約伯倫理 第 1271 章

The princes of this age preach the divine precepts by which they are bound, and take care to bind others. — The reins are the precepts of the Church's discipline. To plough indeed is, through the zeal of preaching, to cut the ground of the human breast with the ploughshare of the tongue. This rhinoceros therefore, once proud and rigid, is now held bound by the reins of faith; and from the manger he is led to plough, because he strives to make known to others also that preaching by which he himself was refreshed. For we know how great cruelty this rhinoceros, namely the earthly prince, once raged with against the Lord, and now, by the Lord's working, we behold with how great humility he prostrates himself to Him.

This rhinoceros is not only bound, but even bound to plough, because, namely, being tied by the reins of discipline, he not only restrains himself from wicked works, but even exercises himself in the preachings of holy faith. For behold, as was said above, when we discern the very rulers and princes of human affairs fearing God in their actions, what else do we see but him bound with reins? And when they do not cease to preach, by promulgated laws, that faith which they long ago assailed by persecuting it, what else do they do but sweat at the labours of the plough? — The wondrous consent of secular power and Christian humility. — It is pleasing to behold this rhinoceros,

that is, the prince of the earth bound by the reins of faith, in what manner both he bears a horn by the power of this age, and sustains the yoke of faith through the love of God. This rhinoceros could be greatly feared, were he not bound. For he has a horn, but he is bound. They have therefore in his reins that which the humble may love; they have in his horn that which the guilty may greatly dread. For being tightened by the reins, he keeps the piety of gentleness; but being propped up by the horn of earthly glory, he exercises the dominion of power. Often, however, when at the demand of anger he is roused to strike, he is called back by divine fear. And indeed through his exasperated power he raises himself into fury; but because he remembers the eternal Judge, being bound by the horn, he bows himself down.

Often I myself remember to have seen that when this rhinoceros grievously kindled himself to strike, and, as with lifted horn, threatened his subjects with beastly deaths, exiles, and condemnations, holding over them immense terrors, suddenly, when the sign of the cross was impressed upon his forehead, he extinguished within himself all the burning of fury, and being converted, laid aside his threats; and because he could not proceed to what he had deliberated, he acknowledged himself bound. And not only does he tame his angers within himself, but he hastens to implant into the very minds of his subjects all that is right, so that, since all may venerate the holy Church from their inmost thought, he himself may demonstrate it by the example of his own humility. Let it therefore be said to blessed Job: Wilt thou bind the rhinoceros to plough with thy thong? As if He plainly said:

Dost thou direct the mighty of this age, trusting in their foolish elation, to the labour of preaching, and restrain them under the bonds of discipline? Understand: as I, who did this when I willed, who made my very persecutors, whom I first endured as enemies, afterward defenders of the right faith. There follows: