Zophar makes the third attack on Job, calling his ;.efense senseless and false, telling him that his afflictions, overwhelming as they are, are less than his iniquity deserves; that if he will humble his heart, forsake his sins, and call on God, he may yet be restored to prosperity and peace; but that if he continue impenitent all hope of deliverance will be vain. As all the three friends have now spoken, Job replies, in cutting language, to them all, saying, "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you." Yet he affirms that his knowledge is not inferior to theirs; yea, that they have uttered only commonplace things which everybody knows. •Appealing to the air, the land. and the sea as fud of the works of God, whose supremacy he acknowledges over all the affairs of mankind, and declaring his own readiness to submit his case to him, be charges his friends with having made false statements in their pretense of zeal for the divine gov ernment, and professes his determination to continue his trust in God even unto death. Then, addressing himself directly to God, he pleads with 1dm to withdraw his hand from him and not to overwhelm him with his mighty power, as a tempest that puts forth its strength in crushing the dry stubble or a driven leaf. After this he closes his reply with a beautiful lamentation over the frailty of life. 2. The second division of the discussion Eliphaz, as before, begins. He charges Job with vanity, presumption, prayerlessness, arrogance, and craft. He vindicates the government of God, which, ho declares, deals with the wicked according to their character, sending On them disquietude of spirit in the midst of external safety, ruin in the hour of prosperity, and destruction when they think themselves strong. Jobs reply condemns his friends severely as mis erable comforters complains irreverently against God as giving him up into the hands of the wicked, and breaking him with breach upon breach. Healsoasserts passionately his innocence, to which, he says, earth and heaven will both bear witness. Bildad's second address is increasingly severe on Job, treating all his arguments as vain and arro• gant attacks on the government of God, and denouncing on him the terrible calamities which, he says, are manifestly the portion of the wicked. Job's answer to this cruel speech is from the depths of a sorrowful yet subdued spirit. He calls on his friends to remember that God has overthrown him, has shut up and darkened his path, has removed the crown from his head, and surrounded him with destruction; so that his brethren, kinsfolk and friends, his servants, and even his wife count him as is stranger, and little children despise him. Then with a pathetic appeal for human pity because
God's hand is upon him, be passes the crisis of his distress, and springs up to a sublime confidence in God which pours the light of redemption on the scene. Conscious of the importance of what he is about to say. he looks eagerly around for some way of preserv ing it. " Who will write the words that now I speak? Who will engrave them on a tablet and cut them into the rock forever? For I know that my redeemer lived', and at the latter day will stand upon the earth. Though this will be after they have destroyed even my skin, yet, delivered from the flesh, 'shall I see God. I shall behold him on my side; mine eyes shall see him, and he will not be a stranger to nie, even though my reins within me are consumed." 3. From this point the discussion becomes easier to under stand. Job's friends, adhering to their theory that God deals with men in accordance with their characters, charge on him iniquity of conduct and of heart, which, they insist, must be as aggravated as his afflictions are great: while he, turning increasingly away from man, confesses the majesty, sovereignty, and justice of God; gives a grand description of wisdom as consisting in fearing the Lord and departing from evil; asserts his integrity in God's sight, and declares that if he will pronounce judgment in his case he will bind it as a crown of righteousness on his head. At length, the three friends having been silenced, a fourth takes up the argnment—Elihu, the youngest of the com pany, who has listened in silence but with growing impatience to all that has been said. Displeased with his companions because they have not answered Job aright, and with Job because he has maintained his own righteousness, he calls on all to listen to him. While he agrees with much that has been advanced concerning'the punishment of sin ners in this life, he asserts, as a principle in God's government which none of the dis putants have made prominent, that affliction is often sent on men for their profit that they may be turned from their evil purposes and humbled in their pride. The debate is dosed by the Lord himself, answering Job out of the whirlwind and drawing from him the humble confession, "Behold I am vile; I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seal) thee; wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." III. After this the condemnation of his three friends was pronounced: and Job laving prayed for them, his own captivity was turned, and the Lord blessed the latter ,portion of his life more than lie had its beginning.