The Phoenix herald., 1879-04-05
Tc-Morrow's Lesson.

The Sunday school lesson for to-
 morrow-Job 23:1430. Topic ..Sanctified Afiiction" Golden text My son, dcspise not thou the chast- ening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom: he re- ceiveth." Heb 12:5-6.
 Central truth-God calls to repent ancc by discipline.
 Explanation-Job is represented to us as man of great wealth, in- fuence and picty; see chapters 1 and ?. On one day he lost all his child dren and his wealth. 'In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly" Next he was afflicted with sore boils from head to foot. Jobs three friends, hearing of the calamities which had befallen him, came to mourn with him and com fort him. He, however, presented such pitiable appearance that for seven days and nights they uttered not word to him, because of his grief. They then enter upon dis cussion in which tho origin and in tent of evil forms the topic. Jobs friends made the mistake that Job had committed some great sin for which he was now being punished. Job maintains his innocence and sllences his friends. The lesson is taken from Elihu, who accuses both Job and his friends to be wrohg and speaks in Gods behalf.
 After quoting some of Jobs words, vers 9-11, he proceeds to explain Gods dealings with man.
 Vcrs. 14-1S. First-God speaks to men by appealing directly to their understanding, their common sense. He arouscs their consciences in old times by revelations in visions. He opens their ears so they may hear the voice of warning and be instructed how they should act; to prevent them from doing wrong and from becom- ing proud, for pride goeth before destruction" This God does to keep mans soul from the pit, l. c. from death.
 Vers. 1929. God speaks to man in suffering. The speaker now pre- sents to us one in severe atfiictiOn- The whole body is racked with pain. He is chastised, some render, and his every bone a never-ceasing pain. Who has not heard persons say that every bone in their bodies ached , Such is the struggle with pain that the most dclightsOme food disgusts them. and i'll time their flesh is all
 wasted away, so that the body seems to be merely a skeleton-nOthing but bones. In this condition his life is despaired of and he seems to stand upon the brink of the grave
 But now verses 23-26, a messenger appears and points out to him the remedy. He pleads with and for the suffering one, and lie is restored to health. See q similar experience in Psalm B.
 Verse 27. Instead of reading ''He looketh upon man" read He sing eth to man" The idea is that the recovered one now relates to man, in song, of his own willtul actions and the result: of his delfverance from death and the pit; that God brings all these things upon men for their own good
 We should learn from this lesson obedience to God. Attend to the promptings of conscience and the teachings of Gods word. In calam- ities to be patient, for they arc either corrective ot sin, or by them we are to show 10 the world how God helps his children to bear afiiiction. Job was afflicted, not because he had sinned but because Satan said that Job served God because it paved, and enjoyed good health; but when God permitted him to destroy Jobs prop erty and health, Job by his patience showed the devil that he was mis- taken in his man, for he maintained his integrity and piety.