19. For Moses also besought for the sins of the people; and yet, when he had sought pardon for these sinners, he did not receive it. “I pray Thee,” said he, “O Lord, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin, forgive it; but if not, blot me out of the book which Thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”45    Ex. xxxii. 31. He, the friend of God; he who had often spoken face to face with the Lord, could not obtain what he asked, nor could appease the wrath of an indignant God by his entreaty. God praises Jeremiah, and announces, saying, “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”46    Jer. i. 5. And to the same man He saith, when he often entreated and prayed for the sins of the people, “Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time wherein they call on me, in the time of their affliction.”47    Jer. vii. 16. But who was more righteous than Noah, who, when the earth was filled with sins, was alone found righteous on the earth? Who more glorious than Daniel? Who more strong for suffering martyrdom in firmness of faith, more happy in God’s condescension, who so many times, both when he was in conflict conquered, and, when he had conquered, lived on? Was any more ready in good works than Job, braver in temptations, more patient in sufferings, more submissive in his fear, more true in his faith? And yet God said that He would not grant to them if they were to seek. When the prophet Ezekiel entreated for the sin of the people, “Whatsoever land,” said He, “shall sin against me by trespassing grievously, I will stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver neither sons nor daughters; but they only should be delivered themselves.”48    Ezek. xiv. 13. Thus, not everything that is asked is in the pre-judgment of the asker, but in the free will of the giver; neither can human judgment claim to itself or usurp anything, unless the divine pleasure approve.

XIX. Nam et Moyses pro peccatis populi petiit, nec tamen peccantibus veniam cum petisset accepit: Precor, ait, Domine, deliquit populus hic delictum grande, et fecerunt sibi deos aureos; et nunc, si dimittis eis, delictum dimitte; sin autem, dele me de libro quem scripsisti . Et dixit Dominus ad Moysen: Si quis deliquerit ante me, deleam eum de libro meo (Exod. XXXII, 31). Ille amicus Dei, ille facie ad faciem locutus saepe cum Domino, quod petiit impetrare non potuit, nec Dei indignantis offensam sua deprecatione placavit. Hieremiam Deus laudat et praedicat dicens: Prius quam te formarem in utero novi te, et prius quam exires de vulva sanctificavi te, et prophetam in gentibus posui te (Hier. I, 5). Et eidem pro 0481C peccatis populi deprecanti frequentius et oranti, 0482A Noli, ait , orare pro populo hoc, et noli postulare pro eis in prece et oratione, quia non exaudiam in tempore in quo invocabunt me, in tempore afflictionis suae (Hier. XI, 14). Quid vero justius Noe, qui cum repleta esset terra peccatis, solus inventus est justus in terris? Quid gloriosius Daniele? quid illo ad facienda martyria in fidei firmitate robustius, in Dei dignatione felicius , qui toties et cum confligeret vicit, et cum vinceret supervixit? Quid Job in operibus promptius, in tentationibus fortius, in dolore patientius, in timore submissius, in fide verius? Nec his tamen, si rogarent, concessurum se Deus dixit. Cum propheta Ezechiel pro delicto populi deprecaretur, Terra, inquit, quaecumque peccaverit mihi ut delinquat delictum, extendam manum 0482B meam super eam, et obteram stabilimentum panis et immittam in eam famem, et auferam ab ea hominem et pecora. Etsi fuerint tres viri hi in medio ejus, Noe, Daniel et Job, non liberabunt filios neque filias, ipsi soli salvi erunt (Ezech. XIV, 13). Adeo non omne quod petitur in praejudicio petentis sed in dantis arbitrio est; nec quicquam sibi usurpat et vindicat humana sententia, nisi annuat et censura divina.