VERSE 10. -- 'I surrounded it with My bounds.' 45. What bounds are set to this sea. -- For the Lord surrounds this sea with His own bounds, because He humbles our heart, still turbulent with the trouble and care of its own corruption, under the measure of contemplation, so that though it desire more, yet it may not ascend beyond what is granted to it. Or certainly the Lord surrounds this sea with His own bounds, because He softens our heart, swollen with temptations, by the hidden distributions of His gifts, now acting that the depraved suggestion may not come to delight, now that the depraved delight may not burst forth even to consent. He therefore who beholds the unlawful motions of the heart, and forbids them in certain cases to come even to consent,
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but in certain cases restrains them even from delight, surely imposes bounds on the raging sea, so that it may in no way rise up in deed, but murmuring within the bosom of the mind may dash its wave of temptations against itself. Which, because it is then mightily restrained when it is met with the delight of God and with inspired virtues, is rightly subjoined: