{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080165.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080165.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080165.htm","text":"Psalm CXXXII. 5585\n1. It was right indeed, most beloved, that we should rather hear our Brother, 5586 my colleague, when present before all of us. And just now he refused not, but put us off; for he extorted from me that he might now listen to me, on the condition that I also may listen to him, for in charity itself we are all listening unto Him, who is our One Master in heaven. Attend therefore to the Psalm, entitled A Song of Degrees; considerably longer than the rest under the same title. Let us not therefore linger, save where necessity shall compel us: that we may, if the Lord permit, explain the whole. For ye also ought not to hear everything as men untaught; ye ought in some degree to aid us from your past listenings, so that it may not be needful that everything should be declared to you as though new. 5587\n2. \u201cLord, remember David, and all his meekness\u201d (Psa. 132.1). David according to the truth of history was one man, king of Israel, son of Jesse. He was indeed meek, as the Divine Scriptures themselves mark and command him, and so meek that he did not even render evil for evil to his persecutor Saul. He preserved towards him so great humility, that he acknowledged him a king, and himself a dog: and answered the king not proudly nor rudely, though he was more powerful in God; but he rather endeavoured to appease him by humility, than to provoke him by pride. Saul was even given into his power, and this by the Lord God, that he might do to him what he listed: but since he was not commanded to slay him, but had it only placed in his power (now a man is permitted to use his power), he rather turned towards mercy what God gave him.\u2026The humility of David is therefore commended, the meekness of David is commended; and it is said to God, \u201cLord, remember David, and all his meekness.\u201d For what purpose? \u201cHow he sware unto the Lord, and vowed a vow unto the Almighty God of Jacob\u201d (Psa. 132.2). Therefore remember for this, that he may fulfil what he hath promised. David himself vowed as though he had it in his power, and he prayeth God to fulfil his vow: there is devotion in the vow, but there is humility in the prayer. Let no one presume to think he fulfilled by his own strength what he hath vowed. He who exhorteth thee to vow, Himself aideth thee to fulfil. Let us therefore see what he vowed, and hence we comprehend how David should be understood in a figure. \u201cDavid\u201d is interpreted, \u201cStrong of hand,\u201d for he was a great warrior. Trusting indeed in the Lord his God, he despatched all wars, he laid low all his enemies, God helping him, according to the dispensation of that kingdom; prefiguring nevertheless some One strong of hand to destroy His enemies, the devil and his angels. These enemies the Church warreth against, and conquereth.\u2026What then doth he mean, \u201cHow he sware,\u201d etc.? Let us see what vow is this. We can offer God nothing more pleasing than to swear. 5588 Now to swear is to promise firmly. 5589 p. 617 Consider this vow, that is, with what ardour he vowed what he vowed, with what love, with what longing; nevertheless, he prayeth the Lord to fulfil it in these words, \u201cO Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.\u201d In this temper he vowed his vow, and there should be a house of God: \u201cI will not come within the tabernacle of mine house, nor climb up into my bed\u201d (Psa. 132.3). \u201cI will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, nor mine eyelids to slumber\u201d (Psa. 132.4). This seemeth not enough; he adds, \u201cNeither the temples of my head to take any rest, until I find out a place for the Lord; an habitation for the God of Jacob\u201d (Psa. 132.5). Where did he seek a place for the Lord? If he was meek, he sought it in himself. For how is one a place for the Lord? Hear the Prophet: \u201cUpon whom shall My Spirit rest? Even upon him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My words.\u201d 5590 Dost thou wish to be a place for the Lord? Be thou poor in spirit, and contrite, and trembling at the word of God, and thou wilt thyself be made what thou seekest. For if what thou seekest be not realized in thyself, what doth it profit thee in another.\u2026\n3. How many thousands believed, my brethren, when they laid down the price of their possessions at the Apostles\u2019 feet! But what saith Scripture of them? Surely they are become a temple of God; not only each respectively a temple of God, but also all a temple of God together. They have therefore become a place for the Lord. And that ye may know that one place is made for the Lord in all, Scripture saith, They were of one heart and one soul toward God. 5591 But many, so as not to make a place for the Lord, seek their own things, love their own things, delight in their own power, are greedy for their private interests. Whereas he who wisheth to make a place for the Lord, should rejoice not in his private, but the common good.\u2026\n4. Let us therefore, brethren, abstain from the possession of private property; or from the love of it, if we may not from its possession; and we make a place for the Lord. It is too much for me, saith some one. But consider who thou art, who art about to make a place for the Lord. If any senator wished to be entertained at your house, I say not senator, the deputy of some great man of this world, and should say, something offends me in thy house; though thou shouldest love it, thou wouldest remove it, nevertheless, lest thou shouldest offend him, whose friendship thou wast courting. And what doth man\u2019s friendship profit thee?\u2026Desire the friendship of Christ without fear: He wishes to be entertained at thy house; make room for Him. What is, make room for Him? Love not thyself, love Him. If thou love thyself, thou shuttest the door against Him; if thou love Him, thou openest unto Him: and if thou open and He enter, thou shalt not be lost by loving thyself, but shalt find thyself with Him who loveth thee.\u2026\n5. \u201cLo, we heard of the same at Ephrata\u201d (Psa. 132.6). What? A place for the Lord. \u201cWe heard of it at Ephrata: and found it in the plains of the forests.\u201d 5592 Did he hear it where he found it? or did he hear it in one place, find it in another? Let us therefore enquire what Ephrata is, where he heard it; let us also enquire what mean the plains of the forests, where he found it. Ephrata, a Hebrew word, is rendered in Latin by Speculum, 5593 as the translators of Hebrew words in the Scriptures have handed down to us, that we might understand them. They have translated from Hebrew into Greek, and from Greek we have versions into Latin. For there have been who watched in the Scriptures. If therefore Ephrata meaneth a mirror, that house which was found in the woodland plains, was heard of in a mirror. A mirror hath an image: all prophecy is an image of things future. The future house of God, therefore, was declared in the image of prophecy. \u201cWe have found it in the plains of the forests.\u201d What are the \u201cplains of the forests\u201d? 5594 Saltus is not here used in its common sense, as a plot of ground of so many hundred acres; 5595 saltus properly signifies a spot as yet untilled and woody. For some copies read, in the plains of the wood. What then were the woodland plains, save nations yet untilled? what were they, save regions yet covered with the thorns of idolatry? Thus, though there were thorns of idolatry there, still we find a place for the Lord there, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. What was declared in the image to the Jews, was manifested in the faith of the Gentiles.\n6. \u201cWe will go into His tabernacles\u201d (Psa. 132.7). Whose? Those of the Lord God of Jacob. They who enter to dwell therein, are the very same who enter that they may be dwelt in. Thou enterest into thy house, that thou mayest dwell therein; into the house of God, that thou mayest be dwelt in. For the Lord is better, and when He hath begun to dwell in thee, He will make thee happy. For if thou be not dwelt in by Him, thou wilt be miserable. That son who said, \u201cFather, give me the portion of the goods,\u201d etc., 5596 wished to be his own master. It was well kept in his father\u2019s hands, that it might not be wasted with harlots. He received it, it was given into his own power; going to a far country, p. 618 he squandered it all with harlots. At length he suffered hunger, he remembered his father; he returned, that he might be satisfied with bread. Enter therefore, that thou mayest be dwelt in; and mayest be not thine own, so to speak, but His: \u201cWe will go into His tabernacles. We will worship on the spot where His feet stood.\u201d Whose feet? The Lord\u2019s, or those of the house of the Lord itself? For that is the Lord\u2019s house, wherein he saith He ought to be worshipped. Beside His house, the Lord heareth not unto eternal life; for he belongeth to God\u2019s house, who hath in charity been built in with living stones. But he who hath not charity, falleth; and while he falls, the house stands.\u2026\n7. But if ye incline to understand it of the house itself, where the feet of that house have stood; let thy feet stand in Christ. They will then stand, if thou shalt persevere in Christ. For what is said of the devil? \u201cHe was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth.\u201d 5597 The feet of the devil therefore stood not. Also what saith he of the proud? \u201cO let not the foot of pride come against me; and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down. There are they fallen, all that work wickedness: they are cast down, and were not able to stand.\u201d 5598 That then is the house of God, whose feet stand. Whence John rejoicing, saith: what? \u201cHe that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom standeth and heareth him.\u201d If he stand not, he heareth him not. Justly he standeth, because \u201che rejoiceth on account of the bridegroom\u2019s voice.\u201d Now therefore ye see why they fell, who rejoice because of their own voice. 5599 That friend of the Bridegroom said, \u201cThe same is He which baptizeth.\u201d 5600 Some say, We baptize: rejoicing in their own voice, they could not stand; and belong not to that house of which it is said, \u201cwhere His feet stood.\u201d\n8. \u201cArise, O Lord, into Thy resting place\u201d (Psa. 132.8). He saith unto the Lord sleeping, \u201cArise.\u201d Ye know already who slept, and who rose again.\u2026\u201cThou, and the ark of Thy sanctification:\u201d that is, Arise, that the ark of Thy sanctification, which Thou hast sanctified, may arise also. He is our Head; His ark is His Church: He arose first, the Church will arise also. The body would not dare to promise itself resurrection, save the Head arose first. The Body of Christ, that was born of Mary, hath been understood by some to be the ark of sanctification; so that the words mean, Arise with Thy Body, that they who believe not may handle.\n9. \u201cLet Thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Thy saints sing with joyfulness\u201d (Psa. 132.9). When Thou risest from the dead, and goest unto Thy Father, let that royal Priesthood be clothed with faith, since \u201cthe righteous liveth by faith;\u201d 5601 and, receiving the pledge of the Holy Spirit, let the members rejoice in the hope of resurrection, which went before in the Head: for to them the Apostle saith, \u201cRejoicing in hope.\u201d 5602\n10. \u201cFor Thy servant David\u2019s sake, turn not away the face of Thine Anointed\u201d (Psa. 132.10). These words are addressed unto God the Father. \u201cFor Thy servant David\u2019s sake, turn not away the face of Thine Anointed.\u201d The Lord was crucified in Jud\u00e6a; He was crucified by the Jews; harassed by them, He slept. He arose to judge those among whose savage hands He slept: and He saith elsewhere, \u201cRaise Thou Me up again, and I shall reward them.\u201d 5603 He both hath rewarded them, and will reward them. The Jews well know themselves how great were their sufferings after the Lord\u2019s death. They were all expelled from the very city, where they slew Him. What then? have all perished even from the root of David and from the tribe of Judah? No: for some of that stock believed, and in fact many thousands of men of that stock believed, and this after the Lord\u2019s resurrection. They raged and crucified Him: and afterwards began to see miracles wrought in the Name of Him Crucified; and they trembled still more that His Name should have so much power, since when in their hands He seemed unable to work any; and pricked at heart, at length believing that there was some hidden divinity in Him whom they had believed like other men, and asking counsel of the Apostles, they were answered, \u201cRepent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d 5604 Since then Christ arose to judge those by whom He had been crucified, and turned away His Presence from the Jews, turning His Presence towards the Gentiles; God is, as it seemeth, besought in behalf of the remnant of Israel; and it is said unto Him, \u201cFor Thy servant David\u2019s sake, turn not away the presence of Thine Anointed.\u201d If the chaff be condemned, let the wheat be gathered together. May the remnant be saved, as Isaiah saith, \u201cAnd the remnant hath\u201d clearly \u201cbeen saved:\u201d 5605 for out of them were the twelve Apostles, out of them more than five hundred brethren, to whom the Lord showed Himself after His Resurrection: 5606 out of their number were so many thousands baptized, 5607 who laid the price of their possessions at the Apostles\u2019 feet. Thus then was fulfilled the prayer here made to God: \u201cFor Thy servant David\u2019s sake, turn not away the presence of Thine Anointed.\u201d\np. 619 11. \u201cThe Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David, and He shall not repent\u201d (Psa. 132.11). What meaneth, \u201chath made an oath\u201d? Hath confirmed a promise through Himself. What meaneth, \u201cHe shall not repent\u201d? He will not change. For God suffereth not the pain of repentance, nor is He deceived in any matter, so that He would wish to correct that wherein He hath erred. But as when a man repents of anything, he wisheth to change what he hath done; thus where thou hearest that God repenteth, look for an actual change. God doth it differently from thee, although He calleth it by the name of repentance; for thou dost it, because thou hadst erred; while He doth it, because He avengeth, or freeth. He changed Saul\u2019s kingdom, when He repented, as it is said: and in the very passage where the Scripture saith, \u201cIt repented Him;\u201d it is said a little after, \u201cfor He is not a man that He should repent.\u201d 5608 When therefore He changeth His works through His immutable counsel, He is said to repent on account of this very change, not of His counsel, but of His work. But He promised this so as not to change it. Just as this passage also saith: \u201cThe Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec;\u201d 5609 so also since this was promised so that it should not be changed, because it must needs happen and be permanent; he saith, \u201cThe Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David, and He shall not repent; Of the fruit of thy body shall I set upon thy seat.\u201d He might have said, \u201cof the fruit of thy loins,\u201d wherefore did He choose to say, \u201cOf the fruit of thy body\u201d? Had He said that also, it would have been true; but He chose to say with a further meaning, Ex fructu ventris, because Christ was born of a woman without the man.\n12. What then? \u201cThe Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David, and He shall not shrink from it; Of the fruit of thy body shall I set upon thy seat. If thy children will keep My covenant and My testimonies that I shall learn them, their children also shall sit upon thy seat for evermore\u201d (Psa. 132.12). If thy children keep My covenant, their children also shall sit for evermore. The parents establish a desert on behalf of their children. What if his children should keep the covenant, and their children should not keep it? Why is the happiness of the children promised in relation to their parents\u2019 deservings? For what saith He, \u201cIf thy children will keep My covenant, their children also shall sit for evermore\u201d\u2014He saith not, if thy children keep My covenant, they shall sit upon thy seat; and if their children keep My covenant, they also shall sit upon thy seat: but he saith, \u201cIf thy children keep My covenant, their children also shall sit upon thy seat for evermore\u201d\u2014except because He here wished their fruit to be understood by their children? \u201cIf thy children,\u201d He saith, \u201cwill keep My covenant, and if thy children shall keep My testimonies that I shall learn them; their children also shall sit upon thy seat:\u201d that is, this will be their fruit, that they sit upon thy seat. For in this life, brethren, do all of us who labour in Christ, all of us who tremble at His words, who in any way endeavour to execute His will, and groan while we pray His help that we may fulfil what He commandeth; do we already sit in those seats of bliss which are promised us? No: but holding His commandments, we hope this will come to pass. This hope is spoken of under the figure of sons; because sons are the hope of man living in this life, sons are his fruit. For this reason also men, when excusing their avarice, allege that they are reserving for their children what they hoard up; and, unwilling to give to the destitute, excuse themselves under the name of piety, because their children are their hope. For all men who live according to this world, declare it to be their hope, to be fathers of children they may leave behind them. Thus then He describes hope generally under the name of children, and saith, \u201cIf thy children will keep My covenant and My testimonies that I shall learn them, their children also shall sit upon thy seat for evermore:\u201d that is, they shall have such fruits, that their hope shall not deceive them, that they may come there where they hope to come. At present therefore they are as fathers, men of hope for the future; but when they have attained what they hope, they are children; because they have brought forth and produced in their works that which they gain. And this is preserved unto them for the future, 5610 because futurity 5611 itself commonly signifieth children.\n13. Or if thou understand actual men to be meant by children, the words, \u201cIf thy children will keep My covenant and My testimonies that I shall teach them,\u201d may mean, \u201cIf thy children will keep My covenant and testimonies that I shall teach them, and their children also;\u201d that is, if they too keep My covenant; so that here thou must make a slight pause, and then infer that \u201cthey shall sit upon thy seat for evermore;\u201d that is, both thy children and their children, but all if they keep My covenant. What then, if they keep it not? Hath the promise of God failed? No: but it is said and promised for this reason, that God foresaw: what, save that p. 620 they would believe? But that no man should as it were threaten God\u2019s promises, and prefer to place in his own power the fulfilment of what God promised: for this reason he saith, \u201cHe made an oath:\u201d whereby he showeth that it will without doubt take place. How then hath He said here, \u201cIf they will keep My covenant\u201d? Glory not in the promises, and leave out thy failing to keep the covenant. Then wilt thou be the son of David, if thou shalt keep the covenant; but if thou dost not keep it, thou wilt not be David\u2019s son. God promised to the sons of David. Say not, I am David\u2019s son if thou degenerate. If the Jews, who were born of this very stock, say not this (nay, they say it, but they are under a delusion. For the Lord saith openly, \u201cIf ye were Abraham\u2019s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.\u201d 5612 He thereby denied them to be children, because they did not the works), how do we call ourselves David\u2019s children, who are not of his race according to the flesh? It follows then that we are not children, save by imitating his faith, save by worshipping God, as he worshipped. If therefore what thou hopest not through descent, thou wilt not endeavour to obtain by works; how shall the sitting upon David\u2019s seat be fulfilled in thee? And if it shall not be fulfilled in thee, thinkest thou that it shall not be fulfilled at all? And how hath He found it in the woodland tracts? and how did His feet stand? Whatsoever then thou mayest be, that house will stand.\n14. \u201cFor the Lord hath chosen Sion to be an habitation for Himself\u201d (Psa. 132.13). Sion is the Church Herself; She is also that Jerusalem unto whose peace we are running, who is in pilgrimage not in the Angels, but in us, who in her better part waiteth for the part that will return; whence letters have come unto us, which are every day read. This city is that very Sion, whom the Lord hath chosen.\n15. \u201cThis shall be My rest for ever\u201d (Psa. 132.14). These are the words of God. \u201cMy rest:\u201d I rest there. How greatly doth God love us, brethren, since, because we rest, He saith that He also resteth! For He is not sometimes Himself disturbed, nor doth He rest as we do; but He saith that He resteth there, because we shall have rest in Him. \u201cHere will I dwell: for I have a delight therein.\u201d\n16. \u201cI will bless her widow with blessings, and will satisfy her poor with bread\u201d (Psa. 132.15). Every soul that is aware that it is bereft of all help, save of God alone, is widowed. For how doth the Apostle describe a widow? \u201cShe that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God.\u201d 5613 He was speaking of those whom we all call Widows in the Church. He saith, \u201cShe that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth;\u201d and he numbereth her not among the widows. But in describing true widows, what saith he? \u201cShe that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.\u201d Here he addeth, \u201cbut she that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth.\u201d What then makes a widow? That she hath no aid from any other source, save from God alone. They that have husbands, take pride in the protection of their husbands: widows seem desolate, and their aid is a stronger one. The whole Church therefore is one widow, whether in men or in women, in married men or married women, in young men or in old, or in virgins: the whole Church is one widow, desolate in this world, if she feel this, if she is aware of her widowhood: for then is help at hand for her. Do ye not recognise this widow in the Gospel, my brethren, when the Lord declared \u201cthat men ought always to pray and not to faint\u201d? \u201cThere was in a city a judge,\u201d He said, \u201cwhich feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him day by day, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.\u201d The widow, by daily importunity, prevailed with him: for the judge said within himself, \u201cThough I fear not God; neither regard man, yet because this woman troubleth me, I will avenge her.\u201d 5614 If the wicked judge heard the widow, that he might not be molested; heareth not God His Church, whom He exhorteth to pray?\n17. Also, \u201cI will satisfy her poor with bread;\u201d what meaneth this, brethren? Let us be poor, and we shall then be satisfied. Many who trust in the world, and are proud, are Christians; they worship Christ, but are not satisfied; for they have been satisfied, and abound in their pride. Of such it is said, \u201cOur soul is filled with the scornful reproof of the wealthy, and with the despitefulness of the proud:\u201d 5615 these have abundance, and therefore eat, but are not satisfied. And what is said of them in the Psalm? \u201cAll such as be fat upon the earth have eaten and worshipped.\u201d 5616 They worship Christ, they venerate Christ, they pray unto Christ; but they are not satisfied with His wisdom and righteousness. Wherefore? Because they are not poor. For the poor, that is the humble in heart, the more they hunger, the more they eat; and the more empty they are of the world, the more hungry they are. He who is full refuseth whatsoever thou wilt give him, because he is full. Give me one who hungereth; give me one of whom it is said, \u201cBlessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled:\u201d 5617 p. 621 and these will be the poor of whom he hath just said, \u201cAnd will satisfy her poor with bread.\u201d For in the very Psalm where it is said, \u201cAll such as be fat upon the earth have eaten and worshipped;\u201d this is said of the poor also, and exactly in the same manner as in this Psalm, \u201cThe poor shall eat, and be satisfied: they that seek after the Lord shall praise Him.\u201d 5618 Where it is said, \u201cAll such as be fat upon earth have eaten and worshipped:\u201d it is said, \u201cthe poor shall eat, and be satisfied.\u201d Why, when the rich are said to have worshipped, are they not said to be satisfied; yet when the poor are mentioned, they are said to be satisfied? And whence are they satisfied? What is the nature, brethren, of this satisfying? God Himself is their bread. The bread came down upon the earth, that He might become milk unto us; and said to His own, \u201cI am the Living Bread which came down from heaven.\u201d 5619 Hence these words in the Psalm, \u201cThe poor shall eat, and be satisfied.\u201d From what source shall they be satisfied? Hear what followeth: \u201cAnd they that seek after the Lord shall praise Him.\u201d\n18. Be ye therefore poor, be ye among the members of that widow, let your help be solely in God alone. Money is nought; not thence will ye have aid. Many have been cast headlong down for money\u2019s sake, many have perished on account of money; many for the sake of their riches have been marked out by plunderers; they would have been safe, had they not had what made men hunt for them. Many have presumed in their more powerful friends: they in whom they presumed have fallen, and have involved in their ruin those who trusted in them. Look back upon the instances to be seen in the human race. Is it anything singular that I am telling you? We speak these things not only from these Scriptures; read them in the whole world. Take heed that ye presume not in money, in a friend, in the honour and the boasting of the world. Take away all these things: but if thou hast them, thank God if thou despisest them. But if thou art puffed up by them; think not when thou wilt be the prey of men; already art thou the Devil\u2019s prey. But if thou hast not trusted in these things, thou wilt be among the members of that widow, who is the Church, of whom it is said, \u201cI will bless her widow with blessings;\u201d thou wilt also be poor, and one of those of whom it is said, \u201cAnd will satisfy her poor with bread.\u201d\n19. Sometimes, however, and we must not pass over this without mention, thou findest a poor man proud, and a rich man humble: we daily endure such persons. Thou hearest a poor man groaning beneath a rich man, and when the more powerful rich man presseth upon him, then thou seest him humble: sometimes not even then, but even then proud; whence thou seest what he would have been, had he any property. God\u2019s poor one is therefore poor in spirit, not in his purse. Sometimes a man goeth forth having a full house, rich lands, many estates, much gold and silver; he knoweth that he must not trust in these, he humbleth himself before God, he doth good with them; thus his heart is raised unto God, so that he is aware that not only do riches themselves profit him nothing, but that they even impede his feet, save He rule them, and aid them: and he is counted among the poor who are satisfied with bread. Thou findest another a proud beggar, or not proud only because he hath nothing, nevertheless seeking whereby he may be puffed up. God doth not heed the means a man hath, but the wish he hath, and judgeth him according to his wish for temporal blessings, not according to the means which it is not his lot to have. Whence the Apostle saith of the rich, \u201cCharge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.\u201d What therefore should they do with their riches? He goeth on to say: \u201cThat they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.\u201d And see that they are poor in this world: \u201cLaying up in store for themselves,\u201d he addeth, \u201ca good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.\u201d 5620 When they have laid hold of eternal life, then will they be rich; but since they have it not as yet, they should know that they are poor. Thus it is that God counteth among His poor all the humble in heart, who are established in that twofold charity, 5621 whatever they may have in this world\u2014among His poor, whom He satisfieth with bread.\n20. \u201cI will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice and sing\u201d (Psa. 132.16). We are now at the end of the Psalm; attend for a short space, Beloved. \u201cI will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice and sing.\u201d Who is our salvation, save our Christ? What meaneth, therefore, \u201cI will clothe her priests with salvation\u201d? \u201cAs many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.\u201d 5622 \u201cAnd her saints shall rejoice and sing.\u201d Whence shall they rejoice and sing? Because they have been clothed with salvation: not in themselves. For they have become light, but in the Lord; for they were darkness before. 5623 Therefore he hath added, \u201cThere will I raise up the horn of David\u201d (Psa. 132.17): this will be David\u2019s height, that trust be put in Christ. For horn signifieth height: and what sort of height? p. 622 Not carnal. Therefore, while all the bones are wrapped up in flesh, the horn goeth beyond the flesh. Spiritual altitude is a horn. But what is spiritual loftiness, save to trust in Christ? not to say, It is my work, I baptize; 5624 but, \u201cHe it is who baptizeth.\u201d 5625 There is the horn of David: and that ye may know that there is the horn of David, heed what followeth: \u201cI have ordained a lantern for mine Anointed.\u201d What is a lantern? Ye already know the Lord\u2019s words concerning John: \u201cHe was a burning and a shining light.\u201d 5626 And what saith John? \u201cHe it is who baptizeth.\u201d Herein therefore shall the saints rejoice, herein the priests shall rejoice: because all that is good in themselves, is not of themselves, but of Him who hath the power of baptizing. Fearlessly therefore doth every one who hath received baptism come unto His temple; because it is not man\u2019s, but His who made the horn of David to flourish.\n21. \u201cUpon Him shall My sanctification flourish\u201d (Psa. 132.18). Upon whom? Upon Mine Anointed. For when He saith, \u201cMine anointed,\u201d it is the voice of the Father, who saith, \u201cI will bless her widow with blessings, and will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice and sing.\u201d He who saith, \u201cThere will I raise up the horn of David,\u201d is God. He Himself saith, \u201cI have ordained a lantern for Mine Anointed,\u201d because Christ is both ours and the Father\u2019s: He is our Christ, when He saveth us and ruleth us, as He is also our Lord: He is the Son of the Father, but both our Christ and the Father\u2019s. For if He were not the Father\u2019s Christ, it would not be said above, \u201cFor Thy servant David\u2019s sake, turn not Thou away the presence of Thine Anointed.\u201d \u201cUpon Him shall My sanctification flourish.\u201d It flourisheth upon Christ. Let none of men assume this to himself, that he himself sanctifieth: otherwise it will not be true, \u201cUpon Him shall My sanctification flourish.\u201d The glory of sanctification shall flourish. The sanctification of Christ therefore in Christ Himself, is the power of the sanctification of God in Christ. In that he saith, \u201cshall flourish,\u201d he refers to His glory: for when trees flourish, then are they beautiful. Sanctification therefore is in Baptism: thence it flourisheth, and is brightened. Why hath the world yielded to this beauty? Because it flourisheth in Christ; for, put it in man\u2019s power, and how doth it then flourish? since \u201call flesh in grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the grass.\u201d\nLat. CXXXI. A sermon to the common people.\n616:5586\nEd. Ben. supposes this to be Severus, Bishop of Milevis; and refers to Exp. of Ps. xcvi. \u00a7 1, p. 470, supra.\n616:5587\n[On this principle, I have been forced to sacrifice many repetitions excellent in themselves.\u2014C.]\n616:5588\nBen. thinks these words are repeated by mistake from above, in some mss.; but they are also in our copies, and come in very much after the manner of St. Augustin.\n616:5589\n[This sufficiently modifies and expounds what he means.\u2014C.]\n617:5590 617:5591 617:5592\nOxf. mss. add these words: \u201cWe hear those things in Ephrata, we find them in the woodland plains.\u201d [Note 1 Kings vi. 7.\u2014C.]\n617:5593 617:5594 617:5595\nCenturiarum\u2014then 200 acres. See Isid. Etym. xv. c. 15, \u00a7 7.\n617:5596 618:5597 618:5598 618:5599 618:5600 618:5601 618:5602 618:5603 618:5604 618:5605\nIsa. 10:21, 22.\n618:5606 618:5607 619:5608 619:5609 619:5610 619:5611 620:5612 620:5613\n1 Tim. 5:5, 6.\n620:5614 620:5615 620:5616 620:5617 621:5618 621:5619 621:5620 621:5621 621:5622 621:5623 622:5624 622:5625 622:5626","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}