words of incompetent teachers, and now by the Divine voice humbled into tbo very dust, makes his lowly confession rmto Almighty God, and casts himself upon the Divine forbearance and mercy. The confession of this truly bumble, lowly, contrite, and obedient heart embraces- I. A JUST APPREHENSION OF THE DIVINE POWER. The ability of God to work all in all-to do whRtsoevor he pleaseth. "Now I know that thou c1mst do everything." II. A LOWLY RECOGNITION OF TJIE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. "No thought can be with- holrlen from thee." Not only the visible works of the world are before the eye of the Almighty, but tho very thoughts and intents of the mind (ver. 2). III. .A BECOMING ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PERSONAL IGNORANCE, ERROR, AND PRESUMP- TION. (Ver. 3.) Before God Job confesses his faults, though in pre8ence of man he maintnined his untarnished integrity. But he who may feel himself able to answer to his fellow may fall silent before the infinitely Holy One. Job'g confession reveals- IV. A LOWLY PENITENCE, which finds its expression in fervent prayer (ver. 4). Job is willing to be taught of God. He abandons his own self-confident boasting. He is truly humbled. All this is produced by- V. A VIVID PERCEPTION OF TRE SUPREME NATURE OF Goo. He is not dependent for this upon the teachings of friends. "Now mine eye seeth thee." The true vision of God humbles the proudest heart. It is finally perfected- VI. IN BELF-A.BRORRENCE AND SINCERE REPENTANCE. This is the end of all. When man has reached his lowest estate he may be lifted up. The whole course of Job's affliction with the whole teaching of the poem brings the sufferer in penitent, contrite humiliation to the footstool of Divine mercy. "In dust and ashes" Job repents, renounces all his claim to self-righteousness, and casts himself upon that God who has declared hin1self to be just, to care for his creatures, and to wait as with open ear to listen to the voice of their cry. Job is truly broken before God. All his pride is crushed. He is a lowly suppliant. He justifies God in his own self-condemnation.-R. G.
Vers. 7-:-17.-T/ie .Divine vindication of Job. The poem ends in undimmed bright- ness. The great ends of suffering have been answered. Job has been put to the proof and tried, and he has been found faithful. God has permitted all the joy and light of his life to be. wiped out. His faithful servant of whom it was said, "There is none like him in the earth," has been subjected to the severest tests; yet, according to tho Divine assertion, he has spoken of God" the thing that is right." Now he who had appeared to be Job's enemy appears as his true Vindicator, and bears his witness and high testimony to Job's fidelity. 'l'he Divine vindic.qtion of Job embraces-- I. AN ASSERTION OF THE ERROR OF HIS ENEMIES. (Ver. 7.) They bad not spoken of God the thing that was right, and their unjust accusations of Job are found to have had no foundation in truth. 11. A TESTIMONY TO Jon's RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Vers. 7, 8.) As the heart is so the lips speak; and Job had spoken that which was right. To this Jehovah bears witness. But a higher testimony is forthcoming- III. IN THE DECLARATION OF TRE ACCEPTABILITY OF HIS PRIBSTLY SERVICE. "H.i.tn will I accept." Even the self-assured teacher:1 who could find so many faults with Job are now directed to bring their offerin~ to him that he may intercede for them. It was the utmost humiliation of them (ver. 9) and the utmost elevation of him. "The Lord also accepted Job." IV. A further vindication is given IN THE SPECIAL MARKS OF THE DIVINE FAVOUR SHOWN TO Jon. 1. His affliclion wns removed. "His capt.ivity was turned." 2. He was enriched with abundant possessions. "The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (ver. 12). 3. His friendships were restored (ver. 11). 4. He was enriched by the tokens of sympathy I\Dd good will. "Every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an ear-ring of gold." 5. His family joys were restored to him ( vel'B. 13- 16). 6. His life was prolonged in honour and happiness (vers. 16, 17). "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."-R. G. Ver. 17.-The gatAered lessons. This remarkable book we close with the pel'IU88ion that whilst its separate statements are full of teaching, the whole idea is to be 111mmed up in a few plain and obvious lessons; such as the followiDg : - r,,2 TIIE BOOK OF JOB. [on. xr.n. 1-17.
I. THE GOOD MAN 'MAY RECEIVE TOKENS OF THE DIVINE BLESSING IN THB FORM OP HEALTH. HONOUR, AND FAMILY JOY, IJ. THE GOOD MAN, TROllGR MAINTAINING RIB INTEGRITY, MAY LOBE RIB POBBEBBIONB, m~ HEALTH, AND HIS FAMILY JOY THROUGH THE TESTING& AND TEMPTATIONS OIi' SATAN. rn. THAT Tim HONOUR OF EVEN A GOOD KAN MAY BE TEMPORABll.Y OVERSHADOWED DY m~WARD OIRCUM~TANCE!',, JV. THAT THE LOf'S OF ALL THTNGB, AND THE ENDIJRANOE OIi' BUFFERINGS BY TRB FAITHFUL, ARE NOT ALWAYS TO BE INTERPRETED INTO TOKENS OF THE DIVINE Dif'PLF:Af'URE. Y. THAT IT IS POS~IBl,E FOR THE GOOD 'rO MAINTAIN TllEIB INTEGRITY UNIMPAIBED A)[l1)6T GREAT LOBS, PAIN, A1''1> BORROW, YI, THAT TO Hrll! WHO MAINTAINB RIB INTEGRITY AND RIGRTEOUSNEBB IN THl!l TIME OF CALAMITY Gon WILL GIVE A FINAL TESTIMONY OF APPROVAL, YIJ. 'l'HAT ~•RE EN"D OF AFFLICTION AND SORROW IS THE PURIFIOATION OF THE CHARACTER, AND THE GLORY OF Gov. VIII. THAT THE VINDICATION OF THE OHABAOTER OF THE GOOD lB IN THE BANDS OF THE LORD. So tbe Book of Job harmonizes with the general teaohing of the entire Word of God. Its many beautiful, simple truths scattered in such profusion are as so many separate flowers; but the whole presents the appea.ranoe of a well-watered garden. The book has its place of high importance in that hook which is for the education of the world. It has served its purpose Rs a medium for the revelation of important truths, and it has been made a means oi blessing to thousands of afflicted ones who have "heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; bow that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful" (Jas. v. 11).-R G.