The Pattern of Christ and the Path of Virtue

To stand even in the present and to be extended into the coming age, in which age His horn shall be lifted up in glory; that is, the kingdom which he shall be honored to attain from the saving promises. For it is customary in Scripture to call the kingdom 'Horn' (Ps 113:16).

But it is also just to establish those who worship most beautifully and consider the incorporeal as divine into something like themselves. And this would not appear to them as a curse justly, but rather becoming God is worthy of a prayer, just as they think they possess that which they marvel at.

For man is empty and a vapor in his being and non-being, because he seems to be, yet is not, but rather turns toward an image of life rather than in truth (Ps 115:2).

It is necessary for a release from the bonds of Hades, so that the God of the living and not a God of the dead may be ours, and we may be His ministers in the heavenly church, into which we return, fleeing the bonds of death (Ps 115:7-10).

He indeed rejoices as one having heard, and hopes as one receiving help; and he is strengthened by hope toward not fearing the plots of men nor marveling at their powers, but foreseeing their fall. These things indeed were formerly concerning Israel, with the other nations lying upon it (and the word is spoken hyperbolically), but after these things concerning the church from the nations, being fought against by the rebellions of the unbelievers. For those having believed in each nation were enduring the disturbances and dangers from the unbelievers, but nonetheless, even these, having been emboldened by God, conquered their opponents (Ps 117:7-9).

Those fighting serve God, yet they exult in human power and in human leadership; but those taking hold of the fear of God are emboldened by the help of God, and having lost this, they find a strength even stronger; and most magnificent are those who defend themselves in the name of Christ and of the Lord alone against enemies both visible and invisible (Ps 117:10-11).

He sings of the Lord's clear manifestation, through which salvation is restored to all, having said 'God' according to the Father and 'Lord' according to the Son's name, because both the Lord is God and the God is Lord; having appeared as Lord, He ruled over us and them into life, according to the text breaks that He might rule over the dead and the living, and the opposites into judgment (Ps 117:27a).

According to the abolishing of all authority and power (Ps 117:27bc).

The establishment of a feast is protected by a multitude of priests placing sacrifices upon the altar even unto its horns and the other projections. And as proceeding upon our own priests, the Word clearly shows those presenting themselves as a living sacrifice, truly pleasing to God according to a type of Christ (Ps 118:1), whose multitude also fills the altar even to the uppermost height which joins with the heavenly angels, through the same power which lifts the heavenly things toward the height and lifts up the earthly things by the manner of an altar receiving those approaching God.

These indeed were those not having walked in the counsel of the ungodly nor standing in the way of sinners (Ps 118:1bc), but grasping the law and the course in this. And he says 'blameless,' not meaning altogether falling away from faults and sins. For this was appointed for Christ and for the partakers of Christ through him; but for those, the blamelessness was judged by the forgiveness from God and not by the exactness regarding the outward regulations. For God does not require the impossible, but legislates by exposing what is lacking, and he forgives the weak, knowing them, and providing salvation through the then-yet-to-come participation in Christ, the powerful God. It is therefore fitting for us to live blamelessly according to Christ.

Since there were many oppositions toward virtue (Ps 118:5), just as there are stumbles on a road, he asks for the removal of these. For thus the road is made smooth by the removal of those who obstruct, according to 'Cast out of the way of my people the worms'; just as for the divine David a woman became a stumbling block and an unseasonable fall in a spectacle, for another a morsel for pleasure being seen, such as for Esau, for another glory just as for Saul, for another property just as for Ahab; all of which are necessary for God who is preparing the way, which should pack these things and maintain the beautiful inclination, even though the more violent things of the intention were pulling and, as if unwearying, were flowing because of their nature.

But for us, regarding the divine Spirit, it will be a matter of not being ashamed (Ps 118:6), when we see ourselves joined to him everywhere and in no way turning toward the flesh, nor being dragged down from a height of falling. In having learned the judgments of the...

In having learned the judgments of the...