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wealth was great.” Thus spake the afflicted Job; and happy are all they, who, in the spirit of humility, and not of vain-glorious boasting, can adopt the same becoming language.

I only add farther on this head of discourse, that the severity of Job's trials taught him many important lessons, which he could not have learned in any other situation so well as in the school of adversity. There he was taught, that all worldly comforts are uncertain and unsatisfying ; that human sympathy cannot heal the sorrows of the mind; that God alone is a present help in time of need ; and that, though no affliction for the present be joyous, but grievous, yet it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness to all who are exercised thereby.

3. The sufferings of Job were intended to convince him, and to convince mankind, that though God afflicts the dearest of his children, yet he most seasonably and graciously imparts to them both support and deliverance.

Any one of Job's calamities was enough to overwhelm the most vigorous mind ; yet under them all he was strengthened and up

held, held, was enabled to bear his trials with filial submission, and was honoured to testify before a heathen world, the efficacy of his principles, the value of religion, and the triumphs of his faith.

But, besides these proofs of the power and presence of the God of all the earth, in upholding and comforting this suffering saint, the apostle James calls our attention to another proof of the mercy of the Lord in afflicting the heirs of glory, which both explains the mystery of Job's sufferings, and confirms the saying, that “ though weeping may endure for a night, yet joy cometh in the morning *.”

Happy, then, are they who endure affiction ; amidst multiplied sufferings and sorrows, their heavenly Father manifests his pity and grace; and after they have suffered a while, he delivers them from all their troubles.

Though Job's trials were severe, yet their issue was glorious ; in due time, his bondage was recalled, his character restored, his family established in the earth, his sorrows

.

turned

* James v. 7.-12.

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turned into joy, and the spirit of heaviness exchanged for the garments of praise.

The gospel of peace gives us no reason to expect a temporal deliverance or exaltation like that of Job, but it reveals what is far more important and gracious; it clearly testifies, that if we are in friendship with that God who orders all events ; if we belong to that Saviour who has the words of eternal life; if we are born again by the Spirit ; :we may rest assured, that ere long the days of our mourning will be ended ; that we shall receive of the Lord's hand a double recompence of joy for all our sorrow; and that, whatever may be the affictions of a present life, they will appear but light and momentary, when exchanged for that exceeding great and eternal weight of glory, which God, who cannot lie, has promised.

Then will be clearly manifested the wisdom, the faithfulness, and the love, of all his severest dealings with his people in the wilderness of this world. The whole plan of his dispensations shall then be unfolded in its importance, consistency, and beauty ; and all the redeemed, with united hearts,

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will then joyfully proclaim, that he hath done all things well.

Be patient, therefore, brethren, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; go on your way rejoicing, and animate your souls with the prospect of that bright and blessed period, when it shall be said of all the followers of the Lamb, “ These are they who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne; and the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them to fountains of living waters ; and God shall wipe away all tears for ever from their eyes.”

SERMON

SERMON VI. .

THE TRIALS OF JOB, AND HIS CONSOLATIONS

UNDER THEM.

JOB ü. 13.

They saw that his grief was very great. IN Job's history, a memorable example is transmitted to all ages, that, though the children of men may be visited with severe affliction, this does not always afford certain evidence of their lying under the indignation of the Almighty, or of their being deprived of his favour, and expelled from his family: even his own tenewed and beloved children are at times visited with multiplied calamities, not as chastisements, but as trials; not to punish for transgressions, but to prove the reality and constancy of their graces,

, and to exhibit them as examples of the

power

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