詩篇註釋 第 55 章 第 2/2 段

which is the treasure of all good things, and unfailing riches, and the beginning of prosperity, and its root, and its middle, and its end.

'Your good Spirit shall lead me in a straight land.'

Do you see how we learn, how we are taught to accomplish the way through the Holy Spirit? Wherefore Paul also said:

'But to us God has revealed them through his Spirit.'

According to the literal sense, he means his own homeland;

but according to the deeper anagogical sense, the road that leads up toward virtue.

For nothing is smoother than virtue, freed as it is from tumults and disturbances.

'For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou shalt quicken me.'

Do you see him once more taking refuge in God, not putting his confidence in any boldness that comes from his manner of life? 'In thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction.'

Do you see how true is what I was saying before, that in many places he calls God's righteousness His loving-kindness? 'Thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction.'

'For pray,' He says, 'that ye enter not into temptation.'

'And in thy mercy thou shalt utterly destroy mine enemies.'

'Not because I am worthy,' he says, 'but on account of thy loving-kindness, deliver me from those who make war against me, set me free from those who plot against me, grant me to breathe a little from my affliction.'

'And thou shalt destroy all them that afflict my soul, for I am thy servant.'

Observe once again the reason that is set down.

For it is not simply a matter of obtaining our requests; rather, in every case we must make ourselves worthy to receive the things we ask, and contribute our own part, and so approach.

For the mere nature of prayer is not sufficient by itself;

since the Jews too used to pray, and they heard:

'Though ye multiply your supplication, I will not hearken unto you.'

And why do you marvel that the Jews were not heard, when even Jeremiah, interceding on their behalf, was rebuked, and once and again hears:

'Pray not for this people, for I will not hearken unto thee'? And why do you marvel that Jeremiah is not heard? 'Though Noah,' He says, 'though Job, though Daniel should stand, they shall not deliver their own sons and daughters.'

Knowing these things, therefore, let us not merely pray, but along with our prayers let us make ourselves worthy to receive, so that we may obtain both the present and the good things to come;

which may it be granted us all to obtain, by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the might, unto the ages of ages. Amen.