Knowing The Right Way

Notam fac mihi viam in qua ambulem quia ad te levavi animam meam. Apostolus per speculum et in aenigmate videt, et pro parte scit, et pro parte prophetat. Propheta quoque tamquam per naturam humanae fragilitatis ignorans, notas sibi fieri, in quibus ambulet, vias orat. Non enim hae saeculi viae utiles sunt: spiritales et coelestes ille nosse desiderat. Id enim ait: Quia ad te levavi animam meam. Non in humilibus est anima illius, sed in excelsis; et idcirco excelsarum viarum postulat notionem. Scit enim esse inimicos sibi, qui se in alias vias avocent, qui in voluntatem alteram deducant. De inimicis istis spiritalibus Apostulos multa et frequenter ingessit. Ab his ergo se eripi orat, et vitam illam tribulatam, quae ad coleum agit, cognoscere rogat, et de voluntate Domini doceri, et per Spiritum ejus in terram rectam deduci: id est, ut constituatur in hominem non vitiis perversum. Nam in rectam terram se dirigi quomodo optat, si de elementi hujus creatura dixisse existimabitur: nisi quod secundum primi hominis naturam, cui post peccatum dictum est, Terra es, et in terram ibis, constitui se hominem rectum indeflexum desiderat? Id enim sub his dictis continetur: Notam fac mihi viam in qua ambulem: quia ad te levavi animam meam. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXLII Source: Migne PL 9.841b-c

Make known to me the way I should walk, because to you I have lifted up my soul. 1 The Apostle looks in a mirror in mystery, and he knows from a part, and from a part he makes prophecy. 2 And also as the Prophet is ignorant on account of the nature of human fragility, he prays that the ways in which he should walk might be made known. Nothing of the ways of this world is useful, for he desires to know what is spiritual and heavenly. So he says: 'Because to you I have lifted up my soul.' Not in base things is his soul, but in high things, and therefore he asks for knowledge of the ways on high. He knows who his enemies are, those who would call him to other ways, who would lead him off in another will. Which spiritual enemies gravely and often assailed the Apostles. From which, then, he prays to be seized, and that life of trouble, which leads to heaven, he asks to know, and to be taught by the will of the Lord, and be led by His Spirit into the land of right, that is, that he might be established as a man unperverted by vices. For how does he desire to be guided to the right land, if he is judged to have spoken of the elements of this creature, unless because according to the nature of the first man, to whom after sin it was said, 'You are earth, and into earth you shall go,' 3 he wishes to be established as the straight unpervertible man? For that is what is contained within these words: 'Make known to me the way I should walk, for to you I have lifted up my soul.' Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 142 1 Ps 142.8 2 1 Cor 13. 12,9 3 Gen 3.19