約伯倫理 第 817 章

Verse 7. — They send men away naked, taking off the garments of those who have no covering in the cold. 63. By destroying good works, heretics send men away naked. — As garments protect the body, so good works protect the soul. Whence it is said to a certain one: Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked (Revelation 16:15). And so the heretics, when they destroy good works in the minds of certain persons, surely take off the coverings of garments. And it is well said: Who have no covering in the cold. For the covering pertains to righteousness, the cold to guilt. And there are some who in certain matters commit sins, but in certain others follow right works.

He, therefore, who offends by some acts, and yet performs righteousness by others, what is such a one but clothed in the cold; he is chilled, and yet covered; because by one work he grows warm toward righteousness, by another he grows cold toward guilt? But when heretics take away good works from such persons, they bring it about that they have not in the cold wherewith to be clothed. Rightly, then, is it said: They send men away naked, taking off the garments of those who have no covering in the cold, so that, namely, the cold of guilt alone may destroy those whom the warmth of another work in some part covered. But by cold desire may be signified, by garment action.

And there are many who still burn with perverse desires, but, contending against themselves spiritually, resist themselves by right works, and cover with good deeds that which they feel to rebound sinisterly upon them through temptation. These, therefore, in that they desire evil things, are cold; but in that they work good things, they are clothed. But when heretics, by perverse arguments, withdraw the works of right faith, what do they do but bring it about that those who still feel the colds of carnal desires die without the garment of good actions? There follows: