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āHe..ā Internet Sacred Text Archive. Read via Sacred Texts Reader. https://sacred-texts.xyz/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080135.htm
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31. In this great Psalm there cometh next in order that which, with the Lordās help, we must consider and treat of. āSet a law for me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I shall seek it alwayā (Psa. 119.33).ā¦
32. Why doth this man still pray for a law to be laid down for him; which, if it had not been laid down for him, he could not have run the way of Godās commandments in the breadth of his heart? But since one speaketh who is growing in grace, and who knoweth that it is Godās gift that he profiteth in grace; what else doth he pray, when he prayeth that a law may be laid down for him, save that he may profit more and more? As, if thou holdest a full cup, and givest it to a thirsty man; he both exhausts it by drinking it, and prayeth for it by still longing for it.ā¦
33. But what meaneth, āEvermoreā?ā¦Doth āevermoreā mean as long as we live here, because we progress in grace so long; but after this life, he who was in a good course of improvement here, is made perfect there? Here the law of God is examined into, as long as we progress in it, both by knowing it and by loving it: but there its fulness abideth for our enjoyment, not for our examination. Thus also is this spoken, āSeek His face evermore.ā Ā 5163 Where, evermore, save here? For we shall not there also seek the face of God, when āwe shall see face to face.āĀ 5164 Or if that which is loved without a change of affection is rightly said to be sought after, and our only object is, that it be not lost, we shall indeed evermore seek the law of God, that is, the truth of God: for in this very Psalm it is said, āAnd Thy law is the truth.āĀ 5165 It is now sought, that it may be held fast; it will then be held fast that it may not be lost.ā¦
34. āGive me understanding, and I shall search Thy law, yea, I shall keep it with my whole heartā (Psa. 119.34). For when each man hath searched the law, and searched its deep things, in which its whole meaning doth consist; he ought indeed to love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind; and his neighbour as himself. āFor on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.ā Ā 5166 This he seemeth to have promised, when he said, āYea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.ā
35. But since he hath no power to do even this, save he be aided by Him who commandeth him to do what He commandeth, āMake me,ā he addeth, āto go in the path of Thy commandments, for therein is my desireā (Psa. 119.35). My desire is powerless, unless Thou Thyself makest me to go where I desire. And this is surely the very path, that is, the path of Godās commandments, which he had already said that he had run, when his heart was enlarged by the Lord. And this he calleth a āpath,ā because āthe way is narrow which leadeth unto life;āĀ 5167 and since it is narrow, we cannot run therein save with a heart enlarged.ā¦
36. He next saith, āIncline mine heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousnessā (Psa. 119.36). This then he prayeth, that he may profit in the will itself.Ā 5168 ā¦But the Apostle saith, āAvarice is a root of all evils.āĀ 5169 But in the Greek, whence these words have been rendered into our tongue, the word used by the Apostle is not ĻĪ»ĪµĪæĪ½ĪµĪ¾į½·Ī±, which occurs in this passage of the Psalms; but ĻĪ¹Ī»Ī±ĻĪ³Ļ Ļį½·Ī±, by which is signified ālove of money.ā But the Apostle must be understood to have meant genus by species when he used this word, that is, to have meant avarice universally and generally by love of money, which is truly the root of all evils.Ā 5170 ā¦If therefore our heart be not inclined to covetousness, we fear God only for Godās sake, so that He is the only reward of our serving Him. Let us love Him in Himself, let us love Him in ourselves, Him in our neighbours whom we love as ourselves, whether they have Him, or in order that they may have Him.ā¦
37. The next words in the Psalm which we have undertaken to expound are, āO turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity: and quicken Thou me in Thy wayā (Psa. 119.37). Vanity and truth are directly contrary to one another. The desires of this world are vanity: but Christ, who freeth us from the world, is truth. He is the way, too, wherein this man wisheth to be quickened, for He is also the life: āI am the way, the truth, and the life,āĀ 5171 are His own words.
38. ā¦He prayeth that those eyes wherewith we consider on what account we do what we do, may be turned away that they behold not vanity; that is, that he may not look to vanity, as his motive, when he doeth anything good. In this vanity the first place is held by the love of menās praise, on account of which many great deeds have been wrought by those who are styled great in this world, and who have been much praised in heathen states, seeking glory not with God, but among men, and on account of this p. 566 living in appearance prudently, courageously, temperately, and righteously; and when they have reached this they have reached their reward: vain men, and vain reward.Ā 5172 ā¦Moreover, if it be a vain thing to do good works for the sake of menās praises, how much more vain for the sake of getting money, or increasing it, or retaining it, and any other temporal advantage, which cometh unto us from without? Since āall things are vanity: what is manās abundance, with all his toil, wherein he laboureth under the sun?āĀ 5173 For our temporal welfare itself finally we ought not to do our good works, but rather for the sake of that everlasting welfare which we hope for, where we may enjoy an unchangeable good, which we shall have from God, nay, what God Himself is unto us. For if Godās Saints were to do good works for the sake of this temporal welfare, never would the martyrs of Christ achieve a good work of confession in the loss of this same welfare.ā¦
39. āO stablish Thy word in Thy servant, that I may fear Theeā (Psa. 119.38). And what else is this than, Grant unto me that I may do according to what Thou sayest? For the word of God is not stablished in those who remove it in themselves by acting contrary to it; but it is stablished in those in whom it is immoveable. God therefore stablisheth His word, that they may fear Him, in those unto whom He giveth the spirit of the fear of Him; not that fear of which the Apostle saith, āYe have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;āĀ 5174 for āperfect love casteth outā this āfear,āĀ 5175 but that fear which the Prophet calleth āthe spirit of the fear of the Lord;āĀ 5176 that fear which āis pure, and endureth for ever;āĀ 5177 that fear which feareth to offend Him whom it loveth.
40. āTake away my reproach which I have suspected, for Thy judgments are sweetā (Psa. 119.39). Who is he who suspected his own reproach, and who doth not know his own reproach better than that of his neighbour? For a man may rather suspect anotherās than his own; since he knoweth not that which he suspecteth; but in each oneās own reproach there is not suspicion for him, but knowledge, wherein conscience speaketh. What then mean the words, āthe rebuke which I have suspectedā? The meaning of them must be derived from the former verse; since as long as a man doth not turn away his eyes lest they behold vanity, he suspecteth in others what is going on in himself; so that he believeth another to worship God, or do good works, from the same motive as himself. For men can see what we do, but with a view to what end we act, is hidden.ā¦
41. āBehold, I have coveted Thy commandments: O quicken Thou me in Thy righteousnessā (Psa. 119.40). Behold, I have coveted to love Thee with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and my neighbour as myself, but, āO quicken Thou meā not in my own, but āin Thy righteousness,ā that is, fill me with that love which I have longed for. Aid me that I may do that which Thou chargest me: Thyself give what Thou dost command. āO quicken Thou me in Thy righteousness:ā for in myself I had that which would cause my death: but I find not save in Thee whence I may live. Christ is Thy righteousness, āWho of God is made unto us wisdom,ā etc.Ā 5178 And in Him I find Thy commandments, which I have coveted, that in Thy righteousness, that is, in Him, Thou mayest quicken me. For the Word Himself is God; and āthe Word was made flesh,āĀ 5179 that He Himself also might be my neighbour.
Footnotes
565:5163 565:5164 565:5165 565:5166 565:5167 565:5168[He says: āHe useth here a Greek expression, from which covetousness generally may be understood, whereby every man seeketh more than is enough: for the word ĻĪ»ā¢ĪæĪ½ meaneth more, and ÅøĪ¾Ī¹Ļ signifieth having, being derived from the verb to have. It is therefore termed ĻĪ»ĪµĪæĪ½ĪµĪ¾Ī¹Ī±, from having too much: a word which the Latin translators in this passage have variously rendered by emolument, utility, and avarice, which last is best.āāC.]
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