under heaven so profitable; and that, in fact, there is no profit in any thing, not even in attending the ordinances or in reading the word of God, unless a blessing be brought down upon the soul by fervent prayer.

Shew ye then, Beloved, the truth of your conversion by the change of your dispositions, your tempers, your habits. If ye be indeed brought forth into marvellous light, "walk as children of the light and of the day." And as some remains of your former corruption will yet be found in you, be daily putting off the old man, and be putting on the new, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.]

CCCCLXXIII.

ACQUAINTANCE WITH GOD.

Job xxii. 21. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.

IN estimating the characters and conduct of men, we must make great allowance for their prejudices and mistakes. Unless we take into our consideration the erroneous idea which Job's friends had conceived respecting the dealings of Providence with men, we shall be ready to view them in a most unfavourable light. Even with this allowance we scarcely know how to account for the extreme uncharitableness of Eliphaz. He is not content with accusing Job of secret sins that could be known to God only, but he brings plain and positive charges against him of open visible crimes, no one of which could with even a shadow of truth be imputed to him. We regret to see such inconsistency in a man, whom yet we are constrained to consider as pious: and we turn from this painful view of him, to notice the excellent advice, which, though still under a mistaken apprehension of Job's character, he gave him. To a person under any circumstances, an acquaintance with God is most desirable, but more especially under such a dark and afflictive dispensation as that which Job at this time experienced. That we may invite you all to seek it, we propose to shew,

I. Wherein an acquaintance with God consists

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[There is a knowledge of God which may be obtained from the works of creation: but this must of necessity be extremely partial and defective. They display his wisdom, and power, and goodness; but they exhibit no traces of that perfection which we so greatly need to be acquainted with, namely, his mercy in pardoning sin. It is from revelation only that we can learn his true character as a just God and a Saviour:" and for a discovery of him in that endearing view, we must look at him as exhibited to us in the Gospel of his Son. It is in the face of Jesus Christ that all his glory shines". It is in the cross of Christ that all his perfections are made to unite and harmonize: it is there alone that we can see 66 mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissing each other." This then it is which constitutes a true knowledge of God; it is an acquaintance with the great work of redemption; a view of "God in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" --]

II. What is that measure of acquaintance with him which we as sinners are privileged to enjoy

[It is not a mere speculative knowledge of these things, but an actual participation of them in our own souls: it is not "an hearing of God with our ears, but a seeing of him with our eyes," as Job speaks; I mean, with the eye of faith, which is privileged to "behold Him who is invisible"." By faith "we have a fellowship," yea a most intimate and endearing fellowship, "with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. God will come and manifest himself to us, as our God, our Father, and our Friend". "By his Spirit he will enable us to cry, Abba, Father." "He will dwell in us, and walk with us:" Christ will live in us, even as his heavenly Father lived. in him; insomuch that "he himself will be our lifed." What nearer intimacy can be conceived? yet this it is our privilege to enjoy this union with him, this committing of our souls to him, this receiving of all needful communications out of his fulness, this living entirely by faith in him as our Saviour and our God; this, I say, is that measure of acquaintance with him which we ought to seek, and may actually possess

III. The benefits resulting from it—

[Who can ever fully declare what is implied in peace with God? Verily it is "a peace that passeth all understanding" But there is peculiar emphasis in the word "Now;" "acquaint now thyself with God, and be at peace."

a 2 Cor. iv. 6.

b Heb. xi. 27. d John vi. 56, 57. with Col. iii. 4.

c Gen. v. 24.

e Gal. ii. 20,

What was the estimate which Eliphaz had formed of Job's character? He viewed Job as the vilest hypocrite upon earth, and considered him as punished by God with most signal vengeance: yet he said to him, "Acquaint now," now, notwithstanding all thy vileness; now, in the midst of all these judgments; even now acquaint thyself with God; and "so shall good come unto thee." This was indeed a just view of God, though an erroneous view of the poor afflicted saint. This is the view we should ever have of God in Christ Jesus: we should see him ready to bestow his richest mercies even on the chief of sinners, and as determined "never to cast out any who come unto him." Be it known then, that, if only we will acquaint ourselves with God as he is revealed to us in the Gospel of his Son, there is not a good which God himself can bestow, which he will not richly communicate to us; nor is there a condition, either of sin or suffering, in which that acquaintance with him shall not be effectual for the restoration of our souls to peace. Were we the vilest of the human race, our iniquities should be blotted out and were we in a condition a thousand times more deplorable than that of Job, it should turn all our sorrows into joy—

ADDRESS

Acquaint now yourselves with God,

1. Ye who are in a state of sin

[Seek him in reading, meditation, prayer, &c.] 2. Ye who are in a state of suffering[Doubt not his willingness or sufficiency.]

f Cant. ii. 3.

CCCCLXXIV.

THE UPRIGHT PERSON'S COMFORT UNDER AFFLICTIONS. Job xxiii. 10. He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

THE superior happiness of the godly above that of the ungodly is not so manifest in a season of prosperity as under circumstances of deep affliction. The world can rejoice in their portion as long as their pleasures are uninterrupted by bitter reflections or painful dispensations: but in trouble they have no refuge. The righteous, on the contrary, have less of thoughtless gaiety; but in time of trouble

they find abundant consolations. No man was ever beset with a greater complication of trials than Job; all of which were beyond measure heightened by the uncharitable censures of his friends: but still he found an inward support by reflecting upon,

I. His conscious integrity

It is characteristic of God's children, that they are all upright before God

[As there is a very considerable difference in the attainments of different men with respect to bodily strength and intellectual powers, notwithstanding all possess the same members and enjoy the same faculties, so is there with respect to piety also, notwithstanding all are upright in heart. From the very instant that a person is converted to God, he must of necessity hate sin, and long after a conformity to God's image: he cannot commit sin; he must be, according to the measure of grace given him, "an Israelite indeed, and without allowed guile." Nor does humility require us to confess ourselves hypocrites (wilful hypocrites, I mean) when God has quickened us by his Spirit; for it is not humility, but ingratitude and falsehood, to deny the work which God has wrought in us. Many of God's most eminent saints have spoken of their own integrity and rejoiced in it, and even pleaded it before God". And we also, by "proving every one of us our own work, may have rejoicing in ourselves, and not in another."]

A consciousness of their own integrity is a rich source of consolation to them in a trying hour—

[There are times and seasons when almost all the other springs of comfort seem dried up: sometimes it may be painful even to reflect upon Godd. Job acknowledges in the context, that God's "presence was a trouble to him:" but knowing that God was acquainted with his heart, he could yet appeal to him respecting his own integrity: and from this source he derived a pleasing satisfaction, an encouraging hope. St. Paul, under a daily and hourly expectation of martyrdom, experienced much joy in the same thought: nor shall we find it a small consolation to us, under any trials we may be called to endure.]

But Job found a yet further consolation in reflecting upon,

II. The expected issue of his trials

b Ps. xvii. 2. 2 Kings xx. 3.

a 1 John iii. 9. c Gal. vi. 4.

d Ps. lxxvii. 3.

e 2 Cor. i. 8-12.

Though he was at present in as hot a furnace as he could possibly endure, yet he believed that he was put into it by a skilful Refiner, for the purifying of his soul from dross

[They who are truly upright, learn to view the hand of God both in their comforts and their troubles: they know that affliction comes not by chance, but from the hand of Him who directs every thing with consummate wisdom. The ungodly look no further than to second causes; and therefore yield to murmuring and impatience whenever they receive evil from the hand of their fellow-creatures: but the godly are persuaded that their portion, whatever it be, is mixed for them by God himself, and that it is intended "to purge away their iniquity," that they may be partakers of his holiness. This was evidently the view which Job had of troubles, notwithstanding they sprang from such various sources.]

An expectation of the benefit reconciled him to the means used for his good

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[No one can love trouble on its own account; since it is never joyous, but grievous." But sanctification is the highest wish of the upright soul: it is regarded as a pearl that cannot be purchased at too high a price. Trials, however painful, are welcomed, if they may but be the means of promoting this blessed end. Many have even dreaded the removal of them, lest with them they should lose also the benefits flowing from them. And, if we could have viewed the afflictions of Job in their true light, we should have preferred his condition when upon the dunghill far before that of his censorious friends. He was enabled to look forward to the end; and the event fully justified his expectations.]

ADDRESS,

1. Those who are in the furnace of affliction

"He

[Look above all second causes, and see God appointing the nature, measure, and duration of all your trials. brings the third part through the fire;" and appoints tribulation as your way to the kingdom. Let him accomplish his own will in his own way; and "what ye know not now, yẹ shall know hereafter."]

2. Those who have been delivered from their troubles

[When you were bowed down under the load of your afflictions, you probably thought how differently you would

f Ps. xxxix. 9. Isai. xxvii. 9. Heb. xii. 10.

g 2 Sam. xvi. 10.