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of our afflictions, what particular sins we ought to mortify and subdue. The bitterness of afflictions should make us sensible of the insupportable terrors of the divine wrath, and the great evil of sin, which exposeth men to it.

2. Let us always be careful to remember that God is not like man, that he hath not eyes of flesh, and seeth not as man seeth; that his days and years are not like ours; he sees in darkness, darkness and light are both alike to him; he sees all things, we, but a few, and those imperfectly. His eyes are never closed in darkness, as ours soon will. Man looketh at the outward appearance, but God searcheth the heart. Our days are short, and soon finished, his are eternal. He needs not length of time to open new scenes, and make any new discovery; to him every thing is present, and nothing old or new. Let this thought dwell upon our minds, and teach us to reverence and adore the infinite and eternal, the omniscient and omnipresent Spirit.

3. It is a happy thing when afflicted of God, or censured of men, to be able to appeal to God, and say, Thou knowest I am not wicked. I am a sinner, a guilty creature, but am not an hypocrite, devoted to sin, and an enemy of God and goodness. God knows whether this be the case with us; and to be able to make the appeal to him will give us support and comfort, and fill us with joy, whatever we suffer, or however we are treated.

4. The providence of God in the creation and preservation of man ought to be remembered and seriously acknowledged. His wisdom, power, and goodness are displayed in making us of clay, and producing human creatures in so astonishing a manner; their bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our life, our comforts, and the continuance of them, are owing to his friendly and daily visitation. Let us give glory to God, our father, and serve him with body and spirit, which are his.

5. We are taught that a sinful state is a very woful one. What Job says of himself, is applicable to all; and we should each makę the reflection with application to ourselves, If I be wicked, wo unto me. Many woes attend wicked men at present; but more and greater hereafter, even eternal ones; and those who have been born of religious parents, enjoyed great advantages, and made a solemn profession of religion, have peculiar reason to say this. Wo, yea, ten thousand woes, to such, if, after all, they prove wicked. Once more,

6. The close of the chapter gives us an instructive view of death, It is leaving this world and all its concerns, and going to the land of perfect and unmingled darkness: and we are never more to return; never return to the comforts or pleasures of life; never return to a state of trial, so as to mend a bad life, or improve and make better a good one. Let this teach us to work while it is day, to improve life while it is continued; then, though the body be lodged in a dark and silent grave, our separate spirits will remove to the land of light that light, which is sown for the righteous: and we shall be so well pleased with the glorious and happy change, that we shall never once desire to return hither any more

CHAP. XI.

This chapter contains the speech of Zophar, another of Job's friends. He is called the Naamathite, from a town called Naamath, which we read of in Joshua xv. 41. He accuses Job of talking idly and irreverently; he gives a noble description of God's greatness and immensity; and offers Job some good advice,

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THEN of words be answered? and HEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, should a man full of talk be justified? is talking sufficient to 3 prove his innocence? Should thy lies, thy false assertions concerning thyself and God, make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, spcakest scornfully of God and thy friends, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, what I maintain concerning God and his providence, in the afflictions of the righteous, and the prosperity of the wicked, (ch. vi. 10. ix. 22.) is free from error, and I am clean in thine eyes, that is, in the eyes of God, and chargeable with no gross 5 crimes. But Q that God would speak, and open his lips against thee, that is, speak in a solemn manner, and show thee thy error; 6 And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is; all thou canst know of him is not half of what he is. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth ;] that thou hast deserved 7far more than he has laid upon thee, Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? the secrets of his providence, and the reasons of his proceedings ? 8 [It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than. hell; what canst thou know? as soon might you measure the, 9 height of heaven and the depth of hell. The measure thereof [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea; it is absolutely 10 boundless. If he cut off, take away our relatives or comforts, and

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shut up, confine us by afflictions; or gather together many afflictions as a hunter gathers beasts or birds in his net, then who 11 can hinder Lim? For he knoweth vain men, the vanity and folly

of men he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider 12 [it,] and reckon with them for it ? For vain man would be wise,, though man be born [like] a wild ass's colt; an ignorant untractable creature, yet he pretends to be wise and to arraign the proceed13 ings of the Almighty. If thou prepare thine heart, where all religion must begin, and stretch out thine hands toward him, pour 14 out fervent, earnest prayer; If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put

it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles; 15 cleanse thyself and reform thy family, For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be free from these dreadful boils;. yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear; be established in

• Wild asses are creatures of much more fire and spirit than ours: it is a proper similitude to represent the impetuosity of temper common among men in affliction, which leads them to censure even God himself, though they are very incompetent judges of his pro ceedings.

a safe condition, and have a composed mind, through the assurance 16 of God's favour: Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery,

[and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away, which once rose 17 high, but are quite gone: And [thine] age shall be clearer than the noon day; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morn→ ing; thou shalt blaze out more than noon; the remainder of thy 18 days shall be full of prosperity. And thou shalt be secure because there is hope of God's love and favour; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety; thy 19 person and property shall be secure, and thy mind serene. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee, or, as in the Hebrew, entreat thy face, (Psalm xlv. 12.) desire thy favour and friendship, because 20 of thy eminent felicity. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, be disappointed of the happiness they looked for, and they shall not escape, like a man who sees pressing danger near and cannot escape it, but falls under it by his own fear; and their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost, or a puff of breath that is quickly gone, and will never return again.

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REFLECTIONS.

ERE is a specimen of the temper with which most disputes are managed. In the language which the poet puts into the mouth of Zophar, he represents Job as a man of no wisdom or principle; a man that loved to hear himself talk, and yet said nothing to the purpose. He misinterprets what he said, and wishes God would speak; being sure that he would argue on his side of the question. This is commonly the temper of disputants, either in writing or conversation: they charge one another with ignorance and impertinence; put the worst colour on what their antagonist says, and are very confident that God would take their part in the debate. Let persons of warm tempers carefully avoid debates; and let all who are engaged in a dispute, even upon the most common or trivial subjects, set a watch upon the door of their lips, lest they displease God, injure their brethren and themselves, and even the very cause they would defend.

2. Let the depths of divine wisdom and justice, be always remembered by us, especially in times of affliction. Let us remember, that there are secrets of wisdom with God, far above our comprehension. The greatest part of what we know, is less than the least part of what we are ignorant of. Let us adore the judgments we cannot comprehend. We know little of God's nature, or the design of his providence; therefore let us never prescribe to him, or quarrel with him. He exacteth less than our iniquities deserve.“ A thought this, which, if encouraged, will silence all our murmuring; for wherefore should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? when, under the heaviest afflictions, God deals not with us after our sins, neither rewards us according to our iniquities.

3. Let our own ignorance and vanity likewise be remembered, cspecially in times of distress. After our most laborious inquiries, we cannot find out the Almighty to perfection. Vain man thinks himself wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt; an ignorant untractable creature. Let us not value ourselves on our own wisdom, when surrounded with so many mysteries that we cannot fathom. Young persons especially should guard against pride and conceit; and let their parents be watchful to subdue their spirits, and teach them knowledge and humility. Let us all remember our weakness and ignorance; that instead of prescribing to God, we may be in subjection to the father of spirits, and live.

4. The instructions here given to Job are proper for all, but more especially for afflicted persons, to attend to. It is our duty to pray, to live near to God, and to prepare our hearts for his service; else we shall neither be comfortable to ourselves, nor pleasing to him. We should stretch out our hands with fervour of spirit, and fut iniquity away from our hearts and our houses with detestation, and with a resolution never more to permit its return. Then may we hope for prosperity and comfort; at least we shall have a foundation for cheerfulness within, and a hope for futurity; a cheerfulness that will not be lost, and a hope that will be crowned with everlasting enjoyment.

CHAP. XII.

Job replies to Zophar in this and the two following chapters. He cen sures him and his other friends, defends himself, and gives a sublime and noble description of God's sovereignty and dominion.

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AND Job answered and said, in an ironical way. No doubt

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but ye [are] the people, the only wise and understanding men, and when you are gone out of the world wisdom shall die with 3 you. But I have understanding as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you; I have ability to judge of these matters equal to yours: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? meanest understand that God is infinite in wisdom, power, and jus4 tice; but that is not the question between us. I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, delivered over from one neighbour to another, as a jest that is to go round the company; who calleth upon God and he answereth him, or rather, he calleth to God, and let him answer him; (thus Eliphaz had insulted him, chap. v. 1. and thus Zophar, chap. xi. 5.) and thus the. just upright [man is] laughed to scorn; this is no new thing, 5 the best of men have been served so. He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease; he who is brought into a precarious and perishing condition, though he formerly shone like a lamp, is despised; when he loseth his external splendor and grandeur, he loseth the honour

that used to be paid him; they who are in prosperity regard him 6 like the snuff of a lamp just going out. The tabernacles of rob. bers, they and their families, prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, they neither feel nor fear evil; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly.] even of those things which they abuse, to 7 affront and provoke him. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee; this is so plain that the brute creatures teach thee this; they all serve the wicked, and contri9 bute to their convenience and luxury. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? it is plain 10 God hath appointed it should be so; In whose hand [is] the soul

of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind; who is the 11 sovereign disposer of all the creatures, as well as of mankind. Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? cannot my understanding judge and determine of words and arguments, as my palate does of meat? As much as to say, If you had a true taste for rational discourse, you would pay a greater regard to 12 what I say. With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding; there is wisdom among men, especially 13 among aged men; how much more with the eternal God! With

him [is] wisdom to contrive, and strength to execute; he hath 14 counsel and understanding. Behold, he breaketh down and it cannot be built again; he destroys men's comforts, and they cannot be recovered he shutteth up a man in prison, or affliction, or puts a yoke on his neck, as the word signifies, and there can be no opening, none can restore to liberty and happiness, unless he 15 please. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, that is, the rain, and they, that is, the springs, dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth, overthrow the banks, and carry all before 16 them. With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his; though some are wiser than others, drive on their schemes, and think to make others their property, he is 17 above them, and can frustrate their designs.* He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, as at his victorious chariot, and maketh the judges fools, so that they form bad schemes, and pass wrong judg18 ments. He looseth the bond of kings, he deprives them of that majesty and authority which should keep their people in awe, and girdeth their loins with a girdle; brings them into a servile con19 dition, or into prison. He leadeth princes, the greatest ministers of state, away spoiled, he takes away their authority and honour, and overthroweth the mighty, those who were endowed with 20 great power. He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged, on whose lips persuasion seemed to hang; he confounds their mind with unex21 pected calamities, so that they seem to be infatuated. He pour

eth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of

Bp. Sherlock thinks this is a reference to the fall, to the serpent's deceiving Eve, and both being subject to the control of God. VOL. IV. $

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