約伯倫理 第 477 章

Ibid. And when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the morning star. 34. Sorrow arising from temptation entreats God's mercy for us. The just man is the morning star. For often so many temptations beset us that their very multitude almost inclines us to the fall of despair. Hence very often, when the mind is turned to weariness, it scarcely considers the very losses of its own virtue; and, wholly grieving, but as though now estranged even from the perception of grief, it is broken, and cannot number by how great a tumult of thoughts it is laid waste. It beholds itself about to fall from moment to moment, and, that it may seize the arms of resistance, grief itself more grievously gainsays it.

Darkness besets the eyes turned in every direction, and since shadows ever impede the sight, the mournful mind sees nothing but darkness. But before the merciful Judge, often this very sorrow, which also weighs down even the endeavor of prayer, more subtly entreats for us. For then the Creator beholds the gloom of our mourning, and pours back the rays of the withdrawn light, so that at once, raised up through his gifts, that virtue may flourish which a little before the contending vices were pressing down under the heel of pride. Soon he shakes off the weight of torpor, and, after the darkness of its disturbance, breaks forth to the light of contemplation. Soon it is lifted up into the profit of joy, which amid the temptations was being driven to fall the worse through despair.

Without any struggle of thought he despises things present; without the obstacle of doubt he trusts in the recompense to come. Therefore the just man, when he shall have supposed himself consumed, rises like the morning star; for as soon as he has begun to grow dark in the mist of temptations, he is restored to the light of grace, and shows forth in his own self the day of righteousness — he who, being about to fall a little before, had dreaded the night of guilt. And rightly is the life of the just compared to the morning star. For the morning star, running before the sun, announces the day. And what does the innocence of the saints proclaim to us but the brightness of the Judge who follows? For in our wonder at them we behold what we are to think concerning the majesty of the true Light.

We do not yet see the power of our Redeemer, yet we admire His strength in the character of His elect. Since, therefore, the life of the good in its very contemplation sets the force of truth before our eyes, the bright morning star comes to us before the sun. 35. The just man here suffers hard things, but it shall be well with him at the last. From this point onward, falling outwardly, he is renewed inwardly. — But it must be known that these things which we have discussed concerning the adversity of spiritual temptations may equally well be understood also with regard to outward evils. For holy men, because they love with their inmost marrow the highest things, endure hardship in the lowest; but at the end they find the light of joy, which they scorn to possess in this span of passing life. Whence it is now said through Sophar:

And as the noonday brightness it shall arise for you at evening. For the light of the sinner is in the day, but darkness in the evening; for in the present life he is lifted up in prosperity, but at the end he is devoured in the darkness of adversity. But for the just man the noonday brightness arises toward evening, because he recognizes what great splendor awaits him even when he has already begun to set. For hence it is written: It shall be well with him that fears God at the last (Ecclus. i, 13). Hence it is said through the Psalmist: When He shall give sleep to His beloved — this is the inheritance of the Lord (Ps. cxxvi, 2). He, being still set in the struggle even of this life, when he supposes himself consumed, rises like the morning star; because falling outwardly, he is renewed inwardly;

and the more he endures adversity outwardly, the more abundantly he shines within with the light of virtues — as Paul bears witness, who says: But though our outward man is corrupted, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For that which is momentary and light of our present tribulation works in us beyond measure, in an exceeding manner, an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. iv, 16). And it is to be noted that he says not «when you shall have been consumed» but «when you shall have supposed yourself consumed»; because what we see is in doubt, and what we hope for is in certainty. Whence the same Paul knew not that he was consumed, but supposed it — he who, even falling amid the adversities of tribulations, shone forth like the morning star, saying:

As dying, and behold we live; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich (2 Cor. vi, 9). It is also to be known that the more the mind of the good endures harder things for the sake of truth, the more surely it hopes for the rewards of eternity. Whence it is fittingly added: