約伯倫理 第 196 章

Verse 9. 'Let the stars be darkened with its gloom.' 17. Stars in the Scriptures are sometimes called the saints, sometimes the hypocrites. The light of hypocrites is obscured by open error. In Sacred Scripture, by the name of stars is sometimes shown the righteousness of the saints, which shines in the darkness of this life, but sometimes the pretense of hypocrites, who display the good they do to men in order to obtain praises. For if those who live rightly were not stars, Paul would by no means say to his disciples: 'In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world' (Philippians 2:15).

Again, if among those who seem to do right, certain ones did not seek from their action the recompense of human favor, John would by no means see stars falling from the heavens, saying: 'The dragon sent forth his tail, and drew the third part of the stars' (Revelation 12:4). For part of the stars is drawn by the dragon's tail, because by the extreme persuasion of Antichrist certain ones who seem to shine will be snatched away. For to draw stars to the earth is to entangle those who seem to cling to the pursuit of the heavenly life, out of earthly love, in the iniquity of open error. For there are some who shine before human eyes as though with great works;

but because these very works do not proceed from a pure heart, being caught in hidden thoughts, they are darkened by the darkness of this night; and often they even lose those works which they do not with a pure heart. Since therefore the night is permitted to prevail, when even amid good works the intention of the heart is not at all purified, let it rightly be said: 'Let the stars be darkened with its gloom'; that is, against those who shine before human eyes as though with good works, let the dark malice of the ancient enemy prevail; and let them lay down that light of praise which they had received before human judgments. For they are darkened by the gloom of the night, when their life is confounded by open error;

so that, doubtless, such men may appear even outwardly in action such as they do not fear inwardly, within themselves, to be before the divine judgment. There follows: