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There is indeed a mournful difference between Job's behaviour in the former chapter and what he now speaks.

"Observe, That the holiest person is apt to fail even in the grace in which they excelwitness Moses and Peter.

"2d, Observe, That great sufferings often produce grievous complainings, Ps. lxxvii. 2. Ixxxviii. 3-15. Though the Lord gives us waters of gall to drink, when we consider what our sins deserve, we have great reason to be silent. But flesh and blood will cry out under great troubles. And since God bears with his people, they should bear with one another. He that understands man will compassionate the sorrows and not question the sincerity of a complaining brother.

"3d, Observe, That Satan will never fully attain his ends on the children of God. He undertook to make Job curse his God, but when he had done his worst, and spent his malice upon him, Job cursed his day but not his God. So it came far short of what Satan affirmed.

"Verse 4. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.'

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Proper darkness is only a privation of light, but it frequently means any sorrowful sad condition. Let not God take any account of it; let it not be honoured with any special work of providence, which might make it to be remembered with honour among men.

"From the two first clauses, as they are placed in succession, learn, That there is no

day so dark, or condition so distressing, but if God regard and take notice of it, man may take comfort and rejoice in it. Even in the hour and power of darkness, if God lifts up the light of his countenance, we shall be safe and happy. Our every day's comfort depends on the blessing and care of God. Some translate Acts xvii. 30, The time of that ignorance God regarded not-God did overlook that time; he did not respect it; that is, he lightly passed them by; his eye was not upon them for good, so as to send among them that great blessing, the knowledge of Jesus Christ. When God, in a way of favour, doth but look towards us, our lowest estate is raised up. Thou hast regarded the low estate of thine handmaid,' said Mary.

"To have no light is an addition and aggravation of darkness, as Isa. 1. 10, and hath no light,' expresses one of the saddest conditions of an afflicted soul. Neither let the light shine upon it,' is, let there be no comfort, no joy, no good thing in the compass of that day.

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Light, in scripture, expresses all good, as darkness all evil.

"Verse 5. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it, let the blackness of the day terrify it.'

"The shadow of death might be translated image of death, such darkness as is like death. Clouds and darkness together. Job wishes a black cloud so fixed as to eclipse the whole day, and so to be a terrible day by reason of its blackness. Job heaps up words very like in

sound, and all alike in sense. Metaphorical darkness stains the beauty of the creature. Let civil discord and war arise, and then what is honour but greater misery, and riches are but golden thorns. But the darkness of ignorance, guilt, and the displeasure of God, are the worst stains. Hence see what a blessing natural light is, and the outward light of a comfortable condition, but especially the light of God's countenance, which is better than life.

"Verse 6. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.'

"The word here used signifies thick darkness joined with tempest. Let darkness grasp it and make it still darker.

"The glory of the night is its conjunction to the day. Night is called day, as it is part of the natural day. There is a certain purpose for the summer and for the winter, and also for the day and for the night; and for any of them to be prevented from answering their end is their affliction, (so far as they are capable of it.) It is a great curse upon any creature to be rendered useless.

"Verse 7. Lo, let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein.'

"Job would have no meetings that night, and if men will meet, let it be only to mourn together. When we reflect on our misimprovement and abuse of social meetings both in our houses and temples, we have reason to fear that the joyful voice may be suddenly taken from

us. Let us therefore go voluntarily alone, that we may, like Jacob in prayer, wrestle with God for a blessing. This is the sweetest enjoyment of our lives, and is the best way of preparing for and improving our afflictions. But to have the society of friends interrupted, so that they cannot associate together, is one of the greatest afflictions upon earth, and it is quite contrary to the nature and happiness of man.

"Verse 8. Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mournings.'

"Let this night be cursed and mourned over with as enlarged sorrows as those who are hired on purpose to mourn over the saddest spectacles and most calamitous events, some seem to think that their troubles exceed their own sorrows, and, therefore, hire others to appear as mourners; and the love of gain will turn some spirits into any posture, like Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

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"Verse 9. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none, neither let it see the dawning of the day.'

"In the day time star light is not valued, but in the night they are a great ornament, comfort, and guide. They are often a welcome sight to the traveller and mariner. Hence, to be deprived of small comforts may be a great affliction in times of distress.

When the apostle would have us to avoid all evil, he exhorts to abstain from the appearance of evil. So it is as if Job had said, Let it not see the least appearance of day.

"When God looks upon us and expects to find repentance, and behold presumption for faith, and behold unbelief for patience, and behold complaining, &c. no marvel when we look for light and behold darkness, for peace and behold trouble, for success and behold disappointment.

"Verse 10. Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.'

"And is this Job so famed for wisdom, and is this the defence he produces for cursing his day in so full and particular a manner? It seems to have more of passion than reason in it.

"Trouble and sorrow take hold of us; and we enter upon and take hold of trouble as soon as we come into this world.

"Some suppose that infants tears is a presage of these sorrows; and well might they weep if they knew what a sea of storms they are launching into, and from which they shall never be fully relieved, till they arrive at the harbour at the end of the voyage.

"Verse 11. Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

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"Verse 12. Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts, that I should suck?' "The general meaning of these two verses is, That it had been best for me not to have been born, and next best to have died soon af

ter.

"To give up the ghost is a cheerful resignation of ourselves in death.

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