The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Augustine on Psalm XLV
9th Sunday after Trinity Home
GRANT to us Lord we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such
things as be rightful; that we, which cannot be without thee, may by thee be able to live according to thy will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source Leonine [440-461] taken in the Gelasian Sacramentary [492-496]. One is reminded of Paul's Epistle to Philemon vs 1:6 "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." The 1662 Anglican Prayer Book revision read "that we, who cannot do anything that is good, may..." The Collect clearly points to God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in aiding us to do good. This theme was made a canon in the ecumenical councils and is part of the Order's vow.
1 Corinthians x. 1 & St. Luke xvi.
1
1928 BCP Version with Luke xv. 11 - The Prodigal Son
Homily of Augustine on Psalm XLV
1 Corinthians x. 1
BRETHREN, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up toplay. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
St. Luke xvi. 1
JESUS said unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the steward ship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write four score, And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, wh en ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Augustine
Psalm XLV
1. This Psalm, even as we ourselves have been singing with gladness
together with you, we would beg you in like manner to consider with
attention together with us. For it is sung of the sacred
Marriage-feast; of the Bridegroom and the Bride; of the King and His
people; of the Saviour and those who are to be saved....His sons are
we, in that we are the "children of the Bridegroom;" and it is to us
that this Psalm is addressed, whose title has the words, "For the sons
of Korah, for the things that [1364] shall be changed."
Notes:
2. Why need I explain what is meant by, "for the things that shall be
changed"? Every one who is himself "changed," recognises the meaning of
this. Let him who hears this, "for the things that shall be changed,"
consider what was before, and what is now. And first let him see the
world itself to be changed, lately worshipping idols, now worshipping
God; lately serving things that they themselves made, now serving Him
by whom they themselves were made. Observe at what time the words, "for
the things that shall be changed," were said. Already by this time the
Pagans that are left are in dread of the "changed" state of things: and
those who will not suffer themselves to be "changed" see the churches
full; the temples deserted; see crowds here, and there solitude! They
marvel at the things so changed; let them read that they were foretold;
let them lend their ears to Him who promised it; let them believe Him
who fulfils that promise. But each one of us, brethren, also undergoes
a change from "the old" to "the new man:" from an infidel to a
believer: from a thief to a giver of alms: from an adulterer to a man
of chastity; from an evildoer to a doer of good. To us then be sung the
words, "for the things that shall be changed;" and so let the
description of Him by whom they were changed, begin.
3. For it goes on, "For the things that shall be changed, to the sons
of Korah for understanding; a song for the beloved." For that "beloved"
One was seen by His persecutors, but yet not for "understanding." For
"had they known Him, they would never have crucified the Lord of
Glory." [1365] In order to this "understanding," other eyes were
required by Him when He said, "He that seeth Me, seeth My Father also."
[1366] Let the Psalm then now sound of Him, let us rejoice in the
marriage-feast, and we shall be with those of whom the marriage is
made, [1367] who are invited to the marriage; and the very persons
invited are the Bride herself. For the Church is "the Bride," Christ
the Bridegroom. There are commonly spoken by balladists [1368] certain
verses to Bridegrooms and Brides, called Epithalamia. [1369] Whatever
is sung there, is sung in honour of the Bride and Bridegroom. Is there
then no Bridechamber [1370] in that marriage-feast to which we are
invited? Whence then does another Psalm say, "He hath set up His
tabernacle in the Sun; and He is even as a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber." The nuptial union is that of "the Word," and the flesh. The
Bridechamber of this union, the Virgin's womb. For the flesh itself was
united to the Word: whence also it is said, "Henceforth they are not
twain, but one flesh." [1371] The Church was assumed unto Him out of
the human race: so that the Flesh itself, being united to the Word,
might be the Head of the Church: and the rest who believe, members of
that Head....
4. "Mine heart hath uttered a good word" [1372] (ver. 1). Who is the
speaker? The Father, or the Prophet? For some understand it to be the
Person of the Father, which says, "Mine heart hath uttered a good
word," intimating to us a certain unspeakable generation. [1373] Lest
you should haply think something to have been taken unto Him, out of
which God should beget the Son (just as man takes something to himself
out of which he begets children, that is to say, an union of marriage,
[1374] without which man cannot beget offspring), lest then you should
think that God stood in need of any nuptial union, to beget "the Son,"
he says, "Mine heart hath uttered a good word." [1375] This very day
thine heart, O man, begets a counsel, and requires no wife: by the
counsel, so born of thine heart, thou buildest something or other, and
before that building subsists, the design subsists; [1376] and that
which thou art about to produce, exists already in that by which thou
art going to produce it; and thou praisest the fabric that as yet is
not existing, not yet in the visible form of a building, but on the
projecting of a design: nor does any one else praise thy design, unless
either thou showest it to him, or he sees what thou hast done. If then
by the Word "all things were made," [1377] and the Word is of God,
consider the fabric reared by the Word, and learn from that building to
admire His counsels! What manner of Word is that by which heaven and
earth were made; [1378] and all the splendour of the heavens; all the
fertility of the earth; the expanse of the sea; the wide diffusion of
air; the brightness of the constellations; the light of sun and moon?
These are visible things: rise above these also; think of the Angels,
"Principalities, Thrones, Dominions, and Powers." [1379] All were made
by Him. How then were these good things made? Because there was
"uttered forth `a good Word,'" by which they were to be made....
5. It proceeds: "I speak of the things which I have made unto the
King." Is the Father still speaking? If the Father is still speaking,
let us enquire how this also can be understood by us, consistently with
the true Catholic Faith, "I speak of the things that I have made unto
the King." For if it is the Father speaking of His own works to His
Son, our "King," what works is the Father to speak of to the Son,
seeing that all the Father's works were made by the Son's agency? Or,
in the words, "I speak of My works unto the King," does the word, "I
speak," itself signify the generation of the Son? I fear whether this
can ever be made intelligible to those slow of comprehension: I will
nevertheless say it. Let those who can follow me, do so: lest if it
were left unsaid, even those who can follow should not be able. We have
read where it is said in another Psalm, "God hath spoken once." [1380]
So often has He spoken by the Prophets, so often by the Apostles, and
in these days by His Saints, and does He say, "God has spoken once"?
How can He have spoken but "once," except with reference to His "Word"?
[1381] But as the "Mine heart hath uttered a good Word," [1382] was
understood by us in the other clause of the generation of the Son, it
seems that a kind of repetition is made in the following sentence, so
that the "Mine heart hath uttered a good Word," which had been already
said, is repeated in what He is now saying, "I speak." For what does "I
speak" mean? "I utter a Word." And whence but from His heart, from His
very inmost, does God utter the Word? You yourself do not speak
anything but what you bring forth from your "heart," this word of yours
which sounds once and passes away, is brought forth from no other
place: and do you wonder that God "speaks" in this manner? But God's
"speaking" is eternal. You are speaking something at the present
moment, because you were silent before: or, look you, you have not yet
brought forth your word; but when you have begun to bring it forth, you
as it were "break silence;" and bring into being a word, that did not
exist before. It was not so God begat the "Word." God's "speaking" is
without beginning, and without end: and yet the "Word" He utters is but
"One." Let Him utter another, if what He has spoken shall have passed
away. But since He by whom it is uttered abideth, and That which is
uttered abideth; and is uttered but once, and has no end, that very
"once" too is said without beginning, and there is no second speaking,
because that which is said once, does not pass away. The words "Mine
heart hath uttered a good Word," then, are the same thing with, "I
speak of the things which I have made unto the King." Why then, "I
speak of the things which I have made"? Because in the Word Itself are
all the works of God. For whatever God designed to make in the creation
already existed in "the Word;" and would not exist in the reality, had
it not existed in the Word, [1383] just as with you the thing would not
exist in the building, had it not existed in your design: even as it is
said in the Gospel: "That which was made in Him was life." [1384] That
which was made then was in existence; but it had its existence in the
Word: and all the works of God existed there, and yet were not as yet
"works." "The Word" however already was, as this "Word was God, and was
with God:" and was the Son of God, and One God with the Father. "I
speak of the things I have made unto the King." Let him hear Him
"speaking," who apprehends "the Word:" and let him see together with
the Father the Everlasting Word; in whom exist even those things that
are yet to come: in whom even those things that are past have not
passed away. These "works" of God are in "the Word," as in the Word, as
in the Only-Begotten, as in the "Word of God."
6. What follows then? "My tongue is the pen of a writer writing
rapidly." What likeness, my brethren, what likeness, I ask, has the
"tongue" of God with a transcriber's pen? What resemblance has "the
rock" to Christ? [1385] What likeness does the "lamb" bear to our
Saviour, [1386] or what "the lion" to the strength of the
Only-Begotten? [1387] Yet such comparisons have been made; and were
they not made, we should not be formed to a certain extent by these
visible things to the knowledge of the "Invisible One." So then with
this mean simile of the pen; let us not compare it to His excellent
greatness, so let us not reject it with contempt. For I ask, why He
compares His "tongue" to "the pen of a writer writing rapidly"? But how
swiftly soever the transcriber writes, still it is not comparable to
that swiftness of which another Psalm says, "His word runneth very
swiftly." [1388] But it appears to me (if human understanding may
presume so far) that this too may be understood as spoken in the Person
of the Father: "My tongue is the pen of a writer." Inasmuch as what is
spoken by the "tongue," sounds once and passes away, what is written,
remains; seeing then that God uttereth "a Word," and the Word which is
uttered does not sound once and pass away, but is uttered and yet
continues, God chose rather to compare this to words written than to
sounds. But what He added, saying, "of one writing swiftly," stimulates
the mind unto "understanding." Let it however not slothfully rest here,
thinking of transcribers, [1389] or thinking of some kind of quick
shorthand writers: if it be this it sees in the passage, it will be
resting there. Let it think swiftly what is the meaning of that word
"swiftly." The "swiftly" of God is such that nothing exceeds in
swiftness. For in writings letter is written after letter; syllable
after syllable; word after word: nor do we pass to the second except
when the first is written out. But there nothing can exceed the
swiftness, where there are not several words; and yet there is not
anything omitted: since in the One are contained all things.
7. Lo! now then that Word, so uttered, Eternal, the Co-eternal
Offspring of the Eternal, will come as "the Bridegroom;" "Fairer than
the children of men" (ver. 2). "Than the children of men." I ask, why
not than the Angels also? Why did he say, "than the children of men,"
except because He was Man? Lest you should think "the Man Christ"
[1390] to be any ordinary man, he says, "Fairer than the children of
men." Even though Himself "Man," He is "fairer than the children of
men;" though among the children of men, "fairer than the children of
men:" though of the children of men, "fairer than the children of men."
"Grace is shed abroad on Thy lips." "The Law was given by Moses. Grace
and Truth came by Jesus Christ." [1391] ...
8. There have not been wanting those who preferred understanding all
the preceding passage also of the Prophet's own person; and would have
even this verse, "Mine heart hath uttered forth a good word,"
understood as spoken by the Prophet, supposed to be uttering a hymn.
For whoever utters a hymn to God, his heart is, as it were, "uttering
forth a good word," just as his heart who blasphemes God, is uttering
forth an evil word. So that even by what follows, "I speak of the
things which I have made [1392] unto the King," he meant to express
that man's chief work was but to praise God. To Him it belongs to
satisfy thee, by His beauty; to thee to praise Him with
thanksgiving....
9. "My tongue is the pen of a writer writing quickly." There have been
persons who have understood the Prophet to have been describing in this
manner what he was writing; and therefore to have compared his tongue
to "the pen of a writer writing quickly:" but that he chose to express
himself in the words "writing quickly," to signify, that he was writing
of things which were to come "quickly;" that "writing quickly" should
be understood to be equivalent to "writing things that are quick;" i.e.
writing things that would not long tarry. For God did not tarry long to
manifest Christ. How quickly is that perceived to have rolled by, which
is acknowledged to be already past! Call to mind the generations before
thee; thou wilt find that the making of Adam is but a thing of
yesterday. So do we read that all things have gone on from the very
beginning: [1393] they were therefore done "quickly." The day of
Judgment also will be here "quickly." Do thou anticipate its "quick"
coming. It is to come "quickly;" do thou become converted yet more
"quickly." The Judge's face will appear: but observe thou what the
Prophet says, "Let us come before" (let us "prevent") "His face with
confession." [1394]
10. "Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most Mighty" (ver. 3). What is
meant by "Thy sword," but "Thy word"? It was by that sword He scattered
His enemies; by that sword he divided the son from the father, "the
daughter from the mother, the daughter-in-law from the mother-in-law."
We read these words in the Gospel, "I came not to send peace, but a
sword." [1395] And, "In one house shall five be divided against each
other; three against two, and two against three;" [1396] i.e. "the
father against the son, the daughter against the mother, the
daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law." By what "sword," but that
which Christ brought, was this division wrought? And indeed, my
brethren, we see this exemplified daily. Some young man is minded to
give himself up to God's service; his father is opposed to it; they are
"divided against each other:" the one promises an earthly inheritance,
the other loves an heavenly; the one promises one thing, the other
prefers another. The father should not think himself wronged: God alone
is preferred to him. And yet he is at strife [1397] with the son, who
would fain give himself to God's service. But the spiritual sword is
mightier to separate them, than the ties of carnal nature to bind them
together. This happens also in the case of a mother against her
daughter; still more also in that of a daughter-in-law against a
mother-in-law. For sometimes in one house mother-in-law and daughter-in
law are found orthodox and heretical respectively. And where that sword
is forcibly felt, [1398] we do not dread the repetition of Baptism.
Could daughter be divided against mother; and could not daughter-in-law
be divided against mother-in-law?...
11. What does he mean to express by the "thigh"? The flesh. Whence
those words, "A prince shall not depart from Judah; and a lawgiver from
his thighs"? [1399] Did not Abraham himself (to whom was promised the
seed in which "all the nations of the earth were to be blessed"), when
he sent his servant to seek and to bring home a wife for his son, being
by faith fully persuaded, that in that, so to speak, contemptible seed
was contained the great Name; [1400] that is, that the Son of God was
to come of the seed of Abraham, out of all the children of men; did not
he, I say, cause his servant to swear unto him in this manner, saying,
"Put thy hand under my thigh," [1401] and so swear; as if he had said,
"Put thy hand on the altar, or on the Gospel, or on the Prophet, or on
any holy thing." "Put" (he says) "thy hand under my thigh;" having full
confidence, not ashamed of it as unseemly, but understanding therein a
truth. "With Thy beauty and Thy glory." Take to Thee that
righteousness, in which Thou art at all times beautiful and glorious.
"And speed on, and proceed prosperously, and reign" (ver. 4). Do we not
see it so? Is it not already come to pass? He has "sped on; has
proceeded prosperously, and He reigns;" all nations are subdued unto
Him. What a thing was it to see that "in the Spirit," of which same
thing it is now in our power to experience in the reality! At the time
when these words were said, Christ did not yet "reign" thus; had not
yet sped on, nor "proceeded prosperously." They were then being
preached, they have now been fulfilled: in many things we have God's
promise fulfilled already; in some few we have to claim its fulfilment
yet.
12. "Because of truth, meekness, and righteousness." Truth was restored
unto us, when "the Truth sprung out of the earth: and Righteousness
looked out from heaven." [1402] Christ was presented to the expectation
of mankind, that in Abraham's Seed "all nations should be blessed." The
Gospel has been preached. It is "the Truth." What is meant by
"meekness"? The Martyrs have suffered; and the kingdom of God has made
much progress from thence, and advanced throughout all nations; because
the Martyrs suffered, and neither "fell away," nor yet offered
resistance; confessing everything, concealing nothing; prepared for
everything, shrinking from nothing. Marvellous "meekness"! This did the
body of Christ, by its Head it learned. He was first "led as a sheep to
the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, even so opened
not His mouth;" [1403] meek to that degree, that while hanging on the
Cross, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
[1404] Why because of "righteousness"? He will come also to judge, and
to "render to every man according to his works." He spake "the truth;"
He patiently endured unrighteousness: He is to bring "righteousness"
hereafter.
13. "And Thy right hand shall lead Thee on marvellously." We shall be
guided on by His right hand: He by His own. For He is God, we mortal
men. He was led on by His own right hand; i.e. by His own power. For
the power which the Father hath, He hath also; the Father's immortality
He hath also; He hath the Father's Divinity, the Father's Eternity, the
Father's Power. [1405] Marvellously will His right hand lead Him on,
performing the works of God; undergoing human sufferings, overthrowing
the evil wills [1406] of men by His own goodness. Even now, He is being
led on even to places where as yet He is not; and it is His own right
hand that is leading Him on. For that is leading Him thither which He
has Himself bestowed upon His Saints. "Thy right hand shall lead Thee
on marvellously."
14. "Thine arrows are sharp, are most powerful" (ver. 5); words that
pierce the heart, that kindle love. Whence in the Song of Songs it is
said, "I am wounded with love." [1407] For she speaks of being "wounded
with love;" that is, of being in love, of being inflamed with passion,
of sighing for the Bridegroom, from whom she received the arrow of the
Word. "Thine arrows are sharp, are most powerful;" both piercing, and
effective; "sharp, most powerful." "The peoples shall fall under Thee."
Who have "fallen"? They who were "wounded" have also "fallen." We see
the nations subdued unto Christ; we do not see them "fall." He explains
where they "fall," viz. "in the heart." It was there they lifted
themselves up against Christ, there they "fall" down before Christ.
Saul was a blasphemer of Christ: he was then lifted up, he prays to
Christ, "he is fallen," he is prostrate before Him: the enemy of Christ
is slain, that the disciple of Christ may live! By an arrow launched
from heaven, Saul (not as yet Paul, but still Saul), still lifted up,
still not yet prostrate, is wounded in "the heart:" he received the
arrow, he fell "in heart." For though he fell prostrate on his face, it
was not there that he fell down in heart: [1408] but it was there where
he said aloud, "Lord, what dost Thou bid me do?" [1409] But just now
thou wert going to bind the Christians, and to bring them to
punishment: and now thou sayest unto Christ, "What dost Thou bid me
do?" O arrow sharp and most mighty, by whose stroke "Saul" fell, so as
to become "Paul." As it was with him, so was it also with "the
peoples;" consider the nations, observe their subjection unto Christ.
"The peoples" (then) "shall fall under Thee in the heart of the King's
enemies;" that is, in the heart of Thine enemies. For it is Him that he
calls King, Him that he recognises as King. "The peoples shall fall
under Thee in the heart of the King's enemies." They were "enemies"
before; they have been stricken by thine arrows: they have fallen
before Thee. Out of enemies they have been made friends: the enemies
are dead, the friends survive. This is the meaning of, "for those which
shall be changed." We are seeking to "understand" each single word, and
each separate verse; yet so far only are we to seek for their
"understanding," as to leave no one to doubt that they are spoken of
Christ.
15. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (ver. 6). Because God has
"`blessed Thee' for ever," on account of the "grace poured over Thy
lips." Now the throne of the Jewish Kingdom was a temporal one;
belonging to those who were under the Law, not to those who were under
"grace:" He came to "redeem those who were under the Law," and to place
them under "Grace." His "Throne is for ever and ever." Why? for that
first throne of the Kingdom was but a temporal one: whence then have we
a "throne for ever and ever"? Because it is God's throne. O divine
Attribute of Eternity! [1410] for God could not have a temporal throne.
"Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever--a sceptre of direction is the
sceptre of Thy Kingdom." "The sceptre of direction" is that which
directs mankind: they were before crooked, distorted; they sought to
reign for themselves: they loved themselves, loved their own evil
deeds: they submitted not their own will to God; but would fain have
bent God's will to conformity with their own lusts. For the sinner and
the unrighteous man is generally angry with God, because it rains not!
[1411] and yet would have God not be angry with himself, because he is
profligate. [1412] And it is pretty much for this very reason that men
daily sit, to dispute against God: "This is what He ought to have done:
this He has not well done." Thou forsooth seest what thou doest; He
knows not what He does! It is thou that art crooked! His ways are
right. When wilt thou make the crooked coincide with the straight? It
cannot be made to coincide with it. [1413] Just as if you were to place
a crooked stick on a level pavement; it does not join on to it; it does
not cohere; it does not fit into the pavement. The pavement is even in
every part: but that is crooked; it does not fit into that which is
level. The will of God then is "equal," thine own is "crooked:" it is
because thou canst not be conformed unto it, that it seems "crooked"
unto thee: rule thou thyself by it; seek not to bend it to thine own
will: for thou canst not accomplish it; that is at all times
"straight"! Wouldest thou abide in Him? "Correct thou thyself;" so will
the sceptre of Him who rules thee, be unto thee "a rule of direction."
Thence is He also called King, [1414] from "ruling." For that is no
"ruler" that does not correct. [1415] Hereunto is our King a King of
"right ones." [1416] Just as He is a Priest (Sacerdos) by sanctifying
us, so is He our King, our Ruler, by "ruling" us....
16. "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity" (ver. 7). See
there "the rod of direction" described. "Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity." Draw near to that "rod;" let Christ be thy King:
let Him "rule" thee with that rod, not crush thee with it. For that rod
is "a rod of iron;" an inflexible rod. [1417] "Thou shalt rule them
with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
[1418] Some He rules; others He "breaks in pieces:" He "rules" them
that are spiritual: He "breaks in pieces" them that are carnal....Would
He so loudly declare that He was about to smite thee, if He wished to
smite thee? He is then holding back His hand from the punishment of
thine offences; but do not thou hold back. Turn thou thyself to the
punishment of thine offences: for unpunished offences cannot be:
punishment therefore must be executed either by thyself, or by Him: do
thou then plead guilty, that He may reprieve thee. Consider an instance
in that penitential Psalm: "Hide Thy face from my sins." [1419] Did he
mean "from me"? No: for in another passage he says plainly, "Hide not
Thy face from me." "Turn" then "Thy face from my sins." I would have
Thee not see my sins. For God's "seeing" is animadverting upon. Hence
too a Judge is said to "animadvert" [1420] on that which he punishes;
i.e. to turn his mind on it, to bend it thereon, even to the punishment
of it, inasmuch as he is the Judge. So too is God a Judge. "Turn Thou
Thy face from my sins." But thou thyself, if thou wouldest have God
turn "His face" from them, turn not thine own face from them. Observe
how he proposes this to God in that very Psalm: "I acknowledge," he
says, "my transgression, and my sin is ever before me." [1421] He would
fain have that which he wishes to be ever before his own eyes, not be
before God's eyes. Let no one flatter himself with fond hopes of God's
mercy. His sceptre is "a sceptre of righteousness." Do we say that God
is not merciful? What can exceed His mercy, who shows such forbearance
to sinners; who takes no account of the past in all that turn unto Him?
So love thou Him for His mercy, as still to wish that He should be
truthful. For mercy cannot strip Him of His attribute of justice: nor
justice of that of mercy. Meanwhile during the time that He postpones
thy punishment, do not thou postpone it.
17. "Therefore, God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee." It was for this
reason that He anointed thee, that thou mightest love righteousness,
and hate iniquity. And observe in what way he expresses himself.
"Therefore, God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee:" i.e. "God hath anointed
Thee, O God." "God" is "anointed" by God. For in the Latin it is
thought to be the same case of the noun repeated: in the Greek however
there is a most evident distinction; one being the name of the Person
addressed; and one His who makes the address, saying, "God hath
anointed Thee." "O God, Thy God hath anointed Thee," just as if He were
saying, "Therefore hath Thy God, O God, anointed Thee." Take it in that
sense, understand it in that sense; that such is the sense is most
evident in the Greek. Who then is the God that is "anointed" by God?
Let the Jews tell us; these Scriptures are common to us and them. It
was God, who was anointed by God: you hear of an "Anointed" one;
understand it to mean "Christ." For the name of "Christ" comes from
"chrism;" this name by which He is called "Christ" expresses "unction:"
nor were kings and prophets anointed in any kingdom, in any other
place, save in that kingdom where Christ was prophesied of, where He
was anointed, and from whence the Name of Christ was to come. It is
found nowhere else at all: in no one nation or kingdom. God, then, was
anointed by God; with what oil was He anointed, but a spiritual one?
For the visible oil is in the sign, the invisible oil is in the
mystery; [1422] the spiritual oil is within. "God" then was "anointed"
for us, and sent unto us; and God Himself was man, in order that He
might be "anointed:" but He was man in such a way as to be God still.
He was God in such a way as not to disdain to be man. "Very man and
very God;" in nothing deceitful, in nothing false, as being everywhere
true, everywhere "the Truth" itself. God then is man; and it was for
this cause that "God" was "anointed," because God was Man, and became
"Christ."
18. This was figured in Jacob's placing a stone at his head, and so
sleeping. [1423] The patriarch Jacob had placed a stone at his head:
sleeping with that stone at his head, he saw heaven opened, and a
ladder from heaven to earth, and Angels ascending and descending;
[1424] after this vision he awaked, anointed the stone, and departed.
In that "stone" he understood Christ; for that reason he anointed it.
Take notice what it is whereby Christ is preached. What is the meaning
of that anointing of a stone, especially in the case of the Patriarchs
who worshipped but One God? It was however done as a figurative act:
and he departed. For he did not anoint the stone, and come to worship
there constantly, and to perform sacrifice there. It was the expression
of a mystery; not the commencement of sacrilege. And notice the meaning
of "the stone." "The Stone which the builders refused, this is become
the head of the corner." [1425] Notice here a great mystery. The
"Stone" is Christ. Peter calls Him "a living Stone, disallowed indeed
of men, but chosen of God." [1426] And the stone is set at "the head,"
because "Christ is the Head of the man." [1427] And "the stone" was
anointed, because "Christ" was so called from His being anointed. And
in the revelation of Christ, the ladder from earth to heaven is seen,
or from heaven to earth, and the Angels ascending and descending. What
this means, we shall see more clearly, when we have quoted the
testimony from the Lord Himself in the Gospel. You know that Jacob is
the same as Israel. For when he wrestled with the Angel, and
"prevailed," and had been blest by Him over whom he prevailed, his
named was changed, so that he was called "Israel;" just as the people
of Israel "prevailed" [1428] against Christ, so as to crucify Him, and
nevertheless was (in those who believed in Christ) blest by Him over
whom it prevailed. But many believed not; hence the halting of Jacob.
Here we have at once, blessing and halting. Blessing on those who
became believers; for we know that afterward many of that people did
believe: Halting on the other hand in those who believed not. And
because the greater part believed not, and but few believed, therefore
that a halting might be produced, He touched "the breadth [1429] of his
thigh." [1430] What is meant by the breadth of the thigh? The great
multitude of his descendants. [1431] ...
19. "God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee." We have been speaking of God,
who was "anointed;" i.e. of Christ. The name of Christ could not be
more clearly expressed than by His being called "God the Anointed." In
the same way in which He was "beautiful before the children of men," so
is He here "anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows." Who
then are His "fellows"? The children of men; for that He Himself (as
the Son of Man) became partaker of their mortality in order to make
them partakers of His Immortality.
20. "Out of Thy garments is the smell of myrrh, amber, and cassia"
(ver. 8). Out of Thy garments is perceived the smell of fragrant
odours. By His garments are meant His Saints, His elect, His whole
Church, which he shows forth, as His garment, so to speak; His robe
"without spot and wrinkle," [1432] which on account of its spots He has
"washed" in His blood; on account of its "wrinkles" extended on His
Cross. Hence the sweet savour which is signified by certain perfumes
there mentioned. Hear Paul, that "least of the Apostles" (that "hem of
that garment," which the woman with the issue of blood touched, and was
healed), hear him saying: "We are a sweet savour of Christ, in every
place, both in them that are saved, and in them that perish." [1433] He
did not say, "We are a sweet savour in them that are saved, and a foul
savour in them that are lost:" but, as far as relates to ourselves, "we
are a sweet savour both in them that are saved, and in them that
perish."...They who loved him were saved by the odour of "sweet
savour;" they who envied him, perished by means of that "sweet savour."
To them that perished then he was not a foul "savour," but a "sweet
savour." For it was for this very reason they the more envied him, the
more excellent that grace was which reigned in him: for no man envies
him who is unhappy. He then was glorious in the preaching of God's
Word, and in regulating his life according to the rule of that "rod of
direction;" and he was loved by those who loved Christ in him, who
followed after and pursued the odour of sweet savour; who loved the
friend of the bridegroom: that is to say, by the Bride Herself, who
says in the Song of Songs, [1434] "We will run after the sweet savour
of thy perfumes." But the others, the more they beheld him invested
with the glory of the preaching of the Gospel, and of an irreproachable
life, were so much the more tortured with envy, and found that sweet
savour prove death to them.
21. "Out of thy ivory palaces, whereby kings' daughters have made Thee
glad." Choose whichever you please, "ivory" palaces, or "magnificent,"
or "royal" palaces, it is out of these that the kings' daughters have
made Christ glad. Would you understand the spiritual sense of "ivory
palaces"? Understand by them the magnificent houses, and tabernacles of
God, the hearts of the Saints; and by these self-same "kings" those who
rule their flesh; who bring into subjection to themselves the
rebellious commonalty of human affections, who chastise the body, and
reduce it to bondage: for it is from these that the daughters of kings
have made Him glad. For all the souls that have been born through their
preaching and evangelizing are "daughters of kings:" and the Churches,
as the daughters of Apostles, are daughters of kings. For He is "King
of kings;" they themselves kings, of whom it was said, "Ye shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." [1435] They
preached the "Word of Truth;" and begat Churches not for themselves,
but for Him....Therefore as "raising up seed [1436] to their brother,"
to as many as they begat, they gave the name not of "Paulians" or
"Petrians," but of "Christians." Observe whether that sense is not
wakefully kept [1437] in these verses. For when he said, "out of the
ivory palaces, he spake of mansions royal, ample, honourable, peaceful,
like the heart of the Saints; he added, "Whereby the kings' daughters
have made Thee glad in Thine honour." They are indeed daughters of
kings, daughters of thine Apostles, but still "in Thine honour:" for
they raised up seed to their brother. Hence Paul, when he saw those
whom he had raised up unto his Brother, running after his own name,
exclaimed, "Was Paul crucified for you?" [1438] ...No; for he says, "Or
were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"
"The daughters of kings have made Thee glad in Thine honour." Keep,
hold fast this "in Thine honour." This is meant by having "a wedding
garment;" seeking His honour, His glory. Understand moreover by "kings'
daughters" the cities, which were founded by kings, and have received
the faith: and out of the ivory palaces (palaces rich, the proud, the
lifted up). "Kings' daughters have made Thee glad in Thine honour;" in
that they sought not the honour of their founders, but have sought
Thine honour. Show me at Rome a temple of Romulus held in so great
honour as I can show you the Monument of Peter. [1439] In Peter, who is
honoured but He who died for us? For we are followers of Christ, not
followers of Peter. And even if we were born from the brother of Him
that is dead, yet are we named after the name of Him who is dead.
[1440] We were begotten by the one, but begotten to the other. Behold,
Rome, Carthage, and several other cities are the daughters of kings,
and yet have they "made glad the King in His honour:" and all these
make up one single Queen.
22. What a nuptial song! Behold in the midst of songs full of
rejoicing, comes forth the Bride herself. For the Bridegroom was
coming. It was He who was being described: it was on Him all our
attention was fixed.
"Upon Thy right hand did stand the Queen" (ver. 9). She which stands on
the left is no Queen. For there will be one standing on "the left"
also, to whom it will be said, "Go into everlasting fire." [1441] But
she shall stand on the right hand, to whom it will be said, "Come, ye
blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world." [1442] On Thy right hand did stand the Queen,
"in a vesture of gold, clothed about with divers colours." What is the
vesture of this Queen? It is one both precious, and also of divers
colours: it is the mysteries of doctrine in all the various tongues:
one African, one Syrian, one Greek, one Hebrew, one this, and one that;
it is these languages that produce the divers colours of this vesture.
[1443] But just as all the divers colours of the vesture blend together
in the one vesture, so do all the languages in one and the same faith.
In that vesture, let there be diversity, let there be no rent. See we
have "understood" the divers colours of the diversity of tongues; and
the vesture to refer to unity: but in that diversity itself, what is
meant by the "gold"? Wisdom itself. Let there be any diversity of
tongues you please, but there is but one "gold" that is preached of:
not a different gold, but a different form of that gold. For it is the
same Wisdom, the same doctrine and discipline that every language
preaches. In the languages there is diversity; gold in the thoughts.
23. The Prophet addresses this Queen (for he delights in singing to
her), and moreover each one of us, provided, however, we know where we
are, and endeavour to belong to that body, and do belong to it in faith
and hope, being united in the membership of Christ. [1444] For it is us
whom he addresses, saying, "Hearken, O daughter, and behold" (ver. 10),
as being one of the "Fathers" (for they are "daughters of kings"),
although it be a Prophet, or although it be an Apostle [1445] that is
addressing her; addressing her, as a daughter, for we are accustomed to
speak in this way, "Our fathers the Prophets, our fathers the
Apostles;" if we address them as "fathers," they may address us as
children: and it is one father's voice addressing one daughter.
"Hearken, O daughter, and see." "Hear" first; afterward "see." For they
came to us with the Gospel; and that has been preached to us, which as
yet we do not see, and which on hearing of it we believed, which by
believing it, we shall come to see: even as the Bridegroom Himself
speaks in the Prophet, "A people whom I have not known served me. In
the hearing of me with the ear it obeyed me." [1446] What is meant by
on "hearing of me with the ear"? That they did not "see." The Jews saw
Him, and crucified Him; the Gentiles saw Him not, and believed. Let the
Queen who comes from the Gentiles come in "the vesture of gold, clothed
with divers colours;" [1447] let her come from among the Gentiles clad
in all languages, in the unity of Wisdom: let it be said unto her,
"Hearken, O daughter, and see." If thou wilt not hear, thou shalt not
"see."...
"And incline thine ear." It is not enough to "hearken;" hearken with
humility: bow down thine ear. "Forget also thine own people, and thy
father's house." There was a certain "people," and a certain house of
thy father, in which thou wast born, the people of Babylon, having the
devil for thy king. Whencesoever the Gentiles came, they came from
their father the devil; but they have renounced their sonship to the
devil. "Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house." He, in
making thee a sinner, begat thee loathsome: the Other, in that "He
justifies the ungodly," [1448] begetteth thee again in beauty.
24. "For the King hath greatly desired thy beauty" (ver. 11). What
"beauty" is that, save that which is His own work? "Greatly desired the
beauty"--Of whom? Of her the sinner, the unrighteous, the ungodly, such
as she was with her "father," the devil, and among her own "people"?
No, but hers of whom it is said, "Who is this that cometh up made
white?" [1449] She was not white then at the first, but was "made"
white afterwards. For "though your sins shall be as scarlet, I will
make them white as snow." [1450] "The king has greatly desired thy
beauty." What King is this? "For He is the Lord thy God." [1451] Now
consider whether thou oughtest not to forego that thy father, and thy
own people, and to come to this King, who is thy God? Thy God is "thy
King," thy "King" is also thy Bridegroom. Thou weddest to thy King, who
is thy God: being endowed by Him, being adorned by Him; redeemed by
Him, and healed by Him. Whatever thou hast, wherewith to be pleasing to
Him, thou hast from Him.
25. "And the daughters of Tyre shall worship Him with gifts" (ver. 12).
It is that selfsame "King, who is thy God," that the daughters of Tyre
shall worship with gifts. The daughters of Tyre are the daughters of
the Gentiles; the part standing for the whole. Tyre, a city bordering
on this country, where the prophecy was delivered, typified the nations
that were to believe in Christ. Thence came that Canaanitish woman, who
was at first called "a dog;" for that ye may know that she was from
thence, the Gospel speaks thus. "He departed into the parts of Tyre and
Sidon, and behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts," with
all the rest that is related there. She who at first, at the house of
her "father," and among her "own people," was but "a dog," who by
coming to, and crying after that "King," was made beautiful by
believing in Him, what did she obtain to hear? "O woman, great is thy
faith." [1452] "The King has greatly desired thy beauty. And the
daughters of Tyre shall worship with gifts." [1453] With what gifts?
Even so would this King be approached, and would have His treasuries
filled: and it is He Himself who has given us that wherewith they may
be filled, and may be filled [1454] by you. Let them come (He says) and
"worship Him with gifts." What is meant by "with gifts"?..."Give alms,
and all things are clean unto you." Come with gifts to Him that saith,
"I will have mercy rather than sacrifice." [1455] To that Temple that
existed aforetime as a shadow of that which was to come, they used to
come with bulls, and rams, and goats, with every different kind of
animal for sacrifice: that with that blood one thing should be done,
and another be typified by it. Now that very blood, which all these
things used to figure, hath come: the King Himself hath come, and He
Himself would have your "gifts." What gifts? Alms. For He Himself will
judge hereafter, and will Himself hereafter account "gifts" to certain
persons. "Come" (He says), "ye blessed of My Father." Why? "I was an
hungred, and ye gave Me meat," [1456] etc. These are the gifts with
which the daughters of Tyre worship the King; for when they said, "When
saw we Thee?" He who is at once above and below (whence those
"ascending" and "descending" are spoken of [1457] ), said, "Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of Mine, ye have done it unto
Me." [1458]
26. ..."The rich among the people shall entreat Thy face." Both they
who shall entreat that face, and He whose face they will entreat, are
all collectively but one Bride, but one Queen, mother and children
belonging all together unto Christ, belonging unto their Head....
27. "All the glory of her, the King's daughter, is from within" (ver.
13). Not only is her robe, outwardly, "of gold, and of divers colours;"
but He who loved her beauty, knew her to be also beautiful within.
[1459] What are those inward charms? [1460] Those of conscience. It is
there Christ sees; it is there Christ loves her: it is there He
addresses her, there punishes, there crowns. Let then thine alms be
done in secret; for "all the glory of her, the King's daughter, is from
within." "With fringes of gold, clothed with divers colours" (ver. 14).
Her beauty is from within; yet in the "fringes of gold" is the
diversity of languages: the beauty of doctrine. What do these avail, if
them be not that beauty "from within"? "The virgins shall be brought
unto the King after her." It has been fulfilled indeed. The Church has
believed; the Church has been formed throughout all nations. And to
what a degree do virgins now seek to find favour in the eyes of that
King! Whence are they moved to do so? Even because the Church preceded
them. "The virgins shall be brought unto the King after her. Her near
kinswomen [1461] shall be brought unto Thee." For they that are brought
unto Him are not strangers, but her "near kinswomen," that belong to
her. And because he had said, "unto the King," he says, turning the
discourse to Him, "her near kinswomen shall be brought unto Thee."
28. "With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought and shall be led
into the Temple of the King" (ver. 15). The "Temple of the King" is the
Church itself: it is the Church itself that enters into "the Temple of
the King." Whereof is that Temple constructed? Of the men who enter the
Temple? Who but God's "faithful" ones are its "living stones"? [1462]
"They shall be led into the Temple of the King." For there are virgins
without the Temple of the King, the nuns among the heretics: [1463]
they are virgins, it is true; but what will that profit them, unless
they be led into the "Temple of the King"? The "Temple of the King" is
in unity: the "Temple of the King" is not ruinous, is not rent asunder,
is not divided. The cement [1464] of those living stones is "charity."
29. "Instead of thy fathers, children are born to thee" (ver. 16).
Nothing can be more manifest. Now consider the "Temple of the King"
itself, for it is on its behalf he speaks, on account of the unity of
the body that is spread throughout all the world: for those very
persons who have chosen to be virgins, cannot find favour with the King
unless they be led into the Temple of the King. "Instead of thy
fathers, are thy children born to thee." It was the Apostles begat
thee: they were "sent:" they were the preachers: they are "the
fathers." But was it possible for them to be with us in the body for
ever? Although one of them said, "I desire to depart, and to be with
Christ, which is far better: to abide in the flesh is necessary for
your sakes." It is true he said this, but how long was it possible for
him to remain here? Could it be till this present time, could it be to
all futurity? Is the Church then left desolate by their departure? God
forbid. "Instead of thy fathers, children have been born to thee." What
is that? The Apostles were sent to thee as "fathers," instead of the
Apostles sons have been born to thee: there have been appointed
Bishops. For in the present day, whence do the Bishops, throughout all
the world, derive their origin? The Church itself calls them fathers;
the Church itself brought them forth, and placed them on the thrones of
"the fathers." Think not thyself abandoned then, because thou seest not
Peter, nor seest Paul: seest not those through whom thou wert born. Out
of thine own offspring has a body of "fathers" been raised up to thee.
"Instead of thy fathers, have children been born to thee." Observe how
widely diffused is the "Temple of the King," that "the virgins that are
not led to the Temple of the King," may know that they have nothing to
do with that marriage. "Thou shalt make them princes [1465] over all
the earth." This is the Universal Church: her children have been made
"princes over all the earth:" her children have been appointed instead
of the "fathers." Let those who are cut off own the truth of this, let
them come to the One Body: let them be led into the Temple of the King.
God hath established His Temple everywhere: hath laid everywhere "the
foundations of the Prophets and Apostles." [1466] The Church has
brought "forth sons;" has made them "instead of her fathers" to be
"princes over all the earth."
30. "They shall be mindful of thy name in every generation and
generation; therefore shall the peoples confess unto [1467] Thee" (ver.
17). What does it profit then to "confess" indeed and yet to confess
out of "the Temple"? What does it profit to pray, and yet not to pray
on the Mount? "I cried," says he, "unto the Lord with my voice: and He
heard me out of His holy hill." [1468] Out of what "hill"? Out of that
of which it is said, "A city set upon a hill cannot be hid." [1469] Of
what "hill"? Out of that hill which Daniel saw "grow out of a small
stone, and break all the kingdoms of the earth; and cover all the face
of the earth." [1470] There let him pray, who hopes to receive: there
let him ask, who would have his prayer heard: there let him confess,
who wishes to be pardoned. "Therefore shall the peoples confess unto
thee for ever, world without end." For in that eternal life it is true
indeed there will no longer be the mourning over sins: but yet in the
praises of God by that everlasting City which is above, there will not
be wanting a perpetual confession of the greatness of that happiness.
For to that City itself, to which another Psalm [1471] sings, "Glorious
things are spoken of thee, O City of God," to her who is the very Bride
of Christ, the very Queen, a "King's daughter, and a King's
consort;"...the peoples shall for this very cause confess even to
herself; the hearts of all, now enlightened by perfect charity, being
laid bare, and made manifest, that she may know the whole of herself
most completely, who here is, in many parts of her, unknown to
herself....
Let us pray in the words of Augustine.
Turn we to the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and with pure hearts offer to him, so far as our
meanness can, great and true thanks, with all our hearts praying his exceeding kindness, that of
his good pleasure he would deign to hear our prayers, that by his Power he would drive out the
enemy from our deeds and thoughts, that he would increase our faith, guide our understandings,
give us spiritual thoughts, and lead us to his bliss, through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with him, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[A prayer which he was wont to use after his Sermons and Lectures.]
NPNF (V1-08) St. Augustine
[1363] Lat. XLIV.
[1364] Some copies have qui for "those (persons) that."
[1365] 1 Cor. ii. 8.
[1366] John xiv. 9.
[1367] Qui fiunt nuptiae (omitted in some mss.).
[1368] Scholasticis; mss. scolasticis="scholars," or perhaps
scoliasticis, "ballad-mongers."--Ben.
[1369] "Songs of the Bridechamber."
[1370] Thalamus. Ps. xix. 5, so Vulgate.
[1371] Matt. xix. 5. [For this point in the theology of the
Incarnation, see A.N.F. vol. vii. p. 367, Athanas. Creed, part ii.--C.]
[1372] Eructavit verbum bonum. [See Justin Martyr, vol. i. p. 213,
A.N.F., and Cyprian, vol. v. p. 516, A.N.F., and so passim.--C.]
[1373] Nativitatem.
[1374] Conjugium.
[1375] [Confusion comes to the human mind by arguing from humanity up
to God. His is the only true generative process; the production of a
Son by man is not to be considered in process, but in product only.
This product is of one substance with the human (though divided). The
undivided substance of the Divine Father is the one substance of the
Son, by eternal generation.--C.]
[1376] So all mss. antequam stet, stat consilium, acc. to Ben., which
however reads antequam stet in opere, stat in consilio. "That building,
before it subsists in construction, subsists in design." On the meaning
of Verbum see St. Aug. on John i. 1. St. Ath. on Nic. Def. c. 4, and
Disc. i. against Ar. c. 6.
[1377] John i. 3.
[1378] Heb. xi. 3.
[1379] Col. i. 16.
[1380] Ps. lxii. 11.
[1381] Heb. i. 1, 2.
[1382] Heb. i. 3, 4, 5.
[1383] Nec esset in rebus, nisi esset in verbo.
[1384] John i. 3, 4.
[1385] 1 Cor. x. 4.
[1386] John i. 29.
[1387] Rev. v. 5.
[1388] Ps. cxlvii. 15.
[1389] Antiquarios.
[1390] 1 Tim. ii. 5.
[1391] John i. 17.
[1392] Lit. "my works."
[1393] 2 Pet. iii. 4.
[1394] Ps. xcv. 2.
[1395] Matt. x. 34.
[1396] Luke xii. 52.
[1397] Litigat.
[1398] Recipitur. He seems to mean that the Catholic daughter-in-law
who receives the word of Christ is sure not to submit to heretical
baptism. [On which compare Cyprian's teaching, A.N.F. vol. v. pp.
376-385, etc.--C.]
[1399] Gen. xlix. 10. E.V. "from between his feet."
[1400] "In illa veluti humilitate seminis esse magnitudinem Nominis."
[The promise (Gen. iii. 15) dignified the loins of Isaac (Gen. xvii.
19) as with the Incarnation in its germ. Hence this mysterious form of
oath was an oath by the Promised Seed (Gal. iii. 16). St. Paul quotes
"the promises" (not one text only), and honours the Septuagint, which
gives what he makes so emphatic in Gen. xii. 7, xv. 18, and xxii.
18.--C.]
[1401] Gen. xxiv. 2.
[1402] Ps. lxxxv. 11.
[1403] Isa. liii. 7.
[1404] Luke xxiii. 34.
[1405] Virtutem.
[1406] Malitias.
[1407] Song of Sol. ii. 5.
[1408] In corde, editions not in mss.
[1409] Acts ix. 6.
[1410] O aeternitatis divinitas.
[1411] Quia non pluit.
[1412] Quia fluit.
[1413] Collineari.
[1414] Rex, a regendo.
[1415] Non autem regit qui non corrigit.
[1416] Rectorum.
[1417] Haec est tota virga. Al. tuta, "This is a safe rod."
[1418] Ps. ii. 9.
[1419] Ps. li. 9.
[1420] Animum advertere.
[1421] Ps. li. 3.
[1422] Al. "The visible oil is for a sign of the oil invisible, for it
is in a sacrament." [The use of oil in confirmation, designed to teach
this, operated to conceal it rather; the material chrism absorbing the
spiritual idea.--C.]
[1423] Gen. xxviii. 11-18.
[1424] [With which he subjoins a reference to John i. 51.--C.]
[1425] Ps. cxviii. 22.
[1426] 1 Pet. ii. 4.
[1427] 1 Cor. xi. 3.
[1428] Luke xxiii. 23.
[1429] Latitudinem; but Vulgate, nervum.
[1430] Gen. xxxii. 25.
[1431] Multitudo generis.
[1432] Eph. v. 27.
[1433] 2 Cor. ii. 14, 15.
[1434] Sol. Song i. 3, Lat.
[1435] Matt. xix. 28.
[1436] Oxf. mss. add, "For the Brother's name's sake."
[1437] Vigilat.
[1438] 1 Cor. i. 13.
[1439] Memoriam Petri. [The first basilica of St. Peter, on the
Vatican, is attributed to Constantine.--C.]
[1440] Deut. xxv. 26.
[1441] Matt. xxv. 41.
[1442] Matt. xxv. 34.
[1443] [Hence the beauty of a Liturgy is not that it should be in
(Latin) one language, but in the many tongues of the many nations,
confessing one faith. A.N.F. vol. vii. p. 533.--C.]
[1444] Uniti in membris Christ.
[1445] Al. "and thus a Prophet addresses her, and thus an Apostle
addresses her."
[1446] Ps. xviii. 43, 44.
[1447] Ben. "with truth." Oxf. mss. varietate.
[1448] Rom. iv. 5.
[1449] Sol. Song viii. 5. Dealbata; or, Vulgate, deliciis affluens.
[1450] Isa. i. 18.
[1451] [With the Septuagint our author omits et adora cum. The text of
the Vulgate here, and that of St. Augustin and of Jerome's Hebraic
Psalter, differ widely.--C.]
[1452] Matt. xv. 21-28.
[1453] "They shall worship Him with gifts." [A truly Punic outburst,
and full of point for the Carthaginians. A.N.F. vol. iii. p. 3.--C.]
[1454] Or, "and let them be filled." Al. "and they are filled."
[1455] Hos. vi. 6; Matt. ix. 13.
[1456] Matt. xxv. 34, 35.
[1457] Gen. xxviii. 12. See S: 18. John i. 51.
[1458] Matt. xxv. 40.
[1459] [Omnis gloria filiae regis intrinsecus is Jerome's version of
the Hebrew; preferable, certainly, to the tame idea of modern critics,
that "within" means "(intus domum) within the palaces."--C.]
[1460] Interiora pulcritudinis.
[1461] Proximae.
[1462] 1 Pet. ii. 4.
[1463] Haereticae sanctimoniales.
[1464] Junctura.
[1465] [Not worldly princes, but spiritual chiefs and leaders of the
flock.--C.]
[1466] Eph. ii. 20.
[1467] E.V. "praise Thee."
[1468] Ps. iii. 4.
[1469] Matt. v. 14.
[1470] Dan. ii. 34, 35.
[1471] Ps. lxxxvii. 3.
____
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