Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-09-02
ros THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
STRUCTURES

81 kiC OhEo
On The Character of Job, particularly on
ms PATIENCE, ,aiieh vas subjected to a
sepere trlul.
(cogcLUDED-)
uz. where job is said 10 have had his
babitation, was situated in the northern
part of Arabia Deserta, towards the Eu-
phrates and ,Mesopotamia. He is supposed
70 have been descendant of Esau, Reuel
was the son Of Esau, whose son Zerah it
is said was Jobs father. He reigned in
Iduue., some time before the children OF
Israel lett Egypt. Sob was prophet a.
uopg the Gentiles, and of no ordinary
grade God spake to him, not in whispers,
as he did to Eiphaz, but aloud, in voice
from Heaven, The Bath Col of the Iews, or
highest degree of revelation This voice
was attended with an awful token of the
Divine presence, whirlwind, sound
like that on the day OF Pentecost, Of a rush.
ing mighty wind f; he saw The appearance
Of some visible majesty, glorious cloud,
OF glory like what was astonishing to Mo-
ses, when bush was seen on fire but not
consumed.
The book of Job is esteemed to be the
most ancient of all the books of which we
have any knowledge ; it was probably
written by lob himself, or by Elihu, one
of Jobs companions !; Moses may have &C.
quired the possession of this book, during
the period when he abode with Je,hro, and
given it TO the Israeltes, for their comfort
under their oppressive bondage in Egypt.
|, was written in verse. remarkable Tor
boldness Of thought, aud strength of ex-
preston, FOX the grandeur of the imagery,
and variety of the characters. Antiquity
cannot produce performance more lofty
aud magnificent, more lorid and eloquent,
where pathos and learning are the leading
features. Ii IS species of Dramatic Po-
etry. The several answers 10 Job, by bis
friends, form three distinct acts Eiihu's
reply fourth; the Deity i'll the fifth, Is
sues the dispute. The historical port,
with which the book begins aud ends, are
the Prologue and Epitogae, and like the
drama among the ancients, contains PLAIN
narrative, illustrative OF the poelicai parts.
Doctor Mead's observations on this subject
will De read with attention, who although
a physician, revered the scriptures and
IL was the amusement OF his old age, to ex-
anime the various diseases recorded in the
Bible, and among ether, the disease OF
Job.
There snbsists, says the Doctor, " dis
pute" between very grave authors, whe-
Their his narrative be fable or true his
tory: If | were allowed TO interpose my
opinion, Iwouid say, that II is not para
bic Invented by Hupotuposis, out drama
tic poem composed upon true history
and perhaps with This design, that, from the
example o. this iliustrIous and uprlSht, yet
afflicted ami most miserable man, the peo-
pie ot Israel Nigh learn to bear with patti
ence all those evil, and hardshIps which
they were dalsy suffering IN tner Egyptian
Captivity. hat TINS book IS metllcai, as
Wei as Ds,id's Psalms, the Proverbs, &c
cIesiastlcs, and Soiomon's Song. Is general
IL allowed aud the persons OF tue drama
are Cos, Satan, job, AMI his vile, his
three friends, and Eiihu. Wherefore 1t IS,
says Gfuhus, real fact, but poelscaily
banded Poetry was Certainly very an
cicnt manner of writing, and poets were
wont TO embeliish true histories In their
own way, as We see IN the most ancient a
mong the Greeks and Romans. And among
the Hebrews likewise, long alter the time
aforementioned, Ezekiel comprised the
history of the departure out of Egypt ID
dramatic poem, upon which account he Is
called by Clemens Alexaudrinus, the poet
of Judaic tragedies. Nor indeed, IN my
opinion, can there be found, IN this kind
eli writing, any thing more admirable, anu
better adapted TO move the passions than
this piece whether we regard the subj
nifty and elegance Of style, the description
OF natural thugs, or, IN line, The propnety
of the characters ascribed to all the persons
concerned in it; ali which circumstances
are of the greatest moment IN a dramatic
performance.
-Quo proptus sizes.
1scapiet mdSis.