IBID. — 'And all the sons of God made a joyful noise.' 35. What jubilation is, and why it befits men, not angels. — For it is called jubilation when the efficacy of the mouth is not fulfilled by the gladness of the heart; but by certain modes the joy breaks forth, which he who rejoices can neither cover nor express. Let the angels therefore praise, who already behold in the heights the altitude of so great a brightness; let men jubilate, who as yet endure in the lower regions the straitnesses of their own mouth. Which things, because the Lord surely knew were to come, He does not so much intimate them as to be done, as narrate them as done. But what shall we do, that while the good jubilate concerning the mystery of their redemption, envy inflames the evil?
while the elect make progress, the reprobate are stirred up to the madness of fury, and persecute the things being born to good, because they will not imitate them? But yet in another way He does not abandon even these who are redeemed. For it is written: 'God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able; but will make also with the temptation a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13). For our Creator knows when to permit the storm of persecution to rise up, when to restrain it as it rises. He knows, for our safeguarding, to restrain that which He permits to go forth against us for our exercise, so that the raging storm may wash us and not drown us. Whence also it follows: