most, smote him from head to foot with the most loathsome ulcers. Hear the account, as given in the second chapter: "So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes."

In the midst of all these troubles and afflictions, one might have hoped that he would have found some comfort in the kind offices of his neighbours, the compassion of his friends, and the tender assiduities of his wife. But not so-his servants turned their back upon him; They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth." The friends who came to comfort him, loaded him with the most unfounded accusations, and asserted that his sufferings were evidences of his peculiar wickedness, which God was now disclosing and punishing. His wife derided his affiance in God, counselled him to renounce it, and to " curse God,

and die."

If we look at any of these trials separately, may we not ask, were they not great? But if we view them collectively, can we suppose they were ever exceeded by any endured by mortal man ?-Let us now proceed to consider,

II. The patience which Job manifested under his affliction.

The trials of this patriarch called for the most

extraordinary degree of patience, and submission to the will of God. And was it not exercised in the most wonderful manner? Observe his conduct, when informed of the circumstances by which he was suddenly deprived of all his property, and bereaved of his numerous family of children. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” He mourns as a man, and manifests his sorrow by the usual customs of grief; but he submits with patience, as a believer. Behold him again, after he was visited with his peculiarly distressing bodily affliction; when his wife gave him that desperate-that horrible advice, "Curse God and die." On this occasion all was meekness and submission in the patriarch; his reproof was kind, affectionate, mild, though firm and consistent. "He said unto her, thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

It is true that, after this, we find Job cursing the day of his birth, and uttering some other sinful expressions. Nor would we conceal or extenuate his guilt. We find the patriarch failing in the very grace for which he is especially commended by God. How are we to account for this fact? No man can of himself overcome his propensity to sin. Nothing

assistance of the Holy Spirit to enable us to fulfil this and all other duties required of us.

Hence we need prayer, and watchfulness, and meditation, and "a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us." Let us then think much of the debt we owe, and of the way in which alone we obtain forgiveness, through the atoning sacrifice and the mediation of the Saviour. Resentment cannot long lodge in the bosom of the man who has tasted redeeming love. Let us therefore be ever "looking unto Jesus" for grace to enable us to exercise the same long-suffering which we have so richly experienced. Thus we shall adopt, in faith and hope, the petition which our blessed Lord has taught us," forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us;"-thus we shall have a well grounded confidence that this and all our prayers will be heard and accepted; and thus we shall be preparing for the purity and felicity of heaven, where our love will be perfected, and where we shall be like God, for we shall see him as he is."

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[IT has been customary, in all ages, for men to unite together in the promotion of objects, sometimes praiseworthy and beneficial, but alas! too often both sinful and dangerous. The character of the society which I have been requested to address this morning, happily belongs to the former class. We must however confess with grief and humiliation, that in social compacts, expressly dedicated to works of benevolence, through the depravity of man, disputes, divisions, and animosities may prevail. Indeed, schisms and feuds have too often appeared in the church of God itself. The most desirable of blessings therefore, to any society, is, that its members should continue together in a state of unanimity, peace, and harmony. But what principles can so govern the sinful passions of men, as to bring them into habitual subjection and order? and what motives will influence

The substance of this sermon was preached some years ago at Weston in Shropshire, to a benefit society, of which the late Sir Richard Hill, a highly esteemed friend of the author, was the president; and on which occasion he was present. The introductory passage between the brackets, it will be observed, has a peculiar reference to such an occasion.

THE DESIGN OF

Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon himself put not forth thine hand." We have seen the effect of this permission in the loss and destruction of all the patriarch's cattle, the murder of his servants, and the death of all his children. Again "Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; only save his life." And what were the consequences and the effect of these calamities in respect to Satan? They terminated in his confusion. The devil proved himself to be a liar, and was made the instrument of demonstrating the integrity and uprightness of this eminent saint.

These facts are calculated to afford consolation to the people of God, under their trials and afflictions. The devil is ever ready to accuse and distress them. But trusting in the power of their Saviour, they may defy all his artifices. Does he attempt to persuade them that they are hypocrites? They may remember that he was a liar from the beginning. Does he assault them with temptations, and trials, of various kinds? They may look back to the history of the