{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080142.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080142.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080142.htm","text":"89. The man who speaketh in this Psalm, as if he were tired of human mutability, whence this life is full of temptations, among his tribulations, on account of which he had above said, \u201cThe wicked have persecuted me;\u201d 5255 and, \u201cThey have almost made an end of me upon earth\u201d 5256 (Psa. 119.89); burning with longings for the heavenly Jerusalem; looked up to the realms above, and said, \u201cO Lord, Thy word endureth for ever in heaven;\u201d that is, among Thy Angels who serve everlastingly in Thine armies, without desertion.\n90. But the next verse, after heaven, pertaineth consequently to earth. For this is one verse of the eight which relate to this letter. For eight verses are appended to each of these Hebrew letters, 5257 until this long Psalm be ended. \u201cThy truth also remaineth from one generation to the other: Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth\u201d (Psa. 119.90). Beholding therefore the earth next after heaven with the gaze of a faithful mind, he findeth in it generations which are not in heaven, and saith, \u201cThy truth remaineth from one generation to the other:\u201d signifying all generations by this expression, from which the Truth of God was never absent in His saints, at one time fewer, at one time more in number, according as the times happened or shall happen to vary; or wishing two particular generations to be understood, one pertaining to the Law and the Prophets, another to the Gospel.\u2026\n91. \u201cDay continueth according to Thy ordinance\u201d (Psa. 119.91). For all these things are day: \u201cand this is the day which the Lord hath made: let us rejoice and be glad in it:\u201d 5258 and \u201clet us walk honestly as in the day.\u201d 5259 \u201cFor all things serve Thee.\u201d He said all things of some: \u201call\u201d which belong to this day \u201cserve Thee.\u201d For the ungodly of whom it is said, \u201cI have compared thy mother unto the night,\u201d 5260 do not serve Thee.\n92. He then looketh back towards the source of this earth\u2019s deliverance, which caused it to abide when founded; and addeth, \u201cIf my delight had not been in Thy law, I should perchance have perished in my humiliation\u201d (Psa. 119.92). This is the law of faith, not a vain faith, but that which worketh through love. 5261 Through this grace is gained, which maketh men courageous in temporal tribulation, that they may not perish in the humiliation of mortality.\n93. \u201cI will never forget,\u201d he saith, \u201cThy righteousnesses, for with them Thou hast quickened me\u201d (Psa. 119.93). Behold how it was that he did not perish in his humiliation. For, save God quickeneth, what is man, Who can indeed kill, but cannot quicken himself?\n94. He next addeth: \u201cI am Thine: O save me, for I have sought Thy righteousnesses\u201d (Psa. 119.94). We must not understand lightly the words, \u201cI am Thine.\u201d For what is not His? 5262 Why then is it that the Psalmist hath commended himself unto God somewhat in a more familiar sense, in these words, \u201cI am Thine: O save me;\u201d save because he wished it to be understood that he had desired to be his own only to his harm, which is the first and the greatest evil of disobedience? and as if he should say, I wished to be my own, and I lost myself: \u201cI am Thine,\u201d he saith, \u201cO save me, for I have sought Thy righteousnesses;\u201d not my own inclinations, whereby I was my own, but \u201cThy righteousnesses,\u201d that I might now be Thine.\n95. \u201cThe ungodly,\u201d he saith, \u201chave awaited me that they might destroy me; but I have understood Thy testimonies\u201d (Psa. 119.95). What meaneth, \u201cthat they might destroy me\u201d? Did he then fear that he should perish altogether at the death of his body? God forbid! and what meaneth, \u201chave awaited me,\u201d save that he should consent with them unto iniquity? For then they would destroy him. And he hath said why he hath not perished: \u201cI understood Thy testimonies.\u201d The Greek word, \u039c\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1, soundeth more familiarly to the ears of the Church. For though they should slay me not consenting unto them, yet while I confessed Thy testimonies (martyria) I should not perish; but they who, that they might destroy me, were waiting till I should consent unto them, tortured me even when I did confess them. Yet he did not leave that which he had understood, looking on it and seeing an end without end, if only he should persevere unto the end.\n96. Lastly, he next saith, \u201cI have seen an end of all consummation: but Thy commandment is exceeding broad\u201d (Psa. 119.96). For he had entered into the sanctuary of God, and had understood the end. 5263 Now \u201call consummation\u201d appeareth to me in this place to signify, the striving even unto death for the truth, 5264 and the endurance of every evil for the true and chief good: the end of which consummation is to excel in the kingdom of Christ, which hath no end; and there to have without death, without pain, and p. 576 with great honour, life, acquired by the death of this life, and by sorrows and reproaches. But in what he hath added, \u201cThy commandment is exceeding broad;\u201d I understand only love. For what would it have profited him, whatever death impended over him, in the midst of whatsoever torment, to confess those testimonies, if love were not in the confessor?\u2026Broad therefore is the commandment of charity, that twofold commandment, whereby we are enjoined to love God and our neighbour. But what is broader than that, \u201con\u201d which \u201chang all the Law and the Prophets\u201d? 5265\nHosea iv. 5, LXX.\n575:5261 575:5262 575:5263 575:5264 576:5265","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}