Ven;. 1-13.-.A true estimate of grief U'flder the sewrities of afftiction. Even the 11trong man cries for help and releMe.. Job, in his extreme sufferings, desires that a fair judgment may be formed of them and of his complaint. Put this into one sea.le, and them into the other~ a.nd behold which of them is the lighter. Thus he describes them- I. Tim INSUFFERABLE WEIGHT 0!' 1!f8 ~FFLIOTION. Jt is as the unknown weight of the sand of the seashore. Affl1ctlon 1s truly as the pressure of a great weight upon the frail body. The idea. of patience is gained from bearing up under a load. Heavy i1> the load, indeed, under which this servant of the Lord is bowed down. It is not to he estimated. No onlooker can determine it. Therefore should judgment be withheld when from the life of the sufferer there escapes the sigh of complaint. He'only knows his sufferings ; and be -may know that his cry does not fully represent them. The untouched observer bnt bears the~ry, an«! cannot put that into comparison with a pain that he feels not, and the measure of which pain the cry is supposed to represent. Row shall a just judgment, therefore, be given? •. Il. TIil!: KEENNEBS OF THE PANG OF BIS SUFFERINGS. They pierce as -doth an ·arrow; and are u poisoned an-ows; and as arrows shot forth· by nci feeble arm, but by·the .Almighty. They penetrate to the inner spirit. The strength of their burning poison drinks up-burns up his spirit. Be does not encounter a feeble foe, "The terrors of God set themseh•es in array " against him. Is it wonderful that his words are hasty? Is there not a cause? "Doth the wild ass bray when he hatb ·grass? " • Ill. TBE .ABHORRENT CBABAOTEB OF THE THINGS WITH WHICH HE HAS• 'r<> DO. "That which my soul refused "-from which I turned away in disgiist-1 am compelled to take as my daily bread. Yea, that which should give me comfort, even my refreshing food, is loatll6ome to me. Sadly does he thus represent the nature of the foul _disease that cleaveth to him. The onlookers are pained, but ihey taste it not. To 'him it is u his food. ' IV. HE FUBTBER DEBOBmEB HIS SUFFRBING CONDITION AS SO BAD THAT BE LONGS FOB DEATH. "'!'hat it would please God to destroy me!" How low is life reduced when there seems to be no release but in the 11;rave ! Worn to the earth, this sufferer cries for an end to be put to bis pains. He has not strength to bear up patiently under the weight of them. He cannot desire prolonged life; for what shall the end of it be? Weary, irideed, is that spirit that craves rest in the tomb. Job feels himself so utterly powerless, that continued endurance is impossible to him. He little knew that he could survive all-that be could yet pass through all, and bear honour to God, and perceive in t.he end the testimony of the Divine approbation. To him it was true, and he woultl prove it, though the words had not fallen on his ear, " With man it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are. pos~ible." Job's history, therefore, illW!trates the sufficiency of the Divine grace to sustain men beneath the utterm08t pressW'e of sorrow.-R. G.
Ver. 14.-77ie claims of the suffering on the pity offriends .. Job's friends come 'to condole with him. They are staggered by the severity of bis suffering~; and ·remain silt:nced before him. When they open their lips they seem not only to try to account for the affliction, bw. they also appear to be anxious to justify their OW'll Inability to comfort their llllffering friend. Their words add to Job's heavy affliction instead of lightening his burden, and he cries out in hie bitterness, "To him that is afflicted pity should be ■bowed from hit! friend." 'l'o whom should the Rufl'~rlng one turn if not to ha friend? We aee at once, in ■ueh eircumsta.nce1, a friend's duty and' & friend's ~emand. CH, vt, 1-80.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 115
I. A FRIEND'S DUTY, 1. The true office of friendship is to enter fully into the olroumetances of the friend; not to be indifferent to them, and therefore ignorant. True atrecHon will Inquire gently, wisely, n.nrl with co.re into the state, and the need, and. the sorrow, and the hopee of the object of its atte.chment. Not for meddlesome curiosity, but from loving interest the friend's heart will open to tako in the tale of sorrow, even the words of complnint, 2. True friendship will lovingly sympathize. The eager plending of the casual beggar strikes upon the closed ear of the stranger. No chord of pitiful sympathy vibrates, and no hand of help is outstretched. But to the appealH of friendship the heart opens; warm sympathy is stirred. The fluttering spirit finds reAt on the bosom of a friend. It is a duty one friend owes to another to show the utmost pitifulness of spirit-a pitifulness that should ripen to loving sympathy. No harden- ing of the heart, no rerusal to be patient, no selfishness, can be found in the breast of the true friend. 3. True friendship will be ready with its help, spri11ging forth with spontaneous eagerness to aid and comfort. It is possible for the friend to stick closer than a brother ; and he shows the true spirit of a friend who, feeling perfectly at one with his loved companion, renders willing help to him. 4. The friendship which stimulates to pitiful and loving help in need rejoices also in the joy, the prosperity, and well-being of him to whom it cleaves. The two lives are one. David and Jonathan illustrate thili, <>.nd happily a thousand examples are around us daily. He that findeth a true friend fine1etii :.,. l)recious possession-a prize whose worth cannot be estimated. II. FOB THIS LOVING o-YMPATHY AND PITIFUL HELPFULNESS EVERY ONE MAY MAKE HIS JUST AND REASONABLE DEMAND ON HIS FRIEND, Friendship has its duties of fidelity, o'f kindness, and help; of confidence, trust, and good will. It has also its claims. It is a silent, mutual compact-ench preparing to give that which it demands of the other; each expecting that which it knows it can bestow. It is the supreme satisfaction of true friendship that either of its members may turn to other in the confident, unques- tioning assurance of meeting with true sympathy, with an open hand a.nd a warm heart. For this friendship looks, and this it is justified in expecting. A faithful friend's love faileth not; for "a friend loveth always." Even bis very "wounds" are "faithful." Happy he who -has found a friend in whom be can place the whole faith of his heart; and who is ready to reciprocate the same full, thorough, and trustworthy affection! , ·1. The wisdom of seeking a friend. 2. The law:" He that would have friends must show himself friendly."-R. G.