The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-22

influences. while all that Job can do is
to vindcate the freedom OF human wnl.
which be does triumphansly. By his intro
ductory prologue the author acquaiats us with
that of which his speaking personages, Joe
aud his friends, are necessarily Ignorant, ramely,
the cause of his sudden Of fortune And, by
giving us this knowledge, he places in our hands
shield to protect against the force OF arguments
which he himself il about to put into the mouths
Of his speakers Fer, knowing thai 1t Is tue great
principle of good by whose perm sssion the events
occur hch give rise to their arguments, we also
know that as this principle is all wise, it acts not
without a motive; it is all bouuteous 1t acts not
without kind motive and as 1t Is almighty. it
acts not without sufficient motive. And, having
impressed this knowledge on our minds, he may
safely lead us into the maze TO which his speaking
personages are vainly endeavoring to find clue.
Having thus pointed out and established the exist
ence OF plot or fiction in the Book OF JOB, and
thereby proved IT to be genuine dramatic compo-
position the lecturer said he would next proceed to
offer some remarks on the pecllla beauties of the
drama. The first thing which strx es is the regu
larry ofaTrangement and the sustained interest OF
the plot which pervades the whole The first part,
exordum, com prises the Two first cha pters, and
is full OF incident and transition 1t commences with
brief narrative Of the chief parsonage OF the poem,
his place of residence rank of life, iaexible in
tegrty. II then suddenly changes to scene so
transceDdantly lofty and magnificent that the
grandest description of the most daring poets sinks
before it. The tribunal OF the Almighty Is unvee i;
the host of good Spirits and also the Ev one among
them, in obedience to the high summons, present
themselves to give account Of their conduct The
views of the evil one are particularly inquired
into, and the answering fidelity of Job,
though mortal, is pointedly hsld up
to fame and extolled. The adversary insinu-
ates that Job is only faithful because it is his
interest to be so, but that his religion would not be
proof against reverse of fortune. To confound him
in SO malicious an imputation, the Almighty delivers
Job into his hands only forbiddng him to touch his
person. Satan departs, and next follows q busy
scene in which by the joint agencies Of hostile incur
sons, thunderstorms and whirlwinds, the righteous
sufferer, Job, in one dayand that day OF gladnsss
and festvity-is stripped of all his wealth and de-
prived even of his cbildren-messenger following
mess. niger with tidings of woefu Import, till the
whole tragedy is completed. Job continues infex
BILE. He feels the bitterness OF his bereavement,
deeply feels it, but does not Murmur aloud nor STA in
his heart. On the contrary Job arose and reut his
mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the
given, and the Lord hath taken away blessed be
His holy name!'' The heavenly judicature again re-
turns The Almighty once more arraigns the host
OF spirits. The answering fidelity OF JOB is again
pointed out to Satan and the futlity of lis malice
exposed. The evil one insists that he had liberty
TO touch his person. The person Of Job is now
placed in his power he is only foodden to touch his
iiie In the same moment job is smote from head TO
foot with what the authorized version calls burn
ing leprosy, but which physicians know by the name
Of elephautosus While agonizied with this Attic
ton, Job is tauniingy upbraided by his wife with
the nutiity of his religious services He resists this
attack with placid dignity and frmness Of faith
which 90 honor to hnman nature. What is his
reply, shall we receive good at the hand of
God, and shall we not also accept evil ~
The prologue closes with what is designed to intro
duce the argunentative part of the poem-a precon.
certed visit to the sufferer Of his three most intimate
friends. The first part is particularly distinguished
by simplicity snbliny and fine feeling. In its dc.
ton 1t exhibits perfect contrast to that OF the
body Of the poem, in conjunction with which it az
fords complete mastery of style and language such
as but few of the sacred writer's equal 1t IL strk
ing characteristic of this transcendent poem, that
its writer uniformly suits his ornaments to the occa
sion: that, though Influenced by the best rues Of
modern criticism, he seldom employs q fgarative
style where the incident passion is capable Of sup
porting itself; but invariably reserves his boldest
images and illustrations for crcumstan es that seem
most to reed them. The connection of the or gu
ment the characters Of Job, his wife and friends and
the reason why, notwithstanding his wretched and
helpless condition. nevertheless had the best Of the
debate, s-ce amidst much Of error he held fast by
fact, whilst his fren Is along with much of truth re-
lied chiefly on the ancient erroneous superstition
that no suffering befals except for the punish
ment Of sin, formed the conclusion Of this highly
interesting and instructive discourse