The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 452

what vnst stores of metal lie under the surface of the ground. The great treasury has scarcely been toucheu; ages upon ages will not suffice to ransack its stores. When we leo.rn about Australia., Asia Minor, South America, etc., we discover that there is still boundless wealth-under the soil, Thus God has made ample provision for the wants of his children. II. 'fm,Bl!l RICHES ARE IllDDEN DENEATil THE EARTH. Men must sink shafts and plast rocks. God gives us great possessions, hut we must put forth energy in acquiring them. Thus Israel had to fight for Canaan. Wisdom is got through toil and effort. Spiritual wealth is won at the cost of spiritual conflict.. Though the chief conflict was Christ's, and though the best treasures are Creely given, we must seek if we would find (Matt. vii. 7), III. THE MINER'S WORK IB TOILSOME. Few men have s'O disagreeable or hard a task. In dark subterranean regiouii, often breathing a close, unwholesome atmosphere, suffer- ing, from tremendous heat, labouring with axe and shovel, the miner has no idle lot. He Diay be forgotten by those _who tread the greensward over his head. But we all profit by his industry. It is only right that his brave and arduous work shoulcl be generously recognized. In our happy homes and beautiful churches we should do well to think of the miner, and pray for him just as we pray for,'' those in peril on the sea." IV. il!GENUITY AND ENTERPRISE CHARACTERIZE THE WORK OF THE lllINER. What thought and effort and daring are put into mining I Surely this is nobler work than .the killing which all the world honours in the soldier? We can understand why God has hi_dden the precious IDetals jn the bowels of the earth, when we see what manly traits are evolved i,n .the work of obtaining them. But if so, should not the same high qualities be brought forth in the search for the hidden treasure of the kingdom of heaven? If gold, and silver, and iron, and copper are worth so much trouble, are not wisdom and goodness.and eternal life deserving of the most strenuous efforts? , V. T.HEBE 18 PERIL IN THE llllNER'B LIFE. Mining disasters are more fatal than shipwrecks. The miner needs to know a. refuge more secure than any tha.t art or science can contrive, He, indeed, should have his trust in God. But for others his peril is an occasion to rouse inte·rest and deepen sympathy. We all profit by his labours; ,at least, then, let us all do what we can to protect him from the dangers wbi,ch carelesSlless and selfishness create.-W. F. A. ' ' Vera. 7, 8.-Tke miner's path. The vulture's eye is keen, the lion's whelps are daring; yet a path which these wild creatures never saw is known to the miner, and climbed by bim in his search for precious metals. He penetrates into fearful ravines, climbs dizzy cliffs, follows dark passages far into the mountain-aide, descends deep shafts down to the hidden regions of the earth. ' I. THE SUPERIORITY OF MIND TO INSTINCT. The senses of animals are keener than 'those of men; the sight of the bird and the scent of the wild beast greatly ex.ceed our seeing and smell. Animals are stronger than men; we cannot emulate the vulture's flight .or the stroke of the, lion's paw. Yet, with duller senses and weaker muscles, we can rule over the animals ; we can even beat them on their own ground. The superiority of man is the superiority of mind. Therefore, if he would retain and perfect this superiority, he must not sink dowp. to the level of the beasts that perish. Sottish sensuality robs man of his supremacy. If it is by the mind that man conquers, it is disgraceful to live for the sake of tb,e body. Only mental power gives so weak a creature as man any chance in the struggle for ex.istence. Then it is most incongruous that bodily appetite should be permitted to enslave this power for its own low pleasures. Moreover, if the inner man is the higher man, that which is highest within is our truest and best self. The highest powers scale the highest peaks. II. THE TRIUMPH OF ENERGY. The miner knows his secret path and climbs it., because he is determined to search out the precious metals, no matter where he may have to go in pursuit qf them. Here is manly vigour. Now, it is just this vigour joined to intelligence that gives man success in the battle of life. No one deserves to be prosperous without it. It is only an artificial state of society that allows the idle to be pampered in luxury. The healthy rule is that of St. Paul, "If any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thess. iii. 10). In the miner's path we have an evidence of what elfort can do, Thie ea.me eJfort is needed iu every branch of life. Industry is  468 TBE BOOK OF J013. [OIi, UVilt. 1-28,