The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 465

reflection takes the plRoo of hoodleee sotivity. Thns we consider Rnd Rpprecil\te with regret in the ]Rter ~·ears of life what we disregarded in the earlier times of poe- 11ession. 8. Memory throws a delusive g1,amotl/f' O'IJIII' tke past. The dietant hills aro beautiful; we see their purple shadows, we do not observe their stony paths. Youth is not. so sunny as age pRints it. Keen paiDR of youth are forgotten in after-years, especially if those yeaT'll have brought with them the fortitude that despises such sufferings. For there is & g&in in ye&rs, &nd this very gain leads to an over-valuation of youth. Patience and ~elf-control are acquired by experience, and while they help m to bear much that would be intolerable to youth, they also lead us to smile at and under-<'stimate the wild distreeses of earlier yeaT'll. Il. IT 18 GOOD TO APPRECIATE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF THE HAPPY PAST, Job acknowledged that God had preserved him in past days. The candle of the Lord had then shone upon hie bead, He enjoyed God's friendship when he came to maturity. 1. Thu adds poignancy to the gn'ef of regret. God hae not been sufficiently appre- ciated. His blessings have not been acknowledged with merited gratitude. Or if no· l'Olf-accusations arise on these points, still the loss of God's favour seems to accompany the loss of his gifts. The regret has deeper thoughts than those concerning earthly good things. Apparently deserted by God, the troubled man cries, with poor Cowper- .. Where is the blessedness I knew When :first I saw the Lord? Where is the soul-refreshing view Of Jesus and his Word?" 2. Thu shmilil Nally inspire hope. God is not fickle. His constancy is deeper than appearances. We may have lost hold of his goodness through our own sin or distrust. Perhaps, however, we are deluding ourselves; he is really nearer• to Ill! in adversity than he was in prosperity, only we cannot understand the mysteries of his providence: Assuredly, if God once loved and cared for his children, he will never forsake them. 8. This should urge the yoong to appreC'iate their privileges. It is not desirable that any should reflect overmuch on their present happy condition, because the charm of it is its unconscion.s freedom and activity. But it is only right to acknowledge the goodness of God with thankfulness; and to so use early privileges that we shall not afterwards look back with regret on a misspent youth.-W. F. A. Vers. 8-12.-The character that wins respect. Job paints a glowing picture of his honoured condition in past days. Then he was more than prosperous. He was treated with great deference. Let us gather up the traits of the character that wine respect, and in order to do so let us distinguish them from false grounds of deference. I. F ALBE GROlTh'DII OF DEFERENCE. l. Power. Multitudes cringe before mere power, either in fear of giving -0:ffence or with a hope of gaining some advantage. The Oriental maket! his humble w.aam to the infidel whom in his heart l)e despises. This de[erencc is no credit to either party. 2. Wealth. The worship of mammon may be less visibly cruel than the worship of Mars, and yet in some respects it is more degrading, for it calls oat no heroic qualities. The deference shown to the rich simply b~cause they are rich is one of the most unworthy characteristics of human weakness. It is not peculiar to our own age ; this miserable sycophantic spirit was ridiculed by Roman 11Btirists and reprobated by New Testament writers (e.g. Jae. ii. 2). Its sordid meanness humiliates all who are enslaved by it. 3. &if-assertion. The world is often too euy in taking men at their own valuation of themselves. Because a great claim is made it is often tacitly assented to, simply because people are too indolent or too cowardly to question it. But self-importance is not greatness. 4. Success; There is more in this when it is not merely a business matter, when it indicates sterling qualities of ability and energy. Still, good fortune may have much to do with it, and conscientious scruples may have been trampled down in the fierce deter- mination to win it at e.uy cost. Then the failure that would not stoop to the lower and more euy meane of enccees is infinitely more worthy of honour. II. Tm: ftUE CRABACTEB TBA:T WDTB BES~. It is portrayed in Job's description of his own happy put. Why wae thia hushed deference of old men as well aa young, of prince11 and npbles? The answer is to be found in the conduct of Job. 1 . .Active .,B, XXIX, 1-21i.] THE noo:It OF JOB. 481