together. But, if fulth ctm, it is enough. It is not unscientific, to affinn that God !'end~ the tbu.ndel"l!tol'1n l\nd the whirlwind, the earthq 111\ke and the pestilence, eitioe the hand of God confessedly is outside the cognizance of science; it is not required by religion to deny that "11 these phenomene. are due to immediately preceding causes. Sci,mce traces back the links of the chain to the verge of its material domnin. When science fult-ers and becomes blind, faith, catching up the quest, penetrates the regions· bc'l"ond, and discovers the last link of the chain to be the hand of God. Y-Il. Wo1'-UERFUL IN RESPECT OF THEIR TEACBINGS. These may be summed up in one word," ignorance." ,vhatever elee they attest, they emphatically proclaim man to be dl'l!titute of true knowledge. 1. Co-ing the phenomena of nature. Elibu asks Job with a touch of irony if be could explain what to men in general was incom- prehensible-how God had imposed laws npon the cloud and the lightning, and by what means he caused "the light of his cloud" to shine-if be knew so much about meteor- ology as to be able to comprehend "the balancings of clouds "-nay, if he could tell how the action of the south wind, or hot sirnoom, made him warm (vers.15-17). Doubtless on e'l"ery one of these points science has laid open to us much that was concealed from the mind of Job and even of Elihu; but still it is relatively true that in comparison with what remains to be explored man is as yet profoundly ignorant of the great secrets of nature. 2. Oo'fl.eerning the position of himsel,f. Man, Elihn reminds Job, was not disti11guished from nature's phenomena as God was, being not the creator as God, but only himself a creature like nature. "Hast thou with him spread out the sky, strong and as a molten mirror?" (ver. 18). Consequently, it was sheer presumption to imagine that man was competent to enter into judgment or controversy with God. If Job knew how to address God, Elibu would be glad to be instrncted ; as for himself, he would as soon think of saying that he wanted to be swallowed up as that he wished to speak with God (vers. 19, 20). It is ever precisely in proportion as we understand the feebleness, insignificance, and sinfulness of our position before God that we are withheld from the offences of presumption and irreverence. 8. Concerning the adminu.tration of providence. Exactly as the clear firmament overhead with it.~ shining sun is obscured from view by the storm-clouds that intervene, so the principles on which God governs the world, allotting suffering •to one and happiness to another, cannot be ,listinctly perceived by man. By-and-by they will be made to shine forth with resplendent lustre, as soon the darkened heavens will be swept of clouds, and the bright light, beaming down from the ethereal heights, will in all its radiant glory be disclosed. Meantime man stands beneath the clouds, where all is dark, though above, i.e. to the mind of God, everything is clear (1 John i. 6). 4. Oonrerning the character of God. Elihu means to say either that fair weather, effulgent as gold (or disclosing the golden sun), cometh out of the northern quarters of the sky, or that men out of the northern regions of the earth extract gold; but that neither can the Divine Being, with whom is terrible majesty, be steadily looked upon by man, as man can contemplate the orb of day, nor can the nature of God be fathomed as men <'lig out gold from the mine. "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out." Not that this implies an utter ignorance of the attributes pertaining to the Supreme. On the contrary, man may gather from his wondrous works in creation and providence that God is "excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice;" nay, that he is compassionate and merciful, also, being indiEposed to afflict either willingly or severely, and never except as a means to an end. 5. Conrerning the ,·u7,e of duty. "Men do therefore fear him." Such homage rests on the three pillars of God's power, God's justice, and God's mercy. Yet man, like Job, is prone to forget the reverence due to God. Hence it is ever needful to enforce attention to duty by reminders of God's supremacy and majesty.. ," He respecteth not any that are wise of heart." Self--righteousness and pride are wholly inconsistent with a right fulfilment of human duty towards the Snpreme. "Though the Lord be high, yet bath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud be knoweth afar off" (Ps. cxxxviii 6). Learn: 1. Thal nature is the handiwork of God. 2. That nature contains revda- tions of beauty, power, wisdom, goodness, justice, to the soul of mau, 8. That it is man's duty to study that which God bas revealed. 4. That the best preparation for a Htudy of nature, -as of any other revelation, ia a deep conviction of personal ignorance. Ob. XltXVII. 1-24.] THE BOOK 01 JOB. 603
5. 'l'hat the more we learn of the works of God, the less shall we think of ourselves. 6. '!'hat rightly prosecuted, the study of nature lea(l8' to God. 7. That the glory of God le ever greater than the grandeur of his works, or of Nature in her sublimest moods. B. That the sum of human duty, as expounded by nature, is to fear God and keep hia cotnmandmentR. 9. That the discoveries of nature have been eclipsed by the revelations of the gospel. 10. That if it behoves man to study God in nature, inuch more does it behove him to study God in Christ.