practic11lly involved in the st11nding or falling of Job, whoRe sincerity was impeached. In the devil's sermond there is always more than meets the ear (cf. Gen. iii. 5). (4) An audacious proposition-that God should bring the question in debate to an issue by experiments on the patriarch, as if God had doubts concerning the integrity of hiR servant, or as if, although he had, he was likely to subject that servant to the ordeal ,of suffering in order to please the devil! Verily there arc no limits to the impudence of Sat:m I (6) A rash p~ediction--that Job would forthwith, on the application of the touchstone of adversity, rebound to the opposite extreme and "curse God to his face," which he did not, showing that Satan's prophecies, like his promises, generally turn out lies. IV. TrrE DETERMINATION OF THE coNTnOVERSY. By the trial of the patriarch. 1. The Divine permission. "Behold, all that he he.th is in thy power." A permission (1) truly amazing when we consider by whom, to whom, and concerning whom it was given, how far it reached, and for what purpose it was designed; yet (2) perfectly justifiable, since Job's possessions were more Jehovah's than the patriarch's (Ps. xxiv. 1; 1. 10-- 12; Exod. xix. 5; Hag. ii. 18; Rzek. xviii. 4), as the patriarch afterwards recognized (eh. i. 21), and might be disposed of as God pleased without the charge being incurred of doing wrong to his creature; and (3) absolutely necessary, if the trial was to be so conducted that no loophole should remain for the least suspicion of its thoroughness and impartiality; though at the same time (4) mercifully limited, only the patriarch's possessions being put into the adversary's power, and not his person as in the second trial (eh. ii. 7), God never suffering his people to be tried above that which they are able to bear (1 Cor. x. 13), or more than is necessary. 2. The Divine limitation. "Only upon himself put not forth thine hand;" which reminds us (1) that Satan has no power against a saint further than God permits (John xix. 11); (2) that Goi\ can Mt a bar to the. malignity of Satan, as well as to the waves of the sea (eh. xxxviii. 11) and the rage of man (Ps. lxxvi. 10); (3) that God can cast a shield around the persons of his people in the day of their calamity (eh. xxii. 25; Ps. xci. 1-7); and (4) that God frequently _protects his people against Satan's assaults when they are not aware. Learn: 1. That if Satan· can find his way into the assemblies of God's sons in heaven, it need hardly surprise one to detect him amon~st the congregations of God's children on earth. • 2 . That if so eminent a saint as Job did not escape impeachment by the devil, it will not be wonderful if lesser saints should be accused. 3. That if God permitted a Job to be put into the devil's power, as Christ allowed a Peter to be cast into Satan's sieve, it m,ay almost be expected that ordinary Christians will also be subjected to trial. 4. That if God set a limit to Satan's power in dealing with his servant Job, he will not accord. unlimited authority to the adversary when he comes to try those who are less able to withstand his assaults. 5. And that if Job was sustained when passing through the fiery ordeal, so will all who like Job are sincere in heart be upheld in the day of their calamity. Ver. 7,_.:.A· sermon on Satan. I. Tim CHARACTER OF SATL--ts PEBSO:N. The question implies: 1. The existence and personolity of the spirit of evil. 2. His angelic nature. 3. His incessant activity. 4. His unwearied vigilance. 6. The restlessness of his wicked heart. II. 'l'BE SPHERE OF SATAN'S ACTION. 1. Generally, the earth as opposed to heaven. 2. Particularly, (1) the humau heart; (2) the human family; (3) the Christian Church; (4) the heathen world. III. TBE MODE OF SATAN'S WORKING. 1. By temptation. 2. By accusation. Learn : 1. 'fhe necessity of watchfulness. • 2. The value of prnyer. 3. The importame·of putting on the Christian armour. 4. The advantage of Christian work. Ver. 9.-" Doth Jol1 fear God for nought 1" I. YES! God's servants are not hypocrites. 1. Those who serve God from mercenary motives do not truly serve him at all (Isa. i. 13). 2. Those who serve God sincerely adhere to him when all creature- comforts a.re withdrawn (He.b. iii. 17). . II, Nol, God's sel"vants do not go unrewarded. Like Job, they are honoured with: 1, Divine attention (Ps. xxxiii. 18). 2~ _Divine approbation (Ps. cxlvii. 11). 3. Divine 12 'ME 'BOOlr OF .tOB.
provision (Ps. xxxiv. 9; cxi. 6). 4. Divine prot.ection (Pa. lxxxv. 9); cf. the Old Testament saints in the time11 of Malachi (iii. 16).