The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-10-28

Job, we are told in sacred history, was
man of many affections; he was sorely
tried as regards the power of physical
manhood to withstand the temptations
and trials of the temporal existence; the
Scriptural narrative teaching the story of
man who fell from the high estate of
wealth and ease to the lowly walks and
sufferings of poverty and want True
there are skeptics, regarding the trials
and patience OF Job, and some learned
men have even claimed that no such
writer as Job ever lived, and that his
narrative was written by one of another
name. We prefer to think, however,
that Job lived, and suffered, and that he
sinned not, amid his discouraging affiic-
tions.
Robbed of wealth and children, afflicted
with a dread disease, he was reduced
almost to the level of cursing the hour of
his birth, when three of his friends called
to console him. And in this righteous
consolation by these good men, there is
wonderful lesson of Christian grace.
These were Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.
Eliphaz gave the good but suffering man
the consolation-amid all Jobs sufferings
that "God does not chastise the right
ous." Bildad suggests that his children
were taken from him because of his wick
edness, and Zophar solemnly assures him
that repentance and turning to God are
the means by which he can regain his
property, and live life of righteousness.
The fact that Job replied in the manner
deserved by these, makes the history all
the better reading. Job was man who
believed, not only in the power, but in
the wisdom and mercy of God. Yet had
Jobs corn blown down, or his best cow
been struck by lightning, or the early
frost caught his peaches, he would not
have sat down and mourned over the
affair as scourging for the wickedness
of himself or some of his neighbors. He
merely accepted such chastisements as
came, as matter of course, trusting
Gods wisdom to deal with him as the
| Father saw fit.
If there is anything more ridiculous
than some of the attempts at Christian
consolation, we have failed to discover it.
A mans wife-She whom he loves above
all things of earth-is stricken with dis
| ease; the husband, filled with alarm at
the thoughtsof losing her, procures all
the assistance that medical science can
give; he administers the medicines with
his own hand; he is sleepless, faithful;
| day in, day out, the glance of love is upon
the bedside. and each little change is
carefully watched; no tie of earth could
be stronger than the great, strong, manly
affection with which that husband re-
CARDS his stricken companion; in his
agony of spirit he prays God to spare, for
yet while, his loved one. But the di-
vine plan was shaped differently, and the
great disappointment of death came at
last and closed the eyes that had flashed
in kindly smile for so long time in that
| little home ,scircle. The loved form is
lain away, the precions life has dropped
out, passed away from earthly view, and
the bereaved companion sits and looks
into the gloom of the great, sad, cruel
disappointment, as it seems to him. lust
here comes along some self-righteous
Bildad, and with great show of solemnity
informs the sufferer that the whole sad
visitation-the expression of the wrath of
an indignant LOrd-was sent as a pun
ishment for the wickedness of the suf-
ferer. Why, the modern Bildad seems to
be utterly unable to explain why the
Lord had permitted the sufferer to live
in wickedness so long. This is the con-
solationg offered to one in distressI The
assurance that one deserved all that he
endured, and should therefore not COM
plain, is not the kind of consolation that
lifts the weight from the crushed heart,
and paints rainbow tints across the dark
sky. But in order to get at the inward
ness of the case, analyZe the two lives,
found under such circumstances or con-
ditions. In every case where the repre-
sentative of the true Christianity-he
who so styles himself-assumes the right
to chide a friend for his wickedness, you
may detect, deep down in the life of that
critic, the impersonation of Satan, who is
enthroned and holds dominion in that
life. One of the most dangerous darts
used by Satan, is the sin of self-right-
eousness, and the faculty for criticising
ones fellows. We may go to man-no
matter what his condition or his suffer-
ing-and say to him Y ou are not Chris
tianw But who or what is it that speaks
through that expression? Simply and
solely the Devil.
A man who is earnest and true in his
religious beliefs, will not attempt to drag
the sanctity of the Throne of Jehovah
down the level of personal piques or am
bitions. 1t is something beyond the
scene of temporal quarreling. The man
who has to tell you that his life is based
upon his religion, hasn't any religion. |
If he has that acceptance at the Throne |
of Grace which is promised as crown of |
Immortality to the faithful, his daily |
walk and conversation will tell it to the |
world in way that cannot be misunder-
stood. He does not become skeptical, or
critical of his neighbors in religious mat
ters. He is 10th to drag his religion into
controversy, and never does it save in
defense of his religious character when
attacked by evil influences. Like Job he
he will hold fast to his righteousness, and
trusts fully in that one who gave him
to sustain him and save
him. 1t is only Satan that brings the
ASAAS5 iO0o SlietAttCoOA VI d 1Ol1OW CICdOulO
into question, and attempts to cast
doubt upon it.
Job was somewhat outspoken in his
replies to Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.
The man who is visited by critics of char
acter today should be equally outspoken
and firm. A man says to us, you are
not living a Christian lifer' We reply:
How do you know?" And that gener-
ally confuses the critic, from the fact
that he does not know what religious
life is. The true Christian will strive to