198 Holy men sometimes check evil in others beforehand. JOB 36, those sins which have not shewn themselves. But then 21. MOR. they perceive that they are already following from others, which precede. For as physicians of the body discern that some diseases have already appeared, but heal others, that they may not appear; so do holy teachers sometimes restore to health the wounds they have discovered, and sometimes so deal with men's minds that they are not wounded. In whom we must carefully observe, that as they generally reprove known faults with severity, so do they speak against doubtful thoughts, even with calmness. The undoubted they chastise with blows: the doubtful they ward off by taking precautions. But because arrogant men know not their rule of discrimination, they wound, with the shafts of their sentences, known and unknown, certain and uncertain faults alike. Whence it is now said by Eliu, Take heed that thou decline not to iniquity, for thou hast begun to follow this after misery. But because the remarks which follow are drawn out with longer allegation, we conclude this book with this close, that it may not be too immoderately extended. BOOK XXVII. The last twelve verses of the thirty-sixth chapter are expounded, with the whole of the thirty-seventh, and their meanings ingeniously examined, for the sake of establishing a system of Christian doctrine, and ethics. 1. WHOEVER is endeavouring to gain knowledge from the mighty words of the arrogant, ought carefully to secure himself from imitating their pride of learning, lest, with the words of virtue, he should acquire the vices of their habits, and in attaining to skill in speaking, should wound himself through unskilfulness in living. For when we hear these persons speaking powerful words, and yet observe them proud of their powerful words, we enter, as it were, the garden of learning, and pluck roses from thorns. We need, therefore, careful discrimination, to cull that which is sweet scented, and to avoid that which pricks us: lest the incautious hand of the gatherer should be wounded with the thorn of their habits, if the flower of their words happens to be carelessly gathered. Eliu, therefore, being both learned and arrogant, produces at one while something to give a sweet scent, and at another, something to wound. We must then so gather what is fragrant from his teaching, as yet to carefully guard against the wounds of his pride. He introduced, indeed, many remarks above with a moral object, and yet in the words which follow he raised himself solely to the mysteries of prophecy. For he abandons the low ground of morality, and rises to the heights of prophecy. i. 2. Nor is it to be wondered at, that a haughty man could be filled with the prophetic spirit, when Saul also was in 1 Sam. the number of the prophets. But why do we say this of 10, 11. Saul, when we know that even a she ass learned rational Num. words from the sight of an Angel? But as the irrational 2 Peter 22, 28. 2, 16. 22. 200 Prophecy of Christ, as above all Lawgivers. JOB 36, animal uttered rational words, and yet went not so far as to take a rational nature in exchange; thus does an unworthy person often receive holy words by the spirit of prophecy, but yet does not attain to deserve the glory of sanctity; so as to rise above himself in his words, and listlessly to sink beneath himself in his life. Whence Eliu, though not now humble, beholds the humble advent of our Redeemer: and announces, in prophecy, Him, Whom he assails with his haughty manners, saying, ii. 13, 4. Ver. 22. Behold, God is lofty in His strength, and none is like Him among lawgivers. 3. As if he said plainly, He, Who will appear humble in weakness, remains lofty in strength, Paul also witnessing 2 Cor. this, who says, For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. Of Whom it is rightly subjoined, None is like Him among lawgivers. Moses was a lawgiver, Joshua a lawgiver, the Prophets lawgivers also. We can term all lawgivers, who, we know, admonish the people rightly from the Law. But there is no one like to this Mediator among lawgivers. For they, having been called by grace from their sins, return to innocence, and, from what they have experienced in themselves, bring back others by their preaching. But our Redeemer is Man without sin, a Son without adoption, and has never committed any thing which He has disapproved. And He so speaks to the world by His Manhood, as yet to be still the Lord of the same world before all ages by His Godhead. Hence certain persons believed that the Mediator between God and men was like the lawgivers. For when He asked, Mat.16, Whom do men say that the Son of Man is, the disciples answered and said, Some say that He is John the Baptist, others Elias, others Jeremias, or one of the Prophets. But He doubtless disclosed to Peter how lofty He was in strength; for looking on Him truly, he separated Him from an equality ib. 16. with lawgivers, saying, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. Whence the Bride rightly says of Him in the Song of Songs, By night on my bed I sought Him Whom my soul loveth, I sought Him, and I found Him not. And a little after, The watchmen who guard the city found me. Of ib. 5, 7. Whom she says again, They wounded me, they look my cloak. 13. 14. Sol. Song 3, 1. ib. 3. The Church seeking Christ not yet clearly revealed. 201 And she asks them again, saying, Saw ye Him Whom my soul Book loveth? When I had passed by them but a little, I found XXVII. Him Whom my soul loveth. Sol. Song 4. For the Beloved is sought for by night on the bed; 3, 3. 4. because He is longed for in tribulation of spirit, in the secret chambers of the heart. Whom yet the Bride, though seeking, finds not; because every Elect soul is already kindled with the torches of His love, but the sight of Him, which is sought for, is still denied, that the longing of the lover may increase; and water is, as it were, withdrawn in thirst, that the heat of the thirst may be augmented, and that the longer a person thirsts, and longs for it, the more eagerly may he seize it at last when he has found it. But the watchers find her when seeking for Him; and wound her, and take away her cloak: because when anxious teachers meet with any soul, already seeking for a sight of its Redeemer, they wound it, by the word of preaching, with the darts of heavenly love: and if it has any covering of its former conversation, they take it away; in order that the more it is stripped of the burden of this world, the more quickly may He, Who is sought for, be found by her. But it is well added, When I had passed by them but a little, I found Him Whom my soul loveth? because the mind, eager for the sight of Him, would not find Him, Who is above man, unless it were to go beyond the estimate of the Prophets, the loftiness of the Patriarchs, and the standard of all men. To pass by the watchers, then, is to postpone, in comparison of Him, those even whom the soul admires. And He, Who was sought for, is then beheld, if He is believed to be a Man, but yet above the measures of men. Whence it is now well said, None is like Him among lawgivers. But He in truth, appearing to our sight through the infirmity of the flesh, as He rejects some, and calls others, has displayed marvellous judgments, which can be thought upon, and yet not be comprehended by us. For He says, For judgment have I come into this world, John 9, that they which see not, might see, and that they which see might be made blind. And again, I thank Thee, O Father, Mat.11, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these 25. things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. In which judgments the Jews are doubtless. 39. 23, 24. 202 They who sing God's praise know not all His works. JOB 36, rejected, the Gentiles gathered. Which fact in truth we can certainly wonder at, but are not at all able to search into. Whence it is now also well subjoined by Eliu, iii. nes. iv. 2 viri. 21. Prov. 8, 4. Ver. 23. Who will be able to search out His ways? Or who dareth to say to Him, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 5. As if he said; How can He be blamed, Whose doing cannot be searched into? that, which he knows not. For no one judges properly of We ought, therefore, to rest the more silent under His judgments, the more we see that we perceive not the reason of His judgments. Whence it is also well subjoined. Ver. 24. Remember that thou knowest not His work, of Whom men have sung. 6. In Holy Scripture sometimes Angels, and sometimes 1 homi- persons' of perfect life, are called 'men. For that an Angel is sometimes called a man, the Prophet Daniel bears witDan. 9, ness, saying, Behold, the man Gabriel. And again, that persons of perfect life are called by the name of 'men,' Wisdom declares in the Proverbs, saying, Unto you, O men, I call. Men then sing of the Lord, when either spirits from above, or perfect teachers, make known to us His power. But yet His work is not known; because doubtless even they who preach Him, venerate His unpenetrated judgments. They, therefore, both know Him, Whom they preach, and yet know not His works: because they know, by grace, Him, by Whom they were made, but yet cannot understand His judgments, which are wrought by Him even above their understanding. For that Almighty God is not clearly seen Ps. 18, in His doings the Psalmist bears witness, saying, Who hath Ps.36,6, made darkness His secret place. And again, Thy judgments Ps. 104, are a great deep. And again, The deep like a garment is His clothing. Whence also it is well said by Solomon, As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones grow together in the belly of her that is with child, so thou knowest not the works of God, Who is the Maker of all things. 11. 6. Eccles. 11, 5. 7. For to state one thing out of many, two little ones come to this light: but to one it is granted to return to redemption by Baptism; the other is taken away before the regenerating water bedews it. And the son of faithful parents is often |