7

Rom. 11, 25.

26.

30

Double reward of the Church like that of Job. PREF. double reward, clearly, in that Holy Church, even while yet in this present life, receives a double recompense for the toils she undergoes, since having taken in the Gentiles to the full, at the end of the world she converts to herself the souls of the Jews likewise. For it is on this account written, Until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved. And she will afterwards receive a double recompense, in that, when the toils of this present time are over, she rises not alone to the joy of souls, but to a blessed estate of bodies. And hence Isa. 61, the Prophet rightly says, therefore in their land they shall possess the double. For in the Land of the Living' the Saints possess the double, because we know they are gladdened with blessedness both of mind and body. Hence John in the Apocalypse, because it was before the resurrection of bodies that he saw the souls of the Saints crying, beheld how that they had given them a stole to Rev. 6, each, saying, And white robes were given, one1 to every Isingula One of them, and it was said, that they should rest yet

7.

11.

for a little season until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. For before the Resurrection they are said to have received a stole to each, for that as yet they are gifted with blessedness of mind alone; and therefore they will receive each one two, whenever, together with the perfect bliss of souls, they shall be clothed also with incorruptibility of bodies.

21. Now it is very properly that the affliction indeed of blessed Job is told, but the length of time that he was under the affliction is kept back, for we see the tribulation of Holy Church in this life, but know nothing for how long she is here to undergo bruising and delay; and hence it is spoken Acts 1, by the mouth of Truth, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power. Herein then, that the suffering of blessed Job is told us, we are taught what we are made acquainted withal by experience; and herein, that the length of time that he continued in his suffering is withheld, we are taught what it is we must remain ignorant of.

7.

We have drawn out these words of preface to some length,

Historical sense the root of the allegorical.

31 that by briefly running over it we might in a manner give a PREF. view of the whole. Now then that by long discoursing we have been brought to the commencement of our discourse, we must first settle the root of the historical meaning, that we may afterwards let our minds take their fill of the fruits of the allegorical senses.

Job 1,1.

BOOK I.

The first verses of the first chapter of the Book of Job are explained first historically, then in an allegorical, and lastly in a moral sense.

1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. It is for this reason that we are told where the holy man dwelt, that the meritoriousness of his virtue might be expressed; for who knows not that Uz is a land of the Gentiles? and the Gentile world came under the dominion of wickedness, in the same proportion that its eyes were shut to the knowledge of its Creator. Let us be told then where he dwelt, that this circumstance may be reckoned to his praise, that he was good among bad men; for it is no very great praise to be good in company with the good, but to be good with the bad; for as it is a greater offence not to be good among good men, so it is immeasurably high testimony for any one to have shewn himself good even among the wicked. Hence it is that the same blessed Job bears witness to Job 30, himself, saying, I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. Hence it was that Peter extolled Lot with high commendation, because he found him to be good 2 Pet. 2, among a reprobate people; saying, And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; for he was Iso Vulg. righteous in seeing and hearing', dwelling with them who vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. Now he evidently could not have been vexed unless he had both heard and witnessed the wicked deeds of his neighbours, and yet he is called righteous both in seeing and in hearing, because their wicked lives affected the ears and eyes of the Saint not with a pleasant sensation, but with the pain of a blow. Hence it is that Paul says to his disciples, Phil. 2, In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine like lights in the world. Hence it is said to Rev. 2, the Angel of the Church of Pergamos, I know thy works,

29.

7.8.

15.

Simplicity needs Uprightness and Zeal.

33

I.

and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and Book thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith. Hence the Holy Church is commended by the voice of the Spouse, where He says to her in the Song of love, As the Cant. 2, lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters.2. Well then is the blessed Job described, (by the mention of a gentile land,) as having dwelt among the wicked, that according to the testimony borne by the Spouse, he might be shewn to have grown up a lily among thorns, for which reason it is well subjoined immediately after, And that man was simple1 and upright.

1go Vulg.

16.

ii.

2. For there are some in such wise simple as not to know what uprightness is, but these walk wide of the innocence of real simplicity, in proportion as they are far from mounting up to the virtue of uprightness; for while they know not how to take heed to their steps by following uprightness, they can never remain innocent by walking in simplicity. Hence it is that Paul warns his disciples, and says, But yet I would have you wise unto that which is Rom. good, and simple concerning evil. Hence again he says, 16, 19. Brethren, be not children in understanding, howbeit in 1 Cor. malice be ye children. Hence Truth enjoins Her disciples by 14, 20. Her own lips, saying, Be ye wise as serpents and harmless Mat.10, as doves. For in giving them admonition, He needfully joined the two together, so that both the simplicity of the dove might be instructed by the craftiness of the serpent, and again the craftiness of the serpent might be attempered by the simplicity of the dove. Hence it is that the Holy Spirit has manifested His presence to mankind, not in the form of a dove only, but also in the form of fire. For by the dove simplicity is indicated, and by fire, zeal. Therefore He is manifested in a dove, and in fire, because all they, who are full of Him, yield themselves to the mildness of simplicity, in such sort as yet to kindle with a zeal of uprightness against the offences of sinners. It follows, And one that feared God and eschewed evil.

3. To fear God is never to pass over any good thing, that iii. ought to be done. Whence it is said by Solomon, Whoso Eccl. 7, fears God, neglects nothing"; but because there are some, 18. • E. V. He that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

D

(Vulg.)

19.

27.

1, 1.

34

Job's person described before his combat.

JOB who practise some good actions, yet in such wise that they are by no means withheld from certain evil practices; after he is said to have been one that feared God, it is still rightly reported of him that he also eschewed evil; for it is Ps. 37, written, Depart from evil, and do good; for indeed those good actions are not acceptable to God, which are stained in His sight by the admixture of evil deeds; and hence it is Eccl. 9, said by Solomon, He who offendeth in one point, spoileth many good deeds". Hence James bears witness, saying, James For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in Hence Paul saith, A little So then that it might be

18.

2, 10.

5, 6.

'Cor. one point, he is guilty of all. leaven leaveneth the whole lump. shewn us how spotless the blessed Job stood forth in his good actions, it is wisely done that we have it pointed out how far he was removed from evil deeds.

4. But it is the custom of narrators, when a wrestling match is woven into the story, first to describe the limbs of the combatants, how broad and strong the chest, how sound, how full their muscles swelled, how the belly below neither clogged by its weight, nor weakened by its shrunken size, that when they have first shewn the limbs to be fit for the combat, they may then at length describe their bold and mighty strokes. Thus because our athlete was about to combat the devil, the writer of the sacred story, recounting as it were before the exhibition in the arena the spiritual merits in this athlete, I mentis describes the members of the soul', saying, And that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil; that when the powerful setting of the limbs is known, from this very strength we may already prognosticate also the victory to follow. Next comes,

iv.

5. Ver. 2. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. The heart of the parent is often enticed into avarice by a numerous offspring, for he is the more inflamed with ambition for laying up an inheritance, in proportion as he abounds in the number to inherit it. In order then that it might be shewn what holiness of mind blessed Job possessed, he is both called righteous, and is said to have been the

Qui in uno offenderit, multa bona perdit. Eng. Vers. But one sinner destroyeth much good.

Compare St. Chrys. Hom. i. on Stat. Tr. p. 18.