Moralia in Job 1183

(VERSE 22) 'From the north gold will come.' (71) By the Gentiles the Christian religion was chiefly propagated. — What is designated by the north, if not the Gentile world, bound fast by the cold of sin? which he held under the yoke of his tyranny who said in his pride: 'I will sit on the mountain of the covenant, on the sides of the north; I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the Most High' (Isa. 14:13-14). And by 'gold, O Lord,' what are expressed, if not faithful souls? Concerning whom it is said through Jeremiah: 'How is the gold become obscured, the finest color changed?' (Lam. 4:1). For he grieved that the gold was obscured, because in certain persons he saw the brightness of innocence turned into the blackness of guilt.

From the north, therefore, gold is said to come, because through the regard of the Redeemer's grace, from the Gentile world — long cold with the torpor of unbelief — the precious life of the faithful, precious to God, is multiplied within the holy Church. For from the north gold comes when, from the very worshippers of idols, the true faith in the Lord shines forth. But when the Gentiles are converted to the faith, Judea contradicts, and disdains to receive unto the recompense of heavenly rewards those who were formerly worshippers of idols. Whence, after the conversion of the Gentiles, it is said to Peter: 'Why did you go in to men uncircumcised, and eat with them?' (Acts 11:3). Against which the Lord rightly says through Isaiah: 'I will say to the north: Give up; and to the south: Do not withhold' (Isa. 43:6).

For just as by the north the Gentile world is signified, so by the south is signified Judea, which grew warm as though by the midday sun, because, when the Redeemer appeared in the flesh, it first received the fervor of faith. To the north, therefore, it is said 'Give up' when the Gentile world is commanded to offer to God the gifts of its faith. But the south is commanded not to withhold, because the Hebrews, standing firm in the faith, are enjoined not to condemn the life of the Gentiles by repelling it. Whence here too, because it was said, 'From the north gold will come,' it is fittingly added: (IBID.) 'And from God fearsome praise.' (72) Concerning the conversion of the Gentiles, the apostles and others faithful from the circumcision praised God.

For fearsome praise is thus said to come from God, as if it were said to come from those who are on God's side, that is, from the faithful. So then, gold coming from the north, fearsome praise went forth from God, because when the Gentile world offered the brightness of its faith, the multitude of faithful Hebrews praised, fearing the divine judgments. But how gold comes from the north, how from those who are under God fearsome praise breaks forth, the very history of the sacred discourse shows us. For it is written:

'Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort which is called the Italian, a devout man and one fearing God with all his house, giving many alms to the people, and always praying to God, saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him: Cornelius. But he, gazing upon him, seized with fear, said: Who are You, Lord? And he said to him: Your prayers and your alms have ascended for a memorial in the sight of God' (Acts 10:1ff.). Gold therefore comes from the north, when in the sight of God prayer with alms ascends from the Gentiles.

And when Peter had related this to the brethren (Ibid., 11:12) — how Cornelius had seen the angel, and how he himself had seen a linen cloth let down to him from heaven with beasts, reptiles, and birds, and how the Holy Spirit had suffused the hearts of the Gentiles even before baptism, who never came into the minds of the Jews except after the water of baptism — it is at once written: 'Having heard these things, they were silent, and glorified God, saying: Then to the Gentiles also has God granted repentance unto life' (Acts 11:18). The multitude of the faithful therefore offered fearsome praise to God, which, the Gentiles being saved, restrained itself from its own murmuring, marveling at the gifts of heavenly grace. Whence Peter himself also marvels, saying:

'In truth I have found that God is not a respecter of persons' (Acts 10:34). (73) And concerning the reprobation of the Jews they were afraid. — But when the Gentiles receive the faith, why is fearsome praise said to come from those who are already faithful, when it ought rather to have come as joyful than as fearsome? But for this reason, the Gentiles being converted, fearsome praise went forth from the Hebrews already faithful, because assuredly Judea was justly rejected, while the Gentile world was piously called; and it feared the loss of its own rejection, while it saw the gains of another's calling.

Whence this too we daily do: when we behold any wicked men suddenly advanced to an unexpected height of life, we rejoice with fear under the hidden judgments of God, lest through His hidden judgments God should forsake certain ones who are thought worthy, while through these same judgments He calls to Himself those who are esteemed unworthy. There follows: