Moralia in Job 244

Verse 11. — The tiger has perished because it had no prey, and the whelps of the lions are scattered. 43. Satan is rightly called both a lion and a tiger and an ant-lion. Heretics glory as though over a conquered Satan. — Him whom he had signified by the appellation of the lion, he repeats under the name of the tiger. For Satan is both called a lion on account of his cruelty, and not incongruously called a tiger on account of the variety of his manifold cunning. For at one time he casts himself upon human senses just as he is — lost; at another he shows himself as though an angel of light. At one time by flattering he persuades the minds of fools; at another by terrifying he drags them to guilt. At one time he strives openly to urge on vices; at another in his suggestions he is cloaked under the appearance of virtue.

This beast, therefore, which is besprinkled with such great variety, is rightly called a tiger, which among the Septuagint interpreters, as we have said before, is called an ant-lion. Which animal, indeed, hidden by the dust, kills the ants, as we have said, carrying grains; because assuredly the apostate angel, cast down to the earth from the heavens, besets the minds of the just — which are preparing for themselves the refreshment of good works — on the very journey of their action; and when he overcomes them by ambushes, he slays them unforeseen, as it were ants carrying grains.

And rightly is it called an ant-lion, that is, a lion and an ant. For to ants, as we have said, it is a lion, but to winged creatures an ant, because assuredly the ancient foe is as strong against those who consent as he is weak against those who resist. For if assent is offered to his suggestions, he can by no means be endured, as it were a lion; but if he is resisted, he is worn down as an ant. To some, therefore, he is a lion; to others, an ant; because carnal minds scarcely endure his cruelty, but spiritual minds tread down his weakness with the foot of virtue. The heretics, therefore, because they are proud with a presumption of sanctity, as though exulting say: The ant-lion, or certainly the tiger, has perished because it had no prey. As if they plainly said:

The old adversary has no prey in us, because, as far as our zealous efforts are concerned, he already lies conquered. Now for this reason he is repeated by the appellation of the ant-lion or of the tiger, who had already been designated by the now-broken roaring of the lion, because whatever is said out of joy is often repeated. For the mind redoubles its utterances when it exults. Whence also the Psalmist, out of true gladness, repeats again and again this, that he knew he had been heard, saying: The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping; the Lord has heard my supplication, the Lord has received my prayer (Ps. 6:9, 10). 44. The saints rejoice with fear over vices subdued. Hypocrites, having overcome even one, think themselves perfect.

— But holy men, when they rejoice at being delivered from certain vices, shake themselves with great fear even in that very exultation; because although they are now delivered from the tempest of some particular storm, they yet know that they are still upon the uncertain waves of a doubtful sea; and so they exult in hope, that they tremble with dread; so they tremble with dread, that they exult in the confidence of hope. Whence through the same Psalmist it is said: Serve the Lord in fear, and exult before Him with trembling (Ps. 2:11). But on the contrary, those who swell up with an appearance of sanctity, when they overcome any one vice whatever, forthwith lift up the mind into pride, and, as it were, glory over the perfection of their life;

and because they have perhaps once been delivered from the peril of the tempest, they now forget that they are sailing on the sea: they esteem themselves great in all things, and think that they have utterly conquered the ancient adversary; they look down on all beneath them, because they suppose that they surpass all others through wisdom. Whence it is added: