ward the Gospel promifes ;-for if, according to the firft recited caufes, a man fails in examining his works, from a difinclination to reform them, from partiality of comparifons, from flattery to his own motives, and a vain dependence upon the opinion of the world,the conclufion is unavoidable, that he must fearch for the qualities the most opposite to thefe for his conductors ;-and if he hopes to difcharge this work. fo as to have advantage from it, that he must fet out upon the principles of an honeft head, willing to reform itself, and attached principally to that object, without regard to the fpiritual condition of others, or the mifguided opinions which the world may have of himself.

That for this end,--he muft call his own ways to remembrance, and fearch out his fpirit, fearch his actions with the fame critical exactnefs and fame piercing curiofity we are wont to fit in judgment upon others;varnishing nothing,-and difguifing nothing. If he proceeds thus, and in every relation of life takes a full view of himself without prejudice; traces his actions to their principles without mercy, and looks into the dark corners and recefies of his heart without fear, and, if upon fuch an enquiry he acts confiftent with his view in it, by reforming his errors, feparating the drofs, and purifying the whole mass with repentance,-this will bid fair for examining a man's works in the apostle's fenfe: --and whoever difcharges the duty thus, with a view to scripture, which is the rule in

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this cafe, and to reafon, which is the applier of this rule in all cafes,-need not fear but he will have what the prophet calls "rejoicing in himfelf," and that he will lay the foundation of his peace and comfort where it ought to lie ;-that is, within himself, -in the teftimony of a good conscience, and the joyful expectation that, having done his moft to examine his own works here, God will accept them hereafter, through the merits of Chrift; which God grant! Amen.

SERMON XV.

JOB'S EXPOSTULATION WITH HIS WIFE.

JOB.II. IO..

What Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and fhall: we not receive evil alfo ?

THESE are the words of Job, uttered in the depth of his misfortunes, by way of reproof to his wife, for the counfel we find the had given him in the foregoing verse; namely, Not to retain his integrity any longer, but to "curfe God and die.' Though it is not very evident what was particularly meant and implied in the words," curfe God and die," -yet it is certain, from Job's reply to them, that they directed him to fome step which was rath and unwarrantable; and, probably, as it is generally explained, meant that he fhould openly call God's juftice to an account, and by a blafphemous accufation of it, provoke God to deftroy his being: as if fhe had faid, "After fo many fad things which have befallen thee, notwithstanding thy integrity, -what gaineft thou by ferving God, feeing he bears thus hard upon thee, as though thou waft his enemy?-Ought fo faithful a fervant as thou haft been, to receive fo much unkind treatment at his hands,-and tamely to fubmit to it?-patiently to fuftain the

evils he has brought upon thy house, and neither murmur with thy lips, nor charge him with injuftice?-Bear it not thus;-and as thy piety could not at first protect thee from fuch misfortunes, nor thy behaviour under them could fince move God to take pity on thee,-change thy conduct towards him,boldly expoftulate with him,-upbraid him openly with unkindnefs,-call his juftice and providence to an account for oppreffing thee in fo undeferved a manner, and get that benefit by provoking him, which thou haft not been able to obtain by ferving him, to die at once by his hands, and be freed at leaft from the greater mifery of a lingering and more tormenting death."

On the other hand, fome interpreters tell us, that the word curfe, in the original, is equivocal, and does more literally fignify here, to blefs than to blafpheme; and confequently, that the whole is rather to be confidered as a farcaftical scoff at Job's piety;as if it had been faid,-" Go to, blefs God, and die;-fince thou art fo ready to praise him in troubles as thou haft done, go on in thy own way, and fee how God will reward thee by a miferable death, which thou canst not avoid."

Without difputing the merit of these two interpretations, it may not feem an improbable conjecture, that the words imply fomething ftill different from what is expreffed in either of them; and, inftead of fuppofing them as an incitement to blafpheme God,

which was madness, or that they were intended as an infult, which was unnatural, that her advice to curfe God and die, was meant here, that he fhould refolve upon a voluntary death himself, which was an act not only in his own power, but what carried fome appearance of a remedy with it, and promised, at least at firft fight, fome refpite from pain, as it would put an end both to his life and his misfortunes together.

One may fuppofe that, with all the concern and affection which was natural, the beheld her lord afflicted both with poverty and ficknefs;-by one fudden blow, brought down from his palace to the dunghill in one mournful day fhe faw that not only the fortunes of his house were blafted, but likewise the hopes of his pofterity cut off for ever by the untimely lofs of his children.-She knew he was a virtuous and an upright man, and deferved a better fate; her heart bled the more for him;fhe faw the prospect before him was dreadful; that there appeared no poffible means which could retrieve the fad fituation of his affairs :-that death, the laft, the fureft friend to the unfortunate, could only fet him free;-and that it was better to refolve upon that at once, than vainly endeavour to wade through fuch a fea of troubles, which, in the end, would overwhelm him. We may fuppofe her fpirits finking under thofe apprehenfions, when fhe began to look upon his conftancy as a fruitlefs virtue, and, from that perfuafion, to have faid unto him,-Curse

་ན་

God,