may give them the heritage of the heathen.\u201d For they went to the heathen, and enjoined the rich of this world \u201cnot to be high-minded, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God,\u201d 4999 to whom that is easy which is difficult for men. For thus many were called, thus the heritage of the heathen has been occupied, thus it hath happened, that even many who have not abandoned all their possessions in this life in order to follow Him, have despised even life itself for the sake of confessing His Name; and like camels humbling themselves to bear the burden of troubles, have entered as it were through a needle\u2019s eye, through the piercing straits of suffering. He hath wrought these effects, unto whom all things are possible.\n6. \u201cThe works of His hands are verity and judgment\u201d (Psa. 111.7). Let verity be held by those who are judged here. Martyrs are here sentenced, and brought to the judgment-seat, that they may judge not only those by whom they have been judged, but even give judgment on angels, 5000 against whom was their struggle here, even when they seemed to be judged by men. Let not tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, the sword, separate from Christ. For \u201call His commandments are true;\u201d 5001 He deceiveth not, He giveth us what He promised. Yet we should not expect here what He promised; we should not hope for it: but \u201cthey stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and equity\u201d (Psa. 111.8). It is equitable and just that we should labour here and repose there; since \u201cHe sent redemption unto His people\u201d (Psa. 111.9). But from what are they redeemed, save from the captivity of this pilgrimage? Let not therefore rest be sought, save in the heavenly country. God indeed gave the carnal Israelites an earthly Jerusalem, \u201cwhich is in bondage with her children:\u201d but this is the Old Covenant, pertaining unto the old man. But they who there understood the figure, even then were heirs of the New Covenant; for \u201cJerusalem which is above is free, which is our everlasting mother in heaven.\u201d 5002 But that transitory promises were given in that Old Testament is proved by the fact itself: however, \u201cHe hath commended His covenant for ever.\u201d But what, but the New? Whosoever dost wish to be heir of this, deceive not thyself, and think not of a land flowing with milk and honey, nor of pleasant farms, nor of gardens abounding in fruits and shade: desire not how to gain anything of this sort, such as the eye of covetousness is wont to lust for. For since \u201ccovetousness is the root of all evils,\u201d 5003 it must be cut off, that it may be consumed here; not be put off, that it may be satisfied there. First escape punishments, avoid hell; before thou longest for a God who promiseth, beware of one who threateneth. For \u201choly and reverend is His Name.\u201d\n7. \u2026\u201cThe fear of the Lord,\u201d therefore, \u201cis the beginning of wisdom.\u201d \u201cUnderstanding is good\u201d (Psa. 111.10). Who gainsayeth? But to understand, and not to do, is dangerous. It is \u201cgood,\u201d therefore, \u201cto those that do thereafter.\u201d Nor let it lift up the mind unto pride; for, \u201cthe praise of Him,\u201d the fear of whom is the beginning of wisdom, \u201cendureth for ever:\u201d and this will be the reward, this the end, this the everlasting station and abode. There are found the true commandments, made fast for ever and ever; here is the very heritage of the New Covenant commanded for ever. \u201cOne thing,\u201d he saith, \u201cI have desired of the Lord, which I will require: even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.\u201d 5004 For, \u201cblessed are they that dwell in the house\u201d of the Lord: \u201cthey will be alway praising\u201d 5005 Him; for \u201cHis praise endureth for ever.\u201d\nLat. CX. A sermon to the people at the Paschal festival.\n545:4983\n[See Ps. cvii. p. 532, supra.\u2014C.]\n545:4984 545:4985 545:4986 545:4987 545:4988 545:4989 545:4990 545:4991 545:4992 545:4993 545:4994 545:4995 546:4996 546:4997 546:4998 546:4999 546:5000 546:5001 546:5002 546:5003 546:5004 546:5005","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}