{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080129.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080129.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080129.htm","text":"Psalm CXVIII. 5100\n1. \u2026We are taught in this Psalm, when we chaunt Allelujah, which meaneth, Praise the Lord, that we should, when we hear the words, \u201cConfess unto the Lord\u201d (Psa. 118.1), praise the Lord. The praise of God could not be expressed in fewer words than these, \u201cFor He is good.\u201d I see not what can be more solemn than this brevity, since goodness is so peculiarly the quality of God, that the Son of God Himself when addressed by some one as \u201cGood Master,\u201d by one, namely, who beholding His flesh, and comprehending not the fulness of His divine nature, considered Him as man only, replied, \u201cWhy callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.\u201d 5101 And what is this but to say, If thou wishest to call Me good, recognise Me as God? But since it is addressed, in revelation of things to come, to a people freed from all toil and wandering in pilgrimage, and from all admixture with the wicked, which freedom was given it through the grace of God, who not only doth not evil for evil, but even returneth good for evil; it is most appropriately added, \u201cBecause His mercy endureth for ever.\u201d\n2. \u201cLet Israel now confess that He is good, and that His mercy endureth for ever\u201d (Psa. 118.2). \u201cLet the house of Aaron now confess that His mercy endureth for ever\u201d (Psa. 118.3). \u201cYea, let all now that fear the Lord confess that His mercy endureth for ever\u201d (Psa. 118.4). Ye remember, I suppose, most beloved, what is the house of Israel, what is the house of Aaron, and that both are those that fear the Lord. For they are \u201cthe little and the great,\u201d 5102 who have already in another Psalm been happily introduced into your hearts: in the number of whom all of us should rejoice that we are joined together, in His grace who is good, and whose mercy endureth for ever; since they were listened to who said, \u201cMay the Lord increase you more and more, you and your children;\u201d 5103 that the host of the Gentiles might be added to the Israelites who believed in Christ, of the number of whom are the Apostles our fathers, for the exaltation of the perfect and the obedience of the little children; that all of us when made one in Christ, made one flock under one Shepherd, and the body of that Head, like one man, may say, \u201cI called upon the Lord in trouble, and the Lord heard me at large\u201d (Psa. 118.5). The narrow straits of our tribulation are limited: but the large way whereby we pass along hath no end. \u201cWho shall lay anything to the charge of God\u2019s elect?\u201d 5104\n3. \u201cThe Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man doeth unto me\u201d (Psa. 118.6). But are men, then, the only enemies that the Church hath? What is a man devoted to flesh and blood, save flesh and blood? But the Apostle saith, \u201cWe wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against,\u201d\u2026he saith, \u201cspiritual wickedness in high places;\u201d 5105 that is, the devil and his angels; that devil whom elsewhere he calleth \u201cthe prince of the power of the air.\u201d 5106 Hear therefore what followeth: \u201cThe Lord is my helper: therefore shall I despise mine enemies\u201d (Psa. 118.7). From what class soever my enemies may arise, whether from the number of evil men, or from the number of evil angels; in the Lord\u2019s help, unto whom we chant the confession of praise, unto whom we sing Allelujah, they shall be despised.\n4. But, when my enemies have been brought to contempt, let not my friend present himself unto me as a good man, so as to bid me repose my hope in himself: for \u201cIt is better to trust in the Lord, than to put any confidence in man\u201d (Psa. 118.8). Nor let any one, who may in a certain sense be styled a good angel, be regarded by myself as one in whom I ought to put my trust: for \u201cno one is good, save God alone;\u201d 5107 and when a man or an angel appear to aid us, when they do this of sincere affection, He doth it through them, who made them good after their measure. \u201cIt is\u201d therefore \u201cbetter to trust in the Lord, than to put any confidence in princes\u201d (Psa. 118.9). For angels also are called princes, even as we read in Daniel, \u201cMichael, your prince.\u201d 5108\n5. \u201cAll nations compassed me round about, but in the Name of the Lord have I taken vengeance on them\u201d (Psa. 118.10). \u201cThey kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side; but in the Name of the Lord have I taken vengeance on them\u201d (Psa. 118.11). He signifieth the toils and the victory of the Church; but, as if the question were asked how she could have overcome so great evils, he lookp. 558 eth back to the example, and declareth what she had first suffered in her Head, by adding what followeth, \u201cThey kept me in on every side:\u201d and the words, \u201cAll nations,\u201d are with reason not repeated here, because this was the act of the Jews alone. There that very religious nation (which is the body of Christ, and in behalf of which was done all that was done in mortal form with immortal power, by that inward divinity, through the outward flesh), suffered from persecutors, of whose race that flesh was assumed and hung upon the cross.\n6. \u201cThey came about me as bees do a hive, and burned up even as the fire among the thorns: and in the Name of the Lord have I taken vengeance on them\u201d (Psa. 118.12). Here then the order of the words corresponds with the order of events. For we rightly understand that our Lord Himself, the Head of the Church, was surrounded by persecutors, even as bees surround a hive. For the Holy Spirit is speaking with mystic subtlety of what was done by those who knew not what they did. For bees make honey in the hives: while our Lord\u2019s persecutors, unconscious as they were, rendered Him sweeter unto us even by His very Passion; so that we may taste and see how sweet is the Lord, 5109 \u201cWho died for our sins, and arose for our justification.\u201d 5110 But what followeth, \u201cand burned up even as the fire among the thorns,\u201d is better understood of His Body, that is, of a people spread abroad, whom all nations compassed about, since it was gathered together from all nations. They consumed this sinful flesh, and the grievous piercings of this mortal life, in the flame of persecution. \u201cTaken vengeance on them:\u201d either because they themselves, that wickedness, which in them persecuted the righteous, having been extinguished, were joined with the people of Christ; or because the rest of them, who have at this time scorned the mercy of Him who calleth them, will at the end feel the truth of Him who judgeth them.\n7. \u201cI have been driven on like a heap of sand, so that I was falling, but the Lord upheld me\u201d (Psa. 118.13). For though there were a great multitude of believers, that might be compared to the countless sand, and brought into one communion as into one heap; yet \u201cwhat is man, save Thou be mindful of Him?\u201d 5111 He said not, the multitude of the Gentiles could not surpass the abundance of my host, but, \u201cthe Lord,\u201d he saith, \u201chath upheld me.\u201d The persecution of the Gentiles succeeded not in pushing forward, to its overthrow, the host of the faithful dwelling together in the unity of the faith.\n8. \u201cThe Lord is my strength and my praise, and is become my salvation\u201d (Psa. 118.4). Who then fall, when they are pushed, save they who choose to be their own strength and their own praise? For no man falleth in the contest, except he whose strength and praise faileth. He therefore whose strength and praise is the Lord, falleth no more than the Lord falleth. And for this reason He hath become their salvation; not that He hath become anything which He was not before, but because they, when they believed on Him, became what they were not before, and then He began to be salvation unto them when turned towards Him, which He was not to them when turned away from Himself.\n9. \u201cThe voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous\u201d (Psa. 118.15); where they who raged against their bodies thought there was the voice of sorrow and destruction. For they did not know the inward joy of the saints in their future hope. Whence the Apostle also saith, \u201cAs sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing;\u201d 5112 and again, \u201cAnd not only so, but we glory in tribulations also.\u201d 5113\n10. \u201cThe right hand of the Lord hath brought mighty things to pass\u201d (Psa. 118.16). What mighty things? saith he. \u201cThe right hand of the Lord,\u201d he saith, \u201chath exalted me.\u201d It is a mighty thing to exalt the humble, to deify the mortal, to bring perfection out of infirmity, glory from subjection, victory from suffering, to give help, to raise from trouble; that the true salvation of God might be laid open to the afflicted, and the salvation of men might remain of no avail to the persecutors. These are great things: but what art thou surprised at? hear what he repeateth: \u201cThe right hand of the Lord hath brought mighty things to pass.\u201d\n11. \u201cI shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord\u201d (Psa. 118.17). But they, while they were dealing havoc and death on every side, thought that the Church of Christ was dying. Behold, he now declareth the works of the Lord. Everywhere Christ is the glory of the blessed Martyrs. By being beaten He conquered those who struck Him; by being patient of torments, the tormentors; 5114 by loving, those who raged against Him.\n12. Nevertheless, let him point out to us, why the body of Christ, the holy Church, the people of adoption, suffered such indignities. \u201cThe Lord,\u201d he saith, \u201chast chastened and corrected me, but He hath not given me over unto death\u201d (Psa. 118.18). Let not then the boastful wicked imagine that aught hath been permitted to their power: they would not have that power, were it not given them from above. Oft doth the father of a family command his sons to be corrected by the most worthless slaves; though he designeth the heritage for the former, fetters for the latter. p. 559 What is that heritage? Is it of gold, or silver, or jewels, or farms, or pleasant estates? Consider how we enter into it: and learn what it is.\n13. \u201cOpen me,\u201d he saith, \u201cthe gates of righteousness\u201d (Psa. 118.19). Behold, we have heard of the gates. What is within? \u201cThat I may,\u201d he saith, \u201cgo into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.\u201d This is the confession of praise full of wonder, \u201ceven unto the house of God, in the voice of joy and confession of praise, among such as keep holiday:\u201d 5115 this is the everlasting bliss of the righteous, whereby they are blessed who dwell in the Lord\u2019s house, praising Him for evermore. 5116\n14. But consider how the gates of righteousness are entered into. \u201cThese are the gates of the Lord\u201d he saith, \u201cthe righteous shall enter into them\u201d (Psa. 118.20). At least let no wicked man enter there, that Jerusalem which receiveth not one uncircumcised, where it is said, \u201cWithout are dogs.\u201d 5117 Be it enough, that in my long pilgrimage \u201cI have had my habitation among the tents of Kedar:\u201d 5118 I endured even unto the end the intercourse of the wicked, but \u201cthese are the gates of the Lord: the righteous shall enter into them.\u201d\n15. \u201cI will confess unto Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation\u201d (Psa. 118.21). How often is that confession proved to be one of praise, that doth not point out wounds to the physician, but giveth thanks for the health it hath received. But the Physician Himself is the Salvation.\n16. But who is this whom we speak of? \u201cThe Stone which the builders rejected\u201d (Psa. 118.22); for \u201cIt hath become the head Stone of the corner\u201d to \u201cmake in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body;\u201d 5119 circumcision, to wit, and uncircumcision.\n17. \u201cBy the Lord was it made unto it\u201d (Psa. 118.23): that is, it is made into the head stone of the corner by the Lord. For although He would not have become this, had He not suffered: yet He became not this through those from whom He suffered. For they who were building, refused Him: but in the edifice which the Lord was secretly raising, that was made the head stone of the corner which they rejected. \u201cAnd it is marvellous in our eyes:\u201d in the eyes of the inner man, in the eyes of those that believe, those that hope, those that love; not in the carnal eyes of those who, through scorning Him as if He were a man, rejected Him.\n18. \u201cThis is the day which the Lord hath made\u201d (Psa. 118.24). This man remembereth that he had said in former Psalms, \u201cSince He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live;\u201d 5120 making mention of his old days; whence he now saith, \u201cThis is the day which the Lord hath made;\u201d that is, wherein He hath given me Salvation. This is the day whereof He said, \u201cIn an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of Salvation have I helped thee;\u201d 5121 that is, a day wherein He, the Mediator, hath become the head Stone of the corner. \u201cLet us rejoice,\u201d therefore, \u201cand be glad in Him.\u201d\n19. \u201cSave me now, O Lord: prosper Thou well my way, O Lord\u201d (Psa. 118.25). Because it is the day of Salvation, \u201csave me:\u201d because we, returning from a long pilgrimage, are separated from those who hated peace, with whom we were peaceful, and who, when we spoke to them, made war upon us without a cause; \u201cprosper well our way\u201d as we return, since Thou hast become our Way.\n20. \u201cBlessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord\u201d (Psa. 118.26). Cursed, therefore, is he that cometh in his own name; as He saith in the Gospel: \u201cif another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.\u201d 5122 \u201cWe have blessed you out of the house of God.\u201d I believe that these are the words of the great to the little, of those great ones, to wit, who in spirit commune with God the Word, who is with God, as they may in this life; and yet temper their discourse for the sake of the little ones, so that they may sincerely say what the Apostle saith: \u201cFor whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us.\u201d 5123 They bless the little children from the inner house of the Lord, where that praise faileth not age after age: consider therefore what they proclaim from thence. 5124\n21. \u201cGod is the Lord, who hath showed us light\u201d (Psa. 118.27). That Lord, who came in the Lord\u2019s Name, whom the builders refused, and who became the head Stone of the corner, 5125 that \u201cMediator between God and man, Jesus Christ,\u201d 5126 is God, He is equal with the Father, He hath showed us light, that we might understand what we believed, and declare it to you who understand it not as yet, but already believe it. But that ye also may understand, \u201cDeclare a holy day in full assemblies, even unto the horns of the altar;\u201d that is, even unto the inner house of God, from which we have blessed you, where are the high places of the altar. \u201cDeclare a holy day,\u201d not in a slothful manner, but \u201cin full assemblies\u201d (Psa. 118.28). For this is the voice of joyfulness among those that keep holy day, who p. 560 walk \u201cin the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even unto the house of God.\u201d 5127 For if there be there the spiritual sacrifice, the everlasting sacrifice of praise, both the Priest is everlasting, and the peaceful mind of the righteous an everlasting altar.\u2026\n22. And what shall we sing there, save His praises? What else shall we say there, save, \u201cThou art my God, and I will confess unto Thee; Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee. I wilt confess unto Thee, for Thou hast heard me, and art become my Salvation.\u201d We will not say these things in loud words; but the love that abideth in Him of itself crieth out in these words, and these words are love itself. Thus as he began with praise, so he endeth: \u201cConfess unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth for ever\u201d (Psa. 118.29). With this the Psalm commenceth, with this it endeth; since, as from the commencement which we have left behind, so in the end, whither we are returning, there is not anything that can more profitably please us, than the praise of God, and Allelujah evermore.\nMark 10:17, 18.\n557:5102 557:5103 557:5104 557:5105 557:5106 557:5107 557:5108 558:5109 558:5110 558:5111 558:5112 558:5113 558:5114\nmss. facientes. Edd. impatientes.\n559:5115 559:5116 559:5117 559:5118 559:5119 559:5120 559:5121 559:5122 559:5123 559:5124\n[Contrary to all his habitual usage, our author fails to note just here what is written in St. Matt. 21:15, 16, concerning this Paschal Psalm, and the hosannas of children in the temple.\u2014C.]\n559:5125\nMatt. 21:9, 42.\n559:5126 560:5127","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}