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Lord, and to acknowledge the rectitude of the Divine proceedings towards him, was approved.

The great end of Job's sufferings being over, which was to purge away the dross that mingled it self with his religious principles, his "captivity was turned," and the sun of prosperity once more shone upon his head. The Almighty restored him twofold more than he had lost, so that "his latter end was more than his beginning." His friends flocked round him with presents in their hands, bemoaning and comforting him over "all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him."

His wife also became fruitful, and brought him the same number of children as he had lost," and in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren."

The age of this tried servant of GOD was, moreover, extended to the long period of two hundred and ten years, one hundred and forty of which more than com.pensated for the time he was suffered to be in the furnace of affliction. He had the satisfaction of

seeing "his sons and his sons' sons, even four generations," and "then died, being old and full of days."

In the story of Job we are presented with an admirable pattern for our imitation, though shaded with the weakness of human nature; and we have also beautiful illustration of the economy of GoD's mora. government. We see here, likewise, the power of temptation, and the extent to which the agency or evil spirits may be carried. The insufficiency of human reason to account for Divine dispensations, is proved in the erroneous conclusions of Job's three friends; and the necessity of an absolute submission to the will of GOD, is the striking lesson inculcated throughout the whole book.

Job was not a perfect model for the tried believer; but his example may be considered with great advantage; and if we had not another pattern in the sacred volume, that of Job would perhaps be the first to

engage our attention, as an illustration of the great virtue of religious resignation.

But a far higher character than that of Job shines forth in the Gospel. Jesus Christ endured greater temptations and sufferings than this pious Arabian; for "though he was afflicted, he opened not his mouth." His most pathetic complaint was, " Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;" but he immediately added, "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew xxxvi, 39.

Was Job deprived of all his worldly possessions? The Messiah voluntarily resigned a throne of celestial glory and the majesty of heaven, to endure poverty, suffering, wretchedness, persecution, and death itself, for us men, and for our salvation.

The family and friends of Job abandoned him in the day of his visitation: but our Lord " came unto his own, and his own received him not;" John i. 11. he had "not where to lay his head;" Matt. viii. 20; he was betrayed by the perfidy of one disciple, denied by the cowardice of another, and forsaken by all. He was lacerated with cruel scourges, his hands and feet were pierced with rugged irons, and his head was mangled with a crown of thorns. All the complainings of Job might literally have been adopted by him; but he murmured not, neither did a single expression of complaint burst from his lips; "As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." Isaiah liii. 7.

Job pleaded his integrity, and set up a false claim to righteousness, which, however, he soon saw reason to renounce, when the Lord arose in judgment. But the patient lamb of GOD was spotless; and when he was tried, there was no imperfection found in him.

He suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us unto God." 1 Peter iii. 18. His was a voluntary sacrifice offered up to Divine justice, to bring in everlasting righteousness for sinful men. He died for our sins, and rose again for our justifica tion, that we might live for ever through him.

To this great atonement all the believers of oid locked with faith and expectation; and this it was which supported Job in his trial: "I know," said he, "that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."

Animated by a like faith, we shall be enabled to resist the fiery assaults of our great adversary, and to endure the storms of adversity with calm and unshaken minds. Faith in the Divine promises will support the Christian in every trying visitation, and give him such a degree of superiority over the world, that, while others are impatient under the yoke, he will " rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of his salvation." Habakkuk iii. 18.

MOSES.

Born Anno Mundi 2433, died 2553.

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As long as the memory of Joseph was held by the Egyptians in veneration, as that of the saviour of their country, his family and all the descendants of Jacob were permitted to reside among them without molestation; but no sooner did a king arise who knew not Joseph," Exodus i. 8. than the Israelites were regarded, both by him and his people, with a jealous eye. So short-lived is public gratitude, and of such flimsy materials consist what the world dignifies with the epithets of honour and renown.

It is not to be supposed that because this Pharaoh, which was the titular name of the Egygtian kings, "knew not Joseph," he was, therefore, ignorant of the great services of that illustrious statesman.

The public records of the nation must have consecrated his name, and the prosperous condition of

the colony in Goshen could not but excite an inquiry into the time and occasion of their settlement in that province. It is improbable that the lapse of seventy ycars should obliterate all recollection of the splendid administration of Joseph, and of that visitation of Providence, which, but for his foresight, would have desolated Egypt, as it did the neighbouring countries. Had the record of this event been left to mere tradition alone, it could not have sunk into oblivion for some ages at least; of course the extraordinary manner in which the evil was provided against, must have been preserved with a memorial of the dearth itself.

In this view of the case, the ingratitude of the Egyptians towards the relations of their great deliverer cannot be too strongly reprobated; and the conduct of this Pharaoh, who knew not Joseph, deserved the infamy which has covered his name.

Observing that the peaceful shepherds in Goshen flourished exceedingly, Pharaoh began to entertain apprehensions of danger from them, lest, in the event of a war they should prove powerful auxiliaries to his enemies, or seize the favourable opportunity of emigrating into the country from which their ancestors originally came.

Under the impression of these fears Pharaoh called together his council, and proposed to them what he termed "a wise measure;" for evil minds always reckon wisdom and artifice as the same thing.

A virtuous and considerate prince would have regarded the Hebrew colony as a valuable accession to his empire; and, while they continued peaceable and industrious subjects, he would never have thought of removing them from their pastoral employments, much less of reducing them to a state of slavery. But Pharaoh conceived himself insecure as long as this separate body of men retained the most fertile province in his dominions; and though by their skill and industry his kingdom was strengthened and en

riched, he formed the resolution of sacrificing certain advantages to prevent chimerical evils.

The courtiers readily acceded to the proposal of their master; and the Israelites were forced to quit their flocks and herds to labour in public works, under rigorous task-masters, who afflicted them with heavy burthens.

A considerable portion of avarice mixed itself with the other bad qualities of Pharaoh; and, as a proof that this was his predominating passion, we are told that the persecuted people were employed to build for him the treasure-cities Pithom and Raamses."

It was one part of Pharaoh's design, in this oppression, to prevent the farther increase of the Hebrew nation; but Providence counteracted his purpose; and though the task-masters executed their orders with rigour, "the more they afflicted them, the more the people multiplied and grew."

This served to irritate the gloomy mind of Pharach; and he formed the horrid resolution of entirely rooting out this hated people, by causing all their male children to be put to death as soon as they were born.

The sanguinary edict was accordingly issued; and the Hebrew midwives were commanded, on pain of death, to put it in execution. But these pious women, fearing GOD more than they did the king, disobeyed the order; and when called to account for so doing, their excuse was, that the Hebrew women were more robust than those of Egypt, and seldom had occasion for their assistance.

Pharaoh, however, was not to be diverted from his purpose; and therefore issued a mandate to his subjects, to cast all the male children that should be born to the Hebrews into the Nile.

To what extent this abominable decree was carried we are not informed; for the sacred writer just relates the circumstance, in order to introduce the most signal instance of providential deliverance that is to be found in history.

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