Moralia in Job 1238

No one knows the causes of God's judgments and predestination; let no one search them out. To know the order of heaven is to see the hidden predestinations of the arrangements above. But to set down its reason upon the earth is to open up before human hearts the causes of such secrets. That is, to set down the reason of heaven upon the earth is either by considering to discuss, or by speaking to make manifest, the mysteries of the judgments above. And this indeed no one placed in this life is able to do. For, that we may come from small things to greater, who could understand what the reason of the secrets can be, that often a just man returns from judgment not only unvindicated but even punished, while his unjust adversary departs not only unpunished but even victorious?

Who could understand why one who plots against the lives of his neighbors lives on, while another who would have profited the life of many dies? One attains the height of power who studies only to harm; another desires only to defend the injured, and yet himself lies oppressed. One longs to be at leisure, and is entangled in countless affairs; another desires to be entangled in affairs, and is compelled to be at leisure. One, beginning badly, is dragged on to worse things even to the end of his life; another, beginning well, through the length of time advances to the increase of his merits. On the contrary, one who lives badly is long preserved that he may correct himself; while another indeed seems to live well, but endures in this life only until he bursts forth into perverse things.

One, born in the error of unbelief, fails in error; another, begotten in the rectitude of the catholic faith, is consummated in the rectitude of the catholic faith. On the contrary, one brought forth from the womb of a catholic mother is, near the end of his life, devoured by the abyss of error; while another consummates his life in catholic godliness, who, born in perfidy, had drunk in with his mother's milk the poison of error. One both wills and is able to seek the height of good living; another neither wills nor is able. One wills, and is not able; another is able, and wills not. Who, then, may discuss these secrets of the heavenly judgments? Who may understand the hidden scale of secret equity? For to know these depths of the secret judgments no one has ascended.

Let it therefore be said to man, that he may recognize that he does not know; and, recognizing that he does not know, that he may fear; that he may fear, that he may be humbled; that he may be humbled, that he may not presume in himself; that he may not presume in himself, that he may seek the help of his Creator; and that he who, trusting in himself, is dead, may, seeking the aid of his Author, live. Let the just man therefore hear, now indeed knowing himself, but still not knowing the things that are above him: 'Dost thou know the order of heaven, and wilt thou set down its reasons upon the earth?' That is, dost thou comprehend the hidden orders of the heavenly judgments, or art thou sufficient to open them to human ears? Blessed Job therefore is questioned about the investigation of the incomprehensible judgments, as if it were openly said to him:

All the things which you suffer you ought to bear the more patiently, the more, being ignorant of the heavenly secrets, you do not know why you suffer these things.