Psalms 97–98 (Vulgate 96–97)

God affordeth mighty spectacles to the Christian heart, than which truly nothing more delightful can be discovered; if only the palate of faith be at hand to taste the honey of God. We believe that in all of you, who have with all your heart believed in our Saviour, there dwelleth His Spirit, that may delight you when the Prophecies are read, so many years ago uttered by the mouth of the Saints, and so many years after fulfilled in the faith of nations. For those holy Prophets felt the liveliest joy, when they saw those The Prophets rejoiced in prospect of what we have. 413 things in the Spirit, not as yet fulfilled, but destined to be fulfilled. They felt great delight: and yet, by reason of the love with which they were inspired for us, whom they saw not as yet, but in the Spirit travailed of us; they wished, if possible, to live with us in these times, and to see what they were prophesying in the Spirit, fulfilled. Thence our Lord saith unto His disciples, when they began to discern these things: Many righteous men and prophets have desired foMafc.13, see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. For although they saw these things in the Spirit, yet they were figured unto them as future but to the Apostles they were fulfilled before their eyes. Whence that Simeon, a righteous old man, rejoiced much when he saw the infant Jesus, recognising the great in the small, and in that little body the Creator of heaven and earth. He rejoiced therefore much, because he had been answered, that he should not depart from this life, before he should see the salvation of God. He therefore recognised Him, he was delighted, and exulted with joy; saying these words, Lord, noiv lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace: for mine eyes have seen Thy2b~30* salvation. Great therefore is this gladness; and love createth it. We were pleased, when this Psalm was sung: and some things therein were understood by all; but some, as I think, either by few, or certainly not by all. Let us therefore at once consider it in this discourse, in which we are serving you; and let us see with how great goodness God hath been pleased to make us glad, by making what He hath promised present to us, and by displaying unto us the truth of His promises.

2. (Title.) This Psalm is entitled, A Psalm of David's, when his land was restored. Let us refer the whole to Christ, if we wish to keep the road of a right understanding: let us not depart from the comer-stone, lest our understanding suffer a fall: in Him let that become fixed, which wavered with unstable motion; let that rest upon Him, which before was waving to and fro in uncertainty. Whatever doubt a man hath in his mind when he heareth the Scriptures of God, let him not depart from Christ; when Christ hath been revealed to him in the words, let him then be assured that he hath understood; but before 414 The 'land' ofJudcea 'restored* to the Spiritual David. he arriveth at the understanding of Christ, let him not presume tjjat ^e jj^h understood. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believelh. What doth this mean, and how are these words understood in Christ, When his land was restored? For it is easy to understand how Christ is represented by David; for Christ was born of Mary, and from David's seed; and since He was to be born of David's seed, on that account He is prophesied of, figuratively, under David's name. David is therefore Christ; because also the signification of David is Strong of Hand: and who is so strong, as He Who by the Cross conquered the world? For after His resurrection and ascension, when the Holy Spirit had been received, and the Apostles were speaking with different tongues, a multitude 0f tnose very persons who had crucified Him, were roused to seek the counsel of salvation; received it, and believed; they were forgiven, their guilt in the blood of Christ was remitted unto them, the drinking of His blood imparted unjto them; they became faithful disciples of Him whose persecutors they had been; they believed in Him Whom they crucified, and before Whom they bowed their heads in mockery; Himself they chose to hold as their Head. Thus then in the words of the title of the Psalm, was His land restored; for this land was Judaea, all of which had been lost, when in their ignorance they crucified their Lord, like delirious men raving against their physician, and in their frenzy rejecting the means of safety. The whole of Judaea then had as it were been lost: how the whole? The very Apostles even wavered; Peter, who was following Him with a courageous devotion, thrice in the confusion of fear denied Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on His resurrection, found some of them talking together about Himself in the road, in such a state as to reply unto Him on His asking the subject of their conversation: Art thou alone a Sfrartger in Jerusalem^ and hast not known the things that are come to pass there in these days? And He said unto them, What things? And they said unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to Many of the Jews believed. 'The Gentiles called in. 415 death, and have crucified Him. But we hoped that it had been He that should have redeemed Israel. They had already lost their hope in Christ. For they said not, we hope that He shall redeem Israel; but, we hoped that it had been He that should have redeemed Israel. He was with them in Person, and hope in Him was not in them. He shewed Himself unto them, He was manifested even to the rest of His disciples, seen, touched, and found by those to whom He seemed already to have perished: the faith of those who had fallen was brought back; His land was restored. Then after speaking forty days with them, He ascended into heaven; and, as I mentioned a little before, by sending His Holy Spirit, He3,9;2,4# caused His disciples, unlearned men, to speak with the tongues of all nations. Then they, in whose behalf He had prayed not in vain, Father, forgive them, for they know wo<Luke23, what they do, moved, as I have said, sought for safety,34' received counsel to believe in Him; three thousand believed in one day, and again five thousand; the Church of Christ began to be rife throughout Judaea, where the reproach of Christ had been rife; and His land teas restored. But since He had Himself said, Other sheep 1 have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring; and there16' shall be one fold, and one Shepherd; the Apostles were sent to the Gentiles also, to whom the Prophets had not been sent. They were sought, who had not sought; they were found, who were expecting nothing; that God, Whom they knew not as Promiser, they found a Redeemer. For the Jews before His advent held Him bouuden unto them by promises, because the Prophets had there preached Christ, there had promised Christ; but they had not recognised Him when present Whom they had heard promised; while to the Gentiles no promise was made; although that they should believe also had been mentioned in the Prophets. Though not addressed to them, it was said of them. The Gospel was sent unto them also: and ye have heard this from the dispensation of God; for that lesson hath just been read unto you in the Acts of the Apostles, how the centurion Cornelius believed: for Cornelius the centurion was not of the Jewish nation. He prayed, fasted, gave alms. God deserted him not, although placed among the 416 Christ's ' earth? His Body, restored. His Reign. Gentiles; and an Angel was sent to announce unto him, -that his prayer and his alms were had in remembrance in the sight of God; he believed, when he had invited Peter unto him. Could not the Angel teach him? He sent him unto Peter, that his faith might be the rather made sure unto him by a man, that God had deigned to visit men: nor did He, Who deigned to be Man, disdain to teach by means of men. Thus then was His land restored; one wall coming from the Jews, another wall from the Gentiles; which two walls meeting from opposite sides, He was Himself the corner stone, where both should be joined together.

3. Again, how do we understand the words, when His earth was restored? When His Flesh was raised again. For another interpretation, not departing from Christ, may thus occur to us: the earth restored is the resurrection of the flesh; for after His resurrection, all those things which are sung of in the Psalm were done. Let us then hear a Psalm full of joy on the restoration of the Earth. Let the Lord our God excite in us a hope and a pleasure worthy of so great a thing; may He rule our discourse, that it be fit for your hearts, that whatever joy our heart doth feel in such sights, He may bring on to our tongue, and thence conduct it into your ears, then to your heart, thence to your actions.

4. Ver. 1. The Lord is King. He Who stood before the judge, He Who received blows, He Who was scourged, He Who was spit upon, He Who was crowned with thorns, He Who was struck with fists, He Who hung upon the cross, He Who as He hung upon the wood was mocked, He Who died upon the cross, He Who was pierced with the spear, He Who was buried, Himself arose from the dead. The Lord is King. Let kingdoms rage as much as they can; what can they do to the King of kingdoms, the Lord of all kings, the Creator of all worlds? Is He despised, because He appeared so submissive, so humble? That was His mercy, not His want of power: for He appeared humble, that we might take Him. But let us now see: The Lord is King9 let the earth be glad: yea, let the multitude of the isles be joyous. It is so indeed, because the word of God hath been preached not in the continent alone, but also in those isles which lie in mid The 6 hies' Darkness for the wicked, the good God's seat. 417 sea: even these are full of Christians, full of the servants of jGod. For the sea doth not retard Him Who made it. Where ships can approach, can not the words of God? The isles are filled. But figuratively the isles may be taken for all the Churches. Why isles? Because the waves of all temptations roar around them. But as an isle may be beaten by the waves which on every side dash around it, yet cannot be broken, and rather itself doth break the advancing waves, than by them is broken: so also the Churches of God, springing up throughout the world, have suffered the persecutions of the ungodly, who roar around them on every side; and behold the isles stand fixed, and at last the sea is calmed. Yea, lei the multitude of the isles be joyous.

5. Ver. 2. Clouds and darkness are round about Him; righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat. For whom are clouds and darkness round about Him? For whom are righteousness and judgment the direction of His seatf Clouds and darkness for the ungodly, who have not understood Him: righteousness and judgment for the faithful, who have believed in Him; for the former have not seen through pride, the latter have deserved to be guided by their humility. Hear the clouds and darkness, and hear righteousness and judgment. The Lord Himself saith: For judgment I am come into this world; that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind. What meaneth, that they which see might be made blind? They who seem unto themselves to see, who think themselves wise, who think healing not needful for them, that they may be made blind, may not understand. And that they which see not may see; that they who confess their blindness may obtain to be enlightened. Let there be therefore clouds and darkness round about Him, for those who have not understood Him: for those who confess and humble themselves, righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat. He called those who believe in Him His seat: for from them hath He made Himself a seat, since in them Wisdom sitteth; for the Son of God is the Wisdom of God. But we have heard from another passage of Scripture a strong confirmation of this interpretation. The soul of the Prov.12, righteous is the seat of Wisdom. Because then they whoicor#1> 418 Fire goes ' before' Christ, before Judgment. have believed in Him have been made righteous: justified faith, they have become His own seat: He sitteth in them, judging from them, and guiding them. Wherefore? because He found them meek, like obedient cattle, not kicking backward, not shaking their heads in pride against His yoke, not refusing His scourge: they became good and obedient cattle of His; and deserved what is said in another Psalm, " Them that are meek shall He guide in judgment: and such as are gentle, them shall He learn His way? Clouds and darkness, therefore, are around Him, unto them who are not righteous; but to the meek, righteousness and judgment shall be the habitation of His seat.

6. Ver. 3. There shall go a fire before Him, and burn up His enemies on every side. Of what fire doth he say, brethren, a fire shall go before Him, and burn up His enemies on every side? I do not think it is said of that fire, into which the ungodly are to be sent by that sentence of the last judgment, to whom when set apart on the left, as we remember having read in the Gospel, He shall say, Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. I do not think it is said of that fire. Why do I not? Because he speaketh of some fire, which shall go before Him, before He cometh to judgment. For it is said, that the fire goeth before Him, and burnetii up His enemies on every side, that is, throughout the whole world. That fire will burn after His advent: this, on the contrary, will go before Him. What fire then is this? We may understand it of the punishment of the wicked, we may understand it of the salvation of the redeemed. Of the punishment of the wicked, how? Because when Christ was preached, the heathen were enraged, and stirred up persecution: which was the fury of fire, consuming rather those who persecuted, than those whom they persecuted. For when we see two persons, the one enraged, the other meekly enduring, it is for you to judge, which of them is on fire. Ye may behold such a spectacle in the human race. Place before your eyes an unjust man, excited in mind, savage in countenance, with flaming eyes, with flashing words, carried on to another's death, to depredations, injury, insult, not able to hold, to restrain himself; the other patiently enduring his words, his The tricked devoured by fire of evil passions. 4 1 9 blows,* whatsoever he chooseth to inflict upon him, and when he striketh his cheek, offering unto him the other: when thou hast seen on the one side fury, on the other mildness; on the one anger, on the other endurance: on the one flames, on the other patience; wilt thou hesitate to pronounce which of these is on fire, and snffereth punishment? He whose body is assaulted, or he whose mind is laid waste? On which account the prophet Isaiah also saith, The fire of thine enemies shall devour them, even now. What is, even now? Before that great day of judg-11, ment cometh, those who will afterwards burn with the punishment of eternal fire, already burn in their own rage. Unless indeed ye imagine, brethren, that injustice, which proceedeth out of one man to the injury of another, hurteth him to whom it proceedeth, and hurteth not him from whom it proceedeth. How can it be so? Sometimes a burning brand is applied to a damp and green log of wood, without burning it, though it is on fire itself; thus also thine enemy. If perchance there be any unjust man who plotteth snares against thee, or deviseth any trouble, he is unjust: then if thou art green wood, that is, if vigorous and flourishing with spiritual sap, thou shalt resist the fire of his hostilities, by praying for him who persecuteth thee: he is on fire, thou remainest whole; and his injustice hurteth him, thee not at all. Unless indeed thou thinkest that it hurteth thee, if he hath done ought unto thy body, and thy soul hath come patient and incorrupt to be crowned before God, following the example of its Lord, Who chose rather to suffer from the Jews, and who could have avoided death, but yet died, just as He was born, though He needed not to have been born. For thou wast born by the law of thy nature, He of His own will; thou diest from thy nature, He from His mercy. As then the Jews did Him no harm; so neither doth any persecuting enemy hurt thee, if thou hast chosen to be a member of Him thy Head.

7. Behold, we have understood the fire that goeth before Him, that is to be understood of a kind of temporal punishment of the unbelieving and ungodly: let us understand the fire, if possible, of the salvation of the redeemed also; for thus we had proposed. The Lord Himself saith: 420 Fire of grace and Divine Love in the Elect. / am come to send fire on the earth: 6 fire' in the same way as a ' swor<^' as *n another passage He saith, that He was 'not come to send peace, but a sword, upon earth. The tQ divide, the fire to burn: but each salutary: for the sword of His own word hath in salutary wise separated us from evil habits. For He brought a sword, and separated every believer either from his father who believed not in Christ, or from his mother in like manner unbelieving: or at least, if we were born of Christian parents, from his ancestors. For no man among us had not either a grandsire, or great grandsire, or some ancestry among the heathen, and in that unbelief which is accursed before God. We are separated from that which we were before; but the sword which separateth, but slayeth not, hath cut between us. In the same way the fire also: / am come to send fire upon the earth. Believers in Him were set on fire, they received the flame of love: and for this reason when the Holy Spirit itself had been sent to the Apostles, It thus appeared: There appeared, he saith, unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Burning with this fire they set out on their march through the world, to burn and set on fire His enemies on every side. What enemies of His? They who forsaking the God Who made them, adored the idols they had made. They were burnt, if they were evil, unto their consumption: if good, unto their restoration: either the man was burnt, who refused to believe, by that fire, becoming worse when he heard the word of God, being burnt up and consumed by his own malice; or if he were converted and believed, yet it was not as if nothing had burnt within him. For the grass had burnt, that the gold might be refined. Faith is gold, carnal lust is grass. All flesh is grass, saith Isaiah, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the grass. Whatever there is therefore in carnal man lusting for things vain and worldly, is grass. How many perchance, even brethren of ours, have been to the theatre? they were led by grass. Is not this fire to be desired by them, that the grass may burn, and the gold be refined? For whatever faith there be in them, is choked by the grass. It is therefore good for them to burn with a holy fire, that when the grass hath been consumed, the treasure which Christ

Lightnings of Christ, from the clouds, holy Preachers, 421 redeemed may shine. Therefore, there shall go a fire before Him, and shall burn up His enemies on every side. There are some who have burned for their own health, they are to-day His faithful; they were His enemies, and they are now at last His faithful: thou seekest for enemies, they are not; they are consumed, they have been on fire; love hath consumed in them that which made them persecute Christ, and hath refined within them their belief in Christ. And it shall burn up His enemies on every side.

8. Ver. 4. His lightnings gave shine unto the world. This is great joy. Do we not see? is it not clear? His lightnings have shined unto the whole world: His enemies have been set on fire, and burnt. All that gainsaid hath been burnt, and His lightnings have given shine unto the world. How have they shone? That the world might at length believe. Whence were the lightnings? From the clouds. What are the clouds of God? The preachers of the truth. But thou seest a cloud, misty and dark in the sky, and it hath I know not what hidden within it. If there be lightning from the cloud, a brightness shineth forth: from that which thou didst despise, hath burst forth that which thou mayest dread. Our Lord Jesus Christ therefore sent His Apostles, as His preachers, like clouds: they were seen as men, and were despised; as clouds appear, and are despised, until what thou wonderest at gleameth from them. For they were in the first place men encumbered with flesh, weak; then, men of low station, unlearned, ignoble: but there was within what could lighten forth; there was in them what could flash abroad. Peter a fisherman approached, prayed, and the dead arose. His human form was a cloud, the splendour of the miracle was the lightning. So in their words, so in their deeds, when they do things to be wondered at, and utter words to be wondered at, His lightnings gave shine unto the world; the earth saw it, and was afraid. Is it not true? Doth not the whole Christian world at length exclaim, Amen, afraid at the lightnings which burst forth from those clouds? The earth saw it, and was afraid.

9. Ver. 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. Who are the hills? The proud. Every high thing raising itself against God, at the deeds of Christ and the Christians, trembled, yielded, and when I say, what hath been already said, melted, a better word cannot be found. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. Where is the elevation of powers? where the hardness of the unbelieving? The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. The Lord was a fire unto them, they melted at His presence like wax; so long hard, until that fire was applied. Every height hath been levelled; it dareth not now blaspheme Christ: and though the Pagan believeth not in Him, he blasphemeth Him not; though not as yet become a living stone, yet the hard hill hath been subdued. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth: not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles as the Apostle saith; for He is not the God of the Jews alone, but of the Gentiles also. He is therefore the Lord of the whole earth, the Lord Jesus Christ born in Judaea, but not born for Judaea alone, because before He was born He created all men; and He Who created, also new created, all men. At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

10. Ver. 6. Tfie heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people have seen His glory. What heavens have declared? The heavens declare the glory of God. Who are the heavens? Those who have become His seat; for as God sitteth in the heavens, so doth He sit in the Apostles, so doth He sit in the preachers of the Gospel. Even thou, if thou wilt, shalt be a heaven. Dost thou wish to be so? Purge from thy heart the earth. If thou hast not earthly lusts, and hast not in vain uttered the response, that thou 6 lifted up thy heart,' thou shalt be a heaven. If ye be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle to believers, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth upon the right hand of God: set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. Thou hast begun to set thine affection upon things above, not on things upon earth; hast thou not become a heaven? Thou earnest flesh, and in thy heart thou art already a heaven; for thy conversation will be in heaven. Being such, thou also declarest Christ; for who of the faithful declareth not Christ? Attend, beloved: do ye imagine that we standing here alone declare Christ, and do ye not declare Him? Whence do they come unto us, wishing to be Christians, whom we have never seen, whom we know not, unto whom we have never preached? Have they believed, perchance, without any preacher? The Apostle saith: How shall they believe in Him, of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher t Therefore the whole Church preacheth Christ, and the heavens declare His righteousness; for all the faithful, whose care it is to gain unto God those who have not yet believed, and who do this from love, are heavens. From them God thunderelh forth the terror of His judgment; and he who was unbelieving trembleth, and is alarmed, and believeth. He shews unto men what power Christ had throughout the world, by pleading with them, and leading them to love Christ. For how many this day have led their friends either to some pantomimist, or flute-player? Why, except from their liking him? And do ye love Christ. For He Who conquered the world hath exhibited such spectacles, as that no man can say that he findeth in them cause for blame. For each person's favourite in the theatre is often vanquished there. But no man is vanquished in Christ: there is no reason for shame. Seize, lead, draw, whom ye may: be without fear, ye are leading unto Him, Who displeaseth not those who see Him; and ask ye Him to enlighten them, that they may behold to good account. The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the peopfc have seen His glory.

11. Ver. 7. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Hath not this come to pass? Have they not been confounded? Are they not daily confounded? For carved images are images wrought by the hand. Why are all who worship carved images confounded? Because all people have seen His glory. All nations now confess the glory of Christ: let those who worship stones be ashamed. Because those stones were dead, we have found a living stone: indeed those stones never lived, so that they cannot be called even dead; but our Stone is living, and hath ever lived with the Father, and though He died for us, He revived, and liveth -'now, and death shall no more have dominion over Him. This glory of His the nations have acknowledged; they leave the temples, they run to the Churches. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Do they still seek to worship carved images? Have they not chosen to forsake their idols? They have been forsaken by their idols. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, who glory in their idols. But there is a certain disputer who seemeth unto himself learned, and saith, I do not worship that stone, nor that image which is without sense; your prophet could not be aware that they have eyes and see not, and I be ignorant that this image neither hath a soul, nor seeth with its eyes, nor heareth with its ears; I worship not this image; but I adore1 what I see, and serve him whom I see not. Who is that? Some invisible deity, he replieth, who presideth over that image. By giving this account of their images, they seem to themselves able disputants, because they do not worship idols, and yet do worship devils. The things, brethren, saith the Apostle, which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto devils, and not to God; and I would not, he addeth, that ye should have fellowship with devils; for we know that an idol is nothing in the world. The Apostle himself saith this, we know that an idol is nothing: and that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Let them not therefore excuse themselves on this ground, that they are not devoted to insensate idols; they are rather "devoted to devils, which is more dangerous. For if they were only worshipping idols, as they would not help them, so they would not hurt them; but if thou worship and serve devils, they themselves will be thy masters. And who will be thy masters? Those who are jealous of thee: they must necessarily be jealous of thy freedom, always wish to possess thee, always to render thee such, as they may be able to draw along with them. For those evil spirits have a sort of inherent malevolence, and love of destruction: they rejoice in the evil of man; and feed upon our delusion, if they have deceived us. And what do they seek? Not those over whom they may for ever have dominion, but with whom they Satan's envy. Divine worship is not for creatures. 425 may for ever undergo damnation; just as an evil-minded robber is wont to accuse the innocent. If a man is burnt alive, doth he burn the less, if two men are burning? doth he die the less, if he die in company with another? His punishment is not lessened, but his malignity is fed. 6 Let him die with me;' not meaning that he will the less himself die, but another's ill brings consolation. Such is the devil; he wisheth to seduce those who with him may be punished: and because God is a Judge whom he cannot deceive, (for he accuseth not before Him the innocent,) wishing to have true charges te prefer, he persuadeth to sin. Behold what master they who worship idols and devils create for themselves: for the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto devils, and not to God; and I would not that10'20' ye should have fellowship with devils.

12. But what sort of God have we? Hear what followeth. For when he had said, Confounded be alljhey that worship carved images, and that glory in their idols; lest men should try to stand in defence of their images, by saying, We are not worshipping stones, but deities: what deities dost thou worship? Tell me, dost thou worship devils, or good spirits, such as are the Angels? For there are holy Angels, and there are evil spirits. I say, that in thy temples none are worshipped but evil spirits; who in their pride exact sacrifice for themselves, and wish themselves to be worshipped as gods; who are malignant and proud. Such also are wicked men, who seek their own glory, and despise the glory of God. But observe holy men, who are like the Angels. When thou hast found some holy man who serveth God, if thou wish to worship him instead of God, he forbiddeth thee: he will not arrogate to himself the honour due to God, he will not be unto thee as God, but be with thee under God. Thus did the holy Apostles Paul and Barnabas. They preached the word of God in Lycaonia. When they had performed wonderful works in Lycaonia, the people of that country brought victims, and wished to sacrifice to them, calling Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury: they were not pleased. Did they perchance refuse to be sacrificed to, because they abhorred to be compared to devils? No, but because they shuddered at divine honour being paid to men. Their own words shew this: it is no guess of ours; for the text of tjje ^Qot g0eth on to say how they were moved: then Barnabas and Paul rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, Men and brethren, why do ye these things? we also are men of like passions with you. Attend. Just then, as good men forbid those who had wished to worship them as gods, and wish rather that God alone be worshipped, God alone be adored, to God alone sacrifice be offered, not to themselves; so also all the holy Angels seek His glory Whom they love; endeavour to impel and to excite to the contemplation of Him all whom they love: Him they declare to them, not themselves, since they are angels; and because they are soldiers, they study only how to seek the glory of their Captain; but if they have sought their own glory, they are condemned as usurpers1. Such were the devil and his angels: he claimed for himself divine honour, and for all his demons; he filled the pagan temples, and persuaded them to offer images and sacrifices to himself. Was it not better to worship holy Angels than devils? They answer: we do not worship devils; we worship angels, as ye call them, the powers and the ministers of the great God. I wish ye would worship them: ye would easily learn from themselves not to worship them. Hear an Angel teaching. He was teaching a disciple of Christ, and shewing him many wonders in the Revelation of John: and when some wonderful vision had been shewn him, he trembled, and fell down at the Angel's feet; but that Angel, who sought not but the glory of God, said, See thou do it not; for I am a fellow servant of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets. What then, my brethren? Let no man say, I fear lest the Angel may be angry with me, if I worship him not as my God. He is then angry with thee, when thou hast chosen to worship him: for he is righteous, and loveth God. As devils are angry if they are not worshipped, so are Angels angry if they are worshipped instead of God. But lest the weak and trembling heart perchance say unto itself: If then the demons are incensed because they are not worshipped, I fear to offend them; what can even their chief the devil do unto thee? If he had any power over us, no one of us would remain. Are not daily so many things said against him by the mouth of Christians, and yet the harvest of Christians increaseth. When thou art angry with the most depraved of thy slaves, thou givest him the name, Satan, Devil. Perhaps in this thou dost err, since thou sayest it to a man, and thy immoderate anger hurrieth thee to revile the image of God: and yet thou choosest a term thou deeply hatest, to apply to him. If he could, would he not revenge himself? But it is not allowed: and he doth so much only as is allowed him. For when he wished to tempt Job, he had to ask power to do so: and he could do nothing had he not received power. Why then11, dost thou not fearlessly worship God, without Whose will no one hurteth thee, and by Whose permission thou art chastened, not overcome? For if it shall have pleased the Lord thy God to permit some man to hurt thee, or somo spirit: He will chasten thee, that thou mayest cry unto Him: "The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: hut He hath not given me ovgr unto death" Confounded, therefore, he aU they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: worship Him, all ye His angels. Let pagans learn to worship God: they wish to worship Angels: let them imitate Angels, and worship Him Who is worshipped by Angels. Worship Him, all ye His angels. Let that Angel worship who was sent to Cornelius, (for worshipping Him he sent Cornelius to Peter,) himself Peter's fellow-servant; let him worship Christ, Peter's Lord. Worship Him, all ye gods!

13. Ver. 8. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced. What did Sion hear? That all His Angels worship Him. What heard Sion? Behold what she heard: The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people have seen His glory. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in their idols. For the Church was not as yet among the Gentiles; in Judaea the Jews had some of them believed, and the very Jews who believed thought that they only belonged to Christ: the Apostles were sent to the Gentiles, Cornelius was preached to; Cornelius believed, was baptized, and they who were with Cornelius were also baptized. But ye know what happened, that they might be baptized: the reader indeed hath not reached this point, but, nevertheless, some recollect; and 'let those who do not recollect, hear briefly from me. The Angel was sent to Cornelius: the Angel sent Cornelius to Peter; Peter came to Cornelius. And because Cornelius and his household were Gentiles, and uncircumcised: lest they might hesitate to give the Gospel to the uncircumcised: before Cornelius and his household were baptized, the Holy Spirit came, and filled them, and they began to speak with tongues. Now the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any one who had not been baptized: but upon these It fell before baptism. For Peter might hesitate whether he might baptize the uncircumcised: the Holy Spirit came, they began to speak with tongues; the invisible gift was given, and took away all doubt about the visible Sacrament; they were all baptized. And thou hast it there written; And the apostles and brethren that were in Judcea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. This is what he here mentions; Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. What did Sion hear, and rejoice at? That the Gentiles also had received the word of God. One wall had come, but the corner existed not as yet. The name Sion is here peculiarly given to the Church which was in Judaea. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. Thus it is written, The apostles and brethren that were in Judwa heard. See if the daughters of Judaea rejoiced not. What did they hear? That the Gentiles had also received the word of God. Where did this Psalm express this? The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people have seen His glory. And because even the Gentiles, who used to worship idols, had believed, he goeth on to say, Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in their idols. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. Afterwards some of the circumcised chose to reproach Peter, saying unto him, Thou wentest in t° men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But he gave them a reason, telling how while he prayed a vessel let down by four corners was shewn Him. This vessel which contained all living things, signified all nations. But it hung by four corners, because there are four quarters of the globe, Christ is over all the earth, equal to the Father. 429 whence the people were to come: and four Gospels preach Christ, that His grace may be understood to belong to all the four quarters of the globe. Because therefore such a vision had been shewn to Peter, he rehearsed to them the whole, how Cornelius believed, and that, before the Gentile was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon him. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Behold, Sion heard of it, and rejoiced, and the daughters of Judah were glad because of Thy judgments, O Lord. What judgments? Because God is no accepter of persons. For Peter himself, when he had seen Cornelius the centurion,34, and those who were with him, filled with the Holy Ghost, cried out and said, Of a truth I perceive, that God is no respecter of persons. Therefore, The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O Lord. What is, because of Thy judgments? Because in any nation, and in any people, he that serveth Him is accepted of Him: for He is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.

14. Ver. 9. See if this be not the reason for the joy of the daughters of Judah. And the daughters of Judah were glad because of Thy judgments, O Lord. For Thou, Lord, art most high over all the earth. Not in Judaea alone, but over Jerusalem; not over Sion only, but over all the earth. To this whole earth the judgments of God prevailed, so that it assembled its nations from every quarter: judgments with which they who have cut themselves off have no communion: they neither hear the prophecy, nor see its completion; For Thou, Lord, art most high over all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods. What is far1? For it is said of Christ. What then meaneth far, except that Thou mayest be acknowledged coequal with the Father? What meaneth, above all gods? Who are they? Idols have not life, have not sense: devils have life and sense; but they are evil. What great thing is it that Christ is exalted above devils? He is exalted above devils: but neither is this very great; the heathen gods indeed are devils, but He is far above all gods. Even men are styled gods: / have said, Ye are gods: and ye are all the children of the Most Highest: again it is6- written, God standeth in the congregation of princes: He is 430 Servants of Christ must abhor His enemies. a Judge among gods. Jesus Christ our Lord is exalted above all: not only above idols, not only above devils; but above all righteous men. Even this is not enough; above all Angels also: for whence otherwise is this, Worship Him9 all ye gods? Thou art far exalted above all gods.

15. Ver. 10. What then do we all, who have assembled before Him, before Him Who is exalted far above all gods? He hath given us a brief commandment, O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil! Christ doth not deserve that with Him thou shouldest love avarice. Thou lovest Him: thou shouldest hate what He hateth. There is a man who is thine enemy, he is what thou art; ye are the work of one Creator, with the same nature: and yet if thy son were to speak unto thine enemy, and come to his house, and constantly converse with him, thou wouldest be inclined to disinherit him; because he speaketh with thine enemy. And how so? Because thou seemest to say justly, Thou art my enemy's friend, and seekest thou ought of my property? Attend then. Thou lovest Christ: avarice is Christ's foe; why speak with her? I say not, speak with her; why dost thou serve her f For Christ commandeth thee to do many things, and thou dost them not; she commandeth thee, and thou dost them. Christ commandeth thee to clothe the poor man: and thou dost it not; avarice biddeth thee defraud, and this thou dost in preference. If such be the case, if such thou art, do not very confidently promise thyself Christ's heritage. But thou sayest, I love Christ. O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil! Hence it appeareth that thou lovest what is good, if thou shalt be found to hate what is evil. O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil!

16. But when we have begun to hate evil, persecutions will follow. We hate evil; some persecutor saith to us, Defraud; saith to us, Worship that image; saith to us, Offer frankincense to devils: but we have heard, O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil. We have heard indeed: but if we do not these things, the persecutor rageth. To what degree doth he rage? What will he take away? Answer: Wherefore art thou a Christian? God is our warrant against fear of man. 481 on account of thy eternal heritage, or thy temporal happiness? Ask the question of thy faith, place thy soul on the frame1 of conscience, torture thyself with the fear of judgment, answer whom thou hast believed in, why thou hast believed. Thou sayest to me, I have believed in Christ. What hath Christ promised thee, but what He hath shewn in Himself? What hath He shewn in Himself? He died, and arose from the dead, ascended into heaven. Dost thou wish to follow? Imitate His passion: expect His promise. What then can the enraged persecutor deprive thee of, when thou hast begun to hate the evil, because thou lovest the Lord? What can he deprive thee of? Thy patrimony? Can he deprive thee of heaven? Lastly, whatever God hath given thee, let him take: (he taketh not indeed, unless God wills; but if God will, he taketh away what God gave, lest God take Himself away from thee:) no one can deprive thee of God; thou deprivest thyself of Him, if thou fliest from Him.

17. Perhaps thou answerest: I am not concerned for my patrimony. The Lord gate, and the Lord hath taken away; I may say, Blessed be the name of the Lord: but21' I fear, lest he slay me. This is all. Hear the Psalm consoling thee: 77te Lord preserveth the souls of His servants. Because then he had said above, O ye that love the Lordy see that ye hate the thing which is evil, lest ye should fear to hate evil, lest he should kill thee, he addeth instantly, The Lord preserveth the souls of His servants. Hear Him preserving the souls of His servants, and saying, Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. He who hath most power against thee, slayeth the body. What hath he done unto thee? What he also did to the Lord thy God. Why lovest thou to have what Christ hath, if thou fearest to suffer what Christ did? He came to bear thy life, temporal, weak, subject unto death. Surely fear to die, if thou canst avoid dying. What thou canst not avoid through thy nature, why dost thou not undergo by faith? Let the adversary who threateneth take away from thee that life, God giveth thee another life: for He gave thee this life also, and without His will even this shall not be taken from thee; but if it be His will that it 432 God gives a better life than man takes away. be taken from thee, He hath a life to give thee in exchange; fear not to be robbed for His sake. Art thou unwilling to put off a patched garment? He will give thee a robe of glory. What robe dost thou tell me of? This corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. This very flesh of thine shall not perish. Thine enemy can rage as far as to thy death: he hath not power beyond, either over thy soul, or even over thy flesh; for although he scatter thy flesh about, he hindereth not the resurrection. Men were fearful for their life: and what said the Lord unto them? The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Dost thou, who losest not a single hair, fear the loss of thy life? All things are numbered with God. He Who created all things, will restore all things. They were not, and they were created: they were, and shall they not be restored? Believe then with your whole heart, my brethren, and ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil. Be strong, not only in the love of God, but also in the hatred of evil. Let no man frighten you: He Who called you is more powerful, He is Almighty; He is stronger than all the strong, higher than all the exalted. The Son of God hath died for us: fear not but that thou shalt receive His. life, who hast a pledge in His death. For, for whom hath He died? was it for the righteous? Ask of Paul: for Christ died for the ungodly. Thou wast ungodly, and He died for thee: thou art justified, and will He desert thee? He Who justified the ungodly, shall He desert the godly? O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil! Let no man fear: The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints; He shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly.

18. But perhaps thou wilt say, I lose this light. (Ver. 1 1.) Tltere is sprung up a light for the righteous. What light fearest thou thou mayest lose? fearest thou thou mayest be in darkness? Fear not thou mayest lose light; nay, fear lest while thou art guarding against the loss of this light, thou mayest lose that true light. For we see to whom that light is given which thou fearest losing, and with whom it is shared. Do the righteous only see this sun, when He maketh it rise over the just and unjust, and raineth upon the just and unjust? Wicked men, robbers, the unchaste, beasts, flies, worms, see that light together with thee. What sort of light doth He keep for the righteous, Who giveth this even to such as these? Deservedly the Martyrs beheld this light in faith; for they who despised this light of the sun, had some light in their eyes, which they longed for, who rejected this. Tltere is sprung up a light for the righteous: and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted. Do you imagine that they were really in misery, when they walked in chains? Spacious was the prison to the faithful, light were the chains to the confessors. They who preached Christ amid their torments, had joy in the iron-chair. There is sprung up a light for the righteous. What light hath sprung up for the righteous? Not that which springeth up for the unrighteous; not that which He causeth to rise over the good and bad. There is a different light which springeth up to the righteous; of which light, that never rose upon themselves, the unrighteous shall in the end say, Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteoumess hath not shined upon6, us, and the sun of righteousness rose not upon us. Behold, by loving this sun they have lain in the darkness of the heart. What did it profit them to have seen with their eyes this sun, and not in mind to have seen that light? Tobit was bliud, but he used to teach his son the way of God. Ye know this, that Tobit warned his son, and said to him, Son, give alms of thy substance; because that alms suffer not to come into darkness. Even he who was in darkness spoke thus. Do ye see that there is another light which springeth up to the righteous, and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted r He had not sight: and he said to his son, Give alms of thy substance; alms suffer not to come into darkness. Nor did he fear, lest his son should say to him in his heart, And hast not thou then given alms? wThy dost thou, that art blind thyself, thus enjoin me? Behold, thy alms have brought thee to darkness, and how sayest thou to me, Give alms: alms suffer not to come into darkness. How could he speak with such confidence, except because he had in sight another light? The son gave his arm to his father, that he might walk: but the father taught the son the way that he might live. There is therefore another 434 The joys of the wicked declared to be no joys. light which springeth up to the righteous: There is sprung up a light for the righteous: and joyful gladness for the true-hearted. Dost thou wish to know that light? Be truehearted. What is, be true-hearted? Be not of a crooked heart before God, withstanding His will, and wishing to bend Him unto thee, and not to rule thyself to please Him; and thou wilt feel the joyful gladness which all the truehearted know. There is sprung up a light for the righteous: and joyful gladness for the true-hearted.

19. Ver. 12. Be glad, ye righteous. Perhaps already the faithful hearing the word, Be glad, are thinking of banquets, preparing cups, waiting for the season of roses; because it is said, Be glad, ye righteous I See what followeth, Be glad in the Lord. Thou art waiting for the season of spring, that thou mayest be glad: thou hast the Lord for joyful gladness, the Lord is always with thee, He hath no special season; thou hast Him by night, thou hast Him by day. Be truehearted; and thou hast ever joy from Him. For that joy which is after the fashion of the world, is not true joy. Hear the prophet Isaiah: There is no joy, saith my God, to the wicked. What the wicked call joy is not joy, such as he knew who made no account of their joy: let us believe him, brethren. He was a man, but he knew both kinds of joy. He certainly knew the joys of the cup, for he was a man, he knew the joy of the table, he knew the joys of marriage, he knew those joys worldly and luxurious. He who knew them saith with confidence, There is no joy to the wicked, saith the Lord. But it is not man who speaks, it is the Lord: of the truth of the Lord it is said, There is no joy to the wicked. For they but seem to themselves to rejoice: But there is no joy to the wicked, saith not a man, but the Lord. Whence he who saw real joy, saith, Neither have I desired the day of men, thou knowest. Thou Who shewest me another day, Who teachest me another light, Who fillest me with another joy, Who dost inspire my heart with another feeling, Thou hast made me not desire the day of men. Isaiah saw men in drink, in luxury, in theatres and spectacles, the whole world indulging itself in various trifles, and yet he cried, There is no joy, saith the Lord, to the wicked. If this was not joy, what sort of joy was that which he saw, in comparison with The righteous have a better joy, seen by Faith. 485 which this was not joy i As if thou hadst known the sun, and wert to say to some person who was praising a lamp, This is not light. Why is it not light? He holdeth it in high esteem, he rejoiceth, he is delighted: and thou sayest, This is not light Or if any one were admiring an ape, thou wouldest say, This is not beauty. And if perchance he were engaged in tracing the composition of the brute's limbs, and admiring all their fitness of adaptation to each other, thou who hadst known another beauty wouldest deny it, and say, it is not so. Why? Because thou knowest another. But thou sayest, I see not that light which Isaiah saw. Believe, and thou shalt see it. For perhaps thou hast not the eye to see it; for it is an eye by which that beauty is discerned. For as there is an eye of the flesh, by means of which this light is seen: so there is an eye of the heart, by which that joy is perceived: perhaps that eye is wounded, dimmed, disturbed by passion, by avarice, by indulgence, by senseless lust; thine eye is disturbed: thou canst not see that light. Believe, before thou seest: thou shalt be healed, and shalt see. There is sprung up a light for the righteous: and joyful-gladness for the true-hearted.

20. Be glad, he saith, in the Lord, ye righteous: and confess to the remembrance of His holiness. Now made glad, now rejoicing in the Lord, confess unto Hiin; for unless it were His will, ye would not rejoice in Him. For the Lord Himself saith: These things I have spoken to you:Johnl6 that in Me ye might have peace. But in (he world ye shall have tribulation. If ye are Christians, look for tribulations in this world; look not for more peaceful and better times. Brethren, ye deceive yourselves; what the Gospel doth not promise you, promise not to yourselves. Ye know what the Gospel saith; we are speaking to Christians; we ought not to disobey the faith. The Gospel saith this, that in the last times many evils, many stumbling-blocks, many tribulations, much iniquity, shall abound; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. The love, it saith, of many shall wax cold. Whosoever then hath been stedfastly fervent in spirit, as the Apostle saith, fervent in spirit, his love shall not wax cold: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Which is given unto 486 The c whole earth' called to sing of GoaVs marvels. us. Let no man therefore promise himself what the Gospel doth not promise. Behold, happier times will come, and I am doing this, and purchasing this. It is good for thee to listen to Him Who is not deceived, nor hath deceived any man, Who promised thee joy not here, but in Himself; and when all here hath passed away, to hope that with Him thou wilt for ever reign; lest when thou dost wish to reign here, thou may est neither enjoy gladness here, nor find it there. psalm xcviii.

21. Ver. 1. O sing unto the Lord a new song. The new man knoweth this, the old man knoweth it not. The old man is the old life, and the new man the new life: the old life is derived from Adam, the new life is formed in Christ. But in this Psalm, the whole world is enjoined to sing a new More openly elsewhere the words are these: O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord9 all the whole earth; that they who cut themselves off from the communion of the whole earth, may understand that they cannot sing the new song, because it is sung in the whole,, and not in a part of it. Attend here also, and see that this is said. And when the whole earth is enjoined to sing a new song, it is meant, that peace singeth a new song. O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvellous things. What marvellous things? Behold, the Gospel was just now being read, and we heard the marvellous things of the Lord. The only son of his mother, who was a widow, was being carried out dead: the Lord, in compassion, made them stand still; they laid him down, and the Lord said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. jfJCi foe ifoai was dead sat up, and began to speak: and He delivered him unto his mother. Behold, the Lord hath done marvellous things: but it is much more marvellous, that He hath aroused from everlasting death the whole world, than that He recalled to life the only son of a widowed mother. O sing then unto the Lord a new song; Christy God's Right Handy healeth unto God. 437 for the Lord hath done marvellous things. What marvellous things? Hear: His own right handy and His holy arm, hath healed for Him. What is the Lord's holy arm? Our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear Isaiah: Who hath believed owrls.53,1. reporty and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? His holy arm then, and His own right hand, is Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore the arm of God, and the right hand of God: for this reason is it said, hath He healed for Him. It is not said only, " His right hand hath healed the world," but hath healed for Him. For many are healed for themselves, not for Him. Behold how many long for that bodily health, and receive it from Him: they, are healed by Him, but not for Him. How are they healed by Him, and not for Him? When they have received health, they become wanton: they who when sick were chaste, when cured become adulterers: they who when in illness injured no man, on the recovery of their strength attack and crush the innocent: they are healed, but not unto Him. Who is he who is healed unto Him? He who is healed inwardly. Who is he that is healed inwardly? He who trusteth in Him, that when he shall have been healed inwardly, reformed into a new man, afterwards this mortal flesh too, which doth languish for a time, may in the end itself even recover its most perfect health. Let us therefore be healed for Him. But that we may be healed for Him, let us believe in His right hand; because His own right handy and His holy arm9 hath healed for Him.

22. Ver. 2. The Lord hath made known His salvation • This very right hand, this very arm, this very salvation, is our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom it is said, And all flesh shall see the salvation of God; of Whom also that Simeon6, who embraced the Infant in his arras, spoke, " Lord9 now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes28~30' have seen Thy salvation." The Lord hath made known His salvation. To whom did He make it known? To a part, or to the whole? Not to any part specially. Let no man betray, no man deceive, no man say, Lo, here is Christ, or there: the man who saith, Lo, He is here, or there,23, pointeth to some particular spots. To whom hath the Lord declared His salvation f Hear what followeth: His righteousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 'Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the right hand of God, the arm of God, the salvation of God, and the righteousness of God.

23. Ver. 3. He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. What meaneth this, He hath remembered Hu mercy and truth? He hath pitied, so that He promised; because He promised and shewed His mercy, truth hath followed: mercy hath gone before promise, promise hath been fulfilled in truth. He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the Jiouse of Israel. And what? only to Jacob? and only to the house of Israel? The house of the Jews and that offspring of Abraham according to the flesh, is wont to be called the house of Israel, and Israel is Jacob. For Jacob was Isaac's son, and Isaac himself was Abraham's son. Jacob therefore was the grandson of Abraham; and Jacob had twelve sons, and of these twelve sons descended the whole race of the Jews. Was Christ promised to them only? If thou reflect what is Israel, Christ is promised unto Israel. Israel meaneth ' seeing God.' We shall see Him face to face, if only we now see Him by faith. Let our faith have eyes, and its truth shall be displayed: let us believe in Him Whom we see not, and rejoicing we shall see; let us long for Him we have not seen, and we shall enjoy Him seen. Now therefore is it Israel by faith: but then Israel face to face. No longer through a glass darkly; Dut as it is said by John, Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. Prepare ye your hearts for this vision, prepare your souls for this joy: just as if God willed to shew the sun, He would warn us to make ready the eyes of the flesh; but because He deigneth to shew you the fashion of His Wisdom, prepare the eyes of your heart. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

He hath remembered His mercy unto Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel. Who is this Israel? That ye may not perchance think of one nation of the Jews, hear what followeth: All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. It is not said, all the earth: but, all Harp of works with song of praise. Beaten trumpets. 439 the ends of (he world: as it is said, from one end to the other. Let no man cut this down, let no man scatter it abroad; strong is the unity of Christ. He who gave so great a price, hath bought the whole: All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.

4. Ver. 4. Because they have seen, then, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands Ye already know what it is to make a joyful noise. Rejoice, and speak. If ye cannot express your joy, shout ye; let the shout manifest your joy, if your speech cannot: yet let not joy be mute; let not your heart be silent respecting its God, let it not be mute concerning His gifts. If thou speakest to thyself, unto thyself art thou healed; if His right hand hath healed thee for Him, speak thou unto Him for Whom thou hast been healed. All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands; sing, rejoice, and make melody.

5, Ver. 5. Make melody unto the Lord upon the harp: on the harp and with the voice of a Psalm. Praise Him not with the voice only; take up works, that ye may not only sing, but work also. He who singeth and worketh, maketh melody with psaltery and upon the harp.

8. Ver. 6. Now see what sort of instruments are next spoken of, in figure: With ductile trumpets also, and the sound of the pipe of horn. What are ductile trumpets, and pipes of horn? Ductile trumpets are of brass: they are drawn out by hammering; if by hammering, by being beaten, ye shall be ductile trumpets, drawn out unto the praise of God, if ye improve when in tribulation: tribulation is hammering, improvement is the being drawn out Job was a ductile trumpet, when suddenly assailed by the heaviest losses, and the death of his sons, become like a ductile trumpet by the beating of so heavy tribulation, he sounded thus: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. How did He sound?21- How pleasantly doth his voice sound? This ductile trumpet is still under the hammer: he is given into Satan's power, so that even his flesh might be struck; it is struck: it beginneth to be corrupted and to be covered with worms. Eve placed ready for his seduction from God, his wife, kept 440 Job and St. Paul, as beaten trumpets, sound bravely. for the service of the devil, and not for her husband's comfort, suggesteth blasphemy; he complieth not. The Adam in Paradise obeyed Eve: the Adam on the dunghill repelleth Eve. For Job was sitting on a dunghill, while his flesh was running and wasting with worms! Better was Job in his rottenness, than he that was whole in Paradise. But as yet she was Eve, he was not Adam. He answered Eve, prepared thus to deceive and tempt him: (we have heard how this trumpet was beaten. The devil struck him with a terrible disease from head to foot; and, covered with worms, he sat upon a dunghill. We have heard how he was hammered; let us hear how he soundeth: let us, if it please you, hear the sweet sound of this ductile trumpet:) Thou speakest, he said, as one of the foolish women speakelh. jpfrat j shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? O courageous, O sweet souud! whom will not that sound awake from sleep f whom will not confidence in God awake, to march to battle fearlessly against the devil; not to struggle with his own strength, but His Who proveth him. For He it is Who hammereth: for the hammer could not do so of itself. Of the devil's future punishment the Prophet maketh mention, and saith, The hammer of the whole earth is cut asunder and broken. He meant the devil to be understood by the hammer of the whole earth. By means of this hammer placed in the hand of God, that is, in His power, the ductile trumpets are beaten out, that they may re-echo His praises. See how (I dare so speak, my brethren) even the Apostle wras beaten with this very hammer: Lest I should be exalted, he saith, above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me. Behold he is under the hammer: let us hear how he speaketh of it: For this thing, he saith, / besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. I, saith His Maker, wish to make this trumpet perfect; I cannot do so unless 1 hammer it; in weakness is strength made perfect. Hear now the ductile trumpet itself sounding as it should; When I am weak, then am I strong. And the Apostle Horn trumpets, they that rise above the flesh. 441 himself, as if clinging to Christ, clinging to that right hand which holdeth the hammer to draw out the trumpet, placed in that right hand himself with the same hammer; as he saith of some, Whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. He gave them up to be beaten with the hammer. They sounded ill before they were beaten out; when hammered upon, and made ductile trumpets, leaving off blasphemy, they sounded the praises of the Lord. These are the ductile trumpets.

9. The voice of the pipe of horn, what is it? The horn riseth above the flesh: in rising above the flesh it needs must be solid so as to last, and able to speak. And whence this? Because it hath surpassed the flesh. He who wisheth to be a horn trumpet, let him overcome the flesh. What meaneth this, let him overcome the flesh? Let him surpass the desires, let him conquer the lusts of the flesh. Hear the horn trumpets: If ye then be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. What meaneth this, Set your affection on things above? It meaneth, Rise above the flesh, think not of carnal things. They were not yet horn trumpets, to whom he now spoke thus: I could not speak unto you, brethren, as unto spiritual, but as unto\J^9* carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it: neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal. They were not therefore horn trumpets, because they had not risen above the flesh. Horn both adhereth to the flesh, and riseth above the flesh; and although it springeth from the flesh, yet it surpasseth it. If therefore thou art spiritual, when before thou wast carnal; as yet thou art treading the earth in the flesh, but in spirit thou art rising into heaven: for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. Let not us pass by this, brethren, unto whom the Apostle spoke. What did he say unto them, by which he proved that they were carnal, and had carnal lusts, and were not as yet become horn trumpets? For while one saith, I am of Paul: and another, J am of Apollos: are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul,^[3)4' ana* s ^polios, but ministers of God, by whom ye believed? I have planted, Apollo watered; but God gave the increase. He therefore wisheth them to be raised from the hope which they had placed in man, and to reach the spiritual things of Christ; in order that they might be horn trumpets, if they could conquer the flesh. Brethren, do not reproach brethren whom the mercy of God hath not yet converted; know that as long as ye do this, ye savour of the flesh. That is not a trumpet which pleaseth the ears of God: the trumpet of boastfulness maketh the war fruitless. Let the horn trumpet raise thy courage against the devil; let not the fleshly trumpet raise thy pride against thy brother. With ductile trumpets, and in the voice of the trumpet of horn, make a joyful noise in the sight of the Lord the King.

10. Ver. 7, 8. While ye are rejoicing, and delighted with the ductile trumpets, and the voice of the horn, what followeth? Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof. Brethren, when the Apostles, like ductile trumpets and horns, were preaching the truth, the sea was stirred up, its waves arose, tempests increased, persecutions of the Church took place. Whence hath the sea been stirred up? When a joyful noise was made, when Psalms of thanksgiving were being sung before God: the ears of God were pleased, the waves of the sea were raised. Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof: the round world, and all that dwell therein. Let the sea be stirred up in its persecutions. Let the floods clap their hands together. Let the sea be aroused, and the floods clap their hands together; persecutions arise, and the saints rejoice in God. Whence shall the floods clap their hands? What is to clap their hands? To rejoice in works. To clap hands, is to rejoice; hands, mean works. What floods? Those whom God hath made floods, by giving them that Water, the Holy Spirit. If any man thirst, saith He, let come unf0 ana* drink. He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. These rivers clapped their hands, these rivers rejoiced in works, and blessed God.

11. The hills shall be joyful together, (ver. 9.) Before the Lord, Hills of righteousness glad of the Righteous Judge. 443 for He is come; for He is come to judge the earth. The hills signify the great. The Lord cometh to judge the earth, and they rejoice. But there are hills, who, when the Lord is coming to judge the earth, shall tremble. There are therefore good and evil hills; the good hills, are spiritual greatness; the bad hills, are the swelling of pride. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lora\ for He is come; for He is come to judge the earth* Wherefore shall He come, and how shall He come? For He is come to judge the earth. With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity. Let the hills therefore rejoice; for He shall not judge unrighteously. When some man is coming as a judge, to whom the conscience cannot lie open, even innocent men may tremble, if from him they expect a reward for virtue, or fear the penalty of condemnation; when He shall come who cannot be deceived, let the hills rejoice, let them rejoice fearlessly; they shall be enlightened by Him, not condemned; let them rejoice, because the Lord will come to judge the world with equity; and if the righteous hills rejoice, let the unrighteous tremble. But behold, He hath not yet come: what need is there they should tremble? Let them mend their ways, and rejoice. It is in thy power in what way thou wiliest to await the coming of Christ. For this reason He delayeth to come, that when He cometh He may not condemn thee. Lo, He hath not yet come: He is in heaven, thou on earth: He delayeth His coming, do not thou delay wisdom. His coming is hard to the hard of heart, soft to the pious. See therefore even now what thou art: if hard of heart, thou canst soften; if thou art soft, even now rejoice that He will come. For thou art a Christian. Yea, thou sayest. I believe that thou prayest, and sayest, Thy kingdom come. Thou desirest Him to come, Whose coming thou fearest. Reform thyself, that thou mayest not pray against thyself. 444 Christ foreshewn, the true Key to the Old Testament.