Early Church Fathers Scripture Index : Texts

Psalms 37:23

There are 9 footnotes for this reference.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 1, page 83, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: Prolegomena: St. Augustine's Life and Work, Confessions, Letters

The Confessions (HTML)

He describes the twenty-ninth year of his age, in which, having discovered the fallacies of the Manichæans, he professed rhetoric at Rome and Milan. Having heard Ambrose, he begins to come to himself. (HTML)

Clearly Seeing the Fallacies of the Manichæans, He Retires from Them, Being Remarkably Aided by God. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 394 (In-Text, Margin)

... to their death,—neither willing nor witting it,—now began to loosen the snare in which I had been taken. For Thy hands, O my God, in the hidden design of Thy Providence, did not desert my soul; and out of the blood of my mother’s heart, through the tears that she poured out by day and by night, was a sacrifice offered unto Thee for me; and by marvellous ways didst Thou deal with me. It was Thou, O my God, who didst it, for the steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and He shall dispose his way.[Psalms 37:23] Or how can we procure salvation but from Thy hand, remaking what it hath made?

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 3, page 433, footnote 5 (Image)

Augustine: On the Holy Trinity, Doctrinal Treatises, Moral Treatises

Moral Treatises of St. Augustin (HTML)

Of Holy Virginity. (HTML)

Section 42 (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 2175 (In-Text, Margin)

... continence around my lips: let not my heart turn away unto evil words, to make excuses in sins, with men that work unrighteousness.” If, therefore, both obedience, whereby we keep His commandments, and repentance whereby we excuse not our sins, are wished for and asked, it is plain that, when it is done, it is by His gift that it is possessed, by His help that it is fulfilled, yet more openly is it said by reason of obedience, “By the Lord the steps of a man are directed, and He shall will His way:”[Psalms 37:23] and of repentance the Apostle says, “if haply God may grant unto them repentance.”

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 4, page 155, footnote 2 (Image)

Augustine: The Anti-Manichaean Writings, The Anti-Donatist Writings

Writings in Connection with the Manichæan Controversy. (HTML)

Reply to Faustus the Manichæan. (HTML)

Who Faustus was.  Faustus’s object in writing the polemical treatise that forms the basis of Augustin’s reply.  Augustin’s remarks thereon. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 297 (In-Text, Margin)

... account of my acquaintance with him. This man published a certain volume against the true Christian faith and the Catholic truth. A copy reached us, and was read by the brethren, who called for an answer from me, as part of the service of love which I owe to them. Now, therefore, in the name and with the help of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I undertake the task, that all my readers may know that acuteness of mind and elegance of style are of no use to a man unless the Lord directs his steps.[Psalms 37:23] In the mysterious equity of divine mercy, God often bestows His help on the slow and the feeble; while from the want of this help, the most acute and eloquent run into error only with greater rapidity and willfulness. I will give the opinions of ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 56, footnote 6 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants. (HTML)

Book II (HTML)

All Will is Either Good, and Then It Loves Righteousness, or Evil, When It Does Not Love Righteousness. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 573 (In-Text, Margin)

... all, it is not only a bad, but even a wholly depraved will? Since therefore the will is either good or bad, and since of course we have not the bad will from God, it remains that we have of God a good will; else, I am ignorant, since our justification is from it, in what other gift from Him we ought to rejoice. Hence, I suppose, it is written, “The will is prepared of the Lord;” and in the Psalms, “The steps of a man will be rightly ordered by the Lord, and His way will be the choice of his will;”[Psalms 37:23] and that which the apostle says, “For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His own good pleasure.”

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 457, footnote 9 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will. (HTML)

Abstract. (HTML)

In What Sense It is Rightly Said That, If We Like, We May Keep God’s Commandments. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 3124 (In-Text, Margin)

... commandments.” For it is certain that we keep the commandments if we will; but because the will is prepared by the Lord, we must ask of Him for such a force of will as suffices to make us act by the willing. It is certain that it is we that will when we will, but it is He who makes us will what is good, of whom it is said (as he has just now expressed it), “The will is prepared by the Lord.” Of the same Lord it is said, “The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and his way doth He will.”[Psalms 37:23] Of the same Lord again it is said, “It is God who worketh in you, even to will!” It is certain that it is we that act when we act; but it is He who makes us act, by applying efficacious powers to our will, who has said, “I will make you to walk in ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 472, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Rebuke and Grace. (HTML)

The Catholic Faith Concerning Law, Grace, and Free Will. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 3241 (In-Text, Margin)

... without the Spirit of grace; and if this be wanting, the law comes in merely to make us guilty and to slay us. It is on this account that the apostle says, “The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.” He, then, who lawfully uses the law learns therein evil and good, and, not trusting in his own strength, flees to grace, by the help of which he may shun evil and do good. But who is there who flees to grace except when “the steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and He shall determine his way”?[Psalms 37:23] And thus also to desire the help of grace is the beginning of grace; of which, says he, “And I said, Now I have begun; this is the change of the right hand of the Most High.” It is to be confessed, therefore, that we have free choice to do both evil ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 518, footnote 11 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints. (HTML)

Book I (HTML)

Old Testament Testimonies. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 3551 (In-Text, Margin)

... because to reign in this world temporally is not the same thing as to reign eternally with God? And so do they suppose that God inclines the wills of those whom He pleases to the attainment of earthly kingdoms, but does not incline them to the attainment of a heavenly kingdom? But I think that it was in reference to the kingdom of heaven, and not to an earthly kingdom, that it was said, “Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies;” or, “The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and He will will His way;”[Psalms 37:23] or, “The will is prepared by the Lord;” or, “Let our Lord be with us as with our fathers; let Him not forsake us, nor turn Himself away from us; let Him incline our hearts unto Him, that we may walk in all His ways;” or, “I will give them a heart to ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 549, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints. (HTML)

A Treatise on the Gift of Perseverance. (HTML)

Offence to Be Avoided. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 3701 (In-Text, Margin)

... because the aid of pitying grace has not yet lifted you up;” when it may be and ought to be well and conveniently said, “But if any of you are still delaying in the delightfulness of damnable sins, lay hold of the most wholesome discipline; and yet when you have done this be not lifted up, as if by your own works, nor boast as if you had not received this. For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do for His good will, and your steps are directed by the Lord, so that you choose His way.[Psalms 37:23] But of your own good and righteous course, learn carefully that it is attributable to the predestination of divine grace.”

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, Volume 12, page 184, footnote 1 (Image)

Leo the Great, Gregory the Great

The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great. (HTML)

Sermons. (HTML)

On the Lord's Resurrection, I.; delivered on Holy Saturday in the Vigil of Easter. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 1107 (In-Text, Margin)

... For this is the path of health through imitation of the Resurrection begun in Christ, whereby, notwithstanding the many accidents and falls to which in this slippery life the traveller is liable, his feet may be guided from the quagmire on to solid ground, for, as it is written, “the steps of a man are directed by the Lord, and He will delight in his way. When the just man falls he shall not be overthrown, because the Lord will stretch out His hand[Psalms 37:23-24].” These thoughts, dearly-beloved, must be kept in mind not only for the Easter festival, but also for the sanctification of the whole life, and to this our present exercise ought to be directed, that what has delighted the souls of the faithful by ...

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