Gregory the Great: Morals on the Book of Job, Vol. 3

Ps.3n,i.on himself, saying, / have set a guard upon my mouth, while the sinner stood against me. I was dumb, and teas humbled, and kept silence even from good things: in the midst of his silence blazed forth with this zeal of charity, when he

Ps.39,3. iiiiniediatcly subjoined; My sorrow was renewed, my heart greio hoi within me, and in my meditation a jxre shall Jlame out. His heart grew hot within him, because the flame of charity refused to burst forth in words of admonition. The fire burned in the meditation of his hearty because his reproof of the nngodly had ceased to flow on with the chiding of his lips. For the zeal of charity tempers itself with wonderful consolation, as it gains strength, when it bursts forth in words of reproof against the deeds of the ungodly, in order that it may not cease to reprove the faidts which it cannot amend, lest it should convict itself of partaking in their sins, by consent of keeping silence.

19. But because certain vices frequently assume the guise of virtues, as, for instance, lavishness wishes to appear like pity, stinginess like frugality, cruelty like justice; in like manner, a desire for empty glory, being unable to keep itself within the bounds of silence, inflames like the zeal of charity, and the powerful desire of ostentation impels a person to speak without restraint, and the desire of display breaks out, as if with the wish of offering advice. For it cares not what good it can effect by its speaking, but what show it can make: nor is it anxious to correct the evil w^hich it beholds, but to display the good which it feels. Hence Eliu also, swollen by the spirit of pride, and unable to keep himself

ver. 18. within the barriers of silence, says, I am full of words, the spirit of my womb constraineth me; behold, my belly is as new wine without a vent which bursts in sunder new vessels.

« Comma after ' locutionis,' as the rhythm and the sense both require.

Arrogance u-ould pass for zeal. Self to be first corrected. 19 20. If we must understand this passage spiritually, by Book

' Xxtti

' belly' he means the secret recesses of tl)e heart. IJut by '-

new wine is understood the wanutli ot' the Holy Spirit, of which the Lord says in the Gospel, They put new tvine into Matt. 9, new skins. For when the Apostles were filled suddenly therewith, and were speaking in every tongue, it was said by the Jews, who knew not the truth and yet…