tions in Paalm xxxvii. 35-37. I have seen the wicked in great pow. er: and spreading himself like a green bay tree: yet he passed away, and lo, he was not yea, I sought him but he could not be found. But mark the perfect man, and behold the upright : for the end of that man is peace. CHAP. IX. Job illustrates and confirms what Bildad had said of the power and justice of Gol; and applies all this to his own case, in many expos● tulations and complaints. 2 TH 1 HEN Job answered and said, I know [it is] so of a truth; allowing the truth of what Bildad said, but adding, how should man be just with God? Shall a mortal, miserable man pre3 tend to charge God with injustice in any of his proceedings? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand; 4 not one crime of a thousand will he be able to reply to. [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength, the allwise, almighty God: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered? 5 who can wage war with God, and come off victorious? Which removeth the mountains, and they know not which overturneth 6 them in his anger by earthquakes. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof, the lowest parts of the earth 7 which hold up the rest, tremble. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, it becomes quite clouded; and sealeth up the 8 stars, hides them from our sight. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens like a tent, and keeps them spread out, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea, treads them down, or keeps them within 9 bounds. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the 10 chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number, these and other wonders 11 innumerable. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not; I understand not his providential dispensations; I see second causes, but no further. 12 Behold, he taketh away any thing, or all that a man hath, and who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? 13 who can or dare call him to account? [If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him; those who attempt to help, help in vain; or, those who join to help one an14 other against him are disappointed. How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out my words [to reason] with him? who am a poor forlorn creature; and have neither friend nor helper; how can I think to plead my cause, or move him with 15 persuasive language? Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] • These names are put in by our translators Arcturus may refer to the stars about the north pole; Orion, to the stars in general which rise in winter; and Pleiades, to those which usher in the spring, chap. xxxvii 3. The chambers of the south, are the southera hemisphere; which is hid from the inhabitants of the north, like a secret chamber. would I not answer; I durst not do it, being terrified by his majesty; [but] I would make supplication to my judge; I would 16 only open my mouth to supplicate and petition. If I had called him into judgment, and he had answered me, appeared with me at the bar; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice, for the sake of my prayers, while these afflictions 17 continue. For he breaketh me with a tempest, unexpectedly, violently, and irrecoverably, and multiplieth my wounds without cause, without any extraordinary guilt, as far as I am conscious to 18 myself. He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth 19 me with bitterness, brings one trouble upon another. If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong, too strong for me to contend with: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead ?] what 20 judge is above him to appoint a time for hearing the cause. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say,] I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse; there would be something or other in my plea, on which to ground a charge against 21 me, if he should deal with the utmost rigour. [Though] I [were] perfect, innocent of such great crimes as may deserve such exemplary judgments, [yet] would I not know my soul, I would not insist upon my innocency; I would despise my life while it is so 22 miserable, and not think it worth contending for. This [is] one [thing,] therefore I said [it,] he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked; this is still my opinion, that the innocent often suffer with 23 the guilty. If the scourge slay suddenly, he, not God, but it, the 24 scourge, will laugh at the trial of the innocent.† The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, wicked men are often advanced to dignity and power: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof, wicked tyrants often lead to execution judges and patriots; a remarkable instance of the scourge smiting the innocent; if not, where, [and] who [is] he? if God does not permit this, who does ? certainly none else could manage the affairs of the world after this 25 manner, but he. Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good; my days of comfort have been swifter than the speediest messenger; they have fled away, they have seen no 26 good. They are passed away as the swift ships, or rather, rush boats, or coracles, on the rapid river: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey; an hungry eagle, that cuts the air with the swiftest 27 motion. If I say, I will, or, I soon shall, forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself] in hopes of 28 better days; alas, I am afraid of all my sorrows, my grief destroys my hope, and all my sorrows croud in upon me; beside, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent; wilt not declare me innocent by removing my affliction, I have no hope that thou wilt appear for 29 me. [If] I be wicked,if I must be treated as a wicked man, why then labour I in vain? then it is in vain for me to endeavour to clear The question was not. Whether good men were ever afflicted, but, whether God ever utterly destroyed a good man by any remarkable overwhelming calamity, which Job mainBains, and his friends deny. This is a beautiful figure, in which the scourge is represented as taking pleasure in amiting all alike. myself, and maintain my own innocency. If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean, clear myself 31 from all imputations, and fully prove my innocence; Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, into the deepest afflictions, and mine own clothes shall abhor me, make me abhorred by myself and 32 friends. For [he is] not a man, a mortal man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment, that we should dispute upon equal terms at some judgment seat. 33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both; no arbitrator to oblige us to stand to his 34 award, and add sanction to it. Let him take his red away from me, and let not his fear, the dread of his great power and majesty, 35 terrify me: [Then] would I speak, and not fear him, that is, speak freely before him; but [it is] not so with me, I have no composure or fortitude of mind.* L REFLECTIONS. ET us treasure up in our minds these noble sentiments of the wisdom, power, and majesty of God. The description of God is eloquent, beautiful, and instructive; they need no commentary, but deserve to be had in remembrance, that we may exalt and sanctify the Lord of hosts, who hath made the heavens and earth, who has all nature under his government, and who does what he pleases in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. 2. Learn the vanity and madness of rebelling against God. He is infinitely wise to know, and mighty to defeat the designs of his enemies. Who ever hardened himself against Ged, and hath prospered? and where is the instance of any one rebelling against him that was not confounded and destroyed? who have not at least paid dear for their folly and rebellion. We have many remarkable instances, in Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, the old world, and the angels that sinned; which should make us stand in awe, and not sin. 3. A consciousness of God's greatness and our own imperfection and guilt, should make us silent and patient under his rebukes. The passionate expressions which the poet puts into Job's mouth, are designed to caution us against such language, and the temper from whence it flows. Many weighty thoughts are suggested to inculcate patience. There in no contending with God; we are guilty; we cannot answer for one sin of a thousand; if we justify ourselves, our own mouths will condemn us. Let us then be still, and know that he is God, that we are sinners, and that amidst the heavjest afflictions he dealeth not with us according to our sins, neither rewardeth us according to our iniquities. 4. The swift passing away of our time ought seriously to be considered. Job's remarks are applicable to the days of all men. They It appears to me that the impropriety of some of these sentences, and the indecency of these complaints, is their beauty; for they are designed to show into what irregularity of tempor persons in affliction are liable to fall; how their passion carries them headlong, and Row ready they are to charge God foolishly; which suggests a very useful caution to us are gone like a post, a ship, or an eagle, and there is no recalling them. We have little need of pastimes, as they are called; but great need to redeem time, to husband and improve it well. Be not fond of earthly things, that are so soon gone, nor sink under afflictions, that shall so soon be over. Let us remember, that as fast as time flies away, so fast eternity comes on, and that awful day, which will fix our state for ever. 5. Persons under heavy afflictions and trouble of spirit, are much to be pitied. The beautiful description of the tossing and disquietude of a troubled mind naturally suggests this thought to us. Such know not how to speak, or how to pray. Friends advise them to it, and blame them for not doing it; but it is not so ea. s peo ple imagine. A troubled mind sees it fit it should be done; and attempts it, but in vain. Let us pity such, and pray for them; and pray for ourselves, that God would not lead us into temptation, but grant us that sweet composure, which will make our afflictions sit light; and without which we may soon grow a burden to ourselves and to all about us. The general lesson from the whole is, in your patience possess your souls. CHAP. X. Job proceeds with his heavy complaints; pleads with God; and wishes for death, 'M Y soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul; 2 let loose the reins to my embittered spirit, and venture the issue. I will say unto God, Do not condemn me, do not quite cast me off, and treat me as a wicked man; show me wherefore thou contendest with me; what are the crimes for which I suffer more 3 than others. [Is it] good unto thee, pleasing and delightful, or just and equal, that thou shouldst oppress? that thou shouldst despise the work of thine hands, deal with me as if I were not worth regarding, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? 4 that is, seem to favour their designs and undertakings? Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth? as if he had said, Thou dost not judge as man does, only by the outside, but seest my heart, that I am not wicked, (v.7.) therefore why dost thou thus 5 afflict me? [Are] thy days as the days of man? [are] thy years as man's days, dost thou need length of time to discover my char6 acter, That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? that thou puttest me as it were upon the rack to dis7 cover my guilt? Thou knowest that I am not wicked, that I am not an hypocrite, as my friends intimate; but if thou wilt deal with me as such, none can help me ; and [there is] none that can dea liver out of thine hand. Thine hands have made me and fash joned me together round about, therefore thou knowest me perɑ fectly and intimately; yet thou dost destroy me, art cutting me» 9 off by afflictions. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast · made me as the clay; as the potter shapes the clay, so thou hast wonderfully fashioned me; and wilt thou bring me into dust 10 again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? thickened the soft matter, and liquid substance whereof I was made, and brought it into a consistence? A beautiful 11 image to represent the formation of a child in the womb. Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me, secured 12 my vital parts, with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, that is, the comforts of life, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit; thy good providence and care hath still suf13 ported and preserved me. And these [things] hast thou hid in thine heart; thou canst not have forgotten this; and yet I know that this [is] with thee, that my affliction comes by thy direction; and this I find so difficult to reconcile with creating and preserving 14 goodness. If I sin, then thou markest me narrowly, and I find by experience that thou wilt not acquit me from the punishment 15 of mine iniquity. If I be wicked, wo unto me, I must expect worse evils still; and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up mine head; I dare not plead it, or take comfort in it: [I am} full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; consider 16 my case, if it is not as bad as I represent it. For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion does his prey: and again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me; when I hoped for an end of my troubles thou sendest more, and fillest me with astonish17 ment and horror. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, the tokens of thy displeasure, and increasest the effects of thine indignation upon me; changes and war [are] against me; though my troubles change, each wars against me, and no change is for the 18 better. Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, as soon as I came into 19 life, and that no eye had seen me! I should have been as though I had not been: I should have been carried from the womb to 20 the grave, then I should have escaped these calamities. [Are] not my days few, almost ended? cease [then, and] let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, let me have a little respite before I 21 die; Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land 22 of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness [itself; and] of the shadow of death; as dark as dark can be, without any order, and [where] the light [is] as darkness; where there is nothing but perpetual and uninterrupted darkness. 1. T REFLECTIONS. O deprecate the divine displeasure, and seek instruction, is very proper under afflictions; that God would not correct us in anger, nor give us up as incorrigible, nor quite cast us off; but continue the sense of his love, acquaint us with the cause |