to the no distant period when his high, destinies shall be unfolded, to

the wonderment of admiring angels. These are Christians, they shall

be like Him, their Elder Brother, and they shall see Him as He is.

These enlightened ones, while they shun with abhorrence the sordid-

ness of the, insentient miser, and look with pity upon the cold hearted

selfishness of the worldling or religious professor, —these benignant

almoners of Heaven's munificence,, being blessed with a true heart,

ever really to ameliorate the woes of their suffering fellow mortals, will

not fail to press upon the objects of their charity the soul stirring

lessons inculcated in the Saviour's precious words, —"I counsel thee to

buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich. "

THE PATRIARCH JOB.

This eminent man, as the Scriptures inform us, resided "in the land

of Uz, " which some fix in Idumea, and others in Mesopotamia.

There is much difficulty in determining the time at which Job lived.

Many suppose it to have been before the age of Abraham, whilst others

conclude that it was not long prior to the departure of the Israelites

from Egypt.

Job, as the book bearing his name records, had seven sons and

three daughters, possessed vast riches, and was " the greatest of all

the men of the East. "

Those who, like Job, " fear God and eschew evil, " are a terror to

Salary and he determines by every conceivable art to lead their feet

astray, and to ruin their souls; for he knows that their influence will

be felt by all with whom they may come in contact. No wonder then

that the piety of the patriarch excited the hatred of the great enemy,

he asked permission; therefore, to afflict him, thinking thereby that

he should succeed in dissevering this true branch from its living vine;

Satan, then, cannot harm the believer unless he obtain permission.

What a consolation is this to the tempted followers of the cross!

Permission having been granted to the " accuser of the brethren. "

Job was quickly deprived of his children and all he possessed. Heavy

as were the tribulations he had to endure, it is recorded to his honor

that his pious exclamation was, " Blessed be the name of the Lord. "

Job was subsequently afflicted in his own person with a loathsome

disease. During its varied stages the discussions between himself and

his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, took place, and which were

brought to a close by the Almighty, who came near in a cloud.

Job's personal appearance on the approach of his friends is touch-

ingly alluded to by the sacred penman. It is said, " And when they

lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their

voice and wept,... They sat down with him seven days and