S. Augustine's learned handling of this place of the Psalm, Adore ye his Footstool, because it is Holy, maketh so evidently for this purpose, that of all other authorities which in great number might be brought for proof of the same, it ought least to be omitted. The place being long, I will recite it in English only. His words be these: Adore ye his Footstool:1 because it is Holy. See ye Brethren, what that is, he biddeth us to Adore. In an other place the Scripture saith:2 Heaven is my Seat, and the Earth is my Footstool. What doth he then bid us, Adore, and worship the Earth, because he said in an other place, that it is the Footstool of God? And how shall we Adore the Earth, where as the Scripture saith plainly, Thou shalt Adore thy Lord thy God, and here he saith, Adore ye his footstool? But he expoundeth to me,3 what his footstool is, and saith: and the Earth is my footstool.4 I am made doubtful, afraid I am to adore the Earth, lest he damn me, that made Heaven and Earth. Again I am afraid not to adore the footstool of my Lord, because the Psalm saith to me, adore ye his footstool. I seek, what thing is his footstool, and the Scripture telleth me, The Earth is my footstool. Being thus wavering, I turn me to Christ, because him I seek here, and I find, how without impiety the Earth may be adored. For he took of Earth, Earth,5 because Flesh is of Earth, and of the Flesh of Mary he took Flesh. And because he walked here in Flesh, and that very Flesh he gave us to eat to Salvation, and no man eateth that Flesh, except first he adore it: it is found out how such a footstool of our Lord may be adored, and how we not only sin not by adoring, but sin by not adoring. Doth not the Flesh quicken, and give life? Our Lord himself said, when he spake of the commendation it self of that Earth:6 It is the spirit that quickeneth, but the Flesh profiteth nothing. Therefore, when thou bowest thee self, and fallest down to every such Earth, behold it not as Earth, but that holy One, whose footstool it is, that thou doest adore, for because of him thou doest adore. And therefore here he added: Adore ye his footstool, because it is Holy. Who is Holy? He for whose love thou adorest his footstool.
S. Augustines learned handlinge of this place of the Psalme, Adore ye his Footestoole, bicause it is Holy, maketh so euidently for this purpose, that of al other authorities whiche in greate number might be broughte for proufe of the same, it ought leaste to be omitted. The place beinge longe, I wil recite it in Englishe onely. His woordes be these: Adore ye his Footestoole:1 bicause it is Holie. See ye Brethern, what that is, he biddeth vs to Adore. In an other place the Scripture saithe:2 Heauen is my Seate, and the Earthe is my Footestoole. VVhat doothe he then bidde vs, Adore, and woorship the Earthe, bicause he saide in an other place, that it is the Footestoole of God? And howe shal we Adore the Earthe, where as the Scripture saithe plainely, Thou shalt Adore thy Lorde thy God, and here he saithe, Adore ye his footestoole? But he expoundeth to me,3 what his footestoole is, and saithe: and the Earth is my footestoole.4 I am made doubteful, afraied I am to adore the Earthe, leste he damne me, that made Heauen and Earthe. Againe I am afraied not to adore the footestoole of my Lorde, bicause the Psalme saithe to me, adore ye his footestoole. I seeke, what thinge is his footestoole, and the Scripture telleth me, The Earth is my footestoole. Beinge thus waueringe, I turne me to Christ, bicause him I seeke here, and I finde, how without impietie the Earth may be adored. For he tooke of Earthe, Earth,5 bicause Fleashe is of Earth, and of the Fleashe of Marie he tooke Fleash. And bicause he walked here in Fleashe, and that very Fleashe he gaue vs to eate to Saluation, and noman eateth that Fleash, except firste he adore it: it is founde out how such a footestoole of our Lorde may be adored, and howe we not onely sinne not by adoringe, but sinne by not adoringe. Doth not the Fleashe quicken, and geue life? Our Lorde himselfe saide, when he spake of the commendation it selfe of that Earthe:6 It is the spirite that quickeneth, but the Fleashe profiteth nothinge. Therfore, when thou bowest thee selfe, and fallest downe to euery such Earthe, beholde it not as Earth, but that holy One, whose footestoole it is, that thou doest adore, for bicause of him thou doest adore. And therefore here he added: Adore ye his footestoole, bicause it is Holy. VVho is Holy? He for whose loue thou adorest his footestoole.
- 1In Psal. 98.
- 2Isaiah. 66.Esai. 66.
- 3Deut. 6. 10.
- 4Matth. 4.
- 5We eat Christ sitting in Heaven: And so we Adore him, not lying under Accidents, but sitting in Heaven.VVe eate Christ sittinge in Heauen: And so vvee Adoure him, not lieing vnder Accidentes, but sittinge in Heauen.
- 6Joan. 6.Ioan. 6.
