Verse 22. — 'Shall any man teach God knowledge, who judges the exalted ones?' The hidden judgments of God are not to be scrutinized too curiously. — When we are in doubt concerning the things done about us, we ought to look upon those things which are certain to us, and to appease that complaint of thought which had arisen in us from our own uncertainty. For behold, that scourges recall the elect to life, and that scourges do not restrain the reprobate from evil deeds — the judgments of almighty God upon them are very hidden, and are not unjust. But if we direct the eye of the mind to things above, in them we perceive that we have nothing whereof to complain justly concerning ourselves.
For almighty God, discerning the merits of the angels, appointed some to remain in eternal light without falling, and cast down others, fallen of their own accord from the state of their loftiness, into the vengeance of eternal damnation. Therefore He does nothing unjustly with us, who has justly judged even a nature subtler than ours. Let him say, then: 'Shall any man teach God knowledge, who judges the exalted ones?' For He who does wondrous things above us, it stands beyond doubt that He disposes all things concerning us with knowledge. These things having been premised, there is added that in which the human mind is wearied in its inquiry. For it follows: