The Enarrations, or Expositions, on the Psalms

^6. Lend not money at interest. Thou accusest Scripture which says, “He that has not given his money upon usury.” I wrote not this: it went not forth first from my mouth: hear God. He replies: let not the clergy lend upon usury. Perchance he who speaks to you, lends not at interest: but if he do so lend, suppose that he does so lend; does He who speaks through him lend at interest? If he does what he enjoins you, and thou dost it not; you will go into the flame, he into the kingdom. If he does not what he enjoins you, and equally with you does evil deeds, and preaches duties which he does not; you will both equally go into the flames. The hay will burn; but “the word of the Lord abides for evermore.”...

7. “The righteous Lord shall hew the necks of the sinners”....Which of us does not fix his eyes upon the earth, like the Publican, and say, “Lord, be merciful unto me a sinner”? If therefore all are sinners, and none is found without sin; all must fear the sword that hangs above their neck, because “the righteous Lord shall hew the necks of the sinners.” I do not imagine, my brethren, of all sinners; but in the member which He strikes, He marks what sinners He strikes. For it is not said, The righteous Lord will hew the hands of the sinners; or their feet; but because proud sinners were meant to be understood, and all proud men carry lofty necks, and not only do evil deeds, but even refuse to acknowledge them to be such, and when they are rebuked, justify themselves:...as it is written in Job (he was speaking of an ungodly sinner), “he runs against God, even upon his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers;” so he here names the neck, because it is thus you exalt yourself, and dost not fix your eyes upon the ground, and beat your breast. You should cry unto Him, as it is cried in another Psalm, “I said, Lord, be merciful unto me, for I have sinned against You.” Since thou dost not choose to say this, but justifiest your deeds against the Word of God; what follows in Scripture comes upon you: the righteous Lord shall hew the necks of sinners.

8. “Let them be confounded and turned backward, as many as have evil will at Sion”. They who hate Sion, hate the Church: Sion is the Church. And they who hypocritically enter into the Church, hate the Church. They who refuse to keep the Word of God, hate the Church: “Upon my back have they built:” what will the Church do, save endure the burden even unto the end?