ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST, conquering the darkness of hell, hath made the night to shine as the day. The Voice of the Church to the people, praising GOD, or the Voice of CHRIST. Of one acknowledging the power of GOD, and that He is present in the secret thoughts, and in all the elements. The Voice of CHRIST to the LORD. The Voice of the penitent Apostle Peter.

VEN. BEDE. To the end, means for CHRIST, in Whose Person this whole Psalm is sung. In the first part the LORD speaks to the FATHER concerning His own repose and resurrection, saying that all His thoughts are perfectly known unto Him, O Lord, Thou hast searched Me out, &c. In the second part, He declares the power of the FATHER’S Godhead, because in so far as He is Himself a Man, He cannot hide Himself from His ken by any distance, adding that He, Who overcame the sins of the world by His glorious holiness, hath been preserved from His mother’s womb by His protection, Whither shall I go? &c. Thirdly, He professes that He, in so far as He is subject to the FATHER, will praise the LORD, Whose works are in Him, and are known to be wonderful. I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, &c. Fourthly, He alleges that the principality of all the blessed ones is established, commanding the ungodly and obstinate to depart from Him, as they would not be saved by any lowliness of penitence. How dear, &c.

SYRIAC PSALTER. Of David, when a certain man called Shimei, son of Gera, cried out and reproached him for having rebelled, saying, O thou bloody man.* In the spiritual sense it is the doctrine of GOD, and prayer with supplication.

EUSEBIUS OF CÆSAREA. An address of the righteous man with the doctrine of GOD, together with confession.

S. ATHANASIUS. A psalm or address, and prayer, and thanksgiving.