Книга 6 [глава 5, стихи 3–27]

1. Having preserved the historical truth of what was said by blessed Job and his friends, I propose to consider the mystical explanation (of this). Because it is clear to everyone who knows the truth that Holy Scripture takes care to predict the Savior of the world with all its instructions and (tries to predict) Him through all the elect, as, of course, it tried to indicate through all His parts. That is why blessed Job is called a sufferer in Latin, because through his name and wounds the suffering of our Savior is shown, about whom the prophet said: Truly He took upon Himself our infirmities and bore our illnesses (Is. 53:4). The tempter, who took everything from Job, killed his slaves and children, and in the hour of the Savior’s suffering, he struck with the weapon of infidelity both the Jewish people, who served Him in fear, and the apostles themselves, reborn in His love. The body of blessed Job is exhausted by the wound, because our Savior does not recognize it as shameful to be nailed to the tree of the Cross. The Savior suffers wounds from the foot to the top of the head, since the Holy Church, which is His Body, is persecuted by the raging tempter not only from Her extreme and distant members, but from the highest. What Paul also said: I fill up what is lacking in my flesh of the tribulations of Christ for His Body, which is the Church (Col. 1:24). The wife inclines Job to blaspheme, since helpers of the evil tempter appear inside the Holy Church. The wife who incites him to blaspheme shows the life of carnal people; because, as we have already said, within the Holy Church there are faulty morals, which, the closer to good they are located by faith, the more heavily they burden the faithful with their lives. They cannot go unnoticed since they seem to be faithful, the faithful endure them as much worse as they do. Of course, Job's friends, who came ostensibly for consolation, but switched to words of harsh abuse, adhere to the view of heretics who, trying to turn the good away from God, fail. 2. So, what was said in detail above, I tried to briefly collect in a mysterious designation, so that my reader in this very repetition would remember that in this matter I diligently served spiritual perception. And since work still desires benefit, I also try in detail to discuss the words of history. With the truth it is necessary, I embrace both at the same time, so that the spiritual allegory bears the fruits that the truth has brought forth from the root of history. The friends of blessed Job, who, as we say, actually held the views of heretics; we are not condemned in any way through these sayings as long as the will of Heaven speaks against them: you have not spoken so truly about Me; and immediately added: like My servant Job (Job.42:7). Of course it is clear that he who is condemned in comparison with the best is not completely despised. Of course, in reproaching him they died recklessly, but since they are friends of such an important husband, they learned many secrets from their friendship with him. Therefore, as we said above, Paul also uses their words and, resorting to their help in his words, calls those who have spoken the truth as witnesses. And yet the truth rightly refutes them, because even a strong opinion cannot be expressed against a holy man. So, now the mystical meaning of the words of Eliphaz can be weighed, with which he addresses blessed Job, saying: 3. I saw how the fool took root, and immediately I cursed his house (Job 5:3). The Jewish people, of course, showed themselves to be fools because they neglected the presence of the eternal Wisdom itself in their body. A people who seemed to have established themselves with a strong root, since they were temporarily elevated by restraining the lives of the elect. But Eliphaz treated him with blasphemy, because of course all the heretics about whom we said that they adhere to the opinion of the friends of blessed Job, at the same time boast in the name of Christ (the Anointed One) and condemn the right of unbelief of the Jews. 4. About which fool it is further added: His children are far from happy (Job.5:4). The children of this fool are all those who are born by the preaching of his infidelity. Which, one must think, live in long-term goodness, therefore, although they experience a temporary life without sorrow, they are more severely punished by eternal punishment; as the Lord says about these same sons: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour the houses of widows and hypocritically pray for a long time: for this you will receive all the more condemnation (Matthew 23:14). They will be beaten at the gates, and there will be no intercessor ( Job 5:4 ). Who else should be thought of under the name of the gate, if not the Mediator between God and people, Who said: I am the door: whoever enters by Me will be saved (John 10:9)? Then the children of this fool did not enter by the gate, and were “beaten at the gate,” since the evil descendants of the Jews, before the coming of the Mediator, were strong in the contemplation of the Law, but during the presence of our Redeemer they fell away from obedience to God, being deservedly rejected for their betrayal. These children, of course, do not have an intercessor, since while they are still constantly trying to kill the Savior Himself, they deprive themselves of the proposed means of salvation. 5. His harvest will be eaten by the hungry and he himself will be seized by the armed (Job.5:5). For what was the harvest of this fool has now become the bread of the initiate. For some grains from the ears of corn are the words of the prophets, which the fool possessed, but did not eat them, so the Jewish people understood the law in the literal sense of the word, but because of stupid arrogance they refrained from understanding it. Truly, the hungry man ate the harvest of this fool, since it is indisputable that the pagan people feed on the knowledge of the words of the Law, and the Jewish people work without realizing their meaning. The Lord foretold the faith of these hungry people when He said through the Gospel: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Anna prophesies about these hungry people: those who are well fed work from bread, but those who are hungry rest (1 Samuel 2:5). But since the fool destroyed the harvest, it is immediately added as if the fool himself had perished: and he himself will be seized by an armed man (Job.5:5). “Armed” is the ancient enemy who seized the Jewish people, because he extinguished the life of faith in them with the arrows of insidious suggestion, so that they, believing that they were devoted to God, would violate His order. The Lord warned the disciples about this, saying: the time is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is serving God (John 16:2). 6. And the thirsty will devour his property (Job.5:5). The wealth of this fool is consumed by the thirsty, because the stream of speech of the Holy Scripture, which the Jewish people possessed in proud praise, feeds the minds of the converted Gentiles. And therefore for such it is said through the prophet: Thirsty! go, all of you, to the waters; even you who have no silver, go (Ps. 55:1). Because the name “silver” denotes Divine speech, as evidenced by the psalmist, saying: The words of the Lord are pure words, silver cleansed from the earth in a furnace, refined seven times (Ps. 11:7). So, those who do not have silver are called to the waters, just as the pagans who have not received the instructions of the Holy Scriptures are satisfied with the outpouring of divine speech, which now gives them drink as much more abundantly as their thirst for moisture has been for a long time. So, the same divine speech is called both harvest and wealth: harvest because it restores the strength of the starving mind; wealth - because it edifies us with the great beauty of morals. What we eat and what we drink are called the same thing, because some of it is still incomprehensible, which we recognize only when it is explained, and we absorb it as if chewing; and some that are easy to understand, we accept as much as we seek; these we absorb, as if without chewing, because we absorb them whole. We have briefly looked at the mysterious understanding of this, so that it does not seem that we may have accidentally missed anything. But since blessed Job could not have friends if they were not also distinguished by valor in the greatness of morals, it follows that we look for moral meaning in their words as long as the importance of their speech is discussed, which will be science if revealed. 7. I saw how the fool took root, and immediately I cursed his house (Job 5:3). A fool, as it were, grows with a strong root into the earth, since with all his desires he is rooted in love for earthly things. It is clearly shown that Cain built the first city on earth, since he himself built a foundation on earth that was alien to the heavenly fatherland. A fool, when here on earth he is encouraged by temporary happiness, seems to be proud of this strong foundation. So that he gets everything he wants, does not tolerate anything hostile, does not encounter resistance; having dominion over the weak, he would imperiously contradict the strong; from the worst action he always achieves a better result, and then leaves the path of life when he could live happier here. But when the weak see that the wicked are prospering, they become worried, and, excited by the well-being of sinners around them, their thoughts waver. The image of which the psalmist showed when he said: But I - my legs almost shook, my feet almost slipped - I envied the fools, seeing the prosperity of the wicked (Ps. 72: 2,3). 8. When the powerful see the glory of these, immediately followed by punishment, they become wary; and deep down they despise the fact that the proud put on airs of groundless arrogance. Therefore it is well said: I saw how the fool took root, and immediately I cursed his beauty (Job.5:3). To curse the beauty of this fool means, having thought it out well, to condemn his vanity, because the higher he exalts himself in sins, the more severely he plunges into torment: the exaltation passes, but the torment remains. For they are honored on the way, but upon arrival they will be condemned. And the one who is happy in this present life moves towards destruction, like one who through charming meadows comes to imprisonment. It should be noted that when Eliphaz said that he blasphemed the beauty of this fool, he added immediately. For it is the nature of the weak human mind to change according to the nature of the affairs in which it is concerned. Often his judgment is with the very image of the present matter and what he sees, and an accusation of his feelings is formed. Indeed, some people, while they see the glory of others, delight in the sight of it, and, considering themselves great, want to achieve the same glory. When they saw the sudden fall of the glorious, or perhaps their death, they recognized with a sigh that what had recently been human glory was now complete nothingness; That’s why they said: “Look how insignificant man is.” Of course, this would be more justly said if, when they saw a person in glory, then, thinking about his death, they felt that his temporary power was nothing. Human pride (how small it is) must be appreciated when it exalts itself over the success of others. Then the transience of happiness must be considered when it constantly has force before human eyes. Indeed, the glory of the deceased is nothing; anyone can understand this, seeing their powerlessness before death. Those who love fame and constantly follow it until death do not take this into account. Therefore, it is well said: “I saw how the fool took root, and immediately I cursed his glory” (Job.5:3). It was as if he had openly said: I did not hesitate to curse the glory of this fool, because when I recognized him, at the same time I already knew how those who strive for glory are punished. I would not have cursed me immediately if the pleasure of his glory had held me back; but cursed him without delay, because, seeing his future long-term suffering, he without hesitation rejected his power. But since all those who achieve much in this world and bring much with them to destruction are hostile, he rightly added: His children are far from happy (Job.5:4). Of course, the children of this fool are those who come from imitating him in the desire to achieve worldly benefits; who are further from happiness because in committing meanness they are struck by insignificant weakness. And they will be beaten at the gate, and there will be no intercessor (Job.5:4). Indeed, just as the entrance to the city is called a gate, so the hour of judgment is called the entrance of the King, because at this hour He, surrounded by all the chosen ones, enters the glory of the Heavenly Fatherland. Solomon, when he saw this day and that the reward of the holy Church was approaching, said: Her husband is known at the gate, when he sits with the elders of the land (Prov. 31:23). The Man of the Church is, of course, the Savior of the human race, who showed himself known at the gates; Which was previously invisible in reproach, will become obvious at the entrance to the Higher Kingdom. The Man who sits with the elders of the earth, like the Savior, will judge together with the holy preachers of the same Church, as He Himself says in the Gospel: You who have followed Me, in the coming of life, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). This is what Isaiah also prophesied about long before, saying: The Lord enters into judgment with the elders of His people (Is. 3:14). Solomon again speaks of this gate: Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her deeds glorify her at the gate (Prov. 31:31). Then, of course, the Holy Church receives from the fruit of her deeds, when reward “from the fruit of her deeds” inspires Her to seek heavenly things. Her deeds will then glorify Her at the gates, when Her members at the very moment of the coming of the Kingdom will be told: I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; I was naked, and you clothed Me, and so on (Matthew 25:35,36). The children of this fool were buried in front of the gate, but “they will be beaten at the gate,” because the adherents of this world have glory in this life, but in the very coming of the Kingdom they are punished with eternal punishment. It is well added: and there will be no intercessor (Job.5:4). Of course, the Truth delivers from troubles those whom It oppresses in temporary favorable circumstances through education. So, the one who now refuses to be burdened will then not have the opportunity to be saved, because in times of their sorrow they do not receive the saving help of the One whom they refuse to have as a Father in their upbringing. 10. The hungry will eat his harvest (Job.5:5). A fool also has a harvest when everyone who is uncorrected accepts the gift of direct understanding; he learns the sayings of the Holy Scriptures, speaks well, but, however, does not treat anyone as he speaks. He pronounces the words of God, but does not honor them; in praise he exalts them, but in life he tramples them down. Because this fool thinks and speaks correctly, but in fact does not love them; having a harvest, he remains hungry. It (the harvest), of course, is eaten by the hungry, because the one who is choked with holy longing for God learns what he hears; does what he hears; and while he corrects the one who teaches wrongly with correct preaching, someone else is satisfied with the fruit of this fool? Didn’t Truth warn her hungry to eat the fool’s harvest when, with a burning holy desire, she warned about the Pharisees, saying: Whatever they say, do it; But do not walk according to their deeds (Matthew 23:3). As if he said openly: With speech they grow the harvest of the word, but with their bad life they minimally touch this harvest. The harvest satisfies your hunger, so the Pharisees saved it for you out of their foolish arrogance. And he himself will be seized by an armed man (Job.5:5). Because the ancient enemy is defeated as if unarmed, when he tries to immediately destroy everything good, openly instilling evil in the human mind. But he comes armed when, leaving some good ones untouched, he secretly harms others. Often it does not touch the minds of some, and does not interfere with their meditation on the Holy Scriptures; but in deeds the lives of those who, while boasting about the power of knowledge, do not take into account the defeat of their deeds, are distorted; and while the soul is deceived by the pleasure of approval, the damage to its life is not healed. So, the armed enemy captured this man, whom he left in one respect, hiding behind a lie, but in the rest he defeated. What follows: 12. And the thirsty will devour his property (Job.5:5). A fool has a source within, but does not drink from it, because he accepts the understanding of the mind, he disdains to learn the truth in reading (in the reading of Holy Scripture - A.K.); he knows because he is strong to learn through hard work, but he is mistaken because he is disdainful of zeal for the science of sciences. The wealth of the mind is the words of sacred speech; the fool sees this wealth, but least of all uses it for his own decoration, because, hearing the words of the Law, he realizes their greatness, but makes no effort to understand them. Another has thirst, but does not have natural abilities; the love of learning attracts him, but it is hampered by dullness of understanding; Often, through diligence in studying the divine law, he understands what the gifted one does not know due to his negligence. So those who are thirsty will swallow up the wealth of this fool, i.e. While the gifted and proud do not know the instructions of God, the mediocre lovers comprehend them. The darkness of stupidity in them is illuminated by the gaze of love; for what thirst reveals to fools, the pride of the gifted hides from them. The mediocre come to the heights of knowledge because they understand that the one who does something is the one who neglects it the least; and, while they help the mind with their hands, they rise above the level of the gifted. What is well said by Solomon: The lizard climbs with its paws and is in the king’s chambers (Prov. 30:28). Usually birds that fly with their wings live in bushes; and the lizard, which has no wings to fly, climbing on its legs, reaches the royal dwelling. Likewise, the gifted, who are inactive in their neglect, are in the wrong aspiration, and the simple, who are not inspired by talents, are elevated by the power of active love to the walls of the Eternal Kingdom. So, the lizard that climbs on its paws remains in the king’s chambers, just as a simple man, with the help of honest labor, comes to where the gifted is least likely to climb. But those who heard this ask us: why is the careless one given the gift of understanding, but the diligent one is bound in understanding by his slowness? It was soon answered by what was immediately added: 13. Nothing happens on earth without a reason (Job.5:6). Therefore, the lazy person often receives a gift in order to be more deservedly punished for his negligence, because he disdains to learn what he could get without difficulty. The hardworking person is therefore burdened with slowness of perception, so that the greater his reward, the more he tries in the pursuit of knowledge. So, there is nothing on earth without a reason, since for the diligent, slowness benefits the achievement of reward, and for the lazy, agility increases punishment. But in order to understand how to do it correctly, we sometimes learn through diligence in work, and sometimes through the pain of blows. Therefore, when it was said: Nothing happens on earth without a reason, then it is expediently added: 14. And sorrow does not come from the earth (Job.5:6). Because sorrow appears as if from the earth, when a person, adorned with the image of God, is restrained by incomprehensible deeds. But, since through the secret merits of the mind, obvious punishments appear, then sorrow does not appear from the earth, because the depravity of our feelings is destroyed by incomprehensible deeds. So, we see that for our correction, the long-awaited rain is absorbed by the dry earth, and the foggy air is dried by the fiery sun; the sea is raging with strong storms brewing and destroys those who try to cross it, while others block the long-awaited path with high waves; the earth not only limits the fruits, but also absorbs the accepted seeds. From all this it is clearly evident what one wise man affirms about God, saying: And the whole world will fight together with Him against the foolish (Wis. 5:21). The whole world, together with God, fights against the unreasonable through the punishment of criminals and the intransigence of the elements. However, after all, sorrow does not appear from the earth, because any incomprehensible deed is produced to our sorrow by the motivation of our actions. Sorrow does not arise from the earth, because punishment is not born from the earth, but from the creation that strikes, but from it, without a doubt, the creation that received the blow. But, we should pay attention to the fact that when in external affairs a lot of suffering is caused to us, then we direct our hope to the highest; The more external punishment corrects us, the greater heights the mind reaches. Which is duly added: 15. A man is born to work, and a bird to fly (Job 5:7). A person is born for work because the one who has accepted the gift of reason sees that it is impossible for him to go through this time of his journey without sadness. Therefore, Paul, when he listed his torment to his disciples, rightly added: For you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for (1 Thess. 3:3). But when the flesh is tormented with the lash, the mind, which should be directed toward those on high, actually rises, as Paul again testifies, saying: Even if our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16). So, a man is born to work and a bird is born to fly, because the more the mind strives to the top, the more severely the flesh works in humility. 16. The name "man" can also refer to the life of carnal people. What Paul also says: For if there is envy, strife, and disagreement among you, is it not of the flesh? (1 Cor. 3:3). And a little later he added, saying: And are you not acting according to human custom? (1 Cor. 3:3). So, in this life, a person is born for work, because every carnal person, when he thirsts for the transitory, amazes himself with the multitude of his desires. It is onerous work to seek the glory of a passing life, having found it, to conquer it every time, and, having conquered it, to protect it with care. The burdensome work consists in seizing it with great fatigue, because the one who seizes it learns that he cannot hold it for long. Since holy men do not love transient things, not only do they not harbor any burden of temporary desire, but if disasters somehow happen, they do not suffer in their very burdens and weariness. What's more dangerous than a whip? However, it is written about the lashed apostles: And they went out from the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 5:41). So, what is work for the minds of those for whom even punishment with whips is not work? So, a person is born to work, because he who greedily seeks the good of this world truly feels its evil. Indeed, the mind, which is turned to the highest, thereby moves against everything external (worldly). Therefore it is well added: And birds for flight (Job.5:7). The soul frees itself from the sorrow of labor to the extent that it is elevated by hope in the highest. Was not Paul like a bird born to fly, who endured so many sorrows and said: But our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20)? And again: For we know that when our earthly house, this hut, is destroyed, we have from God a dwelling place in heaven, a house not made with hands, eternal (2 Cor. 5:1). He was like a bird that had already flown over the very depths and still remains a body on earth, but had already raised its wings of hope upward. Because no one can rise to the highest by his own strength, but when he is struck by the visible, he rises to the invisible, then it is immediately added: 17. But I would turn to God, I would commit my work to God (Job.5:8). As if he clearly said: I ask him through whom I gave them to the one who knows. Because if he believed that he was preserving himself, he would not turn to God. 18. Who does great and unsearchable things, marvelous without number (Job 5:9). Who can explore the wonderful deeds of Almighty God, Who created everything from nothing and accomplished the very creation of the world with the amazing power of His power, and hung the sky above the clouds, and the earth above the abyss; Who composed this entire universe from things visible and invisible, Who created man, uniting, so to speak, in a small way another rational world; Which, creating it from soul and body, by the action of an incomprehensible force mixed spirit and earth? We know some of this and are even part of it, and at the same time we are not even surprised, because what amazes us upon deep study is of little value to the ordinary human eye. For example, if a dead man is resurrected, everyone is very surprised, but every day people are born who did not exist before, and no one is surprised, although it would seem to be obvious to everyone that it is more difficult to create something that did not exist than to restore what was. Everyone is amazed that Aaron’s dry rod has blossomed; but every day a tree grows from the dry earth, the power hidden in the earth turns into wood, and no one is surprised. Everyone was surprised that five thousand people were filled with five loaves of bread, and food increased in their teeth; but every day the sown grains turn into ears of corn and no one is surprised. Everyone was surprised to see how water turned into wine in an instant, but every day the earth’s moisture is absorbed into the roots of the vine and through the bunches of grapes turns into wine, and no one is surprised. So, everything is amazing that people are not surprised, because, as we said, due to habit they do not realize the miracle. It is well said: Who does great things and is immediately added: and unsearchable (Job.5:9). For it would be less glorious to create great things if what was created could be examined. He correctly added: and glorious without number (Job 5:9), because less greatness would be worthy if what cannot be explored were few. 19. In addition, you should know that divine miracles should always be perceived with reverence, and not tried to be understood with the mind. Often, the human mind, trying to comprehend the meaning of some things and not finding it, plunges into the abyss of doubt. It happens that some people understand that the bodies of the dead decay into dust, but cannot understand with their minds the power of resurrection and do not believe that the dust can return to its previous state. Therefore, miracles are known by faith, and not investigated by reason, because if reason explains them, then they will no longer seem like miracles to us. But when the soul doubts, it is necessary to bring to mind what it knows only out of habit, without awareness by the mind; Thus, she will strengthen the shaken faith with proof through similar things. The confused soul, imagining the dust of human flesh, does not believe how this dust can become flesh again and form a living body from interconnected members, how this dry earth can turn into living parts of the body, and turn out to be decorated with their diversity and beauty. And she cannot comprehend this miracle with her mind, but it can be easily believed through an example. Who would believe that a huge tree grows from one seed if he did not know this firmly from experience? Where is hidden in such a small seed, completely unlike a tree, the strength of the wood, the soft or hard core, the roughness of the bark, the moisture of the root, the taste of the fruit, the sweetness of the aromas, the variety of colors, the softness of the foliage? Since we know this from experience, we have no doubt that all this comes from one source - from the seed. So, what is so difficult about restoring dust into members, while we daily see the power of the Creator, who creates a tree from grain and, what is even more amazing, fruit from a tree. Thus he said: Who does great and unsearchable works, marvelous without number ( Job 5:9 )? Because the greatness of divine works cannot be analyzed in its nature and cannot be calculated in quantity. 20. Who gives rain on the face of the earth and waters the world with water; He places the lowly on high, and lifts up those who mourn to salvation (Job.5:10,11). Since we believe that the friends of blessed Job were enlightened by communication with him, it is necessary that we discuss the mysterious meaning of these words of Eliphaz. Almighty God sends rain to the earth when he fills the hardened hearts of the pagans with the preaching of heavenly grace. And it irrigates the universe with waters, since the infertility of unfortunate people is replenished by the Spirit and leads to fruitfulness, just as the Truth itself says: Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst (John 4:14). Man is designated by the name of the universe, because the true image and great unity of the universe is manifested in him. Because everyone who lives either exists and does not live; either lives, but does not think in any way; either he lives and thinks, but does not understand and does not distinguish; or lives, thinks and understands, and discriminates. Stones exist, but do not live. Trees exist, live, but, however, do not think. The greenness of grass and trees is called life, just as Paul says about seeds: Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies (1 Cor. 15:36). There are irrational animals that live and think, but do not understand. There are angels who live and think and discern in awareness. Since man has existence, like stones, like trees - life, like animals - thinking, like angels - discrimination, then the name of the universe is rightly depicted by that in which, to some extent, the universe itself is contained. Just as the Truth says to His disciples: Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). He wanted the rational creature to be understood only as man, to whom He assigned, to some extent, community with everyone. 21. Although, this name “universe” can be interpreted in another way. Since the grace of the Holy Spirit at the same time subjugates the rich and does not push away the poor, humiliates the strong and does not prevent the weak from coming to itself, humbles the glorious and takes possession of the unknown, accepts the intelligent and does not despise the stupidity of the ignorant. So, the universe is irrigated with water by God, who, with the gift of the Holy Spirit, calls every person in the race to knowledge of Himself. 22. But the name of the universe can denote the very difference of morals. Since one is elevated by pride, and the other is bowed down by the weight of fear, one is inflamed with desire, the other is full of greed, one is ruining itself with licentiousness, the other is seething with anger. But when God irrigates the universe with waters, the teaching of sacred speech gives humility to the proud, courage to the fearful, the greedy for pleasure through the desire for moral purity is cleansed from dirt, the greedy through moderation is cooled from vain burning, the paralytic is raised by the desire for justice, the hot-tempered is restrained from his impetuous excitement; because, by the power of His speech, He brings the diversity of morals into order in each individual, so that everyone in His speech can find something that will help him bear the necessary fruit of virtue. Therefore, a certain sage speaks about the sweetness of manna: You sent them, who did not work, ready bread from heaven, which had in itself every joy and pleasantness according to the taste of everyone (Wis. Sol. 16:20). Of course, the manna had in itself every joy and pleasantness according to the taste of everyone, because in the spiritual mouth it generated a taste according to the desire of the one who eats, just as the Divine Word, agreeable to everyone and not contradicting Itself, descends to the character of the hearers; while each chosen one receives it profitably, according to his own measure, just as the manna received changed its taste according to the will of the one who eats. And, since diligence in good deeds is rewarded with glory, then after irrigation with water it is immediately added: Who raises the lowly on high, and lifts up those who mourn to salvation ( Job 5:10,11 ). 23. The humiliated are placed on high, because those who are now despised by the love of God will then come as judges along with God, as we said a little earlier, the Truth promises the same, saying: You who have followed Me, in the coming of life, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). Then the Lord lifts up those who mourn to salvation, because those who are inflamed with divine desire, avoid well-being, endure disasters, endure torment from persistent persecutors, punish themselves with lamentation, who will then receive as much more exalted salvation as they will now selflessly die for all the pleasures of the world. Just as Solomon says: The heart knows the sorrow of its own soul, and no stranger will interfere with its joy (Prov. 14:10). Since the human mind knows the bitterness of its soul, then, together with the fiery desire for the eternal fatherland, in sobs it recognizes the bitterness of its journey; but a stranger will not interfere with his joy, because the one who is now a stranger to repentant sorrow will then not be involved in the joy of consolation. As in the Gospel, the Truth says: Truly, truly, I say to you, you will mourn and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sorrow will turn into joy (John 16:20). And again: So now you also have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you (John 16:22). So, the Lord says that He will lift up those who mourn into salvation, because He will comfort those who are temporarily rejected for His sake with true salvation. However, nothing prevents in this life, which is perceived as God's election. Of course, the humiliated are placed on high, because when they humbly submit, then by reasoning of an exalted mind they bypass everything temporary; and when they consider themselves unworthy in everything, then superior to the judgment of common sense, they trample on the glory of this world. Let's look at humble Paul. So he says to the disciples: For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and we are your servants for Christ (2 Cor. 4:5). Let us consider this humble one, already placed on high. He says: Do you not know that we will judge angels, much less the things of this life (1 Cor. 6:3)? And again: He rose up with Him, and seated Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6). Perhaps outwardly he was then bound by a chain, however, he was raised to heights by a mind that was already in heaven with the certainty of its hope. So, holy men, despised from the outside as unworthy, endure everything. But those who consider themselves worthy of the heavenly abode confidently expect eternal glory, and when they suffer from irreconcilable persecution from without, they seek refuge in the protected fortress of the mind. And from there they look down and see that everything is passing, among everything they discern that they themselves are passing bodily; they are not afraid of threats, since they easily overcome torment with patience. Since Solomon also says: The righteous is bold like a lion (Prov. 28:1). It is also written to them: Nothing that happens will sadden the righteous (Prov. 12:21). Therefore, all the righteous are at the impregnable peak of their aspiration, because when they die, they do not feel death, and amazingly, the arrows of the wicked hit them, but do not hit them. So, the humble are at the top because they despise themselves in every possible way and that is why they are completely safe. 24. On the contrary, the wicked soul, depicted by the prophet under the guise of Babylon, is told: Come down and sit on the dust, maiden, daughter of Babylon; sit on the earth: the daughter of the Chaldeans has no throne (Is. 47:1). Here the human soul is called a virgin, not immaculate, as I believe, but barren. And since “Babylon” is translated as “confusion,” the barren soul is rightly called the daughter of Babylon, because she does not do any good deeds and in no way belongs to the righteous life, coming from maternal “confusion.” However, having lost her chaste state, the virgin is no longer called barren, but vicious, having reached the limit of her confusion, which is what she was. The divine word openly condemns her: Come down. After all, a person’s soul rises high when it hopes to receive the highest reward, but loses its height when it madly indulges in the waves of worldly worries. And she was also well told: Sit on the dust. Therefore, she who descended sits in the dust because, having left heavenly things, she was stained with earthly thoughts, finding herself among the lowest, she lost her dignity. Next, the divine voice exclaims even louder: Sit on the ground. As if openly indignant: Since you could not rise to a heavenly state, humble yourself, prostrate on the earth. And it is also added: the daughter of the Chaldeans has no throne. The Chaldeans are the unbridled ones. And the very unbridled are those who, following their will, cannot change their morals. Unbridled earthly thoughts not only do not hear the commandments of the Creator, but even after severe punishment they keep the soul firm and insensitive. The daughter of the wicked does not have a throne, just as the soul is deprived of the seat of judgment, which is born to love this world from wicked desires and is strengthened by these desires by indulging in earthly lusts. She does not sit on any throne, since she is deprived of the gift of discernment, as if she is driven out of the seat of judgment about herself, since she wanders, driven by carnal lust. It is clear that the soul, having lost the inner seat of reasoning, wastes itself outwardly through innumerable desires, and since it becomes incapable of intelligible things, it becomes completely blind, so that it does not know what it is doing; and often, due to just punishment, is left to her own will and spoiled by the fearful desire for arduous worldly service. And one more thing: And they will no longer call you tender and luxurious. Take millstones and grind flour (Isa.47:1,2). Of course, it is known that parents take care of their tender daughter and do not burden her with hard and slave labor. So it is as if Almighty God is calling a tender daughter when he calls every beloved soul away from the toils of this world, lest she become insensible to inner aspirations by being engaged in outer works. But the daughter of the Chaldeans is not called tender and luxurious, because the soul, given over to vicious desires, is left in what it fearfully strives for through the work of this world, so that outwardly she serves the world like a slave, who inside herself does not love God at all, like a daughter. That is why she is ordered to take the millstone and grind flour. The millstone rotates in a circle and flour is obtained. Every action of this world is a millstone, which, accumulating numerous cares, seems to turn human souls in a circle; and then, it throws it out of itself, like flour, since a soul with a corrupt heart always gives birth to the most insignificant thoughts. Sometimes it happens that a person, when he is at rest, seems very worthy, but, forced to perform actions, he is exposed, as it is said: Bare your shame, uncover your shoulder, show your shins, cross the rivers (Is. 47:2). So, it is during the performance of work that shame is revealed, because a cheap and insignificant soul is recognized through action, although it was previously considered great. The soul opens its shoulder when it shows the work it cannot do. He exposes his lower leg, because this openly shows by what steps of desire he strives for worldly benefits. He crosses rivers because he continuously strives for the affairs of this age, which daily flow towards their end; and, leaving one, follows the other, as if rushing from river to river. We said this in small words to show where the soul is, thrown off the throne of holy aspiration, because if it has ceased to want to know something above itself, then it continuously collapses under itself. It rises to the top if, having abandoned the love of the temporary, it becomes attached to the unchanging hope of the eternal. 25. So, it is well said: he places the lowly on high (Job.5:11). And one more thing: he also lifts up those who mourn to salvation (Job.5:11). Often in this world, successful people find themselves elevated because they are proud of the glory of their own prosperity. But the Lord lifts up those who mourn, that is, He safely raises His destitute to the glory of true well-being. Of course, those who are exalted salutarily and not madly are those who are disposed to do good deeds; they rejoice in strong hope in God. But some, as we said, commit iniquity and never cease to rejoice. Solomon speaks of such people: they rejoice in doing evil, they boast in evil deeds (Prov. 2:14). And again: There are wicked people who are as confident in themselves as if they were doing the works of the righteous (Eccl. 8:14). Of course, it is not salutary, but madly exalted by those who are proud when they should be distressed, and the righteous mourn the joy of these unfortunates. In this they are like madmen who consider their own insanity to be a virtue; Because of their illness, it seems to them that they can do more than healthy people; and think that their strength is increasing at a time when they are approaching the end of life with increasing fatigue. And, having no reason, they cry and laugh; and they feel joy as much as crazy people do not notice the disease from which they suffer. So, the Lord lifts up those who mourn with salvation, because the souls of the elect rejoice, not madly about real life, but about the truth of eternal salvation. That is why it is added about the fall of the wicked: 26. He destroys the plans of the deceitful, so that their hands cannot complete what they have undertaken (Job 5:12). The minds of the wicked are always in wrong thoughts, but, as a rule, they are counteracted by Heavenly Grace, and since the lost do not correct their lawless plans, It fetters their strength so that they do not turn out to be stronger than the righteous. An amazing judgment operates against the wicked, so that they, having been delivered from the consequences of evil deeds, are nevertheless brought to the fair judgment of their conscience. By the fact that they plot evil, they show their intentions; and thanks to the fact that they cannot achieve the desired evil, those against whom the evil was planned are protected. 27. He ensnares the wise in their own wickedness, and destroys the counsel of the wicked (Job 5:13). And often, some who are puffed up by human wisdom, when they see that the divine judgments oppose their plans, try to resist them with crafty tricks; and, since, at will, they distort the action of Heavenly Grace, they become stuck in insidious plans and practice cunning reasoning; and, trying to change the will of God, they completely expel Her; and, trying to counteract the providence of Almighty God, the one who contradicts It with his human will often comes to open struggle with His will. So, the Lord catches the wise men with their own cunning, because human actions serve His providence even when they resist. We can show this better if we give some examples from history. 28. Joseph had a dream that the sheaves of his brothers bowed down to his sheaf; I had a dream that the sun and moon with the rest of the stars worshiped him. And, since he innocently told his brothers, their hearts were immediately struck with envy and fear of his future dominance. And when they saw Joseph approaching them, they said with wicked malice: behold, the dreamer comes; let us go now and kill him, and see how his dreams help him (Gen. 37:19,20). And, fearing to be subject to his dominance, they put the dreamer in a pit, and then sold him to the Ishmaelites passing by. And he, taken to Egypt, sold into slavery, accused of debauchery, in fact maintaining purity, saved by the gift of prophecy, found himself at the head of all Egypt; Illuminated by heavenly wisdom, he collected food and eliminated the impending danger of need. And when the world was gripped by famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt, taking care of obtaining food; and they found Joseph, not knowing that he was appointed to distribute bread, and in order to receive bread, they were forced to bow to the ground to their benefactor. Let's pay attention to these events, let's pay attention to how the divine power exposes the cunning people with their very cunning. After all, they sold Joseph so as not to worship him, but they worshiped him because they sold him. They dared to resort to cunning in order to change God’s providence, but they served as divine judgment for what they tried to reject by resisting. It was precisely in this that they were forced to fulfill the will of God, in which they tried to reject it by cunning. This is precisely how God's will is fulfilled by the very evasion of it; This is how human wisdom comes to obedience through resistance. The brothers were afraid: as if Joseph would exalt himself over them, but what was divinely ordained happened in defiance. So, human wisdom, sometimes deliberately resisting the will of God, sometimes even taking up arms against it, exposes itself. 29. So Saul, when he saw that his subordinate David was prospering daily, promised him his daughter as a wife and demanded that he give a hundred circumcisions of the Philistines for her, so that, fulfilling his military duty, he would die, struck by the swords of his enemies, as it is written: the king does not want anything except a hundred circumcisions of the Philistines, in vengeance on the king’s enemies (1 Sam. 18:25). So, Saul plotted to give David into the hands of the Philistines, and David, inflamed with a warlike spirit, did not allow himself to bring a hundred and brought two hundred circumcisions. Saul, amazed at this act, was convicted by divine providence of the plan of his wisdom; after all, by means of which he wanted to take the life of a glorious warrior, he only increased the glory of his valor. 30. And that even the chosen ones sometimes try to think cunningly can be shown by the example of another sage, whose thoughts expose the cunning of mortals. So Jonah wanted to act prudently when, having been sent to preach repentance to the Ninevites, he refused to fulfill this duty, fearing to leave the chosen people of Judah. He hired a ship and decided to flee to Tarshish; But immediately a storm arises, lots are cast to find out whose fault the sea is agitated. Jonah's guilt is revealed and he is thrown into the abyss, he is swallowed by a whale, thanks to which he ends up where he did not want to go voluntarily. And so the fugitive is overtaken by a storm raised by God, binds the lot, takes the sea, imprisons the animal, and, since he did not want to obey the voice of the Creator, he is taken as a guilty person, as if in a prison cell, to the very place where he was sent. Man does not want to serve God by proclaiming prophecy, but the beast, cooperating with God, casts out the prophet. So, the Lord catches the wise men with their own cunning, turning in favor of His will that which the human will contradicts Him with. 31. Let us also consider the wisdom of the Jews, so that we can see what she providentially forbade, and what, by forbidding, she only accelerated. Of course, when a crowd of believers flocked to see the miracles of our Savior, then the priests of the people, fueled by envy, declared that the world was following Him: Do you see that you are achieving nothing? Behold, the whole world follows Him (John 12:19). And in order to deprive Him of such strong support, they decided to put a limit to His power by death, saying: it is better for us that one Man should die for the people, than that the whole nation should perish (John 11:50). But the death of the Savior served to unite, and not to separate, His Body, that is, the Church. Therefore, it is prescribed by the Law to cut the throat of a turtledove or a dove in the image of our Sacrifice, but not to separate it entirely, so that after death the head is connected to the body. For this reason, the Mediator between God and people, that is, the Head of us all and the true cleansing Sacrifice, suffered death for us in order to be associated with us. So, after being cut off, the turtle dove’s head is connected to its body because the death that has occurred does not separate Christ from the Church. Then the persecutors fulfilled what they had planned to do in a cancerous manner; they killed Him in order to take away from Him the affection of the faithful; but where faith arose, the cruelty of the infidels tries to destroy it. And while they thought that persecution would eliminate His miracles, they only spread them even more against their will. So, the Lord catches the wise men in their deceit, when he turns to His service what human cunning undertakes against Him. 32. The Just and Merciful, looking at the deeds of mortals, allows some with favor, and allows others in anger; and what He allows He changes for the benefit of His providence. So, miraculously, it happens that actions against the will of God do not turn out to be contrary to it, because when evil actions turn to good, then it is precisely what is opposed to His providence that serves Him. The psalmist also speaks about this: Great is the work of the Lord, perfect in all His will (Ps. 110:2). That is why His deeds are great, because in everything that people do, His will is sought. And often it is precisely then that it is committed, when they think that it is being persuaded. And one more thing: Everything that the Lord pleased has created in heaven and on earth (Ps. 134:6). And Solomon says: There is no wisdom, and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel contrary to the Lord (Prov. 21:30). It remains that in everything we do, we should find the power of the higher will, knowing which, our actions must faithfully serve it and follow it as a leader, so that, rejecting it out of pride, we do not serve it, even without knowing it. After all, it is absolutely impossible to avoid the power of the higher will, but it is greatly softened by the one who humbles himself before its dictates and eases its burden for himself, the one who bears it voluntarily with tension of the heart. Since we previously mentioned the persecutors, we will now show what follows from this and corresponds to their blindness. 33. During the day they encounter darkness, but at noon they grope as in the night (Job 5:14). During the day they encounter darkness because in the very presence of Truth they are blinded by the delusion of perfidy. Of course, during the day we see clearly, but at night our vision becomes dark. Then the persecutors of our Savior, although they saw miracles of divine power, still doubted His divinity; they endured darkness during the day, because they had lost the ability to see in the light. The Light itself warns them, saying: walk while there is light, lest darkness overtake you (John 12:35). Therefore, it is said about Judah: while it was still daylight, its sun set (Jer. 15:9). Therefore, the prophet once again unites the voice of the repentant, saying: we stumble at midday as at twilight, among the living as the dead (Is. 59:10). And he also says: watchman! How long is it night? watchman! How long is it night? The watchman answers: the morning is approaching, but it is still night (Is. 21:11,12). The Watchman comes at night because the Savior of the human race has clearly appeared in the flesh.