Year: 1865

Without presuming tointrude into the
province Of the clergy, we may conceive
it possible that some of them will, to-
morrow, give us text from the book OF
Job. 1t is not the only book in the in
spired record, by any means, that is
suitable to that occasion. 1t is impossi'
BILE, indeed, to open book or a chapter
of the sacred volume that does not teach
lesson of submission and fortitude, and
"vndicatc the ways of God to man."


A very learned man says: "He hath
observed, in the histories of all ages, that
the great events which determine the fate
of great affairs do happen less frequently,
according to (human) design, than by
(what are called) accident and occasion.
Our enterprises here below are derived
from above; and we are but engines and
actors of pieces that are composed in
Heaven. Homo histrio, Deus zero pota
est: God is the sovereign poet; and
we cannot refuse the part which he ap-
points US to bear in theScene. All our
business il to act it we'll cheerfully
complying with His orders concerning
us, and submitting ourselves to the
direction of His Providence"


It is tradition Of the Jews that when
Moses was sent by God into Egypt, and
beheld the grievous affliction of bis people
under Pharaoh, he took the pains to trans
late the book Of Job into their language
out Of the Syriac, wherein it was first
written, to comfort them in their lament
able condition. "Be ye constant, oh
children of Israeli" said Moses, "do not
faint in your minds, but suffer grief, and
bear these evils patiently, as did that
man whose name was Job who, though
he was righteous and faithful person,
vet suffered the sorest torment by the
: malice of the Devil; as you do now most
unjustly from Pharaoh and the Egyp-
tians. Do not despair of better condi-
ton; you shall be delivered as Job was,
and have reward of your tribulations,
like that which God gave to him" To
which it is added by Christian writer,
that the carly Christian Church was
wont to read the book of Job upon
fasting days and days, of abstinence, and
of the. days commemorative Of our Sa-
viour's sufferings, Of which they thought
they saw figure in the sufferings o f
Job; as of our Saviour's resurrection
and exaltation, in Jobs wonderful re-
covery and advancement to greater
height of prosperity. The same writer
adds: I" But the principal benefit which
| hope the afflicted will reap by this
book is, to be persuaded thereby that
all things are ordered and disposed by
Almighty God; without whose CON-
mand or permission, neither good angels,
nor the Devil, nor men, nor any other
creature, can do anything. And that
as His power is infinite, so is His wisdom
and goodness which is able to bring
good out of evil. And therefore we
ought not to complain of Him in any
condition, as if He neglected US, or dealt
hardly with US; but rather cheerfully
submit ourselves to His blessed will !;
which never doeth anything without rsa-
son, though we cannot always compre.
hend it. To that issue God himself
at last brings all the disputes between
job and his friends representing His
works throughout the world to be SO
wonderful and unaccountable that it is
nj Tor us to acknowledge our ignorance,
Out never accuse His providence; if w
cannot see the cause why He seads attic
oon' or continues it long upon us; in
stead Of murmuring or complaining, ir
such case, this book effectually teaches
Us to resign ourselves absolutely t
ii'm; silently to adore and revsrenc,
'ne unsearchabls depth Of His wise
sounssls; contentedly to bear what H,


"a''ss upon us; still to assert Hi