The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 482

of theee peoplo have proeented H in a very ugly light. Whilst they have been dinning their formal precepts into men's ears on wha.t they rega.rd a.a the authority of revela- tion, they hnvo been rousing a spirit of revolt, till wha.t is most Divine in man, bis conscience, has risen up and protested age.inst their dogmas. From the days of Job till our own time theology has too often darkened the world's idea. of God. If we turn from man to God himself, we shall discover that he is better than his advoca.tes repre- sent him to be. When it is our duty to spee.k of religion, let us be careful not to fall into the error of Job'H friend.a, a.nd generate hard thoughts of God by narrow, un-Christ- like teachings.-W. F. A. Ver. 23.-The house of death. Job expects nothing better than death, which ne regards as "the house appointed for all living," or rather as the house for the meeting of all Ii ving. I. THE JOURNEY OF LIFE ENDS IN THE HOUSE OF DEATH. The living are marching to death. In e. striking passage of 'The City of God,' St. Augustine, following Seneca, describes how we are always dying, because from the first moment of life we are draw- ing nearer to death. We cannot stay our chariot-wheels. The river will not cease to flow, and it is bearing us on to the ocean of death. It is difficult for the young and strong to take in the idea that they will not live for ever, and we come upon the thought of death with something of a shock. But this only mea.ns that we cannot see the end of the road while it winds through pleasant scenery that distracts our attention from the more distant prospect. !I, 'l'HE HOUSE OF DEATH IS IN DARK CONTRAST WITH THE JOURNEY OF LIFE. It is the living who are destined to enter this dreadful house. Here is one of the greatest possible contrasts-'-life a.nd death ; here is one of the most tremendous transitions-from life to death. All our revolutions on ea.rth are as nothing compared with this tremen- dous ·change. .Death is only the end and cessation of life, while all other experiences, even the greatest and most upsetting, are but modifications of the life which we still retain. It is not wonderful, then, that this dark house of death bas strongly affected the imagination of men. The surprising thing is that so many should be indifferent to it. III. 'l'HE HOUSE OF DEATH 1B FOB. EVERY LIVING MAN. No truism is more hackneyed tha.n the assertion that all men are mortal. Here is a. commonplace which cannot be gainsa.yed, yet its very evident character should emphasize its significance. Death is the great leveller. In life we go many ways; at last we a.ll go the same way. Now some pass through palace gates and others through dungeon-portals; at the end all must go through the same narrow door. Should not this commonness of destiny help to bring all mortals nearer together in life? IV. THE HOUBE OF DEATH IB A PLACE OF MEETING. It is described by Job as a house of assemblage. Multitudes are gathered there. They who depart thither go to "join the·majority."' There dwell ma.ny whom we have known on earth, some whom we have loved. Much mystery surrounds the house of death; but it cannot be an utterly strange place if so many who have been near to us on earth are awaiting us there. The joy of reunion should scatter the darkness of death. Every dear one lost to earth makes for us more of a home in the unseen. V, 'l'HE HOUSE OF DEATH LEADS TO THE REALM OF LIFE FOR ALL WHO SLEEP IN CHRIST. It is no ~loomy prison. It is but a dark ant~hamber to a realm of light and blessedness. Indeed, death is not an abode, but a passal(e. We ha.ve no reason for thinking that death is a lasting condition in the case of those whose souls do not die in sin ; for the impenitent, indeed, it is a fearful doom of darkness. But for such as have the new life of Christ in them death may be but the momentary act of dying. Certainly it is not their eternal condition. We talk of bhe blessed dead; we should think of the glorified living, born into the deathless sta.te of heavenly bliss.-W. F. A. Ver. 26.-Disappointment. Job wa.s disappointed in meeting with fearful evils when he wa.s looking for good. Disappointment such as his is re.re; yet in some form it is the frequent experience of a.II of us. Let us consider the significance of dis- e.ppointment. L DISAPPOINTMENT IS ONE OF THE INEVITABLE TRULB OF LIFE. We should not be overwhelmed with despair when we meet with it. It is part of the common lo~ ol JOI, 2K  THE BOOK .OF .JOB. [OB. XXX, 1--31•