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v. 31. The word Substance occurs frequently in the discussion of the Godhead of our Lord, and also in the debates about the Holy Communion. Substance is the Essential Existence: it has no necessary connection with ideas like 'hard' and 'soft,' 'heavy' and 'light'; if we are thinking of a spirit there is no question of Matter, for the Substance, i.e. the Essential Being, of a spirit is not of the nature of Matter. The phrase in the Nicene Creed Being-of-one-substance-with (the Father) is a translation of the word Consubstantial.
The name Quicunque Vult, by which this psalm is sometimes mentioned is from the first words of the Latin original Quicunque vult salvus esse=Whosoever will be safe. This phrase "be safe" occurs again in verse 28, and again in the last verse of the psalm, where quam nisi—salvus esse non poterit should be translated which except a man have believed faithfully and firmly, he cannot be safe. The substitution of another idea—"be saved,"—is of the nature of an addition to the meaning.
The addition is, however, independently stated in verse 2.
These verses are to be understood, like the Bible statements of similar character, as the warning which overhangs all our actions. They say nothing of what allowance God makes for involuntary ignorance, prejudice, difficult perplexities, and other infirmities. They declare our responsibility when we look up to God, and reflect on our own actions, or on God's Being.
[1] It was used as a Psalm at Prime following cxix. 1-32. Nor did it disturb the use of the Apostles' Creed. Bishop Barry has suggested that until 1662 this use of both was continued. But Bishop Cosin, whose notes and suggestions and personal influence had so much to do with the Revision of 1662, had a note 'though it be not here set down, yet I believe the meaning was that the Apostles' Creed should be omitted that day, when this of Athanasius was repeated.' And words were inserted in the rubrics to make this quite clear.
[2] See Appendix E.
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