are in, and the blessings you need; and when the trial is over you will come forth as gold from the furnace. Hold fast by his steps; decline not from his way. Go not from his commandments. Esteem the word of his mouth more than your necessary food; and you will soon find, that, though he is in "one mind," and doeth what his soul desireth, he will "perform the thing that is appointed" for you; he will soften your heart with his grace; remove your troubles in his love; and, in due time, prove, that he hath not cut you off in darkness, nor hid you from his face for ever (v. 8—17).

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 Wickedness goeth often unpunished. 17 There is a secret judgment for the wicked.

WH

HY, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and 'feed thereof.

3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

6 They reap every one his 'corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.

7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a

thief.

16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

5

19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.

20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not and doeth not good to the widow.

22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.

23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

24 They are exalted for a little while, but 7are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

IN this chapter Job is still giving a more extended reply to his friend's statements. He had spoken of his earnest desire to appear before God; of his confidence in his mercy; of the immutability of his decrees; and of his observing all our ways, though invisible to us. In so doing, he had opened. up some of the most secret recesses of his soul; and we evidently see the true man of God struggling with troubles, yet secretly sustained by the exercise of a gracious faith. In this part of his address he proves, that although wickedness may for a time go unpunished, there is always the secret judgment of God at hand, and ready to fall upon the ungodly. Now, if the case be so, let us seek to improve it.

That the wicked should always be exposed

to the anger of God, and yet often for a time go without punishment, is one of those mysteries in the order of God's dealings with men, which will hereafter eminently display the glory of his name. That the case is so, is plain. Nothing is hidden from the Almighty: yet how often is it manifest, that "they who know him not see his days!" They are guilty of every kind of oppression. Landmarks, flocks and herds, are all removed and driven away as they please. They flourish in their proceedings. They reap every one his corn in the field, and gather the vintage of the harvest. The naked and the fatherless never excite their compassion. Men groan under their oppressions. The soul of the wounded crieth out. "Yet God layeth not folly to them." They are let alone. They live. They wax mighty. Some are murderers, rising with the twilight to kill the poor and needy. Some of them are thieves, robbing and stealing in the night. Some of them are adulterers, waiting for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me. Some of them dig through houses which they had marked in the day time. They know not the light. The morning is to them as the shadow of death. If one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. For a time, at least, many of these men are not found out; they are not detected; they are not brought to punishment for their evil deeds. Many of them escape detection for a long time. Others are never found out in this world. They go down to the grave without detection and without punishment. Now, why is this? Is there no righteous governor of the world? Does God wink at their enormities? Is he pleased with their ways? Wait a little, and you will see. All these apparent obliquities will soon be made. straight, and glory shall accrue to his blessed name (v. 1-25).

Even now, is there not a secret curse upon their ways, and the fearful sentence of condemnation resting upon their head? Why are they so anxious for concealment? Why do they sin in the dark? Why do they say, No eye shall see us? Why do they disguise their face? Why do they shrink from the light? Why is the morning to them as the shadow of death?

Why, if they are known, do the terrors of death seize them? What do all these things prove? If all were right, would they thus feel? If they had nothing to apprehend, would they thus be in terror? Are not those fears and terrors the "manifest token of the righteous judgment of God?" Do they not prove, that even now the hand of God is secretly upon them; and that they have, even in the midst of their impieties, when no human eye sees them, and no human arm arrests their progress, an earnest of what they will hereafter find when they shall stand before the bar of God? (2 Thess. i. 5.) If their own heart thus condemn them, how much more will God condemn them, who is greater than their heart, and knoweth all things! Let no one, then, think that the wicked will escape with impunity. Their horrid deeds and guilty fears, as well as the character of God and the resurrection of Christ from the dead, prove that there will be a day when God will judge the world in righteousness, and give to every one according to his works. (Acts xvii. 30, 31.) Let not the wicked, then, harden themselves in sin. Their doom is fixed, and their day is coming. As yet there is a door of hope. If they repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance, they may escape. But if they persist in their evil ways, they will perish for ever without remedy.

CHAPTER XXV.

Bildad sheweth that man cannot be justified before God. HEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

TH

2 Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.

3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

6 How much less man, that is a worm ? and the son of man, which is a worm?

THIS short chapter contains Bildad's reply to Job's most weighty and powerful statement; which seems to imply some admission of the truth of what Job had

adduced; and plainly states the great fact, that sinful man cannot be justified before God. Every word he utters contains a grand acknowledgment of that fundamental truth. But, after all, it may well be asked, how could this apply to the point in hand? The matter immediately in discussion between Job and his friends was, not whether, or how, could man be just with God; but whether a justified man, as Job was, could be so afflicted as he was, and yet be a justified man and precious in the sight of the Lord notwithstanding. They affirmed, this could not be. Job maintained that it could be so. On this point they are at |issue. Various arguments are adduced on both sides to prove the point they each maintain. But the issue shews that Job was right, and that they were wrong.

Bildad's admission is very important. Dominion and power are with him. He maketh peace in his high places. Is there any number of his armies; and upon whom doth not his light shine? (v. 1-3). That is, as much as to say, I grant what you have spoken. There is nothing impossible with God. The wicked cannot escape his arm, nor outbrave his justice. All power is with him. He is a Being greatly to be feared. Nothing can be hid from his eye. Nothing can escape his hand. Now, are not these weighty truths? Ought they not to make the ungodly tremble? Will they not surely be found ont? Can they ever escape? If they seek not that "peace which he maketh in his high places," | through the mediation of Jesus, how sure, how certain, how tremendous will be their doom! Some of his armies will arrest them. Death at length will cut short their career. The last trump will call them forth from their graves. Then, whether they will, or no, they shall hear that decision which will determine their state and doom for ever.

Bildad's inference is, also, equally important. Although it led from the immediate subject, it admits a truth which lies at the very root of the gospel, and which ought to be clearly understood and distinctly acted upon, in every thing relating to the soul's welfare. What is the truth thus admitted? The utter impossibility of man being just, or justified with God. What is the cause of

that utter impossibility? The total depravity of man as a fallen and polluted creature. How can he be clean that is born of a woman? The answer is, he cannot be clean. He is impure: he is unclean; he is polluted; he is sinful in all the faculties of his soul; and wicked in all the thoughts, words, and works of his life. Nay, even the moon, in all her nightly splendour, shineth not in comparison of him; and the stars, in all their spangled glory, become dim and obscure in his sight. What, then, must be the state of man; man that is a worm; and the son of man which is a worm, contrasted with this great and glorious God? Can he lift up his head? Can he presume upon his works? Can he stand in the judgment before this sovereign Being? Let him pause and reflect. Let him embrace the Redeemer; then he shall find acceptance and peace. But if he rely on his own doings, he is undone for ever.

Let us also observe, by the way, the very striking evidences, which we thus incidentally meet with, of the truth of our holy faith. All agree in admitting that this Book of Job is of a very ancient date. But here we find all the great doctrines of the gospel spoken of by these venerable characters, as matters well known, and well understood. The sovereign dominion of God over all creatures and all things; the fallen state of man; the impossibility of saving himself; the glorious doctrine of justification, not by human works, but by the faith of Christ; the promised Redeemer; the grace, peace, and blessings of his salvation; as distinctly pervade this whole book, as any of the writings of the prophets or the apostles in their later day. Let us prize these invaluable testimonies of our holy faith. Let us never forget what we are. Let us never lose sight of Christ as the Saviour of the soul. And, whilst we steadily rely on his meritorious sacrifice and death, let us learn more and more to love his service, and rejoice in his salvation.

without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. 9 He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through 3 the proud.

13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

(1) Or, with the inhabitants. (2) Heb. until the end of light with darkness.

(3) Heb. pride.

You have here Job's reply to what Bildad had said in the chapter foregoing. In this reply there are two things to be noticed for our improvement; namely, a reproof, and an admission. The reproof applies to Bildad; the admission refers to God. Let us consider both.

First, the reproof. How hast thou helped How hast thou helped him that is without power? How savest thou the arm that has no strength? How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? And how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came from thee? (v. 1-4.) Every one who hath observed the order of this discussion, must see how completely Job was justified in using these expressions. What had Bildad said to the purpose? How did his remarks apply to the point in hand? Was he really staggered in his own mind? Why did he

not, then, confess his error, and cheer his friend? Why did he still continue to give such thrusts at the troubled mind, instead of binding up the wounded spirit? Alas! such is the corruption of our nature, there is nothing more difficult, than, when a man is foiled in an argument, for him to confess his fault. There was much truth, great truth in what Bildad spake; but it was all out of place; and, therefore, though excellent in itself, it was quite useless for the purpose. In speaking for the good of others, there are two things always to be kept in view; namely, what you shall say, and how you shall say it. If you neglect these, instead of being useful, it may be often said, How hast thou helped him that is without power? savest thou the arm that has no strength? or counselled him that hath no wisdom? or plentifully declared the thing as it is? (v. 2,3.)

How

Secondly, the admission. The admission which Job here makes is, that the power of God is infinite and unsearchable. It is infinite. There can be no bound or limit assigned to it, except God's own sovereign will. It is unsearchable. After all the observation you make, and all the displays of it which you see, you never can find out all. The exercise and display of that power are quite beyond your reach. It is still infinite and unsearchable.

Let us endeavour to trace some of the proofs of these doctrines. Dead things are formed under the waters; but who knows what they are, except he who formed them? Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering; but who knows these things as he does? The north is stretched out over the empty space; the earth is hung upon nothing; the waters are bound up in the thick clouds, and are not rent by their weight till he gives the command for them to fall on the earth. The face of his glorious throne is obscured by the cloud, or displayed by the sun, as he pleases; the sea hath its limits; the pillars of heaven tremble; the ocean is divided; the proud are smitten through; the heavens are garnished by his Spirit; the whole universe is upheld by his arm till day and night shall cease; and even the wretched serpent received his being from his hand, though doomed to utter destruction. These are

but part of his ways; but who understand even these? How small a portion do. these things display of him who fills heaven and earth with his presence?

Are these things wonderful? What more cannot infinite power effect? Are these things unsearchable? How, then, can you find out all his ways? May there not be much infinite power exerted, and much infinite wisdom put forth, in the trials of the saints, and the sufferings of his servants? Might not such be the case with Job? If so, might there not be some happy end in view in all he endured? Cannot the almighty arm of the Lord bring that end to pass? If Bildad admit this in the abstract, let him apply it in the particular. If Job believe this in his heart, let him never despond in the midst of his troubles. The one stands immediately reproved. The other is greatly strengthened in his hope and confidence in the Lord. Do you believe these things? Then, do not rashly censure the afflicted in the time of adversity; and never suffer your own mind to distrust the Lord's mercy and love. Again, do you believe these truths? Then, whatever may be your temptations, sorrows, or conflicts, learn both to hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

CHAPTER XXVII.

1 Job protesteth his sincerity. 8 The hypocrite is without hope. 11 The blessings which the wicked have are turned into curses.

OREOVER Job 'continued his parable,

M and said,

2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath 2 vexed my soul;

3 All the while my breath is in me, and 'the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me 'so long as I live.

7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

11 I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

22 For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. 23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

THIS chapter is still a continuation of Job's address in his reply to Bildad. Having reproved him for his uncharitable disposition, and acknowledged the infinite character and the unsearchable power of God; he now goes on to assert his sincerity, and shews that the hypocrite is without hope; and that even the very blessings, which the wicked have, are turned into curses. Here, again, is abundant matter for profitable reflection.

Sincerity is a precious jewel. In the things of God, and the faith of Christ, it is of inestimable value. It answers to what the apostle calls "a conscience void of offence," which he laboured to maintain. (Acts xxiv. 16.) Our Lord speaks of it under the figure