God: “Dost thou still continue in thy simplicity? Bless God and die.”[1] Compelled by a natural feeling of sorrow, Job will indeed sometimes groan and sigh and complain and long for death; but never will he forget his dutiful obedience, submission, and respect for the Almighty God. He will encourage himself with his hope, and say: I can see the dung-hill on which lam sitting, the worms that creep out of my sores, and the decaying flesh that falls from my bones; I can see and know all that; but at the same time “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth: and I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I shall see my God.”[2] It is this hope alone that comforts me in my misery; therefore I do not mind the loss of my goods, the misfortunes that have crowded on me, and the bodily pain I suffer. But, holy man, how can that hope help thee? The comfort thou expectest is still a long way from thee; many hundred years must pass away before thy resurrection takes place! And meanwhile thou art lying there in torment! No, answers Job; my comfort is not far from me; my pains torment me only outwardly, while inwardly my heart is filled with consolation: “This my hope is laid up in my bosom;”[3] it is hidden in my heart; it sits with me on the dung-hill, and with that I am more contented in all my sufferings than a king on his throne. I shall rise out of the earth and shall see my Redeemer! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
And St. Paul. What do you think of this, delicate Christians! who are so diligent in seeking your comfort, and cannot bear the least mortification? What do you think, pusillanimous and despairing souls, who complain so impatiently under the trials and crosses of life, as if all were lost? If misfortune or poverty deprives you of some temporal good, if sickness attacks and confines you to bed, if father or mother, husband or wife, child or friend is carried off by a premature death, or if the danger of death threatens you yourself, is all lost therefore? Nay, have you suffered any loss whatever? Let those complain of whom the Apostle speaks, those who have no hope, no expectation of a happy resurrection. Truly they have reason to complain, to murmur, to despair. But you, my dear brethren, who bear this hope about with you, why should you be disturbed at the loss of worldly goods, of earthly
- ↑ Adhuc tu permanes in simplicitate tua! Benedic Deo, et morere.—Job ii. 9.
- ↑ Scio enim quod Redemptor meus vivit, et in novissimo die de terra surrecturus sum; et rursum circumdabor pelle mea, et in carne mea videbo Deum meum.—Ibid. xix. 25, 26.
- ↑ Reposita est hæc spes mea in sinu meo.—Ibid. xix. 27.
