Moralia in Job 181

Ibid.—And crying out, they wept, and rending their garments, they sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven, and they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights. 68. Unless they mock under the appearance of virtues.—For piety is signified by the weeping, discretion by the rending of garments, the affection for works by the dust of the heads, humility by the sitting. For sometimes the lurking enemy simulates something pious, that he may lead to the end of cruelty; as it is, when he forbids a fault to be punished by discipline, so that what is not here repressed may be smitten by the fire of hell. Sometimes he casts the image of discretion before the eyes, and leads to the snares of indiscretion;

as it is when, at his impulse, we grant ourselves more food as it were discreetly on account of weakness, but indiscreetly stir up against ourselves the wars of the flesh. Sometimes he simulates the affection for good works, but through this inflicts the unquietness of labors; as it is when someone cannot rest, and fears as it were to be judged for his leisure. Sometimes he displays the image of humility, that he may withdraw the affection for usefulness; as it is when he asserts certain persons to be more weak and useless to themselves than they are, so that while they consider themselves too unworthy, they may dread to minister in the things wherein they could profit their neighbors. 69.

Compunction fortifies against vices.—But these vices, which the ancient enemy hides under the appearance of virtues, the hand of compunction examines very subtly. For he who truly grieves within foresees strongly what is to be done without, and what is not to be done. For if the virtue of compunction affects us in our inmost parts, every din of wicked suggestion falls silent. Whence it also follows: