MORNING.

SUR

URELY God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to Him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of His hands.—Job xxxiv. 12, 18, 19.

ELIHU, in continuing his address, accuses Job of being

self-righteous. He reminds him how he had said, "I am clean without transgression, I am innocent." Job, in defending himself against his three friends, had been carried further by the warmth of his feelings than he would otherwise have gone. We see this in his answer to God. He had been driven into self-praise, that he might cast back the insinuations of his friends. Under any circumstances, to yield to the temptation of praising ourselves is very dangerous. It is easy to convince ourselves that we are what we should wish to appear. We form too high views of ourselves, and are led into holding unworthy views of God. Elihu accuses Job of being self-righteous, and reminds him of his unworthy language towards God. Because he had so wound himself up as to believe himself innocent, and yet was compelled to suffer unheard-of afflictions, therefore he counts God as his "enemy," Who sought "occasions against him," and "put his feet in the stocks." Elihu then takes it upon himself to defend the Almighty. "Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity." God's power, wisdom, might, should silence objections. "Is it fit to say to the King of kings, to Him Who accepteth not the persons of princes, Thou art wicked?" All things are the work of His hands. He created, He preserves, He rules all. As we can see only a small part of creation, we cannot judge God accurately. Let us humble ourselves under His mighty hand. Cherish august views of Him. Let us be lowly in our own eyes, and submit to His arrangements. In the end we shall confess that these arrangements are wise, kind, and meant to work out our final good.

MORNING.

EHOLD, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He

not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, He doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; then He sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.—Job xxxvi. 5—9.

E from the charge of injustice. In this, the concluding

LIHU'S principal object is to defend the Almighty

part of his address, he shows that power, wisdom, justice, and love, all exist in God; and, though he does not ascribe to Job the moral defects and grosser sins his three friends accused him of, yet he exhorts him to confess, as all men should confess, that his righteousness is as nothing in the presence of God's righteousness, and that it is his sins which hinder God's blessings. There are few things more helpful to our growth in grace than meditation on the being, the power, the wisdom and love of God. If we would suffer our thoughts to dwell more on what God is, and what He has done, we should see the vanity of trusting in our own righteousness, and loving the creature more than the Creator. We should feel our hearts inflamed with the love of God, and this love would fill and satisfy our hearts. In meditating on these attributes of God, we may "fetch our knowledge from afar." We may look up into the midnight sky and find God there, we may see His power in the "spreading of the clouds." "Hear attentively the noise of His voice," and behold His "lightning unto the ends of the earth.' Well may we say to our souls, "Hearken, stand still; consider the wondrous works of God." Oh, that we would meditate more on these wonderful loving works of God! We should soon learn to turn away in loathing from the works of darkness. The works of God are the true study of every Christian, the true study of everyone who desires to follow the Example of Christ, to know the Will of God, and do it.

ESUS said also unto His disciples, There was a cer

was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.—St. Luke xvi. 1,2

WE we have

E are all stewards. We have received gifts, and we

other." Whether our gifts are natural or spiritual, they are not our own. Wealth, time, talents, good thoughts and intentions, the power of carrying these out, all are gifts. They should be spent in the service of the Giver. God is the owner, we are but stewards. A time will come when we shall hear the Master's voice saying, "Give an account of thy stewardship;" "How have you used that which I have entrusted to your care? Have you wasted your gifts, squandered your talents, and misused the time and wealth and intellect bestowed on you? Or have you used all for the glory of God, and for the temporal and spiritual well-being of those in your neighbourhood? How much have you spent on your own pleasures, and how much in the service of your Master?" These are solemn questions, we must have an answer ready. The steward in the parable knew not what to do, or where to turn. He had misused the goods entrusted to him. He was faithless in little things, he went on till he became utterly depraved. Still we may learn a lesson from his faithless conduct. He prepared for the future. In preparing for their future, the children of this world are wiser than the children of light. They toil and save, rise early, and so late take rest that they may be rich in this world's goods. What efforts do the children of light make to provide for the future? And oh! what a future lies before us, not the riches of this world which take to themselves wings and flee away, but an eternal inheritance. Oh! that we would strive to use to the best advantage the gifts of which we are stewards that, hereafter we may be received into everlasting habitations,

THE

MORNING.

HEN the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou Me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.—Job xxxviii. 1—4.

IN

N his last address Job had uttered the desire that "the Almighty would answer him." The Lord now grants his desire, and answers him "out of the whirlwind." Though He utters nothing that Job has not already consented to, yet His words bring conviction, and humble Job in the dust. Well for us if we in like manner humbled ourselves before God. What are we that we should reply against God? "Where were we when He laid the foundations of the earth?" This one question ought to be sufficient to humble us. Let us consider the infinite ages that passed away ere we were born. Where were we all this time? Let us also consider Who it was called us into existence, and remember that He Who gave us the gift of life can at a moment withdraw it. Do we think sufficiently how great the gift which He has given? Not only has He called us into existence, He has given us the "breath of life." Not only so, but He has created us after His own image; and when we lost that image, He re-created us in righteousness and true holiness. For what purpose did God thus shower down His blessings on us? That we might live in and for Him here, and so glorify His holy Name, and live with Him throughout eternity. Are we grateful to God? Do we show our gratitude? What return do we make to Him for all His love and goodness? Oh, that we would dwell in thought on these things, and suffer our gratitude to be manifested in our lives! The Lord has granted life to us, and favour, and His "visitation hath preserved our spirits." Are we thankful for these mercies? The ". ing stars sang together," and "the sons of God shouted for joy," when the foundations of the earth were laid. Shall not we join the heavenly choir in singing the praises of Him Who created and redeemed us?

morn

MORNING.

OREOVER the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.-Job xl. 1-5.

JOB

OB'S prayer is answered. The Lord Himself has spoken. His words put an end to the controversy. Job is convinced. His self-righteousness is gone. He confesses, "Behold, I am vile; what shall answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." The Lord again answers, still out of the whirlwind, but not in anger. He condescends the weakness and infirmity of His servant. Now that he has humbled himself, God will exalt him in due season. In this second address the Lord shows that He is far more gracious and long-suffering than man. How different is His treatment of Job from that of his friends. We cannot help feeling that it is "better to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of man." He does not at once strike conviction into the heart; He wins us to Himself as a loving teacher wins over a child to confess its faults, that it may be restored to its position of happiness and trust. We have all erred, we have gone astray. Even the best of men feel that Job's words are appropriate to them. When we meditate on the holiness of God, can we help feeling "vile?" When we consider the extent of the Divine law, can we help the feeling rising up within us, "Behold, Í am vile?" If these words well up from our inmost souls, they must lead to a renunciation of self, true repentance, and an earnest desire to be cleansed from sin through the Cross of Christ. Let us, then, while we confess our sin, seek deliverance from it. God works in us, but we must work with God. God saves us, but it is by giving us the will to use 66 our own right hand," and the power to use it when we have the will.