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"Lay hold of discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the righteous way" [Psalm 2:12]. This is the same as, "understand," and, "be instructed." For to understand and be instructed, this is to lay hold of discipline. Still in that it is said, "lay hold of," it is plainly enough intimated that there is some protection and defence against all things which might do hurt unless with so great carefulness it be laid hold of. "Lest at any time the Lord be angry," is expressed with a doubt, not as regards the vision of the prophet to whom it is certain, but as regards those who are warned; for they, to whom it is not openly revealed, are wont to think with doubt of the anger of God. This then they ought to say to themselves, let us "lay hold of discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and we perish from the righteous way." Now, how "the Lord be angry" is to be taken, has been said above. And "you perish from the righteous way." This is a great punishment, and dreaded by those who have had any perception of the sweetness of righteousness; for he who perishes from the way of righteousness, in much misery will wander through the ways of unrighteousness. "When His anger shall be shortly kindled, blessed are all they who put their trust in Him;" that is, when the vengeance shall come which is prepared for the ungodly and for sinners, not only will it not light on those "who put their trust in" the Lord, but it will even avail for the foundation and exaltation of a kingdom for them. For he said not, "When His anger shall be shortly kindled," safe "are all they who put their trust in Him," as though they should have this only thereby, to be exempt from punishment; but he said, "blessed;" in which there is the sum and accumulation of all good things. Now the meaning of "shortly" I suppose to be this, that it will be something sudden, while sinners will deem it far off and long to come.

Next he admonishes to acceptance, when he adds, "embrace": that no one may live as he pleases, but as is fitting. And therefore he says "discipline" -- precepts and good morals, or adversities as a protection and defense: Ps. 17: "And your discipline," etc. And the reason for the admonition is given: "lest he become angry." And there is a twofold reason: to avoid punishment, and to obtain glory, at "Blessed are all who trust in him." He says, moreover, "lest at any time," on account of God's patience, because in this age he endures for a long time: Ps. 7: "Will he be angry every day?" saying, "unless you are converted"; as if to say, keep the admonition lest the time of punishment come. "Lest you perish from the right way," namely of justice and the fellowship of the good, which is very painful for those who have tasted the sweetness of justice. Jerome's text has, "lest you perish from the way"; "right" is not there. For when a man is in the world, he is as on a way: for if he falls, he can rise again. Nor is that said to perish which can be restored -- even what does not fall from the way but on the way. But if one perishes from the way, it is irreparable (Job 5). "And because no one understands, they shall perish forever." And therefore he says "when." Another reason is set forth, which is for obtaining glory; as if to say, embrace discipline, because "when it blazes forth," etc. Blessed will be all who trust in him. He rightly says, "when it blazes forth": for now it does not blaze, since he chastises as a father; but in the future it will consume and blaze, when he punishes with eternal punishment. Is. 30: "Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar; burning is his fury and heavy to bear; his lips are filled with indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire." He says, moreover, "shortly," because he will not examine individual sins separately but all at once. Hence that judgment will take place shortly, nor will it last for a thousand years, as Lactantius said: 1 Cor. 15: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet," and then all the good will be changed into the glory of immortality. Hence, "blessed are those who trust"; as if to say: the vengeance will not only not touch those who trust, but they will be blessed, because they will attain the kingdom. This blessedness or glory will appear greater from the punishment of the wicked: Jer. 17: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord will be his confidence," etc.