wrath overtakes them. " That ye may know there is a judgment,1 " They. knew this already, and upon this expectation their own warnmgs had bern found·eq. Du♦ Job gives the thought an application to themselves. h That you may kn11w that .God exercises judgment on all the offences of the sword, which you do not own nor fear in your C'ase, and that be severely punishes them." 'l'hue Job opens that wider view of the future, of that day of discrimination, when the first shall be last, and the last first- the iunocent shall be justified, and the hypocrite exposed-which corrects the uarrow dogmafom ?f the friends. God punishe~ many sins in this life; but many are rl)served for the last Judgment. Temporal euffenng ma,y be escaped, and yet sure. punishment. may be in store. On the other hand, temporal suffering may be innocently endured, bu.f for the true servant of God there will be final acknowledgment and ~ternal honour.-J~ Vere. 1-21.-.An appeal for piJ,y. Job is brought lower and lower by the word; of those from whom he might have expected a true consolation. He o.t length declares' they "vex" his "soul," and "break" him "in pieces with words." He appeals for freedom. He would be let alone, for, as he had sorrowfully said, "miserable comforter$ are ye all." The great underlying teaching is the insufficiency of th.ose views of hu°:1an eulTering whi~h find its cause only in judgment upon wrong-doiqg... ·J,ob, tlie1 typ1~l sufferer-typical for all future sufferers-undergoes th~ painfoln_esii ofJ1eing_ assailed by helpers who have but a pa.rtial a.od very imperfect view .of all the circum~ stances of his ~e. And he appeals to them for ease. His cry, tQ. ,them is also.~ ert: to Heaven for relief. . . ·. . . • .: I. His appeal for pity is based ON THE GROUND OF THE WJIONGFULN,ESB •OF :ii~s ACCUSATION. •• Behold, I cry out of wrong." His friends have set themselves against. him. They have become his judges rather than his con~lers.or viq\iicators.. They 'reproach" him and ma.ke themselves .. strange" to him; they "magnify." themsel:ve11 against him. They try to plead his reproach against him. It. is. the way .of.the imperfectly instructed human helper, and more and more clearly. makes. ,plain tl:i11 necessity for a voice to be raised on behalf of the su1ferer that shall be pf ;0ne b~tter instructed. • IL But the appeal is urged ON THE GROUND OF TBE SEVERITY OF HIS SUJ!'FERII.'IGII. Job acknowledges his affliction to be of God, and he most tenderly and touchingly refers to the several features of his suffering. He crie~ out of wrong; he has ,no impartial and just hearing. He is encompassed by darkness from which he cannot escape; his honour is beclouded; his substance is destroyed; his hope has perished; he is dealt with as an enemy; his acquaintances a.re estranged; he is forgotten by his best friend£; he is treated with indignity in his own home; hejs offensive ev,!ln. to his wife; even youno- children despise him and speak against him-" they whom I loved are turned aga~t me." Th.rough the severity of his disease he is wasted to a skeleton; his "bone cleaveth '' to his "skin." Surely .this is a call for pity. Yet professed friends ca.n stawi by and argue with such a Sll,fferer, seeking to prove his guiltiness and.affirming all .this to be the just punishment of his sin. , . . . . lIL Be makes his further appeal to their pity .ON TBll= GRQUND ,OF FBµml>SBII', "Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, 0 ye my friends!" .. It is reasona]:>le to ~xp11c;:t t.hat professed friends will e.t least show pity to him for whom they, have. declared their great friendship. . : • . •• . .. . IV. His final appeal to them is ON THE GROUND OF HIS AFFLlCTION. BEINq.. TB:p;; STROKE OF GoD. "The hand of God bath touched me." Against. the Almighty lie cannot hope to contend. He is crushed under the Almighty's power,; 'rhis lo,wly confession does not a.bate the c.alm inward assurance of personal integrity ... But. the· solution of the mysterious Divine ways is wanting. He endeavours to,abide .iA patieQce; But human sympathy should Htrengthen tb.e suffer~ under thepr~ure of ~4~z:Divifl~ hand, and not add to the alrea,d.y exoessive weiglit of his calamities, . "Wliy. do ye" persecute me $1 God:?" . ,; . : 'l'o whom should 41, suJforer t.urn if ,not to hi11,friellde? Ilpw obvioua the; pffice of fri.t:ndsliip at such 11 time.: L To sympathize. 2. 'r<>..seek to ease tbp .l!\ll4!ln qf. the l!ufferer. 3. 'l'o strengthen by kindness and pity..:...B. G. . , . • ... 1 .. • ' : J
Vl!ra, 23-29.-~ Dwi-ne Y~tor. Job 11,W!W-W a fiµal ,. judglll#lµt,",of which he, ~n. xix. 1-29.] TFIE BOOK OF JOB, 333