Ruth’s Reviews > Morals on the Book of Job > Status Update

But it is the peculiar way with haughty preachers, that they are more desirous of strictly reproving their hearers even when distressed, than to cherish them in a kindly manner. For they study more to chide and reprove faults, than to encourage goodness with praise. For they are anxious to appear superior to other people, and they are better pleased when anger raises their feelings than when charity brings them down.

"The soul then even of the righteous is frequently disturbed with the dread of punishment, as it approaches the dissolution of the flesh."

This is actually quite comforting. To know that the best of people suffer at times from fear of judgements by God. Then at least there is no need to see the fear itself as a sign that something must be wrong.

For the mind of man, when engaged with numberless thoughts, frequently remains in a manner unknown to itself, so as to be quite ignorant of what it is suffering: for while it is distracted with many matters, it is diverted from the inward knowledge of itself. But if it desires to have leisure for thinking upon God (...) it then beholds without obstruction, that which springs forth from the inmost depths of the flesh.

For the intervening mist of sin is first wiped away from the eye of the mind, by burning sorrow; and it is then enlightened by the bright coruscations of the boundless light swiftly flashing upon it. At which sight, seen after its measure, it is absorbed in a kind of rapturous security; and carried beyond itself, as though the present life had ceased to be, it is refreshed in a manner by a kind of new being.

Come to think of it, quite a relaxed view on sin, this :

"We learn by our sins, which tempt us, what we are of ourselves; by the scourges, which smite us, what we should avoid in this world. We are restrained by the one from inward pride, we are kept back by the other from desiring any thing without us."

So beautiful!

"The voice of God, in truth, is heard as if in dreams, when, with minds at ease, we rest from the bustle of this world, and the Divine precepts are pondered by us in the deep silence of the mind."

Hey, that's strange. I've always wondered what Elihu says so different from the other friends. Even read sermons explaining the subtle difference why Elihu was right and the others wrong.
But St. Gregory says that he was even more wrong and arrogant than them.

I feel very relieved that apparently I'm not the only one who doesn't see the difference 😁

Finally arrived at the point where he discusses the words of Elihu. I was looking forward to that, as I feel somewhat connected to him.
Gregory isn't all that positive (describes him as a young arrogant hot-spirited bloke), as I knew already, but I'm sure it will be most instructive.

Let those, who are so minded, admire in him the self control of chastity, let them admire the faithfulnessof justice, let them admire the bowels of pitifulness;I do not less admire in him the humblest confession of sins, than such lordly achievements of virtue. For I know well that through the shame of infirmity it is generally a worse conflict, to bring to light the sins we have committed, than it is to avoid them.