約伯倫理 第 1333 章

18. The devil chiefly desires to corrupt the pure life of spiritual persons. — If we carefully examine the words of the prophets, we find these and those uttered by one Spirit. For Isaiah, when he beheld the life of sinners devoured by the ancient and insatiable enemy, said: 'The lion like the ox shall eat straw' (Isaiah 11:7). But what is signified by the name of hay and straw except the life of carnal persons? Of which it is said through the prophet: 'All flesh is grass' (Isaiah 40:6). He therefore who is here called Behemoth, is there the lion; who is here hay, is there named straw. But the mind strives to search out why he is called either 'lion' in Isaiah, or here 'Behemoth' by the Lord's voice, in the eating of hay or straw, in both places compared not to a horse but to an ox.

Yet we shall recognize this the sooner if we weigh what difference there is in the nourishment of both animals. For horses eat hay however filthy, but they drink no water save what is clean. Oxen, on the other hand, drink water however filthy, but they feed on no hay save what is clean. What then does it mean that Behemoth is here compared to an ox, which is fed on clean fodder, except this — that of this ancient enemy it is said through another prophet: 'His food is choice' (Habakkuk 1:16)? For he does not rejoice to seize those whom he beholds already entangled in depraved and filthy actions, falling of their own will into his snares. He therefore desires to eat hay like an ox, because with the tooth of his suggestion he seeks to grind down the pure life of spiritual persons. 19.

Many seem to be elect, and are not. — But I see it must be asked how this Behemoth, eating hay like an ox, is said to consume the life of spiritual persons, when, as was said above, by the name of hay the life of carnal persons is designated. And his food will now not be choice, if, eating hay, he seizes the carnal. But to this it soon occurs that some men are both hay before God and are esteemed with the name of holiness among men, since their life shows one thing before human eyes and intends another before the divine judgments. These, therefore, are elect in human judgments, but are hay in the Lord's subtle scrutiny. Or was not Saul hay before the divine eyes, of whom the prophet Samuel said to the people:

'Surely you see him whom the Lord hath chosen' (1 Samuel 10:24); and of whom a little above it is said: 'Chosen and goodly'? For him whom the sinning people deserved, and who both stood a reprobate before God and yet in the order of causes was chosen and good. [Chapter 11.] Because many are hay, and suppose themselves elect by human estimation, it is well said through Solomon: 'I saw the wicked buried, who also, while they yet lived, were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works' (Ecclesiastes 8:10). Because many are hay, yet are borne along by the favour of holiness, a certain wise man well indicates, saying: 'Pass on, stranger, and adorn the table' (Ecclesiasticus 29:33).

For in passing on, the stranger is said to adorn the table, because if anyone, being set at the altar of God, seeks his own glory through good works, both the praise of the altar is extended by the display of his holiness, and yet he himself is not accounted among the number of citizens before God. His reputation profits others, and yet he himself passes by as a stranger to God. He therefore adorned the table in passing on, because he who through everything he strove to do ran in mind to human praises, was unwilling to stand at the holy things. Since, then, some indeed lead a pure life within through zeal, but do not desire to please out of it, rightly both his food is said to be choice, and yet this Behemoth is declared to eat hay like an ox.

For, as it were, before the mouth of this Behemoth the pure hay lies on the earth and in the depths, when a life as though innocent is led through the keeping of the commandments, and yet, amid an action that is shown to be good, the heart is not lifted up to desire the things on high. What profit, then, does he work who keeps purity of life in himself, if through a lowly intention he abandons himself, to be found on the earth, in the mouth of this Behemoth? Since, therefore, Almighty God makes known what our enemy does, let it now be made known how he prevails, so that the wickedness of his craft, the more openly it is recognized, may the more easily be overcome. There follows: