came to comfort him did in fact only aggravate his trouble and misery by their unreasonable reproaches. But this is frequently the extent of their knowledge. As for the subject in dispute between Job and his friends, together with the arguments brought forward by each party, the unfounded accusations made against Job, and the manner in which the patriarch defends himself against them; of all this people in general have but an indistinct idea, and often take but little pains to inform themselves. And yet the history, of which we are speaking, is one which is most worthy of notice, and which well deserves that we should study it carefully. The book of Job is one of the most ancient books of the Old Testament, and sets forth in a striking manner the dealings of Providence towards mankind. Especially it teaches a doctrine of which God's people of old time were not so well informed, a doctrine which was not so clearly made known in those early ages as it is now revealed to us Christians in the Gospel, namely, that afflictions are no certain proof of God's anger, being often sent merely as a trial of our faith and patience; nay, that such visitations are to be rather regarded as the chastisements of a tender parent, for "whom the Lord loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."* I purpose then to take this ancient treatise as the subject of our present consideration; not indeed that it will be possible to speak of it very fully or completely in these few lectures. In so small a compass the utmost that can be done is to draw a kind of sketch or outline of the whole work, briefly to explain the plan or system of the book itself, and to give a short account of its contents. Yet even such a hasty and imperfect sketch as this may be of use, since it may perhaps incline some persons to study more attentively this part of the volume of Holy Scripture, and may be of service to those who shall be so led to study it, by giving them beforehand a general idea of its nature and character. It has been doubted whether Job was a real person, and this book a real history, *Prov. iii. 12. giving an account of things which actually happened. Some have supposed that, though certainly an inspired writing, it is only a kind of parable or instructive story, like the parables which our Saviour declared to the multitude, intended to enlighten the minds of GOD's ancient people, and to teach them more fully the ways of His providence. But the very language of the Bible itself forbids us to think that this can be the case. This holy patriarch is mentioned more than once in the Scriptures, and is spoken of in such a way as would seem to show that his history could not be a mere parable, but a true narrative, a relation of events which actually did come to pass. For example, Ezekiel, speaking of the four sore judgments which should be sent upon the land of Israel for their grievous transgressions, namely, the famine, the sword, noisome beasts, and the pestilence, declares, 66 though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God."* Here Job is joined with Noah * Ezekiel xiv. 14. and Daniel, and we can hardly suppose that his name would have been thus numbered with theirs unless he, like them, were one of the holy men of old time, who served GOD faithfully in their generation, and therefore stood very high in the Divine favour. This patriarch is again mentioned in the Epistle of St. James. The Apostle is here exhorting Christians to bear all their trials with cheerfulness and fortitude. "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts;" and he sets before them for their imitation the conduct of the inspired men of old. "Take my brethren," he says, "the prophets which have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience."* Perhaps the Apostle refers more particularly to the prophets Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah, who endured great persecutions from their countrymen. And then St. James brings forward the example of one still more ancient than the Prophets. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of *St. James v. 8, 10. tender mercy."* By the "end of the Lord" is no doubt meant that happy end or termination which GOD was pleased to put to all Job's sufferings, as a reward for his exemplary faith and patience. Now it can scarcely be thought that the Apostle would thus solemnly put forward Job, conjointly with the Prophets, as a pattern to the followers of Christ, unless this patriarch, like the Prophets, was one of God's faithful worshippers in the early ages, and had really been tried and approved by his Maker. Surely then we may conclude that the book of Job is a true history, which, like the rest of Holy Scripture, was given for our edification. There are two other points about which it would seem that some observation should be made. 1st.-Who was the writer of this book ? and, 2nd.-At what time it was written? With regard however to the first of these points, it does not appear to be of any use to make enquiry, for as the Scripture has not thought fit to tell us by whom it was composed, all our attempts now to discover it must be in *St. James v. 11. |