and a hypocrite1 but my God knows otherwise." As Daniel, by trusting in God was secure from the mouths of the lions, so thou, by having faith in and drawinu co:nfort from God's omniscience, mayest defy the more cruel mouths of thy persecuto~. When a man is accused of treason to his prince, and knows that his prince is folly assured of his innocenco,,he will laugh all such accusations to scorn. It is thus with God and a sincere heart. In the midst of all slanders he will own thee for innocent, as he did Job, when his friends, with much specious piety, charged him with hypocrisy. Wherefore commit thy way to the all-seeing God-to that God who is acquainted with all thy ways; who sees thy goings out and thy comings in, 11Dd continually goes in and out before .thee,.and will one day testify and set his seal to thine integrity. Comfort thy- self in the consideration of his. omniscience, from whence it is that God judgeth not as man judge.th, but judgeth .righteous judgrnent; and hold fast thy integrity that lies secret in the heart, whose praise is of God, and not of ma.n (South).-J. Vers. 1--40.-The consciousness of integrity. The Divine solution of the riddle of human life is being wrought out in this poem, although at times it se~ms as though the entanglement became: more and more confused. The case, as put m these three cha.pters, is the- condensation <if a.II a.s far as it has gone. It still awaits the solution. Job wa.s_ in riches, dignity, and honour; he is now cast down to ignominy and suffering. Yet he is righteous-this, at least, is his own conviction; and in this chapter he makes his appeal to the facts,of bis history and,invites scrutiny, and judgment if he be found guilty: 'l'his is the progress of the writing up to the present moment. His companions are ha.filed. They know of no other explana.tion of such suffering than deep and hidden si_n. It will yet be -proved that the godly suffer-" he whom thou lovest is sick"- although the world will long wa.it for a verbal explanation; a.nd even now doe~ the cry never ascend to heaven," Wherefore dealest thou thus with me?" ,Job's appeal to the uprightness of his life and to his perfect integrity rela.tes to the whole of his conduct, and to the various conditions in which he has been placed. The outward Divine testimony, he is" a perfect and an upright mau," has its echo in Job's breast. Hence he ma.kes his,app~al- I. To HIS CHASTITY... He. makes his appeal in the sight of the all-searching One- to him who seeth " my ways" and counteth "all my steps." • II. To HIS TRUTH1'1!7LNEBS AND JUSTNESS, Ill. To BIB PURITY OF CONDUCT. IV. To ms FIDELITY. '• V. To ms EV-EN-HANDED ,JUSTICE. ' VI. To HIS UNFLINCHING RECTITUDE; , •VII. To HIS CHARITY AND COMPASSION. VIII. To BIB FREEDOM FROM UNDUE CONFIDENCE IN BIB WEALTH. IX. To ms. FREEDOM FROM IDOLATRY. ·x:, To HIS FREEDOM, FROM .HATRED AND HARSH Tl!.EATM&'IT, EVEN OF HIS EXE:!11:IES. 0
XI. To ms KINDNESS '•AND ·HOSl'ITALITY. XII.' To BIS EXEMPTION FROM COVERT OR OPEN srn. He hid no iniquity in his bosom, and therefore feared not the presence of men. Hypocrisy was not his failing. He makes his final appeal to his honesty and uprightness of dealing oven by a reference to his fidelity to the very fields which he owned. Well might such a man long for a true judgment-for an open ear into which he could pour his complaint. Well may such a- man commit himself to Jehovah',; judgment, knowing "the .Almighty will answer for me.'' Thus does Job vindica.te his integrity a.nd make his appeal to the highest tribunal._;R. G;
Ver. 4.-Gud's watchfulness. I. ITs CONCENTRATION ON CONDUCT. God sees Job's ways. He is not confined to the observation of external deeds, for he reads the hearts of men and he judges by the course of the inner life. Still, it is by a man's actions, including the interna.l actions, that God judges a man. What is of most concern to our great Master is how we exercise our will, wha.t way we choose to walk in, how we shape our daily conduct. He cares little for our opinions and emotions, except hi so far RB these guide and influence our behaviour. If, then, God values conduct chiefly, conduct should be of primary importance with us. Whatever other thing& 516 THE BOO'lr OF J0:8. [011. XXX], 1-40,