Moralia in Job 303

Verse 25. 'And thou shalt know that thy seed shall be manifold, and thy offspring as the grass of the earth.' 55. The seed of the just is manifold. After the peace of the tabernacle, after the visitation of our beauty, the manifold seed of the just arises, because doubtless after the mortifying of the members and of the manners, the word of preaching is granted to him the more fruitfully, the more it is preceded in his breast by the ploughing-out of perfect work. For he indeed receives the eloquence of speaking well, who extends the bosom of his heart by the pursuits of living rightly. Nor does conscience hinder him who speaks, when his life goes before his tongue. Hence it is that the Egyptians, subjected to public servitude while Joseph administered (Gen. 47:20 ff.);

when, surrendering themselves to the right of the king, they humble themselves, they carry back grain also for seed. For we receive the fruit for eating even as free men, when we are both fed with the sacred word, and yet toward certain things which we crave in this world we wander in our own pleasures. But being made servants, we receive the grain also for seed, because while we are fully subjected to God, we are also filled with the word of preaching. And because a great progeny of the faithful follows when holy preaching is first bestowed, after the manifoldness of the seed it is rightly subjoined: 'And thy offspring as the grass of the earth.' The offspring of the just is compared to the grass of the earth, because he who is born of the imitation of it, while he forsakes the withering glory of the present life, grows green with hope in things eternal.

Or certainly the offspring of the just springs up like grass, because while by living he shows what by preaching he asserts, an innumerable multitude of followers rises up. But whosoever now despises earthly desires, whosoever extends himself through the works of the active life, it in no wise suffices him to do great things outwardly, unless he be able also through contemplation to penetrate things within. Whence also fittingly it is at once subjoined: