Vers. 11-13.-Job's comforters. We now enter on a new scene, one that prepares for the mri.in action of the drama. Hitherto the court of heaven, the roving errands of Satan, the personal and domestic afflictions of Job, have engaged our attention. Now the light of the larger human world is let iu on this scene. Job is not in purgatory, shut off from companionship-0fliving men. Indeed, his greatest trouble is yet to come from the blundering conduct of that companionship. L TooUDLE SHOULD OOLLECT FRIENDS. We see very much of the faults of Job's three friends in the course of the poem. Let us be fair to them, and recognize their good points. They were true friends ; they did honestly desire and attempt to render to Job all the oonsolation that was in their power. They aimed at being " friends in need." False friends fall off in the hour of trouble. Such a spectacle as that of Job on his dung- heap would not invite the crowd of sycophants that swarms about the table of the great man. No doubt Job bad been pestered with plenty of such pretended friends in the old days of his fame. Doubtless one blessing among his many calamities was that he was now relieved of their presence. But three genuine friends still bold to him and seek him out in the time of his deepest distress. It is well to go to the house of mourning. But few are they who know how to conduct themselves when there. IL SYMPATHY IS THE BEST co:MFOBT. The three friends were amazed at the sight which presented itself. They were prepared. to see trouble, but no imagination could picture so huge a distress as that of Job. It needed to be witnessed to be believed. The sight of it calls forth natural sympathy. Although the decorous Orientals proceeded at once to adopt the conventional forms of mourning, there is every reason to believe that their sympathy was genuine and heartfelt. It is only the heart made callous by selfishness that is incapable of sympathy. In this most, Divine attribute of human nature we may recognize the root of what is most fruitful in good. Sympathy is the spring of all the most helpful service, and when the service is impossible, the sympathy itself is consoling; for it is much to know that friends feel with us in our trouble. Ill. SYMPATHY MAY BE SHOWN IN SILENCE. Those seven days and seven nights of sile1.Jce are a sublime spectacle. Job's comforters began well. It would have been good for their reputation if they bad gone home at the end of the week. Then they would OH, Ill, 1-28.] THE BOOK OF JOB.
have been known ns model comforters instead of becoming bywords for tormentors We often make a mistake in thinking we ought" to say something." Great distres~ should hush hasty words. There are times when the gentlest words sound harsh on pained eBrs. What Is wanted in trouble is not advice, bnt sympathy; and this is beel shown by the unbidden tear, the silent pressure of the hand, the look of love. We feel a sad separation from one who is in great sorrow, for sorrow is naturally lonely. Only Obrist can perfectly enter into it. He needs no words.-W. F. A.
SEOTION II. Ca, III,-XIV, FIRST COLLOQUY BETWEEN Joa AND HIS FRIENDS.
EXPOSITION.