The Lord knows what, when, and to whom to give the salvation which we seek.
Therefore, let us understand in the very psalm that we were singing, because many seek salvation, and sometimes it does not benefit them. For someone may be healthy and misuse their health for sin. It would be better for them to be sick and rest, than to be healthy and restless. Sometimes, however, through the scourge of tribulation, when what was not desired happens, they turn to God. For they will be more cautious, more chaste, more modest, more humble, and rightly sing: "Give us help from trouble, and vain is the salvation of man." He sought help, but from where? He says to the Lord: "Give us help from trouble, so that, troubled, we may be corrected, humbled, and turn back to You, not lifting our necks against You. For when you give us help from trouble, we will understand that the salvation which a foolish man often desired, and when received, uses not for the joy of peace but as an occasion for his own restlessness, is vain." Often a man was about to proceed in anger and unjust indignation, to harm one who perhaps had done him no wrong; suddenly he begins to fall ill: what was useful to him? To proceed and commit iniquity, or to fall ill and pray for salvation? For the salvation of God is not vain, but the salvation of man is vain, which a man thinks is greatly necessary for him. Therefore, God's salvation is not vain, but man's salvation is vain. It is a false salvation and rightly called man's if it is thought to be the only one by man. For there, where "man’s" is not added, it is said: "Salvation belongs to the Lord." What does "Salvation belongs to the Lord" mean? The Lord gives salvation, who knows what to give, when, and to whom. As often as people, in despair of salvation, seek salvation, the Lord Himself gives it. It follows in the psalm: "And your blessing be upon your people," that is, have mercy on your people, and give them the salvation you give to those who are not of your people, even the one your people themselves are unaware of. For you know what to give; they do not know what they receive until they have received it. For, brothers, what is it that you should know these things that you are about to receive, what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him? What do you think He has prepared? Surely eternal salvation, which cannot even enter our hearts, which no eye can see nor ear hear; and yet He prepares these for those who love Him, and when we receive them, we will see what true salvation is and how vain were the things we considered great.
The holy martyrs despised the safety of men.
For if the martyrs had desired and esteemed highly this health, that is, the health of man, they would not say from the heart: And I did not covet the day of man, you know. What is said in the psalm? Therefore, those desiring this health and holding it in high regard would have lost that eternal health. But now understanding what it is: Give us help from trouble, they choose rather to be led to eternal health than to find this chosen health of man to their ruin and to consent to the persecutors. For immediately the persecutor would give health. The martyr was bound, oppressed in prison, wasting away even with his wounds: had he yielded to the persecutor, he would immediately have health; but the health of man is vain. Indeed, the persecutors promised health, which they immediately gave. And what kind did they give? The kind they knew, and before they were in those tribulations, but they aspired to that which neither eye has seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man. What the persecutor promises seems evident, and what he promises is uncertain and brief and slight. Even if it were the eternal health of the flesh, it would still be carnal, such as the eye has seen and the ear heard, and has entered into the heart of man. If that greater health does not seem so, but it surely promises to follow and cannot deceive, let us maintain ourselves under His discipline, let us not murmur under His scourge, let us willingly endure the one caring for us, and we will rejoice healthy before God, already knowing what He has given us and saying: Where is your strife, O death? Where is your sting, O death?
Augustine, being ill, concludes the sermon.
{I know, brothers, your eagerness, but it is necessary that you also spare our weakness. For we do not wish to deny any kind of our voice and ministry to your holiness, so that we might serve the Lord, who has renewed us. However, the more recent scar, perhaps not yet perfectly healed and closed, must still be spared. May the Lord guide us in His will, fitting us for the salvation of all of us and the service of His holy Church.} Let us turn to the Lord and ask: He will look upon us and perfect us in His saving Word, and grant us to rejoice according to Him and to live according to Him. Let Him turn away from us carnal prudence; may He subject the enemy under our feet, not by our strength, but by His holy name, in which we have been cleansed through Jesus Christ our Lord.