THE 
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE, 
 
 A 
 SACRED POEM; 
 
 BEING 
 A PARAPHRASE OF THE WHOLE 
 
 'Booh of 3[ofc, 
 
 AND 
 
 ID /S AV F.SVLANAT011Y COMMENT : 
 
 V 
 
 DIVINE ORIGINAL, 
 
 ?.1-ED WITH CRITICAL NOTES UPON - 
 OF ITS PASSAGES. 
 
 LV SIX PARTS. 
 
 TO WHICH IS A 
 
 DISSERTATION UPOXTHE BOOK O 
 
 BY CHAUNCEY LEE, A. M. 
 
 PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN COLEBROOK. 
 
 Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen 
 the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mew 
 
 JA 
 
 HERTFORD : 
 BY LINCOLN AND GLEASO3 
 
 1806.
 
 'District of Connecticut, ss. 
 
 Q5e it remembered, That on the 
 
 .dnth day of dun. , in th? thirtieth ij'u.- -f the Inde- 
 'i-ndence of the United States of America, CHAUN- 
 gfj| CEY LEE of the aaid District hath dt-fw&i'fd in this 
 office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims 
 as Author, in the words following, to wit~. 
 
 " The Trial of Virtue, a Sacred Poem ; being a paraphrase 
 " of the while Book of Job, and designed as an Explanatory 
 "' C)mm"iit upon thz Divine OriginaL.j.ntcrsperscd -with criii- 
 " cat Notes upon a variety of its passage s. In Six Parts. To 
 " which -is annexed, A Dissertation upon the Book of J^b,...y 
 " C/iauncey Lee, A. M. Pastor of a Church in Coleorook." 
 
 In conformity to the Act of the" Congress of the United States, 
 entitled, " An Act for the encouragement of Lcai-uing, b\i se 
 curing the Copies of Maps, Chans and Books to the Authors 
 and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein men 
 tioned." 
 
 HENRY W.EDWARDS, 
 Clerk of the District of Connecticut.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 _L HE object of the Paraphraser, in the following 
 sheets, is to excite a more general and thorough atten 
 tion to this part of the sacred writings, and, if possible, 
 cast some light in the path of inquiry. 
 
 To effect this object, no reasonable pains have been 
 spared. The design, it is hoped, will justify the at 
 tempt, and the merit of a well-meant intention, secure 
 some interest in the candor of the public ; however, 
 its execution may, eventually, full short of public use 
 fulness, or public expectation. 
 
 In such a work, it would be idle to expect the concur 
 rence of the reader's opinion in every instance. Many 
 passages in the Book of Job are of ambiguous interpre 
 tation .some very obscure ; upon which, the diffjiiag 
 expositions of Commentators, both ancient and mod 
 ern, have effected little else but to render the darkness 
 more -visible. In such a tide of conflicting opinions, if 
 the writer has been induced, in some instances, to dis 
 sent from them all ; and, after the example of Eli'au, 
 to shew his oivn opinion, he hopes, at let.st, 
 ness.
 
 ft PREFACE. 
 
 With respect to the plan of the work, some observa 
 tions are clue. In giving the paraph arse a poetic dress, 
 the writer has consulted his own taste and sense of 
 propriety. More of the beauties of the Original may be 
 transfused in this dress, than in any other. The Book, 
 all, excepting the two first, and the last chapters, was 
 written originally, in Hebrew verse. Its subject, is the 
 noblest subject of poetry. Its style and figures are 
 highly poetical. Can it then, be less calculated to com 
 bine instruction with entertainment, when restored to 
 its original form ? 
 
 In the execution of the work, the design, suggested 
 in the title page, has been steadily kept in view, and all 
 the amplifications and embellishments indulged by 
 the poet, are directed to this end. For the sake of 
 convenience, it was thought best, to cast the whole into 
 the form of an epic poem, (though it is more of the 
 dramatic kind) and to divide it into six parts, prefacing 
 each with its respective argument ; and, to prevent 
 needless repetition, the speakers are successively intro 
 duced, with the prefix of their names simply. The 
 three first of these divisions are arbitrary the others, it 
 is thought, are naturally pointed out by the incidents of 
 the poem. The distinction of the chapters is kept up 
 by numerical letters, and their several verses, as the 
 paraphrase corresponds with the text, marked by 
 figures, with but few tranpo&ittons of their order. The 
 whole is interspersed with critical notes upon a variety 
 of passages, as they occur ; and, that it may serve as a 
 kind of Concordance, with many marginal references 
 to corresponding passages of Scripture.
 
 PREFACE, % 
 
 The work, with all its imperfections, is now laid be 
 fore the public, with an earnest desire that it may af 
 ford entertainment to the lovers of Sacred Poetry and 
 the researches of the inquirer after truth, and promote 
 the interests of vital piety, both in the risen, and the 
 rising generation. Perhaps such a work, if properly 
 executed, might furnish a profitable reading book to 
 the more advanced scholars in our common schools ; 
 to teach them the art of reading poetry, and early in 
 spire them with a taste for the beauties of English 
 verse. And should the attention of our youth general 
 ly, be diverted from the sorrows of Wcrter, to the SOR 
 ROWS OF JOB, it is confidently believed, they would re 
 alize a subject of more rational entertainment a source 
 of more solid and useful instruction, and the example 
 of a character, more worthy of their esteem and imita 
 tion. 
 
 Should all or any of these ends be answered by the 
 following work, all apologies for its publication would 
 be needless if otherwise, the consequences are as 
 obvious. 
 
 A 2.,
 
 PART I. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 THE history of Job, describing his piety, riches, and religioas- 
 care of his children. Satan, appearing before God, calumni- 
 atcs Job, and obtains leave to tempt him. By repeated messa 
 ges, Job is certified of the loss of his flocks and herds 5 by plun 
 dering bands of the Sabeans and Chaldeans, and of the tragical 
 death of his servants and children. His heavy grief, and 
 humble submission under the affliction. Satan again appears 
 before God, and obtains further leave to tempt Job smites 
 him throughout with sore boils Job reproves his wife moving 
 him to curse God. He is visited by his three friends, Eliphaz, 
 Bildad and Zophar their surprise and astonishment at his ap 
 pearance. After a silence of seven days, Job curses the day 
 and services cf his birth deprecates life, pathetically describes 
 the happiness of death, and regrets that he had not died in 
 early infancy. Eliphaz reproves Job for his hypocrisy 
 teaches that the righteous are exempted from outward evils 
 in Providence, and the judgments of God are inflicted upon 
 the wicked only relates his fearful vif.ion,to humble the excel* 
 lencies of creatures before God. The harm of inconsidera- 
 tion. The end of the wicked is misery. God is to be regard 
 ed in affliction. The happy end of God's correction. Job 
 replies shews that his complaints are not causeless wishes 
 for death reproves his friends excuses his desire of death 
 complains of the great inquietude of his state, and supplicates 
 the Divine compassion. 
 
 T%J.J Part extends to the close of the Seventh Chapter.
 
 THE 
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE,, 
 
 A SACRED POEM. 
 
 AN land of Uz,.as sacred poets sing, 
 Dwelt ancient Job, a prophet, saint and king. 
 Illustrious name ! for patience high renown'd, 
 Upright his heart, his life with virtue crown'd. 
 By wisdom led, he shunn'd the paths of sin, 
 His Maker fear'd, and lov'd his fellow men. 
 
 Peaceful and plenteous, was his outward stale 3 
 For, bounteous Providence had made him great. 
 
 2 Sev'n hopeful sons, three beauteous daughters prove 
 The tender pledges of connubial love. 
 
 3 Sev'n thousand sheep, for him their fleeces wear, 
 For him, three thousand camels burdens bear : 
 
 (Ver. 1.) ' and that man teas perfect, &c. 
 
 The words perfect, and perfection, are used, in the sacred wri- - 
 tings, in two different senses. 1. To express sinless obedience.- 
 2. To signify the sincerity of grace, and an eminent degree of pi 
 ety. In this place, the word is undoubtedly used in the latter 
 sense, as we i aw divinely assured, with respect to the former, 
 " There is not % just man upon earth 'that liveth ?,rd sinactk 
 not."
 
 5 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 For him, the fields, a thousand oxen till, 
 His harvests rear, his barns with plenty fill : 
 For him, five hundred asses teem with young, 
 And feed and bray, the rugged cliffs among. 
 His num'rous servants, spreading o'er the plain, 
 Display his grandeur and increase his- gain. 
 Thus great in wealth and pow'r, he stands confest, 
 The wonder and the glory of the East. 
 4, 5 Exalted thus, his heart was humble still, 
 The father's duties zealous to fulfil ; 
 For white his children, sportive, gay and young, 
 Thro' days successive, pour'cl the festal song, 
 From house to house, according to their birth, 
 Indulg'd in wine, in music, feast and mirth ; 
 As oft, he warn'd against temptation's snare, 
 And sanctified them with his early pray'r ; 
 As oft, for each, th' atoning victim bled, 
 And supplicating vows to Heav'n were made. 
 For well he ki>ew, the fickle age of youth, 
 In pleasure's round, forgets the path of truth ; 
 .The heart's deceit he knew, and therefore cry'd, 
 " My sons, perhaps, their Maker have deny'd ; 
 " 'Mid scenes of mirth, despis'd his glorious praise/ 
 " Abus'd his mercy, and blasphem'd his ways." 
 Thus the good father's constant, pious care, 
 His children watch'd by precept and by pray'r. 
 6 Now, when the sons of God, with joint accord, 
 Assembling, met to bow before the Lord ; 
 
 (Ver 6.) Now there <was a day, &c. 
 
 Whether the sons of God, here mentioned, VjjBfeto the saints 
 o earth, or angels in Heaven, is uncertain, .> ips, imma- 
 
 trial-^-if supposed to be the latter, it will corretpRid wfth the
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 9 
 
 Strange to relate, the arch apostate foe 
 
 Came with the rest, and seem'd to worship too. 
 
 7 Th' Eternal spake, his saints and angels bow ; 
 " Satan, malicious spirit, whence art thou ?" 
 
 " I've rang'd the earth, the works of men espi'd, 
 " And thence have hither come," the fiend*repli'd. 
 
 8 " Hast thou, then, well consider'd," said the Lord, 
 " My servant Job, obedient to my word ? 
 
 " His heart upright, his life with virtue crown'd, 
 " His equal on the earth, cannot be found ; 
 " By wisdom led, he shuns the paths of sin, 
 " Reveres his God, and loves his fellow men. H 
 
 9 Rejoins th' insidious foe, by malice taught, 
 
 " Indeed ! doth Job respect his God for notight ? 
 
 10 " Will he rebel against the partial pow'r 
 
 " That swells his heaps of favors ev'ry hoar I 
 
 " From ev'ry ill, on ev'ry side defends, 
 
 " His wealth and greatness, peace and fame extends c 
 
 1 1 " But'.stretch thy hand, destroy What thou hast giv'o, 
 " He'll curse his God, and vent his rage at Heav'n." 
 
 passage in 1 A7rfs xxii. 19. With respect to Satan's appearing 
 among them, and conversing with the Most High, which has 
 been the subject of so much infidel derision, it is to be viewed as 
 a figurative representation of the infinite supremacy of Jehovah, 
 and the malice, and mischievous purposes of Satan that he can 
 do nothing, but by divine permission, and is sometimes used as 
 the instrument of afflicting the people of God, for the trial of the'ir 
 virtue. In the New Testament, it is declared, that he goeth a- 
 bout, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour : and more 
 particularly, in Sev. xii. 10, he is called " the accuser of the breth 
 ren, who accuses them before God day and night " The instance 
 of Job is a notable example of his acting in this character. 
 
 (Ver 11.) he ivill curse tbee to thy face. 
 
 The insinuation of Satan here, is, that- Job was no better than
 
 10 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 12 " Go, try thy malice then," th' Almighty said. 
 " See whether virtue be that empty shade, 
 
 " Which, partial, mercenary, mean and void, 
 " Loves but the good expected or enjoy'd. 
 " Let Job be tri'd, to silence envious strife, 
 " Exempting but his person and his life." 
 
 13 Job's children now from cares and sorrows free,. 
 At th' eldest's house, enjoy'd their festal glee ; 
 When lo ! a black'ning storm of ills impends, 
 Bwrsts o'er his head, and heavily descends ; 
 
 14 A hast'ning post begins the tale of woes, 
 
 15 And thus proclaims " the fierce Sabeans rose, 
 > * Thy cattle all, have pillag'd from the plain, 
 
 " Thy servants, with the cruel sword have slain, 
 
 16 "And I alone escap'd" While yet he spoke, 
 Another came, his panting silence broke 
 
 " Thy sheep and shepherds in the fields are lost, 
 " By thunderbolts, all smitten to the dust. 
 - 17 '< And wretched I alone survive." A third 
 Advancing swift, with wild affright bestir'd, 
 " Of the Chaldeans, three assaulting bands, 
 " With armed force, have ravag'd all thy lands, 
 " Thy camels seizing, led them far av\ay, 
 " And all thy servants slain ah ! luckless day 1 
 
 him r clf, and that all his religion was merely selfish. How many- 
 are there among mankind, who imitate this example of Satan, 
 by reviling the children of God as hypocrites, and denying the pos 
 sibility of disinierested benevolence, as a principle of moral action. 
 
 (Ver. 14.) And there came a messenger, &c. 
 
 Some suppose that thete afflictions of Job in the loss of his 
 children and property, were merely a Satanic illusion, and had no 
 existence in tact. But this idea is too ridiculous to deserve a $<: 
 rious refutation.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. il 
 
 18 All but myself." -A fourth, more awful still, 
 Job's cup of sorrow, now in haste to fill, 
 With sighs and tears approaching-, cries aloud, 
 " In Judgments, Job, how terrible thy God ! 
 
 " How shall I tell thee, and yet how forbear, 
 
 " Those tidings, which will wound thee most to hear I 
 
 19 " A whirlwind, sudden, and before unknown, 
 
 " Blowing, hath smitten, and the house o'erthrown, 
 " Where all thy children were amazing pow'r ! 
 " Crush'd in its wreck, thy children are no more, 
 
 20 '" And I alone escap'd." Then Job arose, 
 Rending his mantle thro' excessive woes ; 
 In token of his grief, his head all shorn, 
 He prostrate fell, to worship and to mourn. 
 
 2 1 " Naked, when from the earth I came at first, 
 " Naked," saith he, " shall I return to dust. 
 
 (Ver. 19.) And behold, there came a great wind, &c. 
 
 The awful fate of Job's children, perhaps, is a standing, sol 
 emn warning to children, and young people generally, and espe 
 cially to the children of pious parents, who, in despite of paren 
 tal instruction, and counsel, give a loose to sensual indulgences, 
 and the gratifications of carnal mirth. 
 
 (Ver. 20 ) Then Job arose, &c. 
 
 To rend the clothes, and shave, or pluek off the hair of the 
 head, was an ancient custom, expressive of sudden and exces 
 sive grief. 
 
 (Ver. 21.) The Lord gave, See. 
 
 How distinguished^- amiable does the character of Job appear, 
 in this trying instance. What patience and fortitude under suffer 
 ings ! What resignation to the will of God ! How august in ru 
 ins ! What an example to men ! What a spectacle to angels ! 
 How pleasing in the sight of God himself, this ornament of*, 
 atid quiet spirit ! .,A
 
 IS TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 " 'Twas from the hand of God, my comforts came* 
 " His hand removes them, and I bless his name." 
 22 Thus patient Job, unmurm'ring, kiss'd the rod, 
 And bow'd submissive to the will of God. 
 
 II. Again convening on a certain day, 
 
 The sons of God their social homage pay ; 
 As soon th' accuser, Satan, mingling came, 
 With fell intention, yet devoid of shame. 
 2 Again, .the voice divine accosts his ear, 
 
 " Satan, whence comestthou, and wherefore here?" 
 
 Replied the demon, "journeying I have been, 
 
 " Rang'd the wide earth, and view'd the works of 
 
 men." 
 
 5 " Se'st thou my servant Job," the Lord rejoin'd, 
 " In duty constant, and upright his mind ? 
 " Mark how his God he fears, abhors to sin, 
 <' On earth, his equal, can't be found again ; 
 " His faith and trust in God. he still holds fast, 
 " Than gold, more pure, which has the furnace past. 
 " His upright soul is humble still how blight, 
 14 Shine all his virtues in affliction's night 1 
 " Thy suit was causeless, all thy hopes are vain, 
 u By wicked arts, thy purposes to gr.in/' 
 
 4 " Enrag'd the tempter stood, and straight rcpli'd, 
 " Job wears the mask, his faith is still untri'd, 
 
 " By smaller ills endur'd. Prolong'd his life, 
 " And health enjoy 'd, unended is the strife. 
 
 5 " These blessings change to anguish and distress, 
 " And pious Job will curse thee to thy face." 
 
 6 " Then seal thy shame, and close thy wicked strife, 
 " Job's comforts all destroy except his life,"
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 13 
 
 7 Th' Almighty said. At once, the haughty foe 
 Forth from his presence fled, nor stay'd the blow, 
 At Job full aim'd. Eruptive boils and Mains 
 Spread o'er his skin, and torture him with pains. 
 Thro' all his frame, the dire disease extends, 
 Ah ! wretched Job ! an outcast from his friends ! 
 
 8 In dust and ashes, desolate he lies, 
 
 The madd'ning friction of a potsherd plies ; 
 His aching bones are pierc'd with nightly pain, 
 Nor sleep his eyes, nor rest his flesh obtdn ; 
 His stiffening clothes but swell his weight of woe. 
 While ulcerating wounds, adhesive, flow. 
 In gloomy solitude, and dreary shade, 
 
 9 He heav'd the sigh. His wife, indignant, s?,id, 
 " And dost thou, Job; still hold thy virtue fast ? 
 
 " Give o'er now curse thy God, ar.d die at List." 
 IO " Presumptuous woman ! ceas? thy impious prate, 
 " Nor tempt the vengeance of severer fate. 
 " For good, ungrateful, shall we now repine ? 
 " And shall not God be just as well as kind ?" 
 Thus Job reprov'd her, while he blest the Lord} 
 Nor from his lips escap'd a sinful word. 
 
 (Ver. 9.) rben saij his vife, &c. 
 
 The impiety of Job's wife must have formed no small part <A 
 the good man's affliction. Precious saint ! how severe was his 
 trial ! To have his nearest earthly friend, the companion of hi* 
 life, thus openly take side with the grand adversary, and urge on 
 his hellish design ; we cannot well conceive the poignancy it must 
 have added to his distress. Yet he manifests a spirit of Chris 
 tian forbearance. He meekly reproves her, and argues the case 
 en God's behalf, with admirable fortitude. " Shall we receive 
 good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil," 
 
 B
 
 1 1" TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 1 1 Now the for spreading tales of lob's distress, 
 His distant friends, with pitying grief impress ; 
 Three special friends, with whom he erst had spent 
 Hours of sweet converse, and his mind unbent 
 From bub'ness and from cares these friends (by 
 
 name, 
 
 Eliphazj Bildud, Zophar) sorrowing came, 
 Each from his sev'ral home, on errand kind, 
 With Job to mourn, and soothe his sinking mind. 
 
 12 When, from a distance, now he greets their eyes, 
 His form so chang'd, scarce known ; Avith sad surprise, 
 And horror-smitten with his deep distress, 
 
 Aloud they wept, and wail'd his hapless case. 
 With silent eloquence of garments torn, 
 ~ And dusted heads, they sat them down to mourn. 
 Tensive and sac, and speechless they remain, 
 Their sighs alone, responsive to his pain ; 
 Thro' sev'n long days and nights, their grief was 
 
 dumb, 
 Awful as death, and silent as the tomb. 
 
 Unhappy Job ! how great indeed thy grief, 
 When pity's self durst not attempt relief! 
 
 (Ver. 12.) A-nd when they lift up their ey^es afar off, &c. 
 
 It seems, that Job was excluded the enjoyment and the com 
 mon rights of society, as one infested with the leprosy. This was 
 another aggravating circumstance in his affliction, which he pa 
 thetically describes, in the 30th Chapter, and elsewhere. He wag 
 avoided by his acquaintance and domestics, and continued in the 
 open air, ora lonely several-house- In this situation, he was found 
 by bis three friends, who, at a distance, discerned him as an 
 object of extreme and affecting wretchedness ; and in that situa 
 tion, it is probable, their whole conversation was holden.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 15 
 
 III. Now chang'd the scene,nor silence more prevail'd* 
 Job curs'd his day, and thus his state bewail'd. 
 
 3 " Perish the day, when first I saw the light ; 
 And perish, too, my first conception's night. 
 
 4 Let death and darkness seize my natal day, 
 
 5 Their gloom o'erspread, without one cheering ray 
 Thou golden Sun, refuse to guild its morn, 
 Heav'n's wrath upon it, and of men the scorn. 
 
 6 That night,, eternal horrors overspread, 
 Blacker than Chaos, ere the world was made ; 
 Expung'd for ever, from the rolling year, 
 Nor in the kalends of the months appear. 
 
 (Ver. 1.) After this opens! yob bis mouth end cursed hit day. 
 
 Some observations upon this passage are due, in justice to the' 
 character of Job. Many serious readers are stumbled and greatly 
 perplexed with the conduct of Job, in cursing bis day ; and by, 
 most, it is viewed as an act of enormous wickedness, and utterly- 
 discordant with the character given him in the first verse of the 
 Book. But I believe this sentiment is unfounded, and results 
 merely from a misunderstanding of the term, as it is here used. 
 The expression is a Hebraism, and not used according to the 
 idiom of the English language. The word we find used in a 
 ilmilar sense in Eliphaz's first speech (Ch.v. 3.) "I have seen 
 the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation," 
 i. e. I saw, or Ipronounced it to be cursed. Thus Job cursed his 
 day, that is, declared his life to be psrfecly wretched, and under 
 his present circumstances worse than ncn-existence. In this view 
 it was rery important that he should curse his day, as this was 
 the only thing that could give full proof that he was tried to 
 the extent of Satan's proposal, i.e. stript of every enjoyment, 
 and rendered perfectly wretched. Yet his faith endured the test, 
 and Satan was vanquished. In his sufferings, and patient endur 
 ance of them, Job may be viewed as an eminent type of our- 
 Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 16 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 9 Be neither moon, nor twinkling stars on high, 
 But shadows, clouds and darkness veil the sky. 
 
 7 While voice of neither man, nor beast be found, 
 Nor mirth, nor music, pipe nor tabret's sound ; 
 No humid vapours fall in genial show'rs, 
 
 Nor vegetation deck the earth with flow'ra ; 
 
 8 But bilent sadness mount her sable tlmme, 
 And sons of sorrow curse it for their own. 
 
 10 Because it gave to embryo Job, a womb, 
 Bequeath'd a cradle, and deny'd a tomb. 
 
 11 Why fell 1 not the early prey of death ? 
 Why drew my heaving lungs the vital breath ' 
 
 22 Why, to the fost'ring bosom was I prest, 
 By mother Earth deny'd a lap of rest ? 
 
 13 O Grave ! thou envied state of quiet er.se, 
 Where, undisturb'd, I might have slept in peace. 
 
 14 As great, as happy as the crowned head, 
 Repos'd in marble, with the royal dead. 
 
 15 Moiuvchs who shook the world with wide alarms, 
 And plunder'd provinces, with conq'ring arms, 
 
 16 In death, own kindred with their meanest slave, 
 Or still-born infants in the common grave 
 
 17 The racked, there, no more with ills molest, 
 And there, the weary trav'ler is at rest. 
 
 18 Th' oppressor, and the oppress'd, togetlyer there,, 
 In dust are levell'd, and one liv'ry wear. 
 
 )9 There, undistinguish'd lie, the base, the brave, 
 And there the master manumits the slave. 
 
 20 Who then, would Hot the light of life forego, 
 
 Spurning the heirship of incessant woe, 
 
 21,22 And long and pant for dissolution, more, 
 
 Than greedy misers for the golden ore ?
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTU 17 
 
 23 Why then, is light on wretched man bestow'cl, 
 Whose path is hedg'd, whose peace deny'd of Gj.l 
 
 24 Such is my state forlorn, my daily food 
 To gall is chang'd ; to evil ;.I1 my good. 
 Life is a burden, borne with tears and sighs, 
 And constant groans, like Wll*wtng waves, arise. 
 
 25 Th* impending storm of ills, so much my dread, 
 Now falls amain, with ruin on my head ; 
 
 26 My woes, in which, nor rest, nor peace were known* 
 Increasing, are to sev'n-fbld Vengeance grown." 
 
 ELIPHAZ. 
 
 IV. Now wiit thou, Job, with candor deign to hear ; 
 And words of truth receive, with friendly ear ? 
 This favor, for myself, and thee I ask, 
 Since, silence would impose a painful task, 
 *3,4 An able teacher, an experienc'd guide, 
 
 In thee, our eyes behold thy wisdom try'd, 
 Hath many counsei'd, and thy gen'rous aid, 
 The weak to stand, the lame to walk, hath made. 
 
 5 But now, afflicted, by the hand of Heav'n, 
 Thai-strength thou lackest, which thyself hast giv'n. 
 
 6 WiUiov.t the basis of an upright heart, 
 
 Thy virtuous deeds were but the fruits of art, 
 Corrupt and selfish all ?.n outward form, 
 Which no\v, like chaff, is blown before the storm. 
 Thy mind, a stranger to the good man's hope, 
 Oppress'd with ills, now sinks without a prop , 
 Fc;- false and specious all thine upright ways ; 
 Those shining virtues of thy former days, 
 
 * Gal. vi. 1. Ifcb. sii. 12.- 
 B2
 
 18 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Like spurious gold untry'd, to dross now tu^n, 
 And leave the wretch, to murmur and to mourn 
 
 7 The charge refuse not, to conviction bow. 
 And own thy baseness, for, my proof art thou. 
 Look at thy ruin, then this question scan, 
 
 Is God, the Judge of all, unjust to man ? 
 Reflect, I pray, thy mem'ry well employ ; 
 Did ever God the innocent destroy ? 
 Are not the righteous precious in his sight,. 
 And mark'd, ia Providence, his chief delight ? 
 In Him their stedfast hope and trust who place, 
 From ills preserv'd, enjoy his smiling face. 
 
 8 Not so the wicked here, the scene reverse, 
 Presents the objects of his wrath and curse, 
 The seeds of sin who sow, have plow'd in vain, 
 For grief, their harvest proves, their wages, pain 
 
 9 From light and life, by th* angry blast of Heav'n, 
 They sink in darkness, and to death are driv'n. 
 
 iOjll And tho' like lions strong, and fierce as they, ~\ 
 By hands unseen destroy'd, they're swept away, t 
 The lions famish'd, and their whelnsja prey. J 
 Thus saints in form, and hypocrites in heart, 
 Exchange their honors for their just desert. 
 
 12 This truth, confirm'cl, by observation sought, 
 
 In part, I've learn'd, by secret counsel taught ; 
 
 My list'ning ear the solemn sounds receB^d, 
 
 My mind, th' instruction ; and the truth belicv'd. 
 
 13 When midnight darkness veii'd the earth and deep. 
 And busy mortals lost their cares in sleep ; 
 While sad and pensive, on my wakeful bed, 
 
 A sudden vision fill'd my soul with dread.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 19 
 
 14 Black chilling fears, which all my frame possess'd, 
 My chattering teeth, and bristling hairs confess'd. 
 
 15 My flesh all trembling, and congeal'd my blood, 
 A passing Spirit, now before me stood. 
 
 1 6 A solemn spectre, awful, dark and drear, 
 
 Nor shape, my eye perceiv'd, nor voice, my car 
 But dark and silent all 
 
 When lo ! a still small voice, the gloom pervades, 
 And thus, the haughty sons of pride upbraids. 
 
 17 " Shall man, earth-born, and hast 'rung to the dust, 
 u Himself exalt, and call his God unjust ? 
 
 " Shall pride and vanity affect to be 
 
 " More holy, righteous, wise and good, than HE ? 
 
 18 " Presumptuous madness! know, He reigns above, 
 " Supreme in pow'r, in goodness, truth and love ; 
 " His hand performs the counsels of his throne, 
 
 " Owns no dependence, and confides in none. 
 " View'd in the brightness of his glorious name, 
 " Angels are charg'd with folly, cloth'd in shame. 
 ! 9 " Shall man presume, then, on his Maker's gruce, 
 " And claim a higher, than an angel's place ? 
 
 (Ver 18) and bit angels be charged with folly. This is" 
 
 a disputed passage, and of doubtful interpretation. Two different 
 opinions of it are hclden, and each supported by respectable au 
 thorities. The one, that it is spoken comparatively, of the holy 
 angels the other that it is spoken absolutely, of the fallen angels. 
 Without deciding which is the most correct, I have, in the para 
 phrase, followed the lead of the former construction, which 
 is the most commonly received. Those who prefer the Utter 
 construction, may substitute, in the paraphrase, the following 
 couplet, 
 
 Angels of light, by sin and folly fell 
 
 From light to darkness, and from Heav'n to bell.
 
 20 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 " Frail, sinful man, a worthless worm at most, 
 " Form'd of the clay, and founded in the dust ; 
 " Whose strength so weak, whose life so short a clay i 
 ( * Before the moth, he falls a helpless prey ? 
 
 20 " As chaff before the driving wind is blown, 
 Or the frail lilly in the meads, cut down, 
 
 " So wretched man, by death, is swept away, 
 ' From morn till ev'ning, and from day to day. 
 " Succeeding generations tread the stage, 
 " And die, and die, thro' each progressing age ; 
 " Like wave impelling wave, they swiftly pass, 
 " And dash, and mingle with the common mass ; 
 
 21 " Unheeded and forgotten, down they lie, 
 
 " Resign their worth, and without wisdom die." 
 
 V. Reflect, I pray thee, weigh the subject well, 
 And name the saint, to wbcm thou wih appeal. 
 Call, to thine aid, th' experienc'd and the grave, 
 Who taught by wisdom, can from error save. 
 Whom wilt thou summon to this work of love, 
 My words, by facts, or reasons to disprove ? 
 Shall wisdom yield to folly, learned prate 
 Annul th' experience of the wise and great ? 
 
 2 The inattentive mind, the envious heart, 
 At its own bosom, points the fatal dart ; 
 Nor hope, nor peace, the selfish can enjoy, 
 For selfish passions, hope and peace destroy. 
 
 3 The wicked man, in prosp'rous state, I've seen, 
 Like thrifty tree, all fruitful fair and green ; 
 Deep grew his roots, his tow 'ring branches high, 
 O'erspread the ground, and pierc'd the vaulted sky. 
 
 (1) Psalm xlix. 7. Gen. xxx. 1. 
 (3) Jer. xii. 2. Psalm xxxyij, 35-
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 21 
 
 But short his date his greatness, wealth and pow'r, 
 His trunk and branches, like the meadow flow'r, 
 In early prime cut down, and scatter'd wide, 
 By noon-day beams were wither'd, scorch'd and 
 dry'd. 
 
 4 Nor rests the evil hereto years unknown, 
 Borne by the stream of time, it's carried down ; 
 To his vile race,* the legacy descends, 
 
 And son with sire, in guilt and ruin blends. 
 Abject and mean, with poverty distress'd, 
 Beset with dangers, hated and oppress'd , 
 
 5 Their harvest, choak'd with thorns, a mingled crop. 
 By hungry vagrants glean'd, is eaten up ; 
 
 Their substance all, for which, with care, they toil'd, 
 By thieves is pillag'd, and by robbers spoiFd. 
 Thus, without one to pity, or to save, 
 They drag their sins and sorrows to the grave. 
 
 6 Tho' evils causeless, spring not from the ground, 
 Nor troubles e'er, by accident abound. 
 
 7 Yet wretched man, thus Heav'n's decree ordains, 
 Is born to sorrow, sickness, tears and pains ; 
 
 As fire ascending seeks the distant sun, 
 Or rapid rivers to the ocean run. 
 
 8 Then, whither shall I flee ? my refuge, where I 
 Is hope denied the wretch ? is all despair ? 
 
 No. Blessed hope ! there is a God above, 
 The world who rules, in goodness, truth and love. 
 To Him I'd seek my suff'ring cause commit, 
 And bow submissive at his awful feet ; 
 
 (4) Psalm cix. 12, 13. * Exodus xx. 5. 
 
 (6) Amos iii. 6. (7) John xyi. 32.
 
 22 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 9 Whoform'dthe earth, \fhospread the heav'ns abroad, 
 The Great, the Wise, the Wonder-working God. 
 At his command, the awful thunders roar^ 
 And rain, and sun-shine, greet the joyous shore ; 
 Breaks the fair morn, the splendid source of day 
 Beams from the East, and pours his golden ray. 
 
 10 Ke spreads the ev'ning shade the dew distils, 
 And pours his blessings on the fruitful hills. 
 
 1 1 'Tis He our pains relieves, our wants supplies, 
 Our sickness heals, and wipes our weeping eyes. 
 " He gives our comforts, and his mercy saves 
 
 " Our souls from death, our lives from gaping graves." 
 He lifts the fallen, and the poor oppress'd, 
 In Him, find succor, and the weary, rest. 
 
 12 The sons of malice forge, in vain, their lies, 
 The crafty wicked perish, in surprise ; 
 
 14 Blind to their path, and wand'ring far astra y, 
 They grope ia darkness, 'mid the blaze of day. 
 
 13 Feeble their hands, their expectations cross'd, 
 And all their schemes, like chaff, are blown and lost. 
 Their wisdom vain, in vain they nim their spite, 
 In desp'rate combat with eternal might. 
 
 As pond'rous rocks, avuls'd from mountain's brow, 
 Descend impetuous to the vales below ; 
 So from their tow'ring height, by angry Heav'n, 
 They j re tumbled headlong and to ruin driv'n. 
 
 15 But, to the humble poor, the Lord extends 
 Protecting kindness, and from ills defends ; 
 
 (9) Deut, xxxii. 4. 
 
 (11) 1 Sam. ii. 7. Isaiah xxxiii. 16. 
 
 (12) Psalm xxxiii. 10, and Ixxvi. 5. 
 
 13) Psalm ix, 15. (15) Psalm Ixxii. 4.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 23 
 
 His arm, their shield ; his faithfulness, Iheir trust ; 
 His justice treads th' oppressor in the dust ; 
 Nor tongues, nor hands, nor swords of mighty foes, 
 Have pow'r t'annoy their safety, or repose. 
 
 16 God is their hope, their strength, their joy, their 
 
 breath, 
 Their " light in darkness, and their life in death." 
 
 17 Then, happy he, who, chasten 'd by his rod, 
 Humbly submits, and owns his Father God. 
 
 18 His ways are holy, all his dealings kind, 
 Faithful his frowns, and for our good design'd. 
 Rebel not, therefore, Job, nor dare withstand 
 The just corrections of his mighty hand. 
 Him, the dispenser own, of good and ill, 
 
 'Tis he who wounds, and he alone can heal. 
 
 19 In oft-returning troubles, thou shalt find, 
 Thy God, thy Saviour and Deliv'rer, kind. 
 
 20 If death and famine break the staff of bread, 
 Trust in his mercy, and thou shalt be fed : 
 
 21 Or slander wound thee, with envenom'd tongue, 
 Thy righteous Judge shall well avenge thy wrong. 
 
 22 If plague or sickness spread devouring death, 
 Thy guardian God shall keep thy mortal breath. 
 When war with slain, d'crspreads th' embattled field, 
 Behold Him nigh, thy buckler, and thy shield. 
 The hissing snake, before thee, shall retreat, 
 Tigers their fisrceness lose, and lick thy feet ; 
 
 (16) Psa'.m cvii. 42. 
 
 (17) Psalm xciv. 12, and Jam. i. 2. 
 
 (18) Deut. xxxii. 39. (19) Psalm xxxiv. 19. 
 (20) Psalm xxxiv. 10. (23) Psalm xci. I.
 
 24 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 23 All nature smile, with beams of grace divine, 
 Ev'n rocks and stones in leagues of friendship join. 
 
 24 Thy house, the blest retreat of peace and love, 
 A store of social sweets shall daily prove. 
 Secure and happy in the plenty giv'n, 
 Approving conscience, and the smiles of Heav'n, 
 Thy thankful lips shall pour the fervent praise, 
 And lead thy household to the throne of grace, 
 
 25 Thy children num'rousas the grass, shall rise, 
 Tread in thy steps, and bless thine aged eyes. 
 
 26 At length, as corn full ripe, the precious grain, 
 In joyful harvest reapt, is gather'd in ; 
 So thou, in virtue, and in age, mature, 
 Shalt rest in death, and find thy Heav'n secure. 
 
 37 Hear then, O Job, these truths, by wisdom seal'd, 
 And peace and comfort to thy soul, they'll yield. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 VI. O that my griefs were weigh'd 
 
 2 For, were my sufferings in the balance laid, 
 
 3 The rocks and sands, which th' ocean's bed surround, 
 The lighter scale would poize, and upward bound. 
 
 (Ver. 24.) and thou thalt visit thy habitation, 8cc. 
 
 In this verse, Eliphaz has undoubted reference to the duties of 
 family religion, and of household worship. These duties have 
 been characteristic of the people of God,' in all 'ages. The truly 
 pious man will acknowledge God in every relation, and " pray 
 with all prayer." This is certain, however greatly the duty of fa 
 mily prayer is neglected, in the christianized world, no parent, or 
 head of a family, will neglect it, who makes conscience cf hi 
 duty, or appreciates tlie smiles of Heaven. 
 
 <24) Eccl. viii. 5.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 25 
 
 *Tis not in words, to paint my deep distress, 
 Or tell what heavy woes my soul oppress. 
 
 4 Th' Almighty's arrow, pointed at my heart, 
 Spreads its dire poison, with a deadly smart ; 
 Exhausts my spirit, and my soul alarms, 
 With all the terrors of a God in arms. 
 
 5 Why then, my friends, if friends indeed ye be, 
 Your hearts so hard, your ears so deaf to me ? 
 My words, in vain solicit your belief, 
 
 Nor groans excite your sympathetic grief. 
 Of health and ease did ever one complain ? 
 Are tears and groans no evidence of pain ? 
 'Midst plenteous herbage, does the wild ass bray ? 
 Or lows the ox for forage, o'er his hay ? 
 
 6 Can food unseason'd, guslful savour bear ? 
 
 Or sounds discordant, charm the iist'ning ear ? 
 
 7 Things hateful to the sense, I now receive, 
 As food, famiiiar constant as my grief. 
 
 8,9 Oh, that the Lord of Heav'n and Earth would hear. 
 
 And grant th' entreaty of my fervent pray'r ; 
 " In tender mercy, that he'd rouse his wrath, 
 Let loose his hand and send me quick to death. 
 Here, all my hope for this I long, I sigh, 
 To burst the bands of hated life, and die. 
 
 10 Threshold of glory I gate of endless day ! 
 O Death, I hail thec bear me hence away, 
 
 (Ver. 10.) / have not conceals 1 the words of tie Holy Oi.e. 
 It was from the testimony of a good conscience, that Job 
 derived support under his heavy affliction, and the blessed comfort 
 (4) Deut xxxii. 23. Lam. iii. 5,7. 
 
 (6) Heb. xii. 11. (7) Lam. iv. 5. Psalm cii. ?, 
 
 (8) 1 Kings xix. 4. (10) Acts xx. 20. 
 
 c
 
 26 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Up to my God. His truth I have declar'd, 
 And for his holy Heav'n now stand prepar'd. 
 
 1 1 What is my strength, and what this scene of strife, 
 That I should cleave to earth, and long for life ? 
 
 12 My strength must fail, this mortal frame decay, 
 Nor marble are my bones, nor brass my clay. 
 My only strength is hope, my joy is faith, 
 These solace life, and pluck the sting of death ; 
 'Tis heav'nly wisdom fits the soul for God, 
 And points me to his bright, his blest abode. 
 
 14 A friend's affliction claims a friend's relief, 
 The throb of pity, and the tear of grief ; 
 But man revolts, no kindred owns but pelf, 
 No God but Mammon, and no friend but Self. 
 O sacred friendship ! source of joy and rest, 
 By all pretended, and by few possess'd ! 
 
 of hope, in the near prospect of death. This was a consumma 
 tion he devoutly desired, a time, for which he had lor r g been 
 laying up in store a good foundation. His words here are very 
 parallel with those of the apostle, " I have not shunned to de 
 clare the whole counsel cf Gcd." They signify generally, a 
 state of preparation for death, and the satisfaction he felt, in the 
 review of a life faithfully devoted to the service of Gcd. Not 
 that he built his hope upon his faithfulness and good-works as the 
 meritorious ground of the divine acceptance ; this principle he 
 explicitly discards in several of his speeches ; but that, the good 
 fruits of holy obedience, flowed from amoral temper which must 
 be happy in God, and werQ evidential of that character, which 
 God, in his sovereign mercy, through the mediation of his Son, 
 would crown with eternal life. Happy every one, who in the 
 view of death, can say, as Job did, I have not concealed the 
 words of the Holy One." 
 
 (11) Chap. v. 16. (12) Psalm ciii. 14, 15. 
 
 (14) Prov, xv. 17. 2 Cor. i. 4. andiv. 14.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 2f 
 
 The heart that feels, the hand that loves to give, 
 A thousand blessings shall for one receive. 
 15-18 My friends deceitful, as th' inconstant brook, 
 
 With smiling fortune, smii'd ; with it, forsook. 
 The limpid stream, by winter's frost congeal'd, 
 Spread to the eye, a smooth delightful field : 
 Firm to the foot, not rocks more firm and fast, 
 And dreaming fancy thought the scene would last : 
 But short th' illusion ere one summer's day, 
 The charm is fled, the ice dissolves away, 
 The waters swiftly glide, the dream is o'er, 
 - The riv'let dries, and friendship is no more. 
 Hope, fair deceiver, downward to the deep, 
 Floats with the tide, and " leaves the wretch to weep." 
 
 (Verses 15 18.) My brethren have dealt deceitfully cs a brook, 8tc. 
 
 Every reader must stop to admire the beauties of the short 
 comparison, Job here institutes, to paint the fickleness of human 
 friendship. How striking is it generally ! how just was it in its 
 particular application ! For natural simplicity, well chosen, im 
 agery and descriptive energy, it is not exceeded by any specimen 
 of fine writing, ancient, or modern. What an impressive view 
 does it give us of the utter selfishness and depravity of the human 
 heart, as lost to every truly generous and noble sentiment ! Alas! 
 the comparison is still in force. The complaint of Job has not 
 been confined to any particular age, or period of the world. 
 Human nature is still the same. Human friendship, like the de 
 ceitful brook, dries and becomes extinct, in the summer of ad 
 versity. How often does human experience justify and enforce 
 the solemn admonition of the weeping Prophet. " Take ye heed 
 every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother ; for 
 every brother will utterly supplant, and every IK ^hbur will \vi-.lk 
 with slanders." 
 
 (15 IS) Psalm xxxviii. 11. amllxxxviii. 18. Jer. Lx. 4. Miaah 
 vii. 4, 5.
 
 * TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 1 9 Nor yet confin'd, the fickleness of friends ; 
 This thorny evil to mankind extends ; 
 
 The troops of Tema hasten'd to the brink, 
 And hosts of Sheba, all athirst to drink ; 
 
 20 High were their hopes, their breasts with ardor glow'd, 
 Impatient with desire, they came they stood, 
 They look'd they waited, but in vain their stay,-) 
 Dry was the brook, nor could their thirst allay, t 
 They fled confounded, each his diff'rent way. J 
 
 21 Now, in this glass of ice, yourselves behold, 
 As hard your hearts, your boasted love as cold. 
 My wretched state, you trembling see, yet have 
 Nor heart to pity, nor a hand to save. 
 
 22 Do I to you my wounds and pains expose, 
 Begging for alms to mitigate my woes ? 
 Or yet, have I your gen'rous aid implor'd, 
 To pay my ransom to a cruel Lord ; 
 
 33 Or prove your valor, in unequal strife, 
 
 My foes to vanquish, and preserve my life ? 
 For none of these I sue. The feeling heart 
 Is all the boon I ask but this impart, 
 
 24 My errors teach me, clearly shew my wrong, 
 Then, humbly thankful, I'll restrain my tongue. 
 
 (Ver. 19.) The troops of Tema looted, &.c. 
 This verse, in all probability, has reference to the trading Cara 
 vans travelling through the deserts of Arabia, bearing their ar 
 ticles of traffic on camels, and suffering with thirst, in those dry 
 and sandy regions. This mode of merchandizing is practised, to 
 the present clay. 
 
 (D) Gen. xxv. 15. 
 (20) Jer. xiv. 3. 
 (22) 1 Sam. xii ?,. 
 (24) lam.es I 19,
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. sa" 
 
 25 Convincing pow'r, the words of truth, attends, 
 But where's the fault, your reas'ning reprehends ? 
 Nor pith, nor substance, in your speech is found, 
 But wit unapt, and without cause a wound. 
 
 26 Are words the mark, at which you aim your pleas, 
 In doughty combat with the empty breeze ? 
 
 So bright the triumph o'er a desp'rate foe ? 
 So fair the laurel pluck'd from maniac's brow ? 
 
 27 Nor here you pause ; but treach'rous arts employ, 
 To crush the helpless, and your friend destroy. 
 
 28 Now rest content, this path no more pxirsue, 
 Look on my sorrows, and believe them true. 
 
 39 Return to reason, Oh, to love return 
 Let gen'rous pity in your bosoms burn ; 
 
 30 My cause behold not in an odious light, 
 I beg no favor in a claim of right. 
 My words are simple truth, I cannot fear 
 The sting of conscience for a guileful tear. 
 
 VII. Why then your censures harsh ? say, what th' 
 
 offence, 
 
 To challenge death and spurn the joys of sense ? 
 Man's wretched life is but an hireling's day, 
 As fixt his term, as quickly pass'd away. 
 Nor wealth, nor wisdom can protract the date, 
 Nor strength, nor beauty ward the shafts of fate ; 
 Infinite wisdom measures out his span, 
 And God's high counsel bounds the life of man. 
 
 (25) Eccl. xii. 10. Prov. xv. 23, and xxv. 11. 
 
 (26) Eph. iv. 14. 
 
 (27) Psalm Ivii. 6. Isai. Ixiii. 8. 
 Chap. vii. ver. 1. Isaiah, xxxviii.5. 
 
 C2
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE, 
 
 2 The hireling labors, heedless of his pains, 
 In cheering prospect of his promised gains ; 
 The drudging slave, by hard oppression driv'n. 
 Toils with the Sun, and eyes the shades of ev'n : 
 Hope, all-supporting-, steels the patient breast, 
 Of thut, his wages ; and of this, his rest. 
 
 G But ah ! to me, more wretched far than these, 
 Nor labor, rest ; nor pain, can promise ease. 
 Like empty shadows, fiee my months away, 
 The night is restless, and forlorn the day. 
 
 4 At hour of rest, impatient of the night, 
 
 I lay me down, and wish for morning light : 
 " When shall the darkness cease, the night be gone ? 
 " Fly, lazy hours, and bring the cheering Sun." 
 My anguish'd frame, the live-long night is toss'd, 
 My thoughts in wild and wand'ring mazes lost ; 
 
 5 With clods and creeping worms, my flesh is dress'd. 
 While blains corrosive all my skin infest 
 
 (Verses 2, 3.) As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, &c. 
 
 There appears to be a small inaccuracy in the wording of this 
 comparison. This is matter of personal opinion only, but sug 
 gested to. account for and explain the deviation of the paraphrase. 
 It seems, more naturally, a comparison of contrast, than of like 
 ness, designed to intimate, that the situation of a hired servant, 
 or even a bond slave, was an enviable state, compared with his ; 
 for they, under all their labors and sufferings, are cheered and 
 supported by hope ; whereas, saith Job, " I am made to possess 
 months of vanity, Sec." i. e. my wretched days are spent -without 
 hope. To give the passage this sense, we have only to omit the 
 word as, in the second verse, and substitute, but, for to, in the 
 ihird. This, probably, would be the correct reading for certainly 
 it would greatly strengthen the comparison, and enforce the ob- 
 j,xt of Job, which was to justify his earnest desire of death. 
 (3) Psalm xxx ix. 5. IsaiaHxiv.lt.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 3t 
 
 A living horror to myself and friends, 
 My putrid carcase ev'ry sense offends. 
 
 6 Swifter than shuttle in the weaver's loom, 
 My hopeless life is posting to the tomb ; 
 
 7 A puff of air, that whistles, swells, and dies. 
 Now come 'tis gone ; and like a phantom flies, 
 
 8 Who saw me once, shall tell my hist'ry o'er, 
 
 " Here, Job was seen, but now, is seen no more." 
 Thine eyes behold me, O thou Sov'reign God ! 
 And straight, to dust I sink, beneath thy rod. 
 
 9 As morning clouds dissolve in empty air, 
 
 M..n wastes in death, and shall no more appear ; 
 
 10 Snatch'd from the earth, he seeks his final home, 
 The herse his chariot, and his house, the tomb. 
 The shroud, the coffin, and the mourning train> 
 In pomp, attend him to his dark domain. 
 
 His children orphans, and his wife alone, 
 His place forsaken, and his name unknown. 
 
 1 1 For this I mourn, unable to restrain 
 
 The voice of wailing, or the tear of pain ; 
 
 I'll speak my anguish, clothe, in words, my grief, 
 
 The bursting heart, in venting, finds relief. 
 
 (Verse 6.) My days are swifter than a weavtr't shuttle, &c. 
 
 This is a very beautiful figure an apt andstriking comparison. 
 The shuttle flies swiftly, and constantly, and every shoot dunrn 
 ishes the yarn upon the spool. Such is the rapid, constant flight 
 of time ; and every succeeding moment still shortens the thread, 
 ef human life. 
 
 (6) Psalm xc. 6. (7) Isaiah xxxv'tii. 12, 
 
 (8) Eccl. i. 4, 5. 
 
 (9) 2 Sam. xii. 23. 
 
 (10) Eccl. xii. 5. 
 
 (11) Psalm xxxix. 1, 9.
 
 82 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 12 Am I an Ocean, whelming all the shore ? 
 Or some sea-monster, yawning to devour ? 
 
 That thou my path dost fence with rocks and mounds, 
 And watch my motions, hedg'd in narrow bounds ? 
 
 1 3 Yet evils outward are the smaller part, 
 
 My peace is wounded, and~I'm sick at heart. 
 The hour of rest desir'd, but swells my woes, 
 The bed of slumber mocks the wish'd repose. 
 My couch, I fondly hope, and vainly say, 
 Shall soothe my cares, and chase my griefs away ; 
 
 14 Then visions haunt me, dreams terrific rise, 
 Pale ghosts and goblins dance before my eyes, 
 " Tir'd nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," 
 Flies my embrace, and bids me wake to weep. 
 
 15,16 What then, the charm of life? and where the tie? 
 That holds me grov'ling, here, averse to die ? 
 Dissolv'd and gone. I yield my mortal breath 
 This wretched life I loathe 'tis worse than death. 
 
 17 And what is man ? O thou Preserving Pow'r ! 
 A child of dust the creature of an hour ! 
 Frail, sinful man, shall he thy goodness prove ? 
 Is he an object worthy of thy love ? 
 
 18 Is it for him, thy hand supports the pole r 
 For him the mighty wheels of Nature roll ? 
 Time speeds his round, with constant wing display'd. 
 In blush of morning, and the ev'ning shade ; 
 
 Suns rise and set, alternate seasons bring 
 
 The frosts of Winter and the flow'rs of Spring ? 
 
 (12) Lain. in. 7. 
 (14) Deut. xxviii. 34. 
 (17) Psalm xxxix. 10.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. S3 
 
 19 Oh, stay thy hand, thy woncl'rous acts restrain, 
 And grant thy worm, a short reprieve from pain. 
 
 20 All-seeing God, before thy throne, I bow, 
 With guiit confounded, and in dust laid low ; 
 My sins to thee confess, thy justice own, 
 What shall I offer, how my crimes atone ? 
 Mark not a wretch, insolvent and forlorn, 
 The fated object of thy wrath and scorn. 
 Worthless my life, nor can my blood defray 
 The mighty debt, and wash my guilt away. 
 
 2 1 Look down in mercy, lend a gracious ear, 
 My suff'rings pity, grant my fervent pray'r ; 
 To thee I look, I plead thy pard'ning grace, 
 My sins subdue, and lift thy smiling face ; 
 Oh, haste to help me, speed thine aid, before 
 I sleep in death, and sink to rise no more. 
 
 Verse 20. O thou PRESERVER of men, &c. 
 
 This principally means God's omniscience, and not his all-pre 
 serving power ; and perhaps should be rendered Observer ; for 
 the inquiry here, is, not what thanks shall I render for mercies 
 received, but, what sacrifice shall I offer for sins committed j 
 In this, Job acknowledges himself an insolvent debtor to divine 
 justice, and recognizes the necessity of a divine atonement, 
 
 (20) Psalm xxxu. 5.
 
 PART II. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 BILDAD shews God's justice in dealing with men, according to 
 their works. He appeals to antiquity, in proof of the certain 
 destruction of the hypocrite ; and applies God's just dealings 
 to Job. 
 
 Job acknowledges God's justice, and shews that there is no con 
 tending with him that the dispensations of Providence do 
 not designate the moral characters of men ; afflictions being 
 common to all. Taking liberty of complaint, he expostulates 
 with God, concerning his afflictions complains of life, and 
 asks a short respite from his pains. 
 
 Zophar reproves Job, with severity, for justifying himself. God's 
 wisdom is unsearchable. The assured blessings of repentance. 
 
 Job maintains himself against his friends' reproofs. He acknow 
 ledges God's omnipotency. Reproves his friends for their 
 partiality. Professes his confidence in God. Entreats to knowr 
 his own sins, and God's purpose in afflicting him. Entreats 
 God for favor, by the. shortness of life, and certainty of death. 
 Though life, once lost, be irrecoverable, yet he waits for his 
 change, and derives comfort from the secret hope of a resurrec 
 tion. By sin, the creature is subject, to corruption, and by 
 death, for ever cut off from au the concerns of this world. 
 Tbit Part extendt to the end -of the Ht,b Chaffer,
 
 VIII. JTiOW long shall folly from thy lips resound, 
 And grievous talk the ear impatient wound ? 
 Thy words, like whirlwinds, with impetuous force, 
 Whelm sense and reason, in their boist'rous course. 
 Presutnest thou, thy Maker's ways to scan ? 
 
 3 Deals God unjustly with his creature man ? 
 Wilt thou, blind mortal, mad with selfish zeal, 
 Arraign his goodness, and dispute his will ? 
 
 In angry eloquence foam out thy breath, 
 
 To curse thy life, and challenge instant death ? 
 
 4 If thy dear children, as thyself belov'd, 
 His holy hand hath for their sins, remov'd ; 
 (Severe thy sorrows, mends and foes concede, 
 The eye will trickle, and the heart must bleed.) 
 
 5 Yet, would'st thou now, mid scenes of death and grief, 
 Call on thy God, and humbly seek relief; 
 
 6 If pure thy heart, if upright were thy ways, 
 
 Soon would He change thy mourning voice to praise ; 
 In his salvation quickly should'st thou find, 
 Auctions, mercies ; and thy God, most kind. 
 
 (3) Dent, xxxii. 4. 
 
 (4) Chap, i, 18. (6) Isaiah i. 16.
 
 $6 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 He'd hear thy pray'rs, thy penitence approve, 
 Thy house with blessings crown, thy life with love. 
 
 7 At first, tho' poor, thou swiftly should'st increase, 
 To wealth unbounded as the flowing seas. 
 
 31 While mirth and music, banish cares and strife, 
 Thy days roll smoothly down the stream of life ; 
 
 22 Subdu'd thy foes, to slfame and silence hush'd, 
 Their malice broken, and their houses crush'd. 
 
 8 To solve thy doubts, if doubts at all thou hast, 
 Turn back thine eyes to days and years long past ; 
 
 9 (Our lives so frail, so short our term below, 
 Born yesterday, we scarce begin to know,) 
 Ask now thy fathers, ope th' historic page, 
 And draw thy wisdom from the former age. 
 
 10 Consulted, they will teach our untaught youth, 
 The path of wisdom, with the voice of truth. 
 
 1 1 Can rushes flourish in the burning sand ? 
 Or flags luxuriant rise in parched land ? 
 
 12 Check'd in mid growth, and with no sickle nigh, 
 ConsumM with drought, they wither, droop and die. 
 
 13 So fails the hypocrite, as sure and soon, 
 Fade his fair morning honors, ere 'tis noon. 
 The harden'd sons of wickedness and lies, 
 Their God 'forsaking, perish in surprise. 
 
 (Verse 21.) Till befll tby month uith laughter, &c. 
 
 This verse has an immediate connection with the 7th verse, 
 and what comes between is a long parenthesis. For the sake of 
 perspicuity, the transposition is made in the paraphrase, and the 
 parenthesis taken -in last. 
 
 (7) Hag i 6,7. (21) Isaiah Ixv. 13. 
 
 (8) Deut. iv. 32. Rom. xv. 4. 
 
 (9) Prov. xxx. 1, 2. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 
 
 (10; Heb. xi. 4. (IS) Tit. i. 16.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 37 
 
 16 111 fated plant, tho' thrifty, green 'and fair, 
 A garden lilock with imposing air, 
 
 17 It spreads its branches ; but alas ! the root, 
 By stones and harden'd earth, forbid to shoot, 
 Inhales no moisture, growth and life are o'er, 
 The famish'd plant now dies, to live no more. 
 
 1 8 The tufted soil, where once so green it grew, 
 Its place denies, nor owns it ever knew. 
 
 19 These joys attend the hypocrite's deceit, 
 This path he travels, and this end he'll meet. 
 
 1 5 His tow 'ring castle founded in the sand, 
 
 Totters with ev'ry breeze, too weak to stand ; 
 Idle his efforts, all his props in vain, 
 The driving tempest tumbles it amain. 
 
 14 Dissolv'd and broken, like the spider's snare, 
 His trust proves vanity, his hope, desp.'ii 1 . 
 
 ~:0 Know, therefore, Job, and note it in thy breast. 
 Receive instruction, that thy soul may rest ; 
 Almighty God, the righteous ne'er disowns, 
 Nor views the wicked, but with angry frowns, 
 
 JOB. 
 
 IX. I know it well -thy proverbs needless arc ; 
 That God is just, I own ; but tell me where 
 Thy perfect man, who ne'er from duty swerves, 
 No guilt incurs, no chastisement deserves. 
 The thought is pride. Deceitful is thy scheme- 
 Real, man's guilt his innocence, a dream. 
 
 (17) Matt. xiii. 20. (19) Psalm cxiii. 7. 
 
 (14) Isaiah lix. 5. Matt, vii. 27. (20) Isaiah Ixv. I'O, 
 D
 
 3 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 3 If brought to trial, weigh'd in justice' scale, 
 His hope must vanish, and his virtue fail ; 
 For ne'er a sin, can one excuse be fram'd, 
 
 But speechless be his tongue, his soul condemn'd. 
 
 4 Th' omniscient God, no cunning can deceive, 
 From wrath divine, no creature strength reprieve ; 
 His counsels wise, almighty is his hand, 
 
 In vain the harden'd sinner hopes to stand. 
 
 5 At his rebuke, the lofty mountains bow ; 
 Their massy columns pile the vales below : 
 
 6 Earth, from its centre, feels his sov'reign nod, 
 And quaking Nature owns th' all present God, 
 
 7 With awe profound. Forbidden by his pow'r, 
 The lamp of day would rise and set no more ; 
 The silver moon no longer gild the night, 
 
 Nor stars, with twinkling splendor, greet the sight. 
 
 8 His hand alone, high Heav'n's blue arch hath spread, 
 He scoop'd the Ocean's deep unfathom'd bed ; 
 Treads o'er its billows, in majestic form, 
 
 " Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm." 
 
 9 His word creative bade the planets rise, 
 And constellations deck the ev'ning skies ; 
 
 (Ver. 9.) Which makeih Arcturus, Orion and 1 Pleiades, and the 
 Chambers of the South. 
 
 Tliese are the names of certain Constellations, which were 
 supposed, from the different times of their appearing, to rule the 
 varying seasons of the year. In the Hebrew, they are named 
 Ash, Cecil, znddmah Arcturus, is a Constellation of stars, seven 
 in number, and forming the tail of the Great Bear. These were 
 
 (3) Psalmcxliii. 2. Rom. iii. 19. 1 John in. 20. 
 
 (4) 2 Chron. xxxvi. 13. Mai. iii. 13. 
 
 (5) Nah. i. 5. (8) Psalmxcni.3, 4, (9) Psalm cxcvii. 4.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 
 Arcturus and Orion, beaming fur, 
 
 The vernal Pleiades, the northern Bear, 
 With all che countless, shining orbs that roll, 
 Between the Arctic and th' Antarctic pole. 
 
 called by the Latins, Septem friaries or the seven Trions ; and by 
 the Greeks Apart*, or Afxrvpes, from the words XKO TK 
 up* ovpas, descriptive of their situation, in relation to 
 the Bear. This Constellation is believed to revolve nigh the 
 North Pole, and because other lesser stars are collected around it, 
 they are called, (Chap xxxviii 32.) his sons. From the rise of 
 Arcturus, which is in the beginning > f September, the ancient 
 Eastern nations began their year. It rises eleven days before the 
 Autumnal Equinox, and continues one half the year. 
 
 Orion is a Constellation nigh Taurus, and a beautiful collection 
 of very bright stars. Its Hebrew name, Cimab, signifies fool 
 and was so called from the inconstant, variable wea'her, and 
 storms which rake place at the time of its rising, and under its 
 rule, which it was supposed to excite. Orion rises in December, 
 when Winter begins, and is seen in all the nights, to the time 
 of Spring. Virgil styles it, nimbosus Orion, or stormy Orion. 
 
 Pleiades, or Hj.iJes, is situated before the knees of Taurus, and 
 its rising shewed the time of the first sailing ; thence, as SER- 
 vius says, deriving its name from the Greek. TT ran 
 5rA< .to f<ail. This collection of stars is also seven in 
 number, arises in the beginning of Spring, and continues till 
 Autumn. They were called by the Latins, Vergilicc, in allusion 
 to the Spring time. This Constellation is celebrated by the an 
 cient poets, and by Virgil is called, pluvias Hjadas, or the rainy 
 Pleiades, from the showers of Spring. 
 
 the Chambers of the Smtt>, i e. the Southern Stars, 
 
 which are in the opposite hemisphere and about the South Pole. 
 These were visible to the, Arabians, as they lived bur a liule to 
 the North of -the Equator They are called " Chambers of the 
 South," because they- are hidden from, and invisible to those, who 
 live under the opposite, or Northern Hemitj-aere. Among
 
 40 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 10 Vast are his works, unsearchable his ways, 
 Unnumber'd wonders spread Ms boundless praise, 
 
 1 1 Unfelt, He works ; unseen, He passes by ; 
 How far remote, and yet for ever nigh I 
 
 l^Freely He gives, unhinder'd takes away, 
 His will supreme, and uncontrol'd his sway ; 
 
 13 Pow'rful his word, if He his wrath retain, 
 All refuge fails, the mighty help in vain ; 
 Crush'd by his hand, they fall, his frown beneath, 
 Their strength is weakness, and their end is death. 
 
 14 Shall I then dare, a feeble, guilty worm, 
 His will dispute, his awful wrath disarm I 
 By ccgent arguments, his goodness scan, 
 And try his justice at the bar of man ? 
 
 15 If free from guilt, my goodness I'd disown, 
 And falling prostrate, supplicate his throne. , 
 
 16 Should He then hear, and answer me, indeed, 
 The cor.ilescension would ail thought; exceed : 
 
 these Stars, is the Canicula, or Cants Syrius, or Dog Star ; which 
 rises in the beginning of Summer, and forms the fourth and last 
 division of the year. By the Stars enumerated in this verse, 
 Job comprehends the whole circle of the Heavens, and all the 
 seasons of the revolving year. Arcturus governs the season of 
 Autumn Orion, of Winter Pleiades, of Spring and the South 
 ern Stars, of Summer. These four sets of stars, in their order, 
 signify the four opposite quarters of the world, North, South, 
 East and West, or the whole ambit of the visible Heavens. 
 
 (Verse 16 ) If I had called an I be had answered me, &c. 
 
 In this and the foregoing verse, Job evidently disclaims his ov/n 
 
 (10) Rom. xi. 33. (11) Psalm cxxxix. 2. 
 
 (12) Rom. ix 20. (13) Isaiah xxx. 7. 
 
 (14) IPeteriii. 15. (15) Rom. iii. 19, 
 
 , 10) Phil. -Vi. 9..
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 41 
 
 For I'm a guilty, helpless wretch, undone, 
 And God's free grace is only through his Son. 
 
 17 In vain my daily groan, my nightly tear ; 
 My graceless pray'r offends his holy ear ; 
 While his fierce wrath, resistless as a storm, 
 Is pour'd, incessant, on a feeble worm. 
 Relentless wrath, unmixt, and without bounds, 
 With countless strokes, my soul and body wounds 
 
 18 So deep in anguish drown'd, I gasp for breath, 
 And taste, in life, the bitterness of death. 
 
 1 9 Hopeless my cause my strength too weak to bear ; 
 And should I ask for trial when or where ? 
 'Gainst sov'reign pow'r, who can with right con 
 tend ? 
 
 Before Omniscence, who, my cause befriend ? 
 
 20 Myself to justify, is to condemn ; 
 
 To plead perfection, would but blaze my shame 
 The'plea of guilt alone, can stand the test ; 
 This justice owns and fully, all the rest. 
 2 \ Were I, as angels, holy, free from sin, 
 I'm still a creature, and of birth so mean, 
 My life so worthless, of so small account, 
 I shrink to nothing in the great amount. 
 
 righteousness and all dependence on personal merit. His heavfe 
 appears to have been conformed to the gospel plan of salvation, 
 by free and sovereign grace, and to hr.vc felt the necessity of a 
 vicarious satisfaction. And hence we mr.y infer, that the hea>^ 
 of the good, man stands ready to embrace the gospel true reli 
 gion is essentially the same in all ages, and the godly have ever 
 the same views of moral truth, essentially. 
 
 (17) Matt. xx. 15. (18) Lam. iii. 1 5. 
 
 (19) 1 Cor. i. 25. (20) Rom. iii. 19. (21) Gen. xix. KV
 
 42 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 22 This, once confess'cl, and this confess we must, 
 One fate betides the wicked and the just, 
 
 Nor love, nor hate, in Providence is known, 
 But good and ill to both alike are shown ; 
 Life's mingled cup with steady hand goes round, 
 From pain and woe exempt, no class is found ; 
 If once the angel Death, his sword unsheathe, 
 And slaughter'd thousands fall, his hand beneath ; 
 In the same grave, are saints and sinners thrown, 
 Like thorns and lilies, by one stroke cut down ; 
 
 23 Nor grace, nor goodness moves the tyrant's- ear, 
 In blood of innocence, he bathes his spear, 
 The richest trophies deck his awful car, 
 There's no discharge from this devouring war. 
 
 (Verse 22.) This is one thing, therefore I said it, &.C. 
 
 As this, and the following verse, very briefly contain the great 
 point in dispute between Job and his friends, I have taken the 
 more liberty to expatiate upon it, and spread it out at large, in 
 the paraphrase ; carefully keeping the grand object in view. 
 Bildad had been just setting forth, in glowing colors, the certain 
 blessings of obedience in the outward smiles of Providence ; 
 and this was the united sentiment of the three, through the 
 whole debate. Job here repels the idea as incorrect ; and 
 insists that the merit of virtue, is not similar to the demerit 
 of vice, that neither is the one rewarded, nor the other pun 
 ished here that the goodness of the one does not ensure pros 
 perity, nor the wickedness of the other, adversity but, all 
 .liings come alike to all. God i the sovereign disposer of events, 
 and deals out, in Providence,' his favors and his frowns, as best 
 adapted to the character and circumstances of sinful creatures- 
 in a state of discipline and trial. 
 
 (22) Eccl. ix. 1, 2. Isaiah Ivii 1. Ezekiel xxi. 3. 
 
 (23) Psalm xxxvii. 1.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 43 
 
 24 Here then I holdthis argument enforce 
 On this defence, I ground my whole discourse : 
 The high and fixt decrees of Heav'n ordain, 
 That vice shall triumph, virtue, here, complain, 
 This rolling globe, with all its copious stores 
 Of splendid wealth, of pleasures, and of povv'rs, 
 Is to the wicked giv'n their cup o'erflows, 
 Wile hard oppression fills the world with woes. 
 Rulers are tyrants, judges prove unjust, 
 Condemn the righteous and abuse their trust ; 
 By fraud, or force, each strives to lead the van, 
 And the earth groans beneath the foot of man. 
 
 But short the scene, soon pass these clouds away, 
 Soon will the Judge Supreme his grace display 
 The righteous God recall his children home, 
 And send the wicked to their endless doom. 
 
 If this be dreaming, let me never wake, 
 For, hence, the comfort all, the good partake. 
 Remove but this, you fatally destroy 
 The hope of virtue, and the good man's joy 
 
 (Verse 24) if not, where, ami who is he? 
 
 Here, Job proceeds a step further, in his argument, to shew, 
 that not only, is the character of creatures undesignated by Provi 
 dence in the present state, but, if wholly disconnected from a 
 state of retribution, would give but imperfect evidence of the 
 character of God. If the present mixed and confused state cf 
 things, in which vice triumphs, and virtue bleeds, were, abstract 
 ly and without any faith of a future state of rewards and punish 
 ments, the only medium, through which the character of God 
 was to be seen and known ; we might well say of God, as Job 
 did, vihere and -who is be ? and with respect to ourselves, adopt 
 the language of Paul upon the same subject, " Let us eat and 
 drink, for to-morrow we die." 
 
 (24) Psalm Ixxiii. 7.
 
 44 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 The light of faith extinct, no God appears, 
 Life, Virtue, Happiness, are lost in tears. 
 
 25 Vain, all the charms the joys of sense can boast ; 
 My wretched days are fleeter than a post ; 
 
 26 Nor winds so swiftly drive the ship away, 
 Nor soaring eagle darts upon his prey. 
 Life is a vapor, and this world a toy, 
 
 A painted bubble, mocking every joy. 
 
 27 Should I assay my sufferings to beguile, 
 And garnish mis'ry with a feigned smile ? 
 'Tis not in man, to change his nature so, 
 To call pain pleasure, and exult in woe ; 
 So madly wise, and so absurdly great, 
 No ills to feel ; or feeling, to forget, 
 
 28 This wisdom folly is, contempt of Heav'n, 
 A lie to reason, sense, and conscience giv'n. 
 
 (Verse 27, 28.) If I say,, I -will forget my complaint, I ixill 
 leave off my heaviness, anil comfort myself ; I am afraid of all 
 tny sorrows, I knmu that tbou ivilt not bold me innocent 
 
 This is the feeling and the language of every good man un 
 der affliction. He will be " afraid of all his sorrows," lest he 
 should be diverted from right, to wrong objects for relief, and 
 embrace a selfish comfort. He will be careful and conscientious 
 ly concerned, that his grief be chastened with submission, and its 
 course directed into the channel of godly sorrow. Job seems to 
 tremble and recoil at a state of insensibility, under affliction; 
 which seeks to blunt the keen edge of calamity, and with unfeel 
 ing hardness, bear up under distress, by resisting the conviction of 
 sin, and grasping for creature comforts, in the room of spiritual 
 joys. This, however congenial to the natural temper of the hu 
 man heart, is as inconsistent with reason, as it is destructive of 
 true peace it is equally opposed to both our duty, and our ia- 
 
 (25) John xvi. 33. (26) ICor. vii.3l. 
 
 (27) Lam. in. 19. (28) Psalm cxix. 12,0.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 45 
 
 Vain ev'ry hope, on this foundation built ; 
 I feel my sorrows, and confess my guilt. 
 A harden'd heart attends the harden 'd sense, 
 Preserve me, gracious Heav'n, from such offence. 
 The child of sin, is pain I hear thy rod, 
 I own thy justice, and adore my God. 
 S9 My standing such, a guilty wretch confessed, 
 And with this humbling tho't, my soul impress'd ; 
 Why should I toil, t' evade the charge of sin, 
 
 30 With filthy hands, to wash my garments clean ? 
 An outward form cannot the test endure, 
 
 31 For ev'n my purest virtues are impure ; 
 A secret venom, lurking at my heart, 
 Spreads thro' the veins, and poisons ev'ry part ; 
 Mocks ev'ry effort t' efface the stain, 
 
 And all my cleansing arts prove worse than vain. 
 
 32 So great is God, so holy, and so high, 
 So mean, so guilty, and so worthless I, 
 
 terest. To affect an irmecence which belongs not to our character 
 a fortitude which belies every feeling of humanity ; to subs 
 stitute Wind chance, for an unerring Providence, and attempt to 
 hide the hand of Heaven, by the fogs of casualties and secondary 
 causes is, indeed, practical atheism it is virtually denying the 
 God that is above. It may well be styled heathen philosophy ; 
 for certainly, it is not the Christian ; but " opposition of science, 
 falsely so called." The humble Christian is very differently af 
 fected under sufferings, and with Job, will say, / know that thou 
 <iyilt not hold me innocent. He notices and acknowledges the hand 
 of Providence, in every thing. Under affliction, he accepts the 
 punishment of his iniquities loks to hff God, and to himself, 
 and is concerned about nothing, but his sin and his duty, 
 
 (29) 1 Peter ii. 20. (SO) Psalm xxvi. S, 
 
 (r,3) Numo. xxiii. 19.
 
 4-6 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 His wrath o'erwhelms, his presence strikes me dumb 
 Trembles my heart, and shrinks from wrath to come 
 To me, nor strength, nor righteousness is giv'n, 
 My cause to manage with the King of Heav'n ; 
 
 33 So great the distance, that in vain I ask, 
 Who will perform the Mediator's task ; 
 
 An umpire where, possess'd of grace and pow'r, 
 The breach to heal, and peace divine restore ? 
 
 34 Oh, if the Lord his anger would restrain, 
 His rod remove, and ease my soulffr'om pain ; 
 
 35 This mournful scene reversed, I'd raise my face, 
 With humble boldness, to the Throne of Grace. 
 In vain, alas ! I wish I pray I mourn 
 
 My tongue be silent, as my state forlorn. 
 
 incurable my grief 1 
 
 Nor speech avails, nor silence brings relief. 
 Worn out with pain, vexation and dismay, 
 My soul impatient, burns to quit its clay. 
 I'fl check my wai'dngs, then, no further mourn ; 
 But all my groans to supplications turn. 
 
 2 Teach me, O God, the errors of my way, 
 And wherefore, thus, thou dost thy wrath display. 
 In midst of judgment, call thy grace to mind, 
 And, Oh, condemn me not, in dust resign'd. 
 
 3 Art thou delighted with thy -creatures' pain ? 
 And viewest thou their comforts with disdain ? 
 
 (33) 1 John ii. 1. (34) Psalm xc. 11. 
 
 (Ch. x. ver. i.) 1 Kings xix. 4. 
 
 (2) Rom. viiL34, (3) Psalm cxxxviii. ?.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 47 
 
 Thine handy work dost thou, indeed, disown ; 
 Or fav'rest but the rebel to thy throne ? 
 
 4 Se'st thou like man, with superficial view ? 
 Or judgest thou as darken'd creatures do ? 
 
 5 Is fixt thy being, like the race of man, 
 And thy eternity, his short liv'd span ? 
 
 6 Lodge angry passions in thy holy breast, 
 
 That thou my sins dost search, and marr my rest ? 
 
 7 Impossible. Thou know'st my heart sincere, 
 Tho' sins unnnnlber'd on thy Book appear. 
 Thy counsels wise, almighty is thy hand, 
 
 From thee, no pow'r can save .thee none withstand. 
 
 8 Thy pow'r my body form'd, my being gave,' 
 And yet thy pow'r now sinks me to the grave. 
 
 3 Remember, O my God, I humbly pray, 
 Thou art the Potter, I the feeble clay ; 
 And is thy wond'rous workmanship in vain ? 
 Ah ! wilt thou bring me to the. dust again ? 
 
 10 By thee conceiv'd, thy skill in secret wrought, 
 My shapeless frame to form and figure brought ; 
 In darkness nourish'd with exquisite art, 
 
 Ere once these vitals heav'd, or beat this heart ; 
 
 1 1 With flesh and skin, as with a garment dress'd, 
 With bones was fenced, and with sinews brac'd ; 
 The work, at length complete, thoi\ broughtest forth 
 The ripen'd embryo, in a timely birth. 
 
 12 Thy visitation hath my life preserv'd, 
 Thy bounteous Providence my portion carv'd ; 
 
 (4) 1 Sam. xvi. 7. (5) Acts XY. 18, and 2 Pet. iii.8- 
 
 (7) Psalm xxvi. 1, 2. (9) Rom. ix. 21. 
 
 (10) Acts xvii. 28. (11) 2 Cor. v. 4. 
 
 (12) Matt. vi. 25. Psalm xxii. 10.
 
 48 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 All are thy gifts to thee, full well I know, 
 My comforts here, and future bliss I owe. 
 13 Thy secret counsel orders all my ways, 
 
 Thy hand performs whate'er thy will decrees. 
 14,15 If I be wicked, mis'ry is my lot, 
 
 Or were I righteous, I would plead it not ; 
 Or aint or sinner, still my case the same, 
 I . r my guilt my virtue all disclaim. 
 
 16 ifb*-"' Yd in confusion, to my God I cry, 
 
 " And not on works, but sov*reign grace rely." 
 Behold my sorrows, O thou God of Love, 
 Look down in mercy, and my pains remove. 
 Fierce as the lion's rage, thy frowns assail, 
 Mild as the morning beam thy smiles regale. 
 
 17 With thick'ning plagues, thou mak'st me feel thy 
 
 curse, 
 
 And all my changes are from ill, to worse. 
 My joys are fled, each comfort leaves a scar, 
 I sigh for peace, but all around is war. 
 
 18 Mysterious Providence ! dread Sov'reign Pow'r 1 
 Why was I born to see this bitter hour ? 
 
 For this a father's joy, a mother's care, 
 
 My lot to seal, in mis'ry and despair ? 
 
 Oh, had these eyes been clos'd in peaceful death, 
 
 Ere I had seen the light, or gasp'd for breath ; 
 
 19 Hud I been hurried to the grave, unseen, 
 Unknown and happy to have never been ! 
 
 20 Few are my days, my life at thy command, 
 
 Cease then to wound me, stay thy chast'ning hand ; 
 
 (14) Psalm cxxxix. 1. (15) Isaiah iii. 15. Exod iii. T 
 
 (16) Isaiah xxvii. 8. xlii. 10. (17) Ruth i. 21.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 49 
 
 A moment's comfort give in mercy grant, 
 
 My last request, this only good I want ; 
 5 1 Before I bid adieu to life and pain, 
 
 And dying nature sleeps in dust again ; 
 
 Ere I shall reach that land, " from whose dread 
 bourne," 
 
 My naked spirit shall no more return ; 
 22 The land of silence, cover'd o'er with slain, 
 
 Where death and darkness in confusion reign. 
 
 ZOPHAR. 
 
 XL Shall words, in torrents, prove superior sense f 
 Hath wind the force of reason to convince ? 
 Conceited hypocrite I thy loud complaint, 
 As such, becomes thee ; but disproves the saint. 
 
 3 Must we thy lies, in quaking silence, hear, 
 Lost as thcu art to sense cf shame and feur ? 
 No tongue reprove thee, none attempt to scan 
 Thy impious mock'ry, both of God and man ? 
 
 4 With mingled groans and vaunts, thy frothy tongue 
 Proclaims thy goodness, and thy Maker's wrong. 
 
 (Verse 4.) For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and 1 am 
 
 clean in thine eyes. 
 
 Zop\iar, in this quotation, probably refers to Job's words in 
 chap, vi 10. and x. 7. but he was uncandid in the quotation, as 
 he substituted his own construction, which was a mistaken one, 
 for Job's real meaning Job, in saying, " I am not wicked," in 
 a soleam appeal to God, did not, aad could not mean, that he 
 was sinless ; for he acknowledges to God, (chap. vii. 20.) I have 
 sinned ; but, that he was sincere and upright, and no hypocrite. ' 
 This was the charge they had brought against him, and the guilt, 
 (22) Exod.. x. 22. Amos iv. 13. 
 (Chap. x;. 2,) Acts xvii. 13. 
 
 " E
 
 60 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 My faith is right," thou say'st," I'm free from sin, 
 Pure is my heart, and all my ways are clean." 
 
 5 But oh ! that Heav'n would ope thy darken'd eyes, 
 \nd God Himself, instruct thee to be wise ; 
 
 6 Thy half-learn'd lesson teach thee well to know, 
 How great is God, thyself how vile and low ; 
 Then, would conviction seize thy stubborn heart, 
 That God corrects thee less than thy desert. 
 
 7 Put forth thy wisdom now, exert thy pow'r, 
 And if thou canst, th' Eternal Mind explore. 
 Search deep,soar high, send far thy thoughts abroad, 
 Then tell precisely, who, or what is God- 
 
 His pow'r, his being, birth and end defin'd, 
 Exhaust the subject, leave no shred behind. 
 8,9 Aspiring worm ! thy wisdom toils in vain, 
 As soon, the pitcher might the sea contain. 
 >Tis hii-h as Heav'n above the ground we tread, 
 Deeper than hell's profound abyss is laid ; 
 So firbevondthy reach, what canst thou know . 
 Nor soai4 so high thy thought, nor sinks so low ; 
 
 tian, v;ho is m - whole heart and hence by 
 
 > to r a 
 
 . " t Job S8! ' to 
 
 < Miserable comforters are ye all. 
 
 (6) Lam. iii. 22, 39. 
 
 (7) 1 Cor. ii- 9. 
 (8)Eph. iv. 10.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 51 
 
 Infinite lengths, these mysteries transcend 
 ' The narrow bounds where time and nature end. 
 
 10 Enthron'd in light, array 'cl in glory's beam, 
 Jehovah reigns, eternal and supreme ; 
 
 His providence each changing scene effects, 
 No power his hand controls, his will directs ; 
 Nor force can loose, whene'er by him confin'd, 
 And whom He frees, nor strength, nor art can bind. 
 Both life and death wait on his sov'reign nod, 
 And Heav'n and Earth proclaim th' Almighty God, 
 
 1 1 His knowledge too, unbounded as his pow ? r, 
 No depth can fathom, and no mind explore. 
 Vain man He knows, no cov'ring hides his view, 
 Shall not his anger, then, the wretch pursue ? 
 
 1 2 The child of man, tho' born a senseless brute, 
 As blind his heart, of grace as destitute ; 
 With his own wisdom swells, and lifts his eyes, 
 In proud defiance of th' all ruling skies. 
 
 1 3 But now, thy pride forego, thy heart prepare, 
 With deep repentance to address His ear ; 
 
 14 Thy life amend, to Heav'n perform thy vows, 
 From its corruptions, cleanse thy sinful house ; 
 
 (Verse 12.) Vain man -would be vihc, &c. 
 
 The word like* in this verse, is added, by the translators; but 
 without any propriety, or good e fleet ; the sense would be mere 
 plain, and the comparison more descriptive and striking without it. 
 It is a bold and animated figure, and exhibits human nature, in 
 point of moral goodness, in the most degraded view. It repre 
 sents man as utterly destitute of holiness, as the beasts that perish 
 " born a wild Ass's colt." 
 (10) Rom. ix. 19. 
 (12) Rom. i. 29. 2 Chron, xii. 14. 
 (14) 1 Tim. ii. 8.
 
 ! TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 1 5 Then, humbly bold, stretch forth thy suppliant hands, 
 And pour the thanks his wondrous grace demandc. 
 If, in the robe of innocence array 'd, 
 
 Thy heart upright, thy peace with God be made ; 
 
 16 His smiling face shall change thy night to day, 
 Thy suff 'rings all, like streams shall glide away ; 
 Gene and forgotten, never to return, 
 
 Thy fears shall end, thy soul no longer mourn. 
 
 17 Thy age shall shine, in fairest youthful bloo'm, 
 And morning beams thy ev'ning life relume ; 
 
 18 Protecting Heaven, thy safety shall insure, 
 Thy life preserve, thy comforts all secure ; 
 Sweet peace, bright joy, and heav'nly hope attend 
 Decaying nature, till thy life shall end ; 
 
 19 Thy days roll smoothly on. thy labors blest, ~\ 
 No fears disturb, no anxious cares infest, i- 
 Securely shalt thou rise, securely rest. J 
 Thy foes appeas'd, asham'd to seek thy hurt, 
 
 In crowds shall seek thee, and thy friendship court. 
 
 20 But impious wretches 1,0 such blessings share, 
 The wrath of Heav'n pursues them to despair. 
 Short is their peace, their endless ruin nigh, 
 Their strength too weak, to suffer or to fly ; 
 Escape they cannot .blasted each desire, 
 They sink in darkness, and their hopes expire. 
 
 (15) 1 John Hi. 21. ' (16) Isaiah Ixv. 16. 
 
 (17) Philip, ii. 15. (18) Lev. xxvi- 5. Psalm iv. 8. 
 
 (19) Prov. iii. 24. 
 
 vO"; I, 1 ',' xxvi. !;"> BciU, :c.->viii. 17. Father v. 13.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 XII. The Men ye doubtless are ; alone possess 
 
 The worth and knowledge of the human race. 
 
 " 
 Ala:' ! that you must die, such learning end, 
 
 And wisdom, to the grave, v/ith you descend. 
 
 But check your froth a moment's pause to pride ; 
 Nor look with scorn, on all the world beside ; 
 
 3 Am I your pupil ? think you me to teach ? 
 
 To list'ning babes, your prattling wisdom preach ; 
 These things full well I know- who knows them 
 
 not ? 
 Unless devoid of reason and of thought. 
 
 4 Deep sunk in ruin, wretched and forlorn, 
 I ask'd your pity, and I meet your scorn ; 
 
 My neighbors mock me, former friends despise, 
 And God alone now hearkens to my cries. 
 The good man's name to infamy is hurl'd - 
 (Such is the tender mercy of the world.) 
 At him t'<ey point the finger of disdain, 
 Hiss at his virtues, and insult his pain. 
 
 5 When once he sinks in want, or fell disease, 
 He sinks neglected by the sons of ease ; 
 
 (Verse 5.) He that is ready to slip ti'rt-6 his feet, is as a lamp 
 despised in the thought of him tbat is at ease, 
 
 There is some obscurity in this verse, arising from the difficulty 
 of immediately apprehending the aptness of the similitude, and 
 the allusion of the figure a lamp despised. Perhaps, this was 
 
 (Chap. xii. 1.) Pi>ov. xxviii. 11. 1 Cor iy. 8. 
 
 (3) 2Cor.xi. 5. (4) ISam. i. 7. Psalm iv. 0. 
 
 (5) Jer. xx. 10. 
 
 E 2
 
 54 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Like the dim taper, blown and cast away> 
 Despis'd and useless, in the light of day. 
 
 C To other lords, the goods of time are giv'n ; 
 The wicked prosper such the will of Heav'n. 
 With heaps of gold, is fill'cl the miser's hoard, 
 While peace and plenty crown the robber's board ; 
 Who mock at Heav'n, and grind the starving poor. 
 Go out in safety, and return secure ; 
 On them, the Lord, unmeasm'd wealth bestows, 
 With good their hands are fill'd, their cup o'erflows. 
 
 7 Nor is his Providence to man confin'd ; 
 Extends his goodness to all creature-kind. 
 Ask now the beasts, that range the wilds for prey, 
 Or fowls of Heav'n, and songsters on the spray ; 
 
 a proverbial saying founded on some usaje, or custom of the an 
 cients, now unknown ; and thence, its obscurity. Different ex 
 planations are given of it by Commentators ; but, doubtless, the 
 most simple and obvious interpretation, will come nearest the 
 truth. MERCERUS paraphrases it thus " I am as a torch des 
 pised, or as a blazing firebrand, from which every one flees, thro' 
 fear of being burned ; so you abhor and despise me in my afflic 
 tion." SEULTETUS, thus " The just man in a state of misfor 
 tune and wretchedness, is viewed as a half-burnt firebrand upon 
 the hearth, the smoke and odor of which is so disgusting to the 
 senses, as to cause every one to flee from it." But these construc 
 tions seem unnatural and far-fetched that of PISCATOR is pre 
 ferable, viz. " The afflicted and unfortunate are, usually, despised 
 by the prosperous and happy, such as the friends of Job, to 
 whom no one gives any trouble. You, who are the sons of 
 smiling prosperity, abhor and despise me in affliction. As when 
 at break of day, and the returning light cf the sun, we put out 
 the midnight lamp, and it is cast aside, as useless so the pious 
 man, in misfortune, is despised as worthless, by the sens of ease. 
 
 (6) Jer.xii. 1. Hab. i. 3,4. 
 
 (7) Prov. vi. 6, 7- Jer. via. 7. Rom. i. 20.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 55 
 
 8 Call on the fishes, question well the earth, 
 
 All will instruct thee each proclaims his birth ; 
 With voice united, hear them all declare, 
 k< His hand hath form'd us, we his creatures are, 
 Ilis bounty feeds us." * All, his art confess, 
 Taught birds instinctive, how to build their nests ; 
 Their varied plumage, purple, gold and blue, 
 His skill devis'd and his own pencil drew. 
 He taught the bee, to form her comb so neat, 
 And store her waxen cells with liquid sweet ; 
 Beasts, birds and fishes, from his vestry clothes ; 
 There, softest ermine, pride of princes, grows, 
 Here, plumes adorn ; then next, the silver scales, 
 While herbs and fiow'rs o'erspread the hills and 
 vales. 
 
 9 Who hears not Nature's voice ? say, who so blind, 
 As not in these to see th' Eternal mind, 
 
 10 The universal Lord, who all things gave, 
 
 In whom, all live, and move, and being have ? . 
 
 1 1 Shall we affect to doubt, or disbelieve 
 
 Those inaths, which from our senses we receive ?- 
 
 12 Shall not experience rule, with potent wand, 
 And grey-hair'd wisdom claim to understand ? 
 From aged lips, we hear the voice of truth, 
 To guide the steps of inexperienc'd youth ; 
 
 13 But what is man, the being of an hour ? 
 
 With God is wisdom, and with Him is pow'r. 
 
 * The reader will please to excuse the liberty of enlarging, here 
 taken by the paraphraser ; as it is but pursuing the spirit of Job's 
 address which was to shew the universal providence of God. 
 
 (9) Col. i, 17. Heb. i- 2. (10) Dan. v. 23. 
 
 (13) Jam. i. 5.
 
 56 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Ancient of days, omniscient and supreme. 
 His counsel stands, unchanging is his scheme ; 
 
 14 He overthrows the mighty works of men, 
 And no created arm can build again. 
 When He confines, in bonds of pain or woe, 
 His hand alone, enlargement can bestow. 
 
 15 Rivers and seas are diy'd at his command, 
 Or burst their channels and o'erflow the land. 
 
 1 6 Pow'rful his word, and all his ways are wise, 
 Both the deceiver, and deceiv'd are his ; 
 And if a sparrow, or an empire fall, 
 
 His eye surveys, his counsel governs all. 
 
 17 In error's path, He leads the wise astray, 
 Of counsel spoil'd, and to their foes a prey ; 
 
 The learned judge, tho' taught in wisdom's school, 
 In judgment stumbles, and becomes a fool. 
 IS From Him, the great, the glorious King of kings, 
 The po\v'r of princes, earthly sov'reigns springs ; 
 By him brought down, they're weaken'd arid de- 
 
 thron'd, 
 As captives vanquish'd, and in fetters bound. 
 
 (Verse 18.) He looscth the bond of kings i. e. God reduces 
 their power and dominion their wisdom, strength and majesty, 
 those bonds by which their people are held in subjection to them, 
 he relaxes and dissolves, and brings them into weakness and con- 
 tempt.r And glrdeth their loins v:ith a girdle. This is a counter 
 part to the former ; signifying that kings are wholly dependent 
 on God, for all their dominion, power and authority. " By me 
 kings reign." He gives them all their strength and greatness. 
 To gird up the loins, is a well known scripture metaphor, to de 
 note the assumption of strength and courage. 
 
 (14) Mai. i. 4. (18) Dan. 5i. 21.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 5f 
 
 19 Kings, princes, judges, rulers, nobles, all, 
 His hand exalts, and at his frown, they fall. 
 
 20 He saps the counsel of the trusty sage, 
 And blights the wisdom of experienc'd age ; 
 
 2 1 Pours foul disgrace upon the pride of kings 
 And mighty conq'rors down to slav'ry brings. 
 
 22 His piercing eye all worlds and things surveys, 
 Alike in midnight or the noon-day blaze : 
 Past, present, future, form one endless Now ; 
 In Heav'n He dwells, nor less on earth below ; 
 His word, to men, his secret counsel tells, 
 And the dark scenes of death and hell unveils. 
 
 23 His sov'reign pow'r the tide of empire rolls, 
 if And States and Nations orders and controls. 
 
 Now rosy health, and peace with olive wand, 
 And smiling plenty bless the happy land ; 
 The fields their fruits, the seas their treasures pour, 
 And men, and flocks, and herds o'erspread the 
 
 shore 
 
 Their wealth increases, population grows, 
 And blooms the desert, like the op'ning rose. 
 Now chang'd the scene lo ! sickness, famine, Avar, 
 O'er slaughter'd thousands, urge their dreadful 
 
 car ; 
 
 Their numbers minish'd, coop'd in narrow bounds. 
 And slav'ry's groan, the ear distracted wounds ; 
 By angry Heav'n overwhelm'd, they strive in vain, 
 Nor strength, nor courage, arts nor arms remain. 
 
 (19) Rev. xix. 18, 
 
 (20) 2 Sam. xvil 14. Acts xii. 22. 
 (22) ICor.ii.lO.
 
 58 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 24 Their panic-smitten chiefs, with sore dismay, 
 Fly from the scene, and shun the light of day ; 
 
 25 Through devious wilds, thro' shades of death, they 
 
 roam, 
 Reeling with fear, and wand'ring far from home. 
 
 XIII. All this I know ; endu'd with common sense, 
 To common knowledge, I have just pretence. 
 
 2 Le/ minds inferior, take inferior place, 
 
 Let dolts and wrongheads seek their own disgrace ; 
 O'er such extend your magisterial sway, 
 Who'll wait your teaching, and with fear obey : 
 My pupilage is past whate'er you know, 
 With me is common place 1 know it too. 
 
 3 To God, the wise, the just, I would apply ; 
 His throne address and raise my suppliant cry j 
 To Him now turn, in confident discourse, 
 And my warm suit with arguments enforce. 
 
 4 As weak, as pompous, is your proffer'd aid, 
 Your counsel lighter than the shadow's shade ; 
 Ah, wretched helpers, vain physicians all I 
 
 Your words are falsehood, and your med'cine, gall 
 
 5 Seal then, your lips, be silent and be wise, 
 In silence, not in speech, your wisdom lies. 
 
 6 Hear now my reas'ning, hear the words I preach, 
 The truth receive, and learn before you teach. 
 
 7 Is such your zeal for God ? say, honest men ; 
 With wicked arts, will ye his cause defend ? 
 
 (24) Rom. i. 21. (25) 2 Kings vi. 18. 
 
 (5) Prov. xvii. 28. (6) Jam. i. 19.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Will ye for God be partial court his grace, 
 And run to serve Him, in contention's race 
 
 8 Can this be pleasing in his holy sight ? 
 Will He your favors with his thanks requite 
 
 9 Would it or peace or happiness impart, 
 
 If God should search, and shew your inmost heart 
 Or will ye 'scape his view, secure in sin, 
 And mock your Maker, as your fellow men . 
 
 10 If party -interest your actions move, 
 
 Know ye, that God your conduct will reprove ; 
 However secret, hid in fair disguise, 
 Think not t' escape the notice of his eyes. _ 
 
 1 1 Shall not his greatness strike your minds wit! 
 His excellency to obedience draw ? 
 
 Shall feeble worms defy his angry rod ? 
 Shall dust and ashes tempt th' eternal C 
 
 12 Know, that your flesh must moulder in the tomb, 
 Fade all your honors in their fairest bloom ; 
 Vanish your hopes, as figures drawn in earth, 
 Your mem'ries perish, like th' untimely birth 
 
 1 3 Then muse in silence, lend a patient c 
 My words instructive, with attention hear ; 
 Cease your vain clamor, your revilings cease, 
 Whate'er distresses may affect my peace, 
 
 Be mine the risque ; vour cares for me forego ; 
 Search your own readings, and your errors k 
 
 1 4 If sound your doctrine, and your reas'mn; 
 That, on the wicked only, ills alight, 
 
 (8) Johnxvi.2. (9) Gal.vi.7. 
 
 (12) Prov.x. 7. (13) Prov. xxvm. 1. 
 
 (14) 1 Pet. iv. 19.
 
 40 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Why sinks my soul, by God's fierce wrath oppress'd. 
 While conscious virtue glows within my breast ? 
 Wherefore my flesh, from dint of pain, I gnaw, 
 And my short breath, in constant danger draw ? 
 To me unjust, and of my God untrue, 
 This thought abandon, and the truth pursue. 
 15 Here \\ill I hold, this hope will ne'er resign, 
 God is my Father, and his grace is mine ; 
 Though clouds and tempests darken all belov,-, 
 Though pain and anguish whelm my soul in woe ; 
 In this I'm fixt his goodness I will trust, 
 And bless his hand, which sinks me to the dust ; 
 The path of virtue steadily pursue, 
 Nor doubt his faithfulness to guide me through. 
 
 (Verse 15.) Though be slay me, yet -will I trust in him. 
 
 This was one of the noblest declarations ever Kttered by the 
 mouth c f man. Here the character of Job shines with a daz 
 zling splendor, like the sun bursting through the clouds. In 
 this he appears in a very distinguished view, a true child of 
 Abraham, who, against hope, believed in hope, and staggered 
 not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in 
 the faith, giving glory to God. Suffering virtue, rising superior 
 to affliction, with that strength of faith and trust in God, which 
 overcome every temptation, exhibits the human character in 
 the most dignified attitude, and is the most transcendent display 
 of the power of Divine Grace. What higher honor can a crea 
 ture possibly render to his Creator? Christian Rreader, let not 
 this bright example shine in vain. It was designed for imita 
 tion. Under the heaviest pressure of affiiction, and the davkest 
 hidings of Gcd's face, go and kindle up thy expiring graces, at 
 the torch of Job, and, with him, say from the heart, ' Though 
 he slay me, yet will I trust in him but I will maintain mire 
 own ways before him." 
 
 (15) Rom. via. 38.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 61 
 
 16 Rich is his grace, and stands his cov'nant sure, 
 From age to age, his mercy shall endure. 
 From sin and pain and ev'ry ill set free, 
 
 My soul enlarg'd, his smiling face shall see ; 
 Through fields of light, in endless pleasures rove. 
 And chant the wonders of REDEEMING LOVE. 
 There, upright souls alone, shall taste his grace, 
 And tune their harps to songs of endless praise ; 
 While painted hypocrites, his frowns expel, 
 To reap their wages, in the pains of hell. 
 
 1 7 Now hear my voice, with diligence give heed, 
 My cause is stated truth alone shall plead ; 
 
 18 If clearly seen, if rightly understood, 
 I shall be justify 'd, by all the good. 
 
 19 Where my opponent now ? who'll counterplead ? 
 Who shew compassion on a friend in need ? 
 
 ' For such my burden, that I groan, and sigh, 
 And were I dumb, must quickly sink and die. 
 
 20 Two special favors, O my God, but grant, 
 And these receiv'd, shall well supply my want ; 
 Nor would I shun thee, as a judge severe, 
 
 But fly to seek thee, as a parent dear. " 
 "21 Withdraw thy hand, thy chustisemtnt recall, 
 
 jYor lei thy majesty my soul aJi/iaL 
 22 Then would I raise my head, and humbly bold, 
 
 With God my Maker, mutual conf 'rence hold ; 
 
 Thy gracious call, obedient let me hear, 
 
 And grant thy answer to my fervent pray'r. 
 
 (16) Matt. xxv. 51. (18) Rom. viii, 2?. 
 
 (19) Rom. viii. 33. Jer. xx. 9, 
 (21) Psalm xxxii. 4. 
 
 F
 
 62 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 2 3 Cause me my guilt to know before my face, 
 My sins unnumber'd, in their order place. 
 
 24 Why hidest thou thy countenance from me ? 
 With angry scorn my misery dost see ? 
 
 With arms and mighty pow'r, why dost o'erthrow 
 A trembling creature, as thy desp'rate foe ? 
 
 25 Wilt thou a leaf pursue ? O Judge Supreme ! 
 Or the dry stubble, with devouring flame ? 
 
 26 With awful pains, thy frowns my sins requite, 
 And bitter things, in judgment 'gainst me write ; 
 Upon my aching heart, impress thy truth, 
 
 And rack my conscience with the sins of youth. 
 
 27 Immur'tl in darkness, fasten'd to the ground, 
 My feet with lameness, as in fetters bound ; 
 Wi:h watchful eye thou strictly guard'st my way, 
 And mark'st my footsteps, lest thy pris'ner stray. 
 
 28 Here, as a mothy garment, I consume, 
 Or putrid carcase in the loathsome tomb. 
 
 XIV. Such is our state IIOAV short the life of Man ! 
 
 Few are his days, and trouble fills his span. 
 2 Like the fair flow'r of op'ning Spring, he shoots, 
 Spreads his green branches, and extends his roots,- 
 But short his date ; how soon his beauty's lost, 
 Pluck'd is the flow'r, and trampled in the dust. 
 As empty shadows flit across the plain, 
 This moment view'd, and never view'd again ; 
 Man disappears, forgotten and unseen, 
 Mingled with dust as though he ne'er had been. 
 
 (23) Psalm xix. 12. (34) Isaiah viii. 17. 
 
 (2.5) Matt xii. 20. (28) Psalm cii. 26. 
 
 (Chap yii 1.) Psalm xc. 5. 
 (2) liaiuli xl. 6.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. ,63 
 
 3. And dost them, Lord of Heaven, supreme and just, 
 Stoop to behold this creature of the dust ? 
 Is such my worth, in thy impartial sight, 
 That thou should'st weigh me in the scale of right ? 
 Affix such honor to so vile a tiling, 
 And all my weakness into judgment bring ? 
 
 4 Sprung from the man, whose guilty fall convey* 
 The stream of moral poison to his race ; 
 Deriv'd from such a fountain, all unclean, 
 
 No child of Adam can be free from sin.. 
 
 5 Since then, his days are rmmber'd, and alas 1 
 His bounds are fixed, which he cannot pass ; 
 Since here, alone, he tastes the sweets of hope r 
 And some small good is mingled in his cup ; 
 
 6 Embitter not, with anguish, pain and strife, 
 The scanty comforts of his mortal life ; 
 His peace disturb not, turn thy wrath away, 
 Till as an hireling, he hath clos'd bis day. 
 Death ends the scene Ms work and life expire, 
 
 And joy and hope no more his bosom ore 
 
 Departed hence ; in vain survivors mourn 
 What once he was, who never will return. 
 
 7, 8 The senseless trees, high waving o'er the coasj? 
 Pre-em'nence claim, and higher priv'Iege boast ; 
 The sturdy oak, o'erthrown by stormy winds, 
 Tho' turn'd to dust, a resurrection finds. 
 9 The moisten'd earth its sap and life supplies, 
 And from its ashes towr'ing sprouts arise. 
 
 (3) Psalm xxxiv. 15. and c:;liv. 3. 
 
 (4l Psalm li. 5. Rom. iii. 13. 
 
 (5) Heb ix. 27. (6) Isaiah Ivii. 2. 
 
 i'7) Eccl. i. 4, 5. (8) Isaiah xxvi. 19.
 
 *4 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 10 But man falls desp'rate when he yields the ghost, 
 He wastes in death, and hope with life is lost. 
 
 1 1 As waters, wasting from the ocean's bed, 
 
 , Or refluent floods, which have the land overspread ; 
 
 1.2 So mortal men, when this vain life is o'er, 
 Sink to the earth, and shall arise no more, 
 Nor vrake from death, nor from the grave ascend, 
 Till th' heav'ns dissolve, and time and nature end. 
 
 13 ALMIGHTY MAKER, I implore thy grace 
 Oh, grant me, in the grave, a hiding place, 
 A safe asylum, till thy wrath be past, 
 
 And life's dark whirlwind's bleak and angry blast ; 
 Then, in thy time, thy mercy call to mind, 
 And let thy worm a resurrection find. 
 
 14 Shall Spring illume the grave shall mould'ring 
 
 clay 
 Emerge from darkness, to the light of day ? 
 
 (Verse 14.) All tie days of my appointed time, &c. 
 It is thought by some, that Job, in this, had a primary and 
 immediate reference to the resurrection ; but I doubt it. It is true, 
 and very evident from the connection, that the resurrection of 
 he body, ai:d a glorious- immortality beyond the grave, were the 
 source cf comfort and support to him, under his heavy affliction, 
 and in the nearand realizingview of death; and hence he strength 
 ens himself, to wait with patience for the time of his departure, 
 which he earnestly desired and longed for : and this was a 
 very proper motive to check all impatient desires of death, in 
 dutiful submission to the will of Gcd. I believe that the phrase, 
 appointed thne, is here used in the same sense, that it is, in the 
 beginning of the seventh chapter. 
 
 (10) Eccl. i. 11. (12) 2 Vet. Hi. 10. 
 
 (13) Psalm xci. 1,
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 65 
 
 Shall man from death revive his life renew ? 
 Transporting thought ! my soul believe it true. 
 O blessed hope ! with patience will I wait, 
 Thro* this vain life, and thro' the sep'rate state ; 
 The time is fixt my change shall shortly come, 
 Soon, shall my dust sleep sweetly in the tomb, 
 
 15 Till the bright morn, the glorious hour arrive, 
 When God, my gracious Judge, shall bid me live ; 
 Then, will I hear thy call from Heav'n above, 
 Leap into life, and shout redeeming love. 
 
 16 This hope alone, the ills of life sustains, 
 Dispels my darkness, and relieves my paine. 
 My steps thou numb'rest, thro' this vale of tears, 
 This state of trial, fill'd with doubts and fears. 
 
 17 Here, all my actions pass before thine eyes, 
 My sins all sealed to the grand assize. 
 
 18 Thysov'reign will controls the art of man, 
 Directs his changes, and cuts short his span. 
 Feeble the pow'r which his fond pride can boast, 
 His beauty fades, and all his strength is lost. 
 
 As the high mountain falling, comes to nought, 
 As tumbling rocks are into ruin brought, 
 9,20 As rapid torrents wear the solid stone, 
 
 And sweep whatever in the fields is sown ; 
 Thy conq'ring hand the hope of man destroys, 
 Confounds his schemes, and withers all his joys, 
 
 (15) John v. 28. 1 Thess. iv. 16. 
 
 (18) Heb. viii. 13. 
 
 (19) Jer. xvii. 6. Luke xii. 19. 
 
 (20) Exod. xv. 3. 
 
 F 2"
 
 C6 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 22 Tortur'd with pain, his soul in anguish mourns ; 
 
 Chang'd is his face, his flesh to dust returns ; 
 3 1 He bids adieu to time and all its cares, 
 
 Forgets his friends, his children, and his heirs ; 
 
 Alike to him, unknowing as unknown, 
 
 Should they possess a cottage, or a throne. 
 
 (21) Eccl. ii. 19.
 
 PART III. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 ELIPH AZ reproves Job for his impiety in justifying himself 
 exemplifies the disquietudes and misery of wicked men. Job, 
 in reply, reproves his frienus for their cruelty describes the 
 wretchedness of his state, and maintains his own uprightness. 
 He appeals from men to God. The unmerciful dealings of 
 men towards the righteous may astonish, but cannot discou 
 rage them. BUdad taxes Job with impatience and pretump- 
 tion, and sets forth the calamities of the wicked. Job repeats 
 his complaint of their cruelty- shews there is misery enough 
 in him, to gratify it craves pity, and professes his faith in the 
 resurrection Zophar shews the state and portion of the wickr 
 ed. Job replies, that even in the judgment of men he has 
 reason to be grieved Sometimes the wicked so prosper as to 
 despise God sometimes, their destruction is manifest The 
 happy and the unhappy are alike in death. The judgment o 
 the wicked is in another world. 
 
 Tbitfart exttndt to tbt end of tit 21*f Cbafter.
 
 ELIPHAZ. 
 
 XV. OTRANGE ! that a man so learned and so great,- 
 2, 3 Should stoop to folly, and in nonsense prate ; 
 Absurdly wise, unprofitably good, 
 Sup sounds for doctrine, and the wind for food ! 
 
 4 The myst'ry ends ; nor more we feel surprise, 
 From such a cause, such reas'nings should arise ; 
 Or that a man, who shuns the source of light, 
 Should walk in darkness, talk in reason's spite. 
 The fear of Ileav'n, thy swelling pride disdains, 
 And from thy God the humble pray'r restrains ; 
 
 3 Cameleon-Hke, and void of grace at heart, 
 The changing, cringing hypocrite, thou art. 
 
 6 Tho' skill 'd in falsehood, thy deceitful tongue 
 
 Thine art detects, and manifests thy wrong 
 
 Thy lips, not mine, reprove thee self arraign'd, 
 And self-adjudg'd, thou arguest to no end. 
 
 f Is such thine age, so ancient is thy fame, 
 
 Of modern sages, thcu should'st def 'rence claim ? 
 
 (2) Neh. vl. 11. (3) Matt. xii. 36, 37. 
 
 ( 1 Pet. in.. 7. (6) Luke, xix. 22,
 
 70 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Didst thou exist the first born of thy race ? 
 
 Or ere the hills, hadst thou on earth a place ? 
 $ Hast.thou the secret will of Heav'n explor'd, 
 
 Th' eternal purpose of th' Almighty Lord ? 
 
 Say, wond'rous man, thou first of human kind, 
 
 Is wisdom to thy single breast confin'd ? 
 9 What knowest thou, to us that's still unknown ? 
 
 Is all the knowledge in the world thine own ? 
 
 Prove now thy learning, ope thy hidden store, 
 
 Profoundly deep in metaphysic lore ; 
 
 The right from wrong distinguish, false from true, 
 
 And teach us what, 'till now, we never knew. 
 
 10 But know, proud man, this point of wisdom gain ; 
 Th' attempt is needless, and the labor vain ; 
 
 We have th' instruction of experienc'd age, 
 With us are fathers, and the hoary sage, 
 
 Much elder than thy Sire 
 
 Since thou Avilt not to our green years attend, 
 Hear what they teach, and be to Job a friend. 
 
 1 1 Dost thou despise the comforts of thy God ? 
 Refuse submission to his chast'ning rod ? 
 What secret charm, what substitute for faith, 
 Thus buoys thy heart, to triumph over death ? 
 
 12 What drives thee forward, in thy impious course, 
 On wrong deterrnin'd, and from bad to worse ? 
 Sunk, as thou art, in wretchedness forlorn, 
 Why cast thine eyes on all around with scorn ; 
 
 13 Dost spurn indignant, ev'ry mercy giv'n, 
 And vent thy rage against the God of Heav'n ? 
 
 (8) Rom. xi. 33. (10) 1 Cor. viii. 2. 
 
 (11) 2 Cor. 5.3. & Heb xii. 5 1 Kings xxii. 24. 
 (13) Chap. vii. 20. and ix. 30. and xiii. 26.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 71 
 
 What madness blinds thee, what infuriate zeal, 
 Thus to resist thy Maker's holy will ? 
 
 14 Reflect, I pray thee, to the truth attend, 
 Consider well, thy being, birth and end ; 
 
 Ask now thyself this humbling question scan, 
 What is that active, restless thing, call'd man ? 
 Can he be pure, of such impure descent ? 
 Can woman's son be righteous, excellent ? 
 
 15 Next bid thy thoughts, to soar above the sky, 
 From dust and ashes, to the Lord, Most High. 
 Sublime his throne, how bright his glories shine, 
 In spotless purity, and pow'r divine ! 
 
 In none He trusts ; his greatness stoops to view 
 
 What mortal men, what holy angels do ; 
 
 All beauty "fades in his refulgent light, 
 
 And the pure Heav'ns are filthy in his sight 
 
 1 6 How much more vile is man, oh, how unclean ! 
 Who drinks iniquity and bathes in sin ! 
 
 17 Hear then. O Job, with patient ear attend, 
 Nor spurn th' instruction of a faithful friend ; 
 
 1 3 What I have seen, and what wise men have told, 
 Heard from their fathers, in the days of old. 
 
 (Verse 18.) Wbicb -wise men have told from their fathers, &c. 
 
 It seems an argument in proof of the antiquity of the Book of 
 Job, tha*. neither he nor his friends cite any other than tradition 
 ary authorities, in support of their respective arguments they 
 invariably appeal to the instruction of their fathers. From this 
 circumstance, it appears they lived before any written revelation 
 was extant, and of course bef< re the days of Moses. What fol 
 lows from the 19th verse, to the end of the Chapter, is to be con 
 sidered as Eliphaz's quotation from the fathers. 
 
 (14) JProv. xx. 9. (16) Psalm, xiv. 4. 
 
 (18) Gen. xviii. 18.
 
 I TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 19 To whom alone the teeming earth was giv'n, 
 Who till'd the soil, and own'd no Lord but Heav'n ; 
 No foe assail'd them, by no yoke oppressed, 
 
 Nor foreign influence e'er disturb'd their rest ; 
 These are their words, thy fixt attention give, 
 Note their instruction, and the truth believe. 
 
 20 " Short and uncertain is th' oppressor's state ; 
 He rushes blindfold to his awful fate. 
 
 The impious worldling, midst his golden toys, 
 Is hut a wretch devoid of real joys ; 
 With cares corroded, worn with envious strife, 
 Constant his pain, and lasting as his life ; 
 
 2 1 While keen remorse, with dark, foreboding fears, 
 His heart appals, and thunders in his ears. 
 
 Mid scenes of plenty, prosp'rous and secure, 
 Death marks his prey, nor aims his dart unsure. 
 
 , 2- He dreads the darkness of the silent night, 
 In awful doubt of morn's returning light ; 
 And when affliction spreads her sable veil, 
 What nameless horrors his pain'd heart assail ! 
 Trembling he walks, in doubt to stand or fly, 
 Starts at each sound, and thinks th' assassin nigh. 
 
 53 " Next, see him, by imperious hunger led, 
 A wand'rvng mendicant, in quest of bread. 
 Repuls'd with scorn, he knocks from door to door, 
 Consumes his crumbs, and begs in vain for more. 
 No bright'ning prospect cheers his hopeless path, 
 Wrapt in'the darkness of approaching death. 
 
 (19) Joel iii. 17. (20) 1 Tin* vi. 9, 10. 
 
 (21) Lev. xxvi. 36. (22) 2 Kings vi. 33. &. Matt, xxvii. 5. 
 
 (23) Gen. iv. 12. and Psalm cix. 10
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 73 
 
 54 Unnumber'd ills, with formidable might, 
 O'erwhelm his soul, in anguish and affright. 
 As when a Prince, in hostile arms array'cl, 
 Leads forth his troops, the helpless to invade, 
 The conq'ring foe spreads terror all around, 
 The vanquish'd fly, and corses strew the ground. 
 
 25 " Yet still the wretch, by -desp'rate madness driv'n, 
 Swells with fresh strength, and points his rage at 
 
 Heav'n. 
 
 Pamper'd in wanton ease at lux'ry's board, 
 The harden'd rebel dares disown his Lord. 
 His pride unhumbled, tho' too weak to stand, 
 Against his God, he lifts his impious hand ; 
 
 26 Defies his pow'r, too obstinate to yield, 
 
 His thunder braves, and runs upon his shield. 
 
 27 So the fierce bull, in plenteous pasture fed, 
 H-igh parnper'd, fatten'd, and to -slaughter led, 
 Drives at his keeper, raves and roars aloud, 
 And paws defiance to the gath'ring crow'd. 
 
 28 " His fears and wants the fugitive compel, 
 In cities desolate and drear, lo dwell : 
 Where .ruin'd heaps, a sordid shelter form, 
 A dang'rous covert from the driving storm. 
 
 29 His riches flown, he never shall regain, 
 
 To shame, his glory's turn'cl ; his ease, to pain > 
 His sun is set, alas I no more to rise, 
 
 30 The morning beams no more salute his eyes ; 
 By light'nings scorch'd, his branches all decay, 
 By whirlwinds rent, the trunk is torn away. 
 
 (25) Mai. Hi. 13. (26) Rev. xvii. 14. 
 
 (27) Psalm xvii. 10. (29) 1 Tim. \\. 9, 
 
 (30) 2 Thess. ii. 8. and Rev. xix. 15. 
 
 c;
 
 74 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 31 " From these sad facts, the truth let all discern, 
 
 And by example warn'd, this lesson learn. 
 
 Let the deceiv'd, no longer feed on air, 
 
 For vain his trust, his hope the spider's snare ; 
 
 32 Short is his race his sun goes down at noon, 
 His wealth and honors blasted are as soon ; 
 
 S3 His hopes and joys all wither and decline, 
 
 And drop like grapes untimely from the vine." 
 
 34 Thus hypocrites shall meet their fearful doom, 
 And fire, the tents of bribery, consume ; 
 
 35 Their schemes of mischief, with deception fraught, 
 And all their works of darkness, come to nought. 
 
 JOB 
 
 XVI. This tale I've heard, repeated o'er, and o'er ; 
 Convinc'cl, indeed, of folly, more and more- 
 
 Of what convinc'd, were all your speeches true ? 
 That I'm but mock'd, not comforted by you. 
 3 How long shall such vain words my ears offend ? 
 Shall trash and nonsense never have an end ? 
 Whence hast thou confidence to speak ? and why, 
 Tho' oft refuted, dost as oft reply ? 
 Why not asham'd with angry warmth, to press 
 A worn out subject, in a thread-bare dress ? 
 And v,-hile to argument thou mak'st pretence, 
 Deal jests for reasons, wit for solid sense ? 
 
 (31) Prov. xi. 4. 
 
 (32) Prov. xiii. 19. 
 
 (33) 1 Kings xxi. 21. 
 
 (35) Esth. iii. 9, 10, and vii. 9, 10,
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 75 
 
 4 Unfeeling men, ungen'rous as unjust, 
 
 In doubtful case, to implicate the worst 
 When friendship calls, and tender pity pleads, 
 Tc stop your ears, and rush where censure leads. 
 If once your soul were in my wretched stead, 
 I too, as well might laugh and shake my head ; 
 My visage lengthen, in contemptuous view, 
 And cry out, hyfiocrite, as well as you ; 
 Pour forth invectives, with unbridled tongue, 
 And rail and rant, like you, or right or wrong. 
 Would this be candid, catholic ? I ask 
 No downright bigotry without a mask. 
 'Tis base, to cause a fallen foe to bleed 
 A suff'ring friend to pierce, is vile indeed. 
 Of all hypocrisy, I most detest 
 A simp'ring visage, and a rankling breast, 
 Where storms and sunshine, light and darkness meet, 
 And stabs and kisses, in succession greet. 
 
 5 Could I thus act thus treat my friend, or foe, 
 With your unfeeling, barb'rous harshness ? No - 
 My heart would bleed, with sympathetic grief, 
 My eyes vent pity, and my hands relief ; 
 
 With heav'nly comfort, would I cheer his soul, 
 Bind up his wounds, and make the broken, whole. 
 
 6 In state, far worse than solitude, I'm plac'd, 
 By friends unpided, and by foes clisgrac'd ; 
 Speaking, or silent, am alike uneas'd, 
 
 In speech derided, and in silence teaz'cl. . 
 
 (4) 1 Cor. iv. 13. and 1 Peter iii. 9. 
 
 (5) 2 Cor. i. 4. Gal. vi. 1.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 7 With long fatigue distress'cl, God's angry frovas, 
 Beneath my heavy load, hath crush'd me down, 
 My frame dissolv'd, my falt'ring limbs decay'd, 
 Present the spectre of a speaking shade. 
 
 8 Leanness and wrinkles, on my form impress'd, 
 To me, my grief ; to you, my guilt attest. 
 
 9 Like rav'ning wolves, my foes, in fierce affray, 
 Tear me in pieces, for their ev'ning prey ; 
 Their glowing eye balls watching all my path, 
 
 10 Their gnashing teeth denouncingwounds and death ; 
 In crowds assembling, to destroy my fame, 
 
 My face they buffet, and reproach my name. 
 
 11 In all my woes, the hand of God, I own, 
 The wise and holy counsels of his throne ; 
 His sword the wicked are to them I'm left, 
 And of his kind protecting care bereft. 
 
 12 Once I had ease, once health and peace enjoy 'd, 
 But now, alas ! I'm broken and destroy'd. 
 
 His eye consigns me to vindictive wrath, 
 
 His mighty hand hath crush'd me down to death. 
 
 13 Assaulting archers, aiming at my heart, 
 Beset me round, and point their fatal dart ; - 
 As executioners of wrath divine, 
 
 Ails, ulcers, friends, foes, devils, all combine ; 
 While nameless tortures, morbid cholic pains 
 Tear out my bowels, and disjoint my reins. 
 
 14 With wounds on wounds, he breaks my feeble form. 
 As the fierce giant stamps the crawling worm. 
 
 15 Grief is my food, with pain I draw my breath, 
 Sicken at life, and wish the hour of death. 
 
 (7) Psalm Ixxxviii. 15. 
 
 (8) Prov. xvii. 22. (9) Lam. iii. 16. 
 (11) John xix. 11. (15) Psalm vii. 6.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE, 7 
 
 My skin, with gloomy sackcloth I've o'erspread, 
 In dust and ashes have defil'd my head, 
 
 16 Furrow'd my face, and streak'd with briny tears, 
 While o'er my eyelids, death's dark shade appears. 
 
 17 Not for injustice to my fellow-men, 
 
 From violence and crimes, my hands are clean ; 
 
 Nor for impiety, these ills I bear, 
 
 My God I worship, and sincere my pray'r. 
 
 18 O Earth, thou parent of my mortal part, 
 Who, in thy bosom, fold'st the clay-cold heart, 
 If stain'd with crimes, the hypocrite am I, 
 Drink not my blood, my corpse a grave deny, 
 And Earth and Heav'n shut out my suppliant cry. 
 
 19 But God my witness is, who dwells above, 
 Whose eyes are holy, and whose name is LOVE ; 
 
 (Verse 19.) Also noiu bshold my witness is in Heaven, and my 
 record is on high. 
 
 The omniscience of Jehovah, which may well fill the mind of 
 every impenitent sinner, with horror and dread, is, and ever has 
 been, a consideration of unspeakable comfort and support to the 
 people of God, under all their afflictions and trials the buffeting 
 of Satan, and the cruel mockings of wicked men. God hath 
 been the dwelling place of his people in all generations, and his 
 name is a strong tower into which the righteous flee, and are safe. 
 Peter must have sunk down in utter despondency, had he not 
 known that his Lord and Master was the searcher of hearts ; and 
 have never dared to make that solemn appeal, "Lord, thou 
 knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." And this 
 was the sure and stedfast anchor of Job. Notwithstanding all 
 outward appearances, and the severe aspersions of his unfeeling 
 friends j conscious of the integrity of his heart, and the oranis- 
 '(16) Psalm xlii. 3. 
 
 (18) Gen. iv. 10. 
 
 (19) Rom. i. 9. 
 
 G2
 
 78 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 To Him I durst, with confidence, appeal, 
 HE knows my ways, and will -my heart reveal. 
 
 20 Unpitying friends behold me sunk, forlorn, 
 
 My griefs deride, and treat my cries with scorn ; 
 I weep in secret, silent pour my flood 
 Of tears, into the bosom of my God. 
 
 21 Oh, that I might approach my Maker's face, 
 And at his footstool plead my injur'cl case ; 
 For his decision, boldly intercede, 
 
 As man for man ; when varying neighbors plead. 
 , 22 * (So shall it be I soon shall cease to mourn ; 
 Soon, go the way, from whence no more return ; 
 Soon meet rny God, my righteous Judge in peace, 
 My sins be cancell'd, and my sorrows cease. 
 
 cience of his God ; he could say, " My witness is in heaven, and 
 my record is on high," Though my friends revile me as a hypo 
 crite, yet there is one who knows my heart, and to him I confi 
 dently appeal. Thrice happy every one, who can appropriate 
 this language to himself, and whose heart is prepared to be happy 
 in the presence of a holy God. 
 
 * The divisions of the Bible into chapters is a convenient and 
 necessary arrangement but it was not originally made by the 
 inspired penmen. These divisions are in many instances arbitra 
 ry in some it is thought injudicious certainly it is to be regret 
 ted, that they ara in any instance, so made, as is calculated to ob 
 scure the sense. This observation is particularly applied to the 
 16th and 17th chapters of Job. The last verse of the former, 
 and the first verse, of the latter, form a parenthesis, or interjected 
 apostrophe ; so that the second verse of the latter chapter, is 
 immediately connected, in sense, with the 21st verse of the for 
 mer. The obscurity, occasioned by the parenthesis unrecognized, 
 is still increased by this unnatural division of the chapters. 
 
 (20) Psalm cxix. 28. ' (21) 1 John ii. 1, 2. 
 
 (22) Ecd? xii. 5.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUp. 79 
 
 XVII. Clos'cl is the scene corrupt my panting breath ; 
 My soul just launching from the U^d of death. 
 My days are finish'd, and my glass is run, 
 My grave is waiting, and my work is done.) 
 
 2 For here, .my judges, my accusers are ; 
 A band of mockers, partial and unfair, 
 
 Who practise falsehood, while they talk of right, 
 And to my face, insult me, day and night. 
 Such jurisdiction, know, that I disown, 
 And lay my cause before God's righteous throne. 
 
 3 Stake, Eliphaz, thy pledge say, wlio shall be 
 A mutual surety for thyself and me ? 
 What upright man engage, with solemn oath, 
 The cause to plead as advocate fur both ? 
 Who'll give his hand, and pledge himself as bail 
 To bind the parties, lest the judgment fail ? 
 
 4 To this high honor, thou aspir'st in vain, 
 Nor thee, nor thy companions, I'll retain ; 
 
 (Verse 3.) Lay down now, put one In a surety fvith thee 
 That is appoint some one, some proper person, who (ta 
 speak in the language of modern jurisprudence) will give bonds 
 for prosecution or recognize as special bail, in a penal sum, that 
 the parties abide the final judgment. Who is he that -will strike 
 hands -with me ? This, it seems, was the custom, among the an 
 cients, of recognizing, or entering in bail viz- by the surety and 
 the principal of the opposite party striking the palms of their 
 hands together. This appears from Proverbs vi. 1. and xvii. 18. 
 " My son, if thou be surety for thy friend ; if thou hast stricken. 
 toy band -with a stranger," &c. " A man void of understanding 
 striketb hands, an4 becometflftrety jn the presence of his friends." 
 
 (Chap. xvii. 1.) Psalm Ixxxviii. 4. and 2 Tim. iv. 6. 
 
 (2) 1 Sam.i. 7 . 
 
 (4) Matt. xi. 25. and xiii. 11,
 
 80 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 So selfish, proud and arrogant thou art, 
 Void of discernment, and deprav'd in heart, 
 Impartial justice will reject thy claim, 
 And blast thy honor in deserved shame. 
 
 5 Plainly I speak, and from an honest heart,. 
 Nor rashly judge, nor act the treach'rous part ; . 
 Who soothes and flatters whom he ought to blami 
 Wounds his own conscience, and destroys his fume 
 By friends despis'd, defeated of his end, 
 
 His wicked arts the righteous God offend ; 
 To his lorn race, the mischief shall redound, 
 And ills unnumber'd to his sons abound. 
 
 6 Alas ! what changes follow ease and health ! 
 How small is greatness, and how poor is wealth 1 
 
 (Verse 5.) He that speaketb Jlattery to bis friends, even the eye. 
 of his children shall fail. 
 
 It seems, that that established rule of the divine government, 
 expressed in the second Commandment, visiting the iniquities o, 
 the fathers upon the children, \vasknown and recognized by th< 
 ancient saints, long before God published his moral law frorr 
 Sinai. This is upon the hypothesis, that Job was contemporary 
 with the patriarchs, which is the generally received opinion 
 This knowledge might be derived to them from early divin< 
 communications handed down or by seeing the rule carried intc 
 effect by sensible fruits ; especially in the memorable instance 'o 
 Adam the first sinner or through the medium of both. At al 
 events, this circumstance tends to shew, that the duties of th< 
 moral law, and the principles upon which the divine govemmen 
 is administered, are founded in the nature of things, and the im 
 mutable standard of eternal Justicjfc-that, as far as they are dis 
 cerned, they commend themselvrc to natural reason ; and n< 
 less to the heart, than the conscience of every good man. 
 
 (5) 1 Kings xxi. 29. Psalm lii. 4. 
 
 (6) 2 Sam. xyi. 10,
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 31 
 
 Till late, belov'd, caress'd, and serv'd with awe, 
 My words were music, and my sentence, law ; 
 
 < I'm now the mock'ry of the hissing throng, 
 A taunting by-word, on the vulgar tongue. 
 
 7 Tears are my pastime, grief, my constant trade, 
 Bedim'd my eyes, my form a shrivel'd shade. 
 
 t The wond'ring saints, my course of life who knew. 
 Shall this dark myst'ry with amazement view ; 
 Why God should thus, the righteous man chastise, 
 Whelming the saint in sufferings, tears and sighs ; 
 While on the counsels of the wick^J shine, 
 With food and gladness, cheerful bread and wine. 
 The sinner's obloquy, severe as death, 
 But swells this trial of the good man's faith. 
 He'll rouse, he'll wrestle, climb the rugged road, 
 Till faith shall triumph, in the light of God. 
 
 9 This blessed vict'ry, every soul shall win, 
 
 Whose heart is pure, whose hands unstain'dwith sin ; 
 
 (Verse 9.) 1'he righteous shall bold on their way, and be that hatb 
 clean bands shall wax stronger and stronger. 
 
 This short Chapter is truly a rich one, as it contains much im 
 portant gospel instruction. Here, Job explicitly declares his 
 knowledge of, and belief in the great gospel doctrine of the 
 Saints' Perseverance ; and this too, as the firm and stable ground 
 of his hope and trust in God. It appears pretty evident, upon 
 reflection, whence he derived the knowledge of this doctrine. 
 Job and his three friends, as we all suppose, were descendants 
 from Abraham Eliphaz, at no further remove than the fourth" 
 degree, or great, great grandson. Abraham is celebrated for 
 his parental faithfulness invk religious instruction of his chil 
 dren and family --See Gen. xviii 19. He taught his children, 
 and they theirs, the "covenant God had made with him, the gra- 
 
 (7) Psalm vi. 7- and xxxi. 10. 
 
 (8) Rom. xi, 33. and Acts xiii. 46.
 
 82 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 With growing strength, the heav'nly road shall run> 
 And cov'nant mercy lead him safely on. 
 
 10 Come then, from pride and prejudice set free^ 
 (For not one man of wisdom do I see) 
 
 Ope your blind eyes, to sacred truth assent, 
 Retract your errors, and youi^sins lament ; 
 This truth receive, here rest your hopes, alone 
 On this sure doctrine, as the corner stone. 
 
 1 1 For your advantage only, this is ask'd 
 Myself unheeded, for my days are past ; 
 My earthlJF hopes, my fondest wishes o'er 
 And all my pleasing prospects, now no more. 
 
 12 My painful watchings change, to day, the night, 
 And swiftly flies, the dawn of morning light ; 
 Both clay and night, alike of comfort void, 
 
 For ever fled the good, I once enjoy'd. 
 
 1 3 What, tho' my Maker, in his sov'reign ways, 
 Should lengthen out the remnant of my days ? 
 To me, these joys of earth and sense are small, 
 These joys I've tasted mis'ry are they all. 
 
 cious promise of -which was, " I will be a God to thee and to thy 
 seed." In this comprehensive blessing, every subordinate good 
 is virtually promised ; and most evidently, that of persevering 
 grace. This too, is the uniform language of the Scriptures, 
 both of the Old and New Testament. How wonderful is their 
 harmony, though written by different men, in different and distant 
 ages of the world ! They all breathe the same spirit in every 
 part, they teach the same doctrines, and inculcate the same duties 
 not a discordant note is found through the whole. The Re 
 ligion it teaches, is the same, fron^Bne beginning to the end of 
 the world, and, like its Divine Author, immutable and eternal. 
 
 (10) 1 Cor. vi. 5. 
 
 (12) Deut. xxviii. 67.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 83 
 
 The dream is o'er, nor life has charms to rouse, 
 My bed is darkness, and the grave my house ; . 
 * Death is the only lesson I've to learn, 
 My first, my greatest and my last concern. 
 
 14 From life divorc'd, to death so near ally'd, 
 Nor friends, nor kindred here, I claim beside ; 
 Parent corruption, welcome to my heart, 
 Thou gnawing worm, my mother, sister art. 
 
 1 5 How stands my earthly hope then ? where its 
 
 rock ? 
 
 Where all that good, of which you fondly spoke ? 
 Who'll live to taste those fancied, pi'omis'd joys ? 
 Who reap the harvest of your golden toys ? 
 
 1 6 Or who, the scene behold ? or you ? or I ? 
 Awake from dreaming, and prepare to die. 
 
 ' All earthly hopes shall perish in the grave, 
 Where soon, we must our lasting portion have. 
 
 BILDAD. 
 
 XVIII. Why, patient friends, this vain discourse extend 
 And, Job, how long Avilt thou thy cause defend ? 
 Thy rhetoric, (though just about to die) 
 Flows, like a river that will never dry ; 
 So bright the genius of thy teeming head, 
 Thou say'st the most, where least is to be said. 
 Now check' thy ravings, for a moment, pause, 
 Nor mischiefs fearjrit will not harm thy cause ; 
 In condescension to the standers-by, 
 Grant time and licence for a brief reply. 
 
 (15) Psalm xxxLx. 7.
 
 S4 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 5 Why are we view'cl by thee, now deign to say, 
 As grazing cattle, or as beasts of prey ? 
 It would be hard, if ev'n just the case, 
 For men of sense, to take so low a place ; 
 And harder still, to ev' ry gen'rous mind, 
 For just reproof, to meet returns unkind. 
 
 4 His anger rises, like the foaming waves, 
 And talking longer, still the louder raves ; 
 His malice such, so blind and void of bounds 
 He smites at others, and himself but wounds. 
 
 Shall vice be virtue, virtue vice, for thee ? 
 The righteous God reverse his fixt decree ; 
 For thy dear sake, thy precious smiles to win, 
 His claims resign, and bid rewards for sin ? 
 Is such thy magic worth, and thine alone, 
 The race must die, at thy expiring groan ; 
 Old Nature's wheels in retrogression turn, 
 The mountains leap, rocks fly, and oceans burn ? 
 
 5 Know this, vain man, thy splendor, wealth and pow'r, 
 Like sparks, shall vanish, and be seen no more ; 
 The light of life extinguish'd, cease to shine, 
 
 For, such the sinner's doom, and such is thine. 
 
 6 Distress and darkness shall afflict his heart, 
 And light and comfort from his house depart ; 
 
 7 Dangers beset his straiten'd path around, 
 And his own counsel cast him to the ground. 
 
 8 With tho'ts perplex'd, and words confus'd he talks. 
 On slipp'ry ground, and hidden snares he walks, 
 
 (3) Psalm Ixxiii. 22. (5)1rov. xiii. 9. and xx, 20. 
 
 (6) Rev. xviii. 23. (7) Esth. Hi. 9, 
 
 (8) Prov. v. 22, and xxix. 6.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 5 
 
 9,10 Pit-falls and traps, his devious course await, 
 And hungry robbers plunder his estate. 
 
 1 1 Terrors, on ev'ry hand, with wild affright. 
 Now here, now there, impel his anxious flight. 
 
 12 Hunger and pining want his strength devour, 
 And at his side, see dark destruction low'r. 
 
 13 Dire blains eruptive, his fair form destroy, 
 And living death blasts ev'ry rising joy. 
 
 (Verse 13.) It shall devour the strength of his skin, even the 
 first bornof death' shall devour his sti'er.gtb. 
 
 This verse is a pure Hebraism, and in the strong, nervous style 
 of the East. It is indeed so highly figurative, as to be obscure i 
 as a sudden, intense blaze of light overpowers, and darkens the ; 
 sight of the eye. It is very difficult, if not wholly impossible, to 
 give it an explanatory dilation in the paraphrase, and not dimin 
 ish iis force and beauty. " It shall devour the strength of his 
 skin." The antecedent must be the general term i-estrn tion, ir: 
 the preceding verse and the sense of the passage is differently 
 explained by Commentators. According to some, it signifies a 
 cutaneous eruption of boils and blains, overspeading the whole 
 surface of his body ; and thus artfully pointing at Job. CASTA- 
 no will have it to mean the nerves and veins, tendons, and li 
 gaments of the skin, by which the limbs are sustained, and bound 
 together. MERCERUS, the arteries, which extend themselves 
 to all the extremities, in the resemblance of a tree, lessening from 
 the trunk upward.-,, and spreading out into limbs, branches and 
 innumerable small twigs. SCULTETUS, that it means his soii^ 
 \vho proceed from the parent, as the limbs from the tree, and 
 constitute his strength. GROTIUS, tLat it means Ms 'arm A as 
 they are the principal media of strength, and bodily exertion'. 
 The version of JUNIUS and TREMET..LIUS, and PISCATOR, that 
 it means Ins bor.es, by which his r.'hoie frame is supports 
 
 (10) 2 Peter ii. 12. 
 (12) Psalm vii. 12. 
 
 II
 
 S6 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 14 His children gone, and fled each fond desire, 
 His hope, his confidence, and life expire. 
 
 1 6 Just as the fig-tree casts its unripe fruit, 
 
 When bark'd, and hewn, and blighted at the root ; 
 Fall the dry leaves, the withering limbs decay, 
 And whirlwinds drive the sapless trunk away. 
 
 17 He dies forgotten, no one bears his name, 
 For ever lost Ids mem'ry, wealth and fame : 
 
 strengthened, and hence called the strength of his skin. The con 
 struction, first mentioned, is adopted in the paraphrase, as being 
 the most natural and obvious By the destruction, mentioned, is 
 undoubtedly meant an extraordinary kind of death ; and the 
 same thing as is intended by \hejirst born of death This expres 
 sion is according to the Hebrew idiom. It is thought to mean a 
 death, sudden, premature, uncommon, violent, and most horrible 
 to nature such as was sent, in awful judgment upon Herod, for 
 his impiety when " the angel of the Lord smote him, and, 
 he was eaten of worms and gave up the Ghost " Acts xii. 23. 
 The Hebrews were wont to use the phrase frst born, figuratively 
 to express any particular quality in the superlative degree, or 
 the highest of its kind because peculiar honor, dignity, and a 
 double portion attached to, and were the rights of primogeniture. 
 As in Isaiah xiv. 30. " And the^/Sm born of the poor shall feed, 
 &c." that is, those extremely poor and indigent. In a sense, 
 analogous to this is, it is thought, that the expression, first born of 
 death, is used in this passage. 
 
 (Verse 14.) His confidence shall be rooted out <fhis tabernacle, 
 Tiiis phrase is thought to mean the death of his children ; and 
 to be another stab at the feelings of Job. In those patriarchal 
 days especially, a man's strength and greatness, consisted very 
 much, in the number of his children hence, they were with 
 them the objects of very great desire and confidence witness the 
 feelings of Rachel, Gen.xxx. 1. " Give me children, or else Idle." 
 
 (14) Heb. ii. 15. (16) Psalm xxxvii. 35. 
 
 (17) Prov. x. 7.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 87 
 
 1 5 The curse of God his fated house pursues, 
 And Sodom's plagues, almighty wrath renews ; 
 
 18 From light and life, by th' angry blast of Heav'n 
 He's s\vept to darknes's, and from, earth is driv'n. 
 
 19 Nor son, nor nephew in his house remain, 
 His death to mourn, or lead his fun'ral train. 
 
 20 Spectators frighted, view his awful fate, 
 And to their wond'ring sons the tale relate. 
 
 2 1 Here see the wicked such his curst abode, 
 And such the lot of all who hate their God. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 XIX. No further taunt I understand thee well ; 
 
 The picture's plain its name thou need'st not tell, 
 
 Deceitful reas'ning, prostituted wit, 
 
 Blown up by pride, at torch of malice lit. 
 
 To add affliction to th' afflicted's state, 
 
 And crush the burden'd, with increasing weight, 
 
 Is all your aim for, comfort there is none, 
 
 Nor light nor truth, in all you've said, or done. 
 
 How long will ye this cruel war protract, 
 With bitter words, my bursting heart distract ; 
 A tortur'd friend, with heavier torture wound, 
 And pierce the helpless, prostrate on the ground ? 
 3 Your fierce reproach, vindictive and severe, 
 Ten times repeated, I'm still forc'd to hear. 
 
 (15) Isaiah xiii. 19. (18) Luke xii. 20. 
 
 (19) Jer.xxii. 30. (21) SThess. i. 8. and Tit. i. 16. 
 
 (2) 1 Sam. i. 6. (3) 2 Peter ii. 8. aiid_Ps. xiii. 10.
 
 J8 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Nor rest you here, but with unblushing face> 
 Lavish your satire, puns, and low disgrace. 
 Am I an object to employ your spleen, 
 And point your weapons with an edge so keen ? 
 Is this your kindness to a friend forlorn ? 
 Is wisdom, wit ? is tender pity, scorn ? 
 
 4 The case revieM' now let it be agreed, 
 As great my errors, as you warmly plead ; 
 On me alone the punishment descends, 
 With me the mischief rests, with me it ends 
 'Tis lighter too, than your reproaches are ; 
 Since then, you aid not leave me to despair, 
 
 5 It should content a feeble, dying man, 
 His friend to teach and comfort, if he can 
 Why should you strike^ my mis'ry to complete* 
 Why raise yourselves into the judgment seat, 
 Usurp the high prerogative of God, 
 
 And hurl his thunderbolts of wrath abroad ? 
 
 If this the object be, you strive to gain, 
 My grief to swell, and then enjoy my pain ; 
 Mis'ry enough, you here may surely find, 
 To sate the cravings of your vengeful mind, 
 o I grant, as gen'ral truth, what you've express'd, 
 And what to lleav'n and you, I've oft confess'd ; 
 (Jod is my Judge his heavy rod corrects^ 
 Ills chant* ning hand my ev'ry ill in/lids. 
 Yes, flaming- Eiklad, know, in this thou'rt right, 
 .And words of truth hast spoken, though in spite. 
 Clo-:l h: s o\n-',hrown, or.d cast me in the pit, 
 My Btfalten'c! st.rps cncompasb'cS in lii- 
 
 rt. 1. Pcnhu sxsviii. 16. uivA 2 Cor ihC
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. *9 
 
 7 I ask for justice to assuage my pain, 
 
 Cry out of wrong, and seek redress, in vain 
 Fruitless my suit, unheard my loudest cries, 
 Forlorn my state, nor help, nor hopes arise. 
 
 8 His awful hand has hedg'd my mazy path, 
 Emvrapt in darkness, and the shades of death : 
 
 9 My children slain, my pow'r and riches curst, 
 My crown of glory trampled in the dust. 
 
 10 By ev'ry ill, on ev'ry side destroy 'd, 
 
 I sink, I perish, and my hopes are void. 
 Yes, gone my life and hope, like blasted tree, 
 To which thou justly didst resemble me. 
 
 11 His kindling wrath, with flaming fury glows, 
 Nor me excepts from his determin'd foes. 
 
 12 His troops of robbers, for destruction sent, 
 My path invade, and pitch around my tent. 
 
 13 The tender ties of blood, no longer known, 
 My friends and kindred are to strangers grown ; 
 
 14 Fled, like a vapor, warm affection ends, 
 I live forgotten by familiar friends. 
 
 15 Menials and maids, once ruled vdth a glance, 
 View me a stranger now, with eyes askance. 
 
 16 I call'd my servant, as he passed by, 
 
 He held his course and gave me no reply. 
 
 17 More abject still, I'm odious to my wife, 
 The dear companion of my mortal life, 
 
 (Verse 9.) He hath stripped me of my glory This is thought 
 
 to mean the death of his children ; for reasons given in the last] 
 note. 
 
 (7) Jer. xx. 8. _ (11) Heb. xii. 7. 
 
 (9) Job i. 19. 
 
 (12) Psalm xxxiv. 19. (13) Psalm Ixxxviii. 18. 
 
 (14) Micah vii. 5. (16) Titus ii. 9, 1''. 
 
 H 2 

 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Her heart, v;ith tears, in vain I sought to move, 
 By all the pledges of our mutual love. 
 
 18 In feats of slander, old and young engage, 
 Fools learn to hiss, and hoots the hoary sage ; 
 
 19 And you, once bosom friends Oh, how forlorn ! 
 My warmest love, with cruel hate return. 
 
 20 With grief consum'd, I'm left but skin and bone, 
 Eir.Uem of death a walking skeleton. 
 
 2 1 What shall I say, your harden'cl hearts to melt ? 
 Or how regt.in the friendship, once you felt ? 
 
 (Verse 21.) Have pity upon me, ike. 
 
 This is, truly, a master stroke of the pathetic. While good 
 taste, good sense, or humanity remains, this must be viewed, as 
 the model, and standard of fine writing, and fine feeling. Here 
 is no art used, it is all nature ; and it is not in the power of the 
 nicest art to produce the sameeffect. The transition is so sudden, 
 so unexpected, and yet so natural and striking, that it irresisti 
 bly bears us away, and before we are aware, the tears of sensi 
 bility are streaming down our cheeks. Viewing the hand and 
 Egency of God in all the circumstances of his afflicted and de 
 graded s'ate ; all the instrumentality of creatures and second 
 causes, disappears he forgets all the unkind treatment of his 
 friends, and, in the remembrance of former endearments, gives 
 scope to his warm emotions, in a sudden burst of tenderness and 
 tjndissembled friendship " Have pity upon me, have pity upon 
 me, G ye rny friends, for the band of God hath touched me." 
 It is no longer the language of , complaint. He forgets their 
 wrongs, and had no disposition to reproach. .He entreats their 
 ccrnniiscraticn, with a confidence in their tenderness, and the 
 justice of his claim. The very repetition adds to its lustre, and 
 gives it more than double force of persuasion. Here we seethe 
 unadorned siirplicity of Nature here, the unmingled feelings of 
 (IS) 2 Kings ii. 23. (19) Psalm xli. 9. 
 
 f20) Psulm cii. 5. (21) Col. iii. 12. and Heb. xiii. 3.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 91 
 
 O ye my friends ! a name so lov'd, so dear, 
 Pay to my griefs, the tribute of a tear ; 
 Flow your dry eyes, your hearts with pity bleed, 
 The hand of God hath touched me indeed ! 
 22 With dying groans your pity I conjure ; 
 It is enough, almighty wrath t' endure ; 
 Will ye not rest contented with my blood, 
 But minister the, vengeance of a God ? 
 My fleshly pains no mortal tongue can tell, 
 Will ye now judge me to the pains of hell ? 
 23, 4 Oh, that my words were printed in a book, 
 Or carv'd with iron pencil, on the rock, 
 Lasting us time, and as my sorrows deep, 
 That nations, yet unborn, might read, and weep. 
 25 Yet brighter hopes my darkest hours illume, 
 My faith soars high, and looks beyond the tomb ; 
 
 genuine friendship, and benevolent sensibility, in the hour of an 
 guish and distress. Its beauty is unrivaled. This single verse 
 eclipses all the Novels and Tragedies that ever were written. It 
 casts all the boasted and tender scenes of Romance, far into the 
 back ground there, like the twinkling stars at sun-rise, thejr 
 dwindle, fade and vanish before it. 
 
 (Verse 25.) For I knoiv that my Redeemer livdb, &c. 
 This is a high triumph of faith. Here we see the good man 
 rising above all his sufferings, and, cheered with the belief of the 
 resurrection, and a life everlasting, rejoicing in tribulation, in 
 hope of the glory of God. Disgusting, indeed, is the opinion 
 of those, who affect to consider this sublime and pious rhapsody 
 of Job, as looking no further than to his recovery from sickness, 
 and the return of temporal prosperity. This idea prostrates the 
 (22) Psalm Ixix. 26: 
 
 (25) Rom. via. 38. and Dan. xii. 1. and Luke xix. 12. and 
 Acts Hi. 20.
 
 92 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Nor rocks, nor sculptur'd brass shall long endure, 
 But cov'nant mercy stands for ever sure. 
 This truth I know, this all my comfort gives, 
 My Saviour God, my blest Redeemer lives 
 At the last day, upon this earth shall stand, 
 The sleeping dead awake, at his command. 
 
 26 Then death shall die, the grave its prey restore, 
 The gnawing worm on flesh shall feed no more, 
 My moulder'd dust to life and glory rise, 
 
 And hail my Saviour with rejoicing eyes. 
 
 27 Enrapt'ring thought! these eyes, now fill'd with tear: 
 My God shall seeadieu to all my fears. 
 
 28 Cease then to wound, and penitently say, 
 " Why should we persecute his life away ? 
 
 whole strength and beauty of the passage, and represents Job in 
 a very diminutive and inconsistent light. Long life, and worldl) 
 prosperity, were not the objects of his expectation, or desire 
 He had earnestly desired death, and loathed life he had ever 
 prayed God to cut him off he had said that his breath wai 
 already corrupt that his days were finished, and the graves read) 
 for him ; and now, in this scene of gloom and distress, he look: 
 beyond this weeping vale of mortality he looks beyond th< 
 grave ; and derives, as he had already done, in the 14th Chapter 
 all his support and comfort from the assured hope of a resurrec 
 tion, and a glorious immortality. He, therefore, who can believe 
 in oppposition to all this, and to the strong and pointed expres 
 sions in this passage, that a few years of worldly prosperity, ii 
 the very evening of life, an event, of which he had not then 
 even a rational prospect, was to Job. the object of supreme desire 
 trust and confidence, and even to inspire this higk triumph o. 
 faith' it seems, must be as much wanting in common sense, a; 
 his opinion would suppose Job to have been, in special grace. 
 
 (26) Matt. xxii. 30. and Phil.iii. 21. 
 
 (27) Isaiah xxvi. 19. and 1 Cor. xv. 53. 
 
 (28) Gal. iv. 29.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. S3 
 
 The saint afflicted, is no hypocrite, 
 
 " The heart, though fill'd with grief, may still be 
 
 right." 
 
 9 Then farther think the sword of justice fear, 
 Think and amend, before God's wrath appear ; 
 For He shall well avenge his children's wrongs, 
 And shame and silence persecuting tongues ; 
 That you and all mankind, may surely know, 
 A God of justice rules the world below. 
 
 ZOPHAR. 
 
 XX. We know it well on this my plea is built, 
 To shame thine arrogance, and prove thy guilt. 
 
 By long discourse, wide wand'ring from the text, 
 My mind was darken'd and my thoughts perplext ; 
 I thence resolv'd, arid this the reason why, 
 To hear in silence, and no more reply. 
 The point now seen, with ardor fresh I burn, 
 And rise, with haste, to answer in my turn. 
 
 3 Whilst hoping candor would the truth unfold, 
 I've heard revilings shameful to be told. 
 Stung with reproaches which to thee belong, 
 Offended reason now impels my tongue. 
 
 4 That, God destroys the rebel to his throne, 
 Thyself art caus'd to feel ; and well may'st o , 
 Art thou so ign'rant of the race of man, 
 
 And his whole hist'ry, since the world began ; 
 
 (29) Eccl. -:i. 9. 
 
 (i) Gal. iv. 18. (J) Chap. iv. 3. 
 
 (4) Psalm Ixxvii.H.
 
 S4 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 5 Hast thoii not heard of old, or dost forget, 
 That wrath Divine pursues the hypocrite ? 
 
 His crimes, tho' night and darkness may conceal, 
 The day shall pubmb, and the light reveal, 
 Short is his triumph, seen his joys are past. 
 Blown, like the smoke, before the northern blast. 
 
 6 Though great his wealth, and high his glory rise, 
 Beam like the sun, and soar above the skies ; 
 
 7 At once he falls, by hand unseen destroy'd, 
 Departs his breath, his hopes and joys are void. 
 To darkness chiv'n, and in the dust laid low, 
 Who saw him once, shall say, tvhere is he now ? 
 
 8 He's gone nor brick nor pillar left to mark, 
 
 Where stood the palace once, or wherej the park. 
 Like darting meteor, vanish'd from the sight, 
 Or dream forgotten, ere the morning light ; 
 
 9 His pomp and greatness, noise and life are o'er, 
 Who saw him once, shall never see him more. 
 
 10 His hapless children, forced to restore, 
 What, erst their sire, exacted from the poor, 
 Reduc'd to poverty, with want distress'd, 
 
 Now court the smiles of those they once oppress'd. 
 
 1 1 Thro' life he drudg'd, his sordid passion's slave, 
 And early vices follow'd to his grave. 
 
 (Verse 11.) His bones are full (f the sins of his youth, txbicb 
 
 shall lie dc-wi with him in the dust. 
 
 This expression is very striking, and its instruction weighty 
 and important. Two interesting considerations are suggested by 
 it. 1. That the sins of our youth, that period of life in which 
 we are the most capable of activity in the service of God, are 
 (5) Dan. iv. 31. (6) Isaiah xiv. 13, 14. 
 
 (7) Psalm xxxvii. 36. and Ixxxiii. 10. (8) 2 Thess. ii. 8. 
 (XO) Hab. ii. 9, 10, 11. (11) Ezek. xxiv. 13,
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. % 95 
 
 The sins of youth, imbib'd with infant breath, 
 As life are lasling, and ne'er end till death. 
 Inherent as the bone, the sinful bent 
 " Grew with his growth," and strengthen'd as he 
 
 went ; 
 
 The tyrant spirit, in the cradle hurs'd, 
 Lives thro' his life, and with him dies accurs'd. 
 
 12 Yet, though his secret sins to him be sweet, 
 Roll'd in his mouth, and hidden with deceit ; 
 
 1 3 Though stiil in wickedness he persevere, 
 Despise reproof, and truth refuse to hear ; 
 By artful sophistry his mind deceive, 
 
 And bribe his conscience with " a name to live ;" 
 
 14 The worse his state, when forc'd to feel the truth, 
 His food more pois'nous than the serpent's tooth ; 
 His calm of peace forebodes a storm of wrath, 
 And sweets pf sin, precede the sting of death. 
 
 aggravatedly provoking in his sight that he lays them up 
 against us, however for jtten by us, and unless repentance pre 
 vent, doth often, by his judgments, visit for them in old age. 
 2. The interesting period of youth is the fittest and best time of 
 receiving instruction, and becoming truly religious. Then is the 
 time, the moral character is formed, and the habits of virtue or 
 vice fixed and established. " His bones are full of the sin of his 
 youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust." Awful 
 thought ! they are as lasting as life : but " train up a child in 
 the way he should go, and when he is old, he well not depart 
 from it." Hence, let all, and especially the young, well consider, 
 for they cannot, too deeply realize, the importance of religious 
 education, and of early piety ; as the means of infixing the ha 
 bits of virtue, of laying a foundation for a peaceful old age, and 
 a happy immortality. 
 
 (12) Prov. ix. 17. (13) Jer. xiii. 23. 
 
 , . 1-) Rev. xviii. 7.
 
 96 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 15 Hisswallow'd riches, and unrighteous gain, 
 His retching stomach shall not long retain 
 The greedy whirlpool shall its prey restore' 
 Avenging God adjudge it to the poor 
 In darkness whelm'd his brightest prospects fail, 
 And pride and avarice no more prevail. 
 16 A nauseous potion is his nectar sweet, 
 A fatal poison his most dainty meat ; 
 The tongue of viper, and the deadly asp 
 His eyes shall close, and loose his eager grasp. 
 If Nor floods of joy, nor rivers of delight 
 
 Nor brooks of milk and honey bless his' sieht 
 The dazzling objects of his fond desire, " 
 The wealth and pleasure which his soul inspire 
 it mock his hopes, his grasping hands elude, ' 
 
 leave him panting for th' expected good. 
 Iis labor vain, his wealth, acquir'd by wrongs 
 Returns untested, where it all belongs 
 By rules of righteousness, his goods restor'd, 
 No satisfaction to his heart afford. 
 19 Since, by oppression of the poor he ihriv'd 
 
 The rightfol owner of his house depriv'd. 
 (Verse 19.) Because , e hmb ^^^ ^ ^^ ^ 
 
 Notwithstanding Job's friends, were upon the wron* side of 
 e question, and took mistaken ground in the deba " T ye ttel 
 speeches are full of weighty instruction anddesemng cf'our hS. 
 
 i l j rov. xxiii. 8. and Matt, xxvii. 3. 
 (16) Prov. xxiii. 32. 
 17) 2 Kings vii. 2. and Jer. xvii. 6. 
 
 Dent, xxviii. 31. and Psalm cix. 11. 
 19) Matt. xxv. 25, 36, and James ii. 13. 

 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 97 
 
 20 Remorse and fear shall edge his keen distress, 
 And frowning Heav'n forbid him to possess : 
 
 2 1 Nought shall be left him when his debts are paid, 
 Nor inventory of his goods be made. 
 
 t regard. We are in no danger of being misled by them, if 
 we do not insulate and abstract them ; but take them up in con 
 nection, and explain them by the light of other scriptures, com 
 paring spiritual things with spiritual. They, doubtless, delivered 
 general moral truths ; such, especially, as that the hypocrite was 
 the object of the divine abhorrence, and would assuredly meet 
 with the vengeance of his God but, they erred, in limiting the 
 time when, to the present state, as the commencement of retri 
 bution ; and thence, making particular application of it to Job ; 
 arguing from his peculiar sufferings, his total want of upright 
 ness, and the yery aggravated nature of his guilt. Nor is it to 
 be wondered at, that, circumstanced as they were, they should so 
 fully adopt, and so tenaciously adhere to this sentiment. In that 
 early age, the doctrine of a future state, though believed by the 
 people of God, was yet but very imperfectly known or under 
 stood it is a distinguishing glory of the gospel, that by it, 
 " Life and immortality are brought to light," or fully revealed. 
 And furthermore ; we have great reason to believe that as God 
 ever adapts his moral government to the state of mankind, his 
 providential dealings, in that age of the world, were very differ 
 ent from what they are in the present that then the moral 
 characters of men, and especially those eminent either for their 
 piety, or wickedness, were more and more frequently designa 
 ted by outward circumstances that this became less and less the 
 case, and the teachings of his providence upon this subject, less 
 and less explicit, as the canon of scripture increased, and the 
 light of revelation became more and more bright and instructive. 
 Now, under the clear instruction of the gospel dispensation, 
 \vhen the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, against all un- 
 
 (20) Psalm xlix. 7. and Luke xii. 20. 
 
 (21) Jer. xvii. 11. and xxii. 19, and Luke xvi. 24. 
 
 I
 
 98 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 22 In midst of wealth, his cares and wants abound. 
 The wicked join to pluck him to the ground. 
 
 23 Incensed Heav'n shall blast his fondest wish, 
 And mingle vengeance, with his daintiest dish. 
 
 24 In vain he seeks for safety by retreat, 
 His wretched state no safety will admit ; 
 From harm he flies, a greater harm to feel, 
 The lance escap'd, he meets the bow of steel ; 
 
 25 Drawn from his side the dart, he gasps for breath, 
 And shrieks with terror, in the pangs of death. 
 
 26 While nameless plagues now burst the secret doors 
 And dark recesses of his hidden stores, 
 Whirlwinds and thunderbolts sweep all around, 
 
 28 Nor son, nor daughter in his house is found. 
 His earthly all, see swiftly roll away, 
 Like rapid torrents to the boundless sea ; 
 
 righteousness, and ungodliness of men,that Scripture maxim ," all 
 things come alike to all" applies in its full extent ; and if there be 
 any distinctions cf moral characters made in outward providences, 
 it seems to be in the peculiar sufferings and trials of the righteous ; 
 while the wicked are reserved to the day of judgment. The 
 friends of Job had many things in Providence, to inspire and 
 strengthen their sentiment, and with which to enforce their argu 
 ments in the debate. On the one hand, their father Abraham, 
 who, for his godliness, was the very phenix of cur fallen race, 
 was a man of very great wealth, honor, and influence. Ou 
 the other hand, the memorable examples of the divine vengeance 
 upon the wicked, in the deluge of Noah, and the fiery storm up 
 on Sodom, were relied on by them, and adduced as proofs of their 
 'position. See Chap, xviii. 15. and xxii. 15, 16. 
 
 (22) Luke xii. 19. (23) Numb. xi. 33. 
 
 (24) Isaiah xxiv. 18. (25) Deut. xxxii.41. 
 (S6) Heb, xii. 29. (28) Rev. xviii. 17.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 99 
 
 27 Heav'n from above his wickedness disclose, 
 And earth approving, triumph in his woes. 
 
 29 Such is the path, the wealthy sinner trode, 
 And such his portion from the hand of God. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 XXI. I've heard you each with patience to the end, 
 With equal patience now, my speech attend. 
 Since this the comfort all, you can afford, 
 With candor hear, and note my ev'ry word. 
 
 3 So clear the point, I'll not detain you long, 
 
 Few words will serve to prove your reas'nings 
 
 wrong. 
 
 *This task perform'd, my work will then be o'er. 
 And you may ply your mock'ry, as before. 
 
 4 Man's erring judgment is, -with me, but light, 
 From reason arguing wrong, as oft as right ; 
 As void of pity as of pow'r to s?.ve, 
 
 Nor comfort, nor instruction ever gave ; 
 Too ignorant to judge, too proud to learn, 
 Too blind, the path of duty to discern ; 
 Vindictive, cruel, partial and severe, 
 For friend, or foe, untaught to drop a tear ; 
 
 To each, alike uncandid and unjust 
 
 In such a being, should I put my trust ? 
 
 To him for comfort seek, with suppliant pray'r ? 
 
 Then might I sink in darkness and despair 
 
 Impervious gloom ! each comfort would be fled, 
 And hopeless horror fill my soul with dread. 
 (27) Rom. i. 18. and Isaiah xxvi. 21. 
 (29) Matt. xxiv. 51. (4) 2 Kings vi. 27.
 
 100 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 3 Why then should you unask'd, this pow'r assume, 
 My state to judge, and fix my final doom ; 
 The depths of Providence presume to scan, 
 And deal damnation to a Fellow man ? 
 
 6 Thro* future life, till my expiring day, 
 
 This awful scene will strike me with dismay ; 
 Rememb'ring what I've seen, and heard, and felt, 
 My blood recoil, my heart with anguish melt. 
 5 Stay then your censures, view my wretched plight, 
 How great my suff 'rings, yet my heart upright ; 
 Pensive and sad, with fear and wonder aw'd, 
 In silence look, and leave th' event with God. 
 Thus far in safety go but, leap this bound, 
 You tread presumptuous on forbidden ground. 
 
 7 The works of Providence, their depth, their height, 
 Are far beyond the ken of mortal sight. 
 
 In this dark state, 'tis hard for us to prove, 
 Which are the fruits of anger, which of love. 
 Tiie saint and sinner share the same event, 
 To both the goods and ills of life are sent, 
 To both the frowns of Heav'n are justly due ; 
 Yet discipline and punishment are two ; , 
 
 The (.'iie for good, in cov'nant mercy flows, 
 The other but preludes still greater woes. 
 Mark this distinction well, for here you err, 
 And from this point, conclusions false infer. 
 You've each a picture drawn, in colours bright, 
 
 To paint the mis'ry of the hypocrite 
 
 " His triumph short, his jcys soon Pied," you say, 
 t; His Avretclied life is but a winter's day, 
 
 (5) Psalm cxix. 120. (6) Hab. iii. 16. 
 
 (7) Jerem. xii. 1. and Hab. i. 16.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 101 
 
 " Himself his children into darkness driv'n, 
 
 " By ills mark'd cut the scorn of angry Heav'n." 
 
 Admit it true yet surely 'tis unfair, 
 
 At large t' apply examples few and rare ; 
 
 'Tis not the part of wise men, but of fools, 
 To form exceptions into general rules. 
 On your hypothesis, shew, if you can, 
 Plain stubborn facts consistent with your plan ; 
 A simple answer to this question give, 
 
 Why are ths wicked e'er allorj'd to live ? 
 Why live to age, in crimes and years grow gray ? 
 Why rise to thrones, and royal sceptres SAvay, 
 While conquer'd realms their sov'reign will obey ? 
 
 8 Confirmed their state, their eyes well pleas'd behold 
 Their offspring rise, their sons array 'd in gold. 
 
 ' ' Strangers to other's ills, unknown to weep, 
 They rise in safety, and securely sleep 
 
 9 From fear exempt, their houses fili'd with good, 
 And spread their tables with delicious food. 
 
 10 Sure their increase of oxen, sheep and kine, 
 Their fruitful fields abound with corn and wine ; 
 With richest broidery their halls are dress'd, 
 Ai)d beds of down invite to balmy r:.-A. 
 
 1 1 In flocks, their little ones sent forth to play, 
 Lead up the dance and gambol all the day ; 
 
 12 In festal songs unite their jocund voice, 
 And with the timbrel, pipe and harp rejoice. 
 
 13 Thus roll their days in wealth, without a curb, 
 No sorrows sting them, and no cares disturb, 
 Till in a moment, without fear or pain, 
 They gasp in death, and sink to dust again. 
 
 (9) Pialm Ixxiii. 5. (13) Mact. xxiv. 39. 8c Luke xii. 20, 
 I 2
 
 162 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 14 By pleasures blinded, and -with riches curst, 
 Their earthborn souls lie grov'ling in the dust ; 
 With hope and trust repos'cl in yellow gold, 
 To God they say, in impious language bold, 
 
 " Depart frcm us, we relish not thy praise, 
 " Nor feel a wish to understand thy ways ; 
 
 15 " For who the Lord, that we should stoop t' obey r 
 " Or what our profit, if we kneel and pray ?" 
 
 16 Fools, not to know, their Avealth and high estate 
 Flow from the goodness of the God they hate ; 
 That life apd breath, and all the joys they feel, 
 Depend, each moment, on his sov'reign will. # 
 
 Such impious thoughts are foreign frommybreasU 
 The counsels of the wicked I detest ; 
 Such language from my lips was never heard, 
 In happier days my God, I lov'd and fear'd. 
 
 17 Ofrimes indeed (than this no point more sure) 
 
 Mcst grievous ills the wicked here endure 
 
 By sudden vengeance into darkness driv'n, 
 
 Are made examples of the wrath of Heav'n. 
 
 18 Almighty anger sweeps the haughty worm, 
 Swift as the chaff is blown before the storm. 
 
 19 His sins, a bitter legacy, shall light 
 Upon "his children, in their father's sight ; 
 The awful punishment to him be known, 
 So clear the sword of angry justice shown. 
 
 20 Here, in this life, shall his reward begin, 
 His eyes behold the wages of his sin. 
 
 (14) Luke xix. 14. (15) Excd. v. 2. and Zeph. i. 1, 2. 
 and Mai. iii. 14. (16) Gen. xlix. 6. & Psa.i. 1. & Prcv. i. 10. 
 (17) Luke xii. 46. (18) Isa. xvii. 13. & Zeph. ii. 1, 2. 
 (19) Rev. xviii. 5. (20) Rev. xiv. 10.
 
 TRIA<L OF VIRTUE. 103 
 
 This awful cup, replete with wrath divine, 
 
 His mouth shall drink, compell'd to say it's mine, 
 
 2 1 It must be so, and not as you have saicl, 
 That children suffer this, their father dead - 
 For were the sire, by sudden death remov'd, 
 
 And torn away from all he here once lov'd, 
 From earth and friends dissolv'd theirloss, or gain, 
 Could not effect his pleasure, or his pain ; 
 And ills whatever, on his children sent, 
 To him unknown, could be no punishment. 
 
 22 Will ye then teach to rule this earthly ball, 
 The Judge of angels and the Lord of all ? 
 His cab'net enter, search his vast design, 
 State rules of government, his pow'rs define ? 
 His wisdom, know, sufficient for the task, 
 
 Of none he counsel needs, of none will ask ; 
 His will decrees, his hand each change N effects, 
 Gives birth to creatures, and -their death directs. 
 
 23 One, flourishing in ease, and quiet state, 
 Meets dissolution by surprising fate ; 
 
 24 In bloom of manhood, healthy and robust, 
 By sudden casualty is laid in dust. 
 
 23 Another see, by pining sickness spent, 
 
 And pains and maladies that Heav'n hath sent, 
 Deny'd enjoyment of all earthly good, 
 Knows neither quiet rest, nor pleasant food, 
 But drags a joyless life, in tears and sighs, 
 And, at the last, a wasting taper dies. 
 
 26 To the same end they're brought, in different forms? 
 Each finds a grave, and v sleeps the prey of worms. 
 
 (21) Psalm lv. 23. (22) Isaiah xl. 13. 
 
 (24) Vsalm xvii. 10. (26 Eccl. ix. 2.
 
 104 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 If wicked men, such diverse lots betide, 
 How will ye thence their moral state decide ? 
 If saints and sinners common portions share, 
 How, from their portions, tell me which they are ? 
 
 27 I read your faces, and full well I ween, 
 
 What tho'ts of mischief, pass yourselves between 
 Hostile your hearts, your ears to me so deaf, 
 Nor facts convince, nor truth can gain belief ; 
 "While this your object fixt, or wrong, or right, 
 To prove that Job is but a hypocrite. 
 
 28 " Where is the prince," in taunting mood, you '11 say. 
 " Who once in alms, so much did give away ? 
 
 " His children where ? -to death's retreat they're 
 
 sent 
 
 " Say, righteous man, is not this punishment ? 
 " Where stood his palace, now in ashes laid ? 
 " If it be true, as you so oft have said, 
 " The good and bad a common portion share, 
 " What certain mark informs us which they are ? 
 " On this hypothesis, how canst thou prove, 
 " Thy rare afflictions sent in cov'nant love ?" 
 I neither prove, nor can you it deny, 
 
 'Tis not on me to give you reasons why 
 
 Your test of goodness, I must still decline, 
 On this shall ne'er submit, nor issue join. 
 The deeds of virtue, since the world began, 
 Alone point out the truly virtuous man. 
 This principle, on which I make defence, 
 Is clear to reason and to common sense. 
 
 (27) Matthew vii. 16. 
 
 (28) Chap. i. 18, 19. and Psalm xlix. 11.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 105 
 
 59 If true should it condemn me or acquit, 
 
 Ask now those trav'lers passing in the street ; 
 Impartial they, you know their tokens well, 
 Since me you trust not ; ask, and they will tell. 
 Or read, where yonder Cypress spreads its shade, 
 The letter'd monuments of human dead ; 
 Interpreters of death, tho' dumb, they speak, 
 Hear their instruction, and no further seek. 
 While Conscience, voice divine, within your breast, 
 With them will join -the same great truths attest ; 
 
 (Verse 29.) Have ye not asked them that go by the way ? a?idd 
 ye not knoio their tokens ? 
 
 This verse is of very doubtful and difficult explanation, and va 
 riously expounded by commentators. It will be needless to 
 enumerate all the different senses given of it. Two only are 
 selected, which appear the most natural and obvious ; and as they 
 are not contrary to each other, and both equally accord with the 
 situation of Job, and the drift of his discourse, they are both in 
 troduced in the paraphrase, connected with a disjunctive particle, 
 as alternate and corresponding sources of instruction. That Job, 
 having very clear and confident views of the truth of his subject, 
 ind at that moment seeing certain travellers passing in the street, 
 should feel willing and desirous to refer it to them, or any impar 
 tial persons of common sense and reflection, is not an unnatural 
 supposition. Or, if in proof of his point, he should lead their 
 minds to the repositories of the dead, and point them to the mon 
 umental inscriptions of the tombs, he would still rise in his sub 
 ject, and the appeal be amazingly striking and solemn. By these, 
 he dead still speak, and declare the sense of the living. But for 
 :he faith of futurity, the lifeless dust of a man, would be of no 
 nore account than that of a beast. Grave-yards therefore, and 
 inonumental inscriptions, imply, in the minds of the living, a 
 ixed belief of a resurrection, and a future state of retribution ; 
 ind that death it not an eternal sleep.
 
 106 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 30 That this dark world, possess'd by earthly lords, 
 Is but a state of trial, not rewards. 
 
 Here, plac'd at school, men form their future stateSj 
 Glory, the wise ; and wrath, the fool awaits. 
 While in the flesh, the saint is far from home, 
 And stores his treasures in the world to come. 
 The sinner here, no higher portion knows, 
 Reserv'd to judgment, and eternal woes ; 
 While thoughtless, walking on the slipp'ry steep, 
 Hell waits his fall, and yawns a fiery deep ; 
 At death, he plunges, all his hopes prove vain, 
 And devils drag him to the burning main. 
 
 31 Who, then, his crimes shall to his face display ? 
 Who here convict him, and his deeds repay ? 
 
 His work and wages are with God alone, 
 Then wait the sentence of his holy throne. 
 
 32 His soul arraign'd before the judgment seat, 
 Sweetly his flesh shall rest in death's retreat ; 
 
 33 UnnumberM follow, as they've gone before, 
 Nor wake from sleep, 'till time shall be no more. 
 
 34 Shame on your pleadings then, so false and vain. 
 That all your comforting but swells my pain. 
 
 (30) 2 Pet. ii. 9. (51) Gal. ii. 11. 
 
 (32) Lukexvi. 22. (33) Heb. ix. 2f. 
 (34) Isaiah 1. 11.
 
 PART IV. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 ELIPHAZ shews that man's goodness profits not God. He ac 
 cuses Job of divers sins, and exhorts him to repentance, with 
 promises of mercy. 
 
 Job longs to appear before God, in confidence of his mercy. God 
 who is invisible, observes our ways. He professes his inno 
 cence. God's decree is immutable. Wickedness often goes 
 unpunished. There is a secret judgment for the wicked. 
 
 Eildad sets forth God's sovereignty, before whom man cannot be 
 justified. 
 
 Job reproving the uncharitable spirit of Bildad acknowledges 
 God's power and wisdom to be infinite. Protests his sincerity. 
 The hypocrite without hope. The blessings of the wicked often 
 turned into curses. Though man may search deep into nature, 
 yet to understand Gcd's ways, is beyond his reach. Wisdom 
 is an excellent gift of God. He bemoans himself, calling to 
 mind his former prosperity and honor Laments the change 
 of hia honor into extreme contempt, and his prosperity into 
 calamity. Makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in se 
 veral duties ; and thus ends the dialogue with his three friends. 
 fbis fart cads ivitb tbe 3 1st Chapter.
 
 ELIPHAZ. 
 
 XXII.XvEASON may read the language of the rod, 
 And learn the righteous providence of God ; 
 And hence, from pride and prejudice set free, 
 Elude th' ensnaring arts of sophistry. 
 False principles, I grant, are dang'rous things ; 
 For these, the source, whence false deduction springs, 
 So clear the point, none need attempt to show, 
 From Litter fount, no pleasant streams can flow. 
 Trace back thy reas'nings then, mark well their" 
 
 source ; 
 
 And by this rule, confess them void of force. 
 3 This seems the scope of til thy pleadings, still. 
 my merit) I deserve no ill 
 
 From hence, thy cries of injury, so oft, 
 And faithful friends, as bitter foes are scoff'd. 
 Why else, to God, and us thy fellow nisn, 
 Dost boast thy Ifoodness, o'er and o'er again ? 
 Doth Gocl the blested, look for bliss to thee ? 
 Is such thy worth ? art greater thou, than He ? 
 Was it for his own happiness and good, 
 He gave thee life, and fills thy mouth with food ? 
 
 (2) Psalm xvi. 2. 
 
 K
 
 110 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 3 When led, by wisdom, in the paths of peace, 
 Canst thou his greatness, or his wealth increase r 
 Would it advance his profit, or delight, 
 
 If perfect were thy ways, thine heart upright ? 
 For service done, wilt thou adduce thy claim, 
 And file thy charge against Jehovah's name ? 
 
 4 Doth He, because He dreads thy pow'r so great, 
 With pains afflict thee, to reduce thy state ? 
 
 Or will he prosecute thee for redress, 
 
 As man with man, in earthly courts contests ? 
 
 5 Aspiring worm 1 how blind thy mortal sight I 
 Thy virtues small, thy sins are infinite. 
 
 6 Since duty bids me act a faithful part, 
 
 And truth announce, in thunder to thy heart ; 
 
 (Verse 6.) For tbou bast taken a pledge of thy brother fjr 
 nought, "<S"c. 
 
 How obstina'e is error ! how blirding the influence and power 
 of prejudice and how multifarious the shifts und windings of 
 the sel;:.h di c ;,iiraiit, to resist conviction, and maintain a shew 
 cf argument, even when essentially confuted ! Of these, we have 
 a glowing example in this speech of Eliphaz ; and especially, in. 
 the unfounded charges he here brings. Job's arguments, in the 
 last chapter, were conclusive. They felt them to be such, and yet 
 were too determined on mastery to yield too obstinately bent on 
 fixing the odium of wickedness on Job, to give up the great ob 
 ject of dispute. Beaten off the ground they had first taken, in 
 the general charge of hypocrisy, they were now necessitated to 
 bring forward specific charges, cr concede thegrand point in issue, 
 and give up the controversy entirely. Thence originated the 
 charges here advanced by Eliphaz, in which suspicion is assumed 
 for evidence, and presumption for proof. It is one thing to 
 accuse ; and another to convict this seemed to be the only 
 
 (3) 1 Sam. xv. 22. (4) Psalm xxxix. 11. 
 
 (.3) Actsxxviii. 4. (6) CUap. xxxi. 39
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. HI 
 
 Hear, then, thy crimes, attentive silence keep, 
 And wake thy conscience from its deadly sleep. 
 The list, though partial, may disclose the whole, 
 And flash conviction on thy guilty soul. 
 Unfeeling man, ungen'rous and unjust, 
 
 To cast off pity, and abuse thy trust 
 
 By a poor brother's wrongs thy name is stain'd, 
 His pledge thou holdest tho' unjustly gain'd. 
 The needy, of his garment, why didst fleece, 
 And leare the wretch to shiver and to freeze ? 
 
 7 Thy cup refuse the weary soul athirst, 
 And spurn the beggar crouching for a crust ? 
 
 8 A judge corrupt thou wast, who justice sold, 
 And bartcr'd right, for honor and for gold. 
 The grinding landlord, in contempt of right, 
 Who robb'd the peasant of his hard earn'd mite ; 
 Thy hand upheld his wicked cause sustain'd ; . 
 By thee th' oppressor, thro' the kingdom reign'd 
 
 9 The hapless widow, of her dow'r was stript, 
 The poor man houseless, and the orphan wept, 
 
 10 Here view the source, from which thy mischief 
 
 flows ; 
 Hence rolls the mighty torrent of thy woes ; 
 
 point finally demonstrated by his charges for the result exhibit 
 ed Eliphaz as deficient in the latter, as he had been confident in 
 the farmer. How important then is candor, in the investigation 
 of truth ! This is the only sure guide to the discovery of it ; and 
 whenever we follow the direction of prejudice and party-spirit, we 
 invariably mistake it. 
 
 (7) Prov. xxv. 21. and James ii. 15. 
 
 (8) Psalm xii. 8. (9) Chap. xxxi. 2L 
 (10) 1 Sam. xxviii. 20.
 
 112 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Incensed Heav'n to justice wakes betimes, 
 In plagues outnumber'd, only by thy crimes. 
 
 1 1 Davk fears assail thee, snares thy path o'erspread, 
 And vengeance lights upon thy guilty head. 
 
 12 Yet still unhumbled, obstinate and blind, 
 Thoughts, bold and blasphemous, possess thy mind ; 
 Nor se*st the hand, nor hearest thou the rod, 
 
 Nor v/ilt confess, the justice of thy God. 
 
 " Behold" say'st thou, while gazing to the sky, 
 
 " Yon blue expanse, and starry worlds on high ; 
 
 " How far remov'd those gems of liquid light, 
 
 " Whose beams scarce travel down to mortal sight. 
 
 " Yet, far beyond th' immeasurable bounds, 
 
 Where st?a-3 and comets wheel their stated rounds ; 
 
 In awful glory, dwells the Great Supreme, 
 
 " And bowing angels make his praise their theme. 
 
 13 From this exalted heigh 1 :, will He look clown, 
 To view this outmost province of his crown ? 
 
 14 " Can foot-stool earth, can pigmy man be seen, 
 
 " While planets, suns and stars revolve between ? 
 " His hand too busy, and too high his thoughts, 
 *' To note my virtues, or regard my faults. 
 " Confm'd, his providence from chance, my woes ; 
 " Which He, nor orders, nor prevents, nor knows." 
 15,16 But, hast thou, stupid man, nor heard, nor known, 
 How, erst the arm of Heav'n in vengeance shone ? 
 (Verse 15, 16.) Hast thou marked the old way, which wicked 
 men have troddtn ; which itere cut dov;n otit of time, tokoie 
 foundation was o-cerflo-ivn \cith a f.o'td. 
 Tiiis so evidently refers to the antediluvian world, and thec*- 
 
 (11) Psalm xsxii. 6. (12) IVJm cxv. 3. 
 
 (14) Psalm cxxxi-.12. (15) 1 Cor. x. 5 urtd 5 Pet. i>. C 
 
 (16) Matt. xxiv. 38.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 113 
 
 Nor mark'd the path, the ancient wicked trode, 
 Who mock'd the pow'r and providence of God ; 
 The threat'nings of his law, who durst despise, 
 And fill'd the earth with violence and lies ? 
 
 1 8 They danc'd, they feasted, quaff 'd their wine in gold ; 
 They planted, builded, married, bought and sold.; 
 
 17 Pamper'd in wanton ease, at mx'ry's board, 
 The harden'd rebels arm against their Lord ; 
 And thus, to God, their impious language raise,' 
 Dc/iartfrom us, ive relish not thy ways, 
 Nor fear thy frowns, nor humbly seek thy grace. 
 
 struction of mankind by the deluge, that I have not scrupled to 
 :onsider it in this light in the paraphrase, and to amplify it accor 
 dingly with some of the known historical incidents of that tre 
 mendous-event. Eliphaz here argues from effect to cause, or 
 rather, from consequences to their premises. From the very na 
 ture of the dispute, which was whether God distinguishes the 
 moral characters of men in his providence, it seems, that his 
 principal arguments must be taken from matters of fact ; oc- 
 :urrences already passed under their observation, or the events 
 ecorded in history, affording special examples of the divine ven- 
 jeance upon the wicked, well known and authenticated as such. 
 A. stronger fact in proof of his point, Eliphaz could not have 
 wrought ; and no age of the world since has ever produced. 
 Phen, all flesh had corrupted his way, and the earth was filled 
 with violence ; and God saw fit, in his holy displeasure, to treat 
 mankind, in his providence, according to their real characters ; 
 ind by an awful destruction, swept off the whole race, Noah and 
 his family only excepted. This, then, is the force of Eliphaz' 
 reasoning if, then, the eminent judgments of God indicated the 
 eminent wickedness of those upon whom they were sent they do 
 so still ;" and thou Job, standest convicted by the infallible testi 
 mony of Heaven. 
 
 (18) Psalm xvii. 14. (17) Pialm iv. 6. & Jer. xliv. 16. 
 K 2
 
 114 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 16 Thus speeds their course, till comes the fatal day. 
 The deluge pours, and sweeps them all away ; 
 While righteous Noah sails above the wave, 
 Whelm'd are the wicked in a wat'ry grave. 
 
 1 9 The saints behold the judgments of their God, 
 And while they tremble, wonder and applaud. 
 
 20 Own then, that God a just distinction shows, 
 Between his faithful friends and obd'rate foes. 
 Nor dare repeat, but of this wrong repent, 
 That, saints and sinners reap the same event. 
 Preserv'd are those, in Heav'n receiv'd to dwell ; 
 The ivicked slaughter'd and sent down to hell. 
 
 1 8 Here, in this glass, thine own dear image view, 
 Abhor the picture, but believe it true ; 
 And, if sincere, in what thou hast express'd, 
 Hate ivicked counsels, and thyself detest, 
 
 2 1 Since, tho' afflicted, life and hope remain, 
 And Mercy smiles, with pardon in her train ; 
 
 (Verse 18.) Yet lie filled their bouses -with good things ; but 
 the counsel of the nuicked is far from me. 
 
 In this verse, Eliphaz abruptly and artfully personates Job,, 
 and makes him retort upon himself, his own words (Chap. xxi. 
 16.) " Lo their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the 
 wicked is far from me." Now, after classing him with the wick 
 ed antediluvians, with whom he symbolized both in character and 
 state, in order to make him appear self-inconsistent and ridicu 
 lous, he represents him as repeating the same words in the form 
 of a pompous boast, " Yet he filled their houses with good things ; 
 but the counsel of the wicked is far from me." 
 
 (19) Psalm Iviii. 10. and Rev. xix. L 
 
 (20) Acts xvii. 31. and 2 Pet. ii. 6, 7. 
 
 (21) Matt. vi. 33. and 1 Tim. iv. 8.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 115 
 
 Since, God himself invites thee near his face, 
 Prepare to taste the sweetness of his grace. 
 Awake, arise, lift up thy fervent pvay'r, 
 Thy sins renounce, and banish fell despair ; 
 Confess thy guilt, accept the kind release, 
 Acquaint thyself with God, and be at peace. 
 Then, in thine own experience, them shalt prove, 
 The nameless comforts of Almighty Love ; 
 Crown'd each desire all needful good be giv'n, 
 The joys of earth, and blessed hope of Heav'n. 
 
 22 Rouse, then, thy senses, to his voice give ear, 
 Receive instruction, and his law revere ; 
 Digest it well hence, right from wrong discern, 
 And useful rules of moral practice learn. 
 
 23 Wilt thou return, thy devious steps retrace, 
 
 By which thou wand'redst from his righteous waysj 
 Reform the vices of thy sinful house, 
 And to thy God, perform thy solemn vows ; 
 Then shall his hand rebuild thy ruin'd state, 
 And rank thee with the wealthy and the great ; 
 
 24 Wit'; sums of gold, shall fill thy copious store, 
 Iwrfeaps laid up, like sands upon the shore ; 
 The wealth of Elam, gold of Ophir thine, 
 
 Thy pebbles, pearls ; thybrookswithdiamondsshine: 
 
 25 The Lord of Heav'n thy strength, and fortress stand. 
 Increase thy wealth, and guard thee with his hand. 
 
 26 In Him, thy chief delight, thou shalt rejoice, 
 To Him look up, with thankful heart and voice ; 
 
 (22) Prov. iv. 21. (23) Psalm xxviu. 5. 
 
 (24) 2 Chron. i. 15. (25) Prov. i. 4. 
 (26) Song ii. 3. and 1 John iii, 21.
 
 116 TRIAL OF. VIRTUE. 
 
 27 With pray'r and praise, his gracious throne address, 
 His ear attend, and thy obedience bless. 
 
 38 Thy schemes all prosper'd, nor a wish deny'd, 
 And light divine thy peaceful path shall guide. 
 
 39 Thy pray'r of -faith shall save the humble soul, 
 Raise the depress'd, and make the broken whole, 
 Th' afflicted comfort, succor the oppress'd, 
 Confirm the weak, and give the weary rest. 
 
 50 At home, abroad, where'er thy lot shall be, 
 In barb'rous climes, or islands of the sea ; 
 His hand shall keep tbee, ev'ry ill remove, 
 Point out thy path, thy virtuous ways approve. 
 Should foes invade, and storms the land o'erspread, 
 A faithful God will guard thy path and bed ; 
 The wicked save, in answer to thy pray'r, 
 
 . And grant deliv'rance, for his child is there. 
 
 JOB. 
 XXIII. No further seek to injure my repose 
 
 This is the acme key-stone of my woes. 
 
 (Verse 30.) He shall delitxr the island of the innocent, or, the 
 innocent shall deliver the island, as it would be more intelligibly 
 rendered. Eliphaz here recognizes this interesting scripture doc 
 trine, that the wicked are often saved from impending calami 
 ties, for the sake of the righteous among them, and in answer to 
 their prayers. A memorable example of this we have in the his 
 tory of Hezekiah, when, at the time of a very formidable inva 
 sion of Jerusalem, in answer to his intercession, the angel of the 
 Lord, in one night, smote dead, an hundred and eighty five thou 
 sand of the Syrians. Isaiah xxxv. 36. 
 
 (27) Isaiah Iviii. 9. (28) Psalm 5. 3. 
 
 (29) James iv. 6. (20) Eccl. ix. 14. & James v. 16.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 117 
 
 Words are but wind, and sighs and groans are vain, 
 Nor men, nor angels can express my pain. 
 The bitt'rest wailings e'er by mortals heard, 
 Are mirth, are music, with my griefs compar'd. 
 
 3 Oh, could I find the object of my love, 
 
 The God of grace, who reigns enthron'd above 1 
 Might I approach with nearness of access, 
 And spread my injur'd cause before his face ; 
 
 4 How would I burn with ardor of desire ! 
 What hope and confidence my soul inspire ! 
 How warmly prosecute the great appeal ! 
 What cogent arguments my mcuth should fill ! 
 
 3 Nor would I plead unheeded and in vain, 
 My supplication should an answer gain ; 
 His word decisive, I would wait to hear, 
 Then banish doubt, and bid adieu to fear. 
 
 6 Would He, like yo.u, exult in my distress, 
 And shew his greatness, by his want of grace ? 
 Would He, in anger, break the bruised reed ? 
 Indignant spurn me suppliant, while I plead ? 
 Display his mighty pow'r, in fire and storm, 
 And swell his thunder, to affright a worm ? 
 
 (Verse 2.) Even to day is my complaint bitter , my strode is hea 
 vier than my groaning. 
 
 By the unfounded charges of Eliphaz, in the last chapter, the 
 distress of Job seems now to be carried to its highest pitch. Ut 
 terly despairing of all comfort from creatures, he longs to appear 
 before God in confidence of his mercy. The expression he here 
 uses, is so strong, and so clearly communicates the idea of his suf- 
 fmngs beyond all description, cither of words or groans, that it is 
 thought to justify the figures introduced in the paraphrase. 
 
 (3) Song iii. 1, 2. (4) Luke vi. 45. 
 
 (5) Psalm li. 4. (6) Isaiah Ivii. 16. & Mai. iii. 17.
 
 118 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 I'll not believe, nor heed the vile report, 
 There dwells no tyrant in my Father's court ; 
 His mercy would my trembling steps sustain, 
 My weakness strengthen, and relieve my pain ; 
 With his own Spirit quicken my desires, 
 And grant the pray'r, which He himself inspires. 
 Thus blest with pardon, and from wrath secure, 
 His sovereign mercy would my peace ensure. 
 7 Infinite grace and goodness all his own, 
 Invite his sons and fav'rites near his throne ; 
 The righteous there, with boldness intercede, 
 Spread all their wants, his cov'nant-mercy plead j 
 With pray'r unwearied, urge their ceaseless suit, 
 And, for their Maker's glory, e'en dispute. 
 I, 9 But whelm'd in darkness and distress, I'm lest 
 In anxious fears with vain desires am toss'd. 
 
 (Verses 8, 9.) Behold I go forward, but He is not there ; and 
 backward, but I cannot perceive Lim ; On the left hand where 
 He doth work, but I cannot behold him ; lie hideth himself en 
 the right hand, that I cannot see him. 
 
 It is believed that the locakterms here used, have, each, a 
 figurative and appropriate significance that far-ward and back- 
 luarJ, mean prophecy and history and left-hand and right-hand, 
 nature and grace, or the works of creation and redemption. 
 Hence, the propriety of those words of the Psalmist. In thy 
 light, shall we see light. "Unaided reason labors in vain." It 
 is only by the teachings of God's Spirit, that we ever behold his 
 glory and rejoice in his works denied these, the child of God is 
 in total darkness. 
 
 (7) Heb. ix. 24. and x. 22. 
 
 (8) Acts xvii. 27, and 1 Tim. vi- 16. 
 
 (9) Psalm xliv. 24.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. lit) 
 
 Hud is my state, an absent God I mourn, 
 And wait, with longing eyes, his kind return. 
 Where shall I find Him, where, oh, where, I cry ; 
 Or here, or there, or distant, far, or nigh ? 
 Incessant is my search, by day, by night, 
 
 Before, behind, upon the left and rip, 'it 
 
 I trace, far back, his woncProus works of old, 
 Then forward, those his promise hath foretold ; 
 O'er Nature's field, with hasty steps I rove, 
 Next, view the wonders of Redeeming Love ; . 
 I search in vain my feeble pow'rs are spent, 
 My hopes all baffled, and my heart is faint. 
 My God I find not, He withholds his grace, 
 And hides the brightness of his smiling face. 
 
 Yet still, He knows my way, my path directs, 
 And from the snaree of death and hell protects. 
 Refin'd by trials, I'll come forth at last, 
 " Than gold, more pure, which hath the furnace 
 pass'd." 
 
 1 1 For in the path of truth, I ever ran, 
 
 Nor shunn'd my duty e'er to God, or man 
 
 12 His law I lov'd, as holy, just and good ; 
 
 To me, his word was sweeter than my food ; 
 
 (Verse 10. ) But He knovcetb the uay that I take, when Jfe 
 
 bath tried me I shall come forth as gold. 
 
 Faith in the universal providence and covenant promise* of- 
 Ccd, is the firm and only support to his children under all their 
 afflictions and trials ; but for these, they must faint and sink. 
 " I had fainred," said the Psalmist, " unless I had believed to 
 see the y>odness of the Lord in the land of the living. (27. 13 ) 
 if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do ?" 
 (10) Psalm Ixvi. 10. (11) 2 Tim. iv. 10. & Rev. ii. 13. 
 (12) Psalm cxix. 72. and John Lv. 32.
 
 120 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 *Hence truth from falsehood, right from wrong dls 
 
 ceni'd, 
 
 And useful rules of moral practice learu'd. 
 These have I kept with constant hand and heart : 
 These will I keep, and from them ne'er depart. 
 
 13 Still God's a sov'reign, and He rules alone, 
 Who shall control the orders of his throne ? 
 Unchangeable his will, his pow'r supreme, 
 His purpose fixt, eternal is his scheme ; 
 Whate'er his will decrees, his hand performs, 
 And ev'ry change in angels, men and worms. 
 
 14 His wisdom metes my pleasures and my pains, 
 And all I act or suffer, He ordains. 
 
 1 5 These thoughts, my soul with fear and rev'rent 
 
 fill, 
 
 I bow submissive to his sov'reign will ; 
 Hush ev'ry murmur, each fond wish resign, 
 And reap content, if but the Lord be mine. 
 
 16 Yet faints my heart my strength his frowns de 
 
 vour ; 
 I fear bis greatness, tremble at his pow'r. 
 
 17 But, for this darksome scene, I've been reserv;l ; 
 My life upheld, my mingled portion carv'tl. 
 
 Oh, had preventing death obscuv'd my sight, 
 And seal'd my eye-lids, in eternal night ; 
 From living death exempt, how sweet to have 
 An ark of safety in the peaceful grave 1 
 
 * See Chap, xxii: 22. 
 
 (13) Rom. ix, 19. 
 
 (14) 1 Thess. iii. 3. (15) Hab. iii. 16. 
 (16) Isaiah. Ivii. 16. (17) Isaiah Ivii. 1.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. ui 
 
 XXIV. Since, to th' omniscient God is fully known, 
 Whate'cr in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell is done ; 
 Th' extended universe before Him lies, 
 In open vision to his piercing; eyes ; 
 This myst'ry, yet unsolv'd, to me explain, 
 Why do the wicked, or their works remain ? 
 If He be holy, and regard the just, 
 Why do not they, in Him, who place their trust, 
 Behold due vengeance pour'd upon his foes, 
 And bless the hand, which allthcir pride o'erthrows? 
 This, thou declard'st, but facts thy words disprove, 
 And leave us doubting of his hate or love. 
 
 2 See, yonder miser, with his face conceal'd, 
 Remove the land-mark of his neighbor's field. 
 
 He fears, indeed yet whom ? not God, but man ; 
 Hence, creeps in twilight, to effect his plan. 
 While some, by open violence and force, 
 Plunder whole flocks, and feed without remorse ; 
 
 3 The orphan's palfrey, without rightvdistrain, 
 And hold in pledge, the widow's ox for gain. 
 
 4 Driv'n from the path of duty and of right, 
 The needy poor are forc'd to shun their sight ; 
 From their destroyers haste to flee away, 
 And hide in caverns, as from beasts of prey. 
 
 5 Turn next, and view a wild and savage b:*u.!, 
 Who flee the face, imbrute the name of man ; 
 On mischief bent against all human kind, 
 
 In plans of rapine, each and all combin'd ; 
 
 (Chap xxiv. 1.) Psalm xxxi. 15. 
 (2) Deut. xix 14. Prov. xxii. 28. and Hosea v. 10. 
 (;">) 1 Sara. xii. '3. (4) Prov. xxx. 14. 
 
 (5) Prov. iv. 16. 
 
 Ju
 
 122 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 By gloom of night, before the dawn of day, 
 Greedy they rise, and rove abroad for prey ; 
 In darksome wilds, near crossing paths they hide. 
 Despoil the trav'ler, and his goods divide. 
 Thus ban-en deserts, like a cultur'd field, 
 Food, to themselves and to their children, yield ; 
 
 6 From others' harvest, from the wicked's vine, 
 They reap their bread, and press their stolen wine. 
 
 7 Nor friend, nor foe, nor rich, nor poor, they spare, 
 But fleece the needy of the rags they wear ; 
 While warm'd with clothes they plunder'd from the 
 
 poor, 
 
 Unpitied, these sleep naked on the floor ; 
 3 In ragged wretchedness, forlorn they roam, 
 
 Hungry and barefoot, destitute of home ; 
 
 Chill'cl by the winter, dripping with the storm, 
 
 In hollow rocks they seek a shelter warm. 
 9 Miscreants ! who kidnap from the widow's breast, 
 
 Enslave the poor, nor pity the distress'd, 
 
 10 Who naked walk, oppress'd without relief, 
 Reap clown their fields, yet hunger for a sheaf ; 
 
 1 1 Unpaid, unfed, compell'd to serve their lords, 
 As slaves they toil, as slaves deny'd rewards ; 
 At ease reclin'd, those while the hours away ; 
 Dragging, in druclg'ry, these the livelong day, 
 Fainting thro' hunger, black with heat and dust, 
 Tread out their presses, and yet suffer thirst. 
 
 12 To whips and tortures, groans responsive rise, 
 Wounds flow with blood, the city's fill'cl with cries ; 
 
 (6) James v. 4. (7} Deut. xxiv. 12, 13. 
 
 (8) Heb. xi. 31. (9) Hosea x. 14. & 1 Tim. vi. 1C 
 
 (1 ) Deut. xxv. 4. (11^ Jer. xxii. 13. 
 
 (12) Psalm I, 21. Eccl. viii. 11. & Mai. ii. 17.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 123 
 
 Their eyes, to Heav'n, the suff'ring victims raise, 
 God sees their wrongs, and yet his wrath delays ; 
 Still virtue suffers, nor is justice nigh, 
 The wicked triumph, raise their heads on high ; 
 The bloody game goes on, no thunder rolls, 
 No light'nings blaze to blast their guilty souls. 
 
 13 Cheerful and bold, and unrestrain'd, they sin, 
 No fear without, and no remorse within ; 
 Against God's law and government rebel, 
 And track with eager steps the road to hell. 
 
 14 The ruffian, waking with the morning light,. 
 Murders by clay, and acts the thief at night. 
 
 15 Th' adult'rer, rising as the sun goes down, 
 Waits for the moment when the day is gone ; 
 Then, skulks in twilight, with disguised face, 
 And says, " no eye shall witness my disgrace." 
 
 16 These sons of darkness, ruffians, lechers, thieves, 
 Dig into houses, by their sills, or eaves ; 
 Which, mark'd for mischief, by the light of day, 
 Like wolves they enter, for their midnight prey. 
 
 17 Their light is darkness, fearing to be caught, 
 
 And scourg'd by justice, for the crimes they've 
 
 wrought ; 
 
 To them, death's shadow is the morning's bloom, 
 The conscious eye, the terrors of the tomb. 
 
 1 8 Swift as the rapid stream, they glide away, 
 By fear impell'd to shun the face of day ; 
 In dreary haunts accurs'd of God and man, 
 They drag the remnant of their wretched span. 
 
 (13) John iii. 20. (15) Matt.v 27, 
 
 (16) Jer. viii. 7. (17) Gen. xxxviii. 23. 
 
 (18) 1 Kings xxi. 1.
 
 124 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Domestic comforts, sweets of social life, 
 The joys of home, of children, friends and wife ; 
 The waving harvest of the cultur'd fields, 
 And cheering nectar which the vintage yields ; 
 To them, unknown, untasted, fruit forbidden, 
 As erst, to Adam, was the tree of Eden. 
 Unpunish'd still, in sin they persevere, 
 And end, in folly's course, their mad career. 
 
 19 As wastes the snow, the melting sun beneath, 
 They sink to rest, and sweetly sleep in death. 
 
 20 As the tall oak, in lonely desert found, 
 
 By age decay'd, falls prostrate to the ground : 
 The w'. keel sink tho' high their greatness towVd", 
 By friends forgotten, and by worms devour'd. 
 3 1 Tho' plagues they liv'd, the scourge of human life, 
 Vexing the widow and the barren wife ; 
 
 22 The rich and mighty in their snares embrac'd, 
 And all around, with fears of death, distress'd ; 
 
 23 Theirselves secure and safe, while virtue bleeds . 
 Yet, God in Heaven, records their impious deeds ; 
 Hereafter, all their mischief will disclose, 
 
 And doom their guilty souls to endless woes. 
 
 24 Exalted now, they fear no evils nigh, 
 
 But short their triumph soon they gasp and die j 
 Fall like the righteous, and are swept away, 
 Mown down like corn-fields, on the harvest day. 
 
 25 This view is truth if, not, then dare reply ; 
 Disprove my reas'ning, and charge home the lie. 
 
 (19) Psalm xlix. 14. 
 
 (20) Psalm xxxvii. 36. civ. 35. and Prov. x. 7. 
 
 (21) Obad. 12. (22) Esther iii 8. and Rev. xvi. 14. & 
 xvii. 2, 3. (23) Psalm xiv. 4. and Hab. i. 12. 
 
 (24) Psalm xxxvii. 2. xxxix. 5. lv. 23. and Luke xii. 20. 
 
 (25) 2 Cor. i. 24.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 125 
 
 BILDAD. 
 
 XXV. How vast the empire of the Most High God ! 
 Wide as his pow'r, his fear is spread abroad. 
 Angels He rules, in harmony and love, 
 And by his hand, the stars concordant move. 
 
 (Verse 2.) He mdketb peace in his high places. 
 This refers either to the holy angels or to the material hea 
 venly bodies or both. Among all those myriads of holy intel 
 ligences, there is perfect order, harmony and peace. They are 
 all submission to his will, and faithful devotedr.ess to his service, 
 standing monuments of the divine character, as a God of love, 
 
 of order and peace. The material heavenly bodies, display 
 
 the infinite wisdom and power of their Creator, who made, up 
 holds and directs them. Those vast bodies, innumerable to us, 
 are rolling globes, constantly revolving in their respective orbits, 
 in every direction ; and yet, by the guidance of divine skill, their 
 mystic dance, from age to age, is continued in perfect order and 
 harmony, and without the least confusion or interference. In 
 these, says Bildad, behold the greatness, majesty and wisdom of 
 God in his works thence be humbled under thy own insignifi 
 cance and weakness, and believe, with assurance, his wisdom 
 fully adequate to the direction of all the affairs and changes 
 of this lower world. 
 
 This short speech of Bildad closes the debate on the part of 
 Job's three friends, and is executed in a very masterly man 
 ner. Though concisely drawn, it embosoms a world of ideas, 
 and its sentiments are inimitably grand and sublime. It vir 
 tually contains all the arguments of essential weight, that had 
 been advanced to Job in the course of the debate, and by its 
 candor, conciseness, and comprehension, appears 'well calcula 
 ted for the closing plea. It seems an implied concession to Job., 
 and a candid though silent relinquishment of the dispute ; as it 
 
 (2) Mat. xviii. 18. Rev. vi. 16. and Col. i. 20. 
 L 2
 
 :ie night, -j 
 
 light, I 
 
 : sio;ht. j 
 
 126 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 3 The Lord of hosts, in Heav'n, in Earth and Hell, 
 The number of his armies who can tell ? 
 CREATOR, KEEPER, BENEFACTOR, LORD ; 
 Life, light and glory wait his sov'reign word. 
 Swifter than sun-beams, boundless as the skies, 
 His active Providence each want supplies. 
 
 4 How then shall man, a creature of the dust, 
 With Him compare, or with his God be just ? 
 Vain man ; by pride begot conceiv'd in sin 
 Of woman born ; can he be pure and clean ? 
 
 5 Behold the silver moon, that cheers the night, 
 And stars, that glitter with refulgent 
 Before Him fade, and vanish from the 
 
 6 What then is man a fading, blighted flow'r, 
 An earthy atom, void of grace or pow'r ? 
 Be humble, O thou child of mortal breath ; 
 In life, a worm the food of worms at death. 
 
 touches only upon general objects, and has no special applica 
 tion to the particular point, then in litigation. It seems to have 
 made this impression upon Job, who, in his reply, takes advan 
 tage, with some severity, of this want of application. It is evi 
 dent, that Bildad, however he might feel more candidly dispos 
 ed towards Job, generally ; yet viewed him as deficient in hu 
 mility, and his speech was well directed to inspire him with it. 
 Clear and striking displays of the greatness, power and majesty 
 of God, are the most powerful means to instruct and humble 
 his people, and to support and comfort them under their heavi 
 est afflictions. These are the means invariably used in the holy 
 scriptures, the great source of all instruction and comfort. Of 
 this, the result of this sacred drama, and the 40th chapter of 
 Isaiah afford very striking and interesting specimens. 
 
 (3) Gen. ii. 1. and James i. 17. 
 
 (4) Rom. lit. 25, (6) Psalm xxii. .
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 13T 
 
 JOB. 
 
 XXVI. What thanks to thee are due, enlight'ning sage ! 
 Pompous declaimer, guide of youth and age ! 
 How hath thy speech laconic, truth evolv'd, 
 My weakness strengthen'd, and my doubts resolv'd \ 
 
 3 What food to babes, to fools what wisdom giv'n, 
 Their thoughts to raise, from earth and sense, t 
 
 Heav'n ! 
 
 W T hat art mysterious ! by what magic touch, 
 Can words, so few, be made to say so much ! 
 
 4 Yet, deign to solve, if not too hard the task, 
 This single question, which I fain would ask* 
 To whom didst t/iou thy speech sublime direct ? 
 Thy friends, or me ? their cause.) or mine protect ? 
 To this, nor that, thy reas'ning will apply, 
 
 Both stand in doubt, to grant, or to deny ; 
 Indiff'rent each, which way soe'er believ'd, 
 In either case, nor help, nor harm's receiv'd. 
 Tho' grant we true, the whole thy tongue hath saidj 
 What follows, then ? no inf 'rence can be made, 
 Nor other doctrine, thence, but this, confirmed, 
 That passion rules, when reason is disarm'd. 
 
 5 From the same argument, as well may'st prove, 
 
 That man is not beneath his Maker's love 
 
 But give thy soaring muse a downward flight, 
 From orbs celestial to the realms of night ; 
 See how his pow'r and providence apply 
 
 To things below, no less than things on high. 
 That God is great and high, who questions ? -still, 
 Things small and low are ordev'd by his will.
 
 128 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Min'rals and metals, pearls and treasures laid 
 In ocean's dark abyss, his hand hath made ; 
 Dragons and monsters of the briny deep, 
 His pow'r created, and his orders keep 
 
 6 Devils and spirits damn'd are in his chain, 
 And naked to his view the burning main. 
 
 7 His curtains o'er the mighty void he strung, 
 And the vast globe, on airy nothing hung. 
 
 8 By him the cisterns of the sky are bound. 
 
 In clouds condens'd, and borne by winds around ; 
 By swathing bands restrain'd, as with a girth, 
 In drops are sifted on the parched earth. 
 
 9 With vapors dark, He spreads the shades of ev'n, 
 Removes the day, and veils the face of Heav'n ; 
 
 10 The threat'ning waves encircles with the shore, 
 Till rolling suns shall rise and set no more. 
 
 1 1 By his command tremendous thunders roll, 
 And shake the solid earth from pole to pole. 
 The cloud-capt pillars of the vaulted sky, 
 Reeling with earthquakes, own their maker nigh. 
 
 12 His pow'rful voice, whirlwinds and storms obey, 
 And gaping waves now cleave the boist'rous sea. 
 Th' affrighted sailors, surging o'er the tide, 
 With shatter'd bark, relief and hope deny'd, 
 Now feel their weakness, own his mighty pow'r, 
 And, with their treasures, sink to rise no more. 
 
 (6) Prov. xv. 11. 
 
 (7) Psalm xxiv. 2. 
 
 (8) Prov. xxx. 4. 
 
 (9) Isaiah Ixvi. 1. and Psalm civ. 5. 
 
 (10) Chap, xxxviii. 8. and Rev. xxi. 23. 
 
 (11) 2 Pet. in. 10, (12) Jer. ix. 3S.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 129 
 
 13 Butlo! fresh wonders meet th' astonish'd view, 
 His wind the clouds dispels the sky is blue ; 
 The starry pavement of the heav'ns is fair, 
 And wreathy serpents bask, in open air. 
 
 1 4 These are his ways how wond'rous they appear 1 
 Yet, of his works, how small a part we hear 1 
 How great the whole ! the thunder of his pow'r, 
 Nor tongue can tell, nor angel's mind explore. 
 
 '(Verse 13.) By his spirit be hath garnished the Heavens ; bis 
 band hath formed the crooked serpent. 
 
 The first clause of this verse admits of two different senses ; 
 as the original word Spiritus, is used to signify either, spirit, 
 breath, or wind. The phrase here means, either, 1. That God, 
 by the creating power of his spirit, hath made and disposed the 
 Stars, and thus decorated th? visible heavens or, 2. (If spirit 
 here be taken for wind} It means his providential agency in dis 
 pelling the clouds, which darken the sky, and hide the sun, 
 moon and stars from mortal sight thus changing the tempest 
 into a calm, and garnishing the heavens, by giving us a fresh 
 view of those glorious luminaries. This latter sense is chosen 
 in the paraphrase, because of its connection with the preceding 
 verse, in which it is thought that a sea-storm is alluded to yet 
 which was the primary sense of the inspired writer, is not per 
 fectly clear. 
 
 The last clause of the verse, his hand hath formed the crooks d 
 terpent, Commentators have still more ingeniously diversified 
 and obscured, by their differing interpretations. According to 
 ME RCERUS, it is a thunderbolt, which darts from heaven in the 
 crooked form of a serpent, and yet with a sure direction to its 
 object. BOCHART, upon the animals of the Sacred Scriptures, will 
 have it to mean some beautiful star or constellation, known to 
 the Syrians ; such as either the Dragon ; or the Galaxy or Milky, 
 wajf, which are serpentine hither form. Others understand by it 
 
 (13) Isaiah xxvii. 1.
 
 159 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 XX\ r II. As God my Maker lives, and reigns on high, 
 Beneath whose frowns, in deep distress I lie ; 
 Who, from my soul, his wonted grace withdraws, 
 Darkens my path, uor pleads my injur'd cause ; 
 Midst all the pains, my flesh and heart endure, 
 My mind is peaceful, and my conscience pure. 
 3. While, draw these heaving lungs, the vital breath, 
 And till these eyes are clos'd in silent death ; 
 
 4 My lips shall ne'er the cause of truth belie, 
 My faith and hope I never will deny. 
 
 5 Forbid it, Heav'n, that I should e'er concede, 
 Or justify the wicked cause you plead. 
 
 With purpose fixt, while life and breath are mine, 
 The claim of virtue I will ne'er resign, 
 
 6 Unstain'd with crimes, to Heav'n, my hands I raise? 
 God knows my heart, and will approve my ways ; 
 
 the Zodiac, or the Angttis near Arcturus, or the Hydra near Leo. 
 Lastly, others believe it to mean some sea-monster, which rolls 
 and wreaths itself like a serpent in the sea, and which, from its 
 immense le.igth, is called the sea-snake, or dragon : See Isaiah, 
 xxvii. 1. This latter sense is chosen, because it is the most literal 
 and obvious, and because the verse will then display, in a collec 
 tive view, the power and providence of God, both in heaven 
 and earth. 
 
 (Verse 6.) My keart shall not reproach me, so long as I live. 
 
 Tkb is the language of humble sincerity, and not of ostentatious 
 boasting ; and what lustre doth it add to the character of Job ! 
 Noble resolution ! Deserving to be written in letters of gold. 
 How worthy of universal esteem and imitation ! An unsullied 
 
 (2) Psalm 5x. 4. and xxxvii. 6. 
 
 (3) Acts xvii. 25. (4) Zeph. iii. 13. 
 
 (5) Gal ii. 11. and 2 Cor, i. 12, 
 
 (6) Acts xxiv. 16-
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 131 
 
 To this blest hope and confidence I'll cleave, 
 Nor shall my heart re/iroach me while I live. 
 
 7 The charge of wickedness advanc'd belongs 
 To bitter foes, who load my soul with wrongs ; 
 And he who seeks to blot my honest fame, 
 Than hypocrite, deserves no better name. 
 
 8 For, what his hope, that's founded on the sand ? 
 Can it abide, the chast'ning of His hand ? 
 What solace give, in darkness, or in death, 
 When God removes his comforts, or his breath ? 
 His splendid gains are but laborious loss, 
 
 And all his tinsel'd gold now turns to dross. 
 
 9 Can his false heart to cov'nant mercy fly ? 
 Oppress'd with ills, will God regard his cry ? 
 
 10 Will the enjoyment of his Father's love, 
 Hi* light in darkness, and his comfort prove ? 
 On pray'r will he, with constancy, attend, 
 And persevere in duty, to the end ? 
 
 These are my joys my wcrk my hope my trust; 
 Then, own your charges groundless and unjust. 
 
 1 1 The ways of God, by much experience taught, 
 I'll truly teach you, what his hands have wrought j 
 
 onscience is the only source of felicity and glory to man. It is 
 our honor in prosperity our comfort in affliction our happiness 
 in life, and our triumph in death. True religion is, in its nature, 
 happiness, and deserves to be chosen and embraced, were it only 
 for its present pleasures. " Wisdom's ways are pleasantness, and 
 all her paths peace." 
 
 (7) 2 Sam. xviii. 32. (8) Luke xx 20. 
 
 (9) Prov. i. 28. (10) Psalm kxviii. 34. 
 
 (11) Luke xii. 32.
 
 132 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 The secret counsels of his will reveal, 
 Nor hide his wisdom, nor his truth conceal. 
 
 12 All these you've seen, enough to make you wise ; 
 
 View my example, ope your closed eyes 
 
 Why walk ye blindfold thus, in clearest light, 
 And fear no danger, but of being right ? 
 
 13 'Tis true I grant, by God, the Avise and just, 
 Th' oppressor's portion often is accurs'd ; 
 Wormwood and gall his cup disgustful blend, 
 While plagues unnumber'd, to his race descend. 
 His hopes and joys all vanish like a dream, 
 
 His offspring, riches, safety, houses, fame. 
 
 14 His children, num'rous as the drops of dew, 
 The wasting sword and famine shall pursue ; 
 
 15 The wretched remnant find their exit near, 
 Nor shall their lonely widows drop a tear. 
 
 1 6 What, tho' his hand amass a countless store 
 Of silver, heap'd like sands upon the shore ; 
 His spacious wardrobe glitter to the view, 
 With richest vestments, purple, gold and blue ? 
 
 1 7 He may prepare, this work his hands employ, 
 
 And he may see it but shall ne'er enjoy ; 
 
 The humble righteous shall his silver share, 
 And naked innocence his raiment wear. 
 
 18 Frail as the spider's snare, his house he builds, 
 Or like the shepherd's booth, in sylvan fields ; 
 
 19 In death he sinks, but not t' unconscious rest ; 
 He dies, but ne'er is gather'd with the bless'd. 
 
 (12) Psalm iv. 2. (13) Rev.vi. 17. 
 
 (14) Esther ix. 10. (15) Prov. x.7- & Psa. Ixxviii.64. 
 
 6) Hab. ii. 6 & Luke xii. 18, 19. 
 
 17) Prov. xxviii. 8. (18) Matt. vii. 27. 
 
 19) 2 Kings xxii. 20. and Psalm xxxvii. 36.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 153 
 
 One longing look he casts upon his store, 
 Then shuts his eyes and gasps and is no more. 
 "20 While thick'ning terrors, like the surging wave, 
 And wruth of Heav'n, pursue him to the grave. 
 His soul anticipates his fiery doom, 
 And tastes the horrors of the world to come. 
 21,22 He dreads the tempest, shrieks with wild affright, 
 Shrinks from his Judge, but can't elude his sight, 
 Nor 'scape his wrath, nor suffer, nor withstand. 
 Nor flee away from his avenging hand. 
 Too late to cry, he looks around aghast, 
 His day of mercy now for ever past, 
 He groans farewel, to life, to hope and Heav'n, 
 And clown to darkness and despair is driv'n. - 
 23 No ray of hope his anguish can assuage, 
 
 Men clap thtir hands, and hiss him from the stage. 
 
 (Verse 19.) The rich man shall lie 3dvm t but Le shall not be 
 
 gathered. 
 
 This form of expression is peculiar to the sacred writings, and 
 is therefore carefully preserved in the paraphrase. To be " ga 
 thered to their people," is an appropriate description of the 
 righteous dead, and it is believed to be, in no one instance appli 
 ed to the -wicked character but, the rich man licih down, and 
 shall not be gathered. The present is a mingled state. The right 
 eous and the wicked are associated the wheat and the tares 
 TTOW together but, at death, they will be eternally separated, 
 und kindred souls alone will be associated. Christ will then 
 ' gather his. wheat into his garner, but he will burn up 
 with unquenchable fire." 
 
 (20) Excd. xii. 19. (21) Dan. iv. 31. 
 
 (22) Exod. xiv. 25. Judges iv. 17. and Amos ii. 14. 
 
 (23) Rev. xviii. 20, and xix. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 M
 
 m TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 XXVIII. Nor is it strange, nor difficult to show, 
 Why human prospects end in human woe. 
 The soul of man, of boundless hopes possess'd, 
 Burns with desires, and hungers to be blest ; 
 But still his heart to bliss so unally'd 
 He seeks it where it ever is deny'd. 
 The restless, busy tribes -of flesh and blood, 
 Earth-born and grov'ling, seek no higher good ; 
 For sensual joys they toil, they sleep, they wake, 
 Brave ev'ry danger, health and safety stake, 
 With search incessant, and from shore to shore, 
 They grasp their treasures, and then pant for more. 
 The field of nature lures the selfish heart, 
 Exertion spurs, and wakens human art. 
 
 1 By man is found, where grows the silver vein, 
 And what deep mines the golden ore contain. 
 
 3 Dug from tlve earth, the useful iron's sought, 
 And sinning brass from solid stone is wrought. 
 
 3 In dark, dank caves he pours the light of day, 
 And bears the precious fossils thence away. 
 
 (Verse 1 ) Surely there it a vein Jor the silver, &c. 
 
 This chapter begins abruptly, and its connection with the one 
 immediately preceding, is very obscure. To remedy this, and 
 render the real connection apparent, induced the necessity, and 
 was the reason, of prefacing it, in the paraphrase, with an in 
 troduction of fourteen lines. In the former chapter, Job had de 
 scribed the desires and labors of the wicked, after perishable 
 riches, and their miserable end which made it evident, they 
 were really unhappy, even in the acquisition of those things, in 
 wbich they esteemed themselves 'the most fortunate. He now 
 shows why they neither found, nor sought after wisdom be- 
 
 (3) 1. Kings iv. 33. and Eccl. i. 13.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 135 
 
 4 By art drawn off, and bursting thro' with force, 
 The mighty river quits its former course ; 
 Where once it flow'd, impassable and deep, 
 
 See houses, meadows, herds and flocks of sheep. 
 
 5 The whistling plough-man seeds his furrow'd soil, 
 And gladd'ning harvest crowns the tiller's toil ; 
 While deep beneath the surface of the ground, 
 Are burning sulphur, coals and. nitre found. 
 
 6 There glows the sapphire in its brilliant hue, 
 There yellow gold-dust meets the raptur'd view ; 
 
 7j 8 By darksome paths, a deep and drear abode, 
 
 Which vultures never saw, nor lions trode. 
 9 How great the wonders, man by skill performs ! 
 What vast achievements, wrought by feeble worms; ' 
 Through solid rocks, he hews him spacious ways, 
 And lofty mountains levels to their base ; 
 
 1 1 With stable mounds the threat'ning floods restrains, 
 Deep hidden treasures in his search obtains ; 
 
 10 Bids rivers flow through excavated stone, 
 And all the wealth of nature, makes his own. 
 
 tause they had no desires for it they knew- not the place of : t, 
 nor sought they it from God, but had recourse elsewhere. They 
 knew where were the veins of silver, and mines of gold, and 
 these places they searched and penetrated with incredible labor 
 and hazard. He points out the reason, why they could not find 
 the path of happiness ; because they sought it in wrong objects, 
 xnd not in wisdom, or true religion, where alone it is to be found. 
 
 (Verses 9, 10, 11 ) Hz pittt-tb forth bis hand upon tbs rock ; 
 be overturnetb the mountains by the roots He cuttetb out riv 
 ers among the rocks, and his eye sesth every precious thing He 
 
 (5) Isaiah xxviii. 28. (6) Excd. xxiv. 10. 
 (10) Prov. x. 4. and xiv. 23. and xxiv. 4.
 
 136 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 12 But where is WISDOM found ? and what the place 
 Where dwells the knowledge of substantial bliss ? 
 
 13 Proud, sensual man ! in vain his pow'rs assay, 
 The place to search, or even point the way. 
 His strength and skill to this no clue afford, 
 And this, nor art, nor nature, yet explor'd. 
 He hath no numbers to compute its worth, 
 Nor is it found 'mong all the sons of earth. 
 
 blndetb the floods from overflowing, and tie thing that is hid 
 bringetb be forth to light. 
 
 Two of the most memorable achievements of human art, labor 
 and enterprise, of this kind, which antiquity records, and which 
 seem to justify even this strong description of Job, are Hanni 
 bal's winter march with his army over the Alps, in his expedi 
 tion against Rome, and the successful stratagem of Cvrus, em 
 ployed in the taking of Babylon. The first, it is related, forced 
 * passage for his army, elephants, artillery, and heavy baggage, 
 over impassable rocks, and down stupendous precipices, by first heat 
 ing the rocks, and then quenching them with large quantities of 
 vinegar, by which they were so softened, that they could hew 
 their way through them Cyrus as we are told, when besieg 
 ing the city of Babylon, and finding its walls impregnable, con 
 trived to turn ihe course of the river Euphrates, which ran 
 through the middle of the city and under its walls ; and by that 
 mean, marched, in the night, his whole army through the chan 
 nel of the river, into the city, and took it. It is further storied, 
 that at the bottom of the bed of the river, immense treasures were 
 found, hidden there by former kings of Bab lin to which, it 13 
 thought, that the prophecy, Isaiah xlv 3 alludes But, oh, the- 
 vanity of human greatness! After all, it may well be asked, 
 where shall wisdom, be found ? It was not obtained hy these- 
 mighty conquercrs, in all their mighty achievements. 
 
 (12) R^m xi. 33. 1 Ccr. 5i. 14. and 1 Kings iii 9. 
 (1;>) Psalm xxv. 9.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 13^ 
 
 14 Hell's dark abyss declares, " Ms not in me ;" 
 
 In vain it's sought for, in the boundless sea. 
 15-19 The peerless treasure can't be bought nor sold. 
 
 For sums of silver, or the purest gold 
 
 Yea, gold of Ophir, when compar'd, is dross, 
 Sapphires and Onyx stones are spurn'd as loss ; 
 Ev'n chrystals v jewels, pearls, are worthless things, 
 The robes of princes, and the crowns of kings. 
 For such the treasure, tho' from man conceal'd, 
 To wisdom's worth, all things material yield. 
 
 20 Where then is Wisdom found ? say, where the 
 
 place, 
 In which resides the art of happiness ? 
 
 21 Since it is hidden from the human eye, 
 From beasts and fishes and the birds that fly. 
 
 S2 " Thro' distant worlds and regions of the dead,'* 
 Its voice is heard, its fame and glory spread ; 
 But heard unseen, to all is still unknown, 
 By all is sought for, yet is found by none. 
 
 13 God only wise, the unknown place can tell, 
 
 Where heav'nly wisdom and true pleasures dwell. 
 His gifts they are from his rich treasure flow, 
 To saints on high, and sinful men below. 
 
 24 His art is nature space his vast abode, 
 
 And Earth and Heav'n confess th' all present God", 
 
 23 He weighs the mighty waters in his hand, 
 
 And winds and tempests wait his high command, 
 
 (14) Rom. xi. 33. (15) Prov. iv. 13. &viii. 11, 
 
 (16) Exod. xxviii. 20. (17) Prov. xxv.'ll. 
 (18) Matt. xiii. 46. (23) Matt. xi. 27. 
 (24) Prov. xv. 3. and Heb. iv. 13. 
 35) Amos iv. 15. 
 
 M 2
 
 138 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 26 When, erst the clouds, He bade their task perform, 
 And fix'd the laws of sunshine and of storm ; 
 
 By his decree, mark'd out the wond'rous way, 
 Where thunders roar, and forked light'nings play ; 
 
 27 Then Wisdom was his own by Him prepar'd, 
 Search'd out and known in all his works declar'cl. 
 
 28 Then, from the mighty Lord of Earth and Heav'n* 
 To mortal man, this high behest was giv'n, 
 
 " Thy wisdom be, to fear me from the heart 
 " Thy happiness, from evil to depart." 
 
 XXIX. Recall'd to mind, I now with tears regret 
 
 The times I witness'd, and can ne'er forget 
 
 Bright scenes of joy, oh, might they once return ! 
 Those days of health and peace, for which I mourn. 
 
 3 When God, to me, most graciously display'd 
 His saving goodness, and protecting aid ; 
 Around me pour'd, with beams of heav'nly grace. 
 The bright effulgence of his smiling face ; 
 
 My bosom gladden'd, and my feet allur'd, 
 Thro' shades of darkness and of death, secur'd. 
 
 4 Oh, might the verdant spring of life, once more, 
 My health renew, the strength of youth restore ! 
 As when my God, with secret converse sweet, 
 Once crown'd the comforts of my peaceful seat ; 
 
 5 His presence blest me with connubial joys, 
 Dear prattling children, sporting with their toys, 
 
 (26) Jcr. v. 24 & Amos iv. 7. 
 
 (27) Psalm xix. i. and Rom i 20. 
 
 (28) Dent. xxix. 29. Psalm c^i 10. & Prov. i. 7- 
 (3) Psalm xxiii. 4. (4) Psalm xxv. 14. 
 
 (5) Judges vi. 12.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 139 
 
 His bounteous hand replenish'd all my store, 
 Full was my basket, and my cup ran o'er ; 
 My pastur'd lawns, well stock'd with sheep and kine 
 Pour'd milk in rivers and the fruitful vine 
 Blush'd with ripe clusters while the stony field 
 And barren mount, the plenteous olives yield. 
 
 7 When call'd to council, in th' affairs of state, 
 I rode in splendor to the city gate ; 
 
 And when the judgment seat, in act t' ascend, 
 What list'ning silence thro' th' assembly reign'd 1 
 
 8 The young, abash'd, respectful distance took, 
 The aged rose, with rev'rent act and look ; 
 
 9, 10 Dumb were the nobles, princes silence kept, 
 
 And thro' the crowd, nor voice, nor whisper crept. 
 
 (Verse 7.) When I tuent out to the gate through the City, taben I 
 prepared my seat in the street. 
 
 In this ckapter Job sets forth his former state of prosperity 
 and honor, in the most elegant and rhetorical manner; nor can 
 there exist, in language, or conception, a more striking and affect 
 ing contrast, than the one presented us in this, and the chapter 
 next following. He was high in office, influence and authority, 
 and appears to have floxirislied in all the honor and dignity of a 
 king, a lawgiver and a judge. The verse, before us, presents him 
 in the latter character ; and I would only remark upon it, that it 
 was the immemorial custom and practice among the ancients, to 
 hold their courts of justice, and hear and adjudge causes, in the 
 open air, at, in, or near the gates of the city. This is expressly 
 alluded to in various passages of the Old Testament, and partic 
 ularly in Amosv. The expressions there in the lOih, 12' h and 
 15ui verses, support the idea, and are explained by it. " They hate 
 him that rebuketh inthe^ate they afflict the just, they take a 
 bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate, from their right 
 , Hate evil and love the good, and establish^W^-me/Jfz/j tbe gate." 
 (6) Gen. xlix.ll. &; Deut. xxxii. 13. (9) Judges xviii. 19,
 
 UO TRIAL OF VIRTUE, 
 
 Fixt ev'ry eye, and ev'ry ear attent, 
 
 1 1 The sentence giv*n, each countenance smil'd assent. 
 The eye that saw me, sparkled with delight, 
 
 The ear that heard me, witness'd I was right. 
 
 12 Because I help'd the poor man in distress, 
 For th' injur'd plead, reliev'd the fatherless ; 
 
 13 Broke the proud arm, uplifted to destroy, 
 And cheer'd the widow ' s heart, to sing for joy, 
 Expiring wretches own'd my pow'r to save, 
 
 And bless'd the hand that snatch'd them from the 
 grave. 
 
 14 For wisdom, justice, goodness, high renown'd, 
 By ev'ry tongue my praise was spread around ; 
 In robes of righteousness, was cloth'd my name, 
 And like a shining diadem, my fame. 
 
 15 How sweet the work, to light with genial glow^ 
 The smile of comfort in the face of woe ! 
 
 T' instruct the ign'rant, change the night to day, 
 Reclaim the vicious, and direct his way ! 
 Eyes to the blind I was, the cripple's crutch, 
 The sick and wounded felt my healing touch ; 
 
 16 A constant friend and father to the poor, 
 
 His rights to guard, his unknown cause explore. 
 
 17 By wholesome laws the us'rer I restrain'd, 
 The wicked punish'd, and the lawless chain'd ; 
 Relax'd th' oppressor's gripe, his prey restor'd, 
 And to the needy, op'd the miser's hoard. 
 
 (11) Prov. xxix. 2. and Mark vii. 37. 
 
 (12) Psalm Ixxii. 12. (13) 2 Tim. i 16. & Prov. xxxi 8. 
 (14) Psalm cxxxii. 9. (15) Numb. x. 31. &Micahiv. 6. 
 (tt) Prov. xxv. 9. (17) Psa, Iviii, 6. & ISam. xvii. OSi
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 141 
 
 18 Sure then, I cry'd, if conscious worth may hope, 
 And deeds of virtue bear the good man up ; 
 With long and happy life I shall be blest, 
 
 And, like the birds, die singing in my nest. 
 
 19 By waters set, my tree shot forth its roots, 
 
 Its tow'ring branch was grac'd with fairest fruits ; 
 My shade, wide spreading, cheer'd the^ sunny field, 
 And dews nocturnal, on my top distilPd. 
 
 20 Increasing strength confirm'd my prosp'rous state, 
 My life was happy, and my glory great. 
 
 21 An oracle, I stood, for counsel wise, 
 Resolv'd the doubting, to their glad surprise 
 To me men came, and crowded was my court, 
 With list'ning clients, waiting my report. 
 
 22,23 My words refreshed them, as the latter rain 
 Falling on pastures of the parched plain ; 
 They hear'd submissive, none oppos'd my will, 
 And from my judgment, there was no appeal. 
 
 24 If, at their faults, I jested e'er, or laugh'd, 
 It was a father's humor, gentle soft 
 They thought me kind in all they saw, or heard, 
 And, as a faultless friend, my face rever'd. 
 
 f!5 As troops, the orders of their king obey, 
 
 They bow'd obsequious, while I chose their way ; 
 In me, their trust and confidence was full, 
 A friend to comfort, and a prince to rule. 
 
 XXX. But now, alas ! those blissful days are fled, 
 And dark and joyless is the scene I t;'ead. 
 
 (18) Psalm xxx. 6. & Gen. xxv 8. (19) Jer. xvii. 7 
 
 (20) 2 Sam vii. 9 and Isaiah xl 31. 
 
 (21) Prov. viii. 34. and xi. 14 
 
 (22) Acts xvii. 11. (23) Psalm Ixxii. 6,
 
 US TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Afflicting change ! a sad reverse I mourn, 
 Once rais'd to honor's height, now sunk in scorn. 
 Ev'n beardless youth, of birth so mean and base, 
 Their fathers would my herds and hounds disgrace, 
 Now raise their heads, with dirt and filth besmear'd, 
 And point, with scorn, at him whom once they 
 
 fear'd. 
 2 But if no honor to old age be due, ' 
 
 Why should I wish it from this worthless crew.? 
 
 (Verse 2 ) Tea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit 
 me, in inborn old age -was perished ? 
 
 The real sense of this verse is rather obscure, and of difficult 
 explanation. There is an ambiguity attending it, arising from 
 the peculiarity of the latter clause, and still more from the un 
 certainty respecting the subject of the predicate, or whether th 
 persons spoken of, or the person speaking, be the antecedent to 
 the relative ivbom. If it be the former, then perhaps he may be 
 understood as saying, " Though these savage bipeds, the dregs 
 of human kind, now raise their heads, and affect to look down 
 upon me with supercilious scorn, yet I have little reason to re 
 gret their contempt and contumely, but as marks of my extreme 
 ly low and degraded state. The insignificant -wretches, having 
 led the lives of mere animals idle and useless to themselves and 
 others ignorant in spite of experience, and though old in years, 
 yet mere children in \visdom and knowledge ; are therefore, in 
 capable, if disposed, of affording me either honor or profit, assist 
 ance or counsel.'* 
 
 In the other sense it would stand thus : " If, indeed, I am so 
 low and wretched as to have lost all the honor and respect due to- 
 experience and age, and have fallen under the contempt of the ho- 
 orable and the wise ; the scorn of these miscreants, who are 
 scarcely distinguished, but by their shapes, from the beasts that 
 perish, is indeed of very small and trifling consideration for it' 
 thote are willing to afflict, tbese arc unable to comfort me," 
 (2) Titus i. 12..
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 143 
 
 In brighter days, I needed not their aid, 
 Nor can they comfort, in affliction's shade. 
 3, 8 This upstart race, the dregs of human kind, 
 To cheerless want and solitude consign'd, 
 Once rov'd in ragged wretchedness forlorn, 
 The prey of rav'nous beasts, of men the scorn ; 
 
 5 Like thieves, were hooted from the seats of men, 
 
 6 And dwelt with serpents in the mountain's den ; 
 
 7 Beneath the nettles, in the murky glade, 
 
 Or 'mong the bushes, with wild asses bray'd ; 
 4 From roots of juniper, procur'd their meat, 
 
 And bitter mallows, for their sallad, ate. 
 9 Now from their dens, these shameless miscreants 
 throng, 
 
 And me they hail, their by-word, and their song. 
 
 10 In scornful mirth, and with malicious smile, 
 They pluck my beard, my face with rheum defile. 
 
 1 1 And since the hand of Heav'n hath laid me low, 
 With pain and sickness, poverty and woe, 
 
 (Verse 11.) Because bt batb loosed my cord and afflicted me, tfxy 
 have also let loose the bridle before me. 
 
 This is a figurative expression to denote the imbecility and 
 weakness of his afflicted state, from whence he was subjected to 
 the vilest abuses of the vulgar herd. Taking advantage of 
 his weak and defenceless situation, and unawed by fear of punish 
 ment, they sportd in his misery, unrestrained ; and loaded 
 him with injuries and insults with impunity. This verse 
 is a direct counterpart to the 20th verse of the former chapter 
 " My glory was fresh in nae, and my bcmi was renewed 
 
 (3) Prov. iii. 21. & Zeph. i. 15. 
 
 (4) Deut xxviii.48. (5) Gen. xxi. 10. 
 (9J Psalm xxxv. 15. (10) Matt. xxvi. 67.
 
 144 f TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 They heap, with insult, my afflicted state, 
 And give unbridled licence to their prate. 
 13 The hoary head despis'd, the impious youth 
 Assume the honors due to age and truth ; 
 On my right hand, insultingly they walk, 
 And stun my ears with their ungodly talk ; 
 
 13 Nor help, nor hope enjoy'd, elate with pride, 
 Jeering, they scoff, and virtue's path deride ; 
 That peaceful path, I once with honor trode, 
 They strive to marr, and drive me from my God. 
 In works of mischief, each and all engage, 
 Unite, and round me pour their mingled rage. 
 
 14 As torrents, bursting from the mountain's brow, 
 Descend and ravage all the plains below, 
 
 More deep and wide, the madcl'ning waves extend, 
 And art and nature in confusion blend. 
 Swift as a whirlwind, they pursue my soul, 
 And hi a tide of desolation rolL 
 
 in my hand," that is, my honor, power and authority were 
 great and increasing. Here he saith, God " hath loosed my 
 cord," or relaxed my bo-w string by which, he means directlv 
 the reverse that God had reduced his strength, and weak 
 ened his authority, power and influence. With the ancie 
 the bo-w, was an essential part of military armor, it 
 a weapon of war, and always used in conquering their enemies 
 hence it became an emblem of strength and victory. This is evi 
 dent from the words of Jacob in ble.ssing his son Joseph. Gen. 
 xlix. 28. " The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, 
 but his bow aboik in strength." Hence, when any one's cord, cr 
 bow-string was said to be loosed, it denoted a defenceless state of 
 subjugation and weakness. 
 
 (12) Zech. iii. 1. (13) Acts xiii. 10. & Zech. i. 15. 
 (14) Psalm Ixxx. 12, 13.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. U5 
 
 ' 5 Sighing, I sink in waters o'er my head, 
 
 ' Darkness and night around their horrors spread, 
 A thousand terrors join in grim array, 
 And, like a cloud, my peace is fled away. 
 
 17 My tortur'd bones are pierc'd with nightly pain, 
 Nor sleep my eyes, nor rest my flesh obtain ; 
 
 18 My stiffening clothes but swell my weight of woe, 
 While ulcera'ing wounds adhesive flow. 
 
 J 6 In vain my daily tears, my nightly groan, 
 Black melancholy marks me for her own. 
 
 1 9 Yet not from earth nor worms my trouble springs, 
 The hand of God this dire affliction brings ; 
 Almighty wrath hath crush'd me down to dust, 
 
 I mourn, I sigh but own, that God is just 
 
 20 Inexorably just in vr.hi, I cry, 
 
 " Spare me, O Lord, nor leave me thus to die, 
 u Beneath the terrors of thine awful frown, 
 " Oppress'd in darkness, and by death cut clown." 
 2 1 I cry for mercy, but no mercy find, 
 
 Hath God, indeed, forgotten to be kind ? 
 
 What is the creature's strength or might t' oppose 
 
 The strength eternal of the Lord of Hosts ? 
 
 22 More frail, more feeble tha7i the spider's snare, 
 Dissolv'd and broken by a puff of air. 
 
 23 Of this assur'cl, I hnov.-ir.y CL-rtj.in doom, 
 Death is thy sentence, and my house, the tomb ; 
 
 (15) Jer. xvii. 17. (17) Lam. ii. 18. 
 
 (18) Psalm xxxix. 11. (19) Psalm xl. 2. 
 
 (2.,) Matt. xv. 22. (21) Psalm Ixxvii. 8, 10. 
 
 (22) Psalm cvii. 27. (23) Eccl. xii. 5.
 
 US TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 24 No further will his awful wrath extend, 
 
 The grave is peaceful here my sorrows end. 
 
 25 Those brighter scenes of days and years now past, 
 I view, and with my present state contrast. 
 
 Shall not one tear of pity be return'd, 
 
 For thoxisands I have shed with those that mourn'd? 
 
 Was I not to the poor and needy kind ? 
 
 The orphan's father, and the widow's friend ? 
 
 26 Hard is my lot, indeed, now left to mourn, 
 Oppress'd with grief, unpitied and forlorn ! 
 Inconstant world ! and expectations vain ! 
 Good turn'd to ill, and ease exchang'd for pain ; 
 Darkness succeeds to light, disease to health, 
 To plenty want, and indigence to wealth. 
 
 27 Blighted are all my schemes, dissolved to air, 
 And darling hope has left me to despair. 
 
 (Verse 24.) Ho-wbcit be -will not stretch out bis hand to the grave, 
 though thc-J cry in his destruction, 
 
 Job here speaks of himself in the last clause of the vcr^e, in the 
 ihirci person a mode of speech which frequently occurs in this 
 book. By the verse before us, he undoubtedly means, that dea'.h 
 will be a final end to all his afflictions. Though his enemies shcut 
 with triumph in his death, yet they have no "power to pursue, or 
 persecute him any furher in their very triumph, their malice is 
 defeated. Nor will God extend his chastisements any further 
 '' My immortal soul shall live beyond the grave, freed from all 
 the sins and sorrows of this wretched world, and received to the 
 embraces of his everlasting love. This is my high consolation in 
 aHliction my sufferings, though sharp, are of short continuance, 
 and I shall soon exchange them for a heavenly cro\vn." 
 
 (23) Rom. sii. 15. (26) J 2 r. viii. 15, 
 
 (27) Col iii. 12. and Amos ix. 10.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 147 
 
 28 My sun is dark'ned in the noon-day sky 
 In shades and solitude, I heave the sigh. 
 Before th' affrighted multitude I rose, 
 Estrang'd to human kind the child of t/oes, 
 
 29 And rais'd my voice and cry'd " The wretch you 
 
 view, 
 
 " Was once a man, and Hv'd and fed like you. 
 " But now, I kindred claim with beasts and fowls) 
 " The dragon's brother, and a mate for owls. 
 
 30 " Here, neither strength, nor beauty, now you see, 
 " Nor form, scarce human, left in wretched me. 
 
 31 " Nor harp, nor organ longer charm my ears ; 
 " Sighs are my music, and my food is tears." 
 
 XXXI. *Such is my wretched state ulas ! how hard, 
 How chang'd, how fallen, and with mis'ry marr'd 
 Yet though my pain all human thought exceeds, 
 I still maintain, 'tis not for impious deeds. 
 
 Accusers hear your malice I defy, 
 
 Thy groundless charges, Eliphaz, deny ; 
 Again, assert the innocence I feel, 
 And to omniscient purity appeal. 
 
 * In the two former chapters, Jab appears to have digressed 
 from the course of his argument, in taking a contrasted and af- 
 fecMng view of his former prosperous, and his present wretch ;.i 
 state. 
 
 He here returns to it, rather abruptly, and employs the remain 
 ing part of his speech in repelling the charges, Eliphaz had 
 brought against him. To introduce this, in connection with what 
 immediately precedes it, this short preface is made in the para 
 phrase. 
 
 (28) Psalm xlii. 9. & Ixxvii. 2. (29) Jer. ix 2 
 (30) Lam. iv. 8. (31) Isaiah xxlv> ^
 
 US TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 1 God's holy law my constant guide hath been, 
 
 My hands I've wash'd, and kept my heart from sin 
 Check'd the first buddings of unchaste desire, 
 And qusnch'cl the flame of lust's unhallow'd fire ; 
 The lawless passion, banish'd from my breast. 
 And shut my eyes against th' alluring pest. 
 
 2 For why should I offend my God above, 
 And forfeit thus, the blessings of his love ; 
 
 3 Ensure th' inheritance of wrath divine, 
 Th' accursed portion of the libertine ? 
 
 With hearts impure, the Lord will never dwell, 
 He hates their ways, and dooms their souls to hell. 
 
 4 All things arc naked to his piercing view, 
 He sees whatever sinful mortals do ; 
 
 No dark'ning shadows can obstruct his sight, 
 Night shines as day, and darkness as the light, 
 Doth not his Providence my ways effect, 
 My conduct mark, my ev'ry step direct ? 
 
 5 If falsehood, fraud and mischief, I pursu'd, 
 Intent on evil and oppos'd to good 
 
 6 (Let me in justice' equal scale be weigh 'd, 
 By truth examin'd, and by right assay'd ; 
 That my integrity be fully known, 
 Approv'dby reason, and to conscience shown ;) 
 
 7 If e'er I wander'd from the path of right, 
 By fraud, extortion, or oppressive might ; 
 Desir'dj for nought, another's goods, or kinds, 
 Let loose my av'iice, and distain'd my hands ^ 
 
 (1) Matt. v. 28. (3) Jiide 7. 
 
 (4)' 2 Chron. xvi. 9. and Prcv. v. 21. 
 
 (5) Ephes. v. 15. and Ectl. v. 1." 
 
 (6) Psalm xxvi. 1. cxxx. ;> arnl 2 Cor. -\. 12. 
 t?"} Ecclxi.9. andEzek. vi. P.
 
 TRIAL OF VTRTUfe, 14* 
 
 8 Then let the mischief on myself rebound, 
 
 My fields be commons, beggars reap my ground ; 
 My wealth, ill gotten, to the poor be giv'n, 
 My children scatter'd to the winds of Heav'n. 
 
 9 Or if, entic'd by beauty's luring face, 
 
 I blindly rush'cl to lawless love's embrace ; 
 My neighbor's house and confidence abus'd, 
 By treach'rous arts, his constant wife seduc'd j 
 
 1 May ills superior, o'er my house be spread, 
 Return'd, in kind, upon my guilty head. 
 
 1 1 The thought, how horrible ! the crime so great? 
 In sight of Heav'n, and 'gainst the social state ; 
 An heinous crime, which God and man condemn, 
 And justly sentence to eternal shame. 
 
 12 The raging fire consumes,, by swift degrees, 
 All social order, all domestic peace ; 
 
 (Verses 11, 12.) For this is an heinous crime, yea, it is an ini 
 quity to be punished by the judges. For it is a f.re that consu- 
 meth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 
 Though polygamy was practised by the ancients, and is still 
 continued among some nations, unenlightened by Christianity j 
 yet the crime of adultery, or matrimonial incontinency, of which 
 Job is here speaking, has, by the common consent of mankind in 
 all ages and nations, been condemned, as one of the most atro 
 cious crimes, and punished accordingly. " This," said Job," is an 
 heinous crime, yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the, judges."' 
 Indeed, we can hardly conceive of a higher crime against society-, 
 or one more directly and fatally levelled at the interest and hap 
 piness of a community. It is expressly forbidden by the !?. v.- of. 
 
 (8) Lev. xxvi. 16. and Matt. vii. 2. 
 
 (9) Eccl.vii. 26. and Jer. v. 7. 
 
 (10) 2 Sam. xii. 11. (11) Gen. xxxviii. 24. 
 (12) Prov. vi. 32. 33. 
 
 N:2
 
 150 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 The charms of friendship, uith love's purest joys, 
 And the fond parent's fairest hope destroys. 
 13 If wealth my soul with arrogance inspir'd, 
 And lust of pow'r, my haughty bosom fir'd ; 
 If, when my injur'cl servant plaintive cry'd, 
 I stopt my ears, and just redress deny'd ; 
 
 God, and the most awful threatenings are denounced against it in 
 the inspired canon whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 
 In the divine decalogue, that comprehensive summary of God's 
 holy law, it stands the next in order to the crime of murder; and 
 certainly, it will yield to none other, either in the turpitude of its 
 nature, or its mischievous effects. Marriage is a divine institu 
 tion, and one of the earliest appointments of heaven. When, with 
 respect to the first father of the human race, God saw that it was 
 not good for man to be alone ; He, in infinite kindness, created 
 and ordained him an help-mtet, and said, " for this cause, shall 
 a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and 
 they twain shall be one flesh." Hence, it is evident, the sexes 
 were designed for each other ; but their intercourse is to be regu 
 lated and bounded by those rules and restrictions, which the all- 
 wise and benevolent Author of existence hath established. The 
 goodness of God, in providing for the hixppiness of his creature 
 man, in this life, and in guarding him from many of the worst 
 evils of his apostacy, is most brightly displayed in the institution 
 of marriage. It is wisely calculated for the continuation and in- 
 crease of the species to restrain, within due bounds, some of the 
 most ungovernably appetites and passions of man to prevent a 
 continued scene of debauchery, contention, murder and blood- 
 .'. render human society, in some measure, a blessing, 
 T would prove an absolute and intolerable curse. 
 It is demonstrable, that a, promiscuous and unrestrained inter- 
 [course of the sexes, directly tends, not only to the wretchedness, 
 ^but the depopulation of the human race ; and hence Job remarks 
 
 .'I'?} 1 Sam. xxv. 17.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 1*1 
 
 14,15 What hope could rise, in dark affliction's hour ? 
 What confidence in his protecting pow'r, 
 Who, by his quick'ning word, of common earth, 
 Our bodies form'd, and gare us life and birth ; 
 
 with the confidence of assurance, respecting matrimonial inconti- 
 nency, " it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would 
 root out all mine Increase" Marriage is one thing which espe 
 cially distinguishes man as a rational creature, and gives him an 
 honorable elevation above the brutal race. It sweetens and con 
 firms to him all the delightful enjoyments of social life, and but 
 for this, they could not exist. On the other hand, unfaithfulness 
 to the marriage covenant, saps the foundation o society, and fa 
 tally empoisons all the streams of human felicity, at the very 
 fountain. He, or she, therefore, who perpetrates this horrible 
 wickedness, forfeits the rank of a rational being, and ought to 
 be viewed and treated as an avowed enemy to the human race. 
 How proper is it then, that this iniquity should be " punished by 
 the judges" that human laws, which should ever have the good 
 of human society for their end, should ordain and execute con 
 dign punishment for this high crime against society : and how 
 astonishing is it, that in any civilized state, the punishment by 
 law affixed to this crime, in cases where one of the parties is a 
 feme sole, or unmarried woman, should be only a small fine, not 
 exceeding that imposed for petit larceny, or stealing a sleeve-but 
 ton \ 
 
 (Verse 15.) Did not He that ma Je me in the tvomb, make him ? 
 and did not one fashion us in the womb ? 
 
 What an excellent lesson does this reflection teach, to the mas 
 ters of servants, to treat them with kindness and clemency ; as 
 fellow creatures and as brethren. With what tender feelings of 
 humanity would it inspire them, but to consider and realize, that 
 they are formed of common clay are creatures of the same God, 
 and have the same Father in heaven, on whom they eaeh are 
 alike dependent for life and happiness. 
 
 (14) 2 Thess. i.[8. (15) Mai. ii. 10.
 
 152 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Our common Father, Maker, Keeper, Lord, 
 Our equal rights, who views with just regard ? 
 Should he in wrath, inflict the chast'ning rod, 
 What could I plead before the bar of God ? 
 Omniscient justice would disclose my blame, 
 And dumb conviction seal my lasting shame. 
 
 16 If e'er I wrong 'd the fatherless and poor, 
 Unfeeling spurn'd the beggar from my door ; 
 To claims of want, was knavish, or unkind, 
 Or the poor widow's scanty mite purloin'd. 
 
 17 The dainty dish, have I alone devour'cl, 
 The fatherless unbidden to my board ? 
 
 1 8 From youth I was, nor can it be deny'd, 
 The orphan's father, and the widow's guide. 
 Nurs'd in my arms, and at my table fed, 
 
 He drank my cup, en joy 'd one half my bed. 
 
 19 From naked wretches, shiv'ring with the cold, 
 The needful garment, did I e'er withhold ? 
 
 20 Warm'd with my fleece, new life their limbs regain, 
 And their clu'll'd heart's-blood glows, thro' ev'ry vein. 
 To life restor'd, and to the light of day, 
 
 They bless the hand, which they can ne'er repay. 
 
 21 Or did I not with steadfast heart engage, 
 " To stem the torrent of a downward age ;" 
 
 (Verse 21.) If I have lift up my band against the fatherless, when 
 I saia my help in the gate ; 
 
 This corresponds with the 7th verse of the 29th chapter, and 
 means the taking undue and wicked advantage in the law, 
 either as jud^e or party, to injure the poor, and deprive him of 
 
 (16) Luke xvi. 21. (17) Rom. xii. 13. 
 
 (18) 1 Tim. iii. 2. and James i 27- 
 
 (19) Matt. xxv. 36. (20) 2 Tim. i. 16. 
 (21) Isaiah Iviii. 6. and 2 Chron. xix. 6.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 155 
 
 But wresting judgment, with resistless might, 
 Stretch forth my hand, against the orphan's right ? 
 52 Then may the guilty limb its crime atone, 
 And my right arm be broken from the hone. 
 
 23 Yet, greater punishment than this appear'd, 
 God was my Judge his awful wrath I fear'd ; 
 His greatness struck my trembling soul with awe ; 
 So high his throne, so holy is his Law. 
 
 24 If, sordid passions' slave, I sought to find, 
 In gold, a portion for th' immortal mind ; 
 In loaded coffers, plac'd my eager trust, 
 And paid my court to heaps of yellow dust. 
 
 25 If Mammon were the god my soul ador'd, 
 And wealth, and lux'ry could my joys afford ; 
 My heart encircled, what my hands had won, 
 As rolls the earth, around th' attractive sun. 
 
 26 If, when I saw the dazzling source of light, 
 Or his fair image, silver queen of night ; 
 
 27 By Pagan zeal inspir'd, with upward gaze, 
 My hand I kiss'd, in homage to their rays ; 
 
 his just right. How often, have we not reason to fear, is this 
 kind of oppression practised, under the mask of law, and th* 
 fair pretext of justice and right ! 
 
 (Verses 26, 7, 8.) If I beheld the sun -when it shine J, &c. 
 
 It is evident from this passage, that Job lived in an age of idol 
 atry, and among a people who worshipped the sun and moon 
 or that this worship was practised by the nations and tribes round 
 about him perhaps, not by his own. Kissing the band, it seems, 
 
 (23 Gen. xxxix. 9. and Phil. ii. 12. 
 
 (24) Psalm lii. 7. Prov. x. 15. and Luke xli. 15. 
 
 (25) Esther v. 11. and James v. 5. 
 
 (26) Horn. i. 23. (27) Matt. xv. 19, and Hoseaxiii. 2.
 
 154 TRIAL OF VIRTUE, 
 
 28 This were indeed, a crime of monstrous size, 
 The Great First-Cause, th* Almighty to despise > 
 To render Mose, the worship due to HIM, 
 Were to deny the GOD OF HEAV'N SUPREME. 
 My soul condemn'd, must sink beneath his rod, 
 And learn, by suffering He alone is God, 
 
 29 Did I enjoy the mis'ry of my foe, 
 Laugh at his fall, and triumph in his woe ; 
 With fiend-like pleasure, in the mischief done, 
 Lift up my hand, to virge his ruin on ? 
 
 30 No. saith my conscience to this hellish sin, 
 
 No hidden malice lurk'd, this heart within ; 
 My hands refus'd, for ill, to render worse, 
 
 Nor tongue, nor heart, e'er wish'd his soul a curse. 
 
 3 1 Tho' my fond sei'vants, scarce by words rest rain 'd, 
 Fir'd with the wrongs, their master had sustain'd, 
 
 was the method of their rendering homage, in this idolatrous 
 worship. This wickedness, Job condemns, as practical atheism 
 a virtual denial of the God that is above, or the only living and 
 true God, who is a Spirit, and requires of his creatures, the spirit- 
 ^iial worship of the heart. 
 
 (Verre 31.) If the men of my tabernacle satd not, Oh, that ise 
 bad of his flesh ! -we cannot be satisfied. 
 
 This passage is ambiguous, and admits of two different senses. 
 It respects, either the cries of hunger, or the cries of revenge 
 either that his servants were full-fed, and had no occasion to 
 complain of the scantiness of their Master's board or, that they 
 had such a high regard to their master's honor and interest, and 
 such a keen resentment of his wrongs, that, unless restrained b/ 
 
 (28) 1 Sam. xv. 23 and Matt. iv. 10. 
 
 (29) Psalm xxxv. 13, 14. (30) Rom. xii- 14. 
 (31) Psalm xxvii. 2.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE, is 3 
 
 Plead for revenge, as hungry men for food. 
 To tear his flesh, and spill his vital blood ; 
 I sooth'd their rage, spread peace and friendship 
 
 round, 
 The fall'ii rais'd, and clos'd the gaping wound. 
 
 32 Both friends and foes the common bounty shar'd, 
 Op'd were my hands, my doors to all unbarr'd ; 
 Within my walls, the stranger was a guest, 
 
 The way-worrrtrav'ler found a welcome rest. 
 
 33 If, fearing shame, I shunn'd my Maker's face, 
 Like the first sinner of the human race ; 
 
 With fig-leaf cov'ring, sought my guilt to hide, 
 Or hourly follies lessen'd, or deny'd. 
 
 34 From right and reason, did th' impassion'd force 
 Of mobs and riots, turn my steady course ? 
 
 Did I, through influ'nce of the wealthy great, 
 Betray the int'rest of the public state ? 
 Their bribes corrupt me ? or their frowns control 
 . Th' unshaken firmness of an upright soul, 
 From fear of families, to shame my worth, 
 And hide at home, when duty call'd me forth ? 
 33 If, o'er the land, I spread oppression's reign, 
 Disseis'd the owner, of his just domain ; 
 
 his authority, they would even fight in his cause, and execute 
 summary vengeance upon his enemy, by tearing his flesh from 
 his bones. The latter sense is adopted, in the paraphrase, because 
 it is more naturally connected in sense, with the two verses 
 immediately preceding ; but the reader will judge for himself. 
 
 (32) Judges xix. 21. 
 
 (33) Gen. iii. 12. 1'rov. xxviii. 13- and Acts v. 8. 
 
 (34) Numb. xxv. 15. and Exod. xxxii. 27. 
 (38) Hab. ii. 11.
 
 156 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 By fraud, or violence, his harvest reapt, 
 A harden'd tyrant, while the injur'd wept ; 
 
 39 My lands unpurchas'd, by extortion gain'd, 
 The starving tenant for his rent distrain'd ; 
 
 40 Then light the curse, and let my cultur'd field, 
 Thistles, for wheat ; for barley, cockle yield. 
 
 15 Oh, were my cause, by Judge impartial try'd, 
 Wise to discern, and upright to decide ! 
 This is my great request, resort dernier, 
 That God would judge, and his award declare. 
 Had my accuser but engross'd his charge, 
 Drawn out on vellum, open, fair and large ; 
 
 36 How would I seize and wear the trophy found, 
 A turban fair, or collar to my gown. 
 
 The broad phylact'ry, ev'ry eye should read, 
 That ev'ry tongue, the cause of truth might plead, 
 That right from wrong, from falsehood truth be 
 
 shown, 
 And all my guilt, to Earth and Ileav'n well knovn. 
 
 37 Dress'd in the majesty of conscious right, 
 With humble boldness, I'd approach his sight, 
 Each action, thro' my pilgrimage, tell o'er, 
 And ev'ry footstep of my life explore. 
 
 40 77ms far spake Job, and thus his cause maintained, 
 Then closed his plea, and solemn silence reign' d. 
 
 (Verse 37.) <:s a prince would I go near unto him that ' 
 
 is, with a firm confidence in the justice of my cause, and the in 
 tegrity of my Judge. 
 
 (39) James v. 4. (35) Psalm xxvi. 1. 
 
 (36) Matt. v. 11. (37) Prov. xxviii. 1. c 1 Pet.iii. 15.
 
 o
 
 PART V. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 THE three friends of Job making no further answer, Elihu, a 
 youthful bystander, takes up the subject of controversy, with 
 many apologies for his itftrusion, and the boldness of his youth. 
 Me reproves them for not satisfying Job, and represents his 
 zeal to speak. Offers himself instead of God, with sincerity 
 and meekness, to reason with Job. Justifies God, from his 
 greatness, in not giving any account of his ways. God calls 
 man to repentance, by visions by afflictions, and by his minis 
 try. Elihu reproves Job for charging God with injustice. 
 God omnipotent, and infinitely wise, cannot be unjust. Man 
 must humble himself unto God. He reproves Job for his ar 
 rogance. Comparison is not to be made with God, because 
 our good, or evil cannot extend unto him. Many cry in their 
 afflictions, but are not heard, for want of faith. Elihu shews 
 how God is just, in all his ways how Job's sins hinder God's 
 blessings. God's works are to be magnified. God is to be 
 feared, because of his great works, in which his wisdom is 
 unsearchable. 
 
 Tbis Part doses the address nf Elihu t and t-r.-ls \:-iih theo7th Chapter.
 
 T, 
 
 XXXII. i HE conf'rence clos'd, the parties still at bay, 
 Nor Job wish'd more, nor they knew what to say ; 
 Tir'd with the efforts of a long dispute, 
 His Mends, despairing, quit the vain pursuit. 
 Confuted and disarm'd, tho' hostile still, 
 O'ercome and vanquish'd, yet averse their will ; 
 A blank ensu.'d, a sullen silence reign'd, 
 Nor proof, nor reas'ning, wit, nor words remain'd. 
 
 3: 5 When lo ! in act to speak, a manly youth, 
 A stander-by, in search of mora'l truth, 
 Who, thro' the whole, had strict attention paid, 
 But silent heard, himself to speak, afraid ; 
 Job and his friends, indignant, now he view'd, 
 That he unhumbled, they confounded, stood ; 
 His pulse beat high, his zeal no longer pent, 
 Wrath furnish'd words, and gave his feelings vent ;. 
 The Syrian Elihu*, Barachel's son, 
 
 Of Nahor's race, and land of Buz, begun. 
 
 6 " From aged lips flow wisdom, knowledge, truth; 
 To such is defrence due, from beardless youth, 
 
 * See the Dissertation in.the/A-pp'endix.
 
 UO TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Because ye're old, and I am very young 1 , 
 Fear seaFd my lips, attention bound my tongue ; 
 And shame-fac'd modesty, with pow'r^suppressM 
 The glowing sentiment within my brea'st. 
 
 7 To age, said I, belongs the right to teach, 
 
 Let knowledge speak, and grey-hair'd wisdom 
 
 preach. 
 
 Deep was th* impression, yet how soon effac'cl ! 
 How oft, is confidence in years, misplac'd ! 
 9 The great, the learn'd, in vain their wisdom boast, 
 In error's mazy path, bewilder'd, lost ; 
 Reason, experience, age, deceptive prove, 
 Untaught by light and wisdom from above ; 
 
 8 God's Spirit only, opes the mental eye, 
 
 And shews blind man, where truth and fasehood lie. 
 
 (Verse 8.) But there Is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of tbt 
 Almighty giveth them understanding. 
 
 Some suppose this verse to be an indication of Elihu's con 
 sciousness of speaking by preternatural inspiration, and indeed,* 
 an express avowal of it. But, it is conceived to be conclusive 
 proof of neither the one nor the other. A consciousness of speak 
 ing by divine inspiration, would not well comport with the ex 
 treme diffidence he manifests, in shewing his opinion ; and au 
 express and solemn avowal of it, would have been a more weigh 
 ty and engaging introduction, than a thousand apologies. Beside, 
 the incorrectness of his quotation from the words of Job, as wilt 
 hereafcer appear, is a circumstance, of itself, sufficient to disprove 
 it. Elihu, though a modest youth, was a zealous advocate for 
 the cause of truth ; and spake, in the warmth of his spirit, from 
 the view with which his mind was impressed with the subject 
 The verse before us, in its connection, though spoken with par 
 ticular reference to the three friends, is a general declaration of 
 the insufficiency of human reason, even in men of the greatest
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 161 
 
 10 " These thoughts, now bid me all my fears forego, 
 Urge me to speak r and my opinion show. 
 
 1 1 While thro' the strife, did each his thoughts recount. 
 And search for truth, in wisdom's deepest fount ; 
 
 12 List'ning I watch'd, and waited, but in vain, 
 As thrifty corn-fields wait the cheering rain ; 
 Ey'd ev'ry glance, each thought and word survey 'd, 
 And all your reas'nings in the balance laid. 
 
 mental powers, to search the deep things of God, and explore, 
 with precision and certainty, the sublime mysteries of his Provi 
 dence i that human reason upon these subjects is fallible and 
 blind ; and, without the illumination and guidance of heaven, will 
 certainly stumble in judgment, and draw erroneous conclusions, 
 even from the most correct and best established premises. 
 
 The sentiments of Elihu, in this passage, and those of Paul in 
 his epistles, and particularly in 1 Cor. ii. so nearly resemble, as to 
 illustrate each other, in comparison. " Great men are not always 
 wise, neither do the aged understand judgment ;" saith Elihu. 
 " The world by wisdom know not God we speak the wisdom 
 of God in a mystery, which none of the princes of this world 
 knew eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered in- 
 to the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for 
 them that love him ;" saith Paul. " But there is a spirit in man, 
 and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding," 
 saith Elihu. "But God hath revealed them unto us by hh Spi 
 rit that we might know the things that are freely given to us of 
 God," saith Paul. These passages, therefore, appear very par 
 allel ; and unitedly point us to the special teachings of the Divine 
 Spirit, and that common privilege, God grants to his people, a 
 spiritual discernment of divine things for their direction in duty. 
 " He that is spiritual judgeth all things The meek will he guidt 
 in judgment, the meek will he teach his way He that believeth 
 hath the witness in himself." 
 
 (12) Prov. xviii. 13. Acts xviii. 28. aud 1 Tim. i. 7. 
 O 2
 
 '62 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 But what avail your pleas ? wide from the mark, 
 Your reas'nings stray, and leave us in the dark ; 
 The thread-bare tale hath oft repeated been, 
 Full veil you cease to say the same again ; 
 Job unconvinc'd, his words unanswer'd are, 
 And ye, wise men, sink down in dumb despair. 
 13 " 'Twas thus, the counsel of th' Eternal mind, 
 Decreed, that human wisdom shall be blind ; 
 Lest ye should claim the glory of his throne, 
 And say, that might and wisdom are our own. 
 God casts him down his pow'r and glory shine ; 
 The rod, the staff and wisdom are divine. 
 14,15 " I'm not a party, nor by Job address'd, 
 Nor with your pleas, will I his words resiit ; 
 
 (Verse 14.) neither ixill I answer him with your speeches. 
 
 To reconcile the parties, and to convince and humble Job, Eli- 
 hu adops and pursues a middle course between the two opposite 
 extremes, in which Job and his friends had labored in the debate. 
 He neither justifies Job, nor does he condemn him upon the same 
 ground with his friends. With them, he does not tax him with 
 secret hypocrisy, and bring against him charges of high crimes 
 and misdemeanors, for which he is visited with the judgments 
 of heaven, and give the latter in evidence of the former : but he 
 reproves and condemns him for his restiveness under the divine 
 correction, and the rash words he had spoken, savoring too little 
 of meekness and submission. And, perhaps, this reproof was 
 not without some ground- The reproof of the Most High, 
 strengthens the idea. Indeed, if under all his sufferings, the great 
 est, perhaps, ever endured by mere man, he had not discovered 
 the least sign of impatience, nor in any instance, or degree, spo 
 ken unadvisedly with his lips ; Job must have been something 
 more than human. 
 
 (13) 1 Cor. i. 29. Jer. ix. 23. and chap i.,21. 
 (15) Amos v. 13. and 1 Cor. i. 19.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. W3 
 
 The pompous rhet'ric, you've apply'd, in vain, 
 By me unborrow'd, for yourselves retain. 
 16,17 I've heard you all, and since your words are past, 
 
 I'll give you my opinion, tho' unask'd. 
 1 3 Fir'd are my thoughts, my anxious, lab'ring soul, 
 Now burns to speak, impatient of control. 
 
 19 Like new made wine, in fragile bottles pent, 
 My swelling heart will burst, deny'd a vent. 
 
 20 I'll ease me then, the painful silence break, 
 Declare my thoughts, and for refreshment, speak. 
 
 2 1 But candid be my words, impartial, right, 
 Honest as truth, and lucid as the light ; 
 Paint men and things, in colors, as they are, 
 No virtues flatter, and no vices spare, 
 
 Let truth and justice glow within my breast, 
 In simple plainness, all my thoughts be dressed, 
 Without respect to title, or estate. 
 Or partial favor to the wealthy great. 
 
 22 Far from my soul, these arts accurs'd be driv'n, 
 Nor let me thus incur the wrath of Heav'n ; 
 Lest angry Justice stop my tainted breath, 
 And blast my guilty soul in endless death. 
 
 XXXIII. " Since thus I've ventur'd, and those fears re - 
 
 pell'd, 
 
 2 Which long, my tongue, in solemn silence, held ; 
 With honest frankness, in the cause of truth, 
 Have op'd the lips of inexperienc'd youth ; 
 1 Now hear me, Job, to all my words attend, 
 With patience hear the counsels of a friend. 
 
 (18) 2 Cor.v. 14. (19) Acts iv. 20. & Matt. ix. 17. 
 (20) Eph. vi. 19. (21) Lev. xix. 15. & Acts xii. 22. 
 (22) Matt. xxii. 16. and Acts xii. 23. 
 (Chapxxxiii. 1.) Acts x. 33, (2) Psalm xxxvii. 30.
 
 164 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 3 Warm from the heart, my words in truth shall flow, 
 And duty clearly to thy conscience show. 
 
 4 My youth despise not, I'm thy fellow worm, 
 And as a creature, stand on equal term ; 
 
 Who form'd thee, Job, our common parent stands, 
 My being, life and breath are in his hands. 
 
 5 Wake then thy senses, to the bus'ness rise, 
 Nor let my boldness strike thee with surprise ; 
 'Tis thy own cause, against thyself I plead, 
 Prepare to answer, if thou canst indeed.- 
 
 In me, receive thy wish, so often made, 
 An human-form, in God Almighty's stead. 
 Hear undismay'd, what I for him can say, 
 Nor fear the presence of thy fellow-clay ; 
 
 7 Of my great pow'r thou need'st not be afraid, 
 Nor shall my thunder fill thy soul with dread ; 
 Then freely speak, fear no superior might, 
 
 I claim no homage, but respect for right. 
 
 8 " Surely I heard, nor can I e'er forget 
 These awful words, thou utt'redst in debate ; 
 Which stunn'd my ears, my soul with horror smote, 
 And which, my heart still trembles, but to quote : 
 
 9 " Free from iniquity my life hath been, 
 
 " My soul is guiltless and my conscience clean ; 
 For no transgression, is my sorrows' smart, 
 " My hands are pure, and innocent my heart ; 
 10 " From venial failings, God occasion takes, 
 And, for fictitious crimes, his anger wakes ; 
 My soul involves, in wretchedness and woe, 
 " And, the' his friend, pursues me~as his foe j 
 
 (3) 1 Thess. i. 3,4. 
 
 (4) Chap. xxxTi. 8. (6) 2 Cor. v. 20. 
 
 (7) Chap. xiii. 21, (9) Chap. ix. 30. & xix. 7. 
 
 (10) Chap. xiv. 18. & xiu. 14.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 165 
 
 1 1 Marks all my paths, confines with bars and locks, 
 And binds my feet in fetters and in stocks." 
 
 12 *' Here rests thy blame ; nor can thy words be 
 
 right, 
 
 'Twas pride that prompted to this impious flight. 
 How pure so'er thy former life hath been, 
 Yet know, that God is greater far than men ; 
 Just are his ways and all his judgments true, 
 Tho' clouds and darkness hide the creature's vie\r. 
 
 1 3 High in the Heav'ns, He reigns, th' Almighty God ; 
 Why then dost strive against his chast'ning rod? 
 Thy duty is submission to his throne, 
 
 Humbly to bow, and know, Him God alone. 
 Deep are his counsels, what canst thou discern ? 
 Believe him right, and meekly wait to learn. 
 The Lord Jehovah, and the Judge Supreme 
 To none accounts, but all account to Him. 
 
 14 " Nor think, because by thee misunderstood, 
 That God's corrections are not just and good. 
 In various ways He speaks ; iu each, and all, 
 Instruction shines ; in each may'st hear his call : 
 But man, perverse, inconstant, stupid, blind, 
 
 Nor hears the voice, nor sees the hand divine. 
 Seeing, he doubts believing, he rejects ; 
 Hearing, he feels not feeling, he neglects ; 
 'Tis all in vain, without the Spirit's aid, 
 Dark is his heart, how bright so'er his head, 
 
 (11) Chap. xiii. 27. and xxxi. 4. 
 
 (12) James iii. 2. and Ps.tlm cxv 3. 
 (13", Isaiah xlv. 9 and Matt, xx 15. 
 (14-; Psalm Ixii. 11. and Micah vi. 6,
 
 165 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 15,16 God works unsseen by his almighty skill, 
 In virtue's path, He guides the wayward will. 
 Nor time, nor place obstruct his gracious might, 
 His hand, by day, is stretch'd is stretch'd, by night. 
 
 (Verses 15, 16.) In a dream, in a vision of the night, -when deep 
 sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed ; then he 
 openeth the ears of men, and sealetb their instruction, &.c. 
 
 It is evident, that in the early ages of the world, and indeed 
 along down through the Mosaic dispensation, and until and after 
 the coming of Christ, divine communications were made to man 
 kind, by visions and nocturnal dreams. The recorded instances of 
 this kind in the Old Testament, are too numerous to be particu 
 larized ; several occur in the reading of the New .But, whether, since 
 the age of miracles, the days of the apostles, and the completion 
 of the sacred canon, divine inspiration in dreams, is to be expect 
 ed ; or is, or has been, in any instance, given ; is a point which 
 perhaps wants proof. At the present day, we cannot see the 
 same occasion for inspired dreams, as what once existed. " We 
 have a tnore sure laord of prophecy, to which we do well to give 
 heed." The word of God is full. The volume of inspiration is 
 completed and closed. This was, essentially, the reason assign 
 ed in the denial of the request of Dives, to have Lazarus sent 
 from the invisible world, to give warning or instruction to any in 
 this. For the same reason, any kind of extra-communication to 
 mankind, to us appears needless, and therefore not to be expect 
 ed. If God have " magnied his ivord above all his name," we 
 may with certainty conclude, He doth nothing in his Providence, 
 calculated to lessen and depreciate it : but if He should now com 
 municate to mankind, by visions or dreams, the knowledge of 
 any truths or duties, not already revealed and contained in his 
 written oracles ; or, of those already revealed, and therein com 
 municated ; would it not imply, in the first case, that enough was 
 not already revealed ; and in the second, that though revealed, it 
 
 (15) Numb. xii. 6. (16) Luke xxiv. 45.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 167 
 
 When conq'ring sleep the busy world invades, 
 And dreary midnight wraps the earth in shades ; 
 He, with his grace, the senseless man draws nigh, 
 Opes the deaf ear, illumes the mental eye, 
 By dreams instructs, the truth in -vision seals, 
 Dispels the darkness, and his will reveals ; 
 
 1 7 His course to check, from plans of vice withdraw, 
 And teach proud man obedience to his Law. 
 
 1 8 " How kind his dealings are ; to all how good ! 
 His bounteous hand gives being, breath and food ; 
 To fav'rite Man, prime pensioner of Heav'n, 
 Are art and nature, grace and glory giv'n ; 
 
 His Maker's hand, his path thro' life directs, 
 From fatal ills, with guardian care, protects ; 
 In dangers, shields him, rescues from the sword, 
 In sickness visits with the healing word. 
 
 19 When fell disease his mortal frame attacks, 
 And dol'rous pain his soul .and body racks ; 
 Chain'd to the bed of languishment and ills, 
 Alternate fever burns and ague chills, 
 
 Thro' ev'ry limb, the spreading torture creeps, 
 Cheerless the day, thro' night he wakes and weeps ; 
 
 20 Nauseous his food, and bitter ev'ry sweet, 
 
 His sick'ning stomach loathes the daintiest meat ; 
 
 was not with sufficient clearness, or strength of evidence ? In ei 
 ther case, would it not be an acknowledgment, equal to an ex 
 press declaration, that the Bible is deficient, and inadequate to 
 the purposes for which it was given ? Thus far, however, we may 
 with safety concede, that whenever by dreams we are preserved 
 either from natural or moral evils, we are bound, with thankful 
 ness to acknowledge the divine hand, and give God the glory. 
 
 (17) Acts ix. 3, 5. and 2 Cor. xii. 7. (19) Isaiah xxvii. 9.
 
 18 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 2 1 In pining atrophy, he wastes away, 
 
 His strength and nature sink, by swift decay ; 
 
 22 Nor men, nor means, his wretched life, can save, 
 Death points his dart, and waits the gaping grave. 
 
 23 Should then, a witness to the truth arise, 
 Some chosen prophet, legate of the skies, 
 For wisdom fam'd, for piety and pray'r, 
 One of a thousand, excellent and rare ; 
 To him declare the righteousness of 4fod, 
 The duty of submission to his rod, 
 
 Point him to Christ who lives and reigns above, 
 And melt his heart to penitence and love ; 
 
 24 The pray'r of faith the humble sick shall save, 
 And pard'ning mercy snatch him from the grave ; 
 The Saviour's suff'rings for his sins atone, 
 
 And Heav'n propitious, send salvation down. 
 
 25 To smiling health restor'd, revers'd his doom, 
 
 His count'nance deck'd with more than infantbloom, 
 
 (Verses 23, 24.) If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, 
 one among a thousand, to shew unto man bis uprightness ; then 
 He is gracious unto him, ami saith, deliver him from going 
 down to the fit, I have found a ransom. 
 
 Perhaps this passage may receive a New Testament explana 
 tion, by comparison with a parallel passage in James v. 14, 15. 
 " Is any sick among you ? Let him, call for the elders of the 
 church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in 
 the name of the Lord ; and the prayer of faith shall save the 
 sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if he have committed 
 sins, they shall be forgiven him." 
 
 (22) 2 Sam. xxiv. 16. 
 
 (23) 2 Cor. v. 20. Matt.xiii. 52. and Acts ii. 38. 
 (25) Psalm ciii. 4.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 16* 
 
 The rose and lily blend their brightest hues, 
 While strength primeval youthful age renews. 
 
 26 Devotion kindles, pray'rs and praise arise, 
 Like fragrant odors wafted to the skies ; 
 
 A pard'ning God, all tears shall wipe away, 
 His grace and truth and righteousness display : 
 Jehovah smiles his favor crowns the whole, 
 
 : Heav'n's bright radiance beams upon his soul. 
 
 us, ev'ry humble penitent shall prove 
 The ble^ings of obedience, in his love. 
 
 27 His piercing eye pervades the human race, 
 And notes, unerring, all their varying ways, 
 Whene'er the guilty, smiting on his breast, 
 Intreats for mercy, with his sins confess'd, 
 And suppliant cries, " I've erred in thy sight, 
 " Stray 'd from the path of duty and delight ; 
 
 " Father, forgive, nor spurn me from thy face, 
 
 " Oh, grant the blessings of .thy pard'ning grace :" 
 
 28 Th' Eternal hears, the God of Heav'n attends, 
 Sure is his promise, swift his grace descends : 
 The dying flesh, He rescues from the grave, 
 
 Th' immortal soui from endless death will save ; 
 To light and joy, and life divine restor'd, 
 See dust and ashes wake to praise the Lord. 
 
 29 " Thus .gracious is our God such, oft have been, 
 His works of mercy to the sons of men. 
 
 30 He brings the wand'rer from destruction's path, 
 To light from darkness, and to life from death, 
 
 (26) 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13. and Psalm iv. 6. 
 27) 2 Sam. xii. 13. and Rom. vi. 21. 
 (28) Isaiah xxxviii. 17. and Micah vii. 18,19, , 
 (30) Psalm Ivi. 13. 
 
 P
 
 176 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 3 1 Note well the subject, Job speak not,- but hear ; 
 Let passion cease to reason, give thine ear ; 
 Hush the proud tumult of thy troubled thoughts, 
 Be calm, be candid, and discern thy faults. 
 
 32 Hear me throughout ; the subject fairly scan, 
 Then clearly prove thyself, the righteous man. 
 'Tvvoukl please me well, thy reas'ning to concede, 
 And whatthou chim'st, confess thou art indeed. 
 
 33 But first, with patience, hear the words of tfbth, 
 And deign to learn sound wisdom from a youth. 
 
 XXXIV. " Hear then, ye sages, hoary sires, attend ! 
 Weigh, well the counsels of an upright friend. 
 3 Your senses wake, no fraudful art is here 
 Judge, but with candor, and no mischief fear. 
 
 (\ r erse 5.) For the ear tr'icth words as th: mouth tastctb meat. 
 
 There is an important gospel sentiment couched in these 
 words and their connection, too liule realized by mankind, and 
 perhaps not at all by the unbelieving part of the world ; viz. that 
 the spiritual sense of the child of God, or the man of true wis 
 dom, is as acute and discerning with respect to its prof er objects, 
 as the natural and bodily senses are of theirs Elihu recognizes 
 this truth, when he addresses his hearers in this character, and 
 under this figurative allusion, appeals to the discernment of their 
 spiritual sense. " Hear my words O ye wise men, and give ear 
 unto me, ye that have knowledge ; for the ear t^ietb Zi'ords, as the 
 mouth tcsteih meat. Let us choose to us judgment, let us know 
 among ourselves what is good." The internal evidence which 
 the Christian has of his religion, is more weighty, powerful and 
 conclusive, than any argument from without ; and all the con 
 viction he would otherwise obtain by the improvement of his 
 reasoning and intellectual powers. If, by our senses, we can ob- 
 
 (33) Psalm xxxiv. 11. (2) Prov. i. 5. & 1 Tim. iy. 12.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 171 
 
 Tries not the mouth, the nature of its food, 
 And by sensation, relishes the good ? 
 The moral taste, no less acute, discerns, 
 And truth and duty, with precision, learns. 
 4 With honest motives, then, the task attempt, 
 From party pride, and prejudice exempt, 
 
 tain that knowledge of natural objects, which will exclude every 
 rational doubt, and compel our assent, is it not reasonable to sup- 
 p ose that God hath given his people the means of knowing 1 , 
 with at least an equal certainty, spiritual objects, which are of 
 infinitely greater importance to us ? It is true, this is the know 
 ledge of faith, but this is as certain as the knowledge of sense, 
 and indeed more so. Can we have higher evidence of any object, 
 than the divine testimony, the truth of God in the declarations of 
 his word ? And cannot our internal and spiritual sense of spiritu 
 al objects, be as discerning, as keen and accurate, as our natural 
 perceptions and senses are of natural objects ? This is the in 
 struction of scripture. " He that believeth hath the witness in 
 himself." He has that experience of the power of divine grace 
 upon his own heart, in turning him from darkness to light, and 
 from Satan to God, as gives him full conviction. He sees such 
 beauty in God's word, such divine wisdom and glory in the whole 
 and every pa.rt of the gospel plan, that he knows it to be from 
 God. 
 
 If these ideas be just, and supported by the Bible, they will 
 teach us to discard with abhorrence, as illiberal, uncandid and 
 unchristian, that diffusive liberality, extolled by many, as the real 
 excellency of the Christian character, and the chief glory of the" 
 age, viz- for every man to believe every other man correct in his 
 faith, however opposed they are in their sentiments ; and so em 
 brace him as a good Christian, and a fellow traveller to the Zion 
 above. This is so far from being the exercise of Christian cha 
 rity, that it argues the highest pitch of stupidity and moral blind 
 ness. 
 
 (o) Chap. xii. 11. (4) Rom. xii.2.
 
 171 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 . 
 
 And conscience, voice divine, within your breast, 
 
 Heav'n's faithful witness, shall the truth attest ; 
 Falsehood unmask'd, no more its charms unfold, 
 Nor wit, for worth, nor tinsel pass for gold. 
 
 " In this unening scale, let Job be weigh'd, 
 Whose lips presumptuous, have so lately said, 
 " Myself am rightccus, and my God unjust, 
 " Deaf to my cries, and treach'rous to my trust. 
 " With servile fear, should I my right belie, 
 " And own my guilt, tho j conscience should deny ? 
 u Confess hypocrisy, his wrath to soothe, 
 " And utter falsehood, for the sake of truth ? 
 " Th* Almighty's arrows, know, my heart have 
 
 pierc'd, 
 
 " His pow'r, my soul, in sorrow's fount, immers'd ; 
 " Faultless I suffer, blasted my desires, 
 " Mortal my wound, and hope, with peace, expires." 
 
 7 " What man, like Job, who heeds nor blame, nor 
 
 praise, 
 
 Smiles at contempt, and triumphs in disgrace ; 
 Whose sweetest bev'rage, are reproaches just, 
 And burning censure cools his raging thirst ? 
 
 8 Lost to all shame, and obstinate in wrong, 
 With words of wickedness, he fills his tongue ; 
 With scoffing infidels, walks hand in hand, 
 And fearless, strives to lead the impious band. 
 
 9 For such his words, without remorse, or sighs, 
 
 " From serving God, nor hopes, nor profits rise ; 
 His smiles so fickle, and his gifts so small, 
 'Tis vain to love, or worship him at all." 
 
 (6) Chap xix. 7 and ix. 17. (8) Psalm 1. 18. 
 
 (9) Chap. b;. 22. and Mai. iii. U.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 173 
 
 10 From words so shocking, turn, with haste, away, 
 Ye men of sapience, hear what I shall say ; 
 
 Shall worm's of earth, emerging from the dust, 
 Rise up, and say their Maker is unjust ? 
 Far from our breasts, the impious tho't be driv'n, 
 Forbid it Reason, Conscience, Earth and Heav'n. 
 
 1 1 Ascribe due honor to his glorious name, 
 Who'lives and reigns, eternally the same ; 
 
 Tho' clouds and darkness blind the creature's sight, 
 His ways are justice, and his throne is right j 
 Due wages shall his holy hand bestow, 
 On ev'ry man, who liv'd on earth below ; 
 
 12 The grace and justice of the righteous Lord, 
 The sinner and the saint, shall well reward ; 
 That own him just, this triumph in his reign ; - 
 No moral ills his holy hands distain. 
 
 13 " Nor less a Sov'reign, than the Judge divine ; 
 Prais'd by his works, how bright his glories shine I 
 Uncaus'd, uncounsel'd, uncontrol'd in might, 
 
 He rules the world, as pleasing in his sight ; 
 
 The mighty universe, his hand sustains, 
 
 Directs its motions, deals its joys and pains ; 
 
 He sees each part, and lives throughout the whole,- 
 
 The Sov'reign Lord, and actuating Soul. 
 
 From none receiv'd. He singly fills the throne,. 
 
 And as He wills, disposes of his own. 
 
 His lib'ral bounty, ev'ry blessing gave, 
 
 In Him, all life, and breath, and being, have, 
 
 (10) Psalm xcii 15. 
 
 (11) Psalm Ixii. 12. & Prov. v. 21- 
 
 (12) Gen. xviii. 25. and Psalm xlv. 6. 
 
 (13) 1 Chron. xxix. 11. and Prov. via, 31, 
 
 P 2
 
 174 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 14 Should He but deal, in justice with our race, 
 
 Or once from them, withhold preserving grace; 
 
 15 All, in that moment, that have life and breath, 
 Would sink together, in immediate death. 
 
 16 " List to my voice, the solemn subject scan, 
 If thou have wisdom, use it like a man ; 
 Awake thy reason, send thy thoughts abroad^ 
 And ponder well the government of God. 
 
 17 This question solve, now put thyself at school, 
 Shall folly teach, and wickedness bear rule ? 
 
 Wilt thou, proud emmet, God's high throne assume 
 Seize on his sceptre govern in his room ? 
 Or swol'n with rage, blaspheme his holy name, 
 And his most perfect justice, dare condemn ? 
 
 1 8 Should some poor subject to his monarch say, 
 Tho' form'd of dust, and sov'reign of a day, 
 
 " Unfit to rule, unworthy of thy trust, 
 " Thy heart is wicked, and thy reign unjust ;" 
 Would this be pleasing ? well his state become ? 
 Or guilt of treason strike the rebel dumb ? 
 
 19 How vast th' offence, then, judging great by small, 
 Thus to address the sov'reign Lord of all ; 
 
 The KING ETERNAL, and the JUDGE MOST JUST, 
 Who form'd both prince and peasant of the dust ; 
 . With pow'r impartial deals his gracious aid 
 To all the creatures which his hands have made ! 
 
 (14) Psalm xxvi. 9. 
 
 (15) Gen. iii. 19. & Eccl.xii. 7. 
 
 (16) 1 Cor. x. 15. 
 
 (17) 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. 
 
 (18) Exod. xxii. 26. 
 
 (19) Rom. ii. 11.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. irs 
 
 30 But lo ! his wrath, what sudden plagues attend, 
 Ami prince and people in one ruin blend ! 
 Behold the tumult, hear the midnight cry, 
 They shriek with terror, gasp for breath, and die. 
 Tlu j hand divine i:t visible the powV, 
 Whence oft whole cities perish in an hour. 
 
 21 For, all mankind are ever in his sight, 
 
 He views their actions, in the clearest light ; 
 
 22 Nor darkness, nor the shades of death aft'ord, 
 To wicked men, a hiding from the Lord. 
 
 23 Beyond desert, none suffers penal puin, 
 There none has right to murmur, or complain. 
 
 24 " With steady flame, his holy am-cr burns, 
 And his high hand the wheel of empire turns ; 
 Princes unnumber'd, mingles with the dead, 
 And gives their crowns to others in their stead. 
 
 55 The hidden mischief, which their hands pursue, 
 Tho* veil'd with midnight, cannot 'scape his view.: 
 Their crimes, detected by the beams of morn, 
 O'erwhelm their souls with public shame and scorn ; 
 
 (Verse 20.) In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be 
 troubled at midnight, and pats away : and the tnighty shall 
 be taken away without hand. 
 
 This was so literally exemplified in the last of the ten plagues 
 upon Egypt, that it seems like either a prophecy or history of 
 what we read, Exod. xii. 29. " And it came to pass, that, at mid 
 night, the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, 
 from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on the throne, unto the 
 first born of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the first 
 born of cattle." 
 
 (20) Rev. xviii. 8. and Exod. xii. 29. 
 
 (21) 2 Chron. xvi. 9. (22) Psalm cxxxix. 12, 
 (23) Ezra ix. 13. (24) Daa.ii. 21. 
 
 (25) Rev. ii. 2.
 
 176 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 26 To death deserv'd, shall Heav'n the wretches send, 
 That all may see, and each his ways amend. 
 
 27 " Such are the bitter fruits their sins produce, 
 Who leave their God, and all his grace abuse, 
 His truth reject, for wickedness and lies, 
 Harden their hearts, and close their haughty eyes. 
 
 28 By them oppress'cl, the poor, afflicted groan ; 
 
 God hears their cries, and sends deliv'rance down \, 
 29,30 And sure the peace his gracious arm effects, 
 
 No earthly force can harm, whom He protects, 
 Nor arts of demagogues shall influ'nce have, 
 Who soothe and flatter, with design t' enslave. 
 But if his face he hide, what storms arise ! 
 The day is darkness, and the night surprise ; 
 Fear, and distress, and anguish spread around, 
 Nor private peace, nor public good is found. 
 
 31 " Surely 'tis fit and just for all like thee, 
 Before thy Maker's throne to bow the knee, 
 And in these words of penitence, adore 
 
 " I've borne chastisement, and will err no more ; 
 
 32 " My mind enlighten, make me know my sin, 
 " And guide my footsteps, lest I stray again.'* 
 
 33 " Wilt thou standout, still choose thy selfish lot ? 
 He will correct thee, shoulclst thou choose or not. 
 SUBMIT TO GOD these words HE speaks not I ; 
 Then weigh them well, and if thou dare reply. 
 
 34 This is the truth, the duty, I infer 
 
 Ye men of wisdom, tell me, if I err. 
 
 (26) Psalm Iviii. 10. (27) 2 Pet. ii. 20. 
 
 (28) James v. 4. and Psalm xii. 5. 
 
 (29) 2 Sam. vii. 1. (:>0) 1 Kings xii. 28. 
 
 (31) Psalm xxxix. 9. Dan. ix, 7. and Chap xlii. 5. 
 
 (32) 1 Cor. xiii. 12.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 177 
 
 35 The words of Job, inspired by passion strong, 
 Are void of reason, inconsistent, wrong. 
 
 56 FATHER IN HEAV'N ! be not ray pray'r deny'd 
 May Job, still obstinate, be fully try'd ; 
 His errors teach him, cause him to relent, 
 And, of his wrongs, with heart and voice repent ; 
 Lest wicked men an use perverse should mate 
 Of those vain words, he so unwisely spake. 
 
 37 " Still he presumes, in more audacious strains ; 
 Maddens with rage, and all reproof disdains ; 
 Shouts with contempt, rebellion adds to sin, 
 Blasphemes his God, and spurns his fellow-men. 
 
 XXXV. " Doth thy own image, dress'd in colors bright ; 
 Disturb thy senses and offend thy sight ? 
 Preserve thy reason, for thyself decide, 
 Then, if thou canst, thy future blushes hide. 
 ?, 3 Dost still defend the doctrine thou hast taught, 
 As words of reason, and with wisdom fraught ? 
 " My righteousness th' Eternal God's exceeds, 
 " So pure my heart, so upright are my deeds ; 
 " Yet, what avails it to be wise and good ? 
 " Virtue's a name, most us'd, least understood ; 
 
 Its fairest honors are a crown of thorns 
 
 " And what the profit neat, it e'er returns ?" 
 
 (Verse 36.) My dsv.re is, that yob <,nay be tried, &.c. 
 
 This is an apostrophe to the Most High, in the way of a de 
 vout ejaculation. In the original, it is, My Father, let yob be tried. 
 This would give peculiar force and animation to the passage ; 
 and it is to be regretted that this form is not preserved in the 
 translation. 
 
 (2) Rom. ii. 15. and Matt xxvi. 65. 
 
 (3) Chap, ix.- 20.
 
 IT'S TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 4 " To this inquiry, I will answer make, 
 Both for thine own, and thy companion's sake. 
 But ere thou chargest, 'stablish well thy claim, 
 Lest thou receive thy boasted dues, in shame. 
 
 5 Lift up thine eyes, behold yon azure sky, 
 
 And sailing clouds ; how distant, and how high ! 
 Raise now thy finger, brush those mists away, 
 And wipe each freckle, from the face of day. 
 Too short thine arm, alas ! too weak thy pow'rs, 
 
 To reach the point, to which thy fancy tow'rs 
 
 How great, how high is God ! let Him be fear'd, 
 Who form'd the earth, and Heav'n's high arches 
 rear'd. 
 
 6 Is He dependent on a worm He made ? 
 Canst thou, indeed, oblige Him with thine aid ? 
 If thou should sins commit say, only one ; 
 Will He be harm'd ? if many, then undone ? 
 
 7 Or, change thy course, the righteous man display 
 Would He receive great favors from thy way ? 
 
 8 By sin, thou may'st thy fellow men annoy, 
 
 By righteousness, advance their peace and joy. 
 
 9 Of these, the first, on earth, full oft we see, 
 In varied forms of human misery. 
 Unfeeling tyrants fill the world with woe, 
 Beneath oppression's yoke, whole nations bow ; 
 Unnumber'd wretches wear the galling chiin. 
 And in fell slav'ry, cry for help, in vain. 
 
 (4) Chap, xxii. 2, 3. (5) Psalm viii. 3 
 
 (6) Jer vii 19. 
 
 (7) Psalm xvi. 2.& 1 Chron. xxix. 14. 
 
 (8) Eccl. ix. 18. and Gen. vi. 18. 
 
 (9) Lukexviii. 3.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 179 
 
 10 But why in vain ? because they will not cry 
 
 To Heuv'n for succor, nor on God rely ; 
 
 None seeks aright depress'd in dark despair, 
 In deepest grief, none found to ask, " Oh, where 
 " My Maker Cod, who hears the humble pray, 
 
 " Gives songs for sighs, and. changes night to day ; 
 
 1 1 " To breathing dust, his own fair image join'd, 
 " The active, rational, immortal mind, 
 
 " Of wond'rous pow'rs, and Lenities possess'd, 
 " Bey<~nd the flying fowl, or grazing beast ?" 
 
 12 They cry, indeed, but God no answer gives, 
 Their hearts so proud, so wicked are their lives ; 
 
 13 For selfish pray'rs, ungracious, insincere, 
 Are but abominations in his ear. 
 
 (Verse 13 ) Surely God will not bear vanity, neither will tbe Al 
 mighty regard it. 
 
 This is the uniform instruction of scripture, amf it is no less a 
 dictate of enlightened reason, that unless the heart'be right with 
 God, conformed to his moral character, and actuated with a su 
 preme regard to his glory, no duties are performed in outward 
 life, nor any accep f able prayers can be offered. God looketh up 
 on the heart, and judgeth according totruvh ; and his infinite ho 
 liness can never look with appr bation or complacence upon a 
 heart supremely devoted to the service of sin, however fair and 
 specious the visibility, to the view of men. Hence, the sacrifi 
 ces of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord. They " ask 
 and receive not, because they ask amiss, that they may consume 
 it upon their lusts " " They that are in the flesh cannot please 
 God God is a spirit, and seeketh such to worship him, who 
 worship inspirit and in truth." 
 
 (10) Psalm cxlix. 2, and Acts xvi 25 
 
 (11) Psalm xciv. 12. (12) Pior. i. 28. 
 (13) Psalm v. 4.
 
 189 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 14 Altho' thy unbelieving heart despair, 
 Averse to try, unus'd to trust his care ; 
 
 Yet, wise his judgments, all his ways are ev'n, 
 And MERCY still, piime attribute of Heav'n : 
 Then trust in God, for his salvation wait, 
 And goodness infinite shall crown thy state. 
 
 15 Thy pride, 'thy doubts discard these are thy sins, 
 And these the source, Avhence all thy mis'ry springs, 
 Thence, blind and harden'd, in extreme of \voe, 
 God's chast'ning hand, thou canst not see, nor know; 
 
 16 These seal thy folly, ope thy mouth, in vain, 
 To censure justice, wrangle and complain. 
 
 XXXVI. " Patience, my friend, thy answer yet delay, 
 
 I've somewhat more on God's behalf to say ; 
 5 'Tis no light subject, I attempt to scan, 
 The righteous Providence of God to man. 
 Fkitbe my thoughts, my noblest pow'rs employ 'd, 
 By no vain phantom from the path decoy 'd ; 
 I-'ree scope I'll give, dig deep, soar high, range wide 
 With Truth my aim, and Reason for my guide ; 
 And all the fruit, an humble off 'ring, bring, 
 Of praise to God, my Maker and my King. 
 
 4 In facts, I deal, not visionary lore. 
 
 Regard them well, confess, and doubt no more. 
 
 (Verses 4, 5.) be that is perfect in Knowledge is ivitbtbet. 
 
 Behold God is mighty, and despisetb not any ; be is mighty in 
 
 strength and wisdom. 
 
 Elihu's proposition is to demonstrate to Job, the justice of God ; 
 which', as he considered, Job had expressly impeached. He be- 
 
 (14) Chap xix 26. and Psalm xxxvii 6. 
 
 (15) Ezra ix. 15. and Chap. xvii. 12. 
 (4) 2 Cor. ii. 17.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 181 
 
 *' A God all-present, thou wilt sure agree, 
 Hath perfect knowledge, thro' immensity ; 
 Conscious to all thy thoughts, asleep, awake, 
 He, thence, could not thy character mistake. 
 5 " If Pow'r almighty singly fill'd the throne, 
 No happiness had creatures ever known. 
 Tho' strong his arm, benevolent his soul ; 
 His reign is happy, tho' above control ; 
 Inctin'd to good ; as able as inclin'd, 
 He acts himself, and cannot be unkind. 
 
 " Nor less his WISDOM, than his goodness, 
 
 shines ; 
 
 The highest ends, by fittest means, designs ; 
 Effects and causes all, throughout He views, 
 And sure the plans, He steadily pursues. 
 
 " A Being thus array 'cl, confess thou must, 
 With knowledge, wisdom^ goodness, pom'r is JUST. 
 
 6 " His hand the sons of wickedness destroys, 
 
 Th"' oppress'd redeems, and fills the poor with joys. 
 
 7 The people of his love He ne'er forsakes, 
 Nor, cov'nant mercy, from his chosen takes. 
 
 gins with an abstract argument drawn from the'reason and nature 
 of things, and shews that infinite justice is essentially connected 
 with the other necessary and acknowledged attributes of the De 
 ity ; particularly his knowledge, power, goodness and wisdom. 
 All this, in these two verses, is couched in the concisest terms 
 possible ; so that it would even entirely escape the notice of the 
 inattentive reader. To put this subject in a clear light, and thus 
 give the argument its proper force, it is spread out ac large in the 
 paraphrase. 
 
 (5) Psalm li. 17. (G) 2 Pet. ii. 9, and PC aim ix. 4. 
 
 (7) Psalm xxxiv. 15, and Rev. iii. 11. 
 
 Q
 
 J8J TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 His eyes are ever, on the saints for good, 
 He, as a parent, carves their daily food, 
 Deals out their trials, heav'nly comforts gives ; 
 At death, their spirits to himself receives, 
 Call'd up to glory, freed from sin and pain, 
 With God to dwell, as kings, for ever reign. 
 
 8 " While passing thro' this scene of noise and 
 
 strife, 
 
 Enduring all the discipline of life, 
 In chains confin'd, with galling fetters bound, 
 By dark'ning storms of ills encompass'd round : 
 
 9 Their eyes he opens on their sinful deeds, 
 
 To see their guilt their suff' rings all exceeds ; 
 
 10 Gives them a wise improvement of the rod, 
 And turns their souls, from sin and death to God. 
 
 1 1 When thus, afflictions, fruits of mercy, prove, 
 And sinners draw t' obedience and love ; 
 Prosperity, its charms, around them spreads, 
 And years of happiness roll o'er their heads. 
 
 12 But if their obd'rate hearts, unhumbled still, 
 Prove disobedient to his holy will ; 
 
 HeavVs wrath pursues them, slaughter'd with the 
 
 sword, 
 They die accurs'd, and never know the Lord. 
 
 13 . " 'Tis thus, that hypocrites of guileful heart, 
 Deafen their ears, nor from their sins depart ; 
 Bound with distress, refuse to yield, or pray, 
 But store up wrath against the dreadful day. 
 
 (8) Psalm cvii. 10. (9) 2 Chron. xxxiii 12. 
 
 (11; Psalm xxxvi. 8. (12) 1 Cor. xi. 30. 
 (13) Matt, xxiii. 27. and Rom. ii. 5.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 185 
 
 14 In youth cut off, they find an early grave, 
 And with lewd libertines, their portion have. 
 
 15 " To humble souls, the Lord gives peace and 
 
 rest, 
 And seals instruction to the poor oppress'd. 
 
 16 This, Job, by blest experience, thou hadst known, 
 And these rich comforts all, had been thine own ; 
 Hadst thou, with penitence, confess'd thy sin, 
 His grace implored, and sought thy God again. 
 Divine compassion would have rais'd thee up, 
 Thy path enlarg'd, and cheer'cl thy soul with hope, 
 "Marrow and fatness o'er thy table strew'd, 
 
 And all thy suff*rings sanctified for good. 
 
 17 Buttho' chastis'd, rebellious is thy wiil, 
 
 And hence, the wrath of Heav'n attends thee still ; 
 For, while thy pride and folly, thou wilt keep, 
 Thy pride and folly's harvest, thou shall reap. 
 
 18 " Oh, fear his anger, tremble and beware, 
 Lest sudden death consign thee to despair. 
 No ransom then, can for thy life ba giv'n, 
 
 Nor cries, nor tears, avert the wrath of Heav'n. 
 
 19 Thy riches trust not j-istice ne'er was sold, 
 Nor turn'd by force, nor brib'd by heaps of Gold, 
 
 20 " Pant not for darkness and the night of death, 
 Thy pains to ease, and stop thy lab'ring breath. 
 What multitudes, by sudden pKigues destroy'd, 
 At night cut down, have left their places vokl ! 
 
 21 Heed well thy wishes, Job, refrain thy voice, 
 Lest Gocl, in judgment, grant thy guilty choice. 
 
 (14) Psalm lv. 23. andDeut. xxiii 17. 
 
 (15) Psalm Ixxii. 4. (16; Psalm xiii. 19. 8c xxxvi 8. 
 (18) Psalm xlix. 7. (19) Prov xi. 4. & Zepli. i. 8. 
 (20) Exod. xii; 29. (21) Psalm Ixvi. 13.
 
 184 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Presumptuous wish ! wouldst thou not wish ip 
 
 vain, 
 
 Wish more for patience, than release from pain : 
 Deceiv'd, indeed, thou art thy choice hath been, 
 Not suffering evil, hut committing sin. 
 
 22 " Yet, hope in God, and trust his pow'r to save 
 From pain, from sickness, and the gaping grave ; 
 This for the humble, oft his hand hath wrought, 
 And none shall wander, hy his spirit taught. 
 
 23 " Whose skill, hut his shall guide his wond'rous 
 
 way ? 
 
 What pow'r superior teach him to obey ? 
 Shall sinful men, the beings of an hour, 
 Condemn his justice, or defy his pow'r ? 
 
 24 " God's works of wonder, which our eyes behold ; 
 By poets sung, by prophets long foretold, 
 
 Now celebrate with honor Him adore, 
 Extol his goodness, and complain no more. 
 
 25 These, seen by all, by all but fools admir'd, 
 
 The wiseinstruct, whose breasts with truth arefir'd ; 
 So bright they shine, so wide their beams extend, 
 'Beyond the bounds, where time and nature end. 
 
 26 " How great is God ! the Lord of Hosts, his 
 
 name ! 
 
 Mighty his arm, and glorious is his fame ! 
 We know him not so far above our sight, 
 In vain we soar to reach his awful height. 
 Infinite ages ere the world began, 
 Or lifeless dust was quicken'd into man, 
 
 (22) Matt. xvii. 5. (23) Dan. iv. 35. 
 
 (24) Rev. xv. iii. (25) Psalm xcii. i. 
 
 (26) 1 Ccr. xiii. 12. and Psalm xc. 2.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 18 
 
 JEHOVAH liv'd Eternity's his own- 
 Great Cause uncuusM all-knowing, yet unknown. 
 His hand unseen the universe directs, 
 From least to greatest, ev'ry change effects. 
 
 27 Ascending vapors, by his high comirund, 
 In rains descending, fertilize the kind : 
 
 28 The misty clouds, in gentle show'rs distil, 
 Discharge their treasures, and display his skill. 
 
 29 Mysterious Providence ! who can explain 
 The Jaws of nature, for a show'r of rain ? 
 
 How the black rising cloud, by swift winds driv'n, 
 Expands, and darkens all the face of Heav'n 
 
 30 By what explosions caus'd, the thunders roar, 
 Rend the blue vault, and shake the frighted shore ; 
 While sheets of lightning, in succession blaze, 
 And nights drear mantle covers earth and seas. 
 
 31 " But midst the darkness, moral truth refines ; 
 God's wrath, or goodness in the tempest shines. 
 O'erwhelming floods his righteous frowns attest, 
 While genial show'rs give food to man and beast. 
 
 32 " Oh, sight amazing ! view yon western sky ! 
 The clouds ascend ! the prodigy is nigh ! 
 
 In awful pomp, the threat'ning storm comes on, 
 Dust fills the air, and clouds obscure the sun ; 
 
 33 Hoarse-rumbling, distant thunder greets the ear, 
 Loud, and more loud, proclaims the tempest near, 
 The grazing herds look up, by instinct led, 
 Snuff'with affright, and hasten to their shed 
 
 (27) Ps-alm cxlvii. 8. (28) Psalm Ixviii. 9. 
 
 (29) Psalm civ 3. 8c xviii. 12. (30) Chap, xxxvii. 3. 
 
 (31) Acts xiv. 17. & Heb. vi. 7. (32) 1 Kings xviii. 44, 
 
 Q2
 
 186 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Nature is hush'd, and trembling waits the shock, 
 Where now, the wretch who dares his Maker mock? 
 
 XXXVII. " It comes, it comes ! dark fear my soul appals, 
 And leaps my heart to burst its prison walls. 
 
 2 Hark ! hark ! be still ! rove not your tho'ts abroad ; 
 With rev'rence hear : it is the voice of God. 
 
 3 From North to South it spreads, from East to West, 
 And fire and storm attend his high behest. 
 
 4, 5 In awful majesty, his thunders roll, 
 
 And streaming lightnings blaze, from pole to pole ; 
 Their splendors glare insufferably bright, 
 Astound the senses, blind our feeble sight ; 
 Next peal on peal the tortur'd ether rend ; 
 Ileav'n, earth and air, in dread confusion blend ; 
 The shaken clouds, dissolving into rain, 
 In bursting cataracts, descend amain. 
 
 " Marv'ious his works, unnumber'd, without end? 
 Which all may see, but none can comprehend. 
 The rolling seasons, in their varied forms, 
 Mild vernal show'rs, and desolating storms, 
 The fruits of Autumn and the sunny field, 
 The joys which harvest and the vintage yield, 
 The frosts of Winter, and the flow'rs of May, 
 All own his hand, his sov'reign voice obey. 
 
 6 That men his work may see, confess his might, 
 Let there be enow, He saith, and earth is white. 
 
 7 The year's old age, cold, dreary Winter's come, 
 The village swains, in crowds, now hasten home, 
 
 (Chap, xxxvii 1.) Chap, xxxviii. 1. (2) Amos iii. 8. 
 (5) Psalm Ixxvii. 19. (6) Gen. i. 3. 
 
 (7) Exod. ix. 19. and Psalm cxi. 2.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 1ST 
 
 Forsake the fields, their cares and toils give o'er, 
 Kindle their fires, and bar the cottage door. 
 
 8 Wild beasts of prey, retreating too, wkh care, 
 To darksome crves, and mountain dens repair ; 
 While feather'd songsters, birds of various wing, 
 Seek warmer climes, and wait the cheering Spring. 
 
 9 " From various points, th' aerial changes flow, 
 From Southern regions, driving whirlwinds blow ; 
 Next, the fierce North wind, sweeps the azure sky, 
 The clouds dispels, and brings cold Winter nigh ; 
 
 10 The earth, to stone, the lakes, to ice congeal'd, 
 Present a wide, unvaried, milk-white field ;. 
 Nature is shrouded, life and verdure gone, 
 The forest leafless, barren ev'ry lawn. 
 
 H' " But lo ! the Spring, at God's command, returns, 
 Warm breezes blow, and genial splendor burns ; 
 The clouds obedient, fit the earth for flow'rs, 
 Toil at their work, and fall in fruitful show'rs ; 
 Beams the warm sun, the op'ning clouds between, 
 And vivid rainbows deck the gladsome scene. 
 
 12 " Those floating cisterns, borne by winds on high, 
 
 At God's supreme command, or stand, or fly ; 
 
 He points their path, his orders they obey, 
 
 O'er the wide earth, and ever rolling sea. 
 
 13 On different errands, sent in diff'rent forms, 
 
 Of gentle show'rs, or inundating storms ; 
 
 While those, in mercy, to his creatures sent, 
 These are in justice, for their chastisement. 
 
 (8) Psalm civ. 20, 21. 
 ( 10) Psaim xviii 15. 
 (12) Psalm civ. 24.
 
 rs TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 14 " Hear then, O Job, God's wond'rous works ex 
 
 plore, 
 His hand confess, be silent and adore. 
 
 15 For, dost thou know : or canst by search declare, 
 When God the vapors nas'd in empty air ? 
 
 Or when his sun, He caus'd with radiance bright, 
 To cheer the Heav'ns, and skirt the cloudswith light? 
 
 16 Canst thou the clouds expkdn the causes whence? 
 They're pois'd in air, tho' weighty, close and dense ; 
 In shapes more varied, drest in brighter hue, 
 Than fancy form'd, or pencil ever drew ? 
 
 Are these tlvj works ? in these, thy wisdom shine ? 
 Or fruits of knowledge, and of pow'r divine ? 
 
 17 " When Spring returns, and southern breezes- 
 
 blow, 
 
 And the young year is freed from frost and snow ; 
 Whence do thy garments, by their warmth oppress* 
 And force thee to assume a summer-dress ? 
 
 1 8 " Didst thou with Him, outspread th 5 impervious, 
 
 sky, 
 A molten mirror to the raptur'd eye ? 
 
 19 If such thy wisdom, teach us how to pray ; 
 We, stupid creatures, know not what to say. 
 
 20 " Should I this folly to my guilt annex, 
 
 To judge that wisdom which the world directs ; 
 Ope my proud lips t' address his holy ear, 
 With bold presumption, destitute of fear ? 
 Shame on the sinner, who thus dares to hope ; 
 In floods of wrath, the wretch is swallow 'd up. 
 
 (14) Gen. xiv. 13. . (18) Isaiah xliv.34. &, Rom. i. 20. 
 (19) Chap. xiii. 3. " (20) Matt. xii< 37.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 189 
 
 2 1 " Tho' clouds and darkness veil his wond'rous 
 
 way, 
 
 As thick'ning vapours hide the source of day ; 
 The winds shall, ev'ry dark'ning cloud dispel, 
 His glorious justice shine, without a veil ; 
 
 22 A golden calm, the storm of life shall crown, 
 And God's dread Majesty be clearly shown. 
 
 23 Great is th' Almighty great his wonders 
 
 wrought; 
 
 In this blind state, alas ! we know Him not 
 In vain we search, we strive and toil in vain, 
 We grope in darkness, groan with sin and pain ; . 
 But faith can rise, where sense and reason faint, 
 Support the weak, and guide the wilder'd saint, 
 Bring things invisible, to clearest view, 
 That God, tho' great in pow'r, is righteous too ; 
 
 24 The humble soul, with guardian care protects, 
 The proud abhors, the selfish heart rejects ; 
 Kind in his anger, all his chast'nings just, 
 Hence, claims our homage, and our highest trust." 
 
 (21) 1 Cor xiii. 9. (23) 1 Tim. vi. IS. 
 
 (24) Mate. x. 23. an4 xi. 25.
 
 PART VI. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 This closing Part opens with the grand catastrophe of the sacred 
 drama. The Almighty interposes with a sublime and solemn 
 address to Job challenges him to answer impresses his igno 
 rance and weakness by a view of the wonderful works of Cre 
 ation and Providence the phenomena of Nature, in the Earth, 
 Air, Sea, and Heavens. In this view also, He treats of vari 
 ous terrestrial animals, viz the valid Goats and Hinds the "wild 
 Ass the U.ricorn the Peacock and Ostrich the Horse the 
 H,iwk and Eagle. In a s f rain of sublime irony, He challenges 
 Job to display his own righteousness, power and wisdom. 
 Points him to examples of creature strength, in the Behemoth 
 and Leviathan, evidencing the great power of the Creator. 
 
 Job humbly submits himself to God confesses his ignorance, 
 pride and presumption, with peni'ent professions of his self- 
 abhorrence The M >st High determines the controversy, so 
 long deba f ed sustains the cause of Job, and condemns and 
 reproves his three friends for their erroneous reasonings. He 
 directs them to offer sacrifice for their oft'ence, and appoints 
 Job their priest, to offer and to intercede by prayer for f hem. 
 The Book then closes with the account of the restoration of 
 Job to health and happiness the mutual gratnlations and re 
 joicings of his friends *his wealth double to that of his forme 
 state his children and posterity his peaceful and prosperov 
 old age, and death.
 
 XXXVIII. OHORT was the pause while from the 
 
 brightening North, 
 A strange portentous whirlwind, issuing forth, 
 
 (Verse 1 ) 1'hen the Lord answered yob out of the whirlwind, &c. 
 In the introduction of this grand and solemn scene, several in 
 structive particulars may be remarked, relative to the connection 
 of circumstances by which it was ushered in, and the allusion 
 which these bear to the general analogy of scripture images.- 
 As to the_/?m, it is evident that the imagery of this scene, has 
 an immediate connection, \v ith that of the preceding, and the 
 circumstances which took place, during, and at the ck.se of Eli- 
 iu's speech. The theory is this ; which though it be but a con 
 jecture, appears highly probable. "While he was setting forth the 
 wisdom of God in his Providence, and his awful power and ma 
 jesty in the tempest ; he descried, to his astonishment, the scene, 
 viewed in description, swiftly approaching in reality black 
 clouds arose in the West, and very suddenly a terrific thunder 
 storm ensues. He proceeds, in still more glowing and animated 
 figures, to paint the present scene, thus rendered indescribably 
 solemn and impressive. The storm at length subsides, and at 
 the close of his speech, he discovers a light springing up in the 
 North, of bright golden radiance, and remarks, (Chap, xxxvii.22) 
 Fair weather Cometh our of the North ; or, as it is in the original 
 Hebrew, " gold cometh out of the North." This was accompa 
 nied at the same time, with an unusual whirlwind from that point 
 -^-unusual, because from the North ; for Elihu says in the 9th 
 verse of the chapter, " out of the South comeih the whirlwind." 
 This whirlwind at once swept off all the clouds, and this light ex 
 panded, and overspread the whole visible horizon ; so that, this 
 
 was not as most imagine, a dark, cloudy and tempestuous, but a 
 
 bright, clear and luminous scene. 
 (1) 1 Kings xix. 11.
 
 192 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Swift in its progress, s\vept th' horrizon o'er ; 
 The thunders hush'd, the lightnings blaz'd no more, 
 
 With respect to the second idea, viz. the conformity of these 
 circumstances to the general analogy of scripture images let it 
 be noticed, that this shining light and this northern \obirlyrind, 
 were both singular and portentous. As such, they struck the 
 minds of Job and hisfrinds with the most solemn awe, arrested 
 their whole attention, and thus prepared them with reverence to 
 receive the address of the ETERNAL MAJESTY. Light and 
 wind are well known scripture symbrls, or tokens of the divine 
 presence. Of the first of these, the burning bush the pillar of 
 fire by nigat, which attended the Israelites in the wilderness the 
 tremendous scene of Sinai, when the Lord descended upon it in 
 fire the Urim and Ybunimitn, and Shechinab rays the various 
 appearances of God to men, under that dispensation and the 
 remarkable star of Bethlehem, which called the sages of the 
 East at the birth of Emmanuel ; are so many examples and 
 proofs. Said Elihu in the verse forecited, "fair -weather cometh 
 out of the North; with God is terrible inajestf' and Paul, (Heb. 
 xii. 29,) " our God is a consuming jfirc " The wind is also a s\m. 
 bcl, or token of the divine presence ; and in special manner, an 
 appropriate figure to denote the invisible operations and powerful 
 influences of the Holy Spirit. Witness Ezekiel's vision of the 
 valley of drv bones our Saviour's words to Niccdemus, (John iii. 
 8.) "The -mind bloweth where it listeih," ike. and that most 
 wonderful effusion of the Hoi/ Ghost upon the disciples, at the 
 day of Pentecost ; in which, bcth these symbols weie united f to 
 signify that both law and gospel were fulfilled in Chris; -l.r.t 
 Jew and Gentile, Old Testament and New were united in Him. 
 " And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a nub- 
 ing mighty wind, and it filled all the place vvh:re they were sit- 
 ting ; and there appeared unto them cloven tongues as ofj?;r, 
 and it sat upon each of them." 
 
 Thus we may see the reason and prrpriety of the Lord's speak 
 ing to Job out of the whirlwind.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 13 
 
 Struck with amazement, speechless and aghast, 
 
 They list'ning stood ; when, from the mighty 
 
 blast, 
 
 The voice divine, in awful grandeur, broke, 
 And thus to Job, the LORD ALMIGHTY spoke. 
 3 " Who is the man thus dares my ways impeach, 
 And veils my counsels, with his senseless speech ? 
 
 3 Stand forth prepar'd, collected, self-possess'd, 
 My questions answer, and thy worth attest. 
 
 4 When Earth, I founded, (if thou knowest, tell) 
 In what far distant region, didst thou dwell ? 
 
 5 Who swept the compass to describe its round ? 
 Who stretch'd the line to mete its utmost bound ? 
 
 6 On what firm pillars, stands the steadfast base, 
 That props the pond'rous fabric in its place ? 
 
 Who first design'd it laid the corner stone, 
 
 And rear'd the building, 'till the work was clone ? 
 
 7 When rolling spheres their music first began, 
 Adoring angels hail'd the birth of man, 
 Kright sons of mom, their joyful pxans sung, 
 And Heav'n's high arches, with loud anthems rung. 
 
 " Who chain'd the Ocean with a girth of sand, 
 And plac'd its shore a bulwark to the land ; 
 
 8 When from dark Chaos' womb it issu'd forth, 
 And strove to gain the empire of the earth ? 
 
 9 Its bed I made, encompass'd with the strand, 
 Clouds, for its garment, night, its swaddling band ; 
 
 10,11 These be thy shores, and these thy bounds, I said, 
 Thus far may'st come, but here thy waves be stay 'd. 
 
 (2) Prov xix. 21. and 1 Tim. i. 7. ( 4 ) Psalm civ 5. 
 
 (7) Ps. cxlviii. 2, 3. (8$ Ps. civ. 9. Prov. viii. 29. & Jer.v.22, 
 (10) Ps. xxxiii. 7. (11) Ps. xciii. 4. 
 
 R
 
 19* TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 12 Hast thou indeed, since Nature gave tliee birth, 
 Giv'n laws to Nature, and the changing earth ? 
 The sun directed, when, and where to rise, 
 Aurora, when to blush in orient skies ; 
 
 13 Its beams to earth's remotest bounds extend, 
 And speed the wicked to their fearful end ? 
 
 14 As the soft clay, by plastic seal impress'd, 
 Earth by its light, in beauteous tints be dress'd ; 
 
 (Verses 13, 14.) That it might take bold of the ends <f the earth, 
 that the -wicked might be shaken out of it ? It is turned as clay 
 to the seal, and they s'and as a garment. 
 
 This is truly the most difficult and inexplicable passage in the 
 whole book of Job. The figures are to us so distant, and the 
 allusions so buried in the shades of antiquity, that like the inscrip 
 tion of the time-worn monument, we can but only guess and spell 
 out its meaning. Mr. Young, in his poetic paraphrase of this part 
 of the book of J b, thought best to pass it over in utter silence. 
 It is hoped, however, that it will not be accounted want of 
 modesty in modern bards, not to fellow his example. Three 
 questions arise from the reading of this passage : 
 
 1. How it is that the wicked are shaken out of the earth by 
 the morning light ; or what is meant by the. expression ? 
 
 2. What, by, it is turned as clay to the seal ? and, 
 
 3. What, by, they stand as a garment ? 
 
 The antecedent to the relative it, in the seeond, appears to be 
 the earth and to ttey, in the third, to be the wicked. A.* the 
 second question is rather disconnected, we will first attempt to 
 answer it, by s*a"ing the following opinion : viz. That the natur 
 al and visible objects upon the surface of the earth, shrouded and 
 obscured in the darkness of midnight ; by the returningbeams of 
 morning light, are renewed and rendered visible, and as it were 
 brought into being afresh, as the figures upon the wax cr clay, 
 are impressed, and brcught'into view by the application of the 
 
 seal. 
 
 (15) Psalm Ixxiv. 16. (13) Exod. xiv. 27. 
 14 Esther vii. 8.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Fair signatures of truth and wisdom glow, 
 Writ by the beams of Heav'n on all below ? 
 15 While guilty culprits, with their cov'rings 
 In darkness shrouded, are to death consign'd ; 
 The arm of violence uplifted, falls, 
 And the proud spoiler now for mercy calls. 
 
 The first and third questions are necessarily connected, refer 
 to the same subject, and may both be solved by the same answer, 
 if a right clue of investigation can be found. As keys to unlock 
 this mysterious passage, the two following data are humbly sub 
 mitted. 
 
 1. That it was the invariable practice of the ancients, to hrl j i 
 their courts of justice, and condemn, and lead off malefactors to 
 execution in the morning. As soon as the day broke, their crim 
 inals were brought to the judgment-seat there tried, condemned, 
 and immediately executed, and so shaken out of the earth not by 
 banishment, which was then a penalty unused, bnt by capital pun 
 ishment. This appears from Jeremiah xxi. 12. " O house of 
 D.:vi.l, thus saith the Lord, execute jit Igmsnt in the mowing," &c. 
 Our blessed Saviour was condemned, and led to crucifixion by the 
 hands of the wicked. Jews, in the morning. 
 
 2. It was their custom also, as soon as a criminal was senten 
 ced, to cover his face as in Esther vii 8. " As the word went 
 out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman'syace." Now, to 
 apply May it not be understood, as if God had said to Job, 
 " D'dst thou not know and remember, wh'le executing the office of 
 Judge, and sentencing the wicked to death, that thou art depend 
 ent on me that that Being who causeth the day-spring to know 
 its place, and the morning light to revisit the earth, the time for 
 thee to exercise thy power, doth also commission thee with it." 
 
 2t>c', (that is, the -wicked) stan?! as a garment their faces are cov 
 ered they are shrouded in darkness the morning to them is 
 the shadow of death. This idea is strengthened by tke next verse ; 
 " And from the wicked their light is wkhhclden, and the high 
 arm shall be broken." 
 
 (15) Chap, xviii. 5. and Psalm x. 15.
 
 IK TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 16 Hast thou explor'd old Ocean's deepest bed, 
 And trac'd its sources to their fountain head ? 
 Beneath the waves, ten thousand fathoms down, 
 Walk'd unappall'd, the dark abyss profound ? 
 
 1 7 Or, passing further, hast thou ever been, 
 And paid a visit to the world unseen ; 
 Death's dark and dreary valley travelPd o'er, 
 And knock'd for entrance, at Hell's awful door I 
 
 18 " Hast thou disco ver'd, speak, and let us hear, 
 The breadth exact of this terraqueous sphere, 
 What space between th' Equator's burning ray, 
 And the cold glimm'ring beam of polar day ? 
 
 19 "If such thy knowledge, wond'rous teacher, tell? 
 In what fur mansions, light and darkness dwell ; 
 
 20 What path conducts thee to their native seat, 
 Whence they proceed, and whither they retreat. 
 In what vast dormitories were they kept, 
 While ere Creation, unborn Nature slept ; 
 Nor heard, as yet, the all-creating word, 
 
 " Let there be light," when light obey'd its Lord. 
 
 21 " Hast thou this wisdom, by thyself obtain'd, 
 Because then born, or since by study gain'd ? 
 Wast thou a witness of Creation's scene ? 
 And have thy years, a life of ages been ? 
 
 22 " Hast thou ascended to the clouds' on high, 
 And search'd the boundless treasures of the sky, 
 Those moving magazines of hail and snow, 
 Whence thither brought, and from what cause they 
 
 grow 
 
 23 My hand them gather'd, by my pow'r they're stor'd. 
 And at my word, on guilty mortals pour'd ; 
 (22) Pbahn cxxxv. 7. (2$)
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 197 
 
 With flaming thunderbolts, in fury driv'n, 
 The grand artill'ry of avenging Heav'n. 
 
 24 " Who gives the light, thro' clurk'ning clouds its 
 
 way, 
 
 And streaks the firmament,, with night and day ; 
 Whence, from the East the waken'd breezes rise, 
 Fan the wide earth, and sweep the azure skies ? 
 
 25 Who bade the waters their fixt courses keep, 
 When rais'd in air, or rolling to the deep ? 
 Whose finger mark'd the forked lightning's path, 
 And taught the thunders whereto spend their wrath? 
 
 26,27 When fertilizing show'rs descend in haste, 
 On desert places, desolate and waste, 
 That blooming-wilds-, with herbs and flowrets dress'd. 
 The lonely dwelling of the savage beast, 
 Might speak the pow'r and providence of God, 
 Where art ne'er came, nor human being trocle. 
 
 28 " From whence the show'r ? its generation show, 
 And tell the pedigree of rain and snow. 
 
 39 What sire begat, what mother did conceive 
 The pearly dew-drops of the humid eve ? 
 Who stands the parent of cold Winter's host ? 
 Of whom were born the ice and hoary frost ? 
 
 30 Like stone congeal'd, the streams are frozen o'er, 
 And chain'd the surging waves from shore to shore, 
 
 31 " Canst thou obstruct Pleiades' rise and pow'rs. 
 Clothing the vernal fields with fragrant flow'rs ? 
 Or burst the bondage of Orion's reign, 
 
 Whose icy fetters bind the earth and main I 
 
 (26) Psalm cvii. 35. (28) Jere. xiv. 22, 
 
 (29) Psalm, cxlvii. 16. ( -1) Amos v, 8. 
 R 2
 
 198 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 32 Canst them command the *signs of Heav'n t* appear, 
 Each in his month to rule the varying year ? 
 
 Or guide the t Constellations as they roll, 
 Like faithful sons around the parent pole ? 
 
 33 " Dost thou, vain mm, Heav'ns ordinances know ? 
 Canst thou subject them to a pow'r below ? 
 
 Will they, obsequious to thy sov'reign nod, 
 Bow to the sceptre of an earthly God ? 
 
 34 Try now thy strength, stretch forth thy mighty 
 
 hand, 
 
 Lift up thy voice ; the elements command ; 
 Speak to the clouds, to inundate the shore, 
 Call the tornado, bid the tempest roar 
 
 35 Let vivid light'nings fly, at thy command, 
 Lead on the storm, and blaze to ev'ry land ; 
 With thy strong voice, make awful thunders roll, 
 And stamp an earthquake to the farthest pole. 
 Will each attend thee ? all united say, 
 
 Here are thy servants, speak and we'll obey ? 
 56 " Who gave to man his intellectual part, 
 The thinking mind and understanding heart ? 
 Whose quick'ning breath the deathless flame in 
 spires, 
 That kindles hope, and burns with strong desires ? 
 
 37 " Who by his wisdom makes the vapors rise, 
 Numbers the clouds, and spreads them round the 
 
 skies ? 
 
 38 When copious show'rs have drench'd the parched 
 
 plains, 
 Whose potent hand can stay the falling rains, 
 
 * Mazzarotb. + Arcturus and bit sons. Sec Note on 
 
 chap. ix. verse 9. (36) Eccles. ii. 26.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. i9* 
 
 The clouds dispel, the light of day restore, 
 And with warm sunshine gladden all the shore ? 
 
 39 " Wilt thou provide the Lion's dcdly food, 
 Hunt for his prey, and sate his thirst for blood ; 
 
 40 When his young famish'd whelps, with hunger 
 
 growl, 
 Couch in their dens, or under coverts prowl ? 
 
 41 " Who hears the Raven caw, with hunger hoarse, 
 And feeds his young ones, with their diet coarse ? 
 What time his nestlings cry, they rove abroad, 
 Scour o'er the fields and seek their meat from God. 
 
 XXXIX. Hast thou full knowledge of the brutal race, 
 That range the wilds, and o'er the deserts graze ? 
 What certain rules, by Nature's laws assign'd, 
 To the wild mountain Goat and timid Hind ? 
 2 Gestation's period canst thou tell how long, 
 
 When they conceive, and when bring forth their 
 
 young 
 
 3 The lab'ring dam, with agonizing throes, 
 Ejects her burden, and shakes oft" her woes. 
 
 4 The tender Kid, the beauteous, fleety FaAvn, 
 Spring with the grass, and flourish with the corn ; 
 Without the aid of human care or skill, 
 
 By instinct taught, their parts they well fulfil. 
 
 5 " Whose sov'reign hand, whose high and fixt 
 
 decree 
 Hath loos'd his bands, and sent the wild Ass free ? 
 
 6 The lonely wilderness his house I've made, 
 The barren heaths are for bis spacious bed ; 
 
 (39) Psalm civ. 21. (41) Psalm cxlvii. 9.
 
 300 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 7 Untam'd, uncaught by human fraud or force, 
 He scorns the driver, in his way ward course ;. 
 
 8 Seeks his coa.se pasture on the mountain topS| 
 And for his food, each verdant bramble crops. 
 
 9 " See next, the Unicorn, of strength so great ! 
 Will he consent to serve thee for his meat ? 
 Lodge by thy crib, his independence wave, 
 
 And cringe and court thee, like a home-bom slave r 
 
 10 Canst thou compel his stubborn neck to yield, 
 To wear the yoke, and plough thy furrow'd field ? 
 
 11 Wilt thou, with safety, in his strength confide, 
 While stretch M at ease, thou shalt at home abide, 
 
 12 To till thy ground, the precious seed to rear, 
 And the rich harvest to thy gran'ry bear ? 
 
 13 " Gaze at the Peacock, view the peerless bird 
 Whence his rich garb ? from whose creating word ? 
 In all the pride of varying colors dress'd, 
 
 His beateous form unrivall'd stands confess'd, 
 Blight mimic gems his spreading orb assumes, 
 And suns and rainbows dance upon his plumes. 
 
 " Or to the Ostrich gavest thou her wings, 
 And princely feathers, ornaments for kings ? 
 18 Who, when in Right she rears her lofty head, 
 In height and swiftness, will the horse exceed ; 
 
 14 Yet lacks the wisdom of the smaller fowl, 
 The cooing Turtle, and the hooting Owl ; 
 
 1 5 Her orphan'd eggs, in sand, without a nest, 
 She leaves expos'd to foot of man and beast ; 
 
 16 In her hard heart, no kind affection glows, 
 She for her young, no tender feeling knows ; 
 Hence no parental joys reward her pain, 
 The stupid mother's labor is in vain, ;
 
 TRIAL OP VIRTUE. 3Oi 
 
 1 7 Of sense deny'd, by Hcav'n's decree so blind, 
 She ranks the fool of all the feather'd kind. 
 
 1 9 Didst thou the Horse's warlike strength ordain, 
 Curve his broad neck, and spread his thund'ring 
 
 mane ? 
 
 20 Canst thou, with terror, his fierce heart appal, 
 And make him flee thee, like an insect small ? 
 Sulphureous vapors from his nostrils glow, 
 His eyes dart fury on the adverse foe ; 
 
 2 1 He champs the foaming bit, and paws with rage, 
 Swelling with fierce impatience to engage ; 
 
 22 Hastes to the bloody field, devoid of fear, 
 
 23 Laughs at the sword, and dares the deadly spear. 
 24, 5 While the shrill trumpet's clangor rends the sky, 
 
 And drums and clarions speak the onset nigh ; 
 
 He neighs exulting in the horrid sound, 
 
 And burns with fierceness to devour the ground. 
 
 26 " Hath thy fam'd wisdom taught the tfatvkto fly? 
 Stretching her pinions tow'rds the southern sky ; 
 To kinder climes, where warmer splendors burn, 
 Till genial Spring invites her to return ? 
 
 27 " At thy command, doth th' Eagle soar away, 
 Mount the high cliff, and ken the shore for prey ? 
 
 28 On hanging rocks, she builds her airy dome, 
 
 The cloud-capt mountain's peak, she makes her home ; 
 
 29 In that high fortress, rears her callow brood, 
 There, whets her falchion-beak, athirst for blood ; 
 Thence eyes her victim in the vale beneath, 
 And darts, swift messenger of cruel death, 
 
 SO Where war's dread carnage strews th' embattled 
 
 plain 
 With slaughter'd thousands, heaps of human slain ;
 
 202 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 There stalks the harpy, eager to devour, 
 
 And there her young ones, glut the reeking gor6. 
 
 XL. A fiause for thought all human fi ride now dead. 
 When, GOD ALMicafr thus resum'd and said 
 
 " For thy reply I wait. How stand thy thoughts ? 
 Prepar'd to own, or justify thy faults ? 
 Shall he instruct, who dares with God contend ? 
 Let the reprover now his cause defend." 
 
 3 Then Job confounded, trembling and afraid, 
 In dust prostrated, to th' Almighty said 
 
 4 " O'erwhelm'd with guilt and shame, I've nought 
 
 to say 
 My mouth is stopp'd Oh, teach me to obey. 
 5 Twice have I spoken, but I'll add no more ; 
 
 " Man was not made to censure, but adore.'* 
 6 Then from the roaring whirlwind's mighty tide ; 
 The Heav'nly Majesty to Job reply'd 
 " Gird now thy loins, arise, and shew the man, 
 Hear my demands, and well the subject scan. 
 
 8 In censuring all my works, unsatisfy'd, 
 \Vilt thou my judgment too, now set aside ? 
 Speak, swelling worm, aspires thus high thine aim ? 
 To prove thee righteous, wilt thou Me condemn ? 
 
 9 Dost think thy wisdom equull'd by thy strength ? 
 Whom thou hast blum'd, wilt govern too, at length ? 
 What is thy might ? hast thou an arm like God ? 
 Like Him, canst cast thy thunderbolts abroad ? 
 
 (4) Gen. xxxii. 10 Ezra ix. 6 and Psalm li. 4. 
 
 (8 V Rom. iii 4. 
 
 (9) Exod. xv. IG.Deut. xxxiii. 21. and Psalm xxuc. 2, 3.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 203 
 
 10 Take then thy state, assume th' Eternal's throne, 
 Display thy greatness, and thy pow'r make known ; 
 Deck now thyself with majesty and light, 
 
 Dress thee in glory and in beauty bright ; 
 
 1 1 Then act the God thy vengeance hurl around, 
 Seize on the rebel, smite him to the ground ; 
 
 12 With look omniscient search the sinful race, 
 Bring down the proud, the wicked all abase ; 
 
 13 Tread them as mire, destroy them in the dust, 
 And send thtir guilty souls to hell accurst. 
 
 14 Then will I own (my high pretensions wave) 
 That thy right hand hath sov'reign pow'r to save. 
 
 15 u Yet all the pow'r which thy proud heart can 
 
 boast, 
 
 With brutal strength compar'd, is gone and lost. 
 View the * Behemoth, whom with thee I made. 
 Like the tame ox, he crops the grassy glade. 
 
 1 6 Firm as the mountain stands his pond'rous frame, 
 His lengthen'd spine outvies the weaver's beam ; 
 
 18 His bones as iron, sinews firm as brass, 
 Support and strengthen his gigantic mass, 
 Th' umbelic cord his deep round viscera binds, 
 And oaken muscles plank his monstrous loins ; 
 
 17 With tale erected like the cedar's height, 
 He moves in all the majesty of might. 
 
 19 Of all the creatures God hath form'd with dust, 
 Behemoth ranks in size and strength, the first ; 
 
 * This animal, by the best commentators is viewed to be the 
 Hippopotamus, or River-horse. Some however, believe it the 
 Elephant. From the wording of the 19th verse, is there not some 
 plausibility in the conjecture, that it might be the Mammoth ? 
 (10) Psalm xciii. 1. (11) Dan. iv 37 
 (12) Matt. xi. 23. (13) Mai. iv. 1. &. Est. vii. 8.
 
 204 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Yet He who made, can him with ease subdue, 
 And cause his sword to pierce the monster through. 
 
 20 " The fertile mountain yields him food to eat, 
 Where smaller cattle and wild beasts retreat ; 
 Fearless, around him, lead their sportive way, 
 While the grim monarch smiles to see them play. 
 21,22 " At sultry noon, he seeks the cooling breeze, 
 Beneath the covert of the shady trees ; 
 Or in lone vallies, mid the murky glens, 
 'Mong the wild herbage of the reeds and fens, 
 By stagnant pools, where weeping willows wrap, 
 Rests his huge form, and takes a pleasing nap. 
 
 3 " Behold him next, with raging thirst oppress'cl, 
 Sink the deep river, as he fills his chest : 
 The floods roll down the vortex of his throat ; 
 
 24 And still he thirsts and drinks. With piercing snout, 
 He careless breaks through snares of human craft, 
 And mouths to take all Jordan at a draught. 
 
 JLXI. " Cast now thine eyes on giants of the deep 
 
 One may suffice on him attention keep. 
 
 Canst thou Leviathan, draw out with hook, 
 
 Like the small trout, thou anglest from the brook ? 
 
 2 With cord let down, extract his tongue, in scorn, 
 And bore his jaw thro' with a pointed thorn ? 
 
 3 With words of friendship, tender, soft and sweet, 
 Will he submit, and for thy gjrace intreat ? 
 Make many pray'rs t' implore a kind reprieve, 
 And beg for mercy, that he still may live ? 
 
 4 For this high boon, will he a cov'nant sign, 
 To be thy faithful slave ? for ever thine ? 
 
 5 Or wilt thou bind him with a thread of tow, 
 And cage him like a bird, for raree-show ;
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 203 
 
 A pretty toy, to learn thy babes to play, 
 
 And sport thy maidens, on a holiday ? 
 Or, will it better suit thy gen'rous -wish, 
 
 Should'st thou collate him, as a dainty dish ; 
 
 Serv'd for a banquet to thy social friends, 
 
 Who'll praise thy bounty, 'till their supper ends ? 
 
 Perhaps not so, should selfish feelings rise ; 
 
 On Mammon's altar wilt thou sacrifice ? 
 
 Cause him exported to a foreign shore, 
 
 For the rich merchandize of golden ore ? 
 V " Canst thou with iron weapons strike him dead ? 
 
 With barbed fish-spears fill his flinty head ? 
 
 8 Tempt not the war, nor try thy feeble pov/'r, 
 Lay but thy hand upon him do no more. 
 
 9 'Tis vain to hope, fool-hardy to presume ; 
 
 The wretch who ventures, hastens to his doom. 
 
 10 His very look brings terror and defeat, 
 
 The strong must tremble, and the bold retreat ; 
 The stoutest hearted all abandon hope, 
 None dares provoke, nor even wake him up. 
 
 " W r ho then shall dare what child of mortal birth, 
 With me contend the King of Heav'n and Earth ? 
 Whose strength avail him, in th' unequal strife, 
 T' oppose the vengeance of the Lord of Life ? 
 
 i 1 " Who from his stores to me first gave away ? 
 The debt I'll cancel, and with int'rest pay. 
 The miser and his hoard, my hands have wrought, 
 I gave thee being, Job I owe thee not 
 The world is mine its silver and its gold, 
 Mine by creation, and I claim the whole. 
 
 121 form'd Leviathan, I know him well ; 
 
 His strength I know ; his beauteous form can tell ; 
 S
 
 *06 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Proportion'd by the most exquisite art, 
 His shape majestic, comely ev'ry part. 
 
 1 3 " Wh6 can his dwelling in the depth explore, 
 And lay him naked on the sunny shore ? 
 
 Or who attempt, with double-bridle rein, 
 
 To tame his fierceness, or his course restrain ? 
 
 14 What son of man, what giant of thy race, 
 Can ope the portals of his grisly face ; 
 Where his sharp teeth, in awful circuits rise, 
 Grinning tremendous to th' astonish 'd eyes ? 
 
 1 5 " Scales are his pride, thence ev'ry danger's dar'd> 
 A coat of mail, impenetrably hard, 
 
 16 Condens'd and welded, and so firmly join'd, 
 That subtile air can no admission find ; 
 
 17 Nor keenest edge of steel, nor strength, nor art, 
 Can fleece his scales, or them asunder part. 
 
 18 " The monster sneezes, and his nasal steam 
 Shoots a bright radiance, like the northern gleam ; 
 His -glovdng eye-balls, glist'ning to the sight, 
 Ope like the eye-lids of the morning light 
 
 19 Lamps from his mouth, and sparks of fire leap out, 
 
 20 And smoke his nostrils, like a seething pot 
 
 2 1 His breath he puffs, as bellows to the coals, 
 And the hot tide of flames before him rolls. 
 
 22 He moves terrific his extended length, 
 
 And his huge neck, the native seat of strength : 
 Wi-.li death his errand all he finds, destroys, 
 And others' sorrows, are his sweetest joys. 
 
 23 His flakes of flesh, incrusted with a shield, 
 Firmly cemented, to no force will yield, 
 
 24 His savage heart is as the millstone, hard j 
 He knows no pity, and he never fear'd.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 207 
 
 25 " When from the deep, he rears aloft his head, 
 He heaves the Ocean from its lowest bed ; 
 
 Bold sailors fear, the wave their heart appals, 
 And each on God, for saving mercy, calls. 
 
 26 The blow that smites him, beats upon a rock, 
 The sword is shiver'd, and the spear is broke ; 
 
 27 The deadliest weapons are by him withstood, 
 Iron is straw, and brass but rotten wood ; 
 
 28, 9 Arrows and darts, like gnats are shaken off, 
 
 And spears, and sling-stones, but excite his scoff ; 
 
 30 Bright, fractur'd arms beneath his weight are spread, 
 And pointed flint-stones pave his oozy bed. 
 
 31 " When down the deep he sinks his pond'rous size, 
 The froth and bubbles to the surface rise ; 
 
 The whit'ning wave, like boiling ointment's seen, 
 And circling eddies tell " where death has been"- 
 
 32 A shining furrow marks his awful way, 
 And, like a meteor, makes old Ocean grey. 
 
 33 On earth there's none which may with him compare, 
 Form'd of the dust, and yet devoid of fear, 
 
 34 He spurns the great, their strength cornbin'd dis 
 
 dains, 
 And o'er the sons of pride, despotic reigns. 
 
 XLII. Th' Almighty ceas'd not so their trembling 
 
 fears, / 
 
 The awful words still sounded in their ears. 
 
 (Verse 25.) When be raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid. 
 by reason oj breakings, they purify themselves. 
 
 This perhaps may be explained by a parallel passage in Jonah 
 i. 5, 6. " Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man 
 
 unto his God arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will 
 
 think upon us, that we perish not."
 
 :os TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 When convict Job, with guilt and shame oppress'*!, 
 Thus to the Lord, his humble pray'r address'd. 
 2 .6 " O mighty God, before thy feet I bow, 
 And clearly view thy glorious justice, now. 
 Thy povv'r omnipotent, with ease, effects 
 Whate'er thy wise and holy will directs ; 
 No strength so mighty, can thy hand restrain, 
 No subtle craft, thy purpose render vain. 
 Ah me ! aspiring worm ! how great my wrong t 
 What language have I utter'd with my tongue ! 
 How in the hour of proud, and untaught zeal, 
 Thy counsel darken'd, and oppos'd thy will ; 
 Rashly attempting, but in vain, to show 
 Things, wrong to speak, too high for me to know ! 
 Vain was the knowledge, then, that puff'd my mind. 
 My head instructed, while my heart was blind. 
 But, rent the veil, from darkening pride set free, 
 Thy glory now, in clearest light I see ; 
 With deep repentance, thence, and heart-felt shame, 
 In ashes loathe, in dust myself condemn ; 
 With flowing tears, thy parcTning mercy crave ; 
 Thou canst destroy, and thou alone canst save. 
 Forgive my follies, hear me, I entreat, 
 Illume my darkness, guide my wand'ring feet ; 
 My worth and wisdom, I to thee resign, 
 And my whole self, henceforth, for ever thine." 
 7 Now when th' Almighty thus had Job address'd,. 
 And he to God, his sins with grief confess'd ; 
 
 (2) Gen. xviii: 14. and Psalm cxxxix. 1. 
 
 (3) 1 Tim. i. 7. (5) Isaiah Iv. 3. 
 G) Isaiah Iviii. 5, (7) Isaiah xl. 1, 2.
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 20f 
 
 Then next to Eliphaz, a trembling mute, 
 The Highest turns, and ends the long dispute. 
 
 " Parent of Teman hear, and know thy blame ; 
 And you, Bildad and Zophar, hear the same ; 
 You've each offended, each my wrath incurr'd, 
 Fear my stern justice, tremble at my word. 
 False were your speeches ; fir'd by ign'rant zeal, 
 You spake presumptuous, and oppos'd my Avill ; 
 Mistook my counsel, strove to lessen down 
 My grace and patience level with your own. 
 Not so my servant Job, whom ye withstood, 
 For truth he argu'd, and his cause was good. 
 8 Seek then for mercy, to the work arise, 
 
 Your crimes atone, by costly sacrifice ; 
 
 But first, to Job, with penitence confess, 
 
 His friendship seek, your cruel wrongs redress ; 
 
 Then from the herds, take rams and bullocks sev'o, 
 
 And offer up your holocaust to Heav'n. 
 
 My servant Job, I constitute your priest, 
 
 T' approach my altar, burn the bleeding beast ; 
 
 (Verse 8.) and go to my servant yob > 
 
 Our blessed Saviour instructs and directs his disciples, " It' 
 when them bringest thy gift to the altar, thou rememberest that 
 thy brother hath ought against thee ; leave there thy gift, and go, 
 first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy 
 gift." This passage in Job is exactly parallel, and directs to the 
 same duty. Job had ought against his three friends they had 
 injured and grievously abused him ; and God would not accept 
 their sacrifice, till they had first rectified their wrong towards 
 their fellow-creature. This is the uniform instruction of the ho- 
 ly scriptures, both of the Old Testament and New, that while w* 
 live in any allowed injustice to our fellow oan, Cod will not 
 accept our sacrifices, nor hear our prayers. 
 S"S
 
 '210 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 
 
 Him will I hear, his off'ring I'll receive, 
 And grant you mercy, that your souls may live ; 
 Lest justice smite you, and your crimes requite, 
 Cast out and banish'd from my holy sight." 
 9 They heard submissive, and at once obey'd 
 Job pray'd and offer'd, as the Lord had said, 
 Was heard and answer'd for himself and friends^ 
 And God most gracious, his salvation sends. 
 
 10 Propitious Heav'n restores his captive state, 
 Bright health returns, and joys around him wait ; 
 Shines his old age, in fairest youthful bloom, 
 And morning beams his ev'ning-life relume ; 
 While bounteous Providence now swells his store, 
 With twice the riches, he possess'd before. 
 
 1 1 His brethren, sisters, friends around him meet, 
 And pour their gratulations, kind and sweet ; 
 Bemoan his suft''rings, and, with thankful voice. 
 In his returning happiness rejoice. 
 
 In acts of kindness, each one vies to prove 
 His tender pity and unfeigned love ; 
 With lib'ral hands, their treasures all unfold, 
 And offer gifts of jewels, rings and gold. 
 J2 Refin'd his virtues quicken'd ev'ry grace, 
 Superior blessings crown his ev'ning days. 
 Dry'd are his tears, his sighs and sorrows cease, 
 His wealth flows in unbounded as the seas j 
 Nature and grace conspire to make him blest, 
 And his clear sun shines brightest in the West. 
 
 (10) Prov. xxii. 4. (11) Chap. xix. 13. &xxx. 1. 
 
 (12) Chap. i. 2. viii. 7.Ps. cxix. 71. Matt. xix. 29.' 1 Tim. vi. 17-
 
 TRIAL OF VIRTUE. 211 
 
 His fleecy' Sheep, now fourteen thousand are, 
 For him six thousand Camels, burdens bear, 
 For him, the fields, two thousand Oxen till, 
 His harvests rear, his barns with plenty fill ; 
 For him a thousand Asses teem with young, 
 And feed and bray the rugged cliffs among : 
 Of his domestic servants, large the train, 
 Who ply his labor, thro' the spacious plain. 
 
 13 Sev'n hopeful Sons, and beauteous Daughters three, 
 Again compose his smiling family, 
 
 14 Jemima, Kerenhafi finch and J^ezia, 
 
 Each form'd to please, and waken chaste desire ; 
 
 15 For beauty fam'd, throughout the region round, 
 And none so fair in all the East were found ; 
 These lovely daughters, with their brethren shar'd 
 Their father's wealth ; to him no less endear'd. 
 
 1 6 Thus blest with peace, and free from cares and 
 
 strife, 
 
 Job's days roll'd smoothly down the stream of life ; 
 Secure and happy in the plenty giv'n, 
 Approving conscience, and the smiles of Heav'n ; 
 Twice, three-score years and ten, beyond this date, 
 His Maker added to his mortal state ; 
 His children's children to the fourth degree, 
 He saw, embrac'd, and dandled on his knee ; 
 
 17 Till, fill'd with days, and ev'ry good desir'd, 
 Thrice happy Job, in peaceful death expir'd ; 
 Pattern of Patience, proof ofHeav'nly grace, 
 The boast, the glory of his fallen race. 
 
 (16) Chap, v- 26. Prov. iii. 16. Gen. 1. 23. Psalm cxxviii. 6. 
 and Gen. xxv. 8,
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A DISSERTATION ON THE BOOK OF JOB. 
 
 HE history of Job, though exhibiting the most 
 illustrious example of human patience and divine faith 
 fulness, is yet involved in greater obscurity, than that 
 of any other scripture character, whose life and virtues 
 are delineated, as a source of moral instruction. Who 
 was Job ? of. whom descended ? when and where liv 
 ed ? and by whom was his history written ? are ques 
 tions, which for ages have amused, puzzled and divided 
 the learned ; and, perhaps, after all, no essential ad 
 vance has been made in the knowledge of these facts ; 
 and all that we have to decide, with respect to the vari 
 ous opinions, is, which Js the most ingenious and prob 
 able conjecture, and liable to the fewest objections. The 
 history of Job is so entirely insulated a subject of 
 such very remote antiquity inserted among the Sa 
 cred Books without any regard to its chronological or-
 
 314 APPENDIX. 
 
 der, and so thinly scattered are the rays of historic light 
 in the book of Genesis, the only authentic evidence to 
 which we can resort ; that few and obscure indeed, are 
 the data given us for investigation. In these particu 
 lars, Divine wisdom hath not seen fit to give full satis 
 faction to human curiosity. From the restless impa 
 tience some feel under this ignorance, they attempt to 
 cut the knot at a stroke ; and, to obviate all difficulties 
 and doubts, will give up the whole at once. The book 
 is a mere fable say they an ingenious fiction there 
 never was such a person as Job the events recorded in 
 his history are fabricated, but to combine pleasing en 
 tertainment with moral instruction ; and then dignify 
 the whole with the specious title of a Scripture Parable. 
 This is truly a short way of removing difficulties ; and 
 might be received, but only for that it removes smaller 
 difficulties to make room for greater. This theory, 
 however plausible, cannot be admitted. It would be 
 degrading the Book down to a Novel or Romance, and 
 stripping it at once of its most important properties. 
 If it be a scripture parable, it is indeed sui generis, 
 and the most extraordinary one extant. Parables, by 
 substituting fictions for facts, are never designed to im 
 pose on and mislead human credulity, with respect to 
 facts. Where is there one, drawn out with such histo 
 ric minuteness, and dressed in such a variety of charac 
 ters and incidents, as this ? Where was the necessity of 
 enumerating the flocks and herds of Job, the number 
 of his children, and the very names of his daughters ? 
 It may be confidently asserted that there is not a para 
 ble in the sacred scriptures, which even affects the air
 
 APPENDIX. 21s 
 
 of history none, but what are either expressly styled 
 parables, or, by necessary implication, are evidently 
 such. For instance, can any one be misled in reading 
 Jotham's parable of the trees, or Ezekiel's vision of the 
 valley of dfiy bones ? But this is not all. The suppo 
 sition is not only inconsistent with itself, but with certain 
 declarations of Scripture, both in the Old and New Tes 
 taments. God, by the prophet Ezekiel, Chap. xiv. 14. 
 declares, respecting the judgments denounced against 
 Jerusalem, " though these three men, Noah, Daniel 
 and Jobj were in it, they shall deliver but their own 
 souls." Would it not be ludicrous in the extreme, to 
 suppose this solemn declaration to be a mixture of his 
 tory and fable ; or that all the persons here mentioned 
 were not real characters, who had lived and acted parts 
 upon the stage of life ? Would any one in his senses, 
 when enumerating the great characters of the last centu 
 ry bring Sir Charles Grandison into the list with Edwards 
 and Washington ? And shall we impute such folly to 
 Divine Wisdom ? Furthermore, 
 
 The Apostle James, (Chafi. v. 10, U.) recognizes and 
 [expressly mentions Job as a real character, and cites 
 |lum as an example of patience. " Take, my brethren, 
 :he prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, 
 Tor an example of suffering affliction, and of patience, 
 pehold we count them happy which endure. Ye have 
 heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of 
 Jhe Lord ; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender 
 mercy." Here, Job is particularized from among all 
 [he prophets and saints of the Old Testament, as an
 
 216 APPENDIX. 
 
 example of suffering affliction, and patience. But what 
 propriety in thus mentioning the name of Job, had he 
 been but a fictitious character ? The exhortation of 
 the apostle would have appeared in no better light, 
 than that of a solemn farce ; and the great and princi 
 pal end of this admirable portion of God's Word be 
 defeated for there is not, nor can be any force of ex 
 ample attaching to a fictitious character. 
 
 This general fact, therefore, must be admitted, as 
 truth, whatever obscurity attends the historic detail ; 
 that Job was a real character of great antiquity and 
 that the Book, which bears his name, whenever, or by 
 whomsoever it was written, is a part of the inspired 
 Canon. In proof of the latter, the many quotations 
 from it, as such by the New Testament writers, are 
 alone sufficient. 
 
 By the best authorities, Job is considered, as a de 
 scendant from Esau, and to have been contemporary 
 with the Patriarchs. The probability is, that he is the 
 same person mentioned, Gen. xxxvi. 33, under the 
 name of Jobab, as the second King of Edom, the success 
 or of Bela, and the son of .Zerah. Zerah was the son 
 of Reuel, and Reuel the son of Esau, by Bashemath. 
 By this conjecture, if it be a just one, it appears that 
 Job was possessed of real dignity y and it is evident 
 from his own words in the 29th Chapter, that he was a 
 man of great influence and authority among his people. 
 He lived in the land of Uz. We find mention made of 
 this name three times in Genesis, and each of them ap-
 
 APPENDIX. srir 
 
 plied to different characters. Theirs; is in Chafi. x. 23. 
 vrhere Uz is named as a son of Aram, and grandson of 
 Shem ; the second in Chap., xxii 2 1 . as the son of Na- 
 hor, the brother of Abraham and the third in Chaji. 
 xxxvi. 28. of the posterity of Esau, and son of Dishan. 
 The Uz, first mentioned, was the builder of Trachonitis, 
 and Damascus, from whom the country was called Utz, 
 by the Grecians. Rabbi Solomon refers the name of 
 Job's country to the second mentioned Uz, and Aben, 
 Ezra, to the third. 
 
 This land of Uz was either a part of, or adjoining to 
 Idumea. Mention is made of this country, in Jeremiah 
 xxv. 20. and in Lam. iv. 21. It seems to have been in 
 Arabia Petrea, because the Sabeans, who were Arabs, 
 plundered and drove away the sheep of Job. It is pro 
 bable that Job lived in Arabia Deserta ; for, here were 
 his friends here the travelling Caravans, suffering with 
 thirst, were disappointed of finding water to which 
 Job alludes, Chap. vi. 1520. It lay bordering upon 
 the Sabeans of Arabia Felix, and extended along over 
 against the Chaldeans. He dwelt not distant from the 
 Nile, for it seems that its monsters were not unknown, 
 to him. See Chafi. xli. 1. Nor was he ignorant of the 
 river Jordan, (xl. 23.) Nor is it an objection to this 
 theory, that he is styled a man of the East ; whereas 
 Idumea was to the South of the land of Israel ; for Ara 
 bia is very extensive, and the land of Uz in Arabia, lay 
 more to the East, than to the South of Israel. Besides 
 we have reason to believe that this was long before the 
 posterity of Jacob had taken possession of the promised 
 f
 
 218 APPENDIX, 
 
 land. And even if the book of Job had been written 
 after that event, the writer, in placing the land of Uz, 
 in the East, might have had no reference to the relative 
 situation of any particular country, but only to the gen 
 eral divisions of the then inhabited parts of the earth. 
 
 With this view of the history of Job, let us now col 
 late the account of his friends, who figure so conspicu 
 ously in the course of the Book. Their names and 
 titles are given in Chaji. ii. 11. and these are the only 
 data afforded in determining the question, who they 
 were. It seems that they were princes, dukes, or men 
 of great influence and respectability, in their several 
 nations or tribes. Eliphaz took a leading part in the 
 management of the debate, and from the circumstance 
 of his being the chief speaker, appears to have been the 
 oldest, r.nd most respected for his wisdom and experi 
 ence. He is styled the Temamtn. This epithet must 
 be characteristic, either of his race and family descent, 
 or of the nation, country or city in which he dwelt.- 
 He is thought by commentators to be the Etip.haz men 
 tioned in Genesis xxxvi. the eldest son of Esau by his 
 wife Adah, and the father of Teman. But perhaps it 
 is not the most probable conjecture, that he should de 
 rive his title from the name of his son. It would be 
 more natural to suppose that this Eliphaz was a son of, 
 or descendant from Teman. Another difficulty seems 
 to attend the former supposition. If this Eliphaz Were 
 the immediate and eldest son of Esau, and Job the great- 
 grandson by a younger branch, their ages as cotempo- 
 raries would hardly agree. It is possible, notwitli-
 
 APPENDIX. 2 If 
 
 standing that this was so, from the longevity of man 
 kind in that period of the world. That part of Arabia 
 called Teman was distinguished for men of learning and 
 celebrated philosophers. This is recognized in Jeremi 
 ah xlix. 7. " Concerning Edom, thus saith the Lord of 
 hosts, is wisdom no more in Tcman, is counsel perished 
 from the prudent, is their wisdom vanished ?" And ii> 
 Baruch iii. 23. " The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon 
 earth, the merchants of Meran, and of Theman, the 
 authors of fables, and searchers out of understanding,'* 
 &c. 
 
 BILBAO, the Shu.fa.te is supposed by Mercerus and 
 Piscator, to be so denominated from Suah the son of 
 Abraham and Keturah, (Gen. xxv. 2.) from whom he 
 *vyas descended. 
 
 ZOPHAR, the Naamathite is supposed to be the same 
 as Zepho the son of Eliphaz, mentioned, Gen. xxxvi. 1 1. 
 Proper names in the Old Testament, being oftentimes 
 much varied. As to his title, it is uncertain beyond a 
 conjecture, whether J\aama, were the name of a man, or 
 a city. 
 
 Elihu, who acted as an umpire in the debate, after it 
 was closed, by the former three, was the youngest of 
 the speakers. He is styled the son of B:\rachel the 
 Buzite of the kindred of Ram. This refers us to Gen 
 esis xxii. 2 1. where we find that Nahor was the father of 
 Buz, who, probably, gave name to the place, and of 
 Kemuel the father of Aram. But what nearness of
 
 220 APPENDIX. ' 
 
 kindred Elihu bare to Aram, or in what descent he is to 
 be reckoned from Nahor, we are uncertain. 
 
 But who was the writer of the book of Job ? This 
 question opens the widest field for vague and uncertain 
 conjecture. It is the most difficult to determine, and, 
 perhaps, the least important to know ; while its inspi 
 ration is unaffected by it, and established independently 
 ^of it. No less than six different opinions are given up 
 on the subject, by commentators, with reasons assigned, 
 in support of their several sentiments. It is assigned, 
 1. to the friends of Job 2. to Solomon 3. to Job him 
 self 4. to Isaiah 5. to Moses, and 6. to Elihu. But 
 for many weighty reasons, unnecessary to mention, the 
 Book is most generally, and with the greatest probabil 
 ity, ascribed to Moses. It is believed, that while he 
 lived in Midian, vrith his father-in-law Jethro, and led a 
 pastoral life, an exile from his country, he became pos 
 sessed of the documents of Job's history, and wrote 
 this admirable Book which bears his name, under the 
 influence, and inspiration of the Divine Spirit. This 
 is thought to account for the use of so many Syriac and 
 Arabic words, which are found in the Book. 
 
 The Book of Job, it will not be pretended, is a plain, 
 simple narration of facts, but is adorned with the fig 
 ures and embellishments warranted by poetic licence ; 
 the more deeply to impress the important moral instruc 
 tion it contains for, it was all, excepting the two first, 
 and the last chapters, originally written in Hebrew 
 verse. The whole may be called rai Epidramatic Poem. 
 Th* style of it is original, and beyond imitation. In
 
 APPEN ? DIX. 221 
 
 its English dress it is poetic prose, full of the finest 
 flowers of rhetoric, and the most elegant and impressive 
 figures of poetry. The address of Deity is a master 
 piece of the sublime. It is beyond all comparison, grand 
 and majestic. A certain critic was so struck with this 
 idea, that he declared, it as far exceeded every other 
 specimen of the sublime, as a cla/i of thunder exceeds a 
 iv/iis/ier. 
 
 * 
 
 The subject of the Book is very instcresting and 
 solemn. It begins with a simple narration of facts, the 
 most exquisitely touching to all the tender feelings of 
 the human heart how, that the grand Adversary, the 
 accuser of the brethren, was permitted, in the provi 
 dence of God, and for the trial of Job's virtue, to har- 
 rass him with unparalleled affliction, in the loss of his 
 possessions, children and health thus as in a moment, 
 reduced from the height of honor, wealth, power and 
 worldly happiness, to the extreme of indigence, pain and 
 misery. Every avemie of suffering seemed to be open 
 ed upon him, and every circumstance combined to ag 
 gravate his wretchedness. His nearest connections de 
 serted him, as an outcasthis wife impiously tempted 
 him to blaspheme his God ; and his special friends who 
 came to visit and to comfort him, and from whom he 
 might reasonably expect the tenderest commiseration, 
 proved but miserable comfortes y and thro' their mista 
 ken zeal, aggravated his afflictions. Indeed, what, to a good 
 man, under all this pressure of outward affliction, would 
 be more painfully trying, than to have his religious sin 
 cerity questioned 'and denied, even by his pious asso- 
 T 2
 
 .222 APPENDIX. 
 
 elates, with whom he had ever been in habljs of the 
 most friendly intercourse, accompanied with terms of 
 the most bitter invective, and unfeeling raillery ? Un 
 der these circumstances, can we at all wonder, that the 
 infirmities of the good man, should be called into action 
 -that he should turn from the bitter cup of life with 
 disgust earnestly long and pray for death, and even 
 curse the day of his birth hereby intimating, in the 
 "Strongest manner, that nonexistence itself, in compari 
 son with his present Bufferings, was an enviable state ? 
 The More strictly we examine his situation, the more 
 sensibly arc we smitten with the depth of his sufferings, 
 and the extremity of his sorrows. Yet, in all this scene 
 of distress, under all the nameless sufferings, both of 
 soul and body, which his nature could endure, his inflex 
 ible virtue, but shone the brighterSatan was complete 
 ly baffled, an<l disappointed in his hellish design ; for, 
 though he cursed his day, he never cursed his God. 
 
 The grand point in debate between Job and his 
 friends, was respecting the Providence of God wheth 
 er the moral characters of men were designated in the 
 present state by the outward dispensations of Provi 
 dence. They took the affirmative, and he, the nega 
 tive side of the question. They argued in alternate 
 speeches, and growing warm in debate, scrupled not 
 to declare him an arrant hypocrite, secretly guilty of 
 the most atrocious crimes that the judgments of hea 
 ven had now overtaken him, stripped off his mask, and 
 openly exposed him as the most wicked impostor. 
 They labored, with much unfeeling perseverance, tho'
 
 APPENDIX. 22C 
 
 perhaps, from the persuasion of duty, to bring him to 
 a conviction and acknowledgment of this odious char 
 acter ; and in their alternate speeches, setting forth the 
 awful judgments of God upon the hypocrite, artfully 
 copied the likeness of Job. 
 
 Job, on the other hand, contended, that the present 
 state was not a state of rewards and punishments, but 
 of trial that no designation of moral character was 
 made, in Providence, between the sinner and the saint ; 
 that however the latter might suffer, or the former 
 enjoy, no evidence was given of divine dereliction of 
 the one, nor of divine approbation of the other that 
 though God corrected mankind for their iniquities, 
 yet he acted as a holy Sovereign in the disposal of his 
 chastisements. Hence, he averred his uprightness 
 maintained his integrity to the last and, repelling all 
 the scandalous charges of his friends, closed with a so 
 lemn appeal to God, fervently imploring the divine in 
 terposition and decision. So forcible were his argu 
 ments, and so pungent his address, that his friends 
 were confuted and silenced. The conference closed, 
 and a sullen pause ensued, when Elihu, a youthful by 
 stander, who had diligently attended through the whole 
 discourse, takes up the subject with great engagedness, 
 though with many apologies for his intrusion. He act 
 ed as a kind of umpire between the parties lays blame 
 to both censures the friends, because they could find 
 nothing further to answer, and by their silence owned 
 themselves confuted ; and reproves Job, with severity 
 for his restiveness under the divine dealings, and for
 
 224 APPENDIX. 
 
 some of his words which savored too strongly of rash 
 ness and arrogancy. He argues the justice of God 
 from his other perfections, and his wonderful works, 
 and from his greatness and majesty. He enforces the 
 duty of unconditional submission to his will. By his 
 address, it is probable, that the warmth of both parties 
 was abated, to the temper of sober reflection. 
 
 In the mean time, the heavens were darkened with 
 clouds, a sudden and tremendous thunder-storm arises, 
 and adds inexpressible solemnity to the scene. This 
 prepared the way for the grand catastrophe which fol 
 lowed. Elihu closed. A sudden and portentous whirl 
 wind sprang up, and God himself addresses Job, with 
 awful, indescribable majesty. In a series of humbling 
 interrogations, the appropriate language of majesty in 
 censed, the Most High displays the greatness, power, 
 variety and wisdom of his works ; and gives Job the 
 most humiliating views of his own weakness, insignifi 
 cance and folly. Job is filled with deep repentance, and 
 acknowledges his guilt, and prostrates himself an hum 
 ble supplicant at the feet of Jehovah. 
 
 The address of the Deity next turns to Eliphaz and 
 his associates, who were reproved for their ignorant 
 misrepresentation of the Divine Providence. They are 
 dii'ected to offer sacrifice for their sin, and Job appoint 
 ed, to the honorable office of interceding for them. 
 
 The scene is now reversed. God hears the prayers 
 of Job for his friends, and restores him from the cap-
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 tivity of his afflictions. Thus Satan was baffled -the 
 nature of his virtue exemplified the divine glory man 
 ifested, and Job comes forth out of affliction refined and 
 purified as gold which hath passed the furnace. His 
 sorrow is turned into joy -his mourning- into festivity 
 every circumstance wears a pleasing aspect, and to 
 gether, form a bright contrast to his former afflicted 
 state. His friends and kindred encircle him with ten 
 der congratulations, and vie with each other, in acts of 
 liberality and kindness. Prosperity returns to him, 
 with a twofold increase of his former wealth. The 
 same number of children are given him, and a hundred 
 and forty years added to his days. Thus smoothly 
 rolled away his evening of life, in tranquillity and peace, 
 till he closed his earthly course in a good old age, full of 
 days, riches and honors. 
 
 Such is the admirable structure of this wonderful 
 Book. It begins with a relation of events the most 
 nearly affecting our tenderest sympathies as it pro 
 ceeds, it interests and engages us by the gravity and 
 importance of its subject, until we are anxious for its 
 issue ; and then, by an unexpected change dissipates 
 the gloom it had spread over our minds, and con 
 cludes with ushering in a scene which fills us with 
 joy and rapture. The whole forms a solemn climax, 
 beginning very tenderly and feelingly as it proceeds, 
 becomes more grave and solemn, till it assumes an in 
 expressible majesty and grandeur, and then, by a sud 
 den reverse, banishes our anxiety and grief, and fills 
 us with pleasure and delight.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 If this be the origin and plan of the book, or poem, 
 if we peruse it according to its native form, considering 
 the depth of its subjects, the unsearchable ways of God, 
 in his works, and the solemnity of the style ; observing 
 also, that the speakers sometimes digress, that, by am 
 plifying, they may exhibit the subject to greater advan 
 tage ; why is not the instruction of the book of Job 
 as intelligible as that of any other part of the inspired 
 writings ? How emphatically does it impress on our 
 minds the observation of the apostle already referred 
 to ; " Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have 
 seen the end of the Lord ; that the Lord is very pitiful 
 and of tender mercy." 
 
 FINIS.
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
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