Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsPsalms 90
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Psalms 90 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Psalms 90 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Psalms 90:5
Thou shalt not be afraid.
S. Augustine here observeth four manners of tempting the faithful to fall from true Religion [1]. Sometimes with tentation that is but light and obscure [2], which the Prophet here calleth fear in the night: when ignorant men are tempted by suggestion, or apprehension or temporal afflictions, not knowing that they fall into eternal damnation, by flying from worldly, or bodily calamities. Sometimes the tentation threateneth present death to them that are well instructed in the truth [3], and know that they must confess it even to death, which the Prophet calleth an arrow flying in the day: when the faithful clearly seeth what danger hangeth over him, to wit present death, if he stand constant, and damnation if he deny his faith. Sometimes the tentation is more vehement, but yet obscure, which he called business walking in darkness: [4] when by subtle endeavours, framing arguments in excuse of sin, men are persuaded that they may lawfully take some oath, or do some other thing, which indeed is not lawful: and so by earnest and subtle persuasions they ignorantly decline from Catholic Religion, or commit other grievous sins. But the greatest and manifest tentation is called invasion & midday devil [5]: when persecuters seeing neither more easy persuasions can deceive God's servants, nor present death force them to deny the truth, they then assault them more vehemently, and more dangerously, with long and continual afflictions, not remitting their cruelty till the afflicted either yield to their will, or die in long torments. And by these two latter kinds of persecution many are overthrown, which were constant in the former. For whilst tyrants proposed dangers to simple people, and deceived some, yet threatening present death to others, that were better instructed, and confirmed in Religion, innumerable persevered, & gloriously died in confession of Christian Catholic faith. But by subtle arguing of hard points of Christian doctrine or practice; and by long torments many have been seduced, blindly falling into errors, and many wittingly have denied the truth, which they clearly believed in their hearts, to avoid this midday devil, the extremity of long manifest, and grievous afflictions. Nevertheless in all these tentations God protecteth them that firmly trust in him. Those (saith this holy Father) have failed, which presumed of themselves, which dwelt not in the help of the Highest, and in protection of the God of heaven: which said not to our Lord: Thou art my Protector, and my refuge, which trusted not under the shadow of his wings, but relied, or attributed much to their own strength.