CHAP. XV. Contains Job's reply-prosecutes his arguments by taking a retrospective view of his past life -explains with firmness and perspicuity his. motives to action; and refers his plea to his Maker, &c. CHAP. XVI. Contains Elihu's address to his seniors, disapproving Job's justifying himself,-blames them for their silence, and observes the impulse he laboured under to give his thoughts vent, &c. CHAP. XVII. Contains further remarks of Elihu to Job, tendering his advice,-and shews the folly and wickedness of tyranny and oppression. CHAP. XVIII. Contains further observations from Elihu to Job, in vindication of the ways of God to man,— solicits his candid attention by several engaging motives. CHAP. XIX. Job upon conviction, humbles himself for many rash expressions while under the afflicting hand of Providence, and makes penitential acknowledgments. CHAP. XX. His friends reproved for their uncharitable censures in the controversy with him, and are directed to make atonement for their offences. His restoration to superior prosperity to what he enjoyed previous to his misfortunes. 262 266 267 269 271 272 PART OF THE PREFACE TO THE BOOK OF JOB, PARAPHRASED. BY THOMAS SCOTT. THE Poem presents to us the shades of an illustrious character; a great and good man, in the depth of adversity, reduced to despair, and complaining loudly of the ways of God. His three most intimate friends, who came to condole with him, very early insinuate their uncharitable suspicions: and afterwards openly accuse him of atrocious wickedness, as the cause of his afflictions. Accordingly they exhort him to repentance, which a wicked man needeth, as the only means of his restoration. By thus defending the honour of Providence at their friend's expense, they exasperate his distress, inflame his passions, and hurry him into blameable excesses in the justification of himself, and in expostulations with his Maker about the reasons of his sufferings. He is, however, by wiser management in the hands of Elihu, gradually recovered to a becoming temper; and at last acknowledgeth bis fault to the Almighty, in the fullest terms of contrition and self-abasement; with this complete confession the poem is closed, and the design accomplished. The moral of such a poem, formed on the plan of discontent with the measures of Providence, and the issue of that discontent in submission to them, is too obvious to stand in want of explanation. The majesty and sublimity of this di vine composition have been admired by writers of the first rank in genius, taste, and learning; as the language is very old Hebrew; and the manners of those of the earliest ages. One observes, that it particularly excels in conciseness, force, and fulness of expression, in masterly painting, both of the violent and tender passions, in moving representations of human life, great powers of description, and the simplicity of its theology and ethics. ERRATA. Chapter II. Sec. 1. last line, for "Fortune," read Torture and Sec. II. page 228, 3d line from top, for "stung," read strung. Chapter VI. page 241, 15th line from top, for "whom," read whose. PARAPHRASE. CHAPTER I. SECTION 1.-Job's Character, Wealth, and Riches. His household cares three beauteous daughters cheer'd, Sweet friendship call'd, the brother friends obey: SEC. 2.-His Misfortunes. "Twas on the birth-day of his elder son, Thy faithful slaves lie slaughter'd on the plain, The fire of God was darted from the skies, SEC. 3. His Resignation.. THEN Job arose; and father now no more, We came, and naked shall return to earth. |