Verse 20. 'They were confounded, because I have hoped.' 46. The constancy of the good afflicts the reprobate with shame. When the reprobate bring evils upon the good, if they behold these to be shaken from their inmost hope, they grow glad at the effect of their deception. For they reckon the propagation of their own error to be a very great gain, since they exult to have companions unto perdition. But when the hope of the good is fixed within, and is in no way bent down to the depths by outward evils, confusion seizes the mind of the depraved, since, being unable to reach the inmost parts of the afflicted, they blush that they exist in vain as cruel men.
Let the holy man, therefore, say with his own voice, let him say from the constancy of the universal Church, afflicted and groaning—the Church which amid the adversities of the reprobate desires, without any failing of mind, the joy of the heavenly recompense, and by dying endures unto life: 'They were confounded, because I have hoped.' As if he plainly said: 'Because by harsh persecutions the reprobate do not soften the force of my firmness, blushing they doubtless lose the labour of their cruelty.' Whence also he presently beholds the good things of the recompense to come as though already present, and observes what guilt awaits the reprobate in the judgment, adding: