Of The Immensity And Greatness Of The Divine Perfections By The Testimony Of The Holy Scriptures
All that up to here has been said serves to give us knowledge of those four most high perfections of our Creator, which are: goodness, wisdom, omnipotence, and providence, which is the highest, most necessary, and most profitable philosophy of as many as human wit can attain. Of the fruit of this knowledge we have already treated. But now it remains to treat of the greatness of these same perfections, which are the intrinsic modes of them, as some theologians call them, not only for the fruit that has already been declared, but to suspend the hearts in admiration of so much greatness, and so that by this they may understand the reverence that is owed to so great a Majesty, and how great an evil it is to dare to offend it. But this will not be the only fruit of this matter, but others that at the end will be seen.
And although my intent in this First Part is to proceed by the marvels of created things to the knowledge of the Creator, yet because the Holy Scriptures give us more light for this knowledge, I shall place here some signal places from them that may serve us for this. And in the first place I shall place those that are found in the book of holy Job, because both he and the friends who dispute with him treat magnificently of the greatnesses of God, whose knowledge they attained by the marvels that they noted in the works of nature, of which we treat here. For although holy Job recognized by special revelation the mystery of our Redemption and that of the general resurrection, yet the friends who disputed with him did not attain these mysteries, and therefore they proceed by the consideration that we said of created things.
This matter is very sweet and agreeable to the lovers of God. For just as he who loves a person greatly rejoices to hear the praises and excellences of him, so those who truly love God receive great consolation hearing his greatnesses and marvels, and together with this there grows in them the reverence of so great a Majesty and the fear of offending it. We shall then place in the first place the words of holy Job, and afterward those of his friends, and this with some declaration so that they may be better understood, taking some things and leaving others, as it shall appear most fitting.
Holy Job, then, begins to treat of the greatness of the power and justice of God, saying thus: “Truly I know that man cannot be justified compared with God, and if he wishes to put himself in justice with him, of a thousand charges that he should make against him he will not be able to answer one. Wise is he of heart, strong and powerful: who ever resisted him and had peace? He is the one who with his omnipotence overturns the mountains, without the dwellers of them being able first to know it, whom he with the fury of his wrath destroyed. He is the one who moves the earth from its place, and makes its columns burst. He is the one who, when it pleases him, commands the sun not to rise, and the stars not to give light. He is the one who stretched out the heavens alone, and the one who walks upon the waves of the sea. He is the one who created diverse stars and constellations in the heaven for the government of the world. He is the one who does great and incomprehensible and marvelous things, which have no count. If he should come to my soul, I shall not see him, and if he should go away, neither shall I understand it, and if suddenly he should wish to examine man, and enter into judgment with him, who will answer him, or who will be able to say to him why do you do this? He is the one whose wrath no one can resist, and before whose regard kneel the angels who move the
heavens. Then who am I that I can answer him and dare to speak with him? For although I have something to allege on my part, I shall not answer him except with all humility, and I shall ask him pardon. And he having heard my prayer, I do not think that he has heard me. If you seek strength, he is most robust; if equity of judgment, no one will dare to advocate for me. If I should wish to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me, and if I should wish to show myself innocent, he will show that I am guilty.” Thus far are words of holy Job, which show what high thoughts this saint held of God, and how lowly and humbly of himself. And farther on, treating of the same matter, he says thus: “In him is wisdom and strength, in him counsel and intelligence. If he should destroy, there is no one who may build, and if he should enclose or imprison the man, there will be no one who may loose him. If he should detain the waters, everything will dry up, and if he should send them with too much abundance, all the earth will be drowned. In him is power and strength, and he knows the deceiver and the deceived. He permits by his secret judgments that counselors err in their counsels, and that the judges and princes of the earth come to remain astonished by the greatness of their calamities. He removes the belt from powerful kings, and makes them come to gird their loins with a rope. He takes away their glory from priests, and abases the pride of the powerful and great. He permits that the wise err in their counsels, and that doctrine be lacking to the old and aged. He makes princes be despised, and lifts up the fallen and oppressed. He is the one who reveals what is in the depth of the darkness, and brings to light what was beside the shadow of death. He is the one who by his secret judgments multiplies the peoples and destroys them, and after they have been destroyed restores them.” “Hell is naked before him, and the place of perdition has nothing with which to cover itself. He is the one who sends the wind that blows from the band of the north over the element of the air, and seated the earth in the place that it now has upon nothing. He is the one who gathers and binds the waters in the clouds, so that they may not fall full upon the earth. He is the one who clothes and adorns his royal throne, which is heaven, and covers it when he wishes with the clouds and with the mist. He put a limit to the waters of the sea, which will endure while in the world there shall be light and darkness. The columns of heaven tremble at his presence, and fear at any sign of his indignation. By his virtue and strength the seas came out of their natural place, and were gathered into their proper bosom, leaving the earth uncovered. His spirit adorned the heavens, and by the virtue of his hand the coiled serpent went out, casting the perverse demon from the company of the holy angels.”
This is a small part of the greatnesses of God. And it being true that all of it is scarcely a little thread of water in comparison with what remains to be said, who will be able to suffer the thunder of his greatness, which frightens the ears of our souls no less than thunder? All that up to here has been said are words with which holy Job declares what he felt of the omnipotence, wisdom, and justice of God.
I
Now let us see what concerning this matter his friends say, one of whom says thus: “Perchance will man be able to be justified by comparing himself with God, or will he be able to be purer than his Maker? See that the angels who serve him do not have by themselves stability and firmness in their being and in their grace, and in some of them he found wickedness. Then how much more will
men who dwell in houses of clay, which is this corruptible body composed and kneaded from the mire of the earth, be worn and consumed as clothing is worn by the moth?” This says one of the friends of holy Job.
Another, speaking of the same God, says thus: “The greatness of his power and of his justice is such that it causes terror and fright in men. Perchance will anyone be able to count the number of the ministers who serve him, to whom he communicates the splendor of his light? Perchance will man be able to be justified compared with God, or appear clean who was born of woman? The moon itself does not shine before him, and the stars are not clean in his regard. Then how much less will man be so, who is a rottenness, and the son of man, who is a worm?”
Another friend of the same saint, treating of this same greatness, declares how God is incomprehensible, by these words: “Perchance will you find the trace of the footprints of God, and will you know perfectly him who is all powerful? He is deeper than hell; how will you know him? His measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. If he should overturn all things, and heap them together in one place, who will be powerful enough to contradict him or say to him why do you do this? For he knows the vanity of men, and he, who sees their wickednesses, does he not take account of them to punish them?”
After these two friends of Job, the youngest of them takes the hand, and treating of the greatnesses of God, says thus: “His eyes are set upon all the ways of men, and he takes account with all the steps of their life. There are no darknesses nor shadow of death where those who work wickedness can hide themselves. He is the one who breaks and destroys many and innumerable, and puts others in their place, because he knows the evil works of them. And for this he turns the clear day for them into the dark night, which is the time of prosperity into adversity, so that thus those may be punished who almost by industry departed from him, and did not wish to understand his ways. These made the cry of the needy, and the groans and voices of the oppressed poor, reach his ears. When he shall grant peace, who will there be that condemns? And when he shall hide his face, who will be able to contemplate him? He is the one who has universal lordship over all peoples and over all men, and he is the one who permits that the evil king reign in the world because of the sins of the people.” “Lift up, Job, your eyes to heaven, and contemplate and look at the height and the breadth and the almost infinite greatness of it, so that at least by this you may see how much higher God is than you. If you should sin, in what will you harm him? And if your wickednesses should be multiplied, what evil will you do him? And if you should be just, what will you give him for that, or what will he receive from your hand? The man who is like you your wickedness will be able to harm, and the son of man your justice will be able to help.” “This is the sovereign and great God in his power and strength, and no less is he so in his wisdom. Who will be able to scrutinize his ways, and who will be able to tell him that he does anything against justice? All men have knowledge of him, but each one looks at him from afar. Behold here the great God who overcomes our wisdom, and the number of his years is inestimable. He suspends the waters of the rain, and afterward pours them in great abundance upon the earth, which proceed from the clouds that cover the whole region of the air. These greatnesses of God frighten my heart, and draw it from its place. He is the one who contemplates all that is done beneath heaven, and the splendor of his light reaches to the ends of the earth. He is the one who thunders in the clouds with terrible sound, declaring in this the greatness
of his power. He is the one who commands the snow to descend downward, and sends the waters of winter to water the earth. From the band of the south he sends the tempest and the whirlwinds of the waters, and from the band of the north he sends the colds, and with the breath of this wind the waters are frozen, and after being frozen with the heat they melt and pour out in great abundance. The sown fields desire the clouds, and they temper the brightness that they receive from the sun, and scatter them over the earth, which circle the world wherever that sovereign Governor directs them, they obeying his commandment, and extending themselves over the face of the earth now in one place, now in another, wherever his mercy directs them.” Finally this friend of Job finishes his discourse saying that we must praise him with fear and trembling because of the greatness of his Majesty, adding that “no understanding can worthily know him, because he is in all things great, great in strength, in judgment, and in justice, whose greatness cannot be explained with words. Therefore men will fear him, and those who hold themselves for wise will not presume to contemplate him daringly.”
These are the greatnesses of God that men attained by considering the properties of created things and the course and order of the heavens, which preach the glory of God and declare the wisdom and marvelous artifice of his works.
Let us now hear, after holy Job and his friends, the Prophets. Among whom Isaiah, speaking of the greatness of this sovereign Lord, says thus: “Who measured the waters with his fist, and spanned the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has hanging from three fingers the weight of the earth, and seated the mountains and hills with weight and measure? Who helped the spirit of the Lord in this so great work, and with whom did he take counsel to fabricate it? All the peoples compared with him are like a little thread of water and like a grain of weight that is loaded upon the balance. The islands are like a little bit of dust before him, and all the wood of Mount Lebanon, with all the animals that there are in it, would not suffice to offer him a worthy sacrifice. All the peoples in his regard are as if they were not, and as nothing are reputed before him. He is the one who is seated above the circle of the earth, and the dwellers of it are like some grasshoppers in his presence. He is the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and makes of them a tabernacle for his dwelling. He is the one who permits that the scrutinizers of secrets err in their counsels, and discomposes the judges and powerful in such manner as if they had never been planted, nor sown, nor rooted in the earth. With the breath of his wind these were dried, and a whirlwind carried them off like a light straw; then with whom have you compared and equaled me, says the holy God? Lift up those eyes to heaven, and look who it is who created all that which you see. He is the one who ordered by his account the army of the stars, and the one who calls all of them by their name. Then why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, saying: God does not see my ways nor take account with me? Perchance do you not know and have you not heard that God is an eternal lord, who created the limits of the earth, who neither tires nor labors in the government of the world, nor is there anyone who can comprehend the greatness of his wisdom? He is the one who gives forces to the weary, and makes strong and vigorous those who seem to have no being.” All these are words of Isaiah, which give us testimony of the greatness, of the power and of the wisdom and providence of our Creator.
To this same tone Jeremiah speaks, saying: “You, Lord, made the heaven and the earth with your great strength and with your powerful arm, and for this nothing will be difficult to your great power. You are the one who uses mercy with your servants for thousands of years, and punishes the sins of the fathers in the children after them. Most strong, great, and powerful, whose name is Lord of hosts, great in your counsels and incomprehensible to all understandings. Whose eyes are set upon the ways of all the children of Adam to give to each one his deserved thing according to his works, and according to the fruit of his inventions.” This is from Jeremiah.
Let us come to the holy King David, who in Psalm 88, treating of this same greatness, says thus: “Who in the clouds will be equaled with the Lord, and who among the sons of God will be similar to him? He is praised and glorified in the council and assembly of the saints, and is great above all those who assist before him. Lord of the virtues, who will be similar to you? Powerful are you, Lord, and the truth of your words is together with you. You have lordship over the waters of the sea, and you calm the impetus of its waves. You took vengeance upon the proud one, and with the arm of your power destroyed all your enemies. Yours are the heavens, and yours the earth, and you created the roundness of it with all that it embraces. You made the sea and the impetuous winds that lift it. Mount Tabor and Hermon in your name shall rejoice, clothing themselves with groves and freshness, and your arm alone is the powerful one.” And in Psalm 73, treating of this same matter, he says thus: “God our King before all ages worked salvation in the midst of the earth. You, Lord, opened and confirmed with your power and virtue the sea, and broke the head of the dragon in the waters. You opened fountains and streams in the desert, and dried the great and mighty rivers. Yours is the day and yours is the night, you fabricated the sun and the morning. You created all the limits of the earth, and winter and summer are works of your hands.” Thus far are the words of the Psalm.
II
These authorities that we have alleged here declare to us the greatness of the power and of the wisdom of our Creator, which awaken in religious souls a great admiration and reverence of so high a Majesty, and a holy fear of offending it; but because this Lord is no less great in wisdom, companion of his omnipotence, than in the other perfections of his, therefore it will be necessary to touch here something of it, alleging some places of Scripture that treat of it. Among which one very signal one is Psalm 138, which treats of the immensity of this wisdom, speaking with God by these words: “Lord, you have proved and known me, and you know all that I do being seated or lying down. You know from afar all my ways, and no word comes out of my tongue that you do not know. You, Lord, know all things past and future. You formed me and placed your hand upon me. More admirable is your wisdom than what I can attain, higher than all that I can comprehend. Where shall I go, Lord, that I may absent myself from your spirit, and where shall I flee from your presence? If I should ascend to heaven, there you are, and if I should descend to hell, you are also there present. And if in the morning I should take some very light wings, and with them fly to the last ends of the sea, from there your hand will draw me out, and your right hand will seize me. But I said
within myself: Perchance will the darknesses hide me from you? But the night will be as clear as the light of day to comprehend me in my delights. For the darknesses are not dark before you, and the night will be clear to you as the day.” This is from David.
There is another testimony no less illustrious from Ecclesiasticus, which says thus: “The man who, committing adultery, does not make account of this sin, comes to say within himself: Who sees me? The darknesses cover me, and the walls have me hidden. What do I have for which to fear? The Most High will not remember my sins. This such man fears nothing more than the eyes of men, and does not understand that the eyes of God are clearer than the light of the sun, which are always looking at all the ways and steps of men, and the depth of the abyss, and the hearts of mortals, and the most hidden thing of them. For all things were present to our Lord God before they were created, and so clearly he sees them now after they have been made.” And the same Ecclesiasticus in another place, intending to warn the man who does not fear to offend God, says thus: “Do not say, I shall hide myself from God and, who from on high will remember me? In a great people I shall not be known. For what thing is now my soul among so much infinity of creatures? See then, O man, that the heaven, and the heavens of the heavens, and the abysses, and all the earth, and all the things that there are in it, move in the presence of God, and in all these things the heart of man is insensible, and he understands all that passes within their hearts. But who will be able to hit upon and attend to the ways of God?” The conclusion of what has been said is that all things, as the Apostle says, are naked and uncovered before his eyes.
And thus we confess that he has always and actually present the thoughts of all men who were, are, and shall be until the end of the world, as well of those who have to be saved as of those who have to be condemned. And this is not much for him, because all these thoughts Christ our Savior knows, not only insofar as God, but also insofar as man, since he has to be judge of the one and of the other, and thus it is fitting that he know the processes and lives of all. This serves so that men may fear to offend God, remembering that they sin in the eyes and presence of the Eternal Father and of his only-begotten Son our Savior, who says by his Prophet: “I am judge and witness,” says the Lord.