1 Tsa. liv. 5.
2 Correcti. ms. Vat. ap. Ben. corde recti, " right in heart."
3 [The adoration of the Host was unknown to the ancient Church. — C] 3 2 Tim. iv. 1.
6 1 Cor. i. 24.
its servants, but yet itself serveth its Lord sitting within. It cannot well rule its inferior, unless its superior it have not disdained to serve.
10. " The princes of the peoples are gathered together unto the God of Abraham" (ver. 9). The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.8 True it is, God said this, and thereupon the Jews prided themselves, and said, " We are Abraham's children; " » prid- ing themselves in their father's name, carrying his flesh, not holding his faith; by seed cleaving to Him, in manners degenerating. But the Lord, what said He to them so priding them- selves? " If ye are Abraham's children, do the works of Abraham." '° Again..." The princes of the peoples: " the princes of the nations: not the princes of one people, but the princes of all people have "gathered together unto the God of Abraham." Of these princes was that Cen- turion too, of whom but now when the Gospel was read ye heard. For he was a Centurion having honour and power among men, he was a prince among the princes of the peoples. Christ coming to him, he sent his friends to meet Him, nay unto Christ truly passing over to him he sent his friends, and asked that He would heal his servant who was dangerously sick. And when the Lord would come, he sent to Him this message: " I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof, but say in a word only, and my servant shall be healed." " For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers." " See how he kept his rank! first he mentioned that he was under another, and afterwards that another was under him. I am under authority, and I am in authority; both under some I am, and over some I am...As though he said, If I being set under authority command those who are under me, Thou who art set under no man's authority, canst not Thou command Thy creature, since all things were made by Thee, and without Thee was nothing made. " Say," then, said he, " in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof."...Admiring at his faith, Jesus reprobates the Jews' misbelief. For sound to themselves they seemed, whereas they were dangerously sick, when their Physician not knowing they slew. Therefore when He reprobated, and re- pudiated their pride, what said he? "I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west," not belonging to the kindred of Israel: many shall come to whom He said, " O clap your hands, all ye nations; " " and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." Abraham begat them not of his own flesh; yet shall they come and 9 John viii. 33.
10 John viii. 39.
]64 THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN.
[Psalm XLVIII.
sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven, and be his sons. Whereby his sons? Not as bom of his flesh, but by following his faith. " But the children of the kingdom," that is, the Jews, " shall be cast into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." ' They shall be condemned to outer darkness who are born of the flesh of Abraham, and they shall sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven, who have imitated Abraham's faith.
n. And what they who belonged to the God of Abraham? " For the mighty gods of the earth are greatly lifted up." They who were gods, the people of God, the vineyard of God, whereof it is said, " Judge betwixt Me and My vineyard," 2 shall go into outer darkness, shall not sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, are not gathered unto the God of Abraham. Wherefore? " For the mighty gods of the earth; " they who were mighty gods of the earth, presuming upon earth. What earth? Themselves; for every man is earth. For to man was it said, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 3 But man ought to pre- sume upon God, and thence to hope for help, not from himself. For the earth raineth not upon itself, nor shineth for itself; but as the earth from heaven expecteth rain and light, so man from God ought to expect mercy and truth. They then, " the mighty gods of the earth, were greatly lifted up," that is, greatly prided themselves: they thought no physician necessary for themselves, and therefore remained in their sickness, and by their sickness were brought down even to death. The natural branches were broken off that the humble wild olive tree might be grafted in.'* Hold we fast then, brethren, humility, charity, godliness: since we are called, on their proving reprobate, even by their example let us fear to pride ourselves.
PSALM XLVIII.s i. The title of this Psalm is, "A song of praise, to the sons of Korah, on the second day of the week." Concerning this what the Lord deigneth to grant receive ye like sons of the firmament. For on the second day of the week, that is, the day after the first which we call the Lord's day, which also is called the second week-day, was made the firmament of Heaven.6...The second day of the week then we ought not to understand but of the Church of Christ: but the Church of Christ in the Saints, the Church of Christ in those who are written in Heaven, the Church of Christ in those who to this world's temptations yield not. For they are worthy of the name of "firmament." The Church of 1 Matt. viii. 12. * Rom. xi. 17.
3 Gen. iii. to. * Gen. i. 6-8.
Christ, then, in those who are strong, of whom saith the Apostle, " We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak," 7 is called the firmament. Of this it is sung in this Psalm. Let us hear, acknowledge, associate, glory, reign. For Her called firmament, hear also in the Apostolic Epistles, " the pillar and firma- ment8 of the truth." 9...
2. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (ver. i)...That is, "in the city of our God, in His holy mountain." This is the city set upon an hill, which cannot be hid: this is the candle which is not hidden under a bushel, "° to all known, to all proclaimed. Yet are not all men citizens thereof, but they in whom " great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised." What then is that city: let us see' whether per- haps, since it is said, " In the city of our God, in His holy mountain," we ought not to enquire for this mountain where also we may be heard...What then is that mountain, brethren? One is it with great care to be enquired for, with great solicitude investigated, with labour also to be occupied and ascended. But if in any part of the earth it is, what shall we do? Shall we go abroad out of our own country, that to that mountain we may arrive? Nay, then we are abroad, when in it we are not. For that is our city, if we are members of the King, who is the head of the same city...For there was a certain corner-stone contemptible, whereat the Jews stumbled," cut out of a certain mountain without hands, that is, coming of the kingdom of the Jews without hands, because human operation went not with Mary of whom was born Christ.'2 But if that stone, when the Jews stum- bled thereat, had remained there, thou hadst not had whither to ascend. But what was done? What saith the prophecy of Daniel? What but that the stone grew, and became a great moun- tain? How great? So that it filled the whole face of the earth. 'J By growing, then, and by filling the whole face of the earth, that moun- tain came to us. Why then seek we the mountain as though absent, and not as being present ascend to it; that in us the Lord may be "great, and greatly to be praised"?
3. Further,...when he had said, " in the city of our God, in His holy mountain," what added he? " Spreading abroad the joys of the whole earth, the mountains of Sion " (ver. 2). Sion is one mountain, why then " mountains "? Is it that to Sion belonged also those which came from the other side, so as to meet together on the Corner Stone, and become two walls, as it were two mountains, one of the circumcision, the other of the uncircumcision; one of the Psalm XLVIII.]
ON THE PSALMS.
165 Jews, the other of the Gentiles: no longer ad- verse, although diverse, because from different sides, now in the corner not even diverse. " For He is our peace, who hath made both one." ' The same Corner Stone " which the builders rejected, is become the Head Stone of the cor- ner." * The mountain hath joined in itself two mountains; one house there is, and two houses; two, because coming from different sides; one, because of the Corner Stone, wherein both are joined together. Hear also this, " the mountains of Sion: the sides of the North are the city of the great King."...See the Gentiles; " the sides of the North: " the sides of the North are joined to the city of the great King. The North is wont to be contrary to Sion: Sion forsooth is in the South, the North over against the South. Who is the North, but He who said, " I will sit in the sides of the North, I will be like the Most High"?' The devil had held dominion over the ungodly, and possessed the nations serving images, adoring demons; and all whatsoever there was of human kind anywhere throughout the world, by cleaving to Him, had become North. But since He who binds the strong man, taketh away his goods,4 and maketh them His own goods; men delivered from infidelity and superstition of devils, believing in Christ, are fitted on to that city, have met in the corner that wall that cometh from the circumcision, and that was made the city of the great King, which had been the sides of the North. Therefore also in another Scripture is it said, " Out of the North come clouds of golden colour: great is the glory and honour of the Almighty." 5 For great is the glory of the physician, when from being despaired of the sick recovers. " Out of the North come clouds," and not black clouds, not dark clouds, not lowering, but " of golden colour." Whence but by grace illumined through Christ? See, " the sides of the North are the city of the great King."...
4. Let the Psalm then follow, and say, " God shall be known in her houses." Now in her " houses," because of the mountains, because of the two walls, because of the two sons. " God shall be known in her houses," but he commend- eth grace, therefore he added, " when He shall take her up." For what would that city have been, unless He had taken her up? Would it not immediately have fallen, unless it had such foundation? For " other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 6 Let none then glory in his own merits; but " he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 1...The Lord then hath taken up this city, and is known therein, that is, His grace is known in 2 Ps. cxviii 22. 5 Job xxxvii. 22.
that city: for whatever that city hath, which glorieth in the Lord, it hath not of itself. For because of this it is said, " What hast thou that thou didst not receive? " 8 5. "For, lo, the kings of the earth are gathered together " (ver. 3). Behold now those sides of the North, see how they come, see how they say, " Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord: and He will teach us His way, and we will walk in it."9 "And have come together in one." In what one, but that " corner-stone "? '° "They saw it, and so they marvelled" (ver. 4). After their marvel- ling at the miracles and glory of Christ, what followed? "They were troubled, they were moved" (ver. 5), "trembling took hold upon them." Whence took trembling hold upon them, but from the consciousness of sins? Let them run then, kings after a king: kings, let them ac- knowledge the King. Therefore saith He else- where, "Yet have I been set by Him a King upon His holy hill of Sion." "...A King then was heard of, set up in Sion, to Him were de- livered possessions even to the uttermost parts of the earth. Kings behoved to fear lest they should lose the kingdom, lest the kingdom be taken from them. As wretched Herod feared, and for the Child slew the children.'2 But fear- ing to lose his kingdom, he deserved not to know the King. Would that he too had adored the King with the Magi: not by ill-seeking the kingdom, slain the Innocents, and perished guilty. For as concerning him, he destroyed the Inno- cents: but as for Christ, even a Child, the chil- dren dying for Him did He crown. Therefore behoved kings to fear when it was said, " Yet have I been set a King by Him upon His holy hill of Sion," and inheritance, to the uttermost parts of the earth shall He give Him, who set Him up King...Thence also this is said to them, " Understand now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling.'"3 And what did they? "There pains as of a woman in travail." What are the pains " as of a woman in travail," but the pangs of a penitent? See the same conception of pain and travail: " Of Thy fear" (saith Isaiah) " we have conceived, we have travailed of the Spirit of salvation." '4 So then the kings con- ceived from the fear of Christ, that by travailing they brought forth salvation by believing on Him whom they had feared. " There pains as of a woman in travail: " when of travail thou hearest, expect a birth. The old man travaileth, but the new man is born.
9 Isa ii. 3. " Matt. if. 16.
10 Eph. ii. 20.
1 66 THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN.
[Psalm XLVIII.
6. " With a strong wind Thou shalt break the ships of Tarshish " (ver. 6). Briefly understood, this is, Thou shalt overthrow the pride of the nations. But where in this history is mentioned the overthrowing of the pride of the nations? Because of " the ships of Tarshish." Learned men have enquired for Tarshish a city, that is, what city was signified by this name: and to some it has seemed that Cilicia is called Tar- shish, because its metropolis is called Tarsus. Of which city was the Apostle Paul, being born in Tarsus of Cilicia.1 But some have under- stood by it Carthage, being haply sometimes so named, or in some language so signified. For in the Prophet Isaiah it is thus found: " Howl, ye ships of Carthage." 2 But in Ezekiel3 by some interpreters the word is translated Carthage, by some Tarshish: and from this diversity it can be understood that the same which was called Carthage, is called Tharsus. But it is manifest, that in the beginning of its reign Carthage flour- ished with ships, and so flourished, that among other nations they excelled in trafficking and navigation. For when Dido, flying from her brother, escaped to the parts of Africa, where she built Carthage, the ships which had been prepared for commerce in his country she had taken with her for her flight, the princes of the country consenting to it; and the same ships also when Carthage was built failed not in traffic. And hence that city became too proud, so that justly by its ships may be understood the pride of the nations, presuming on things uncertain, as on the breath of the winds. Now let none presume on full sails, and on the seeming fair state of this life, as of the sea. Be our founda- tion in Sion: there ought we to be stablished, not to be " carried about with every wind of doc- trine." * Whoso then by the uncertain things of this life had been puffed up, let them be over- thrown, and be all the pride of the nations sub- jected to Christ, who shall " with a strong wind break all the ships of Tarshish: " not of any city, but of " Tarshish." How " with a strong wind"? With very strong fear. For so all pride feared Him that shall judge, as on Him humble to believe, lest Him exalted it should fear.
7. " As we have heard, so have we seen " (ver. 7). Blessed Church! at one time thou hast heard, at another time thou hast seen. She heard in promises, seeth in performance: heard in Prophecy, seeth in the Gospel. For all things which are now fulfilled were before prophesied. Lift up thine eyes then, and stretch them over the world; see now His " inheritance 1 Acts xxi. 39.
» So LXX.; Heb. Tarshiih. Isa. xxiii i.
3 Kzck. xxxviii. 13. [Note the author's interest in all that bears upon his own field of labour. — C.J 4 Eph. iv. 14.
even to the uttermost parts of the earth: " 5 see now is fulfilled what was said, " All kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him: " 6 see fulfilled what was said, " Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Thy glory above all the earth."' See Him whose feet and hands were pierced with nails, whose bones hanging on the tree were counted, upon whose vesture lots were cast: 8 see reigning whom they saw hanging; see sitting in Heaven ' whom they despised walking on earth: see thus ful- filled, " All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him." Seeing all this, exclaim with joy, " As we have heard, so have we seen." Justly the Church herself is so called out of the Gentiles...They to whom the Prophets were not sent, first heard and un- derstood the Prophets: they who first heard not, afterwards hearing marvelled. They remained behind to whom they were sent, carrying the books, understanding not the truth: having the tables of the Testament, and not holding the in- heritance. But we,..." As we have heard, so have we seen." And where hearest thou? where seest thou? " In the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God. God hath founded it for ever." Let not heretics insult, divided into parties, let them not exalt themselves who say, " Lo, here is Christ, or lo, there." lo Whoso saith, " Lo, here is Christ, or lo, there," inviteth to parties. Unity God promised. The kings are gathered together in one, not dissipated through schisms. But haply that city which hath held the world, shall sometime be overthrown? Far be the thought! " God hath founded it for ever." If then God hath founded it for ever, why fearest thou lest the firmament should fall? 8. " We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy people " (ver. 8). Who have received, and where received? Hath not the same Thy people received Thy mercy. If Thy people hath received Thy mercy, how then, " in the midst of Thy people "? As if they who received were one party, they in the midst of whom they received another. A great mystery, but yet well known. When hence also, that is, out of these verses, hath been extracted and brought forth what ye know, it will be not ruder, but sweeter. Now forsooth all are reckoned the people of God, who carry His Sacraments, but not all belong to His Mercy. All forsooth re- ceiving the Sacrament of the Baptism of Christ, are called Christians, but not all live worthily of that Sacrament. There are some of whom saith the Apostle, " Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." " Yet on account of 6 Ps. lxxii. 11. 9 Matt. xxvi. 64.
7 Ps. rviii. 5. 10 Mail. xxiv. 33.
Psalm XLVIII.]
ON THE PSALMS.
167 this form of godliness they are named among God's people. As to the floor, until the corn is threshed, belongs not the wheat only, but the chaff. But will it also belong to the garner? In the midst then of an evil people is a good peo- ple, which hath received the Mercy of God. He liveth worthily of the Mercy of God who heareth, and holdeth, and doeth what the Apostle saith, " We beseech you that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain." ' Whoso then receiveth not the Grace of God in vain, the same receiveth not only the Sacrament, but also the Mercy of God as well...So those who have the Sacra- ments, and have not good manners, are both said to be of God, and not of God; are both said to be His, and to be strangers: His because of His own Sacraments, strangers because of their own vice. So also strange daughters: 2 daughters, because of the form of godliness; strange, because of their loss of virtue. Be the lily there; let it receive the Mercy of God: hold fast the root of a good flower, be not un- grateful for soft rain coming from heaven. Be thorns ungrateful, let them grow by the showers: for the fire they grow, not for the garner. In the midst of Thy people not receiving Thy mercy, we have received Thy mercy. For " He came unto His own, and His own received Him not," yet, in the midst of them, " as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." J...
9. For when he had said, "We have re- ceived Thy mercy in the midst of Thy people," he signified that there is a people not receiving the mercy of God, in the midst of whom some do receive the mercy of God: and then lest it should occur to men that there are so few, as to be nearly none, how did He console them in the words following? "According to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth" (ver. 9). What is this?...That is, as Thou art known through all the earth, so Thou art also praised through all the earth, nor are there wanting who now praise Thee through all the earth. But they praise Thee who live well. For, " According to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise," not in a part, but " unto the ends of the earth." "Thy right hand is full of righteousness." That is, many are they also who shall stand at Thy right hand. Not only shall they be many who shall stand at Thy left hand, but there also shall be a full heap set at Thy right hand.
10. " Let mount Zion rejoice, and the daugh- ters of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments, O Lord " (ver. 10). O mount Zion, O daugh- ters of Judah, ye labour now among tares, among chaff, among thorns ye labour: yet be 1 a Cor. vi. i.
' Cant. ii. a.
5 John i. n, n.
glad because of God's judgments. God erreth not in judgment. Live ye separate, though separate ye were not born; not vainly hath a voice gone forth from your mouth and heart, " Destroy not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men." 4 He shall winnow with such art, carrying in His hand a fan, that not one grain of wheat shall fall into the heap of chaff prepared to be burned, nor one beard of chaff pass to the heap to be laid up in the garner.' Be glad, O ye daughters of Judaea, because of the judgments of God that erreth not, and do not yet judge rashly. To you let it belong to collect, to Him let it belong to separate. But think not that the " daughters of Judah " are Jews. Judah is confession; all the sons of con- fession are all the sons of Judah. For " salva- tion is of the Jews," 6 is nothing else than that Christ is of the Jews. This saith also the Apos- tle, " He is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God." 7 Be such a Jew; glory in the circumcision of the heart, though thou