Job 2

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. II.—How restless, impudent, steady, and active, is the devil in prosecuting his malice against the saints! Disappointment but sharpens his rage, and makes him return more furious to the attack: and, though proved a liar, he persists in his accusations. It is honourable and necessary to resist him stedfast in the faith. But, above all, great is the mercy that we have Jesus as our advocate to repel his bold accusations. To what astonishing extent doth God, for his own wise ends, permit Satan to afflict his dearest saints; nay, his Son! But glorious conquerors are they, whose mind, in humble abasement, corresponds with their lowest or most loathsome circumstances of body. Heavy indeed is the trial, when those, who ought to be our sympathizing directors in trouble, become our tempters to the most horrid sins;—to rage and disquiet,—to blasphemy;—to trespass more and more against the Lord; and when those, who come to comfort us, have their mouths shut! But happy is he who endureth temptation: when he is tried, he shall receive a crown of life! Happy is he who abhors to parley with vile suggestions, and who receives troubles as the love-messengers of his God! God can make our friends useless to us, even when they are so kind as to come to comfort us, and so wise as to prefer the house of mourning to the house of mirth. What frightful changes disease can make on us! Why then should we be proud of vile bodies? But worthless are those friends who hasten from the chamber of disease, and are glad to fly from the melancholy door: an awful proof that they are unmindful of, and unprepared for, death. Let then no health but what Christ is, no friend but God in him, be the trust, the boast, of my soul! In the time of need all others take to themselves the wings of the morning, and fly away. Miserable comforters, nay, ensuaring tormentors, are they all!