Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 3.djvu/21

Rh their vanity, and compose themselves for religious exercises. Thus he kept his authority over them for their good, and they submitted to it, though they were got into houses of their own. Still he was the priest of the family, and at his altar they all attended, valuing their share in his prayers more than their share in his estate. Parents cannot give grace to their children, (it is God that sanctifies,) but they ought, by seasonable admonitions and counsels, to further their sanctification. In their baptism they were sanctified to God; let it be our desire and endeavour that they may be sanctified for him.

4. He offered sacrifice for them, both to atone for the sins he feared they had been guilty of in the days of their feasting, and to implore for them mercy to pardon, and grace to prevent, the debauching of their minds, and corrupting of their manners, by the liberty they had taken, and to preserve their piety and purity.

For he, with mournful eyes, had often spy'd, Scatter'd on Pleasure's smooth but treach'rous tide, The spoils of virtue overpower'd by sense, And floating wrecks of ruined innocence. Sir R.

Job, like Abraham, had an altar for his family, on which, it is likely, he offered sacrifice daily; but, on this extraordinary occasion, he offered more sacrifices than usual, and with more solemnity, according to the number of them all, one for each child. Parents should be particular in their addresses to God for the several branches of their family; "For this child I prayed, according to its particular temper, genius, and condition;" to which the prayers, as well as the endeavours, must be accommodated.

When these sacrifices were to be offered, (1.) He rose early, as one in care that his children might not lie long under guilt, and as one whose heart was upon his work, and his desire towards it. (2.) He required his children to attend the sacrifice, that they might join with him in the prayers he offered with the sacrifice, that the sight of the killing of the sacrifice might humble them much for their sins, for which they deserved to die, and the sight of the offering of it up might lead them to a Mediator. This serious work would help to make them serious again, after the days of their gaiety.

Lastly, Thus he did continually; not only whenever an occasion of this kind recurred, for he that is washed, needs to wash his feet: (John, xiii. 10.) the acts of repentance and faith must be often renewed, because we often repeat our transgressions; but, all days, every day, he offered up his sacrifices, was constant to his devotions, and did not omit them any day. The occasional exercises of religion will not excuse us from those that are stated. He that serves God uprightly will serve him continually.

6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the, and Satan came also among them. 7. And the said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8. And the said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9. Then Satan answered the, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10. Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land: 11. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12. And the said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the.

Job was not only so rich and great, but withal so wise and good, and had such an interest both in heaven and earth, that one would think the mountain of his prosperity stood so strong, that it could not be moved; but here we have a thick cloud gathering over his head, pregnant with a horrible tempest. We must never think ourselves secure from storms, while we are in this lower region.

Before we are told how his troubles surprised and seized him here in this visible world, we are here told how they were concerted in the world of spirits; that the Devil having a great enmity to Job for his eminent piety, begged and obtained leave to torment him. It does not at all derogate from the credibility of Job's story in general, to allow that this discourse between God and Satan, in these verses, is parabolical, like that of Micaiah, (1 Kings xxii. 19, &c.) and an allegory designed to represent the malice of the Devil against good men, and the divine check and restraint that malice is under. Only thus much further is intimated, that the affairs of this earth are very much the subject of the counsels of the unseen world. That world is dark to us, but we lie very open to it.

Now here we have,

I. Satan among the sons of God, (v. 6. ) an adversary (so Satan signifies) to God, to men, to all good. He thrust himself into an assembly of the sons of God, that came to present themselves before the Lord. This means, either, 1. A meeting of the saints on earth. Professors of religion, in the patriarchal age, were called sons of God; (Gen. vi. 2.) they had then their religious assemblies, and stated times for them. The king came in to see his guests; the eye of God was on all present: but there was a serpent in paradise, a Satan among the sons of God; when they come together, he is among them to distract and disturb them, stands at their right hand to resist them; the Lord rebuke thee, Satan! Or, 2. A meeting of the angels in heaven; they are the sons of God, ch. xxxviii. 7. They came to give an account of their negociations on earth, and to receive new instructions. Satan was one of them originally; but how art thou fallen, O Lucifer! He shall no more stand in that congregation; yet he is here represented as coming among them, either summoned to appear as a criminal, or connived at, for the present, though an intruder.

II. His examination, how he came thither; (v. 7.) The Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? He knew very well whence he came, and with what design he came thither; that, as the good angels came to do good, he came for a permission to do hurt; but he would, by calling him to an account, show him that he was under check and control. Whence comest thou? He asks this, 1. As wondering what brought him thither. Is Saul among the prophets? Satan among the sons of God? Yes, for he transforms himself into an angel of light, (2 Cor. xi. 13, 14.) and would seem one of them. Note, It is possible that a man may be a child of the Devil, and yet be found in the