the bare idea of looking for a restoration when one waa mo.nifestly stepping Into dark- net111 being &a foolish &a to look for d11ylight when the night was near. .And eo death deals with all men's hopes-hopes of life, of prosperity, of happineBB, of usefulness on eo.rth,-intercepte them, cute them olf, engulfs them in darkness &a the night does the day. 2. The descent into Sh«Jl, which he regards ·as: (1) The resting-place of his body. "If I hope, it is for Sheol as my house. In darkness I make my bed" (ver.18). 'l'hl' grave is frequently spoken of as a house (eh. xxxviii.17), the house appointed for all living (eh. xxx. 23), the long home of the departed (Eccles. xii. 6); and the only expectation of a worldly sort entertained by Job wu that of entering this sepulchral habitation, in which already he bad as it were spread his couch. (2) 'l'he habitation of his relatives, these relatives being corruption whom he esteemed &a his father, and the worm whom he named his sister or bis mother. "What an impressive description, and yet how true it is of all! The most vigorous frame, the most beautiful and graceful form, the m06t brilliant complexion, bas a near relationship to the worm, and will soon belong t.o the mouldering family beneath the ground" (Barnes). (8) The shelter of his true hope, the hope of a ,indication, which, desoending with him to the bars of the unseen world, might be lost to the eye of man, and in large measure to himself, but would rest beside him in the dust till the moment arrived for its publio manifestation. Learn : 1. That death is never more than a step from any man. 2. That those who are daily travelling towards the grave should begin betimes to prepare for their future homes. 8. That the whips and scorns of time, the mockings and calumniations of friends or foes, can pnrsue a man no further than to the bounds of life. 4. That God's people have already been delivered from their greatest advereary by the willing surety- ship of Christ. 5. 'l'hat the royal road to heavenly exaltation is the inward illumina- tion of the mind. 6. 'l'hat good men should ne.ver rejoice in, though they may sometimes foresee, and even foretell, the punishment of their enemie.•. 7. That the best safeguard of a saintly man in trouble is to trace every affliction to the hand of God. 8. That Christ's followers should not now be astonished at the tribulation of themselves or others. 9. That the just man who perseveres in holiness will attain to everlasting life. 10. That if death terminates the life of man on earth, it begins the existence of a saint in heaven. 11. That man possesses nobler relatives than the worms and corruption. 12. That death may finish all terrestrial hopes, but it cannot injure the hope of ever- lasting life, laid up for us in heaven.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Veni.1-16.-%e just holds on his way. "The pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon," says Lord Bacon. "Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comfort and hopes. We see in needleworks and embroideries it is more ple&Sing to have a lively work upon a sad and ~olemn ground than to have a da1·k and melancholy work upon a lightsome ground; Judge, therefore, of the pleasure of the heart by tbe pleasure of the eye." On this dark monotonous background of trouble, the bri,.ht colours of a spiritual faith and hope stand from time to time most brilliantly forth. c.Another example of this occurs in the present chapter. L The fim feeling presented is that of RELUCTANCE TO DIE UNDER MISCONBTRUCTION. (Vere. 1, 2.) But for this, 1e is resigned to his fate. He must in the course of a short time renounce life, for disease is fulfilling its course; and he would do so willingly, if ouly the mockery of his friends did not continually vex him, and his eye were not provoked by their inceSBant irritation. There is generally something, even in a state of extreme suffering, which makes it hard to die. But to die misunderstood; under the cloud of a false accusation ; like one who, mistakenly condemned, has languished in the cell of a prison, and gone to a felon's grave ;-this must surely be the sharpest ■ting of death. II. The agony of this thought impels him to RENEWED RECOURSE TO Goo. (Ver. 3.) Al!. none among men will give the promise and take upon him to vindic~te Job's innocence &ft.er death, will God be bound as Surety for him, and undertake this duty? Thu■ once more we see how the extremity of suffering forOll8 Job upon his deepest. au. XVII. 1-18.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 301