4.

"The ungodly are not so," they are not so, "but are like the dust which the wind casteth forth from the face of the earth" (ver. 4). "The earth" is here to be taken as that stedfastness in God, with a view to which it is said, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, yea, I have a goodly heritage." ¹ With a view to this it is said, "Wait on the Lord and keep His ways, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the earth." ² With a view to this it is said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." ³ A comparison too is derived hence, for as this visible earth supports and contains the outer man, so that earth invisible the inner man. "From the face of" which "earth the wind casteth forth the ungodly," that is, pride, in that it puffeth him up. On his guard against which he, who was inebriated by the richness of the house of the Lord, and drunken of the torrent stream of its pleasures, saith, "Let not the foot of pride come against me." ⁴ From this earth pride cast forth him who said, "I will place my seat in the north, and I will be like the Most High." ⁵ From the face of the earth it cast forth him also who, after that he had consented and tasted of the forbidden tree that he might be as God, hid himself from the Face of God. ⁶ That his earth has reference to the inner man, and that man ⁷ is cast forth thence by pride, may be particularly seen in that which is written, "Why is earth and ashes proud? Because, in his life, he cast forth his bowels." ⁸ For, whence he hath been cast forth, he is not unreasonably said to have cast forth himself.