The Value Of Examination

Quoniam probasti nos Deus, igne nos examinasti sicut examinatur argentum. Sed quae tandem comparationis similitudo est, examinatos eos igni, sicut examinatur argentum? Est, ut arbitror, examinandi argenti illa sola ratio est, ut sordes  quae ex prima terrae materie adhaeserint decoquantur, ut quae fraudulenter ex alterius metalli natura admixta fuerint purgentur. Deus itaque credentes in se no tamquam fidei eorum ignarus examinat: sed quia etiam secundum Apostolum tentatio probationem affert, examinantur credentes no ad cognitionem Dei, sed ad sui probationem: ut igne purgati, et ab admixtione vitiorum carnalium defaecati, splendeant examinatae innocentiae claritate. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis,Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum LXV

'You tested us, O God, with fire you examined us as silver is examined.' 1  But what is this likeness of comparison that He examines them with fire as silver is examined? It is, so I judge it, that silver is examined in such a manner for one reason only, that the baseness which remains in it from the earth might be burnt away, that which has been deceitfully mixed into it of some other metal might be purged. Thus God does not examine the faithful as if He were ignorant of their faith, but because, as the Apostle says, testing leads to approval, 2 and so the faithful are not examined for the sake of God's knowledge, but for their own approval, that purged with fire and stripped of the admixture of carnal vices those examined might shine with the light of innocence. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 65 1 Ps 65.10 2 Rom 5.4