約伯倫理 第 252 章

Verse 13. — In the horror of a nocturnal vision. 53. The mind trembles the more over its own deeds, the higher it is lifted up into God. Hence it fears and loves God the more. — The horror of a nocturnal vision is the dread of hidden contemplation. For the human mind, the higher it is lifted up to consider the things that are eternal, the more grievously, being made to tremble, it dreads concerning its temporal deeds; because it discerns itself the more truly guilty the more it perceives that it has departed from that light which shines above it. And so it comes to pass that, being illumined, it fears the more, because it beholds the more by how much it is at variance with the rule of truth; and its very own progress shakes it with grave dread, which before beheld nothing, as it were more securely.

Yet however great the virtue by which it has advanced, it does not yet comprehend anything manifest concerning eternity, but still beholds it under a certain darkness of imagination. Hence this very thing is called a nocturnal vision. For by night, as we said also above, we see doubtfully; but by day, steadfastly. Because, therefore, the cloud of our corruption interposes itself to the contemplating of the ray of the inward Sun, and that unchangeable light does not, as it is, burst forth to the weak eyes of our mind; we still behold God as it were in a nocturnal vision, since without doubt we are darkened under an uncertain contemplation.

But although the mind has conceived some slightest thing concerning Him, yet in the consideration of His greatness it shudders, and fears the more, because it feels itself unequal to the very traces of His contemplation; and, having relapsed to itself, it loves the more closely Him whose wondrous sweetness, being unable to bear, it has scarcely tasted under an uncertain vision. But because one by no means attains to the summit of this elevation, unless first the importunately clamoring throng of carnal desires be repressed, it is rightly subjoined: