Moralia in Job 594

Verses 33, 34.—He shall be injured like a vine in its first blossom—his cluster—and like an olive casting off its blossom. For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren. 60. Why the good works of the hypocrite wither. How perilous it is that those who are weak in virtue should preside.—It is to be noted that he thus speaks of this wicked man in general, yet in such a way that the divine discourse is drawn to his special wickedness. For he who says: He shall be injured like a vine in its first blossom—his cluster—and like an olive casting off its blossom, straightway adds: For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, plainly indicating that in this wicked man he pronounces the sentence of reprobation against his hypocrisy.

But now it must be weighed by us in what manner the hypocrite is injured like a vine in its first blossom, or like an olive casting off its blossom. If immoderate cold, through inequality of the air, touches the blossoming vine, it straightway dries it up of all the moisture of its greenness. And there are some who, after perverse paths, desire to follow the holy ways, but before, as we have said, their good desires are strengthened in them, some prosperity of the present world takes hold of them, which entangles them in outward things, and, while it draws their mind away from the warmth of inmost love, extinguishes it as if by cold, and slays whatever seemed to appear in them of the blossom of virtues.

For in earthly acts the mind grows exceedingly cold, if it has not yet been made solid by inmost gifts. Whence it is necessary that greater places, or outward works which are to profit human necessities, be undertaken to be exercised by those who know how to judge these things, and to press them down beneath themselves by inner virtue. For when anyone weak is drawn back either to a place of governance or to the doing of outward things, whereby he is led, as it were, outside himself, he is uprooted; because even a tree which does not first send its roots deep is more quickly laid low by the onset of the winds, if it lifts itself with its top on high; and it falls the more quickly to the depths, the higher it has grown in the air without roots. Sometimes, however, not cold, but heat dries up the blossoming vine.

And when it is touched by immoderate heat, the cluster wastes away, its blossom being shaken off. And it very often happens that those who come to good works not with a right intention, when they see themselves pleasing men, are the more vehemently kindled to the performing of these same works, anxiously study to do things that will please human eyes, and, as it were, grow fervent in holy zeal. What, then, has touched these men but heat in the blossom, whom the appetite for human praise has made strangers to the fruit? Whence it is well subjoined: And like an olive casting off its blossom. For the olive, when it is in blossom, if it is touched by an immoderate mist, is emptied of the fullness of its fruits.

And as often as those just beginning any good works have begun to be praised by beholders, and to delight in their own praises, there arises in the thought a fog of understanding, so that they can no longer discern with what intention they do anything, and they lose the fruit of the work, as if from a fog of favour. Whence it is well said through Solomon: Let us rise early to the vineyards, let us see if the vine has flourished, if the flowers are bringing forth fruit (Cant. ii, 12). For the vines flourish when the minds of the faithful set forth good works. But they do not bring forth fruit, if from that which they had set forth they are weakened, overcome by certain errors. 61. In good works one ought to attend not to the beginning, but to the end.

—Therefore one must not gaze upon whether the vines blossom, but whether the blossoms grow strong to the bringing forth of fruit, because it is no marvel if one begins good things, but it is greatly marvellous if he perseveres in good work with a right intention. Whence it very often comes to pass that if a right intention is not kept in a good work, even that very work which is believed to be good is lost. For we have often seen certain men leave the earthly things which they had possessed, and now seek nothing transitory, mingle in no quarrels for the sake of this life. When, therefore, the faithful soul shows this in itself, it has, as it were, put forth the blossom of the olive.

But when certain of such men have again begun to seek the world's glory which they had despised, and insatiably to gape after the earthly things which they had seemed to spurn, to have leisure for quarrels, to seek out injuries to their neighbours, without doubt the olive has cast off the blossom which it put forth, because it did not carry the rudiments of good zeal through to perfect works. But it must be known that these things always befall those who do not follow God with a pure and simple zeal. Whence it is rightly subjoined: For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren. For he would not lose the good things begun, had he not been a hypocrite.

Hypocrites too, indeed, gather good works, but their very gathering is barren, because through that which they do they do not seek to receive fruit in the eternal recompense. Fruitful and green in their works they appear to human eyes, but in the sight of the hidden Judge they appear unfruitful and dry. But often, kindled by the heat of avarice, they display the greater works concerning themselves to human eyes, the more they desire that larger gifts be offered to themselves by men. Whence it is still further subjoined: