"Mnd from life's.history, Glad t.o deRth'e,mystery, Swift to be hurl'd, .. Anywhere, anywhere out of the world.• (Hood, 'Bridge of Sighs.') They who find life's calamities in any measure tolerable have reason to bless God for laying on them no heavier burden than they are able to bear, and for imparting 'to them 6trcngth to bear the burden which he does impose. God's gta.ce alone keeps meh from sinking beneath the weight and pressure of life's ills. Contrast with Job's present state of mind that of St. Paul in the Roman prison (Phil. i. 23). 2. An utter ta:tinction <if hope. "The miserable hath no other medicine, but only hope "-hope that things will eventually improve; that the clouds of adversity will yet give place to the fair suilshin& of prosJ'l'rity; but even this the patriarch appears to have abandoned. It would •bi, incorrect to affirm that Job bad absolutely lost his hold on God; but of hope in •a return to health and happiness he bad none. Yet in Ibis Job erred~rred two ways: in thinking himself at the worst, which he was not; aud in'despairin<> of recovery which he should not. It is seldom so saif with any one that it could n°ot be sad<ler; and it is seldom so bnd that it cannot be improved. All things are possible with God; and God reignl'th ; th,,rcfore nil desperandttm either in nature or in, grace. 3 . .A. sad want offaith. Had Job been able calmly to trust himself and his future to God, ini:i certain he would not have so inordinately longed for death. He would have reaso·n~ that neither the miseries of life nor the perplexities of providence were a sufficient reason for God's cancelling the grant of life, or for a saint seeking the relief of death; since: (1) God has an absolute right to dispose of his creatures· as he may. (2) No rne.n has a claim on God for comp1ete exemption from trouble. (3) ·Aflliction in some- shape or another is every man's desert in this world. (4) 'l'he higher purposes of life may be secured better through adversity than throngh prosperity. (5) It is _not certain· that escape from misery would in every instance be attained by escape from life. (6} And it is possible for bodily calamity and mental trouble and soul-anguish to :pass awny before the end of life, while life once withdrawn can never be £estored. · · Learn: 1. Men are apt to think there is no reason for that for which they can see· ne reason. 2. The best gifts of God may become burdensome to their possessors.. ·8. Some look for death, but cannot find it; death ever finds those for whoin it looks. 4. AfH ictions are commonly accompanied by much darkness, which faith only can illumine.· i:i. Thou~h a man's way is sometimes hid from himself, it never is concealed from God.
Ver. 20.-T,.oomaNJels that are nomysterie.s. I. LIVING HEN ARE OFTEN MIBER,rn;tl!L· 1. Surprising; when we consider (1) that men are the creatures of a loving God; (2)' tbo.t their Creator designed them for happiness; (3) that the most abundant provision· has been made for their felicity. Yet: 2. Not inexplicable; when we remembe,r (l)that men are sinful creatures, and deserve to he miserable; (2) that !Ilen carry the true sourm:,: of misery within themselves, in their sinful hearts; and (3) that men not unfrequentl.f neglect tbnt which alone can remove their misery-God's grace and Christ's blood. '·' lI. ::MrSEl!l..DLE )![Eli OFTEN CONTINUE LIVING. 1. .Astonishing; If we reflect upou' (1) the frailty of life, and the ease with which it may be termiaated; (2) the heaviness' of that burden of sorrow it is sometimes called to support; (3) the intensity \dth which sufferers not unfreq ueutly long for death. Still: 2. Not insoluble; if we recollect· (1) how they are kept in life by the power of God; and (2) why they are kept in life;· viz. (a) to glorify God, by exhibiting his power in sustaining them, and his grace in giving them opportunity to improve; (b) to benefit themselves, by allowin~ time for· sufferin~, if possible, to perfect them in obedience; and, supposing this end attained, (c) to instruct their fellows ho1v to bear and how to profit by affiiction. •
Ver. 23 (along with eh. i. 10).-77ie two herlges; or, the hedge of prosperity and tM· I.edge of adversity. I. I)l WHAT THEY OOMPARE. 1. In being planted by God. Job's' prosperity was from God; hie adver11ity was not witheut God. 2. In encircli,ng' the saint. Job was equ~llr a pious m\l,a in both positions. 3. In being both remo'Vable( If Job'A prosperity was exchanged foi adversity, hi• adversity was afterwards 11uoceed~d oy prosperity. ,:v .r 1 OR,· nr, 1-20.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 59
II, IN WHAT THEY 0ONTBABT, 1. In the frequency of their setting. Adversity a more frequent experience than prosperity. 2. In the comfort they afford. Prosperity a hedge of roses; adversity of thorns. 3. In the effects they produce. Prosperity more dangerous to a man's spiritual interests than adversity. III. IN WHAT TllEY SUGGEST. 1. That God's hand is in everything. 2. That the saint's good may be advanced by overything. 3. That the devil's arrows shoot ai everything.