約伯倫理 第 1269 章

2. By the rhinoceros are to be understood the exalted and powerful, tamed by Christ and compelled to serve the Church. He broke their pride by miracles. — For the rhinoceros is of an altogether untamed nature, so that if it is ever captured it can in no way be held. For being impatient, as it is said, it immediately dies. But its name, interpreted in the Latin tongue, sounds 'horn in the nostril.' And what else is designated in the nostril except fatuity, what in the horn except exaltation? For that fatuity is wont to be understood in the nostril we have learned by Solomon's testimony, who says: A golden ring in the nostrils of a swine, a woman beautiful and foolish (Prov. 11:22). For he saw heretical doctrine shining with the splendor of eloquence, yet not agreeing with a fitting understanding of wisdom, and says:

A golden ring in her nostrils—that is, beautiful and curved speech in the senses of a foolish mind, from whose eloquence gold hangs, but yet from the weight of earthly intention, after the manner of a swine, does not look up to the higher things. Which, following it up, he expounded, saying: A woman beautiful and foolish—that is, heretical doctrine: beautiful through the word, foolish through the understanding. But that in the horn exaltation is frequently taken, we have learned by the Prophet's testimony, who says: I said to the wicked, Do not act wickedly, and to the offenders, Do not exalt the horn (Ps. 74:5).

What then is designated in the rhinoceros except the powerful of this world, or even in it the highest powers of principalities, who, lifted up by the swelling of foolish boasting, while outwardly they are inflated with false honors, inwardly grow empty with true miseries? To whom it is well said: Why are you proud, O earth and ashes (Sir. 10:9)?

In the very first beginnings of the nascent Church, when the power of the rich raised itself up against her, and panted for her destruction with the vastness of so great a cruelty, when, anxious under so many torments and pressed by so many persecutions, she sank down, who then could have believed that she would subject to herself those stiff and rough necks of the proud, and, having tamed them by the yoke of holy fear, would bind them with the gentle reins of faith? For long indeed in her beginnings was she tossed by the horn of this rhinoceros, and struck as though she were to be utterly destroyed. But by the dispensing of divine grace, both she by dying was quickened and grew strong, and this rhinoceros, wearied by striking, bowed down his horn; and what was impossible to men,

was not difficult to God, who broke the rigid powers of this world not by words but by miracles. For we recognize that rhinoceroses serve us daily, since we now behold the mighty of this world, who long ago had trusted foolishly in the elation of their own strength, already made subject to God. It was as though the Lord were speaking of a certain untamed rhinoceros when He said: A rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23). And when it was answered Him: And who then can be saved?, He immediately added: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (ibid., 26). As if He were to say: This rhinoceros cannot be tamed by human strength, yet nevertheless he can be subdued by divine miracles.

Whence here too it is fittingly said to blessed Job, who holds the type of the holy Church: Will the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee? You must understand: to serve Me, who long endured this creature resisting the preachings of men, yet suddenly, when I willed, laid him low by miracles. As if He were to say more openly: Are those who swell with foolish elation made subject to your preaching without My help? Consider, therefore, through whom you prevail, and in all that you prevail bend down the sentiment of elation.

Or certainly this is brought to the knowledge of blessed Job in order to humble his virtue, namely how great things are sometimes wrought through the apostles, who subject the world to God, and bend to Him the tamed pride of the mighty of this age; so that blessed Job should esteem the less of himself, the more he sees such difficult souls being gathered to God through others. Let Him say then: Will the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee? Understand: as through those whom I shall send, he will serve Me. There follows: