REMARKS

ON THE

BOOKS OF JOB, PSALMS, PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, AND CANTICLES.

BY GEORGE R. NOYES, D. D.

PRINTED FOR THE

American Unitarian Association.

BOSTON:

WM. CROSBY AND H. P. NICHOLS,

111 WASHINGTON STREET.

Price 6 Cents.

NOTE.

THIS tract has been prepared, with the author's consent, from the "Introductions" prefixed to Dr. Noyes's "Translations" of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Canticles. Those portions which are most suited to benefit the general reader have been taken, while the more critical parts of the discussion in each case have been omitted. If the perusal of these selections should lead any one to an acquaintance with the volumes whence they are derived, or with the Translations, by the same hand, of the "Hebrew Prophets," it will effect one purpose contemplated in the present publication.

REMARKS.

JOB.

THE work, which it is the design of the present remarks to illustrate, is in many respects one of the most remarkable productions of any age or country. It is, without doubt, in its general plan, as well as in the rhythmical construction and high poetic character of its language, a work of art. Deep thought and long continued study must have been united with genius in its production. Yet has it, in a much higher degree than most compositions, the freshness of an unstudied effusion of the soul of the author; a soul full of the sublimest conceptions of the Parent of nature and his glorious works, and of true and deep sympathy with all that is great and amiable in the character, and affecting in the condition, of man. The imagination of the author seems to have ranged freely through every part of the universe, and to have enriched itself from almost every department of nature and of art. Whether he attempt to describe the residence of Him "who maintaineth peace in his high places," or "the land of darkness and the shadow of death," the passions and pursuits of man, or the nature and features of the animal creation, the phenomena of the air and the heavens, or the dark operations of the miner, he is ever familiar with his subject, and seems to tell us what our eyes have seen and

our ears have heard. And not more remarkable are the richness and vigor of his imagination than is his power in representing the deep emotions and the tender affections of the soul. Admirable, too, in a poem of so high antiquity, is the skill with which he makes all the delineations of the human heart and all the descriptions of external nature subservient to the illustration of one important moral subject; thus uniting the attributes of the poet and philosopher. It is true, that we miss the perfection of Grecian art in the structure of this work; and his plan required him to set forth the general workings of the human heart, rather than to delineate the nicer shades of human character. It was in harmony with the philosophical design of the work, that his characters should make speeches, rather than converse. Yet no one can fail to perceive the unity of design which pervades the work, and the adaptation of the various parts to its completion.

The first place among the Hebrew poets has usually been assigned to Isaiah. But in what respect the author of the book of Job can be regarded as inferior to any Hebrew poet, or any other poet, unless perhaps we except Shakspeare, I am at a loss to conceive. In comprehensiveness of thought, and richness and strength of imagination, he seems to me to be unsurpassed, and in depth and tenderness of feeling incomparable, when we consider that female loveliness constitutes no part of the interest of the work. But to delineate the excellences and beauties of the book of Job is a task far beyond my capacity. They must be understood and felt, rather than described.

There has been much discussion in former times, in regard to the particular department of poetry and literature under which the book of Job should be classed. Undue importance has, without doubt, been attached to this question; and the scope and spirit of the work have in a degree been lost