The Union of Truth and Mercy

Consisting of great things, concerning which Paul says, 'we speak wisdom among the perfect' (1 Cor 2:6), so that the sum of these is a 'great church.' This is not the righteousness according to the law, about which the apostle says, 'having become blameless in the righteousness of the law' (Rom 3:19). This then righteousness I preached to the great church; for if the letter and the shadow were not preached to the great ones, but to infants.

But what kind of righteousness? —about which the Savior was saying, 'unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees' (Matt 5:20), is this not according to the shadow? Therefore yours—of the disciples—the Savior says, let the righteousness exceed theirs. And he says that theirs was with ignorance. Because of this, let us not be ignorant of the righteousness of God, but let us preach it.

10 Behold, my lips I will not restrain. 'Lips' here means the word. Often when he is called to say something to small and imperfect men, we restrain our lips; we do not have them released, but we descend with them, we speak cryptically, we speak proverbially, and our lips are restrained. But when to the perfect and a great church, since he does not restrain his lips, since he does not hinder them from speaking anything. And it is possible also to say this: as the psalmist says: 'and in his law he will meditate day and night' (Ps 1:2). He never restrains his lips, always bringing forth the words of God. And the 'always' hear it thus: as it is necessary and as it is fitting to do this; for even if he is silent, he speaks in his mind, and even while sleeping, when he sleeps as a righteous man, he does this with the word. And through silence, he remembers something good.

10–11 Lord, you have known my righteousness (Ps 26:3). Since much of what is said has testified to himself—for 'to preach righteousness in a great church' is great and, so that I may say this, beyond man—he says to God: 'you have known my righteousness' (Ps 26:3). This righteousness, which I announce, I possess and have practiced according to it. And if the psalm were even speaking about the man of the Savior, that: since he did not know sin, but the sin that has come to be, it is productive of righteousness. And this is also possible: even if some, being ignorant, speak blasphemy against me, but you know my righteousness. As also Susanna said: 'you know that...'

What false things testify against me? I have not hidden your truth in my heart. He who has known the righteousness of God does not hide the truth joined to it in his heart. Truth is called joined to righteousness when it says: 'Truth has risen from the earth, and righteousness has stooped from heaven' (Ps 85:11). Regarding the Savior, he says righteousness is stooping from heaven; for he says: 'He bent the heaven and came down.' And 'risen from the earth' means having reached the end of the visitation. But it can also be understood thus: when from the earth, that good and beautiful soul has risen after having heard the word and having been fruitful. Therefore righteousness stoops from heaven. And in another psalm he says: 'Mercy and truth met, righteousness and peace kissed' (Ps 85:10). Those who read histories find that wars and disturbances arise from unrighteousness. But truth has the mercy of God; for if God does not show mercy, no one is able to know the truth, how much and what it is. Therefore 'mercy and truth met.' And mercy is also possible, such as he who loves his neighbor as himself is merciful to his neighbor and himself requires the same mercy from him; for indeed the truth is made manifest. Just as righteousness leads peace, so also the mercy of truth. Moreover, both are one and the same. If then Jesus and his words are ashamed, his truth is ashamed. 'And I have spoken my salvation' (Ps 116:16). The confession of the truth is my salvation. If he also says the truth concerning Christ, he again says Christ is the salvation, and 'I have spoken my salvation and revealed your truth.' I speak of the salvation being the Christ whom I make manifest. 'I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from a great assembly' (Ps 51:1). We say that mercy is joined to the truth. And 'a great assembly' means those from the Gentiles who have believed, having been gathered from all the Gentiles. And the wise man says this, and Jesus also according to the man. 'And you, Lord, do not distance your mercies from me' (Ps 51:1). I have come to your mercies, blamelessly and as is necessary. Do not therefore distance them, so that I may remain such. 'Let the mercy quickly overtake us...'

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