The Enarrations, or Expositions, on the Psalms

^19. Sometimes, however, and we must not pass over this without mention, you find a poor man proud, and a rich man humble: we daily endure such persons. You hear a poor man groaning beneath a rich man, and when the more powerful rich man presses upon him, then you see him humble: sometimes not even then, but even then proud; whence you see what he would have been, had he any property. God's poor one is therefore poor in spirit, not in his purse. Sometimes a man goes forth having a full house, rich lands, many estates, much gold and silver; he knows that he must not trust in these, he humbles himself before God, he does good with them; thus his heart is raised unto God, so that he is aware that not only do riches themselves profit him nothing, but that they even impede his feet, save He rule them, and aid them: and he is counted among the poor who are satisfied with bread. Thou findest another a proud beggar, or not proud only because he has nothing, nevertheless seeking whereby he may be puffed up. God does not heed the means a man has, but the wish he has, and judges him according to his wish for temporal blessings, not according to the means which it is not his lot to have. Whence the Apostle says of the rich, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” What therefore should they do with their riches? He goes on to say: “That they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” And see that they are poor in this world: “Laying up in store for themselves,” he adds, “a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” When they have laid hold of eternal life, then will they be rich; but since they have it not as yet, they should know that they are poor. Thus it is that God counts among His poor all the humble in heart, who are established in that twofold charity, whatever they may have in this world— among His poor, whom He satisfies with bread.

20. “I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice and sing”. We are now at the end of the Psalm; attend for a short space, Beloved. “I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice and sing.” Who is our salvation, save our Christ? What means, therefore, “I will clothe her priests with salvation”? “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.” “And her saints shall rejoice and sing.” Whence shall they rejoice and sing? Because they have been clothed with salvation: not in themselves. For they have become light, but in the Lord; for they were darkness before. Therefore he has added, “There will I raise up the horn of David”: this will be David's height, that trust be put in Christ. For horn signifies height: and what sort of height? Not carnal. Therefore, while all the bones are wrapped up in flesh, the horn goes beyond the flesh. Spiritual altitude is a horn. But what is spiritual loftiness, save to trust in Christ? Not to say, It is my work, I baptize; but, “He it is who baptizes.” There is the horn of David: and that you may know that there is the horn of David, heed what follows: “I have ordained a lantern for mine Anointed.” What is a lantern? You already know the Lord's words concerning John: “He was a burning and a shining light.” And what says John? “He it is who baptizes.” Herein therefore shall the saints rejoice, herein the priests shall rejoice: because all that is good in themselves, is not of themselves, but of Him who has the power of baptizing. Fearlessly therefore does every one who has received baptism come unto His temple; because it is not man's, but His who made the horn of David to flourish.

21. “Upon Him shall My sanctification flourish”. Upon whom? Upon Mine Anointed. For when He says, “Mine anointed,” it is the voice of the Father, who says, “I will bless her widow with blessings, and will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice and sing.” He who says, “There will I raise up the horn of David,” is God. He Himself says, “I have ordained a lantern for Mine Anointed,” because Christ is both ours and the Father's: He is our Christ, when He saves us and rules us, as He is also our Lord: He is the Son of the Father, but both our Christ and the Father's. For if He were not the Father's Christ, it would not be said above, “For Your servant David's sake, turn not Thou away the presence of Your Anointed.” “Upon Him shall My sanctification flourish.” It flourishes upon Christ. Let none of men assume this to himself, that he himself sanctifies: otherwise it will not be true, “Upon Him shall My sanctification flourish.” The glory of sanctification shall flourish. The sanctification of Christ therefore in Christ Himself, is the power of the sanctification of God in Christ. In that he says, “shall flourish,” he refers to His glory: for when trees flourish, then are they beautiful. Sanctification therefore is in Baptism: thence it flourishes, and is brightened. Why has the world yielded to this beauty? Because it flourishes in Christ; for, put it in man's power, and how does it then flourish? Since “all flesh in grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the grass.”