Moralia in Job (Commenti morali sul libro di Giobbe), vol. 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. Job 1 , 1 . 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, / 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 hoYu\g. 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, / know thy works, Simplicity needs Uprightness and Zeal.…