The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-03-01
Hiding the COunsfIs OF God.
by JOHN REYNOLDS.

above text in the outset announce my inten-
ton 10 submit to the public some comments
and criticisms upon one or two OF Mr.. Irving
A. Searles' sermons published IN The True
Northerner.
The text quoted above is repetition of or
response to the words of the AmG hty, spoken
to Job---xxxvih. O." Who is this that darken-
eth counsel by words without knowledge ?"-
The sense Of the two words "darkeneth" and
''hideth" Ii TO shut out or obscure in any way
the light of Gods truth from the heart or mind,
and may be done wilfuly and maliciousy or
conscientiously. In the case of Job and his
three friends there was sincere friendship. Al
though they we're plain and outspoken they
came to him to mourn with HIM and 10 comfort
him, and when they saw him they wept and
sat down on the ground with him for seven
days and nights without speaking word. This
proved them to be true friends, but worthless
in their mistaken zeal and solcitude for his
welfare. BY innuendos and direct charges they
himself his Affections, upon the principle that
all sin was punished in this life and all virtue
rewarded. Consequently they said Job must
be guilty OF some or many crimes, otherwise he
would have been exempt from the suiferings
he then endured, Job, on tho other hand con-
tended that the righteous suffered aficton
and misfortune in this hfe in common with the
wicked; and further, that he was free and uu
spotted from sin. And thus IT appears that he
was. from bis history, so far as his outward life
and conduct was concerned. So much 80 that
his friendly accusers could not bring any posi-
tive proof to the contrary, and became dumb
before Job. When Elisha, the youngest OF the
four friends, being inspired by the spirit OF the
living God, preceived Jobs true character and
condltlon-that he, although unimpeachablo
his strict observance of the letter OF the law,
was not conscious Of his own corrupt heart an
self-righteous dependence upon his own works
and needed heart-repentance towards God for
his internal blindness and corruption and lack
OF faith in the atoning blood OF the lamb OF
God slain from the foundation OF the world, OF
which sacrifice all the slain beasts were only
emblems, or types, and worthless only when
they lead men to see their lost condition and
need Of nothing less than the sacrifice and in
tercession of the unspotted Son Of God. OF
this truth Elisha tired to convince Job bv elo-
quent and sublime appeals to the purity Of the
Almighty, bis justice, mercy, omnipotence an 4
omnipresence, and urged Job to consider tha {
our ways are not Gods ways-that His COUNSEL s
and actions are beyond the comprekenslon OF
finite capacities only as God sees fit to reveal
them. This having failed to convert Job. the
Lord then answered him-not with the still
small voice as in the case OF the prophet Eli
jah, but out of the whirlwind, and said, " Who
is this that darkeneth counsels by words with
out knowledge 2" And IN the midst of the thun-
derng and lightning God propoupded to job
many overwhelming and piercing question:
with reference to the creation and maintenance
OF the universe OF the Almighty, and SAID
"Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty
instruct him: lie that reproveth God let him
answer it. Wilt thou, also disanuul my iudg-
ment? Wilt thou condemn me thu; thou mayest
berighteous Z" BY this job was convicted of
SIN, and said I am vile. What shall an
swer thee l wlll lay nv hand upou my mouth.
Once have | spoken, but Will not answer YOU
twice." but will proceed no further Here
Job began to feel deeply HE rlpiety IN COM
planning OF God Tor His affective DEALINGS with
hum; but God saw that he WAS not sufficiently
humbled, and continued ms searching truths
upon Job until the word Of the Lord became a
sharp t"o-edged sword, and he realized the
force that 1.-THE entrance Of tav 1ord give.h
hight, 1t gveth understanding unto the simple II
-Ps. cxix $50 o. what change then comes
over Joo! Hear him exclam, 9" know that
thou csnst do everything, and that no thought
can be wlthhoden from thee Just what Peter
said 10 Jesus at the sea of Tiberas-" Thou
lgnowest all things
This is the fret step to gospel repentance o.
godly sorrow, and right understanding oi
Gods word and His provdential dealings with
men. Without this change, and what follows
no one is fit or competent to explain the scrip
lures or preach the gospel.
Hear the penitent job sure enough! "Whc
IS be that hideth counsel without knowledge p
Il am the man, therefore have ! uttered that
l understood not things too wonderful for mC
which know not" In this he fulfilled the re-
qurement Of Gods word, with the hear
man believeth unto righteousness and with tht
mouth confession ~ made unto salvation. y
; Rom. x. O. 10 job makes no appeal TO thl
faithful observance OF the law or the benevo
lent deeds he had done no, nor 70 his highl,
cultured mlud, although he and hIs thre,
friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and 1ophar, were al
men OF rare abiiity-but little behind the learn
ed Of modern days. but no feels his need OF in
a,rucion. at once becomes a disciple os th,
I, Lord. and prays just as Paul did when he Wal
converted
Job now recognizes God as hrs friend an,
Z Father for whom The Lord logeth lie chas
r tanoiu, and scourgetn every son whom he re
D csiveth. Heb. XII G.. lie comes to God will
r humble confidence and says, Hear. beseecl
thee, aud will speak. 1 win demand Of the
Q ane declare thee unto me- God dld declar
I, to him all the mystery that bad attended hi
; former condition and why He bad afflicted hin
so severely. This is revealed religion wlQcl
job had never felt before but now he could tel
his experience to the honor of Gods grace
Hear him say, II have heard of thee by th