約伯倫理 第 989 章

75. There is no true holiness save that which has been proved among the wicked. — What is signified by the name of dragons but the life of malicious men? Of whom it is said also by the prophet: 'They snuffed up the wind like dragons' (Jer. 14:6). For every perverse man snuffs up the wind like dragons when he is puffed up with malicious pride. And who are wont to be understood by the name of ostriches but dissemblers? For the ostrich has feathers, and yet has no flight; because dissemblers have the appearance of holiness, but have not the virtue of holiness. For the sight of a good action adorns them, but the feather of virtue in no way lifts them from the earth. The elect people of the holy Church, therefore, because in the time of its peace it endures within itself certain malicious ones

and dissemblers, may say: 'I was a brother of dragons, and a companion of ostriches.' Which words peculiarly befit blessed Job also, who at the summit of great fortitude was good among the wicked. [Verse 29.] For no one is perfect who is not patient among the evils of his neighbours. For he who does not with equanimity endure the evils of others is himself, through his impatience, his own witness that he is far from the fullness of goodness. Indeed, he refuses to be an Abel whom the malice of a Cain does not exercise (Gen. 4:3ff.). 76. Why are the evil here mingled among the good? — So in the threshing of the floor the grains are pressed beneath the chaff; so flowers come forth among thorns; and the rose that gives fragrance grows together with the thorn that pricks.

For the first man had two sons, but one was elect and the other reprobate (Gen. 4:1,2). The ark also contained three sons of Noah, but while two persisted in humility, one fell to the mocking of his father (Gen. 9:18). Abraham had two sons, but one was innocent, and the other was the persecutor of his brother (Gen. 16:15; 21:9). Isaac also had two sons, one preserved in humility, but the other reprobated even before he was born (Gen. 25:24ff.). Jacob begot twelve sons, but of these one was sold through his innocence, while the rest through malice were the sellers of their brother (Gen. 37:27).

The twelve apostles too are elect in the holy Church, but, lest they should remain untried, one was mingled among them who by persecuting should prove them. For thus is a sinner joined by malice to the just, as in the furnace chaff is coupled with fire to the gold, so that by that whereby the chaff burns, the gold may be purified. These, then, are truly good who can persist in goodness even among the wicked. Hence also it is said by the voice of the Bridegroom to the holy Church: 'As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters' (Cant. 2:2). Hence the Lord says to Ezekiel: 'Son of man, unbelievers and subverters are with thee, and thou dwellest among scorpions' (Ezek. 2:6). Hence Peter glorifies the life of blessed Lot, saying:

'And He delivered just Lot, oppressed by the wrongful conduct of the abominable' (2 Pet. 2:7). For in sight and in hearing he was just, dwelling among those who from day to day vexed the soul of the just one with their wicked works. Hence Paul glorifies the life of his disciples, and by glorifying confirms it, saying: 'In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life' (Phil. 2:15). Hence, through John, the angel of the Church of Pergamum bears witness, saying: 'I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is; and thou holdest my name, and hast not denied my faith' (Rev. 2:13). Blessed Job, therefore, that he may show of what fortitude he was, intimates with whom he lived, saying:

'I was a brother of dragons, and a companion of ostriches.' For it would be a lesser thing that he himself did good works, unless, to the heaping up of his goodness, he also endured evils from others. There follows: