約伯倫理 第 290 章

Verse 17. — Blessed is the man whom the Lord corrects. 40. The elect man ought here to be worn down by assiduous scourges. The first virtue is to avoid sins that they be not committed; the second is at least to correct those committed. But for the most part we not only in no wise avoid impending faults, but do not even recognize those we have committed. And the mind of sinners grows dark so much the more deeply, the more it does not even understand the harm of its own blindness. Whence it comes about for the most part, by the largesse of the divine gift, that punishment follows fault, and that scourges open the eyes of the offender, which security amid vices had blinded. For the torpid mind is touched by the blow, that it may be aroused; so that he who, secure, lost the state of his own uprightness, being afflicted may consider where he lies.

Hence therefore the very harshness of correction becomes the origin of light. Whence too through Paul it is said: Everything that is reproved is made manifest by the light (Eph. v, 13); for the force of pain is the proof of salvation. Hence it is that Solomon says: Healing shall make the greatest sins to cease (Eccle. x, 4). Hence again he says: For whom the Lord loves, he chastises; and he scourges every son whom he receives (Heb. xii, 6). Hence with an angelic voice the Lord speaks to John, saying: As many as I love, I rebuke and chastise (Rev. iii, 19). Hence Paul says: Now all discipline for the present indeed seems to be not of joy but of sorrow; but afterwards it yields the most peaceable fruit of justice to those exercised by it (Heb. xii, 11).

Although therefore pain and blessedness cannot agree together, yet rightly is it now said, Blessed is the man whom the Lord corrects; because through this, that the sinner is pressed by the pain of correction, he is at some time instructed unto the blessedness which is without the intervention of pain. There follows: