[The views with which the godly are sometimes favoured in this world are inexpressibly bright and glorious. But what a sight of God will that be, when we shall behold him face to face! Surely all that we have heard or seen of God in this earthly state will be, in comparison of that, no more than a taper compared with the meridian sun. Let us willingly then endure the tribulations that are preparing us for heaven.]

CCCCXCIII.

JOB'S RESTORATION TO HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

Job xlii. 10. The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.

IF God himself had not interposed to determine the controversy between Job and his friends, it would have been extremely difficult for us to decide with any precision the points at issue between them. There was much of wisdom and of piety on all sides; and on all sides there was somewhat also to blame. Perhaps we should have thought that the fault of uncharitableness was chiefly on the side of Job's opponents: but yet, as they were three in number, whilst he stood alone, we should have been ready to bow to their authority, and to consider the scale as preponderating in their favour. However, happily for us, the difficulties are all removed by that infallible Umpire, to whom all the disputants appealed; and we are able to pronounce with certainty, that, both in temper and argument, Job had greatly the advantage of all his adversaries: nay, so far were they inferior to him in these respects, that they were commanded to request the intervention of his kind offices in their behalf, that through his intercession they might obtain pardon for their misconduct in the whole matter. In compliance with this command, they entreated an interest in Job's prayers; a favour instantly conferred, and productive of the happiest effects, as well to him who prayed, as to them for whom his prayers were desired: "The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends."

We shall conclude our remarks on the history and character of Job, by shewing,

I. The office he performed

The friends of Job had greatly offended God by their mode of conducting their controversy with him

[They imagined, that, whilst criminating or condemning Job, they were rendering an acceptable service to God: but they were, in reality, only provoking the Divine displeasure. On the contrary, their injured friend was regarded by God with an eye of pity and of love. This is a very instructive circumstance. The many are not always right in their views; nor the confident, in their assertions. The persecuted and afflicted saint whom they oppress, may be right in opposition to them all. It can scarcely be conceived, how one false principle may warp the judgment even of good men; or to what erroneous conduct it may lead them. We cannot, therefore, but impress on all the necessity of guarding against the influence of prejudice or party zeal, and of maintaining in habitual exercise the united graces of diffidence and love. Charity in the heart is that which alone renders our most zealous services pleasing unto God; and, without it, whatever we may do or suffer for the Lord's sake, we are no better than sounding brass or tinkling cymbals a.]

For their ignorance and uncharitableness, God required them to humble themselves before him

[They were to bring their sacrifices, and to offer up burnt-offerings, in order to appease the wrath of their offended God: yea, they were also constrained to solicit the prayers of Job; nor would God pardon them, till his injured servant Job should have interceded with him in their behalf. Here, independent of the Mosaic law, the great doctrine of an atonement for sin was proclaimed; that doctrine which has been revealed with increasing clearness in all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, and which is the one hope and consolation of every child of man. The persons who had transgressed were pious; and their sin was a sin of ignorance: yet must they present their burnt-offerings, in order to obtain mercy at the hands of God: from whence we may see, that not even the smallest sin, by whomsoever committed, can be pardoned, but through the blood of that all-sufficient sacrifice once offered upon Calvary: no penitence, no confession, no supplication will avail without that: "without shedding of blood there can be no remission "."

Moreover the duty and efficacy of intercession are here inculcated. It was not only for the honour of Job, or for the humiliation of his friends, that they were obliged to solicit his intercession for them: it was the design of God to shew, that

a 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3.

b Heb. ix. 22.

every man needed the intercession of the saints; and that He who had appointed his only-begotten Son to be the Advocate of his people at the throne of glory, would hear their mutual supplications for each other at the throne of grace.

This office Job most gladly undertook. Instead of feeling any resentment on account of the injury he had sustained, he was penetrated with an affectionate solicitude to avert from them the divine displeasure, and to bring down upon their souls a rich supply of all spiritual blessings. Whether Job officiated as their priest in offering the sacrifices, does not altogether appear: but as their intercessor, he succeeded far beyond his own most sanguine expectations.]

In his execution of this office we are particularly led to notice,

II. The benefit resulting to himself from the discharge of it

A great and immediate change was wrought in Job's circumstances

[His bondage and misery had extended to his mind, and body, and estate and in relation to them all "his captivity was turned:" his flesh, which had been covered with a most loathsome and painful disease, was healed, and became "fresher than a little child's;" his mind, which had been agitated even to distraction, became calm and peaceful; and his friends, who had all despised and forsaken him, united in making him such presents, as, through the peculiar blessing of God's providence, rendered him twice as rich as he had before been. The same number of sons and daughters also were in due time given him by God, and all such other blessings were added as tended to make him most happy in the enjoyment of them.] By this instantaneous change, God rendered more manifest his decision of the controversy

[Now it could no longer be doubted but that Job had been unjustly accused and unrighteously condemned. No less than four times does God himself designate Job by that honourable title, "My servant Job;" thereby attesting in his behalf, that, whatever infirmity he had shewn, he had indeed been upright before God, and had maintained a conscientious regard for God's honour. And though we cannot infer from this, that God will always interpose for the comfort of his people in the same precise manner, yet we may be assured, that sooner or later he will vindicate the honour of his saints, and "make

c The friends of Job had been most unreasonable in the testimonies they demanded: yet God had far exceeded them all. Job viii. 6, 7. and xxii. 22, 25.

their righteousness to shine forth as the noon-day." We need not, therefore, be cast down because of any present sufferings which we may be called to endure; for, if not in this world, yet certainly in the next, our meek submission to them shall be abundantly recompensed by our gracious God," with whom it is a righteous thing to recompense tribulation to those who trouble us; and to us who are troubled, rest"."]

By this also he put honour on a forgiving spirit

[The forgiveness of injuries done to us is required by God in order to his forgiveness of our iniquities. It may at first appear a hard command," Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you:" but who can behold the termination of Job's afflictions, and not see the blessedness of fulfilling that duty? Verily, whatever may be said of the sweetness of revenge, there is nothing so refreshing to the soul as to gain a victory over one's own spirit, and to exercise that disposition towards our brethren, which we ourselves hope to meet with in our offended God.] IMPROVEMENT

This subject very distinctly shews us,

1. The manner in which our sins are to be forgiven

[We do not agree with those who represent Job as a type of Christ but in this part of his history we certainly behold the way of acceptance with Almighty God: it is through the sacrifice and intercession of that Great High Priest, who has been especially ordained of God to be our Advocate and Mediator. By putting our cause into the hands of our blessed Lord and Saviour, we may all, even the vilest of the human race, obtain mercy with God: but there is no other way of coming unto God with even the smallest hope of mercy— Let us bear this in mind, and not lose sight of it for one moment. Let us set before our eyes the conduct of Job's friends in relation to this matter, and instantly unite in following their example. If we are too proud to seek reconciliation. with God in the way which he has appointed, we can expect nothing but that "he will deal with us after our folly."]

2. The wisdom of waiting to see the end of God's dispensations

[Job, in the midst of his afflictions, accounted God his enemy; but not so when he saw the termination of them. Thus we, under our trials, are ready to say, "All these things are against me:" but in how many instances have we seen

d 2 Thess. i. 6, 7.

e Matt. vi. 14, 15. and xviii. 35. f John xiv. 6. Acts iv. 12.

reason to be ashamed of our precipitancy and unbelief! In how many instances have we found our trials to be the richest blessings in disguise, and have been constrained to acknowledge them all as the fruits of parental love! Let us, then, wait for the issue of our trials, before we presume to judge hardly of God on account of them. The history of Job was particularly intended to teach us this lesson, and to reconcile us to afflictive dispensations of whatever kind: "Behold, we count them happy that endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." Thus let but the end of our troubles be seen, and we shall bless and adore our God for every trial we have ever endured.]

3. The duty and efficacy of intercession

[To enter fully into the wants and necessities of our fellow-creatures, and to spread them with earnestness before God in prayer, is no easy attainment: but, when this disposition is attained, and is put forth into lively exercise, it is replete with most incalculable benefit to the soul. Verily, if a person groaning under spiritual bondage himself, could stir up himself to make intercession for others, we believe that he would find no readier or more certain way to obtain deliverance for his own soul. At all events, to abound in this holy exercise is our duty; and we have all possible encouragement to perform it. The examples of Moses, of Elisha, and of the Church at Antioch', are sufficient to warrant a firm expectation that our prayers, if offered in faith, shall not go forth in vain. We are not, however, left to gather this as an uncertain inference from former events: it is made the subject of a special promise to the saints in all ages: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.m"]

LONDON:R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD-STREET-HILL.