Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 18:37

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"I will follow up mine enemies, and seize them" [Psalm 18:37]. I will follow up my carnal affections, and will not be seized by them, but will seize them, so that they may be consumed. "And I will not turn, till they fail." And from this purpose I will not turn myself to rest, till they fail who make a tumult about me.

Exposition on Psalm 18 ↗

Jerome

The mind must not through disbelief in the promised blessings give way to despair; and the soul once marked out for perdition must not refuse to apply remedies on the ground that its wounds are past curing.… Lo, I hear his promise: "I will pursue mine enemies and overtake them; neither will I turn again till they are consumed," so that I, who was once your enemy and a fugitive from you, shall be laid hold of by your hand. Cease not from pursuing me till my wickedness is consumed.

Letter 122.1 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"I will pursue." Above the Psalmist set forth his fitness for conquering; here he treats of the victory, how he pursued those who fled. And regarding this he does two things. First he sets forth the manner of pursuit; second, he shows the inability to resist, at "I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand." Regarding the first he does three things. First he shows the pursuit to be just; second, effective; third, persevering. Just, when he says, "I will pursue my enemies" -- not friends, but enemies. 1 Mac. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗