Moralia in Job 369

Verse 15. 'Wherefore my soul hath chosen hanging, and my bones death.' 44. The remedy against anxiety of mind is to bear it up to the heights. What is designated by the soul, save the intention of the mind; what by the bones, save the strength of the flesh? But everything that is hung up is without doubt lifted from the depths. The soul therefore chooses hanging, that the bones may die, because while the intention of the mind lifts itself to the heights, it slays within itself all the strength of the outer life. For holy men most certainly know that they can by no means have rest in this life; and therefore they choose hanging, because assuredly, forsaking earthly desires, they raise their mind to the heights.

But being hung up, they bring death to their bones, because through love of the heavenly fatherland, girded in the pursuits of virtues, they pursue with the bond of humility that which they had formerly been as strong men in the world. It is pleasing to behold how Paul had hung up his soul, who said: 'I live, yet now not I, but Christ liveth in me' (Gal. ii, 20). And again: 'Having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ' (Phil. i, 23). And: 'To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain' (ibid., 21). Who, recalling to memory the deeds of his earthly strength, as it were numbered certain bones within himself, saying: 'A Hebrew of the Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee, according to zeal persecuting the Church of God' (Phil. iii, 5, 6).

But that by the hanging of his soul he slays these bones within himself, he straightway asserts, who subjoins: 'But what things were gains to me, those I have counted loss for Christ' (ibid., 7). Which bones he intimates to be yet more vehemently extinguished within himself, when he adds: 'For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung' (ibid., 8). And how lifeless he hangs with his bones dead he shows, who immediately subjoins, saying: 'That I may gain Christ, and may be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Jesus Christ' (ibid., 9).

But since by collecting his testimonies we have attested that Paul was hung up to the heights, dead to the world, let us now show how blessed Job, full of the same spirit, flees the concupiscence of the outer life. There follows: