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“A mere natural man may repeat the first clause, but he cannot say it with Job's spirit, neither can he add, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away.' This is ascribing to, and acquiescing in the sovereignty of God, and not a mere confession of the frailty of nature.

"A gift is any good freely bestowed; we have nothing of our own but sin; therefore riches, honours, children, &c. as well as grace and glory, are all the undeserved donations of God.

"Job speaks as if he had done nothing, The Lord gave,' yet it may imply the satisfaction he had in his own mind, that what he was now deprived of had been given him by God bless ing his honest labours, and had not been obtained by fraud and injustice.-Note, That what we get honestly, we can part with contentedly; but let those who will be rich and obtain it by unlawful means, beware of making God a partner of their guilt, by saying, the Lord gave. He may, and often does give when no means are used, and though unlawful means may be said to be under the eye of his providence, yet they are never under the influence of his blessing. Wicked men may grow rich, but they are never blessed; their prosperity is their curse.

"Let those who swell with pride, because they have abundance, and contemn and despise those that are in want, consider this text, and 1 Tim vi. 17, and they are the best medicine that ever was prescribed for curing pride. Let

the poor look upon this text, and beware of discontent and envy; let none fret because they have so little, or envy others because they have so much. It is The Lord that gives;' and this really believed, would satisfy us with our lot, not because we have this or that, but because our God is the disposer; and this will open our hearts and purses, and make us confess with David, all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

"In all the evils we either feel or fear, let us say And the Lord hath taken away.' A view of the absolute sovereignty of God will quiet and support, and enable to say, my Lord may dispose of me and mine as he pleases, I will not only bear it, but take it well, Blessed be the name of the Lord.' This is the triumphant conclusion which flows from the former propositions; and it wounded Satan more than all that he had done to Job wounded him.

"As the children of God should labour to bring their hearts to bless and glorify him, in; and for their afflictions, so they become blessings indeed when they are enabled to do so.

"Verse 22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.'

"As if the Holy Ghost had said, it is matter of admiration, that in all this Job did not sin by murmuring thoughts or rash speeches.— Note, That is one of the highest acts of grace, to be composed and submissive under great affliction, and, that whatever is well done by us. will receive a full testimony from God.”

CHAPTER II.

"Verse 1. Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them, to present himself before the Lord.'

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Verse 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.'

"Verse 3. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And still he holdeth fast his integrity, though thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.'

"We left Job honourably acquitted, and proved an honest man, and Satan a false accuser; after which, one would have thought that he had got enough of it. But malice is restless. They that falsely accuse the people of God, though the evidence to the contrary be never so plain and full, yet will not cease to calumniate. Instead of confessing his mistake concerning Job, he comes with a farther design against him. Job being known to be armour proof, is, therefore, here set up for a mark, and brought upon trial a second time.

"Job lays hold upon his integrity as a sword to wound his enemies, and as a shield to defend himself. The word signifies not only to be

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strong, but to prevail. True grace doth not only oppose, but conquers Satan and all his temptations. Hypocrites, who have but a show of grace, fall off in times of trial. The word movedst carries in it a vehement instigation. Satan is an importunate solicitor against the people of God. He moved God to destroy, that is, to swallow up, or devour Job without any direct charge. But he who does nothing without cause, had reference both to the being and improvement of Job's graces, and this was the reason why he left him in the hands of Satan, and, the issue being so honourable to Job. God retorts upon Satan that he had moved him against Job without cause, which should have shamed and silenced him; but he replies by a proverb.

"Verse 4. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath, will he give for his life.'

"It is a truth, that when a man's life is at stake, he will give all he hath for it, and think he has a good bargain; and it seems to insinuate that the fear of losing his life had made Job humble and submissive under all that had befallen him.

"Life is the most precious treasure, and if our lives are so valuable, what are our souls worth? We should, therefore, beware of sin, which endangers our souls, and we may learn their true value by the estimation that our Lord Jesus Christ had for them, in that he gave not only his riches, and reputation, but his life also to redeem them.

"While life is continued we should study to improve it and other favours, as knowing that we deserve none, and let this influence us patiently to endure every bereavement.

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"Verse 5. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."*

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{ Though Satan failed in his former attempt, it does not prevent him from making another motion; when he cannot overcome by one temptation he prepares a stronger. Let us learn from his example to pray always, and not to faint, and when we fail of success, instead of yielding, let us pray more earnestly, and imitate Jacob, who wept and made supplication; and above all, in the name and strength of Christ continue instant in prayer. Seeing a diseased body unfits the mind for holy duties, they are greatly mistaken who amuse themselves with pretending they will repent on a sick or death-bed.

"Verse 6. " And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold he is in thine hand; but save his life.'

"When God puts any of his servants into Satan's hand he keeps him in his own hand. This devouring lion, like persecutors, who try to ensnare the soul by drawing or terrify ing into sin, and when they fail in that, then they inflict death on the body.

Satan knew it, and we find by experience that nothing is more likely to put the mind into disorder, or cause us speak unadvisedly with our lips, than acute pain. Henry.

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