ther, Who will give me wings as of a dove, and I
will fly, and will be at rest?" Ps. liv. 7, (in Ps. cxviii. l. 14,
p. 328.) To build a house for God, that is, to prepare a dwelling
for him in our souls, we must begin by banishing sin, and all
earthly affections, (in Ps. xxxi. p. 73;) for Christ, who is wisdom,
sanctity, and truth, cannot establish his reign in the breast of a
fool, hypocrite, or sinner, (in Ps. xli. p. 60, ap. Marten. t. 9.)
It is easy for God, by penance, to repair his work, howsoever it may
have been defaced by vice, as a potter can restore or improve the
form of a vessel, while the clay is yet moist, (in Ps. ii. p. 47:)
but he often inculcates that repentance, or the confession of sin,
is a solemn profession of sinning no more, (in Ps. cxxxvii. p. 498,
in Ps. li. and cxviii. p. 263, &c.) Every thing that is inordinate
in the affections must be cut off. "The prophet gave himself entire
to God, according to the tenor of his consecration of himself.
Whatever lives in him, lives to God. His whole heart, his whole soul
is fixed on God alone, and occupied in him, and he never loses sight
of him. In all his works and thoughts God is before his eyes." Totum
quod vivit, Deo vivit. (Ps. cxviii. l. 14, n. 16, p. 327.) Upon
these words, _I am thy servant_, Ps. cxviii. v. 125, he observes,
that every Christian frequently repeats this, but most deny by their
actions what they profess in words, "It is the privilege of the
prophet to call himself the servant of God in every affection of his
heart, in every circumstance and action of his life," &c. (in Ps.
cxviii. l. 17, p. 339.) He teaches that the angels, patriarchs, and
prophets are as it were mountains protecting the church, (in Ps.
cxxiv. n. 6, p. 404;) and that holy angels attend and succor the
faithful, (in Ps. cxxxvii. p. 499;) assist them in time of combat
against the devils, (in Ps. lxv. p. 178, and in Ps. cxxxiv. p. 475;)
carry up their prayers to their heavenly Father with an eager zeal;
and looking upon this ministry as an honor, (in Matt. c. 18, p.
699.) That the church of Christ is one, out of which, as out of the
ark of Noah, no one man be saved, (in Ps. cxlvi., xiv., lxiv.,
cxxviii., and cxvvii. in Matt. c. 4, and 7 De Trinit. l. 7, p. 917.)
He mentions fast days of precept, the violation of which renders a
Christ