II. Thie lgnornnoe is further perviirted into A BUPPOBITION OF TRE mcoMPETJ:NOY oF THE DIVINE JUDGMENT. "Can he judge through the dark cloud?" Thus the blind falls into the pit of error, One fault follows another in quick succession. The fnulty view which shuts Goel out from his own world, which thinks of him as too far exalted above human affairs to take knowledge of them, must needs complete itself in denying the Divine judgment of human actionA. It is the perilous perversion of ignorance and of sin-the blindness of mind which springs from a hardness of heart. 'l'hc moral sensibilities being blunted, moral truth is not apprehended. Spiritual things are foolishness to the unepiritual; he cannot discern them. The heart loving evil bribes the conscience into doubt as to the judgment upon evil, and finally wins it over to a denial of it. God cannot judge. So does the frail, ignorant, foolish creature judge of the Creator, and thus assumes to itself what it denies to its Maker. Mark (1) the error, (2) the folly, (3) the wickedneas, (4) the danger, of this. -R.G. Vera. 21-30.-Peace with ·God. In clear words reconciliation with God is urged. "Acquaint now thyself with himJ and be at peace." Ignorance of God casts men off from the highest good-,-from the fellowship of their true8t and beet Friend. Deep in the heart of the wicked enmity against God reigns. 1'his is sin's utmost folly. Men ar~ Jo be judged by their relation to a pure and true standard. The utmost con- demnation lies buried in a repudiation of the highest goodness, the supreme righteous- ness, ~he purest benevolence. "What have we to do with thee?" was the expression of a p~rely,devilish mind, The reconciliation of the human soul to God is the noblest and best work of philanthropy. Eliphaz points out- I. THE WAY. OF RECONCIL!ATION. 1. The search for the knowledge of God. ".Acquaint now thyself with him." The knowledge ,of God is the basis of peace a.nd the llncouragement .to it. It is the knowledge that comes of the heart turning to God. To such a heart God t\Jrns and manifests himself. Mere intellectual search is insufficient. God is-known, as he is seen, by the heart. 2. Receiving teaching from him. The accept- anpe of his holy Law I\S the law of the returning life, hiding his words in the heart, taking them up into a loving recognition of them,-this is the way of all true peace and blessedness.. 3. The putting away iniquity. This, the true repentance, is a departure from evil. •4. A return of the soul wholly to God. This is the true conversion. From this issues the utmost good which Eliphaz points out in describing- 11. TaE F.RUITB OF PEACE, 1. The restoration of prosperity. "Thou shalt be built up." The blessing o.f God upon the human life is the highest pledge of true prosperity. " Thou shalt lay up gold as dust," may not be a definite promise of riches to every returning one, but it ind~cat!)l! the true effect o.f righteousness. God will be to him his true gold. 2. Divine protection. "The Almighty shall be thy Defence." 3. A coufident and joyous approach to l;iod. "Thou shalt have thy delight in the Almighty." How greatly is the character of life raised by its purer fellowships! The soul brought to µnd · its delight in the highest good is blest indeed. 4. The free access of prayer ; nud the pledge of a favourable response, " Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall heal' thee." 5. Prosperity and joy. "Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it !!hall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upou thy ways." Thus shall it come to pass that he who was "cast down" shall be lifted up, and the lowly shall be saved. Thus the guiltless shall be rescued, and he who has pure hands shall be delivert;id. 'l'he way of the sinner's approach to God is 11s of old-it is the path of humility, of repentance, of lowly confession, of faith-the heart's whole trust in the ,Lord and in his word of r;race. And the fruits of righteous.ness are now as always-- peace and assunnce and hlessing.-R. G.
V~r. 2.~ Whether man can be profitab.le to God, Here is a question to which Eliphaz only expects a negative auswer. Let us look at the grounds of the question, its difficulties, and tbo possible solution of it. , . I. TBE GROUNDS OF THE QUESTION. With many persons such a question never occurs. They do not dream of beooming profitable to God, nor do they wish to be of real service to him. '!'heir only desire is that they may be profitable to them. Eveu ill religion their groat idea is to save their own souls. Wheu they think of Go,l THE BOOK OF JOB. [olt. um. 1-80,