Knowledge Of Judgements

Cognovi, Domine, quia aequitas iudicia tua et vere humiliasti me. In locis caeteris meminimus, ita Prophetam dicere solitum: Da mihi intellectum, et doce me, et observabo praecepta tua. Nunc autem tamquam de adeptis profitetur, dicens: Cognovi, Domine, quia aequitas iudicia tua. Sed hic non de iudiciis illis aeternis, sed de praesentibus sermo est. Iudicia enim illa aeterna secundum eumdem prophetam, sicut abyssus multa; et secundum Apostolum: Iudicia Dei investigabilia et inscrutabilia. Scit autem in his iudiciis quae nunc sunt, quidquid in se geratur, ex iudicio Dei fieri: omnes tribulationes, omnes pressuras, omnia insectationum odia, omnes persecutionum infestationes, ex iudicio in se Dei adesse, ut per haec probabilis, ut per haec emendatus, et tamquam per ignem examinatus atque purgatus sit. Plus est autem nescio quid in cognitione, quam in fide, operis: et idcirco hic non credidit, sed cognovit: quia fides habet obedientiae meritum, non habet autem cognitae veritatis fiduciam. Distinxit Apostolus plurimum inter cognitionem fidemque differre, posteriore eam loco inter gratiarum dona connumerans. Primo enim sapientiam, sequenti cognitionem, tertio fidem praedicavit: quia qui credit, potest ignorare quod credit: qui autem iam cognovit, non potest id quod cognovit adepta cognitione non credere. Ergo ambiguitatem hic non admittit Propheta, quin sciat iusta esse Dei iudicia, id est, humiliationis suae et tribulationis et contemptus et iniuriae et doloris. Ita enim ait: Cognovi, Domine, quia aequitas iudicia tua, et vere humiliasti me. Non sine causa se scilicet esse tribulationibus subditum, non sine causa passionibus permissum, non sine causa iniuriis humiliatum; sed ad humanorum vitiorum expianda peccata, ex iustis se ac veris Dei iudiciis humiliationi esse subiectum. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXVIII Source: Migne PL 9.568b-569a

I know, Lord, that your judgements are just and in truth you have humbled me. 1 In other passages we remember that the Prophet was accustomed to say: Give me understanding, and teach me and I shall observe your commands 2 But now as one who has advanced in aptitude he says: 'I know, Lord, that your judgements are just.' But this does not speak of the eternal judgements, but about present matters. For the eternal judgements, according to this Prophet, are as a deep abyss, 3 and according to the Apostle: 'The judgements of God are unsearchable and inscrutable.' 4 So he knows about the judgements that now are, whatever he bears in himself from the judgement of God. All tribulations, oppressions, all hatred of enemies, every peril of persecutors, it has come from the judgement of God to himself, that by this he might be improved and that as by fire examined he might be purified. For there is more labour, I know not exactly, in knowledge than in faith, and therefore he does not believe but knows; because while faith has the merit of obedience, it does not have the sureness of the truth of knowledge. The Apostle has distinguished between the many differences of faith and knowledge, which in a later place among the gifts of grace I ennumerate. For first there is wisdom, and subsequently knowledge, and in third place he speaks of faith, 5 because he who believes can be ignorant of what he believes but he who knows is not able to disbelieve what he knows by the acquirement of knowledge. Therefore here the Prophet permits no ambiguity, since he knows the judgements of God are just, that is, his own humiliation and tribulation and contempt and injury and grief. For thus he says: 'I know, Lord, that your judgements are just and in truth you have humbled me.' Not without cause has he undergone tribulation, not with cause was his suffering been allowed, not without cause was his humiliatiion amid injuries, but for the expiation of the sins of human vices, so he was subject to humilation from the just and true judgements of God. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 118 1 Ps 118.75 2 Ps 118.34 3 Ps 35.7 4 Rom 11.33 5 1 Cor 12.7-9