約伯倫理 第 1175 章

VERSE 14. — 'Hearken to these things, O Job; stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.' 59. What it is to consider God's wondrous works standing, and what lying down. — As though, by comparison with himself, he saw lying down the one whom he admonished to stand for the words of so great a preaching. Although even by this, that he says 'Hearken,' he offers grave insult to blessed Job, because, as we have already said of him above (Book XII, n. 38, and often thereafter), it is the arrogance of an inferior to wish to extort a hearing for himself from a superior. But although Elihu knows not how to weigh the good things he says, to whom he says them, we who seek to be instructed by all must subtly investigate the words of his teaching. For perhaps with great skill of virtue it is said: 'Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.'

There are indeed some who consider the miracles of God while lying prostrate, since they marvel at the power of His working without following after it. For to stand is to act rightly. Whence it is said through Paul: 'Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall' (1 Cor. 10:12). And often indeed they admire the judgments from on high; when they hear the proclamations of the heavenly homeland they love them; they are astonished at the wondrous works of God's inward ordering, yet nonetheless they neglect to rise up to these same works by loving and by living. Therefore, those consider the miracles of God while lying prostrate who weigh His power by knowing it, but do not love it by living. Through contemplation they indeed stretch their eyes in consideration, yet through their purpose they do not lift themselves from the earth. Whence it is well said in reproach of Balaam:

'He who falls, yet has his eyes open' (Num. 24:16). For he had spoken many things concerning the coming of the Redeemer, and he foresaw the things that were to come in the last times, yet he refused to rise up by living to Him whom he proclaimed by foreseeing. Therefore, lying prostrate, he had his eyes open, since both prophecy stretched his mind toward heavenly things and avarice held it back upon the earth. Lying prostrate, he had his eyes open, because he was able to see Him from the heights above, whom, cast down among the lowest things, he did not love. And so Elihu, who by no means believed that blessed Job held by living what he had said, as if admonishing him, says: 'Stand and consider the miracles of God' (Job 37:14). Whom, as if humbling him from the things yet unknown to be learned, and as if from ignorance, he adds: