STORY VII.

MORE ABOUT JOB.

PART I.

You have read in the second series of the Bible Story Book about Job, and how great his troubles were; and his patience was as great as his troubles. And now you shall hear about the end of his life.

His friends were angry with him, and tried to convince him that he was a bad man, or else he would not have been so much afflicted. They asked him a great number of questions, and Job answered them. Thus they went on for a long time; but after all their talking they could not agree; and they might have gone on in this way till the present time, had they lived, if God had not settled the dispute. But he did so; he spake

Job had said in his

to Job out of the whirlwind. defence, too much about his own knowledge and goodness. And now God asked him many questions, and so made him feel what a poor ignorant creature he was before his Maker. This is plain from what he at last said to God,-indeed he was so much surprised, that he could not for a long while say any thing.

But, at last, he looked up to God, and he said, "O Lord, I know that thou canst do every thing, and no thought can be withholden from thee." Many, even of the Lord's servants, have been ready to think, that he could not, or would not, provide for, or help them. His Israel, who had seen the wonders of his power so often, said, “Can God spread for us a table in the wilderness?" And Moses, at one time, seemed to think the same. But there is nothing which is too hard for the Lord to do. His arms of almighty love can support us under the heaviest trials, and bring us out of them. He can spread, for he has done it, a table for us in the very sight of our foes. The

All

cattle upon a thousand hills are all his own. creatures are his servants; he bade the ravens feed Elijah when he was in the wilderness. "He can

do exceedingly beyond all we can ask, or even think." He can pardon and save the poor sinner who comes to him through Christ, and can change him into an angel of light. And, what is more, we are sure that he will do it.

God can do every thing; and he knows every thing. "I know," says he, "the thoughts that come into your heart, every one of them." David said, "Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me; thou knowest my down-sitting, and up-rising; there is not a word on my tongue, or a thought in my heart, but lo, O Lord, thou art acquainted with them altogether." He knows, all our good thoughts, and he approves of them; and he knows all our bad thoughts, and he hates them. How should we be humbled before him. How should we watch over our hearts with holy diligence! How earnestly should we breathe the prayer contained in the following lines: