The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 581

(1) By experience. He pute ua to a school of life; he makes us feel the reality of hfs lessons. The eorrowe and joys, the humiliations and the exaltations are all parts of the Divine instruction. (2) In revelation. '£hie Divine lni;truction carries UB out of oursolvos and OJ?ene to us visions of heavenly truth. God teaches partly through prophets and npostles in the Scriptures, but mainly throngh Christ in his great life, death, and resurrection, 2. Why his teaching is incomparable. (1) Because he knows the lesson. The Teacher is a mnster·of his subject. God knows all truth. Who, then, ca.n teach it as he will tench it? (2) Becnuse he understands the pupils. This condition is necessary if the lesson is not to miss the mark. Great scholars a.re not a.lwa.ys great teachers, beca.use'they cannot alwnys enter into the difficulties of beginners and expound to the simple and ignorant what they are themselves most familiar with. (3) Because he spares no pains. He is in earnest in desiring to teach his children. He is not like the listless teacher who drones over his perfunctory task. God means to get his lessons into the ~ullest of his pupils, and, heing in earnest and full of sympathy, he is unequalled. III. THE CONNEOTlON BETWEEN THE EXALTATION AND 'l'RF. INSTRUCTION. Each helps fl;ie other. 1. The exaltation a method of instruction. As we rise higher we leave the mists of the valley, and at the same time our horizon expands. Gladness and etrength and victory open our eyes to the love of God and the glory of the kingdom. Adversity has its lessons, but so also has prosperity. 2. The instruction an element pf.the exaltati/)11,, We cannot become great in mind until we rise above the petty, narr9w, ignorant conceptions that belong: to our more backward state. Spiritual great- ness implies enlarged knowledge as well as an increase in other graces. When Christ sets J;iis people in places of joy and honour, they have to show appreciation of their privileges .by opening their souls to receive the fnller truth that he reveals.-W. F. A. Ver. 24:.-God praised for his works. I. CoNBIDEB HOW WORTHY ol!' PRAISE ABE THE woRKB OF Goo. We do not prize them so much for their vast bulk and infinite number as for their character and the manner in which they are executed. A. small statue is lllOre admirable than a huge boulder, and a minute and finely cut gem more precious than a great sea crag. Wherein, then, shall we find the specially praiseworthy characteristics of the works of God? 1. In thoroughness. The infinitely little is as well wrought as the infinitely great. Thought and care are lavished on tiny insects. Exquisite wo'rkmanship is seen in humble weeds. Th.; unseen parts of God's works are as perfect as those which are most prominent. The hosts of flowers that bloom OJ). .uninhabited prairies are as beautiful as those that smile at us from an English hedgerow. 2. In harmony. The various parts of God's works fit together and aid one another with mutual services. Not only is there a. general peaceable arrangement of nature, but there is also a reciprocity that makes each part necessary to the whole. Plants live on the soil, animals on the plants, and these again on the perishing bodies of 11nimals. 3. In beauty. The direct utility of nature might have been served in an ugly fashion. Clouds might a.11 have been black, and leaves and flowers and earth of one dull hue. But God has breathed a spirit of beauty over his works. 4. In joy. God has made existence itself to be a gladness. Insects, birds, and beasts rejoice in the sunlight of a summer day. Man finds life a source of joy. 5. In progress. All nature is moving on in a grand progress to higher forms of life and more JJerfect types of organization. It is full of hope, and it looks forward to God's greater future works. II. REMEMBER HOW WELL IT IS THAT WE SHOULD PRAISE Goo FOR BIS WORKS. 1. In gratitude. We are oursel\'es part of his works, and we have to thank him that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Then other works of God minister to our welfare, and as we profit by their utility or enjoy their beauty, it is becomiug that we ehould praise him who is the Ml\ker and Giver of them all. 2. In admiration. It is a miserable thing to sink into that cynical pessimism that can only criticize adversely and cnn never see and enjoy merit. It passes for cleverness, but it is really a. form of dulness. for it is the result of a want of capacity to perceive the good points of that which only arrests attention on account of its real or supposed defects. This ha.bit of mind pre:vents us from rising to any true greatness oun;elves, because men are drawn upwards by admiraLion, Wben, however, we have learnt to admire the works of God, it is only fitting that we should go on and adore their great Artificer. The praise of the picture js the praise of the artist, Yet there a.re lovers uf nature who seem tQ  TllE BOO'K OF JOB. [on. XXXVII. l.-2(.,