約伯倫理 第 1022 章

20. They attribute their good works to God, not to themselves. Prevenient grace. By the hand, operation is designated, but by the mouth, speech; as is said through Solomon: The slothful man hides his hand under his armpit, and it is a labour for him to bring it to his mouth (Prov. XIX, 24). For the slothful, it is a labour to bring his hand to his mouth, because every lazy preacher does not even wish to work what he says. For to bring the hand to the mouth is to make one's work agree with one's voice. He therefore kisses his own hand with his mouth, who praises what he does, and by the testimony of his own speech attributes to himself the virtue of the work. In which matter, who is despised, except He who bestows the very gifts of working? Whence it is well said through the excellent preacher: But what have you that you have not received?

If then you have received it, why do you boast as though you had not received it?」(1 Cor. IV, 7). But holy men know that after the fall of the first parent they were brought forth from a corruptible stock, and were changed to better vows or works not by their own virtue, but by prevenient supernal grace; and whatever evil they recognize to be in themselves, they perceive to be the desert of their mortal offspring; but whatever good they discern in themselves, they recognize to be the gift of immortal grace, and they become debtors to Him for the gift received, who both by preventing gave them the good will which they willed not, and by following granted the good power which they will. Whence it is well said through John: They adored Him who lives forever and ever, casting their crowns before the throne of the Lord (Rev. IV, 10).

For to cast their crowns before the throne of the Lord is to attribute the victories of their contests not to themselves, but to the Author, so that they may refer to Him the glory of praise, from whom they know they have received the strength of the contest. Blessed Job, therefore, because he so narrates the good things he has done, that yet he does not attribute them to his own operation, but recurs to the praise of the Author, denies that he has kissed his own hand with his mouth. As if he plainly said: I do not bring forth my works as though they were mine, because whoever attributes to himself what he works is convicted of denying the grace of its Author. Whence he immediately subjoins: