SERMON V.

JOB xlii. 10.

THE LORD TURNED THE CAPTIVITY OF JOB, WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS.

A

MONG the feveral competitors for the Throne of a certain ancient Kingdom, in order to put an amicable end to the conteft, and at the fame time to refer the decifion of it in some fort to Heaven, it was agreed, that He should be the fuccessful candidate, who should first behold the rays of the

rifing Sun. *

So while the rest were gazing with their eyes fixed on that part of the horizon where they expected the great Luminary of the Day, the God of Perfia, to afcend; one of the number bore away the royal prize by turning his face toward the weft. He discovered a ftream of the Sun's beams by reflection from the fummit of a mountain, or the

pinnacle of a temple, before any part of his orb was yet visible by a direct light.

This story has the appearance of a little allegory, rather than of true history: and it is poffible, the meaning may be this; that he who carried the crown in that competition, fucceeded by not appearing too forward and eager in the purfuit. He modeftly declined, he turned his face away from that great digni

ty; and for this very reason, it met him

with

Eumque potiffimum, quafi acceptiffimum diis, qui folem orientem primus vidiffet. Justin.

with the more willingness. The things which we defire the most ardently, are not always to be demanded eagerly. Extreme selfishness is often the cause of its own disappointment. The greedy go away unfed; while he that scattereth, in- Prov. xi. creafeth, and the liberal are loaded with good.

24.

iii.

The Lord appeared unto Solomon; and 1 Kings God faid, Afk what I shall give thee. And Solomon faid, Thy fervant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chofen, a great people, that cannot be numbered, nor counted for multitude: give therefore thy fervant an understanding heart. And God faid unto him, Because thou haft afked this thing, and haft not asked for thyself long life, neither haft asked riches for thyself, nor haft asked the life of thine enemies, but understanding to difcern judgement; Behold, I have done according to thy words; lo, I have given thee a wife and understanding heart: and I

have also given thee that which thou haft not afked, both riches and honour.

How charming is the conteft between Beneficence and Modefty! the liberal hand, and the difinterested bofom! Even the receiver divides the glory with his divine Benefactor and his generous concern for others, returns with accumulated benefits and bleffings upon himself.

Attend to the example of Job. Under the preffure of his great calamities and afflictions, he applied himself, and no wonder, to God by prayer; and being a good man, we may be allowed to fup. pose, that his petitions were not fruitless. But the petition which achieved his recovery, or, however, that which he was offering up at the moment in which it pleased Almighty God to accomplish it, was a petition for other perfons. It is

IO.

written, The Lord turned the captivity of Job xlii. Job, when he prayed for his friends.

& al.

How fignal is this inftance of God's difpenfations! what luftre doth it reflect upon that part of our applications to him, which we allot to the benefit of our brethren. You obferve, that this eminent pattern of piety and of patience had been both frequent and earnest in his fupplications in his own favour; complaining, pleading, and, like another Jacob, wrestling with God. O that Job vi. 2. my grief were thoroughly weighed! it would be heavier than the fand; and my words are fwallowed up. O that I might have my requeft, that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Why haft thou fet me as a mark against thee? I will speak in the bitterness of my foul; Is it good unto thee, that thou shouldeft oppress? that thou shouldeft defpife the work of thine hands? Remember, I beseech thee, that thou haft made me