Moralia in Job 1350

Satan swallowed up almost all men before the Redeemer; and after, he gulps down not a few. For what is designated by the name of this 'river,' but the running-down of the human race, which, as though from the origin of its own fount, rises up by being born, but, as though flowing away to the depths, passes through by dying? And who are signified by the appellation of 'Jordan,' but those who are already imbued with the sacrament of baptism? For because our Redeemer deigned to be baptized in this river, by its name ought all the baptized to be expressed, in which this same sacrament of baptism has its beginning.

Since, therefore, this Behemoth drew into himself, as it were a river, the human race that had arisen from the world's origin—very few of the elect escaping—flowing down to the depths even until the times of redemption, well is it now said: 'He shall swallow up the river, and shall not wonder.' But because after the coming of the Mediator too he snatches even some of the faithful who neglect to live rightly, rightly is it subjoined: 'And he hath confidence that the Jordan may flow into his mouth.' As if it were openly said: Before the Redeemer of the world he swallowed up the world without wonder; but, what is graver, even after the coming of the Redeemer he is confident that he can gulp down some who have been marked with the sacrament of baptism.

For some, placed under the name of Christianity, he devours, because he supplants them in the very error of faith. Others he by no means makes to deviate from the rectitude of faith, but he bends them to the practice of depraved conduct. Others, whom he avails not to bend as much as he wills into the practice of uncleanness, he yet twists inwardly within themselves in the zeal of their intention, so that, while they divide the mind from charity, nothing that they do outwardly is right. And they hold the faith, but hold not the life of faith, because either they openly do unlawful things, or, from a perverse heart, the things they do are depraved, even if they seem holy. For because some, by confessing, are faithful, but not by living, hence it is that by the voice of Truth it is said:

'Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven' (Matt. 7:21). Hence again He says: 'Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?' (Luke 6:46). Hence Paul says: 'They profess that they know God, but in their works they deny him' (Titus 1:16). Hence John says: 'He that saith he knoweth God, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar' (1 John 2:4). Hence it is that the Lord complains of His own first people, saying: 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me' (Mark 7:6, from Isa. 29:13). Hence too the Psalmist says: 'They loved him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him' (Ps. 77 [78]:36).

But it was by no means a wonder that this Behemoth, before the water of the laver, before the heavenly sacraments, before the bodily presence of the Redeemer, swallowed up the river of the human race in the maw of his deep persuasion; but this is greatly to be wondered at, this is greatly terrible, that he receives many with open mouth even after the knowledge of the Redeemer; after the water of the laver he defiles; after the heavenly sacraments he snatches them to the depth of hell. Let it be said, then—let it be said terribly by the voice of Truth: 'He shall swallow up the river, and shall not wonder, and he hath confidence that the Jordan may flow into his mouth.' For the devil did not count it great that he carried off the unbelieving; but with all his whole effort he rises up unto the death of those whom he grieves to have been regenerated against him.

Let no one, therefore, be confident that faith without works can suffice him, since we know that it is written: 'Faith without works is dead' (Jas. 2:20). Let no one deem that he has fully escaped the bite of Behemoth by the sole confession of faith, because he has indeed already swallowed up the river, but even now the Jordan is his; and the Jordan flows into his mouth as often as any Christian slips down into iniquity. His mouth indeed we now flee, by faith uplifting us; but with great zeal must it be taken care that we glide not down in this slippery conduct. If caution in walking is neglected, in vain is the right way held by believing, because the way of faith indeed advances toward the heavenly homeland, but leads not through those who stumble.

He lies in ambush especially for those who excel in soundness; who, unless they employ the utmost vigilance, fall the worse from a height. We have still something which we may in this matter weigh more subtly. For those whom we said are expressed by 'Jordan' can be designated by 'river.' For those who have now acknowledged the faith of truth, but neglect to live faithfully, can rightly be called a river, because, namely, they flow downward. 'Jordan,' indeed, in the Hebrew word is called 'their descent.' And there are some who, seeking the way of truth, cast themselves down, and descend from the pride of their old life;

and while they desire eternal things, they render themselves greatly estranged from this world, since not only do they not covet others' goods, but they also relinquish their own; and not only do they not seek glory in it, but this too, when it offers itself, they even despise. For hence it is that by the voice of Truth it is said: 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself' (Luke 9:23). For he denies himself who, having trodden down the pomp of pride, shows himself before the eyes of God to be estranged from himself. Hence the Psalmist says: 'I will be mindful of thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim' (Ps. 41 [42]:7). For Jordan, as I have said, is interpreted 'descent,' but Hermoniim 'anathema,' that is, 'estrangement.'

From the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, therefore, he is mindful of God, who, in that he casts himself down and exists estranged from himself, is recalled to the remembrance of his Creator. But the ancient enemy counts it not great that under the right of his tyranny he holds those who seek earthly things. For, as the prophet attests, we have learned that 'his food is choice' (Hab. 1:16). For he deems it no wonder if he swallow up those whom pride lifts up, avarice wastes, pleasure dilates, malice straitens, anger inflames, discord separates, envy ulcerates, lust polluting slays. He shall swallow up the river, then, and shall not wonder, because he esteems it not great when he devours those who through the very pursuits of their life run downward;

but he strives with great effort to snatch those whom, despising earthly pursuits, he beholds already joined to heavenly things. Whence, after the river has been swallowed up, rightly it is subjoined: 'And he hath confidence that the Jordan may flow into his mouth,' because by lying in wait he desires to snatch those whom he recognizes to be casting themselves down from the glory of the present life for love of the homeland on high. For some indeed forsake the world, relinquish the vanities of passing honours, and, seeking the depths of humility, transcend by good living the custom of human converse; and they so advance in the stronghold of their pursuits that they now work the powers of signs; but because they neglect to shield themselves by looking around, struck by the dart of vain-glory, they fall the worse from a height.

For hence it is that the eternal Judge, who examines the hidden things of the heart, foretelling the fall of that same ruin, threatens it when He says: 'Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and in thy name done many mighty works? And then will I confess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I know not who ye are' (Matt. 7:22-23). Hence too it is said through the prophet: 'The Lord called for judgment unto fire, and it devoured the great deep, and shall eat up a part of the house of the Lord' (Amos 7:4). For judgment is called unto fire, when the sentence of justice is displayed unto the penalty of eternal burning.

And it devours the great deep, because it burns up the wicked and incomprehensible minds of men, which now hide themselves from men even under the miracles of signs. And a part of the house of the Lord is eaten up, because Gehenna devours also those who now, as though in holy acts, glory that they are of the number of the elect. Those, therefore, who here are 'Jordan,' are there called 'a part of the house of the Lord.' The ancient enemy, then, hath confidence that the Jordan too may flow into his mouth, because sometimes by the snares of his cunning he slays even those who are already thought to be elect. But whose hardness of heart would these words of the Lord not disturb?

Whose firmness of mind would not be shaken from the inmost roots of its thoughts, when our enemy is shown to be of such great strength against us? Shall there be no aid of consolation? There shall be indeed, for it is subjoined: