Moralia in Job 1151

Ibid. — Which cover all things above. Why the apostles are called clouds. — When the clouds above overspread the air, if we lift our eyes to heaven, we behold not heaven but the clouds themselves; nor does the sight of the beholder penetrate the ethereal regions, because their very weakness conceals those regions from it; and when the sun glows from heaven, it is first drunk in through the intervening air, that afterward one may contemplate the sun's rays in heaven. Because, then, we are carnal men, when we strive to seek the things above, we as it were lift our eyes to heaven, and as if we direct our gaze to heaven, because, pressed by the habit of bodily things, we endeavor to learn spiritual things.

But because our understanding is not permitted to pass over to divine things unless it is first formed by the examples of the holy ones who preceded, our eye as it were already looks up to heaven, but sees clouds, because it desires to comprehend the things that are of God, but is scarcely able to marvel at those things that have been conferred on men. Whence also elsewhere it is said: You give light wonderfully from the eternal mountains (Ps. 75:5). For he who cannot contemplate the rising sun looks upon the mountains irradiated, and perceives that the sun has risen. From the eternal mountains, therefore, God gives us light, because through the admired life of the Fathers who preceded, he illuminates us with the ray of his brightness.

Behold, in zeal for devotion to the Lord and for charity we are kindled, but in this devotion and charity we are better formed by the contemplation of these clouds. For what is more devout than Peter (Matt. 14:29)? What is dearer than John (John 13:23)? The one through devotion did not fear to tread the flowing ridges of the sea, the other through love rested upon the very breast of our Author; and he who had come for the refreshment of a bodily supper took spiritual food from the bosom of the Redeemer. Why the prophets and ancient Fathers too are called clouds. Abraham teaches us obedience; Isaac patience; Jacob a life of labor; Joseph chastity; Moses meekness; Joshua constancy; Samuel kindness; David piety and humility.

— But because we have said that the prophets too are signified by clouds, it is necessary that we still bring forward into the midst the examples of the Fathers above. Behold, when we desire to be made subject to the heavenly precepts through obedience, we are aided by considering the footsteps of the ancient Fathers. For what is more obedient than Abraham, who at a single word of the Lord forsakes his kindred and his fatherland, and, for the sake of obtaining an eternal inheritance, does not tremble to strike that very one whom, now an old man near to death, he had received as heir (Gen. 12:4)? When we endeavor to lay hold of the virtue of patience, we behold the examples of those who preceded. For what is more patient than Isaac, who carries the wood, asks about the holocaust, and after a little is bound, and speaks not; is laid upon the altar, and does not resist (Gen. 22:7)?

What, then, can be called more patient than this man, who is led as it were to a solace, and inquires; is bound for the striking, and falls silent; and, about to offer a holocaust, asks, being himself to be offered as a holocaust, and is silent? When we strive to gird ourselves for the endurance of labors, we are uplifted by the examples of those who preceded. For what is more laborious than Jacob, who with Laban, though a kinsman by right of relationship for so long a time, performed the works of servitude, and served in the stead of a slave, that he might enjoy the rewards of an heir (Gen. 30:26)? When we strive to ascend the citadel of continence and chastity, we are uplifted by the examples of those who preceded. For what is more chaste than Joseph, who could not be pressed under the yoke of luxury at the desire of his wanton mistress, even as a captive?

And indeed he was a servant to men, but against the wickedness that lorded over him he was free even in servitude (Gen. 39:12). When we long to be filled with meekness, we are helped by the examples of those who preceded. For what is more meek than Moses, who bears the sedition of the people committed to him, and yet entreats the angry Lord for these same persecutors of his, and casts himself before the divine wrath on their behalf, because in his holy breast charity blazes up even out of persecution (Exod. 32:32)? When we strive to form constancy of mind against the adversities of the world, we are supported by the consideration of those who preceded. For what is more constant than Joshua, who, sent to explore the character of the nations, feared neither the greatness of their stature nor the multitude of their number?

Hence he also laid low in battle those very nations which he had not feared to explore (Joshua 10:7). When we strive to lay hold of the summit of kindness, we are instructed by the examples of those who went before us. For what is more kindly than Samuel, who, cast down from the office of ruling the people, humbly seeks a successor for himself, anoints the one found to be king, and soon endures the very man he anointed as his persecutor (1 Samuel 10; 12:1)? He trembles lest he be slain by him, and yet he prays that the Lord may not be angry with him. For he himself, when he was being sent, said: 'Saul will hear of it, and will slay me' (1 Samuel 16:2). And Truth itself says to him: 'How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him?' (ibid., 1).

What, then, can be said to be more kindly than this man, who does not even wish the one whom he dreads being slain by to be smitten by God? When we press on toward the height of piety and humility, we are raised up by the examples of those before us. For what can be called more merciful, what more humble, than David, who received insults from a reprobate king in return for his victories, who bravely rescued the people of Israel from the enemy's hand, and yet himself fled as though weak lest he be slain (1 Samuel 17:18-19); who acknowledges both that he himself was chosen by the divine judgment and that his persecutor was rejected, and yet subjects himself to that same persecutor with the humility of frequent satisfaction.

who takes up his persecutor's spear, cuts off the edge of his cloak, and forthwith hastens to the mountain top, and at one and the same time both shows that he had had the power to kill, and prays that he himself may not be killed? 18. In the manner of clouds spread over us, we are covered by the life of those holy ones. — Since, therefore, in all things which we spiritually seek we are formed by the examples that go before, it is well said of these clouds: 'Which cover all things from above.' For in the manner of clouds spread over us we gather up the life of the Fathers, that we may be poured upon unto the fruit of a fertile seed. And as though gazing at the heavens, we first behold the clouds, because we first discern the deeds of the good with admiration, and afterward penetrate by experience those things that are heavenly.

But because the life and virtue of these clouds, that is, of the ancient Fathers, would by no means have been laid open to us, unless other clouds, that is, the holy apostles, had disclosed it by the light of their preaching, let the discourse return to these clouds which encircle the world by preaching, and let it show what the Lord has wrought through them in the world. There follows: