Ever
"= ver. 1, 2j 9, 13. "^ ver. 3. « ver. 6, 7.
SOO PSALMS, LXJfXVIlI. 14—16. [396i
Even Job himself, notwithstanding his extraordinary patience, seemed at times to sink under the accumulated load of his afflic- tions, and to be transported beyond the bounds of sense or reason. And the dejection of many, however it appear to ori- ginate in matters connected with religion, must in reality be traced to this source : their mind is enfeebled by a complication of bodily diseases, and of worldly sorrows, and then becomes an easy prey to any discouragements which may engross its attention.
Some are broken down by means of some great transgression, which, either before, or after, their religious course, they have committed, and which has destroyed all hope of respect from man, or comfort in their own minds. To such, life is become a burthen : they cannot bear even the sight of those whose esteem they have forfeited : they affect solitude, which yet is irksome to them ; and they long for death, as a relief from the torments of a self-condemning conscience. It is no wonder if such, though truly penitent before God, yield to desponding fears, and anti- cipate nothing but misery in the eternal world.
Some are in a more extraordinary degree than others exposed to the assaults of Satan. That powerful adversary seems, as it were, to take possession of their minds, as formerly he possessed the bodies of men : and by his fiery darts he inflicts the deadliest wounds upon their souls. He is well called, " The accuser of the Brethren ;" for he accuses them to God, as he did Job of old ; and accuses them also at the bar of their own consciences, to prove them hypocrites and self-deceivers. Is it to be won- dered at, if that roaring lion prevail over a weak and unpro- tected sheep ? The wonder rather is, that any are enabled to withstand him.
But once more : there are some who by God himself are brought into manifold temptations, and are suffered to experi- ence much darkness in their souls. And though at first sight it should seem as if these persons were less beloved of the Lord than others, the truth is, that they are often to be found amongst those who are his chief favourites : ^' Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth ;" and usually, those most, who are most beloved. We cannot doubt but that Job was an object of God's peculiar favour : yet who was ever more alBicted than he, even in the very way that we are novv speaking of? Hear his own words : " The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit : the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me^" And need we say how deeply our blessed Lord himself was afflicted, when "^ his soul was exceeding sor- rowful, even unto death," and his mind was so distracted, that " he knew not what to say^?"
That God sends these dispensations to his people in love, will
appear [Job vi. 4. 5 John xii. 2/.