約伯倫理 第 135 章

Ver. 16. — And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and touching the sheep and the servants, consumed them; and I alone have fled to tell thee. 74. The devil endeavors to corrupt chaste thoughts. But discernment escapes the peril. — What is designated by the sheep, but the innocence of thoughts; what by the sheep, but the cleanness of good hearts? But heaven we have already said a little before is called the airy region: whence also we name the birds of heaven. And we know that the unclean spirits, who fell from the ethereal heaven, wander in this middle region of heaven and earth: who the more envy that human hearts ascend to heavenly things, the more they see themselves cast down from the heavenly places through the uncleanness of their own pride.

Because therefore from the aerial powers the flame of envy rushes against the cleanness of our thoughts, fire came from heaven to the sheep. For often they inflame the clean thoughts of our mind with the ardor of lust; and as it were burn up the sheep, while they disturb the chaste motions of the soul by the temptation of luxury. Which is called the fire of God, because, though not by God's doing, yet by His permitting, it is generated. And because by a sudden impulse they sometimes overwhelm the very circumspections of the mind, they as it were slay the servants, the guards, with the sword. Yet one flees unharmed, while persevering discernment subtly regards all that the mind suffers, and alone escapes the peril of death;

For even when the thoughts are thrown into turmoil, discernment does not give way, so that it may report to the soul its own losses, and, as it were, call back the master to lamentation.