sessed the character given him by God himself, at the opening of the book which contains his history, that he was a perfect and upright man. "The Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause."-Let us proceed to consider,

III. The design of God in permitting the afflictions of Job.

The term permitting is used, because the trials of this good man are represented as being inflicted, not by the immediate hand of God, but by the agency of Satan, under the divine permission and control. In illustrating the design of the Almighty in the afflictions of Job, I shall mention three things which the subject will warrant us to conclude that God had in view in these severe dispensations :-the confusion of Satan; the benefit of Job; and the display of one of His own gracious attributes.

1. By the trials and sufferings of Job, God designed to bring confusion upon Satan.

And was not this purpose conspicuously effected? The devil had accused Job as a hypocrite ;-he had affirmed, that if he were to be afflicted, he would curse God to his face ;-and that he would prove him to be a hypocrite, if God would suffer him to make the trial. The permission, for wise and holy purposes, was accordingly granted. Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

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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

patriarch Job, and see that their great adversary can in no respect, or in any degree, exceed his commission; and that he never can overcome those whose hope is in the Lord their God. He may desire" to sift them as wheat," as in the case of St. Peter; but their Lord will pray for them that their "faith fail not; " and thus will they be preserved in safety and security, "kept by the power of God."

Though the house of Israel be sifted as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth."

2. Again, by these afflictions the God of grace

intended the benefit of Job.

His heavenly Father purposed by these dispensations, to exercise and improve the graces of the suffering patriarch. "Men do not light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." So, God does not act without having some end in view. He does not implant his grace in the heart, but with the purpose to call it into exercise. May it not be supposed that the God of all grace had endued Job with such eminent patience, that the common afflictions of life were not sufficient to manifest its power and effects? He therefore suffered Satan to exert an unusual degree of malignity against his servant, in order that his piety might be displayed, confirmed, and increased? Behold the sufferer, when coming out of the furnace of affliction, which seems to have been heated seven times hotter than usual. How is

he purified! How bright does he shine when abasing

THE DESIGN OF

himself in dust and ashes! How eminent does his piety appear, when God himself not only takes his part, but refuses forgiveness to his uncharitable friends, except through his intercession for them! But not only are the graces of Job increased and improved, but his happiness is likewise augmented. In the midst of his deepest afflictions, he sometimes enjoyed a degree of happiness which no temporal prosperity can ever afford. He could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." He could look forward with hope and confidence, when he should enjoy everlasting life and felicity in communion with the Saviour. But at length Job was raised from that low estate into which he was permitted to fall, in the present world. Deliverance came in God's appointed time. His health was completely restored; he lived to the age of one hundred and forty years; and he possessed double the property he enjoyed previous his calamities. He had twice the number of cattle that were in his possession when he lost them all by the violence of men, and the fire of God from heaven. His children were likewise doubled. He had indeed the same number given him, as he had at the time when his ten children were destroyed by the whirlwind, which buried them in the ruins of the eldest brother's house. But the first ten were not lost like the cattle, they were still in a state of existence.

And may we not suppose, from the analogy of the history, that they were only gone before to the land of rest and peace, where they would at last meet together in "the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Of his posterity in the latter number of his children, the patriarch lived to see four generations.

Thus we are taught, my brethren, that there is One stronger than the strong man armed; and who can overrule all the machinations of this adversary, for the benefit of the redeemed, even in the present world. The devil's malice was the means of increasing the happiness of Job on earth. But how much his eternal felicity was augmented by his afflictions, it is impossible for us to say. We may, however, confidently suppose that they were rendered effectual for "working out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Had he been taken to heaven before he suffered these things, his state would doubtless have been glorious; but his afflictions, as long as they were continued, were intended to increase the glory, honour, and happiness which he was to enjoy for ever and ever.

3. Once more, a third design which God had in the afflictions of Job, was, to manifest the display of one of his own gracious attributes.

"You

It was to exhibit his infinite compassion. have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." This is the Apostle's

comment on the afflictions and

patience of Job. And

this seems to be the principal object to which he