teleologlcBl or evol11tionary, in so far as it is a true theory, i.e. correctly repreM!nts the facts of observation, it oan and mu,t lend itself to natnral piety, to the confirmation of t.be great truths of religion. Separate the wild guesses of some ecientific men from the sober theories of an accurate science, the latter must ever remain, side by side with the Bible, a witness for God. (2) Consider again the marvellO!Sll /arCJJ that we call instinct. Instinct may poBSibly be defined ae unconacioUB reBBOn. We see traces of it in plants, and more strikingly marked ones in animals. It is a power by which these lower creatures arrive at ends, execute designs of marvellous skill and beauty, penetrate immediately to natural truth. Man, plodding his way slowly by the light of rea.~on to his ends, stands in amazement before the effects and results of this mysterioUB mind- force. Well he may; for what is this force, so constant, BO unerring, BO matchless, but a direct emanation and impartation from the Creator himself? (3) And a;;ain our seme of the beautiful and the sublime is awakened by the stndy of animal life. The description of the war-horse in eh. xnix. has always been reckoned among the most striking examples of the sublime. His strength, bis vibrating mane and tremblin:,1; neck, all quivering with emotion, hi3 fiery spirit breathing, as it were, fire through his nostrils, pawing the ground in his impatience, rashing to the charge at the battle-signal, -the whole is a living expression of Divine force, awful I\Ild beautiful to behold. The analytic habits of scientific thought may hinder, if we do not guard against it, our simple and intense appreciation of nature and nature's individual objects as appealing to our sense of wonder, awe, and beauty. These feelings were given to lead us upward to the Fountain of all existence, to adore the beauty and the might of God. Thus " the book of animal life, that God here writes down for us, may be to ns a true book of training for all virtues" (Cramer). If God cares so closely and so providently for the life of the lower animals, how much more are we, his children, his care? Thie wondrous life in body, soul, and mind; these capacities of moral improvement, of increasing knowledge of eternal life in communion with himself ;-will he not care for them? Lot the cry of the dumb creatures remind us of our need of prayer, and of him who delights to hear; let the contemplation of the beauty and order of their divinely created life fill us with disgust at the disorder of sin in our own heart and life, and let"us seek, in the new redeemed mode of existence, to use and improve all our powers, and consecrate them to the service of our faithfnl Creator, our compassionate Father and Redeemer.-J. Vers. 4, 19, 32, 33.-Human impotence ancl ignqrance ea;posed. Job's affliction is a mystery-a mystery that needs to be revealed. Job has not given the explanation ofit. He has not known it. His friends have failed. It has been attributed to his sin; but he is .confident in his honest integrity, and cannot be persuaded that he is suffering punishment, for he has not a consciousness of guilt. Elihu has indicated the hiddeu nature of the Divine works, and has not made the mystery clearer. But he has closed the lips of them who would accuse God of wrong and unjust dealing. Job is being led, perhaps blindfold, to a final exposition of the whole. By imperfect knowledge of the purpose of God, Job may be led to wrong conclusions. But God will not forsake his laithful servant, of whom the Divine testimony at the beginning was that he "sinned not with ·bis tongue ; " and at the end that he had "spoken the thiug which is right." It is still night with Joh ; he is in the dark as to the purpose of his aJD.iction, but the morning breaketh. And whilst God has appeared hitherto as the Punisher of Job, he will ere long declare himself his Friend, and when he has well tried hi~ faithful servant will amply reward him. But there are processes in the Divine method. Job has to be humbled to the very dust, and the present stage in that process is to reveal the littleness of man in presence of the Most High. Human impotence and ignorance are displayed in presence of the wonderful creation of God. I. GoD's woBK INDEPENDENT OF MAN. " Where wast thou when I laid the founda- tions of the earth?" "Hast thou commanded the morning," and "caused the day- spring to know his place?" " Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?" etc. JI. Goo's WORK ABOVE MAN. " Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades? " etc. Ill Goo's WORK UNKNOWN TO MAN. "Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven?" 1' WI.to bath put wisdom in the inward parts?" etc. Tllu11 is Job taught amidst the ~L 21 629 THE BOOK OF JOB. [on. :a::i.xvm. 1-41,
wonden; of God'a ore11tion how great ia the Ol't!Ator. If hie worki are past finding ou, by puny mM1, aurely hie purpose whioh ha bath hidden ie beyond the reach of human research. It is ,mother et.ep in the valley of humiliation for him who is finally found biting the dust.-R. G.