JOB IN TROUBLE.

and he knew that God would only
permit what was right and good for
him; so, when Job heard all these
sad tidings, though he arose and
_rent his clothes, to show his sorrow,
yet he fell down, and worshipped
God, to show his submission to His
will, and said, “The Lord gave, and
the Lord hath taken away, blessed
be the name of the Lord.”

Here is an example for us; an
example of patience. We must all

 

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ee

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have sorrows. and troubles to bear,
though not perhaps so many, and so
great as Job had. ‘Then, whenever
they come upon us, let us pray for
Jol’s patience, and Job’s holy trust in
God. If we have God for our friend,
as Job had, nothing can really hurt
us; and we shall feel this, as he did,
and be willing to submit to all our
trials without murmuring, and to
say, “It is the Lord, let Him do what
seemeth Him good.” 1 Sam. i. 18.

 

XXIV.

jos IN ) ROUBLE.

GAIN there was a day
when the sons of God
came to present them-
selves before the Lord, and
Satan came also among

them. Then God spoke to Satan,

as He had done before, and asked
him, if he had considered [His ser-
vant Job, who was still faithful,
though he had been so tried and so
afflicted. But Satan was not satis-
fied with all the troubles Job had
suffered; he wished to vex and
afflict him still more: and he told

God, that though Job had borne
the loss of his possessions patiently,
yet, if his body was made to suficr
disease and pain, he would then show
that he was only a hypocrite after
dll, and would even curse God to
his face. The Lord was pleased, in
His wisdom, to allow Job to be still
more tried and afflicted, so he said

to Satan, “ He is in thy hand; but

save his life.” Then Satan went
out, and smote Job with sore boils
all over his body.

Job had now to bear pain, as well

 

as sorrow; yet he was patient and
| submissive still. And then he had
another and a new trial. His wife
| was living, and she might have
comforted Job in his trouble; but
instead of encouraging him to trust
in God, she advised him to put an
end to his own life;—to kill him-
self. She said, “Curse God, and
die.” But Job reproved her for
speaking so wickedly, and said,
“What? Shall we receive good at
the hand of God, and shall we not
receive evil?” Job knew that all
came from God’s hand and by God’s
permission; and therefore, he was
willing to receive whatever hap-
pened to him, whether it were good
or evil.

When Job’s friends came to the
place where he was, they looked up,
and saw him, but they did not know
him. He was not now as he once
had been. When they last visited
him, he was prosperous and happy,
with all his family, and all his pos-
sessions, and living in honor and
peace, the greatest man in the east.