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 ATTAINABLE ON EARTH. 
 
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 Boston: 
 IVFcDONALD & GILL, 
 
 Offjce of the Christiax "Witness, 
 36 BiiOMFiELD St. 
 

 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S85, 
 
 By Mcdonald & gill, 
 
 In the Oflace of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Book - - - - » 5 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Man ----- 12 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 His Possessions - - . _ 17 
 
 chapter iv. 
 His Resources - - : _ _ 19 
 
 chapter v. 
 Nature's Light and Dakkxess - - 23 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 Why and Wherefore - - - 29 
 
 chapter yii. 
 The Spirit-Realm Unveiled - - 34 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Disclosure - - _ . 0(3 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A Celestial Gathering - - - 40 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Satan's Challenge - - . . 44 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The Attack 
 
 chapter xii. 
 Satan Defeated - - . 
 
 chapter xiii. 
 A Second Effort - - _ 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Friends Appear - - . 
 
 chapter xv. 
 The Silence Broken - - . 
 
 chapter xyi. 
 The Reply of A Friend — Eliphaz 
 
 CO 
 69 
 76 
 82 
 89 
 94 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Perfection, in Solitude - - - lOO 
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 A Friend's Disappointment - - 103 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Self-Defense ----- 106 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A Third Friend's Effort - - - 118 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A Yein of Irony - - - - 124 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 A Second Speech from Eliphaz - - 130 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Job's Review of the Speech of Eliphaz, 134 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Bildad's Second Speech - - - 138 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Job Superior to Bildad - - - 140 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 An Interruption - - - - 144 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Job Resumes ----- 147 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 A Third Speech from Eliphaz - - 151 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 The Reply to Eliphaz - - - 154 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Bildad's Last Effort - r - 158 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Mind Triumphs over Matter - - 161 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 A New Speaker - - - - 177 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 Truth Triumphant - - - - 109 
 
THE PEOLOGUE. 
 
 OxE Sunday morning, my desire to know 
 How man may reach perfection here below, 
 Led me to take the Book, wherein is given 
 Instruction meet to tit the soul for Heaven, 
 To a familiar, oft-frequented, place, 
 Uninterrupted, there the truth to trace. 
 Pledged to this purpose, trifling thoughts retire. 
 While nature wooes to thoughts, than nature, 
 
 higher. 
 The glorious sunshine, shimmering through the 
 
 trees 
 That bowed responsive to the varying breeze ; 
 The dew, that nature, all, with pearls bedecked, 
 Or changed to gems more lustre to reflect ; 
 The breath of flowers perfuming all the air, 
 Voicelessly telling of a Presence there ; 
 The hallowed calm upon that holy day. 
 All, gave to thought a trend the heavenward way. 
 
 To that retreat retired, all free from care, 
 No thought of my surroundings, light, or air. 
 Or wafted perfumes — while impressed by all ; 
 Perhaps by Him who waits the suppliant's call. 
 Wooing, enduring, with long-suffering love, 
 
VI THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 To make His children ripe for realms above : — 
 
 There, to the book of Job I turned, to find 
 
 How one may be more perfect than his kind. 
 
 Wherein it was Job's chief perfection lay, 
 
 I'd find out on the morning of that day. 
 
 " ISTot the whole book ! but a few chapters read, 
 
 Will solve the problem," — to myself, I said. 
 
 For little more of Job was known to me, 
 
 Than I had learned beside my mother's knee, 
 
 Among the catechetic questions, when 
 
 " What man was first ? " " Who died to save 
 
 lost men ? " 
 " Who was the oldest ? — the most perfect man ? " 
 The primer taught without much form or plan : 
 Sufficient, if, from childhood up to youth. 
 The mind had simply treasured gospel truth. 
 
 I read : was pleased to find how firm Job stood. 
 Bereft, and in his seeming solitude. 
 Bead on, — was disappointed ; but still read 
 To the book's end ! then to myself, I said, 
 ^^ It is God's Book ; therefore, the truth must be : 
 But Job, as perfect, fail my eyes to see." 
 The trial did not seem like a success. 
 I did not know, was not inclined to guess. 
 Closing the Book my thoughts took other range. 
 My disappointment vanished with the change. 
 
THE rROLOGUE. Vll 
 
 Long time passed by, my patience had been 
 tried ; — 
 No thouhgt herein, to rank with Job, implied : — 
 When, of a sudden, wonder came one day 
 Whether, within my province now, it lay 
 To solve the problem, that I found in youth 
 Concerning Job. Straight to the Book of truth 
 I bent my way 5 there, studying all alone, 
 A helper came : " The Arena and the ThroneP * 
 I read ; digested : till the boundary line 
 Was lost between the author's thought and mine. 
 Hence, what herein shall with his thought accord. 
 To him be granted credit, and award 
 Of origin : and let myself be known 
 As but the echo, of a high, pure tone 
 Eesounding here, destined to sound on high 
 When blending voices mingle in the sky. 
 Let but my echo be repeated then. 
 And Heaven receive the tribute with, " Amen.^' 
 
 Nor would I fail to note the light that gleamed 
 Erom him who wrote ^^ Redeemer and Redeemed J^ t 
 He brought me from deep doubt, as from the dead : 
 Led me to Christ, the ever-living Head. 
 
 * The Arena and the Throne, by L. T. Towusend, D. D. Pub- 
 lisbed by Lee & Shejiard, Boston. 
 
 t Redeemer and Redeemed, by Charles Beeclier, Georgetown, 
 ?.Iass. Boston: Lee & Shepard, 
 
VIU THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Revealed the broken cisterns, insecure ; 
 Opened up Gospel truths, as fountain pure, 
 Eefreshing, to th' hungering, thirsting soul, 
 Over whom dark clouds, as huge billows, roll : 
 Till my blind eyes beheld the peaceful light, 
 And knew my Eather 'd sent to heal my sight : — 
 Sent, not an angel from the realm above, 
 But one on earth, who served for Jesus's love. 
 
 When who turn many, from crude error's way, 
 Shall shine resplendent in the coming day ; 
 "Who feed Christ's lambs and make the Shepherd 
 
 known. 
 Be called by Him to share the Victor's throne ; 
 May it be his in radiance to shine. 
 The joy to view that radiance, be mine. 
 
 Then shall my highest powers with all unite 
 To praise the God of honor, truth, and right, 
 For matchless love, that, suffering long, could waib 
 The lost ones to restore to their lost state : 
 And, from the conflict of the ages past. 
 Bring forth a concord evermore to last — 
 Ever in sweetest harmony to chime 
 When suns have paled, and no more measure time : 
 Unfolding ever with love's rich increase 
 In life eternal, joy, bliss, perfect peace. 
 
 The Author. 
 
PEEFECTION ATTAINABLE, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE BOOK. 
 
 IWTAN, weeping, wakes into a vale of tears. 
 ^ ^ He seeks to solve the problem life appears. 
 Why here ? and wherefore ? What his destiny ? 
 Where are the aids to solve the mystery ? 
 Should he blot out the sun, to clear the sky, 
 Thinking the light he carries in his eye, 
 He may be led by spectres in his brain. 
 But has no light to make his pathway plain. 
 Who gave the sun, gave not all creatures eyes ; 
 Not all crave light, nor native of the skies : 
 To earth adapted, they the dark earth crave, ' 
 Nor deem their home to higher life a grave. 
 To moral creatures, God gave power to choose — 
 To grope with bats, and higher life refuse ; 
 To close their eyes, or lift them to the sky ; 
 
6 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Seek life eternalj or, with gross things, die. 
 He, in His love and ministry to men, 
 Gave them a Book prepared with ink and pen : 
 Left nought undone the human race to teach, 
 And place the highest good within their reach : 
 To pilgrim strangers, journeying through life's 
 
 vale. 
 Employs the method that can best avail. 
 That they discern the truth He would unfold, 
 And in His light its beauty all behold : 
 Adapts the means to suit the age and race, 
 That they may truth receive, and "grace for 
 
 grace.'' 
 The Book God gave we simply Bible name. 
 But for that Book the highest reverence claim ; 
 Or, if the Book by divers names we call. 
 As Sacred Scriptures, Word of God — these all 
 Are only synonyms, the name to express 
 Of the one Book God gave our race to bless. 
 The Bible, though Divine, and by God given, 
 Was not composed, then dropped to earth, from 
 
 Heaven. 
 All was dependent on the human pen : 
 Though God inspired, the writers all were men ; 
 Wrote different books, at different points of time, 
 
THE BOOK. 7 
 
 And each one's style^ or more or less sublime, 
 Identifies the writer — plainly shows 
 That he is conscious what he writes, and knows 
 His theme; — not a mere medium, to pen 
 An unknown message to his fellow-men. 
 The scripts, at last, at different periods done, 
 Were all collected, bound complete in one : 
 One "Holy Bible, destined as the seed 
 AVhence untold volumes thenceforth should pro- 
 ceed. 
 A living miracle, ordained to be 
 Man's guide, through time, to immortality. 
 Grope they in darkness where this light is not; 
 Happy they are who have its truth inwrought. 
 Let none, then, seek to blot the Bible out. 
 To raise in sport, or help support, a doubt, — 
 Dishonest doubt, not raised to prove the truth, 
 But to unsettle unformed, wayward youth. 
 The Book is truth, — all honest test will bear, 
 Xor science can its radiance impair. 
 Will, with its light, give solace, peace, and rest. 
 And lead the illumined home to mansions blest. 
 Since a collection is the Bible, then 
 One Book must have been first revealed to men ; 
 And that first book have been by God designetl. 
 
8 PERFECTION xiTTAINABLE. 
 
 As lesson first, to instruct the human mind : 
 Since He is Author, and Inspirer, too, 
 With this prime object — this alone — in view. 
 All comprehending what His children need, 
 He will the first with the first lessons, feed. 
 The basis first, whereon shall firmly stand 
 Truth that shall follow as their powers expand. 
 In any study, an important part 
 Is that first principles be learned by heart. 
 Their comprehension is a lasting gain. 
 Making all future lessons much more plain ; 
 Clears the perception, opes the mental eye, 
 And lessens reference to the text ^,one by. 
 Be it our object, then, at once to t/ace 
 The truth first given to the human race. 
 Diligent study gives us zeal to. jpok 
 Fov older script than that csille^T'e?itateuch. 
 To find, of all we hold as sacred lore, 
 Than Job, there is no book to stand before. 
 Most ancient, earliest — Job. The statement 
 
 stands 
 Confirmed by one who confidence commands — 
 A learned doctor, "* commentator too, 
 Who wisely studied all the Bible through. 
 
 *Dr. Scott. 
 
THE BOOK. 9 
 
 '^ Some think it the most ancient work/' he writes, 
 
 " Now extant in the world." And then he cites 
 
 Sufficient jproofs his words to justify ; 
 
 Confirms, by simply telling how and why. 
 
 Keligion patriarchal that remained, 
 
 In ordinances, that were then sustained. 
 
 In Uz. No record of idolatry 
 
 Except the chief est emblems in the sky : — 
 
 The glorious sun ; the moon, queen of the night, 
 
 The only objects worship yet incite. 
 
 Allusion none to the Mosaic law, 
 
 Nor works of wonder that God's people saw — 
 
 God's chosen Israel, that He kindly blessed 
 
 And led from bondage to a land of rest. 
 
 The style of work and composition, too, 
 
 Sanction the opinion herein held to view. 
 
 I quote again — ^rom knowledge not my own — 
 
 An extract in ^" Arena and the Throne," 
 
 Erom Carlyie, who, with pen that ready flows, 
 
 Of Job has written poetry in prose. 
 
 Let me his words in measured lines rehearse, 
 
 To frame the metre of my truth in verse. 
 
 Though to preserve the accent and the rhyme, 
 
 I risk in language loss of the sublime. 
 
 *^ One of the grandest things e'er writ with pen,-' 
 
10 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 " A noble book/^ belonging to all men. 
 Not written for one age, or time, or class, 
 Tis ^' all-men's book " — all, as the ages pass. 
 Our first and oldest statement of the Why? — 
 The problem never-ending, ne'er to die, — 
 " Man's destiny, and God's ways with him here 
 On earth." When shall the visual ray be clear ? 
 " Such living likenesses were ne'er seen drawn." 
 Sorrow sublime ! And who can look upon 
 A reconciliation more sublime, 
 Or match this record of so early time ? 
 The oldest choral melody ; — the heart. 
 As 'twere, of all mankind, bearing its part, 
 So soft, so great, as summer midnight bears j 
 A tone above the earth and all its cares ; 
 Or as the world, with its accompaniment 
 Of murmuring seas, and stars, is yet content 
 To wheel its orbit throughout untold years, 
 And blend its chime with music of the spheres. 
 Such is the Book of Job, where we behold 
 That, although God chose Israel to unfold 
 The way He chose to govern men in time, 
 Nor less His government in realm sublime ; 
 And chose they should His oracles possess, 
 Which, they transmitting, should all nations bless. 
 
THE BOOK. 11 
 
 Yet, other nations were recipients, too, 
 
 Of truth Divine, not withheld from their view. 
 
 In Abraham's day — Israel's progenitor — 
 
 Approved of God, Job stood, in character. 
 
 Arabian Job ! in crucible refined, 
 
 Heaven's host may God's ideal man-perfect, find. 
 
 This truth, transparent, all may clearly trace : 
 
 God is not partial to one given race ; 
 
 Sees but one family in all the earth, 
 
 Prepared to ripen them for higher birth. 
 
12 PEKFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE MAN. 
 
 Having discussed the Book of Job, we can 
 Turn our attention now to Job the man ; 
 Gather the truths that open to our view 
 Freely as flowers exhale the morning dew, 
 Diffuse their perfume, all refined, and give 
 To all who breathe, a better life to live. 
 Explore, as miners search beneath the soil 
 Eor treasure that repays both time and toil. 
 Job's individuality so scan, 
 That we may wisely mark the perfect man — 
 Intelligently know why he so shines 
 From earliest record to these present times ; 
 Why such distinction bears his name along: 
 Text for the preacher, subject for a song, 
 Pith for a proverb, and, by old and young, 
 A simile pronounced by every tongue. 
 At his first introduction, Job appears 
 A ripe adult, in character and years. 
 The days of helpless infancy are gone. 
 
THE MAN. 13 
 
 The joys and sorrows of youDg cliildliood's morn. 
 
 'i^e liappy 'halo, gilding earlj day, 
 
 Its beams has scattered — fleeting, passed away. 
 
 The season passed, of innocent delight, 
 
 When time moves slow and morn seems long ere 
 
 night ; 
 The adolescent period, that anon overtakes. 
 And the fresh season when new love awakes : 
 The time attending in life's early dream, 
 "When things that are, are not like what they 
 
 seem; 
 When pleasures, pastime, foibles, follies too, 
 Take on proportions that are not their due. 
 The season when young friendships form had 
 
 gone, 
 And Job had bid adieu to life's young morn. 
 But this life-school — with large experience 
 
 fraught, 
 A balanced mind, a manhood firm, had wrought ; 
 A character developed and matured, 
 So even, so well-rounded, as insured 
 The admiration of the earth ; and, more, 
 The approbation of high heaven, before 
 The assembled sons of God. But let us wait, 
 Or we the sequel shall anticipate. 
 
14 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 While we, with zeal, refer now to the Book, 
 May the same Spirit that inspired it, look 
 Upon our effort, and inspire us too ; 
 That nought therein disclosed escape our view. 
 He, searching the deep things of God, make 
 
 bright 
 Our vision, which, without His aid, is night. 
 The narrative, in substance, opens thus : — 
 "A man was living in the land of Uz 
 Whose name was Job.'' — Ko note of ancestors. 
 Simple irrelevance may be the cause. 
 A brief synopsis of his character 
 Follows, confirmed by One who cannot err. 
 Perfect, upright, feared God, evil eschewed. 
 Simple to state, easily understood. 
 Clear, plain, pellucid ; who bhall dare deny 
 God's uttered truth ? or, face Him with a lie ? 
 Question His balances or measuring rod. 
 Whose ways are equal ? else God is not God. 
 True, Job feared God, but not as Adam did, 
 AVho from His presence shrank and vainly hid. 
 Or sought to hide. Job's was a wholesome fear, 
 Disposing him to wish God very near. 
 But, as a mercenary man inquires, — 
 Who to possession ardently aspires, — 
 
THE MAN. 15 
 
 Often and earnest, "Will it pay ?" Desires 
 Of Job within himself arise, to light 
 Upon the path of honor, truth and right. 
 Assured that God approves, such way he'll take ; 
 ISTo powers combined can lead him to forsake 
 That course ; if not, no power can make him 
 
 swerve ; 
 God is his friend ; no other will he serve. 
 A well-trained conscience guides him in his 
 
 choice. 
 And he will listen to its guiding voice. 
 He not alone the j^ath of wrong forsakes, 
 The thought of evil banishes ; thus takes 
 On habit, which, confirmed, makes impulse right 
 And the word duty dwindles out of sight. 
 Job, become perfect, has for his reward 
 The peace of him whose mind is stayed on God. 
 This character had Job attained, before 
 Eesponsible parental name he bore. 
 To this man, so described, seven sons were born, 
 While daughters three, his family adorn. 
 (Wise was the mother of Job's children, then 
 As proved by proverb * from the wise man's pen. 
 The woman building up her house is wise ; 
 
 * Proverbs xiv. 1. 
 
16 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Who plucks it down, herself may well despise.) 
 
 The book perusing, we are led to see 
 
 Job's children all attain majority. 
 
 ISTo note of childhood, passed in silence all, 
 
 What joys nii^ht cheer them, or what griefs 
 befall ; 
 
 How they were reared, — home-culture quite left 
 out, — 
 
 They're uc-t the theme the author writes about. 
 
 Yet doubt no shade casts whether Job ruled well 
 
 And peace and concord in his home did dwell. 
 The sequel shows, and makes it very clear 
 That well and wisely he the ten did rear. 
 He ? They. Job's sons, if they were wisely led, 
 Parents were one — formed one united head; 
 Their aims, their ends, their motives intersphered. 
 More in narration, would have interfered 
 With the great end the Author had designed, 
 As lesson first, to instruct the huma<n mind. 
 
HIS POSSESSIONS. 17 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HIS POSSESSIONS. 
 
 The subject next upon the record shown, 
 Presents a schedule of what Job did own. 
 Possessions held in title, right, and fee. 
 Off-hand and round, with no pretense to be 
 Precise in numbers, as with coin we count. 
 Which will not, with the keeping more amount. 
 So numerous are his flocks and herds, that men 
 Make no account of less than ten times ten. 
 And, prospered as he was, one day's report 
 Would never with another day's comport. 
 The census of to-day would falsify 
 The numbering correct of yesterday. 
 That of to-morrow might still more outrun 
 The trusty counting that to-day had done. 
 Pirst on the list to have and hold and keep. 
 We find enrolled, are seven thousand sheep. 
 (A list made out the present day might read — 
 ^' Same more or less ; " of this there was no need. 
 Transferred estate no written deed required, 
 
18 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Nor registration yet had. man desired.) 
 
 But flocks and herds were doubtless many more, 
 
 Had count been accurate, and told each score. 
 
 Three thousand camels next, number immense ! 
 
 A host of men to act in their defense 
 
 As consequence, would seem to be required, 
 
 And large provision for the herdsmen hired. 
 
 Ten thousand animals ; nor are these all j 
 
 Five hundred yoke of oxen answer call. 
 
 These well might stock a farm. But we proceed 
 
 And, mules five hundred on the schedule read ; 
 
 That is, five hundred mules of female kind j 
 
 Mules masculine not reckoned, as we find. 
 
 We are prepared, with such a large estate, 
 
 To read, Job had a household very great. 
 
HIS RESOURCES. 19 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HIS RESOURCES 
 
 His family of ten, Job reared without the aid 
 Of any book. No book had yet been made : 
 Nor magazine, nor pamphlet ; Bible none j 
 To give his word a deeper, stronger tone, 
 Sanction authority, and be his guide, 
 His standard, which all questions should decide. 
 Not any sacred Scriptures were there then : 
 Not the first inspired record made by pen. 
 No Sabbath-school varied the seventh day ; 
 No library-book to while the time away, 
 And teach them all the while some heavenly- 
 lore. 
 Beneath some tree or at the open door. 
 All unaware to Job, the first supply 
 For book to be perused by any eye. 
 Was his own life, whose peaceful ebb and flow 
 Gave all around him happiness to know : — 
 His life, the theme for the first printed page ; 
 First pabulum for mind, from age to age ; — 
 
20 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Which should the hungering soul amply supply 
 With fruit that lives and thrives perennially. 
 Thus, in Job's daily walks, his life embraced 
 Embodiment of truth to be first placed : — 
 As in celestial system, remote star 
 Sends early radiance, that shall travel far, 
 Bearing its beams with an enlightening ray 
 To earth-born tenants in life's latest day. 
 Unconscious, he, as days successive passed, 
 His life should have a record which should last ; 
 In time to come, fill many a published tome, 
 And find a place in every Christian home. 
 Treasures of wisdom, in the time of Job 
 (Being, as said, no books upon the globe). 
 Were stored up in the memories of those men 
 Who'd reached or passed their three-score years 
 
 and ten. 
 What they'd observed, experienced, and deduced, 
 Comprised the only library to be used. 
 He who would be intelligent, must, then, 
 Consult the wisdom of these aged men ; 
 Research the living volumes of wise age. 
 Whose every day was one more added page — 
 Or paragraph, increasing more and more, 
 The already large, accumulated lore. 
 
HIS RESOURCES. 21 
 
 But, although yet no book from printing-press 
 Had issued been, the sons of earth to bless ; 
 A picture-book, with illustrations given, 
 Had been bestowed by the All-wise, from heaven. 
 The universe of matter God designed, — 
 All things created, planned, and so combined, 
 That they should typify and illustrate 
 Things that the mind alone can estimate. 
 (Some, past the reach of intellect to tell, 
 In the emotions and affections dwell). 
 Even His eternal power and God-head, so 
 That they have no excuse who do not know 
 The great Creator by His breathing-in ; 
 Since naught excludes Him in this world, but sin. 
 To these resources Job might one more add. 
 In common with all such as crave, — he had 
 The direct influence of the Divine mind; 
 E-eadier to bless than seeker is to find ; — 
 Jehova.h. Job held intercourse with Him. 
 And as, by law of mind, it grows less dim. 
 And more capacious as its powers are used, — 
 Expansion limitless, unless abused ; 
 By light prepared for light ; infused by light, 
 With power to know true honor, truth, and 
 right J — 
 
22 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 So Job expanded in his mental powers, 
 Unconscious, as of perfume are the flowers. 
 Indeed, of self he never thought to think, 
 No more than fountain meditates on drink. 
 His mental powers so clear and copious grew, 
 Deductions flashed from premises all true. 
 His active, well-trained, regulated mind. 
 Saw right from wrong clearly and well defined. 
 All held his judgment perfectly correct ; 
 None criticised, nor charged him with defect. 
 What he inferred was happily received : 
 His statements all undoubtingly believed. 
 None controverted ; none required a proof ; 
 Whate'er he spake was truth — both warp and 
 
 woof. 
 Such confidence made all contention cease, 
 And Job's conclusions foretold perfect peace. 
 'Twas known it was his chiefest wish, to bless ; 
 None thought to appeal, but all to acquiesce 
 In his decisions. Hence, Job happy stood 
 A prince and sovereign to the multitude, — 
 An uncrowned king ; — no diadem he sought ; 
 The power he held, a symbol needed not. 
 
NATUEE'S LIGHT AKD DARKNESS. 23 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 nature's light and darkness. 
 
 Job, with unfaltering confidence, believed 
 In God's existence ; whom, he too conceived 
 To be a conscious, self -existing One ; 
 Between whom and himself there could be none 
 To claim his worship. And no sacrifice 
 Eeligious, could, by any man's device. 
 Be drawn from him. He worshipped, loved, ad- 
 ored 
 And served his God. All less than God, ignored 
 As objects that religious rites could claim. 
 Before his household he revered God's name. 
 Him he believed to rule by sovereign sway 
 The habitable earth ; that no delay 
 His righteous government would entertain 
 To mete out justice in His whole domain. 
 That He, with ease observed the affairs of all ; 
 The great ones witnessed, and no less the small. 
 That those who rightly used what they possessed, 
 Would with abundance be increased and blessed. 
 
24 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 That wrongs, by Him would surely be redressed, 
 
 No less than others, freely Job confessed. 
 
 That God would choose to increase the power of 
 
 those 
 Who kindly strove to lessen others' woes. 
 With Him compared, to whom all things belong, 
 No man was powerful, righteous, wise, nor strong, 
 Nor mighty, nor intelligent, nor just j 
 Nor worthy to receive implicit trust ; 
 None perfect — never wholly justified: 
 In God alone might confidence abide. 
 So high, above man's highest reach, attained 
 The unseen God, whom Job in thought main. 
 
 tained, 
 To whom alone he adoration paid ; 
 Upon whose altar all his offerings laid ; 
 No other object could admit between 
 Himself who worshlpp?d, and his God unseen. 
 But such assurance came not without thought ; 
 Through deep-toned, mental confiict it was 
 
 wrought. 
 There is an element in all mankind 
 Inducing worship, — more or less refined. 
 Those around Job, worshipped the glorious sun, 
 In morning hour j and when, his day's course ruQ, 
 
NATURE'S LIGHT AND DARKNESS. 2o 
 
 The golden orb its crimson colors lent, 
 Crowning v/ith rays resplendent ; then they bent 
 Prostrate in worship. Nor was Job unmoved. 
 For when the effulgent beams had almost proved 
 O'erpowering, — when the eyes of all who dared 
 Gaze on its brightness, in a blindness shared, 
 Job, too, with hand upon his lips, almost 
 Adored. Bub this was in his youth. The host 
 Of worshippers around he had withstood, 
 Until alone, among a multitude. 
 When rose the sun, in gorgeous splendor bright, 
 Or moon walked lustrous, with a paler light, 
 He could behold, with no enticement felt, 
 Though all around in adoration knelt. 
 Job, by God's works, so plainly to be seen, 
 Knowledge of the Invisible did glean. 
 God's natural attributes perceived, and felt, 
 And oft in silence on the subject dwelt ; 
 Admired His matchless wisdom, power, and skill ; 
 Conceived His watchful care abiding still. 
 That He a God of system was, 'twas true, 
 Since every orb in space its orbit knew. 
 The seasons knew their annual return, 
 And day and night the time their lights to burn. 
 But whether He were Being who could feel 
 
26 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Compassion for the suffering, and would heal 
 
 The wound from sympathetic chord, — reply, 
 
 Nature gave not ; powerless to testify. 
 
 (The highest artist doth himself impart, 
 
 To bring forth perfect his high work of art ; 
 
 But, in the work, himself doth deftly hide. 
 
 And leave observers to his work of pride. 
 
 Kor ask for notice, till admirers cry 
 
 To know the author who has blest their eye. 
 
 So the Most High in nature is concealed, 
 
 And only hides that He may be revealed. 
 
 He will not entrance force, but waits, to greet, 
 
 Who, more than matter in material, seek.) 
 
 A problem came to Job, — at home, abroad. 
 
 'Twas earnest. '^How shall man be just with 
 
 God?" 
 It gave him pause. No answer came from far, 
 From sun or moon, or brightest twinkling star : 
 No breeze that wafted through the atmosphere, 
 Moated an answer to the listening ear. 
 Though peal of thunder wakened echoing roar, 
 Eemained but silence, when the sound was o'er. 
 No breath at daybreak, had a whisper given. 
 When woke the slumberer from his dream of 
 
 heaven. 
 
NATURE'S LIGHT AXD DAPavXESS. 27 
 
 No perfume, incense-like, on heavenward wing, 
 From pale, or rosy flowers, one liint did bring. 
 Eadiant with beauty from the heavenly fold, 
 'No infant's smile the secret e'er had told, — 
 In whom, their angels see the face divine — 
 In new-born children, of the earth-born line. 
 They, who the Father's face ever behold, 
 Nor one, nor all, the problem did unfold. 
 And human life ; — was this life all ? to man ? 
 His brief existence here, — merely a span ! 
 Continual change, he saw material things 
 To mark : but change, that, changing, no loss 
 
 brings. 
 Changing their particles, anew to take 
 Relation, — in new union to awake. 
 New-vegetated growths from old decays ; 
 Brightness to-morrow from the dull to-days. 
 And, since no matter is annihilate, 
 What does it argue, and what indicate ? 
 Suggestions, sure, of immortality ; 
 But who shall tell ? where does the answer lie ? 
 Were that confirmed, symbols and types were 
 
 these : 
 But not a proof, that no one doubts who sees. 
 A tree, cut down, he saw again would sprout, 
 
28 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Bear leaves, put other boughs and branches out. 
 But whether man, himself, immortal was, 
 His mind an essence beyond reach of loss, 
 He could not answer, yet he fain would know ; 
 And if, indeed, mind could no loss forego, 
 Would one retain his own identity 
 Beyond this life — to all eternity ? 
 To these, his queries, nature no reply 
 Gave in response j but, only sigh for sigh. 
 
WHY AND WHEREFORE. 29 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 WHY AND WHEREFORE. 
 
 The sons of Job, their father oft had heard 
 Matters obtruse discuss ; and every word 
 Had noted ; and how each and every one 
 Had, more than satisfied, pronounced, ^^Well 
 
 done." 
 Therefore, they too, with difficulties, came. 
 Not doubting to experience the same 
 Complacent satisfaction, when the clear 
 Solution he would give, should greet their ear. 
 But who will wonder, if the truth must sajT, 
 They sometimes, disappointed, went away ? 
 He could not answer, why, they had to learn 
 To be unselfish ; why, to yield their turn. 
 Was less in chord with nature than their breath ; 
 Why, man must live, by some live creature's 
 
 death ; 
 To love one's neighbor, as one's self as well, 
 Required more effort than few words could tell; 
 Why, to forgive a trespass, or offense. 
 
30 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Was not an easy offering to dispense ; 
 Why, every animal, excepting man 
 Begins life balanced ? why he never can ? 
 Why, he should not be poised at first, and stand. 
 And over all his powers have strict command ? 
 Why every infant, in its will is strong ; 
 In reason weak, and so remaining long ? 
 The sons of Job, these questions oft, at feast 
 Discussed and argued, from the first to least. 
 With eager ears their sisters, all the while, 
 Listened to sanction with approving smile ; 
 Or, if they must needs, to reprove by frown ; 
 Never to quell, or put discussion down. 
 There came, sometimes, this question mingling 
 
 in,— 
 Was'evil in this world, a fault, a sin. 
 Or a misfortune ? if a fault, whose blame ? 
 And how came it to rest on whom it came ? 
 No barrier their father interposed. 
 To check the questions that his sons proposed. 
 Reason — the greatest boon from God to man 
 By nature given ; which, dispossessed, there can 
 No gift be recognized ; nor Giver known ; — 
 He'd shudder to degrade, or to dethrone. 
 But, latest on his mind, before he slept, 
 
WHY AND WHEREFORE. 31 
 
 And earliest waking, there liis sons lie kept. 
 And it was so, that when their feasts had run 
 Round from the eldest to the youngest one, 
 He sent and sanctified them ; early rose, 
 Kelinquishing the early dawn repose : 
 Burnt-offering offered, ere should business call, 
 According to the number of them all. 
 Every burnt-oifering, in itself implied 
 Acknowledgment of guilt : — not justified : — 
 The offerer's wish to be, with God, at one : 
 His self-surrender, reservation none : 
 His consecration and devotedness 
 To Him who gave ; — Who ever lives to bless : — 
 Himself entire, and all that he possessed. 
 Thus Job acknowledged God's the hand that 
 
 blessed. 
 And unto God his own indebtedness, 
 While, for his sons, as priest, he did confess 
 '•For it may be my sons have sinned,"' he said, 
 "And, in their hearts, cursed God." He ne'er 
 
 was led 
 To think that they in speech would be profane, 
 From that, by will, they could themselves re- 
 frain. 
 But if, in arguing questions that o'ertasked 
 
32 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Their mental powers, — which him they vainly 
 
 asked — 
 They should, for lack of answer, lay the blame 
 Upon their nature ; it would be the same 
 As charging God with blame : — a silent curse. 
 To charge on God sin in His universe. 
 Eeligiously they had been reared, but yet 
 They might revolt, might waver, might forget. 
 Hence, Job's anxiety caused him to rise 
 And freely offer early sacrifice ; 
 When, with the ascending, curling smoke, the 
 
 prayer 
 Of pious father vibrated the air. 
 That his sons might in holy life be built. 
 Be saved from sin and consequence of guilt. 
 Nor was this circumstance occasional; 
 'Twas constantly in mind : — continual. 
 Not yet had dawned upon the mind of Job, 
 That things unseen, and scenes upon this globe, 
 Bear near relation, — interlock, and tie : 
 That, to the Author — the All-seeing eye — 
 The universe is one. None may divide 
 The bond of union, by Creator tied. 
 Job believed firmly in a righteous God, 
 Who, the right-doer, surely would reward. 
 
WHY AND WHEREFORE. 33 
 
 He knew no life beyond this life on earth : 
 Viewed death the end, as the beginning birth. 
 Therefore he looked, as did those of his day, 
 For compensation, with but brief delay. 
 Or none at all. Long life could gather more 
 Of bliss. Year after year increase the store, 
 Hence, length of life, became to all the sign 
 Of approbation of the One Divine. 
 A long and happy life was Job's desire, 
 Not less for children, than himself, their sire. 
 
34 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE SPIRIT-REALM UNVEILED. 
 
 Without a prelude or prologue the scene 
 
 Suddenly changes, and the realm unseen 
 
 Breaks on our vision. Now, with mind attent, 
 
 Let us receive this revelation, meant 
 
 To disclose things above the realm of earth, 
 
 Where the immortal has its native birth. 
 
 Preely and natural as one would say 
 
 "The room above," or, " house across the way," 
 
 Speaks he of spirit-realm, who thus narrates 
 
 The life of Job. With confidence he states. 
 
 As though no doubt would ever rise to call 
 
 In question, " Did Job ever live at all ? " 
 
 As though he felt that the celestial realm 
 
 From earth's was separate only by the hem 
 
 Of matter that incarnates human mind ; 
 
 Not thought, but felt the truth not then defined. 
 
 'Tis seldom that the veil is thus withdrawn 
 
 To give such vision as that young day's dawn ; 
 
 But so to Job's biographer 'twas given, 
 
THE SPIRIT-REALM UNVEILED. 35 
 
 To see things in the realm that we call heaven. 
 Let us, with him, behold what there he saw, 
 And all disclosed there, from the vision draw. 
 This author opens up a subject new ; 
 New characters presents he to our view. 
 So does he scenes in heaven and earth rehearse. 
 We see them portions of one universe ; 
 Not separate dominions, ruled alone, 
 But each a portion subject to one throne. 
 God's one dominion, centralized His throne 
 In vastness, called the skies unseen, unknown. 
 Where justice, honor, truth and right, maintain 
 Harmonious union in prolonged refrain. 
 Turning from Job, and what to him pertains, 
 By leap of mind we reach the vast domains j 
 Admitted seem, — as witnesses, stand nigh 
 The council-chamber of the One Most High. 
 Enwrapt we listen, while the writer tells 
 Of scenes enacted where Omniscience dwells. 
 No longer on the prelude we delay, 
 Proceed direct to poem, song, or lay. 
 As said or sung by bard of ancient day. 
 
36 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE DISCLOSURE. 
 
 There was a day when came the sons of God, 
 
 Not by constraint, but of their own accord ; 
 
 For audience before the Lord they came ; 
 
 Also, among them one, Satan by name. 
 
 A day it was ; for not monotonous 
 
 Is life in heaven j simply continuous ; 
 
 Where multitudes the same song ever sing, 
 
 And angel-choirs, veiling with silvery wing, 
 
 In the same posture without varying bend, 
 
 On, and still on, a period without end ; — 
 
 Unchanging ever as long ages roll ; — 
 
 Not such the home that waits the ransomed soul. 
 
 Eternity will never pass away ; 
 
 Yet marks its horologue its measured day. 
 
 And there are days that stirring interest mark. 
 
 Unchecked by night ; no night is there, no dark. 
 
 So active are the actors in that life, 
 
 And that for those on earth's wild field of strife, 
 
 That earth's most active do, as 'twere, but dream ; 
 
THE DISCLOSUKE. 37 
 
 Or as spectators calm and passive seem. 
 
 That day, it was the sons of God who came ; — 
 
 "What near relation indicates that name ! 
 
 Life, — God-derived, — conscious, could it be 
 
 less? 
 But, conscious thought, or lacking consciousness ; 
 Finite existence of whatever grade, 
 Material or immaterial made, — 
 Creation all, howe'er identified. 
 Whether as mind, or matter, classified, — 
 Each finite being, howsoever known, 
 Before possessing self-hood of its own. 
 Ideally existed in God's mind ; 
 Subjective then ; — its object-place to find 
 In God's own time, when, in its destined space, 
 He gives the subject an objective place ; 
 Marks out its orbit, which, while it retains 
 Its life is joyous, and unknown are pains. 
 All spirit-life thus first held life in God, 
 Cherished, to fill its ordained space abroad. 
 Conceptions then, creations yet to be, 
 In an embodied objectivity. 
 Ideal first, then, new created ones. 
 Related to their Author as His sons. 
 On them conferred the right and power to choose, 
 
38 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Will, and determine, — also, to refuse 
 
 To keep their orbit, in the space defined, — 
 
 Free moral agent is each new-born mind. 
 
 Afiirmatively choosing — to remain. 
 
 And the appointed pathway to maintain ; 
 
 As sons related, such will ever be. 
 
 And feel the oneness of one family. 
 
 That sonship, which with consciousness begun. 
 
 Will with duration never cease to run ; — 
 
 The tie that binds in happy harmony. 
 
 Confirmed, established, permanent, yet free. 
 
 Thus they accept what God ordained to be 
 
 Their heritage from all eternity. 
 
 But if refused, heirship becomes annulled ; 
 
 With sonship slighted, highest powers grow 
 
 dulled ; — 
 Perverted by misuse, perception blind, 
 A worse than blank, the once pure thinking 
 
 mind. 
 From royal sonship and its titles all. 
 Such self-condemned, self-doomed, will their own 
 
 fall. 
 They, then, are sons of God, who recognize 
 God as their Author — Father ; and the ties 
 Derived from this — their highborn privilege — 
 
THE DISCLOSURE. 39 
 
 Such, all their powers to bind the union pledge. 
 Conscious that He bestows all they enjoy, 
 They would not wrench from Him, His claim 
 
 destroy. 
 Existence owes to Him both life and bliss, 
 Nor choose they to depart from love like this ; 
 But, grateful, their relation they maintain. 
 Their nature cherish, with perpetual gain. 
 Self-centered not, their aspirations flow. 
 Pulsating God-ward with increasing glow. 
 Centered in Him, whom they as Father claim. 
 With impulse right, and narural as His name. 
 For as the parents' choice and habits' sway. 
 Give impulse to the child ia. the same way. 
 In human kindred ; so does the Divine 
 Nature transmit by choice, will and design. 
 Impulses noble, high, pure, like His own 
 To all His offspring, — and would fain be known 
 By their resemblance, — with a tendency 
 To sway and bias in the self-same way ; 
 To holy happiness and bliss complete ; 
 To regal honors and a royal seat. 
 
40 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A CELESTIAL GATHERING. 
 
 Such, were God's sons, who freely came one day 
 
 Before the Lord, as impulse led the way. 
 
 Among them, but not of them, Satan came 
 
 With bold assurance, precedence to claim ; 
 
 Vaunting within, to make appear as true, 
 
 That more than this he was entitled to. 
 
 The truth with which his nature was impressed, 
 
 The instincts and impulses he possessed,— 
 
 These he resisted, that denied ; abused 
 
 His reasoning powers, and utterly refused 
 
 Allegiance to whom loyalty is due : 
 
 E-aised a revolt, proposed a system new, 
 
 Scorned His paternity, boldly denied 
 
 The need and obligation to abide 
 
 In the All-Pather : and persisting still, 
 
 By virtue of the freedom of his will, 
 
 In opposition to all true and right. 
 
 Threw o'er the universe the hue of night. 
 
 Became self-willed, usurper all una wed, 
 
A CELESTIAL GATHERING. 41 
 
 Adverse to God's creation, and to God. 
 And, by his influence o'er the heavenly host, 
 Drew one third part to be among the lost. 
 Of those remaining, borne not by his sway, 
 None could deny his claim that His course lay 
 In true accord with reason. They believed 
 God's system right, by all should be received. 
 Satan denied. They could not demonstrate. 
 Were happy in God's service, chose to wait, 
 And trust God's way and time to make all plain, 
 Which Satan would not do, nor would refrain 
 From mingling where he would not harmonize ; 
 Falsehood and force, is armed to exercise. 
 For these, with favoritism he did aver, 
 Comported with God's real character. 
 Satan's own character he set at naught, 
 His reputation would not lose for aught. 
 That, by perversity was self-destroyed ; 
 This, gloated over, and as mu3h enjoyed 
 As baseness can enjoy that which is vile ; 
 Taste lost for all that will not help defile. 
 As carrion crow revels on tainted food, 
 He relished not, but felt disgust at, good. 
 His reputation 'twas, in which arrayed, 
 Made him presentable and undismayed. 
 
42 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 He'd Tost his virtue, not his intellect ; 
 
 He could assume, arrange, scheme, plan, direct. 
 
 For with divinest, noblest powers of mind. 
 
 Amply equipped, with faculties refined. 
 
 Adapted to position high ; endowed 
 
 Therefore he'd been: — became ungrateful, 
 
 proud. 
 Boldly with God claimed peerage, did deny 
 God's character superior to a lie. 
 What Satan was, he was as God designed ; 
 God's system for him fallen, no place could find. 
 " Son of the morning," he began his race. 
 Like lightning fell from heaven and lost his 
 
 place. 
 Now be it asked, ^^ God knowing he would fall, 
 What need that Satan should exist at all ? 
 Since he will deviate immediately. 
 Were it not better that he should not be ? " 
 The answer is, and they who think well know, 
 God can embody thought in that so low. 
 It does not know the thoughts therein that 
 
 dwell ; 
 
 Powerless to see, perceive, conceive, or tell. 
 And must God then, no conscious thought begin, 
 Because some one or more will surely sin ? 
 
A CELESTIAL GATHEKING. 43 
 
 Without experimenting, God can give 
 In the best way best being power to live. 
 And His ideal must not God disclose, 
 Because when self-discovered 'twill oppose ? 
 Than what is best, He cannot better do ; 
 Less than the best, will not, as He is true. 
 Hence God, by right, gave Satan power to be ; 
 Moved to right impulse, but his choice left free : 
 While all around prevails heaven's harmony. 
 One sweetly-chiming, perfect symphony. 
 All his environments, surrounding, stand. 
 Conformed to his own needs, and God's com- 
 mand. 
 If one assert, another straight deny, 
 How shall truth be confirmed ? made plain the 
 
 lie? 
 God waits, and works, to bring His truth to 
 
 view. 
 Deeds more than words confirm a statement 
 
 true. 
 God's patient, suffering love left out of sight, 
 Would dim His character to hue of night. 
 Because His Being in itself commands 
 Love, honor, all is due which He demands. 
 
44 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Satan's challenge. 
 
 Satan, now fallen in heart, but clear in head, 
 Would not relinquish, although forfeited, 
 The high position God's appointment gave : 
 Bold, insolent, resolved truth to outbrave 
 By manner and appearance that should win 
 Him approbation, and God's ranks make thin. 
 And by his suavity, address, and tact, 
 Success began ; and he, in very fact 
 Won, from the glorious company of heaven, 
 A sympathy, that, like exciting leaven, 
 Brought tumult, where before was holy peace, — 
 An agitation, signing no surcease. 
 Hand to hand combat : — he with God engaged, 
 Was what he sought. He would have God en- 
 raged ; 
 Would tempt him, by all means within his 
 
 power. 
 And thus advance his own victorious hour. 
 And, when attained a large majority, 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 45 
 
 Proclaim himself the reigning deity. 
 Meanwhile, till God should so enraged become, 
 He would belie him, till heaven should grow 
 
 dumb. 
 Therefore, it was, that in the days of Job, 
 Experiences on this earthly globe 
 Were not alone where patience sore was tried. 
 Prom Satan heaven not yet was purified. 
 Because he merited expulsion, and 
 God's powerful word could make him withering 
 
 stand, 
 Yet, him to banish, while it was unseen, 
 By those who never had disloyal been, 
 That such was his desert ; was not God's way 
 To carry on His government. Display 
 Of power marks not the system he designed. 
 His service has regard to powers of mind ; — 
 Accords with reason. Nor would he expel 
 Till the free shout, " God doeth all things well,^* 
 Kings from the heart unanimous of all ; 
 Then, forthwith, Satan shall, as lightning, fall. 
 The point at issue, in the argument 
 'Twixt God and Lucifer, which Satan meant 
 Should be decided by his sophistry, — 
 Claiming that he unlocked the mystery, — 
 
46 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Was the existing basis which alone 
 
 Supports the pillars of the Almighty^s throne. 
 
 The one foundation, first required, to base 
 
 True concord that shall last unending days : — 
 
 The strong support, only on which sure stone, 
 
 The native right, and healthy moral tone 
 
 Of universal government can stand, 
 
 Forming united, one harmonious band. 
 
 Unselfish interest, — this true principle, 
 
 Satan denied, as past the possible. 
 
 And, even its existence, he denied ; 
 
 Holding that all will selfishly decide. 
 
 That each one has his price, all may be bought : 
 
 Erom low to high, not one but can be caught 
 
 Aiming at gain, and all for selfish ends ; 
 
 And, he declared, this principle extends 
 
 To God's own throne ! He had discovered this, 
 
 That self -promotion is the road to bliss. 
 
 Benevolence unselfish, he averred, 
 
 Existed not : was nothing but a word. 
 
 That nowhere could beneficence be found. 
 
 That not in heaven, nor on the earth around, — 
 
 Throughout the circuit, neither there nor here, — 
 
 Could type of love's unselfish form appear. 
 
 He'd challenge the Almighty, and defy 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 47 
 
 Him to present one instance to the eye. 
 
 Thus boldly, the prime minister denied 
 
 The principles of court, that must decide 
 
 Right or unright, the acts of all in space : 
 
 Determine each one's fitness for his place. 
 
 Declined he to vacate, witli stubborn will, 
 
 The station, thus disqualified to fill. 
 
 Till demonstration full should vindicate 
 
 God's principles, and his invalidate. 
 
 Believed himself with ample power possessed 
 
 Subtly to frustrate, and destroy the best 
 
 Attempt at demonstration possible. 
 
 The while, assumed he air most plausible, 
 
 As though himself were being set aside 
 
 For perspicacity, and insight wide ; 
 
 Instead of shutting from himself the light, 
 
 And leading captives into darkest night : 
 
 Deluding them, by promise of a throne, 
 
 Where all should be as gods, knowing and 
 
 known ; 
 Brook no delay, follow their own sweet will ; 
 And none should serve, but each be sovereign 
 
 stilL 
 So claimed he homage, with a bold demand 
 For proof that could his argument withstand. 
 
48 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Not God's foreknowledge, nor His power to 
 
 prove, 
 Could diminute His depth of suffering love ; 
 Long-suffering kindness is His principle. 
 He, self-sustained, will bear the crucible. 
 Satan, not banished, God permits to appear 
 When the true sons of God assemble near, 
 Till God's requirements proved both right and 
 
 just. 
 Disarm opponents and exclude distrust. 
 Without corruption, bitterness, or ire, 
 God deigns to argue with the rebel liar. 
 His love is seen. His condescension known, 
 In His forbearance toward the rebel shown. 
 Kindling like flame in ministers of state, — 
 The sons of God who ready serve or wait. 
 The waiting ones accept God's leave to find 
 Witness for God, among the human kind. 
 God then commissioned Satan to the earth. 
 Where he might find a man of matchless worth. 
 Whose life was governed by unselfish love — 
 The principle proclaimed in heaven above. 
 He, from that trip returning, chose a day 
 When came the sons of God, about to say 
 That they had found a specimen to meet 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 49 
 
 God's standard, and his enemy defeat. 
 Radiant with love, their countenances glow 
 With lustre, that themselves nor think nor know. 
 Transfused with light, their raiments' lustrous 
 
 sheen 
 A halo sheds above earth's noon-day scene. 
 Before God's all-transcending light they stand ; 
 Beams of His love interfuse all the band. 
 They touch their harps, a symphony is rung, 
 A prelude to the song they would have sung. 
 Just at that point, Satan, — it is his way, — 
 Among them came to dash their joy away. 
 Prime ministry gives him the precedence ; 
 The loyal, therefore, with due deference, 
 So change their range that he shall have his 
 
 right. 
 Their range, so changed, holds him in their full 
 
 sight. 
 For, had the loyal testified the first, 
 Satan was armed to explode a sudden burst 
 Of refutation, eloquently given. 
 That should call forth applause from host of 
 
 heaven. 
 And hence, 'tis wise he first should testify. 
 Since that which he affirms, he can't deny 
 
50 PERFECTIOX ATTAINABLE. 
 
 On subsequent occasion, but to expose 
 
 His real character, and so disclose 
 
 Himself a liar having no defense ; 
 
 Be vanquished quite thereby of consequence. 
 
 And, speaks he truth, himself can not demand 
 
 A confirmation, ere as truth it stand. 
 
 For Satan's lie must have some truth to stand 
 
 Upon. All lie is like a rope of sand. 
 
 Eull well Jehovah knew where he had been. 
 
 With what determination, whom he'd seen ; 
 
 With what temptation he had vainly tried 
 
 The saintliest man from right to turn aside. 
 
 Satan feels equal, waits the question now — 
 
 Jehovah speaks. He asks, " Whence comest 
 
 thou ? " 
 Not willing to appear too glad to know 
 That he the truth of God can straight o'erthrow. 
 With graceful air, and complete nonchalance. 
 Unbending form, but with an eye askance, — 
 Be it remembered that the angel-band 
 With ears attent listen to understand. 
 Now, as his utterance vibrates on the air. 
 All heaven is hushed, nor echo answers there. 
 " From yonder earth ; there going to and fro 
 And walking up and down in it." 'Twas so. 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 51 
 
 So much was true. But do the angel band 
 Think, or half think, they see beneath the bland 
 Soft-speaking lips, and hear beneath his tone, 
 A loss of something that they must bemoan ? 
 But what he said is true. Of that they're sure. 
 For lies he not to lie, but to secure 
 Advantage by deceit ; author of lies, 
 He uses lies for ends ; as serpent, wise. 
 When truth will best subserve, the truth he'll 
 
 That failing, he'll accomplish by a lie. 
 
 Bland and complacent, when his answer's done, 
 
 The admiring gaze of angels he has won. 
 
 Who wait to hear Jehovah speak again. 
 
 He asks, with comprehensive utterance plain: 
 
 " My servant Job, hast thou remarked his worth, 
 
 That there is none like him in all the earth, 
 
 A perfect and an upright man, and one 
 
 That feareth God, escheweth evil ? '' ]S"one 
 
 In heaven the stillness break. But forward bend 
 
 The angel witnesses, to comprehend 
 
 Satan's responsive, audible reply. 
 
 Well may their faces gleam. To testify 
 
 Of Job they one and all had joyful sped, 
 
 And now have sanction of their Sovereign-Head. 
 
52 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Are sure that Satan must, convinced, succumb, 
 Admit the proof, or, unlike him, stand dumb. 
 For some of this now joyful waiting band, 
 Had been Job's body-guard ; ready to stand 
 By day or night, to cheer or soothe his way ; 
 Had seen him sacrifice, had heard him pray ; 
 Had calmed his slumbers when he sought repose, 
 Had watched his pious waking when he rose. 
 They fain would answer; waiting words would 
 
 run. 
 To tell of deeds of kindness he has done. 
 Which they have witnessed : wrongs he has made 
 
 right ; 
 Justice established ; to the blind been sight ; 
 Honor he never ceased to vindicate ; 
 The fettered poor he freed from their low state ; 
 Integrity maintained, ills he relieved ; 
 All sorrowing ones his sympathy received. 
 So ready are the witnesses to tell, — 
 In heart and mind so does the subject dwell. 
 That the mere moment Satan takes, to draw 
 Himself into an attitude to awe. 
 Seems long. But Satan speaks. Each angei- 
 
 face 
 Beams with a reverent and a radiant grace. 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 53 
 
 Then Satan answered to the Lord and said, — 
 
 As though he argued from a pious dread, — 
 
 <•' Doth Job fear God for nought ? " within him 
 
 surged 
 A roiling tumult that on madness verged ; 
 Seething with wildness like the troubled sea 
 Till to his inmost self he seemed to be 
 The sole one swayed in all extended space. 
 All else seemed calm. He scarce could bide his 
 
 place. 
 Began to think his face must be concealed, 
 Or all his lie to truth would be revealed. 
 A veil of superciliousness he drew 
 His features o'er ; self-flattered, thought he knew 
 
 His case was won. 
 But, through the augel group 
 A shudder ran ; it seemed their wings to droop. 
 Their fervent ardor chilled ; 'twas at the sound 
 Of him perfidious that they had found. 
 Or thought they'd found, most faithful to his 
 
 trust. 
 Must they distrust him ? could it J^e they must ! 
 Had Job, whom they had been a guard around. 
 Had girded in his service, now been found 
 As Satan said, serving for selfish ends ? 
 
54 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Their mission then to earth no good attends. 
 
 Benevolence unselfish, — this it was — 
 
 The object of their missionary cause. 
 
 To find a perfect man according with 
 
 God's standard ; thus to prove that no mere myth 
 
 Was the idea, held in beneficence. 
 
 But actual outgrowth of benevolence. 
 
 Jehovah had pronounced Job perfect and 
 
 Upright. Themselves had thought him so to 
 
 stand. 
 Does Satan know ? Was God not in the right ? 
 Observing with side glance the now half blight, — 
 Check in the flow of angel spirit, flight of wing 
 Suspended, Satan quick proceeds 
 His point to argue ; boldly calls for deeds 
 That shall confirm God's statement, if it's true, 
 Leaving no doubt that one can hold to view. 
 " Hast Thou not made a hedge about him and 
 About his house, and doth that hedge not stand, 
 Protecting round about on every side 
 All that he hath ? extending far and wide ! 
 The work his hands have done Thou'st blessed. 
 
 Increased 
 His substance in the land. Let this be ceased. 
 But put forth Thou Thy hand and now efface, 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 55 
 
 Touch all he hath, he'll curse Thee to Thy face.'' 
 
 Had Satan been last called to testify 
 
 Instead of first, the sons' of God reply 
 
 To that same question would have been, that 
 
 they 
 Had found Job perfect and upright alway, 
 Giving compliance cheerful to God's law, 
 To Him his first best service ; that they saw 
 Him deal by all with just and honest hand. 
 Dealt, as he would be dealt by, through the land. 
 The motives prompting him, they knew quite 
 
 well, 
 They were unable to discern and tell. 
 They thought that God beheld him with delight, 
 And thus approved, since God beheld him right 
 In impulse, motive, deed, design, intent; 
 Had furnished means ; that Job's benevolent, 
 Kind disposition might have full supply, 
 Taking its course, itself to gratify 
 In deeds benevolent : did thus confer 
 His bounty, making Job the almoner. 
 But this, by Satan boldly was denied, 
 The test he now demanded to be tried. 
 And, if Jehovah should the test refuse, 
 Satan will straightway say He dare not use 
 
56 PEEFECTIOI"? ATTAINABLE. 
 
 The only method truth to justify ; 
 
 And then, exulting, claim the victory. 
 
 He knew that it would this appearance wear ; 
 
 That God would choose from suffering, Job to 
 
 spare. 
 That God loved Job no less than He approved ; 
 That Job's possessions were not misimproved ; 
 That 'twould grieve God to deal with heavy 
 
 hand 
 Toward pious Job, who would misunderstand, 
 And think that God with him must be displeased, 
 He hoped the test would vanquish, e'er it ceased. 
 That so not one example, far or near. 
 Of service on God's basis might appear. 
 Unselfish service : God's requirement, yet, 
 [Not by the the eye, on tablet, to be met j 
 But, by the Author who did life impart. 
 Deeply imprinted on the human heart. 
 And in the mind ; where reason signs accord 
 By power of understanding, and award 
 Of an approving conscience; which, combined. 
 Prove correlation 'twixt God's law and mind. 
 "Put forth thy hand now and touch all He 
 
 hath," 
 Satan demands, repressing ire and wrath. 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 57 
 
 Jehovah knew full well, should He comply, 
 Satan would boldly still the truth deny ; 
 Would say that God had mingled mercy so 
 In the removal, Job felt not the blow. 
 That loss of his possessions, Job ignored, 
 Expecting all to him would be restored. 
 Therefore, to silence Satan, and make truth 
 Triumphant, power was given to him, for- 
 sooth : 
 To Satan the Lord said, " Behold all that 
 He hath is in thy power.'' Now the combat 
 Is sure. God knew Job would remain intact ; 
 Knew Satan would abuse his power, the fact 
 To him disclosed. Therefore a bound is given 
 To him ere he goes forth from highest heaven 
 Upon his mission of malevolence, 
 Disguised by putting on a false pretense. 
 Satan, exulting in his vantage ground, 
 Eestrains himself from leaping with a bound. 
 Jehovah adds sublimely one command, — 
 "Only upon himself." — Satan, still bland, — 
 Assumed demeanor : " Put not forth thy hand." 
 It is enough ; why should he put his hand 
 On Job? He's sure he can command 
 His curse on God, ere his prosperity 
 
58 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Is sudden blasted by adversity. 
 
 So Satan from the presence of the Lord 
 
 Went forth : free agent, of his own accord 
 
 To do his will, and make it to appear 
 
 The will of Him was done whom Job did fear. 
 
 Forth from the presence of his consciousness 
 
 Of God's all-seeing eye; but none the less 
 
 Within His vision whose omniscient view 
 
 Regards all space ; all things sees clearly 
 
 through, — 
 Forth from God seen ; the empyrean, where 
 The sons of God remained assembled there. 
 The conference that ensued, no records state : 
 But if Job had been :n their charge of late, 
 Then their commission is at once withdrawn, 
 Withheld at sombre night and early dawn. 
 If it had been the sons of Job to guide, 
 To guard and shield them that no ill betide. 
 That so the father may be spared from grief, 
 Nor pierced where hardest found is true relief ; 
 His servants, flocks and herds, were these their 
 
 wards 
 To watch, secure, protect from all marauds ; 
 Directly their commission is withdrawn. 
 And, should they see a depredation on 
 
SATAN'S CHALLENGE. 59 
 
 His flocks or herds, or his possessions all, 
 They must withhold all aid ; the hlow let fall ; 
 Stand but as silent witnesses unseen, 
 Observing closely ; naught must come between 
 Satan and Job. Their perspicacity, 
 Keen, able, quick-discerning scrutiny, 
 jNlust witness bear for Job's sincerity, 
 Or, unconvinced of his hypocrisy. 
 Commissioned thus, with leave to make report 
 When quite convinced, at the celestial court ; 
 The angel-embassy with speedy flight. 
 To the arena bend their earnest sight. 
 
60 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE ATTACK. 
 
 Job, in the circuit of his busy life — 
 
 As magistrate, the arbiter of strife, 
 
 As priest and patriarch, husband, father, friend, 
 
 Eearer of flocks and herds ; — the which to vend 
 
 Brought dealers far and wide, and caravans ; 
 
 Helpers and hinderers in forming plans ; 
 
 Appeals for labor, and appeals for aid ; — 
 
 Found life's warp filling ; while the web it made 
 
 He scarcely retrospected. Less did he 
 
 Imagine that to such a dignity 
 
 Was he exalted, where the great Supreme 
 
 Sees all things as they are ; not as they seem 
 
 To mortal eyes — disjointed at the birth : 
 
 Sees from His own standpoint; not that of 
 
 earth. 
 Job had no thought that he was called to be 
 Witness for God ; subject select, that he 
 Was held as object for celestial eyes 
 To look upon, and seeing, grow moie wise; 
 
THE ATTACK. 61 
 
 Become confirmed ; know better God is true ; 
 And, as God reasons, themselves reason too. 
 Job did not know it, but we know it well, 
 Would sing as anthem, with a chorus swell, 
 Till every sufferer of the present day- 
 Should catch the psean and join in the lay. 
 Yea, every sufferer, but 'tis only he 
 Can reap in joy, who sows integrity. 
 He who is conscious that, he that maintains, 
 This consolation has, when tried with pains, 
 God takes cognizance how well he endures. 
 Perhaps, as witness he in heaven secures 
 Some glorious end. He may the measure fill 
 Of Christ's own sufferings, and be one who will 
 When Christ appears as victor, thus attain 
 A closer nearness; more exalted reign. 
 Now all the wealth this righteous man pos- 
 sessed,— 
 This servant of the Lord, approved and blessed. 
 All his possessions, all he called his own 
 Are held by Satan, and may be o'erthrown 
 As by his malice or his stratagem 
 He plans to bring Job to curse and condemn 
 Him whom Job worships now with godly fear, 
 And seeks to bring to others' minds more near. 
 
62 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Not by God's choice was Satan chief in charge 
 
 Of Job's possessions, with the power at large 
 
 To dispossess, to wrench, destroy, bereave 
 
 Of all he had and held ; nor aught to leave. 
 
 But, in God's system of free agency 
 
 This course exists as a necessity. 
 
 Not now devised, but seen as a must-be 
 
 In the vast by-gone of eternity. 
 
 In the best system that could be arranged 
 
 God saw a sure, sad certainty. Unchanged 
 
 Himself, correlative and remedy, — 
 
 Provision held for every need to be. 
 
 Eor every woe that every one might feel. 
 
 Held in himself the sovereign power to heal. 
 
 From the foundation of the world God knew 
 
 What He in each specific case would do. 
 
 Which knowledge in itself includes each fact 
 
 That ever should exist ; yea, every act 
 
 From small to great that should occur; knew all, 
 
 Minutest cell and tiniest sparrow's fall ; 
 
 Knew each one's life, where each should first 
 
 draw breath. 
 His choice, his will, his course, his day of death ; 
 And, this foreknowing, fore-ordained the day 
 When each one's life the perfect part should 
 
 play. 
 
THE ATTACK. 63 
 
 To build the system, which, when all complete, 
 
 His saints with Him should share His royal seat. 
 
 The property of Job in Satan's clutch, 
 
 No delicacy is there in the touch. 
 
 It is his aim to make each blow a blast. 
 
 And each succeeding, heavier than the last. 
 
 It was the birthday of Job's eldest son ; 
 
 The child with which the father's joy begun. 
 
 When, in the house assembled, which his sire 
 
 Tor him had built, — by mutual desire, 
 
 The seven brothers with their sisters stay. 
 
 To celebrate tlie eldest's natal day. 
 
 And all were feasting, while the new-pressed 
 
 wine 
 Eefreshed their thirst, and lent its sparkling 
 
 shine. 
 To-morrow morning will the father pay 
 A sacrifice, for their mistakes to-day ? 
 E'en now, perchance, the loving father's heart 
 The sacrificial lamb has set apart. 
 If even now he preparation makes. 
 Another subject his attention wakes. 
 A messenger brings sad intelligence : — 
 " The oxen, plowing, mules beside them, hence 
 Are driven away. The Sabeans came, and fell 
 
64 PERFECTION ATTAIXABLE. 
 
 Upon, and took them : and, still worse to tell 
 With their sword's edge they have the servants 
 
 slain, 
 While I, alone escaped, the whole to explain.'^ 
 Thoughts of surprise the mind of Job impress, 
 That stalwart Africans could not possess 
 Themselves of plunder, and, therewith content. 
 Until they had, with murderous intent. 
 His faithful servants with their sword's-edge slain. 
 But ere the courier ceased, he to complain 
 Begun ; another came : thus Satan planned, 
 'Twas his arrangement, done at his command. 
 Nor knew the workers they by him were 
 
 taught ; 
 They thought their minds alone contrived the 
 
 plot. 
 The mind has its apartments, and takes in 
 Its unseen guests. It may be aids to sin, 
 Or holiness : dei)ends upon the choice. 
 The pure admit the pure ; the vile alloys. 
 The second messenger, upon the first. 
 Alarmed, breaks in with sudden breathless burst : 
 " The fire of God hath fallen from heaven, and 
 
 hath"— - 
 Satan meant here to indicate the wrath 
 
THE ATTACK. Go 
 
 Of God toward Job. Oh, waiting angels, hear ! 
 For Satan's sure the curse will now appear — 
 Will be pronounced by Job, when, straight from 
 
 heaven, 
 God's fire — "consumed the sheep and servants," 
 
 even ! 
 "And I," the servant adds, "alone have well 
 Escaped, to thee, the shocking truth to tell." 
 (What of thy lamb, Job, for sacrifice 
 At morn ? Thou servest God ! Is this the 
 
 price ?) 
 The second speaker had not finished, when 
 A third appears to Job, and he, again 
 To bring sad tidings : — that " the Chaldeans 
 
 came 
 In bands of three, and have the camels slain. 
 They, too, have slain the servants with the 
 
 sword ; 
 And I, alone escaped to bring thee word." 
 Satan now meant by force to hurry up. 
 'Tis the last drop that overflows the cup. 
 The heaviest blow he now holds in reserve ; 
 Dernier resort, that shall his purpose serve. 
 He would have gloated over the result. 
 Could he have wrung from Job curse and insult 
 
66 PEHFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 By half tlie ruin wrought; thus to have given 
 Proof of predictious he had made in heaven. 
 Came the last messenger ere ceased the third ; 
 Kor breaking gently with a soothing word: 
 ^' Thy sons and daughters eating, drinking wine, — 
 'Twas at his house, — the eldest son of thine, 
 Their eldest brother " : — Not the Sabeans now, 
 Nor Chaldean bands, to make his servants bow 
 In their last sleep : but, from the wilderness, 
 An unseen power; — the wind. 'Twas wont to 
 
 bless. 
 "Behold there came a great wind, with wild 
 
 roar, 
 Which smote the house; attacked the corners 
 
 four: 
 It fell upon the young men, they are dead. 
 To tell thee, I escaped ; alone I fled." 
 Now all is gone. Job stands. Let all be 
 
 hushed ! 
 Will Job now curse ? Is God, or Satan, 
 
 crushed ? 
 Then Job arose, and shaved his head, and rent 
 His mantle. Tokens all of grief. He bent 
 In sorrow. Prostrate, on the ground, he fell 
 And — worshipped ! while the sons he loved so 
 
 well 
 
THE ATTACK. 67 
 
 Slept their last sleep. Profound and solemn 
 
 grief ! 
 To suck a mourner, what can bring relief ? 
 He speaks. No curse sounds from his lip ; — no 
 
 blame. 
 " Without possessions into life I came ; 
 Naked came I. I shall return the same. 
 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, 
 Blessed be His name." No more his lips could 
 
 say. 
 Sublime emotions ! mastery sublime : 
 Echoes resound the utterance throughout time. 
 By his bereavements, Job appears to have thought 
 That his own life was, to its last verge brought. 
 That Ail-wise Providence had first removed 
 Those who would miss so much the heart that 
 
 loved : 
 Has first dismissed his cares : now will he wait, 
 Pesigned, dismissal from his mortal state. 
 Job's calm, submissive, pious state of mind, — 
 Instead of that which Satan had designed, — 
 Placed him in harmony with things on high, 
 And brought celestial influences nigh. 
 As vessel, with sails set, and helm all right. 
 Will catch the breeze, and bring the port to 
 
 sight; 
 
68 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 So Job received heaven's inspirations in, 
 That lift above a world of woe and sin. 
 The angel of the Lord encamping round 
 Them that fear Him, near Job might have been 
 
 found. 
 Nor merely one, a glorious company, — 
 The sons of God,. — witnessed the harmony, 
 
SATAX DEFEATED. 69 
 
 CIIAPTEE, XII. 
 
 SATAN DEFEATED. 
 
 Satax, for one wild moment, stands aghast, 
 Brought up point-blank, and nonplussed at the 
 
 last! 
 His ammunition gone ! Job's all, he's spent. 
 He, vanquished is ; with lack of armament. 
 Xo resource in himself, whence shall he turn ? 
 Self-conscious fire, feeling itself to burn : 
 Himself the fuel : — would it never stop ? 
 Or as wild thirst, without one quenching drop. 
 Such Satan's self, by his perversity, 
 Is forming for his long eternity. 
 He had revolted from the God of love, 
 Preferred a system of his own, above 
 The impulse-principle, by God bestowed. 
 He ivas in truth : but not, in truth, abode : 
 Denied that any would, by choice, prefer 
 Unselfish love as base of character : 
 Made no exception in the One, All-True, 
 And now, fast fading from his mental view, 
 
70 PERFECTION ATTAINAULE. 
 
 Is true conception of the Deity ; 
 Victim, alas, of his own perfidy. 
 Scorning the truth ; pronouncing baseness wise, 
 Thus he becomes the dupe of his own lies. 
 One cannot constantly declare a lie, 
 "Without this deleterious tendency. 
 Satan, persisting in his adverse course. 
 Became producer of an unknown force. 
 Power hitherto unknown. God's enemy ! 
 Wonder profound, in heaven's economy. 
 A character, than which, can be no worse. 
 Who would curse God, declares himself a curse. 
 'Twas his desire continual, to dethrone 
 The Almighty, and himself possess alone 
 Supreme judicial sway. This motive, led 
 Him to appear with a bold front and head, 
 When came the sons of God. His malice led. 
 Kow, checked by non-success from Job to wring 
 A curse : he halts, to miss the pluming wing 
 
 Of truth. 
 And lo, again there was a day 
 When the glad sons of God sped on their way 
 To announce in heaven that Job had stood the 
 
 test; 
 Proved God's word true. He did not curse, but 
 
 blessed. 
 
SATAX DEFEATED. 71 
 
 Though Satan robbed, and Job was sore dis- 
 tressed, 
 He was unscathed. No more could Satan wrest, 
 Or misinterpret truth, whose word is fact. 
 Satan is vanquished ; Job, by him, intact. 
 But not, by Satan, unobserved, they wing 
 Their way. His forces he'll collect, and bring 
 Himself also among them. On that day 
 Appears he, his Satanic part to play. 
 Observing angels note the blight of scorn 
 Disfiguring his face, once Son of Morn, 
 While they serene, with ardent listening ear, 
 Jehovah's unimpassioned question hear 
 Addressed to Satan. '^ From whence comest 
 
 thou ? '' 
 As formerly, so Satan answered now. 
 " Erom yonder earth ; there going to and fro 
 And walking up and down in it.'' 
 
 Ah no ! 
 Satan is not omniscient ; nor has he 
 God's own reserved power of ubiquity. 
 True, up and down the earth with speed he'd 
 
 been, 
 And all his influence used to make Job sin. 
 Indeed, with this in view, he did incite 
 
72 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 The Sabeans, with maliciousness of spite, 
 Bot^ in the mass and individually 
 To plunder, and, with rank rascality, 
 Take human life with cruelty so fell, 
 That only one was left their deeds to tell. 
 Did he the shepherds not mislead, to take 
 Eefuge where electricity would make 
 Its course effectual to destroy with fire, 
 That it might be supposed to be God's ire ? 
 Hither and thither, up and down the earth, 
 Weaving his subtle influence like a girth. 
 Exciting now the Chaldeans, man by man. 
 To incorporate, commune, combine and plan, 
 Or, better, form three communistic bands, 
 Attack Job's camels, tie the servants' hands ; 
 Or, wiser, slay them, leaving none to tell 
 Who did the deed that they had planned so well. 
 Or, leave perhaps but one, that he might go 
 Proclaiming levelisra, that Job might know 
 'Twas the Chaldeans had begun the feat, 
 Nor knew 'twas Satan's plot, as on his beat 
 From to and fro and up and down the earth. 
 He caught them captive in his subtle girth. 
 Satan's reply bore truth thus far. He had 
 Been up and down the earth ; and dark and sad 
 
satax defeated. , 73 
 
 The fact that he still treads his earthward tour, 
 Like roaring lion seeking to devour. 
 With radiant faces angels listen now, — 
 Jehovah speaks, while they with reverence bow. 
 '^My servant Job; hast thou remarked his worth, 
 That there is none like him in all the earth, 
 A perfect and an upright man, and one 
 That feareth God, escheweth evil ? " None 
 On Satan looked. The glory of the Lord 
 Drew all hearts toward Him with a sweet accord. 
 " Still his integrity he holdeth fast," — 
 Had not been scathed by the severest blast, — 
 "Although thou moved'st me 'gainst him, to 
 
 destroy 
 Him without cause."' Satan in no wise coy 
 JFor his defeat, determined Truth to fight ; 
 To rule or ruin by brute force and might ; 
 Eeckless of right, lost to all sympathies, 
 A foe to all ! (But, Job in his distress. 
 Had he but known his dire calamities 
 The Lord pronounced to be without a cause, 
 Would have been strengthened, comforted, sus- 
 tained ; 
 While less the cause at issue would have gained.) 
 Then Satan from the roiling surge within, 
 
74 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Thus answered to the Lord : " Aye, skin for 
 
 skin^ 
 Yea, all that a man hath he'll freely give 
 For his own life j give all, if he may live. 
 But put forth now Thy hand, and touch his bone, 
 Nor only that, leave not his flesh alone ; 
 And then, ah then, he'll curse Thee to Thy face, 
 The fact will out, give only time and space." 
 Is not heaven moved to exclaim in deep surprise, 
 ^' 0, matchless, Satan, are thy cruelties ! " 
 How can they be ? Eor, hear Jehovah say, 
 " Lo he is in thy hand." And yet they may, 
 For heartfelt kindness they in Him behold, 
 Who adds, " But save his life." While Satan, 
 
 cold 
 In aspect, countenance, and in his mien 
 Showed that restriction needs to come between 
 Himself and Job, or not Job's life would bide : 
 Then Satan would declare 'twas suicide. 
 Satan, permitted by the Lord, proceeds, 
 And straightway enters on his evil deeds. 
 No note is given to tell of heaven's discourse ; 
 Believed of Satan and his ensnared force. 
 But at his exit shadows must have fled. 
 All trusting ones must have been comforted j 
 
SATAN DEFEATED. 75 
 
 Assured there was to come a clear, bright day, 
 When every shadow should have passed away. 
 But woe to earth, where Satan takes his course, 
 Kesolved to win, by stratagem and force. 
 
76 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 A SECOND EFFORT. 
 
 So, from the presence of the Lord went forth 
 Satan, to saintliest man in all the earth. 
 Leaving a statement that must needs be proved, 
 Or true, or false, — that God be known and 
 
 loved 
 For what He is, — that what He is be known ; 
 That in the light of God may walk His own. 
 Till that light shines, the just shall live by faith ; 
 God's light gives life, while darkness leads to 
 
 death. 
 'Tis Satan's forte to wrap in darkness all. 
 O'er God and truth he'd throw a midnight pall. 
 If that to do his efforts unavail, 
 Over each mind he'd throw a blinding veil. 
 When other schemes prove vain, he'll make 
 
 believe 
 There is no Satan, so he can't deceive; 
 Then entrance gain, where, but for this belief, 
 He'd no admission find. But this in brief. 
 
A SECOND EFFOET. 77 
 
 Satan descends to Job, and thinks to seize 
 
 His prey by a cutaneous disease. 
 
 Therefore, to grasp him in his ravening toils, 
 
 From head to foot he covers Job with boils. 
 
 For, as retainer had he not put in 
 
 At chancery of heaven, that " skin for skin, 
 
 A man would give for life ? " since life was spared, 
 
 Job for his losses very little cared. 
 
 That ill, not falling on himself, did touch 
 
 Him not at all ; or if at all, not much. 
 
 Hence, Satan urged, it was. Job did not curse. 
 
 And, this to prove, bent on his course perverse. 
 
 Whereas, from pachyderm, so far removed 
 
 Was Job, touched were his sympathies and 
 
 moved, 
 By slightest sorrow, near or more remote, 
 Vibrating sure response in finest note. 
 And every blow Satan had rudely dealt, 
 Job's sensibilities had keenly felt. 
 Loss of his children overwhelmed him sore. 
 Whose forms he'd see, whose voices hear no 
 
 more. 
 His grief increased that he could make no less 
 Their mother's grief, who shared in his distress. 
 If Satan had been dupe of his own lie, 
 
78 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 The truth now plainly stood before his eye, 
 As, sore with boils from feet unto his crown, 
 He Job beheld, whom he had smitten down. 
 Covered with boils ! when one alone can make 
 A well man sick, and to his couch betake. 
 If Job before had thought his end was near. 
 The case now seemed to him to grow more clear. 
 The sole position where he finds relief 
 Is down among the ashes j — sign of grief. 
 The irritation nothing can allay, 
 Withal, a potsherd takes he. Comes a day. 
 His wife surprised that he has ever stood ; 
 And now still more at his calm fortitude, 
 Por lack of morphine, or some sedative 
 That can alleviate, can't see him live 
 To suffer thus : not knowing life transcends 
 The mortal bounds : not with the mortal, ends : 
 Herself, with best intentions, now draws nigh, 
 To give her best advice, breathed with a sigh. 
 " Retainest thou still thy integrity ? 
 'Tis my advice that thou curse God, and die." 
 'Should he curse God, he thinks no less than she 
 'T would bring the shock of death; — nonenity. 
 Who did insinuate into her mind 
 Counsel like this ? Twas he who Eve did blind 
 
A SECOND EFFORT. 79 
 
 And use, to bring her husband's character 
 To light disclosed. Let him who reads, not err. 
 Satan well knew when he reserved her life, 
 The influence she exerted as Job's wife. 
 If his harsh treatment tempted not to sin, 
 JoVs chosen one from him the curse might win; 
 The partner of his joys and life from youth. 
 And who esteemed him for his worth and truth. 
 His household servants, Job had heard express 
 In passing, such remarks, nor more nor less. 
 From them expected. But such words, when 
 
 heard 
 Prom his wife's lips ! It seemed but too absurd 
 That she should speak like them ! He did not 
 
 break, 
 "Ah, foolish woman, thou ; " but, like such, speak. 
 Harsher reproof he was not wont to bring ; 
 Still courteous, he, though keenly suffering. 
 No diminution his affection knew, 
 The cynosure herself he held most true. 
 "What ? shall we not," he adds, to reconcile, 
 " Eeceive good from the Lord, and, after while 
 Evil receive ? " So Job submissive bowed, 
 Kor curse has uttered either low or loud. 
 At his first resignation happily, 
 
80 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 ^^ Job neither sinned nor charged God foolishly," 
 
 The record states : but here somewhat omits. 
 
 That Job sinned not undoubtedly admifs. 
 
 But the omission ! Did it signifj-, 
 
 The question that Job asked, — which did imply 
 
 That God, from choice, would afflict willingly , — 
 
 Evil would, deal, — was charging foolishly ? 
 
 It may be so, not only may, but must. 
 
 When God declared, '' dust shall return to dust,'' 
 
 'Twas not as His first, prime and sovereign 
 
 choice, 
 But to the truth He gave His sovereign voice. 
 Evil exists — not by His choice or will, 
 Nor His permission. While His system still 
 Evil includes as a fixed certainty. 
 The system He permits ; and patiently 
 Endures the evil ; knows the time is sure 
 It shall be crushed, the system become pure. 
 Satan from it, and evil all, disgorged ; 
 He, bound with chains his obstinacy forged. 
 Then shall no more his corrupt influence sway ; 
 The unwary capturing, as an easy prey. 
 No more the faithful his temptations bear. 
 Evil delivered from, — answered the prayer. 
 All evil banished. Then the aim and end 
 
A SECOND EFFORT. 81 
 
 Accomplished which creation did portend. 
 
 The final restitution then appears, 
 
 And God's own hand has wiped away all tears. 
 
 All things, restored to harmony divine, 
 
 Meet God's ideal — His first grand design. 
 
 The natural channel of creative thought. 
 
 All keeping time and tune with Him who 
 
 wrought 
 The only perfect system ; in whom centers all ; 
 One heart, one mind with the Original. 
 All finite thought shall be but thought sublime, 
 With the great Author keeping tune and time. 
 Evil shall then be in the past, — what was. 
 No longer is, nor ever had a cause. 
 The kingdom to the Father then be given, 
 And God be all in all in earth and heaven. 
 
82 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 FRIENDS APPEAR. 
 
 Viewing his life as drawing toward its brink, 
 Job hitherto had not been called to think 
 Upon himself, by forced necessity. 
 And, freed from every selfish tendency. 
 Himself as subject, would not be his choice. 
 A paradox reality employs. 
 Proves that unselfish love brings highest joys. 
 For leaving self quite out of sight, brings gain ; 
 While he who sows for self, reaps want and 
 
 pain. 
 Though on the surface this may not appear, 
 Job's case illustrates, and the truth makes clear. 
 Aside from self, Job had a large supply 
 Of themes, wherewith his mind to occupy ; 
 His wife console ; to dry the mourners' tears. 
 Whose friends had perished by the Sabeans' 
 
 spears, 
 Or, by the Chaldeans felt death's cruel pain j 
 Defending to the last their master's gain. 
 
FRIENDS APPEAR. 
 
 83 
 
 This strengthened character, and mind, and heart, 
 
 The consolation that he strove to impart 
 
 To others, with a quiet, calm rebound, 
 
 Became to him a consolation found. 
 
 Satan, as men judge, by himself judged Job. 
 
 And hence, remorseless, cruelly would probe 
 
 His fortitude, determined to command 
 
 A curse on God from best man in the land. 
 
 Now Job, by dire necessity, was brought 
 
 To have no choice of subjects for his thought. 
 
 Upon himself his thoughts were forced to light, 
 
 No solid lest was his, by day or night. 
 
 No potsherd scraping could his pain allay ; 
 
 The irritation that he thought to stay 
 
 Thereby was but increased, until his skin 
 
 Was lost in texture, and what once had been 
 
 Expressive index of his state of mind, 
 
 AVas so much marred, resemblance few could 
 
 fmd. 
 Features disfigured, flesh diseased, 'twas strange 
 If, from himself at all his thoughts could range. 
 'Twas when his suffering had this stage attained, 
 The tidings reached three far-off friends. They, 
 
 pained 
 At the recital, — three choice friends were they, — 
 
84 PEKFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Together meet, confer, appoint a day 
 To come together, there with Job to mourn 
 For all the loss and suffering he has borne. 
 Ko printed sheet, nor telegraphic aid, 
 Had Job's calamities all public made ; 
 But bad news then as now would swiftly fly, 
 While good news, chary, waits and lingers by. 
 Intelligence came to the Temanites, 
 The Shuhites heard, and the Naamathites ; 
 And one from each unite in company. 
 Each for himself, — perhaps as deputy, — 
 To wait upon the great man of the east. 
 At whose expense they had been wont to feast ; 
 Over whom now vast depredations spread 
 Like surging billows, raging o'er his head. 
 They had not heard of the last trial keen, 
 Himself attacked, heart-rending to be seen. 
 Note that Job's losses touched not him alone ; 
 'Twas a great failure, making many moan. 
 This great reversion, sudden, swift, fell sore, 
 Like drying up of a vast reservoir. 
 Business received a check, — a sudden pause ; 
 And many marvelled what could be the cause. 
 The three friends, who from several districts 
 came; 
 
FRIENDS APPEAR. 85 
 
 Eliphaz, Bildad, Zopher, known by name, 
 Were grieved for Job, when first his woes they 
 
 heard ; 
 And, suited action to their combined word. 
 They now, proceeding on their journey's way. 
 Employ their time with what they have to say. 
 Each one of Job can something pleasant tell ; 
 His cheering words they all remember well. 
 None could be with him and at heart feel dull ; 
 And, how delightful last year's festival ! 
 He strengthens always by his counsel wise, 
 And none like him give competent advice. 
 His noble mien and generous bearing too, — 
 'Twould do one good, simply to take a view. 
 And every one would wiser, better grow. 
 The more of Job to understand and know. 
 Hope springs within them, that misfortune's 
 
 tide 
 Will soon take turn, react, reverse and glide 
 As formerly, or with a richer flow. 
 His birth-day festival is near, they know. 
 He will by that time, — may e'en now, possess 
 The due, and sure reward of righteousness. 
 They doubt not calm serenity prevails ; 
 No adverse power his inner strength assails. 
 
86 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 This acme of their hope and strong desire 
 Keeps up their strength, supplies their inner 
 
 fire, 
 As to Job's precinct they approach. When, lo ! 
 The man called Job they do not, can not know. 
 Hopes and desires have such a sudden fall 
 They lift their voice and weep. And one and 
 
 all 
 Their mantles rend, and sprinkle on their heads 
 Dust toward heaven ; while speaking, each one 
 
 dreads. 
 So sat they with him down upon the ground 
 Seven days, seven nights, and felt his grief pro- 
 found ; 
 Express to him in signs what well they see, 
 His sorrow great, and dire his malady. 
 To him, they speak not, to each other may; 
 But who, to Job, shall dare to break the way ? 
 Seven days and nights they go, come, sit, and 
 
 sigh. 
 But not to Job a word of sympathy. 
 Now he who had been going to and fro, 
 And up and down the earth, — and must needs 
 
 go 
 To ascertain whatever he would know ; 
 
FRIENDS APPEAR. 87 
 
 Is rampant still, as he was rampant then, 
 
 And deals the same with erring sons of men. 
 
 Into each mind he will insinuate, 
 
 Can he but find ajar some unclosed gate : 
 
 Will watch for access, and will entrance gain, 
 
 If he but bare admittance can obtain. 
 
 So, with these friends of Job, was Satan free 
 
 To judg« it now his opportunity. 
 
 Arabian princes they ; he knew their creed; 
 
 Knew well the premises were false indeed. 
 
 He was familiar with the creed entire ; 
 
 To serve his end, no better could desire. 
 
 The basis whereupon their faith was built 
 
 Held that who suffers, bears the sign of guilt. 
 
 While prolonged length of days in man, declares 
 
 Him righteous; and his goodness 'tis, that 
 
 spares 
 His life. That sudden death is merited 
 By some specific sin done by the dead. 
 This uniform, accepted, current view 
 Disqualified these friends for judgment true ; 
 Impaired the mind to judge impartially : 
 The premise wrong, so must the inference be. 
 This error Satan seized as vantage ground, 
 A weapon keen, the three friends might be 
 
 found. 
 
i88 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 If suffering be an evidence of sin, 
 
 A sinner great, most surely, Job has been. 
 
 If not apparent, then the sin lies hid ; 
 
 Job should confess the wrong deed that he did. 
 
 For to condole with one who wrong has done. 
 
 Was to become accomplice with that one. 
 
 So Satan whispered, and the three gave heed ; 
 
 Nor spared a word to Job in his great need. 
 
THE SILENCE BROKEN. 89 
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 
 THE SILENCE BROKEN. 
 
 In his attack on Job, Satan had dealt 
 Each blow precisely where 'twould most be felt. 
 Nor does he deviate to less severe, 
 When, suffering keenly, Job's choice friends ap- 
 pear. 
 But so arranged, that the severity 
 Should compass and include Job's own birth- 
 day:— 
 A day he had been wont to celebrate, 
 Invoking heaven to bless himself, his ^state. 
 And these three friends, 'tis probable, had known 
 The festive joys on these occasions shown. 
 Their hopes and prayers, undoubtedly arose, 
 That, ere that day, this direst of his woes 
 Be lifted from him, and his flesh be healed ; 
 And this but the beginning be ; the yield 
 By heaven repeated in a larger train. 
 Bring earth's rich treasures, and true friendly 
 gain. 
 
90 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Job, too, had hope : but hope so long deferred ! 
 But one year since, and blithe as song of bird, 
 Sang sons and daughters. Now, in silence, they ! 
 Who shall bespeak return of festive day ? 
 Now sick at heart, and weary, must his word 
 Prepare a prelude, ere from friend he heard ? 
 This sharpens sorrow ; — which severity 
 Their creed approved, — restraining sympathy. 
 Job is in Satan's power. Thus said the Lord. 
 Satan, unfeeling, and by no means awed ; — 
 Not by the desolations he had wrought, 
 Nor sum of all the misery he had brought 
 To pass ; — his one aim, truth to overthrow, 
 Held fast his power, his grip would not let go : 
 Hoping, expecting, when Job saw his fate. 
 The coming birth-day, that he'd curse and hate 
 His God, — the Lord. And then his prophecy 
 Would be fulfilled, and all his victory see. 
 He hitherto had used men unconcerned. 
 And reckless of the right, so they but earned 
 By their own methods, what to gain they sought ; 
 Quite unconcerned at ills their mischief wrought. 
 But now, enlightened men, who God revered. 
 The self-same God that Job loved, served, and 
 feared, — 
 
THE SILENCE BROKEN. 91 
 
 Satan employed : far from their minds the 
 
 thought 
 That he employed them ; they for Satan wrought ! 
 A week has passed. Now, on the seventh day 
 Job opes his mouth to speak. What will he 
 
 say? 
 The three friends, waiting, hope he will confess 
 Some sin or error. How can he do less ? 
 When God does visit such afflictions dire, 
 Is it not mark of his extremest ire ? 
 Job speaks. He cursed. Ah, Satan turns away; 
 Job cursed not God ; but only cursed his day. 
 His birth-day, now, the morning light had woke. 
 In years gone by he had been wont to invoke — 
 In presence of a goodly company. 
 Who freely shared, in happy harmony. 
 His hospitality, and social feast, — 
 A day all sunshine ; without cloud, the least. 
 Bereaved, afflicted, now, in grief, he prays 
 For clouds and darkness. For the sun's bright 
 
 rays 
 Seem mockery. He used to wish the day 
 Might, in remembrance, never wear away : — 
 His children might the day observe, and tell 
 How, in their children, should his memory dwell, 
 
92 * PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Thus he had prayed without distrust, or doubt; 
 Now prays it be forgot, and blotted out 
 Forever, from the calendar. Then, he 
 Sought joyful music, mirthful chorus glee ; 
 But silence now: — for music there's no room. 
 Then, stars at twilight ; now, invoked he, gloom. 
 For, if his life was drawing to its close 
 Submerged in grief, and marked with heavy 
 
 woes, 
 Thus indicating, as by current creed. 
 That he, a wicked life, had led indeed ; — 
 Had been persisting in a course of sin. 
 Which he knew false, from witness true within, — 
 Life was a failure. Better far the deep 
 Of non-existence, or eternal sleep. 
 Life lingers still. He longs for it to cease : 
 Longs more for death, than for a large increase 
 Of earth's possessions, gems or ores the best : 
 Longs for that sleep where weary are at rest. 
 Although life wearies, he will not depart 
 From conscious right, integrity of heart. 
 Correct in principle, he will abide, 
 Nor end his griefs by means of suicide. 
 Though nothing, of a future life, he knows, 
 He will not seek, by death, freedom from woes. 
 
THE SILENCE BROKEN. 93 
 
 Though he regards the grave as only rest ; 
 
 The time appointed, counts not, his behest. 
 
 The present, past, and future, — all, to him 
 
 Is mystery. His cup, up to the brim. 
 
 Is more than full. In words, he vents his grief, 
 
 Opening the way for ministering relief, 
 
 And sympathy, to those who piously 
 
 Wait for his speech ; and wait most zealously. 
 
 Job does not criminate himself nor can ; 
 
 'Twas his intent to be an upright man. 
 
 So earnest, in him, did desire arise 
 
 To live aright, continual exercise 
 
 Of caution marked his daily walk in life. 
 
 Conscience bore witness ; nor within was strife. 
 
 But though so cautious, what he zealous sought 
 
 To avoid, had come upon him. Life was fraught 
 
 With woes. Had he been careless, or to blame, 
 
 No wonder, then. He had not. Trouble came ! 
 
 Thus, closed Job's speech ; and thus he made the 
 
 way, 
 For him, to comfort, who had aught to say. 
 
94 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XYI. 
 
 THE REPLY OF A FRIEND ELIPHAZ. 
 
 The seven long days and nights, which the three 
 friends 
 
 Speechless toward Job had sat, with this day- 
 ends. 
 
 *Tis not to be supposed that they were mute ; 
 
 Or passed the time, in silence absolute. 
 
 Some words, they dropped 5 and then, perhaps, a 
 pause. 
 
 One asked another, what could be the cause 
 
 Of Job's afflictions. Why he failed to show 
 
 Some sin or error that himself must know ? 
 
 Job knew their creed ; knew that it caused the 
 breach : — 
 
 Their silence, — but ignored it in his speech. 
 
 ^Tis probable, this gave his friends surprise ; 
 
 Who thought when Job should speak, he'd re- 
 cognise 
 
 Some overt act, or covert, which had brought, 
 
 As retribution, the disasters wrought. 
 
THE REPLY OF A FRIEND — ELIPHAZ. 95 
 
 Confession contrite, it was their belief, 
 Would bring bim pardon and direct relief. 
 Keply is due to Job, and deference 
 To age, gives Eliphaz the precedence. 
 Aware of wanting sympathy most true, 
 His speech begins, with caution running through. 
 Chiefly absorbed, he is, with the defense 
 Of abstract doctrine, held with confidence. 
 Without exploring for a basis sound 
 To know if true or false his creed be found. 
 False premises he takes as true, without 
 Beholding in said premises a doubt. 
 Now Eliphaz, so zealous for his creed, 
 Thinks not of sympathy, that Job must need. 
 And hunger for. Therefore, he gives the reins 
 To head, instead of heart, to soothe Job's pains. 
 Since they oppose, he must by one abide. 
 The head condemns the heart, and bids decide 
 " Who soothes the sinner, does his sin partake, 
 And a like doom upon himself shall break." 
 The head, — located higher than the heart — 
 The seat of life, — is not the better part. 
 And who, dethroning heart, exalts the head, 
 ilepeats the error in which Satan led : 
 Which him overthrew : thus causing Satan's fall 
 
96 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 From truth ; from life in God. It was the call 
 Proceeding from the head, which now this man — 
 Eliphaz — heeded. Gently he began : — 
 " Wilt thou be grieved ? " Words ready wait to 
 
 flow, 
 Like steed too long restrained, whose bits forego. 
 For, while he spake not, silence brooded well 
 His meditations, which, like seed, did swell 
 To burst the soil, and now are ready quite, 
 Volumes of poignant utterance to indite. 
 " Wilt thou be grieved, Job, if we assay 
 To commune with thee ? Yet who can withstay 
 Himself from speaking?" Then at once pro- 
 ceeds 
 To compliment Job's past : his words and deeds. 
 Thou hast instructed many : not the few 
 Have reaped thy wisdom, and grown wiser, too. 
 The weak, thy hands have strengthened, and, be- 
 hold, 
 Who would have fallen, thy words did straight 
 
 uphold. 
 Undoubtedly, himself had strength received ; 
 Encouragement at times ; and now believed 
 Duty and truth required acknowledgment. 
 But, lo ! he quick descends from compliment, 
 
THE REPLY OF A FRIEND — ELIPKAZ. 07 
 
 That to discuss wliich ready waits to burst, 
 Which, on his mind and in his thought, was first. 
 He intimates that words of Job which make 
 Solace for others ; he too, might partake. 
 Instead of which, with fainting, charges Job, 
 At trouble's touch. As though in all earth's 
 
 globe 
 A greater sufferer were. At trouble's touch ! 
 He faints? 'T was false. He faiiited not. Was 
 
 such 
 Mere touch of trouble ? Lo, his sons are dead ; 
 His daughters, all, and, need more to be said, 
 Such words to check ? Health gone, life in sus- 
 pense ! 
 He cautions Job against strong confidence 
 In the uprightness of his ways. Gives vent 
 By asking, " Who e'er perished, innocent ? " 
 " Or were the righteous e'er cut off ? " and 
 
 "where?" 
 "Remember thee, I pray." He does not spare. 
 Job does remember ; knows the allusion, too; 
 And feels the question cutting through and 
 
 through, 
 As he recalls each daughter ; every son : 
 They seem to come before him, one by one. 
 
98 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Bat Eliphaz continues, though Job weeps ; 
 Says, " What man sows, he's seen, the same he 
 
 reaps.'^ 
 If sown iniquity and wickedness. 
 The crop will furnish neither more nor less, 
 In quality. Such perish by God's blast, 
 And by His breath will be consumed at last. 
 This calls to mind, and he intends no less. 
 The great wind blowing from the wilderness 
 That smote the house where sons and daughters, 
 
 all, 
 Met sudden death. Loud moans, with Job's tears 
 
 fall. 
 The figure of a lion with young whelps 
 Gives Eliphaz important aid ; and helps 
 To indicate what he presumes the cause 
 That Job so suffers. It is transgressed laws 
 Of God : and God His law will vindicate 
 By retribution on, or small or great. 
 Job had been so exalted in his view. 
 Had he dispenser been, " no evil due 
 To Job,'' he would have said. But God had 
 
 dealt, 
 And would not, were Job righteous. Thus he 
 
 felt, 
 
THE REPLY OF A FRIEND— ELIPHAZ. 99 
 
 While passed the week of days and nights away : 
 One subject on his mind perpetually. 
 The thought by day, at night, wove into dream : 
 A spirit passed before him, just a gleam ; — 
 The form but indistinct. But trembling awe 
 Crept o'er the dreamer. Visibly he saw : — 
 From, silence came a voice ; an image stood, — 
 *' Shall mortal man more just be than his God ? 
 Be purer than his Maker, shall a man ? " 
 Eeflecting on his dream, he asks, " Who can ? " 
 Beflection brought conclusion that, no more 
 Than man, would God inflict. He had, before 
 His dream, believed this must be truly so ; 
 Now 'twas confirmed, and he must let Job 
 
 know. 
 It gave him strength to urge Job to commit 
 His cause to God, who never would permit 
 Correction undeserved : therefore, Job would 
 Eventually perceive 'twas for his good 
 To be chastised. He would renew life's morn, 
 And close his life, as a ripe shock of corn. 
 
100 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 
 PERFECTION, IN SOLITUDE. 
 
 The speech concluded ; now, with many a sigh, 
 Job, sick and weary, offers his reply : 
 Reviewed each point which Eliphaz had made ; 
 And mourned to think his woes so lightly weighed. 
 Regarded this new trial most severe. 
 That friends he'd held as true, kind, and sincere. 
 Should, for their solace to himself, impart 
 Words that well-nigh had broke his wounded 
 
 heart. 
 Statements against him cruelly severe. 
 By his deep sufferings, all confirmed, appear. 
 While, to himself God's terrors seem to array 
 Against his life ; his spirit drink away. 
 His life had been one constant aim at right, 
 Yet now had fallen on him a deep, dark night ! 
 He, thus dispirited, no comfort drew 
 Erom his past life, as daily in review, 
 Its scenes, or faint or vivid, floated by ; 
 Both seen and felt by the mind's undimmed eye. 
 
PERFECTION, IN SOLITUDE. 101 
 
 Hope of relief expires ; and having fled, 
 He longs for dissolution ; — to be dead : 
 That God would loose his hand, and take away 
 His life : — would cut him off without delay. 
 While Job is speaking, fades the light away. 
 And brings the shadows of the closing day ; 
 Their lengthening, leads him, by comparison. 
 To think of servant, who, his labor done. 
 Desires to see the shadows reach the length. 
 To call him home, ere yet is spent his strength. 
 It seems the reflex of his own desire. 
 Growing more ardent, as the solar fire 
 Eades in the west. Now he would fain have 
 
 rest : 
 But night, the favor brings not ; nor is blest 
 By morn's return. And thus the months pass on, 
 And death comes not. All choice of subjects 
 
 gone. 
 His sleepless self must think upon his flesh ; — 
 Corrupt, disgusting ! bursts his griefs afresh. 
 In anguish, he complains to the Most High, 
 "Why such distress, yet not allowed to die? '' 
 So insignificant, he seems to be ! 
 "Now. to himself, he vainly strives to see 
 The mystery solved, which grows in magnitude. 
 
102 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Betakes he to his habit. (Solitude, 
 
 The deepest, sometimes, in a crowd is found ; 
 
 Where sympathy is not, is its true ground.) 
 
 Habitual prayer had been wont to ascend ; 
 
 His thoughts and words had always heavenward 
 
 trend. 
 Job pours his soul out, now, in earnest prayer. 
 There's no set form, nor others' words are there. 
 His own expressions meet, alone, his case, 
 No other one had ever held his place. 
 ^Tis well, heaven is not barred to deep complaint, 
 That God will hear, what scarce befits a saint 
 To utter, as from human standpoint viewed : — 
 And thus make fruitful deepest solitude. 
 This was Job's habit : here he found relief ; 
 To go to God, and pour out all his grief. 
 
A FRIEXD'S DISAPPOINTMENT. 103 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A friend's disappointment. 
 
 BiLDAD the ShuLite, was quite unxjrepared 
 For Job's reply. Elipliaz had not spared, 
 In his address, strongly to intiuiate 
 That Job had merited his present fate. 
 Bildad expected as result, no less 
 Than that Job would be influenced to confess 
 Some wrong, resulting in the death of all 
 His children; that Job would, perforce, recall : 
 Perhaps some hidden sin, — the guilt his own — 
 Which they had not, but he had long time 
 
 known : — 
 A recognition of his ill-desert : 
 That said confession, would not fail to avert 
 His present suffering ; thereby, his distress 
 Be mitigated, and his griefs made less. 
 Since Eliphaz had broke the way, 'twas plain 
 Job might, with less reluctance, now explain ; 
 With much more freedom — easy readiness, 
 Than did they not expect him to confess. 
 
104 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 With the entirest lack of courtesy, 
 Bildad proceeds with what he has to say ; 
 Taking the track which Eliphaz has trod 
 To help defend the way and works of God. 
 Less smoothly he, with displayed vehemence, 
 Keen cutting questions asks, with zeal intense. 
 Nor courage needed, since he took the way 
 Of popular belief, in his own day. 
 He thought Job suffering by the choice of God ; 
 Whose system, was a penal and reward : — 
 This, for the righteous ; that, for those who err. 
 Thought such God's scheme, and such His char- 
 acter ! 
 That God, on throne supernal, regal sat, 
 And visited so much of this, for that : 
 The deeds of evil-doer strictly weighed, 
 And what was evil done, with evil paid : 
 Debit and credit kept, — a strict account ; — 
 And would by no means bate the least amount. 
 Surely, a generous man would pity feel 
 For one in such position, who must deal 
 Out evil to him who has evil wrought ; 
 Yet such was God, to Bildad, in his thought ! 
 Sincere was Bildad ; meant right to defend : 
 For this he argued ; this his aim and end. 
 
A FRIEND'S DISAPPOINTMENT. 105 
 
 Careful to waver not toward heresy, ^ 
 
 He intimates, in Job, hypocrisy, 
 
 If he confess not, to some evil deed ; 
 
 From whence, his ills and sufferings all, proceed, 
 
 While such confession, will reverse the ban, 
 
 Since God will not cast off a perfect man. 
 
 As he began his speech, he likewise ends ; 
 
 No sympathizing word to make amends. 
 
 Job is condemned : not perfect is, nor good. 
 
 While still the heavenly registration stood ; — 
 
 *' A man that's perfect and upright, and one 
 
 That feareth God. Like him, on eartb there's 
 
 none. 
 He escheweth evil.'^ This, had Bildad known, 
 His speech had borne a somewhat milder tone. 
 But he has cleared his conscience, with delight 
 That he has dared to probe with all his might : 
 Nor stooped from rectitude, to condescend 
 To sympathize with such an erring friend ! 
 
106 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XTX. 
 
 SELF-DEFEMSE. 
 
 The entering wedge that Eliphaz had charged, 
 Had been driven home by Bildad, now enlarged. 
 The intimation keen, now downright said, 
 Pierced deep the father's heart which freshly 
 
 bled. 
 " Cut off for their transgressions ! cast away ? " 
 His children ! He no more for them could pray. 
 They'd been a subject of his daily prayer 
 Since their first breath ; and now, no more could 
 
 share 
 His suplications. But no words avail 
 To lessen grief, or make such memories pale .• 
 No vindication of their character. 
 Make it appear that innocent they were. 
 Since sudden death is put as evidence, 
 No plea is valid in his sons' defense. 
 Sentence and execution at one stroke ! 
 Signal display, which on their feast-day broke, 
 Of Divine justice, — for their sins' desert ! 
 
SELF-DEFEXSE. 107 
 
 His friends' belief, render his words inert : 
 
 Hence Job, in his opinion, will repose ; 
 
 Without allusion to his childrens' woes : 
 
 And in reply to Bildad, open on 
 
 Another subject, better dwelt uponj — 
 
 Of the relation which a man sustains 
 
 To his Creator. Issue he refrains 
 
 To take, at any statement Bildad made ; 
 
 But recognizes true all he has said. 
 
 " Be but the premises you've started true ; 
 
 Correct are the conclusions which you drew. 
 
 The case is clear, and, Bildad, you are right, 
 
 I know it of a truth. 'Tis plain to sight.'' 
 
 Job now proceeds his standard to display ; 
 
 The measure which man's character must weigh ; 
 
 His standard the pure God ; Him everywhere. 
 
 But how shall man with the pure God compare ? 
 
 Although by human standard man appear 
 
 Noble, without reproach, from error clear, 
 
 Surpassing excellent, yet when compared 
 
 With Him who never errs ! What man has 
 
 dared 
 To measure with His qualities so pure ? 
 Whose knowledge, reaching past man's deeds, is 
 
 sure 
 
108 PERFECTION ATTAIXABLE. 
 
 To note the impulse, motive, and design ; 
 The end and aim, — the plans that intertwine. 
 With the pure God how shall a man be just ? 
 Keach the high mark, and be just what he must 
 To be acquit of error, guilt and blame ? 
 Who, if his Sovereign calling him by name 
 Contend, and, at his hand equality 
 Eequire, will not show great disparity, 
 With not an answer that he can command, 
 One to a thousand ? How shall man then stand ? 
 Por wise in heart He is, mighty in strength. 
 Thus Job, though weary, argues at full length ; 
 Discourses on God's great and mighty deeds, — 
 His power that, finding out, by man, exceeds. 
 He then breathes out expressions, very clear. 
 Of consciousness that God Himself is near. 
 He sees Him not, but knows He's passing by ; 
 Perceives Him not, yet feels that He is nigh. 
 But now, again, renews he his complaint. 
 The man who feels, is none the less a saint. 
 Thinking his griefs — the error of his day — 
 Signs of God's anger, he proceeds to say, 
 " With such appearance, human help is vain." 
 Nor can himself, with words his cause maintain. 
 So high was God exalted to his mind, 
 
SELF-DEFENSE. 109 
 
 That had he called, God answered, he would find 
 
 Himself believing God had meant before 
 
 To do what he had asked ; had done no more 
 
 Nor different for his supplicating voice. 
 
 Yet might he at the harmony rejoice, 
 
 Between himself, — the suppliant making call, —< 
 
 And Him who made, and cares, and feels for all. 
 
 But while he speaks of God, no whit abates 
 
 The suffering that annoys and irritates. 
 
 While he denounces what his friends have said ; — 
 
 That 'tis his sins have to misfortune led, — 
 
 His wish is not himself to justify 
 
 In all that he has done. He can descry 
 
 Full many a flaw he fain would profit by. 
 
 To say " I'm perfect," he declares would prove 
 
 Himself perverse. Thus Job refrains to move 
 
 One jot or tittle from his self-defense. 
 
 And calmly reasons through felt impotence. 
 
 Though, to be perfect, he both strove and aimed, 
 
 Yet such distinction he at once disclaimed : 
 
 Since otherwise, his mouth would him condemn. 
 
 And prove his standard low, to him and them. 
 
 It would evince that he was satisfied 
 
 With lower mark than God had justified. 
 
 Whereas, his once ideal now attained, 
 
110 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 His now ideal an advance has gained ; 
 
 And when is reached by him his sometime goal, 
 
 Not as one perfect does he know his soul. 
 
 Thus, as a shadow, should one such pursue, 
 
 'Twas never reached, yet never out of view. 
 
 His ideal mocked him, since it would elude ; 
 
 Still be beyond where once it seeming stood. 
 
 Having disclaimed perfection as that word 
 
 Is understood by man, when said or heard ; 
 
 Job now lays down his own hypothesis. 
 
 Quite ready to defend it, which is this : 
 
 " The perfect and the wicked God destroys." 
 
 He has observed it, and he but employs 
 
 His power to notice and the facts deduce, — 
 
 What other method is of equal use ? — 
 
 Slay the scourge swift, God will not intervene 
 
 'Twixt it and innocence to come between. 
 
 The earth is given, — to him this point is clear, — ■ 
 
 To wicked hands. They form the overseer. 
 
 The faces of the judges of the earth 
 
 He covereth. Their sight is nothing worth. 
 
 If He has not done so whither away. 
 
 And who is He, and where His place of stay ? 
 
 Examples of blind judges were his friends ; 
 
 Their blindness but the same sad truth portends. 
 
SELF DEFENSE. Ill 
 
 The guilty suffer, but it does not show 
 
 That only such deep suffering may know. 
 
 This, Job declares, to be the one sure base 
 
 On which affairs in life find resting-place. 
 
 The evil suffer, and the good. But still 
 
 Evil prevails. It can not be God's will. 
 
 By some strange means the rule of earth is 
 
 given 
 To wicked hands ; nor ruled by powers of heaven. 
 Job was approaching truth in his own case, 
 And would develop yet sufficient grace 
 To know and feel that being so there was 
 The best of reasons, a most righteous cause. 
 This knowledge came at last, and then he knew 
 The fact discovered, and the reason too. 
 The power to suffer is commensurate 
 With the capacity, — or less, or great, — 
 For true delight. They who can feel most bliss, 
 Know most intensely what deep sorrow is. 
 The willingness to suffer and endure, 
 Others to raise to the same standard pure, 
 Is God's own principle, which self forgets ; 
 The royal chosen rule that finds no lets 
 Kor hindrance in the Majesty Divine j 
 Whose character and nature both combine 
 
112 PEEFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 To make complete a perfect ideal One — 
 The Origin of Good. Whitherward run, 
 As run far rivers toward the boundless sea, 
 All who aspire to immortality. 
 Not wrathful He, not bitter, nor corrupt, 
 Though suffering long, slow-angered, — not ab- 
 rupt — 
 Not quick to render like for like to all. 
 On good and bad lets daily blessings fall. 
 God, thus enduring the sure consequence 
 Of Lucifer's rebellion, — his defense 
 Of evil, — all resulting in its train, 
 And waiting still with patience to refrain 
 From meting out to him his just deserts; 
 By wooing, winning, tireless love, asserts 
 
 His love unequalled. 
 For the universe 
 
 Is Job now used as demonstration terse. 
 To prove the problem to a certainty, 
 That one may, with his choice and will both 
 
 free. 
 Choose suffering, rather than consent to sin. 
 One sole example will the victory win. 
 Job knew it not. His darkness was a need 
 To confound Satan, and his silence speed. 
 
SELF-DEFENSE. 113 
 
 Had knowledge of the future life been given^ 
 Satan would straight have said, Job served for 
 
 heaven. 
 Great was the effort needed to attain 
 This height, hy Job, above his griefs and pain ; 
 To keep his thoughts above misfortunes great, 
 And dire disease : them, so to concentrate, 
 As to conduct an argument sublime 
 On things which shall outlive the things of time. 
 "Which things require, as medium for the mind 
 The same frail body ; weak, as now we find, — 
 To give them form, perceptible and plain 
 To one who wills to see, and seeks to gain 
 The things that die not ; nor become the less, 
 Though grasped by many, and the more possess. 
 Indeed, no other soil can truth e'er find. 
 In which to thrive, but the immortal mind. 
 Having announced his thesis. Job now droops. 
 Beneath the burden physical, he stoops ; 
 Speaks of himself, and of his days again; 
 Would fain forget complaint, yet must complain. 
 Full many a day he's been in Satan's power. 
 And weary borne each heavy passing hour. 
 Full many a sun has risen as brilliantly, 
 And radiant set, as when prosperity 
 
114 PERFECTTON ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Had blest his life, and it in halo set. 
 Memories, he neither can nor would forget : 
 By which the present contrast marked with 
 
 blight, 
 Gloams in the darkness of a polar night. 
 And now another day draws to its close, 
 AVhile no relief its fading color shows. 
 His friends sit silent, or in apathy. 
 Nor comfort Job, who longs for sympathy. 
 The sunset glow is gone ; the pale twilight 
 Has faded into blank and sombre night. 
 And all, save Job, are sunk in quiet sleep. 
 His hours are spent in sighs and moans, which 
 
 keep 
 No record of the hours, till breaks the day. 
 To wake no hope for him ; nor cheer his way. 
 Hope had been his, that, last of all the three, 
 Zophar, would silence break with sympathy. 
 But speaks he not ; hence Job resumes again. 
 Speaks in his own behalf, despite his pain. 
 Looks he to God, who knows his life, his pains, 
 Whose way has caused stagnation in his veins ! 
 He marvels that he came to life at all ; 
 Or gave not up the ghost at early call. 
 Assured he was that God knew he was not 
 
SELF-DEFENSE. 115 
 
 Wicked, by will : nor cherished sin in thought. 
 
 Prevaricate, should he, lie could not hope 
 
 To flee God's power ; or think with Him to cope. 
 
 Satan was not, and this full well he knew. 
 
 Trying Job only. All the trial through. 
 
 Aware he was that, to the heart of God, 
 
 Job was most dear ; — held worthy of reward. 
 
 And he would have accomplished what he 
 
 sought, 
 Had God but intervened His power, and wrought 
 A cure on Job : or answered but his prayer. 
 Explaining why the rod He did not spare. 
 As surely as had he been brought to curse, — 
 Less cared he for the means, than end — much 
 
 worse. 
 God would that all the truth should feel and 
 
 know. 
 He takes His own best way His truth to show. 
 Job's ignorance was needed, till 'twas shown 
 One would do right, from choice of right alone. 
 Would Job but curse, then Satan would deny 
 That any held a principle more high. 
 Would Job not curse by ills so brought to bear, 
 God, knowing all, would He but hear Job's 
 
 prayer, 
 
116 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 And quick decide injustice should be stayed, 
 Nor longer of himself should be arrayed, 
 Satan's false statements : making Him appear 
 Cruel, vindictive, absent, or austere, — 
 Then Satan held in readiness to stand 
 Before the sons of God, with answer bland, — 
 "Job would have cursed, but premature release 
 Proves Job God's favorite \ any price for peace. 
 God does not suifer : than himself, no less 
 Will keep his favorites, so they'll choose to 
 
 bless." 
 Satan still argues : " What does God require ? 
 All to be like him. Just this I desire. 
 He does His will, nor suffers, that would I, 
 I'd do my will, and from all suffering fly. 
 I will not suffer. Might, it is, makes right. 
 I have the power. Let all with me unite, 
 And each shall have the rule, — suffer shall none, 
 Eeap glory, looking out for number one." 
 Simple assertion, though the Word of God, 
 Held no account with Satan. Nowise awed, 
 He made a bold demand for proof. And why 
 Job's prayer was long unanswered ; the reply 
 Is hereby seen. No cause in Job. Nor cause 
 In God. But by inevitable laws 
 
SELF-DEFENSE. 117 
 
 Which rule and govern conscious sentient mind ; 
 Which conscious power, being at once combined 
 With moral freedom ; be such one accused 
 By one who has his God-given powers abused ; 
 He must then share God's need to manifest 
 His character, by the long-suffering test : 
 IVIust prove by suffering, suffering's noble power 
 To conquer wrong, and weaken error's tower. 
 Hence, then. Job's prayer, though seemingly un- 
 heard, 
 Eeached God's own heart. He felt it, every 
 
 word. 
 It must needs be. ^Twas meant to testify 
 And give assurance of God's sympathy, 
 So long as ever sorrowing sigh be heaved, 
 Or God's own children feel they are bereaved. 
 
118 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 A THIRD friend's EFFORT. 
 
 ZoPHAR, as the clear flow of Job's discourse 
 
 Fell on his ear, felt lie had no resource 
 
 Prom which to draw an argument of power, 
 
 The doctrine to refute, which formed Job's tower 
 
 Of strong defence : and, as Job did progress, 
 
 Felt more and more his entire emptiness. 
 
 To speak or not to speak : 'twas this he weighed. 
 
 For, failing to reply, it would be laid 
 
 To him as tacitly acknowledging 
 
 Job vindicated. He must answer bring. 
 
 Or Job acquitted stands, and free from guilt ; 
 
 With character and reputation built. 
 
 But Job, he saw, diseased from head to foot ! 
 
 This was, to him, sufficient proof to put. 
 
 That Job, thus suffering, surely guilty is : — 
 
 Chained as he was to the hypothesis 
 
 Set forth already, which is briefly this : — 
 
 They only suffer, who have done amiss : 
 
 Who suffer not, good character have built ; 
 
A THIRD FRIEND'S EFFORT. 119 
 
 While suffering is sure evidence of guilt. 
 
 If he replies, he's by a circle bound ; 
 
 He can't refute, but must go begging round. 
 
 The other two — Job's friends, and friends of 
 
 his, — 
 Hold as substantial this hypothesis. 
 Age and experience they have, more than he ; 
 Courage he lacks, therefore decides to be 
 On their side who have health ; with them to 
 
 agree. 
 While Job is speaking, he with Job believes ; 
 But still will pin his faith upon their sleeves. 
 And their expression, as he casts a glance 
 To read the mind expressed on countenance, 
 Reveals that they do not abate a whit 
 Of their opinion, as they've stated it. 
 Strengthened by them, with perfect self-com- 
 mand, 
 He takes a firm and unrelenting stand. 
 Commences with a question, not profound. 
 That in his mind has been revolving round. 
 "Should not the multitude of words,'^ — profuse 
 Job probably had seemed to him in use 
 Of language, — " be answered ? '' " And should 
 a man 
 
120 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Be justified who's full of talk ? and can, 
 
 Or should, thy lies make men to hold their 
 
 peace ? 
 And when thou mockest, must all others cease ? 
 And shall no man make thee ashamed ? " No 
 
 lack 
 Of zeal is manifest in this attack. 
 But what a harsh, unfeeling, blunt essay, 
 Absence of wisdom, wit, and courtesy ! 
 While no reply to Job his words contain, 
 No answer to the man of grief and pain ; 
 In Zophar, that there's envy cropping out. 
 There's scarcely room for shadow of a doubt. 
 He feels Job's fullness of ability, 
 To clothe in words his mind's fertility ; 
 And manifests a conscious lack of tact 
 To argue well and cause Job to retract. 
 He came to comfort Job ! but offers prayer 
 To God, not that his servant Job He'd spare, 
 But to appear against him ! He complained 
 That Job with firm adherence so maintained 
 His first position ; yet a single point 
 Makes not, to show Job where he's out of joint 
 With truth. If he, in Job's speech, could detect 
 That which was inconsistent, incorrect, 
 
A THIKD FRIEND'S EFFOPwT. 121 
 
 This was the time and place to set him right ; 
 For truth he might contend ; with words, words 
 
 fight. 
 But easier 'tis to say, thcin saying prove. 
 And easjr 'tis to run in well-worn groove. 
 But, lacking proof, it is a weak resort, 
 To say negation must be proved, and ought 
 To be. While indolence, content, may hold 
 A statement true, because it's very old. 
 But age, as age, can no respect command, — 
 On firmer basis God's own truth must stand, — ■. 
 For else might Lucifer make some fair show 
 To his once claim for genuflection low. 
 Zophar, adhering to the old, old creed. 
 Thrusts hard at Job, of courage has no need. 
 Declares, at hand of God, Job suffers less 
 Than he deserves. Some sin he should confess. 
 While he exhorts, blames ^oh for his desire 
 The cause, of his deep suffering to inquire. 
 As though himself, being far in the advance, 
 Could comprehend and see truth at a glance : 
 Or else were satisfied with but a ray. 
 And scorned to search for truth's effulgent day. 
 " Canst thou by searching find out God ? " he 
 
 asks, 
 
122 pehfection attainable. 
 
 " Canst thou find out the Almighty ? Do such 
 
 tasks 
 Bring profit ? To perfection, canst thou find 
 Out, the vast, deep, immeasurable Mind ? " 
 Not less exalted, God, to whom Job prayed ; 
 Than was the God whom Zophar now portrayed. 
 Nor would Job fain, God's being, so explore, 
 So find Him out, that there should be no more 
 
 To comprehend. 
 But God has given His word 
 That those who early seek shall find the Lord. 
 The time, when He that knowledge will impart. 
 Is, when the seeker seeks with all the heart. 
 Not seeking with the head alone, can show 
 The same result that head with heart can know. 
 While having found Him once, there is no more 
 A limit to His boundless reservoir. 
 Supply eternal found, for heart and mind, 
 As all, with Job, who thirsting seek, will find. 
 And this will be their joy, beyond a doubt. 
 They may seek ever, never find Him out. 
 And God, so far from checking this employ, 
 Bids him make this His glory and His joy. 
 Who glory would ; that he can understand, 
 Eeceive and know Him who holds all command. 
 
A THIRD FRIEND'S EFFORT. 
 
 123 
 
 Having exhorted, Zophar stoops, to wait 
 
 What Job will in confession dare relate. 
 
 Hoping, perchance, that Job will freely own, 
 
 Eelieve himself, and let the worst be known. 
 
 Toward wealth of goodness, on millennial plane, 
 
 Toward highest reach that excellence can gain. 
 
 The world is not advanced, the least degree, 
 
 By exhortations to integrity : 
 
 But by a vital product, in the heart. 
 
 Of goodness that, from self, can never part : — 
 
 A happy, living spontaneity 
 
 To lessen grief, whate'er the cause may be. 
 
124 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A VEIN OF IRONY. 
 
 When expectation ceases to be met, 
 Till expectation ceases ; one may get 
 Accustomed to the lack of that desired, 
 And rise to higher plane with hope retired ; 
 Above the ran^e of disappointment's dart : 
 Not simply self-contained, but, pure in heart, 
 Containing Him, who will as guest abide 
 Where welcome meets : — as 'twere, will, side by 
 
 side — 
 Like Enoch, — to companionship be brought, 
 Ancl walk with God : God's thoughts, by him, be 
 
 thought. 
 Now Job had reached such an exalted tower. 
 That Zophar, by no means possessed the power 
 To disappoint him in what he might say. 
 He might have once, but now had passed that 
 
 day. 
 In all the seven silent days, had one 
 Some cordial sympathetic act have done> 
 
A VEIN OF IKOXY. 125 
 
 Some word have said ; — could one from his 
 
 standpoint 
 Have viewed his sufferings, and a time appoint 
 To plead his cause ; to his thoughts language 
 
 give; 
 Voicing his words ; express, in terms that live, 
 His ideas for him : — could but one of them 
 Have been his advocate ; one, not condemn ; 
 So, that without an effort of his mind. 
 They could have led, he followed: — then, so 
 
 kind. 
 And such essential aid, they would have been ; — 
 They would have seemed the friends he trusted in. 
 That time had past. Not that indifferent 
 He had become ; but disappointment 
 Could not with keenness now, as at the first, 
 Break on the sufferer ; when, with fresh outburst, 
 His friends accuse ; or, with extravagance. 
 Assume themselves upon an eminence. 
 Should pity now, and sympathy, arise, 
 'Twould gratify him, while it would surprise. 
 Having his own case plead, and confident 
 That he was true, and right in his intentj 
 That this, God knew ; thereby, he did attain 
 A higher life, on more exalted plane 
 
126 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Than that his friends, exulting, occupied : 
 Could look down on them, candidly decide 
 The worth and value, — the just estimate 
 Of their opinions : — rank their worth and 
 
 weight. 
 So much composure, as could be attained 
 By one from crown to sole diseased and pained ; 
 Job gathered, and, with patient listening, heard 
 Zophar's address ; well heeding every word. 
 But, Zophar ended, all undaunted, he 
 Believed himself, in terms of irony. 
 ^''No doubt," he said, " but ye the people are, 
 And wisdom shall die with you. Near nor far, 
 When you are gone, shall wisdom more be found? 
 ^ Twill be extinct, when you are under ground. 
 You speak as though all knowledge that can be, 
 Was in yourselves stored up ; as though you she 
 All to be seen : as though your minds contain 
 The sum that all may ever ascertain. 
 But I can understand, as well as you : 
 Nor am inferior. What you've said that's true. 
 Who does not know?" Then 'gainst them Job 
 
 brings charge 
 Of disrespect, and mockery at large. 
 They laugh to scorn, not pay Id g the regard 
 
A VEIN OF IRONY. 127 
 
 His character could claim. They should discard 
 Their false ideas ; ere this time, have learned 
 That robbers prosper who the right, have spurned. 
 They gain their ends : that God, does not, by 
 
 force, 
 Wrest from their grasp, what they gain by wrong 
 
 course. 
 They provoke God ; yet they dwell quite secure : 
 God does not deal direct, with sentence sure, 
 Meting their ill-desert out with such share 
 Of evil, as their evil doings dare. 
 They ought to know, that ill-desert and woes. 
 Stand not related, as they do suppose. 
 Each to the other : this they might descry 
 By the wild beasts, and by the birds that fly. 
 Creatures of the earth, and fishes of the sea. 
 Tell there is suffering where no guilt can be. 
 So God ordains, by His unerring mind. 
 All souls he holds ; the breath of all mankind. 
 They agitate, as Job thus argues clear. 
 He calls attention ; that they heed and hear 
 With undivided diligence his speech. 
 Wait his conclusions, ere they seek to teach. 
 His friends seem distant, cold. God draws more 
 
 near J 
 
128 PEKFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 To Him Job speaks, conscious that He will hear. 
 
 Asks for so much relief that he may use 
 
 Ably his mental powers, as he would choose. 
 
 He thinks himself for errors of his youth 
 
 As punished now ; well knowing, that in truth, 
 
 His more mature and riper life has been 
 
 Eenunciation of the ways of sin. 
 
 As Job undaunted his own cause defends, 
 
 A holy horror seizes his three friends. 
 
 By signs they ask that he no more will say. 
 
 Lest sudden stroke shall take his life away. 
 
 He bids them hold their peace, let him alone 
 
 That he may speak, and let what will come on. 
 
 They need not give themselves anxiety 
 
 Lest he offend pious propriety. 
 
 The risk he'll take and bide the consequence. 
 
 What he may say will be at his expense. 
 
 They only for themselves can be arraigned. 
 
 Not for the doctrines by himself maintained. 
 
 Producing thus their peace and quiet state. 
 
 Job then proceeds himself to vindicate ; 
 
 Eegards life less than truth. Though God should 
 
 slay, 
 He will maintain the truth, and his own way. 
 He longs to close his weary, painful days ; 
 
A VEIN OF ITIOXY. 
 
 129 
 
 Doubts where he is who nature's last debt pays. 
 To be from life forever gone, shut out ! 
 His spirit chills. He has a happy doubt. 
 The tree cut down, will sprout again and grow. 
 Man giveth up the ghost, — no more may know ? 
 If a man die, shall he, too, live again ? 
 
 No answer comes, and Job must wait in pain. 
 
 He can not think that God should but desire 
 
 Man to recall ; His work than which no higher. 
 
 And should he in that sleep beneath the ground 
 
 But hear His voice, he'd answer at the sound. 
 
 He feels life brief ; would fain discover why 
 
 He suffers, weary, not allowed to die. 
 
 Closing he brings a brief, sad resume 
 
 Of pain experienced, and calamity. 
 
 But not the slightest thought of cursing God. 
 Still will he trust Him, though he feels the rod. 
 
130 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 A SECOND SPEECH FROM ELIPHAZ. 
 
 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, 
 Kot doubting that himself was in the right. 
 Impatient for this opportunity, 
 He plunges with assured serenity : 
 Eegards Job's speech as hollow and bombast, 
 And, from his lips, surprising to have passed. 
 Accuses Job with having cast off fear. 
 And before God restrained the words of prayer. 
 Asks him, were he the first one ever born, 
 Before the hills had he his being's dawn ? 
 Inquires of Job if he God's secret knows. 
 Which He has shown, and Job will not disclose. 
 '^ With us," he says, " both the grey-headed are. 
 And men much older than thy father, far." 
 Asks if God's consolations are so small, 
 That Job, therefor, will not confess at all ? 
 With no compassion for Job's suffering state. 
 To vent in words he does not hesitate. 
 Naught less than Job's admission of his guilt 
 
A SECOND SPEECH FROM ELirilAZ. 131 
 
 Will satisfy. He'll pierce to the sword's hilt, — 
 If words like swords cau pierce, and sure they 
 
 may. 
 Leaving a scar that's slow to wear away. 
 No stronger proof to him of guilt can be, 
 Than Job's condition of adversity. 
 These friends had never thought to search and 
 
 see 
 Whereon was based their creed and theory. 
 'Twas held most firmly by their choice — their 
 
 wills : 
 Enough, 'twas old. Was Job before the hills ? 
 Job's restoration, they had in their mind. 
 His cause at heart, in vain we seek to find. 
 And, as in every case, where leads the head, 
 Keeping in strict abeyance, — as 'twere, dead, — 
 The heart — which is the fountain-spring of 
 
 life — 
 Satan gains vantage-ground, so here were rife 
 Peculiar weapons, with which Job to assail ; 
 Satan would conquer by the three friends' fiail. 
 And he might now lie back, and gloat at will ; 
 The Temanite, his work, with equal skill. 
 Or better than the Adversary's own, 
 Was pushing on. For it is felt and known 
 
PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 That 'tis more cutting if accused, opposed, 
 
 By cherislied friends, than by one ill-disposed. 
 
 Eliphaz charged Job with restraining prayer ! - 
 
 Was he asleep, absorbed ? not to know there 
 
 Had been throughout, in Job's recent reply. 
 
 Addresses made to God — true heartfelt cry ? 
 
 Perhaps he failed to follow Job, and fled 
 
 To ideas running in his o'er-tasked head. 
 
 Another charge 'gainst Job he subtly brings ; 
 
 Uttering iniquity, and crafty things. 
 
 If Eliphaz the first was, to evade 
 
 An argument, unanswerable made, 
 
 By styling it ingenious, crafty, keen ; 
 
 He, not the last, was. Such may now be seen. 
 
 Believing Job to be an impious man, 
 
 Appearing as religious, only can 
 
 Be sign and token of hypocrisy, — 
 
 Give evidence how deep in sin, is he. 
 
 That men of age, are wise proportionate 
 
 Unto their years, he holds as postulate. 
 
 That this is false, to him is to be shown ; 
 
 jSTot yet perceived, but time will make it known. 
 
 He cruel questions asks, all unaware 
 
 Whose cause he has espoused. Himself a snare ! 
 
 Deems, by this method, Job will yet succumb. 
 
A SECOXD SPEECH FROM ELIPHAZ. 133 
 
 And his confession, easier, thus become. 
 
 But he, in haste, had accusation built, 
 
 Without demanding certain proof of guilt. 
 
 Without relenting he, all undismayed. 
 
 To the affiicted Job, straightway portrayed 
 
 The case of him, who, stretcheth out his hand 
 
 Against the Almighty; careful to expand 
 
 By an allusion to Job's family ; 
 
 His sons and daughters, feasting happily. 
 
 Those, unripe grapes, shaken from off the vine ; 
 
 These, olive-flowers, cast off by wise design. 
 
 Thus he maintains, that in the world of time. 
 
 Punishment travels on the heels of crime. 
 
 That, by misfortune, evil deeds are met ; 
 
 That who rebel, such suffering sure must get. 
 
 He, by alluding to hypocrisy, 
 
 Means, thus depicted, Job himself shall see. 
 
 With this he pauses. Waits he now to hear 
 
 If Job presumes again himself to clear. 
 
134 PEEFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 job's review of the speech of eliphaz. 
 
 To speech of Eliphaz Job gave due heed, 
 
 Hoping for that which heart or mind might feed. 
 
 But only heard reiteration. Told 
 
 Again the twice-told tale. Such friends! so 
 cold! 
 
 Were he, in their soul's stead, he said, he could 
 
 Against them heap such words ; — but never 
 would. 
 
 Instead thereof, he'd bring them strength — re- 
 lief. 
 
 His moving lips should quite assuage their grief. 
 
 He mourned that speaking made his grief no 
 less; 
 
 Or, spake he not, no more came happiness. 
 
 Speaking, or silent, comes no health, no cheer ; 
 
 The same dull round wears round the dreary 
 year. 
 
 Job speaks of God, then to Him ; alternates, 
 
 As he to God or man his statement states. 
 
JOB'S REVIEW OF THE SPEECH OF ELIPHAZ. 135 
 
 Bemoans that his condition seems to rise 
 
 As witness up, before his face and eyes ; 
 
 Eeviews the attitude people around 
 
 Have taken toward him, solely on this ground. 
 
 What disrespect, with mouth and eye, they've 
 
 played ; 
 And on his cheek their hands have rudely laid ! 
 Reviewing this, with freedom he expands ; 
 He is delivered into wicked hands. 
 " God hath delivered me," sadly he sighs. 
 Concludes this must be so, since there arise 
 No helping hands to aid in his distress ; 
 And from his friends, come words of bitterness ! 
 He did not understand, to give free play, — 
 Eull scope, — to creature-will, God must and may 
 Withhold results that are His choice ; His will 
 Eelinquish freely — not at once fulfill 
 What He would do had no free will opposed ; 
 Had none rebelled ; none free been ill-disposed ; 
 Withhold His choice in some specific case. 
 That this was needed, action, time, and space. 
 To prove God's will the soul's best resting-place : 
 That though, God's will 'tis best for all to choose, 
 On creature-will, with freedom to refuse, 
 God can not force His will, yet, leave them free. 
 
136 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Freedom and force must antithetic be. 
 
 His will, good-^iW, which wil], alone makes free, 
 
 All who accept it, to eternity. 
 
 God can not force His choice, although the best, 
 
 And would, accepted, bring joy, peace and rest. 
 
 Job, as in figure, so in fact lies low — 
 
 In ashes, suffering ; pining truth to know. 
 
 Knows not he's dear to the great Sovereign's 
 heart. 
 
 Of whom himself is even counterpart ! 
 
 That all his ills, and griefs, and trying pain, 
 
 Are for promotion of God's glorious reign ; 
 
 To convict Satan, bring truth evidence 
 
 That must be purchased at such vast expense. 
 
 Time passes on. He thought ere this to die ; 
 
 But death defers. His friends make no reply. 
 
 " The graves are ready, even now, extinct 
 
 My days are," he complained. 
 
 Spectators winked 
 
 As if to say " That's so." Job sees the sign, 
 
 And feels that mockers with the crowd com- 
 bine. 
 
 For morbid curiosity a crowd 
 
 Had drawn ; to sneer, and jeer, and echo loud 
 
 The tales they heard of Job's hypocrisy ; 
 
JOB'S REVIEW OF THE SPEECH OF ELIPHAZ. 137 
 
 And tlius, annoying, spurn his misery. 
 Denouncing them, Job his own course commends, 
 Declares that he, who flattereth his friends, 
 Shall, in his children, failure have of sight 
 Distinctly to discern 'twixt wrong and right. 
 Ordained by nature, parents' habits move 
 The child's impulses, in the self-same groove. 
 Heuce, in the parent, power perverted proves 
 A variation of the proper grooves. 
 Transmitted faculty, reduced in power. 
 Becomes in children poor paternal dower. 
 Thus father's sins, on children visited, 
 Are doomed, by father, on the children's head. 
 Not curse of God. But by Him plainly told, 
 In the one Book that age doth not make old. 
 In truth's behalf Job begs his friends to make 
 A review of their premises, and take 
 Into consideration of the theme 
 The view of things, as from his point they seem. 
 For, not one wise among them can he find ; 
 If such they are, he's sure they'll change their 
 
 mind 
 Assured, while troubled Job his speech thus ends. 
 And to his friends his ov/n sad case commends. 
 
138 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIV. 
 
 bildad's second speech. 
 
 Etiquette now to Bildad next gives place ; 
 And promptly he, with very little grace 
 Proceeded. Sad deficiency he showed 
 In love that will an ill report explode. 
 The words of Job, compassion moving not, 
 Took antithetic form, and callous wrought. 
 He felt Job's censure, and sent bounding back, 
 Eeply he hoped Job would not dare attack. 
 Eor he had hoped, if Eliphaz should fail 
 Job to convict, his words might so avail 
 As Job to silence. Bids him never hope 
 To silence them, or with their logic cope. 
 Oft as he speaks, so oft they'll answer give. 
 And this will last as long as he shall live. 
 So much for prelude. Now he'll undertake 
 Job to review, and a reply to make. 
 As beasts he charges Job with counting them. 
 Which charge, by signs. Job does at once con- 
 demn. 
 
BILDAD'S SECOND SPEECH. 139 
 
 Because^ as men lie does not hold them wise j 
 It does not rank them beasts before his eyes. 
 Bildad mistakes the signs, and half aloud, 
 With gesture he addresses now the crowd : 
 Speaks at Job to the witnesses around, 
 Who watch to find who best will hold his ground. 
 Bids them to note Job's anger ! Then, as though 
 No change their firm opinion e'er could know, 
 Asks Job, for him, if the earth shall be left, 
 Or rock removed, because he is bereft. 
 Enlarges on the trap, the snare, and all 
 The evils that the wicked shall befall. 
 Nor aught has he in closing else to say, 
 Than suffering of the wicked to portray. 
 He has no word of comfort to impart, 
 But means that Job shall lay the whole to heart. 
 
140 pehfectiox attainable. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 JOB SUPERIOR TO BILDAD. 
 
 A PRIEST, who ministers in sacred things, 
 
 Who, to the service, health and vigor brings, 
 
 Will find, if calumny its foul breath throw 
 
 Upon his name, 'twill bring his spirits low. 
 
 'Twill enervate, and bear upon its train 
 
 Mental disturbance, and disabling pain. 
 
 All of which troubles tend to quite unfit 
 
 Por office-work, and for enjoying it. 
 
 But Job, already sick, bowed down with grief, 
 
 Calumniously is charged, without relief: 
 
 Faced down against all statements he can make ; 
 
 No evidence produced by those who take 
 
 Against him. 
 
 Twice has Bildad asked. " How long ? " — 
 
 In each address. Listless as to a song, 
 
 To what Job utters. End, is what he seeks ; — 
 
 That Job be silenced ; not the last who speaks. 
 
 Job, in reply, quotation from him makes. 
 
 Inquires, " How long will ye my soul thus vex ? '' 
 
JOB SUTERIOR TO BILDAD. 141 
 
 In asking Job, " How long shall vain words be ? " 
 
 Bildad, in speaking, used the plural ye. 
 
 As though, alone, Job were himself, a host ; 
 
 At least, himself might so presume to boast. 
 
 For, had Job had one sympathizing friend, 
 
 It would have been disclosed before the end. 
 
 Job's friends bring censures, and the same re- 
 peat ; 
 
 Then, waiting, wrap themselves in self-conceit. 
 
 Ko charge specific, against him they bring ; 
 
 Yet hope their course will his confession wring. 
 
 While Job, admitting " God hath overthrown j " 
 
 Declares, that out of wrong, he cries alone. 
 
 Unable to discern the reason why, 
 
 He feels of glory stripped, of dignity. 
 
 All his afflictions are, by Job, believed 
 
 Directly from the hand of God, received. 
 
 Most keen, he felt estrangement of his friends : 
 
 No servant to his call, an answer sends. 
 
 Entreaty naught availed : nor came his wife. 
 
 Besought by memory of their children's life. 
 
 Young children scorn him, when they see him 
 rise ; 
 
 And treasured friends, cast on him, evil eyes. 
 
 He sighs for pity : wishes that a book, 
 
142 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 With iron pen, whereon all eyes might look, 
 Were written : graven in the rock with lead, 
 That ever might be read, what he had said. 
 Then might fair argument be made out clear, 
 And right, and righteousness, in truth appear. 
 Job's prayer reached heaven, his words, though 
 
 not engraved 
 Upon a rock, had record, and are saved. 
 Now, heaven, to Job, its consolation sends ; 
 Assurance that can not be moved by friends. 
 Belief that some one lives who will redeem : 
 That, in his flesh restored, to him shall seem 
 Upon the earth to stand, at latter day : 
 That, in his flesh, God shall Himself, display. 
 'Twas not by force of logic. Job attained 
 This height sublime, this calm assurance gained. 
 Koble result it is, of God's great power. 
 Which can the intellect quite overtower : 
 Dispensing with the' logic of the mind. 
 Can unseal eyes that, otherwise, were blind : 
 The truth, within the domain of the heart, 
 Can, without mental logic, clear impart ; 
 As sure, as truth by intellect received, 
 Waits process logical, to be believed. 
 (This truth by Paul, the apostle, is rehearsed, 
 
JOB SUPERIOR TO BILDAD. 143 
 
 Who, in the highest lore, was amply versed*.) 
 Job shows his friends, warming in his address, 
 A better method than they now possess. 
 He was not irreligious, they should know. 
 They should acknowledge this. It being so, 
 " Why persecute him ? '^ This, they ought to 
 
 say. 
 And their attention turn another way. 
 Their present attitude to him, and toward. 
 Should make them fear the judgment of the 
 
 sword. 
 Job, speaking thus, exhibits power to rise 
 Above things gross, which meet the mortal eyes ; 
 Buoyed up by hope, though weak and desolate. 
 Does not retract, will not prevaricate. 
 But while he speaks, impatience meets his eyes. 
 One waves his hand and makes attempt to rise. 
 
 * Eph. iii. 19. 
 
144 PEHFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. 
 
 AN INTEKRUPTION. 
 
 ZoPHAK now interrupts. He can not wait 
 To hear from Job all that he has to state : 
 Relucting first, — when came his former turn, — 
 Now cannot wait : his thoughts within him barn. 
 Hence he breaks in with this apology : 
 "Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer 
 
 thee ; 
 And for this I make haste." My thoughts (we 
 
 call 
 Digested thoughts our own, original). 
 Zophar, the others' thoughts, could now con- 
 dense. 
 And fairly make a point:— an inference. 
 He seems to think if Job will only wait, 
 He can produce a certain sure checkmate. 
 The check of his reproach, has prominence. 
 Which he received from Job. He, in defense, 
 The spirit of his understanding, pleads, 
 Prompting his speech, which prompting he must 
 needs 
 
AN INTERRUPTION. 145 
 
 Obey. 
 
 The charge, from. Job, of mockery, 
 
 Zophar so chafed, that nearly deaf was he 
 
 To speech of Job. Its excellences, quite 
 
 Were lost and hidden from his inner sight. 
 
 Now he conceived his thoughts pellucid ran : 
 
 Asked, " Does not Job know that since first was 
 
 •man 
 Placed on the earth, the triumph is but short 
 Of wicked men ? " He brings in no new 
 
 thought ; 
 But speaks of joy the hypocrite obtains, — 
 Its brevity ; although a name he gains 
 For excellency ; mounting as heaven high. 
 His head, beyond the clouds, up to the sky. 
 Thus, recognizing that Job's family 
 Held high position, — standing socially. 
 This, as an abstract truth, he'd have applied 
 Concretely, by Job's conscience terrified. 
 He saw it clear. 'Twas evident to all : 
 Job had stood high, proportionate his fall. 
 Some hidden sin there was, to which Job clung. 
 And rolled as morsel sweet under his tongue. 
 By such insinuation, he has thought. 
 Job, to confession, may be urged and brought. 
 
146 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 In closing, states what surely shall befall 
 The hypocrite. That, more or less, this all 
 The portion is to wicked men, from God. 
 This is his heritage : this his reward. 
 'Tis tantamount to saying, all at once, 
 " This, Job, is your reward ; — inheritance." 
 Believed by speech, he fancies this the end. 
 That Job will say no more ; no more contend. 
 
JOB RESUMES. 
 
 147 
 
 CHAPTEK XXYII. 
 
 JOB RESUMES. 
 
 It is most true, no novice may conclude 
 Whether the work produced by him is good : 
 Or what result, the work produced will bring, 
 Or whether it result in any thing. 
 Zophar, relieved of what he had in store, 
 Better prepared to listen than before, 
 . In his conceit, imagines that his speech. 
 Will silence Job till he the point shall reach 
 Of free confession, open, full and frank : 
 That then, restored to health, Zophar he'll thank! 
 His speech had interrupted Job, 'tis true : 
 But Job had spoke so long, he'd reason to 
 Break in. So it to Zophar must have seemed, 
 Or, waiting still, he wisdom would have deemed. 
 B 4, Zophar ended. Job resumes, and first 
 Alludes to that which, interrupting, burst 
 Erom Zophar's lips : anticipates that more 
 ^lay interrupt, ere his discourse is o'er. 
 Entreats, they hear with diligence, his speech: 
 
148 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Wait till he's through^ ere they attempt to teach. 
 That then, this may their consolation be, 
 They can again resume their mockery. 
 On Zophar, he no barrier or restraint 
 Would interpose, to hinder or prevent 
 The full and free expression of his mind, 
 Although it might be cutting or unkind. 
 'Twere bad, to have them groundlessly accuse; 
 'Twas worse, if friends held back deceit to use. 
 This admonition given, by Zophar caused, 
 Job now resumes, as though he had but paused. 
 The subject-matter, in his mind before, 
 Discusses ; varied, doubtless, somewhat more. 
 Complains he not to man : although men may. 
 Being present, hear what he feels moved to say. 
 Asks, if complaint of his, to them were made. 
 Why should he not be troubled and afraid ? 
 Did they afford him aught, that he should more 
 Be cheered, encouraged, strengthened, than 
 
 before ? 
 '^Mark me, and be astonished,'' he contends. 
 They'll interrupt again, he apprehends ; 
 Hence, bids them on their mouth to lay theii- 
 
 hand. 
 And in position keep respectful stand. 
 
JOB RESUMES. 149 
 
 His memory, reproducing scenes afresh, 
 Brings trembling agitation to his flesh, 
 Which, would they mark with ready, open mind, 
 As he rehearses, one result must find. 
 Candid attention must arrive at this, 
 Relinquishment of their hypothesis : 
 Since well-known facts, have power to dispossess 
 Them, of the theory, they still confess. 
 Then Job proceeds, amply to multiply 
 Proofs that his own position justify. 
 Facial expressions, plainly manifest 
 To Job, the thoughts his friends hold unex- 
 pressed. 
 Which, he declares to them, he reads ; and knows 
 The wrong devices, which, themselves oppose 
 Against him. They are ready, all, to say 
 " The wicked, who are prospering to-day. 
 Are but reserved : destruction will waylay 
 And overtake them. They shall be brought forth 
 And reap experience of a day of wrath." 
 " But who," he asks, " will meet such on the way. 
 And to his face your argument will lay ? 
 Who shall repay him for what he hath done ? 
 No one will dare to face him ! he'll pass on 
 Till to the grave he's brought, — no joy made 
 dim, — 
 
150 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Then sweet the valley clods shall be to him. 
 How can your answers to me comfort bring, 
 Since falsehoods linger in your answering ? " 
 Job pauses, thinking that an aogry God 
 Distributes sorrows in His wrath abroad. 
 His sad experiences, have made him feel 
 That God does not, strict compensation, deal. 
 
A THIRD SPEECH FROM ELIPHAZ. 151 
 
 CHAPTEK XXVIII. 
 
 A THIRD SPEECH FROM ELIPHAZ. 
 
 Now Elipbaz the truth would fain defend ; 
 
 But argument with him is at an end. 
 
 Surprised, he sees Job rise above his pain 
 
 His views to argue, and his cause maintain. 
 
 The Temanite, since he can not deny 
 
 The wicked, sometimes prosper, till they die,— 
 
 Evades the subject, and inquiry makes. 
 
 Of things most deep, the thought, he brings, 
 
 partakes. 
 "Has God more pleasure, has He any gain, 
 If thou art righteous ? if thy life attain 
 Perfection ? " 
 
 Now God's character is brought 
 To our attention. Following not their thought 
 Who early groped without the gospel light, 
 We answer Eliphaz ; — Christ, giving sight. 
 God doth have pleasure, when His works progress 
 In ways that He ordained, and loves to bless. 
 Not less than human, God has joy : and gain 
 
152 PERFECTION 2_TTAINABLE. 
 
 Brings home to heaven j when men like Job 
 
 attain 
 Perfection. God, this truth has verified 
 By His incarnate Son who lived and died ^ — 
 And rose again ! All glory to His name ! 
 Let love, like His, all conscious life inflame. 
 Eliphaz wishes Job to understand 
 That God dispenses judgment, nor will stand 
 In fear. That He, no argument, will bring : — 
 He thought God would not stoop to reasoning. 
 This third attempt, he is resolved, shall wring 
 From Job confession : — the specific thing. 
 And he will plunge with keen, outspoken talk. 
 Job must be guilty though he says they mock. 
 Hence he proceeds, specific sins, to state : 
 " Thy wickedness," he asks, ^' is it not great ? " 
 Charging, on Job, commission of each deed ! 
 Bids him acknowledge all, that he be freed 
 From all his ills. If he would but return 
 To the Almighty, he would justly earn. 
 And lay up, gold, as dust. Silver and gold. 
 Should have in plenty. He moreover told 
 Job, he'd enjoy religious services; 
 Would plar, and carry out his purposes. 
 
 ♦ Luke XV. 7. 
 
A THIRD SPEECH FROM ELIPHAZ. 153 
 
 Be better able, those cast down, to cheer, 
 By citing his own case : make it appear 
 How he once fell from rectitude ; and then 
 Eeturned to right, and found relief from pain : 
 Could show the humble ones, in coming days. 
 Light that would shine, — did Job but mend his 
 
 ways. 
 He would have peace, and this, a rich reward ; 
 Would he but now acquaint himself with God. 
 
154 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 THE REPLY TO ELIPHAZ. 
 
 If Job's three friends, had shadow of a doubt 
 That they were right, but dare not let it out ; 
 Lest, if they owned they favored Job's belief. 
 They were in duty bound to bring relief j — 
 To bring him, from their store, some kindly aid ; 
 See, for his losses, reparation made ; 
 Then, doubly wrong and cruel was their way, 
 And they were guilty of hypocrisy. 
 But since the Book does not make this appear, 
 'Tis charity to hold they were sincere : 
 That they believed Job erring, and their aim 
 Was, to restore : — from error to reclaim , 
 The third address of Eliphaz, was more 
 Sharp and severe, than all he'd said before. 
 Then Job replied to Eliphaz, and said, 
 "Even to-day, is my complaint with dread 
 And bitter filled. And though I weep and moan. 
 The stroke I bear, is heavier than my groan. 
 With God, you bid me, myself to acquaint. 
 
THE REPLY TO ELIPHAZ. 155 
 
 'Tis my desire; burden of my complaint. 
 Oh that I knew where I might find Him." Then 
 Job pictured the delight, he would have, when 
 In such a nearness he could bring his cause, 
 Present his arguments, then, waiting, pause 
 And know the answer the Most High would 
 
 give. 
 Assured he felt that not a negative, — 
 A force against him would be his great power ; 
 That He would strengthen him, hour after hour. 
 That there the righteous ever might dispute, 
 And none the verdict ever should refute. 
 But, much as Job desired nearness to God, 
 He found Him not, above, around, abroad ! 
 Search toward the left, did no success betide, 
 Upon the right completely God did hide. 
 Still, consolation from this fact, Job drew : 
 The way he took, the omniscient God, well knew. 
 Divine assurance came, which could uphold. 
 He knew, when tried, he should come forth like 
 
 gold. 
 When Job his life in light of God reviewed, 
 He felt he had not swerved from rectitude. 
 Xo wilful deviation had he made, 
 To cause the suffering thus upon him laid. 
 
156 PERFECTIOX ATTAINABLE. 
 
 He had kept God's commands. God's words, so 
 
 good, 
 To him were more than necessary food. 
 But though, by thoughts like these, Job was sus- 
 tained, 
 His suffering was no less ; more was he pained 
 That since God's words to him were very dear, 
 God's way and mind toward him should be severe. 
 He felt he had no power to change God's mind ; 
 Knew what God's soul desired, a way he'd find 
 To do. Therefore, he wished he could have died 
 Before this darkness had his spirit tried. 
 Job shows the way the selfish take to please 
 Themselves, — to enrich their store. How they 
 
 will seize, 
 Without remorse, from widows, orphans, food ; 
 E-egardless all, of aught but their own good. 
 The poor must press their vine, and make their 
 
 oil, 
 While suffering thirst, and weary from their toil. 
 These poor. Job sees, to groan ; their souls to cry, 
 Yet visitation comes not from on high. 
 He sees oppressors sin against the light, 
 They care not to discriminate the right. 
 And many other wrongs hold a bold front 
 
THE KEPLY TO ELIPHAZ. 157 
 
 And none the living actors dare confront. 
 Because in station they stand very high, 
 No justice meets them till the day they die. 
 Exalted while they live, and then brought low- 
 Like tops of corn that healthily did grow, — 
 So quick, and quiet cut, do these men die. 
 Job asks for proof if he be said to lie ; 
 Challenges them to make his speech appear 
 As nothing worth ; then waits from them to hear. 
 
158 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 CHAPTEK XXX. 
 
 bildad's last effort. 
 
 BiLDADj on whom reply to Job devolves, 
 Evades the question, and himself absolves 
 From giving answer ; not in any wise 
 Does he discuss their expressed theories. 
 Of Job's last question, he no notice takes, 
 And brief indeed the speech is that he makes. 
 Job stated facts, then asked who would appear 
 And show his statements false. The way was 
 
 clear 
 And open to them. Now they might proceed 
 And argue on till truth appeared indeed. 
 Job had a right from Bildad to expect 
 An answer to his question, made direct. 
 Instead thereof, as though he had not heard, 
 But, roused from meditation spoke the word 
 Upon his mind — beholding discord here — 
 Be verting, says, ^^ Dominion are and fear 
 In His high places ; there He maketh peace, 
 The number of His armies, can it cease ? 
 
BILDAD'S LAST EFFORT. 159 
 
 And upon whom doth not His light arise ? 
 His light that travels ceaseless through the skies. 
 How then can man be justified with God? " 
 A strange transition reason seems abroad. 
 Is he oblivious ? Is his mind o'erthrown ? 
 Beyond his depth the theme he's thought upon ? 
 In foregoing sentences, 'twere hard to find 
 A premise, and a consequent combined. 
 Brief is his speech, contracted his reply, 
 Who had complained of Job's verbosity. 
 "Who, previously, had proudly boasted they 
 Would speak, when Job had said all he could say. 
 Now not two minutes can he speech command, 
 Nor furnish ideas language may expand ! 
 One might conjecture, without strain of mind, 
 That in Job's speech, Bildad did somewhere find 
 An illustration of himself, so made, 
 That he with the low worm did seem to grade. 
 And, since not natural it is to think 
 That one will do from what one's self would 
 
 shrink ; 
 The charges brought by Job's three friends, may 
 
 be 
 Eeflected guilt, from which they were not free. 
 Shadows they cast on their own characters ; 
 
160 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 And friendships pale that should seem luminous. 
 
 Make such appear a bare and empty name, 
 
 To which they had no title, right or claim. 
 
 jNIarred is the beauty, and the harmony. 
 
 That might have linked their names with memory. 
 
 It marks, precarious, friendship's strongest boast 
 
 When riches fail, and influence is lost. 
 
 Err as they may. Job's three friends never cease 
 
 To wish themselves and him with God, at peace. 
 
 Bildad attention called to God's domain. 
 
 His power, and fear, — the peace He will sustain 
 
 lu His high places, thinking it God's way 
 
 Peace to enforce, by strong and stringent sway. 
 
 By potent power, — force absolute, — coerce 
 
 Concord and peace, throughout the universe ! 
 
 Not knowing that long-suffering, patient love 
 
 Is most efficient in the realm above. 
 
 A marvel to him thus his thinking wrought, 
 
 That Job, ere this, was not to silence brought. 
 
 In his confusion, Bildad thinks, may be 
 
 That Job is silenced now. He'll pause and see. 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OVEK MATTEPw 161 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 MIND TRIUMPHS OVER MATTER. 
 
 Job, suffering as he is, with grief and pain, 
 
 Is blest in this, — the clearness of his brain. 
 
 This Satan's limit was ; not to dethrone 
 
 Job's reason. Let his intellect alone. 
 
 Now Job saw plainly Bildad's wits were out. 
 
 He had not aimed to raise a single doubt. 
 
 Nor made e'en slight allusion to Job's speech; — 
 
 It evidently was beyond his reach. 
 
 But, incoherent as a man who dreams, 
 
 Illogical and wandering, so he seems. 
 
 Job sees the matter simply ludicrous. 
 
 That this is all his speech, and ended thus ! 
 
 Though wrecked, bereft, accused, condemned, in 
 
 pain, 
 He feels of irony a lively vein. 
 All Satan's power has been of no avail 
 To make him curse, or ever once to fail 
 To utter truth : — even in sorest grief. 
 Or while friends censure — of temptations, chief. 
 
162 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Satan knew this, and sharply urged them on : 
 Failed they his end, then his last weapon's gone. 
 Now Job will show, by contrast, what will feed 
 A sorrowing man, of sympathy in need : 
 As thus, sarcastic, he the subject treats : 
 Showing that Bildad's speech its end defeats. 
 ^^How hast thou helped him that is without 
 
 power ! 
 How finds in thee, the strengthless arm, a tower ! 
 How hast thou counselled, how appeared as 
 
 wise ! — 
 The thing declared most fully, as it lies ! 
 To whom hast thou addressed these words ? 
 
 ¥rom thee. 
 Whose spirit came ? Thou must a medium be ! " 
 No more of sarcasm. Bildad's speech retires, 
 And higher Power the speaker's mind inspires : 
 The while, discoursing, he his knowledge brings. 
 Concerning God, and God-created things : 
 Amply expanding on the works of God 
 Seen in the heavens, and spread in earth abroad : 
 His mighty power. His understanding wide. 
 Who governs all, and smites the man of pride. 
 Now Job, addressing wise men, makes demand, 
 "Who can explain God's power? who under- 
 stand?'^ 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OY^U MATTER. 163 
 
 He pauses. All are hushed. All babblings 
 
 cease. 
 " Acquaint thyself with Him, and be at peace." 
 Thus Eliphaz, advising Job, had said. 
 Spectators waiting, view him as the head : 
 He took the lead. But, plainly. Job has showed 
 He had some knowledge : knew, at least, the 
 
 road. 
 The question stated ; Job awaits reply j 
 But gains no answer. Day and night pass by. 
 The morning came, and none the silence broke. 
 Then Job resumed. First, of their silence 
 
 spoke. 
 Or, rather, made allusion, that bespoke 
 Their candid thought : but takes a higher range. 
 Declares he will not his assertion change. 
 True as God lives. He will not use deceit 
 To make his health and happiness complete. 
 Though judgment be denied, he will not say 
 That he is suffering for some evil way. 
 To win their favor, never will admit 
 Their system may be right : — thus sanction ib. 
 Asks what reward the hypocrite can gain ? 
 Will he delight in God ? or when in pain. 
 Call upon Him ? Conscience, in such, must make 
 
164 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Corroding guilt consume ; sleep they, or wake. 
 And, after life, their influence will extend 
 On, onward still. None may predict the end ! 
 There's no inducement, he perceives, to lead 
 To choice of wicked life, in word or deed. 
 Having drawn this conclusion, Job's thoughts 
 
 turn 
 To earth's choice riches ; and the way to earn, — 
 Or to obtain them : shows he has acquired 
 Extensive knowledge, much to be desired. 
 Such knowledge, man, to wealth material, 
 
 brings ; 
 Lured by the glamour of earth's transient things. 
 " But where," he asks, " shall wisdom true, be 
 
 found ? 
 The place of understanding, deep and sound ? 
 Were it an article produced for sale, 
 On prices current, never found to fail, 
 Had value mercantile, that sometimes could 
 Command a premium, in market good ; 
 Could it for silver, onyx stones, or gold, 
 For crystals be, coral, pearls, rubies, sold ; 
 Compare with Ophir's gold, or jewels fine, 
 Topaz of Ethiopia's lustrous shrine ; — 
 Par value with these, had true wisdom, then 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OVER FLATTER. 165 
 
 True wisdom had been prized and sought by 
 
 men." 
 Wisdom, that's precious beyond gold and gem, 
 Job shows his friends, is not possessed by them. 
 Of this they're conscious, as their silence shows ; 
 ^^ Whence comes it then? Who shall its path 
 
 disclose ? 
 God understandeth ; knows the way and place : 
 Looketh the earth o'er, beneath heaven's broad 
 
 space. 
 To make weight for the winds, the waters weigh, 
 Decree the rain, and mark the lightning's "plsLy. 
 He, said to man, who made material things, — 
 To normal action, nature's forces brings, — 
 '* Behold, this wisdom is, the Lord to fear ; 
 Evil to shun, is understanding clear." 
 Here, Job perceives, supreme intelligence 
 Was needed, to adjust, and so dispense 
 Matter, that no collision should take place 
 Among the countless orbs that float in space. 
 Infinite wisdom, to adapt and fit 
 Supply to want, and to continue it 
 lu operation, as the ages roll : — 
 Subject for thought, to every thinking soul. 
 Here wisdom is, was stored up years ago 
 
1G6 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 By the Creator, All-wise, who must know 
 All that man can acquire : holds, in His mind, 
 Much more than seeking man can ever find. 
 But wisdom comes to him on higher plane, 
 Who does, of things unseen, assurance gain : 
 Has, of God's presence, living consciousness ; 
 Lives in His love, and lives, like Him, to bless : 
 Consoled, when darkness seems to overflow ; — 
 Peace in possession, whispering, "God doth 
 
 know." 
 Here Job gave pause. Could his three friends 
 
 complain 
 He lacked acquaintance, or advise again 
 That he, with God, should make himself ac- 
 quaint? 
 They, how to criticise, to make complaint. 
 To give advice, to accuse and irritate. 
 Invent, conjecture, underestimate, 
 Know perfectly. But could they come more 
 
 near. 
 And lead to God ? 
 
 Unready they appear. 
 They may apologise, if so they will. 
 But, silent they : of same opinion still I 
 Hence Job resumes, showing the train of thought 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OYER MATTER. 1G7 
 
 That, duriag pause, his mind in silence wrought. 
 
 Thoughts of God's knowledge, — of the wind 
 and rain, — 
 
 Bring to Job's mind, his losses and his pain. 
 
 " Oh that I were as in the months now sped, 
 
 When God preserved me. When upon my head 
 
 His candle shined." 
 
 Then fully. Job reviewed 
 
 His life entire ; his aim at rectitude : 
 
 The gratitude and honor he received. 
 
 How sought his judgment was, his word be- 
 lieved. 
 
 His simple name — how it brought blessings 
 down ; 
 
 His ready aid, had changed to smiles, the frown. 
 
 He, 'mongst the people sat, as chief and king; 
 
 Comfort, to mourners, his delight to bring. 
 
 In honest candor this he could aver. 
 
 Describing his official character. 
 
 So, and still more, does Job rehearse his joy, 
 
 And honor meeting him without alloy. 
 
 But now so strange and sad a change he meets ! 
 
 Misfortune's blight ! No one, with honor, greets ! 
 
 Those younger than himself, deride and mock, 
 
 Whose fathers, less than dogs that watch his 
 flock. 
 
168 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Did he esteem. And men degraded too, 
 Who from him then had hid, now crept to view, 
 To jeer with rhymes and songs, and in his face. 
 To spit ; and thus themselves and him, disgrace. 
 Job felt that in himself, lay not the cause 
 Of such ill-treatment by such vile outlaws. 
 They who, when he had ruled, from justice fled, 
 Keturned, to charge it fell on his own head. 
 To intimate that he, no less had been. 
 Than they, in walking in the ways of sin. 
 Eorward they set his sad and mournful state. 
 Sought the last news to hear, and to relate : 
 And, what they hoped would come, to prophesy. 
 Nor were they few ; a crowd came rushing by, 
 As though the prison doors were open thrown, 
 They surged, and swayed where, they would not, 
 
 alone, 
 In Job's supremacy, have dared to be. 
 While now, their story's plausibility. 
 United with the charges of his friends, 
 Completely served their mean, ignoble ends. 
 Satan, they served, of their own free accord ; 
 He meant, that Job thereby should curse the 
 
 Lord. 
 The charges 'gainst his character, so brought. 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OYEK MATTER. 169 
 
 Banished, awhile. Job's sickness from his thought. 
 His mind is now entirely occupied, 
 With the idea that he's so belied. 
 That, who should vindicate, continue still 
 To hold that, for his sins, he bears all ill. 
 Virtue, can not its own reward well be, 
 When it's exposed to bold, cold calumny. 
 The consciousness of his own virtue, made 
 Job keenly sensitive to the tirade 
 Of these low men whose lips were too impure 
 To speak his name. Yet this he must endure. 
 A mote, that hits the eye, will pain and harm 
 More than a heavy blow upon the palm. 
 Indifferent, he can't be that they defame ; 
 To him are precious, character and name. 
 Job turns his eyes upon his present state, 
 And sees that dreary terrors on him wait. 
 That they, as stormy wind, pursue his soul : 
 Above, wild clouds, beneath him, billows roll. 
 Harrassed he is, to the extremest verge. 
 Powers, seen and unseen, ceaseless in their surge. 
 Still he believes in God, to him he cries. 
 Xo answer comes. Still, on Him, Job relies. 
 He earnest calls. God does not seem to hear. 
 Rising, he stands. Ko reverence brings him 
 near. 
 
170 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 "Cruel, thou art become to me/' he cries: — 
 Prayer insincere, from him, can not arise. 
 He, thinking God his substance doth dissolve. 
 Concludes that He doth on his death resolve. 
 A lingering hope he has, that, when life's fio\^n, 
 His just repute may clearly be made known. 
 Though evil men for his destruction cry, 
 Truth then, maij rise and solve the mystery. 
 He speaks of tears, that he for others shed, 
 When sorrows fell upon a mourner's head. 
 Can not but grieve that when he looked for light, 
 A gloom should meet him, dark, as darkest night. 
 He looks upon himself ; his skin grown black ; 
 His fleshless bones feverish fires attack. 
 To owls and dragons, seems related more 
 Than to the human form that once he wore. 
 The harp, that once accompanied his voice, 
 Unstrung, is mourning: — can't alone, rejoice. 
 He finds no place for song. His vocal powers 
 Eesound with weeping through the dreary hours. 
 And now he turns from his disease and pain, 
 His character to vindicate again ; 
 Eegards this affirmation, probably 
 As his last statement, of himself, to be. 
 His deposition ; — which he now, will dare, 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OVER MATTER. 171 
 
 As on death's verge, solemnly to declare : 
 
 When from hypocrisy could be no gain, 
 
 When life is waning, closing out with pain. 
 
 This stand he takes, as a memorial — 
 
 That when his name shall be historial 
 
 It may be proved, that one can righteous be 
 
 And suffer evil to the last degree. 
 
 Now,, as on oath before the God, Most-High. 
 
 Conscious of him ; of His all-seeing eye ; 
 
 No hope of life ; no wish death to defer ; 
 
 Job makes his last defense of character. 
 
 From selfish thought quite free. The thought, 
 
 of pain 
 Dismissing ; and his failure to obtain 
 Erom any source, from any woe, relief ; 
 Sublime he mounts above, looks down on grief ! 
 Posture uneasy cannot move him now, 
 Nor turn his thought, or make his spirit bow. 
 He makes himself the object of his view, 
 Gives his past life a candid, calm review. 
 As sun, above the clouds, looks shining down. 
 While earth lies drenched beneath the low 
 
 cloud's frown ; 
 So, as the sun, was his unclouded mind : 
 As earth, the body that disease did bind. 
 
172 PERFECTION ATTAINAPLE. 
 
 Thus mind, triumphant over matter, gains 
 Ascendance, and the victory obtains. 
 Conscious of God and righteousness his own, 
 The charges, brought against him, one by one. 
 Job takes : — those simply from conjecture 
 
 drawn, 
 The accuser thinking, possibly he'd done ; 
 And, charges brought, because that, probably, 
 The accuser, conscious was, of guilt to be j 
 Or, of susceptibility aware, 
 To sin, if in his path lay such a snare. 
 Charges by those who came o'er him to gloat. 
 And every charge they heard, to set afloat. 
 And retail, piecemeal, wholesale slanders heard ; 
 Dwelling minutely on the most absurd ; 
 With their additions, and their private views. 
 That nothing might be lost in passing news. 
 All which the malice or sagacity 
 Of Satan could concoct or cause to be 
 Suggested and infused into the minds 
 Of friends and foes. These charges, all. Job 
 
 finds 
 And holds them up, proceeding to deny, 
 And self defend from all their calumny. 
 Having already, as a magistrate, 
 
MIXD TRIUMPHS OVER MATTER. 173 
 
 His character defended, he will state 
 
 His private life, and lay his motives bare 
 
 To their inspection : freely give them air. 
 
 The first charge, he, with emphasis, denies. 
 
 From such a life, no blessing could arise ; 
 
 It had no sanction by the living God : 
 
 Without inheritance, without reward. 
 
 Such, to destruction and strange punishment, 
 
 Are travelling on to meet self-banishment. 
 
 Such course of life, the Most High God would 
 
 see. 
 Whose approbation felt, was more than the 
 Opinion mortal man might hold ; and though 
 They failed to see him pure, God knew him so. 
 Deceit and vanity, he next denies : 
 Would, that an even balance might arise. 
 His motives and his conduct so to weigh. 
 That God might know of his integrity. 
 Thus, calling God to witness, — who must know, 
 Confirms his statements, as by oath to show. 
 With equal candor, straightway Job proceeds. 
 Guilt to deny concerning sensual deeds. 
 If to such wrong his life has testified, 
 He dares invoke still more of sorrow's tide. 
 Even the alienation of his wife, 
 
174 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 The joy and partner of his happy life. 
 He recognises that this heinous crime 
 Has its desert ; its punishment in time. 
 Then passes on, as pure, to vindicate 
 Himself, as master of his home estate. 
 No one, of all who served him in his house. 
 Had sought, in vain, his sympathy to rouse. 
 Each servant knew he would defend the right. 
 Nor let the weak be overcome by might. 
 The law, impressed upon the human mind, 
 He used, himself and his whole house, to bind. 
 The golden rule, which is so aptly known. 
 Bidding each make the other's case, his own. 
 This was Job's regulator in his life. 
 This ended tumults, feuds, and household strife. 
 It had been charged that he oppressed the poor, 
 Widow and orphan had turned from his door. 
 Instead of which, they'd been peculiar charge, 
 Favors on whom, he did delight to enlarge. 
 Which, to affirm. Job, vengeance dares to call : 
 If this be false, let from its socket fall 
 His arm ; — be broken from its bone. Because 
 He felt, how right the terror of God's laws. 
 That God would have the right him to destroy, 
 Failed he, of right, to one in his employ. 
 
MIND TRIUMPHS OVER MATTER. 175 
 
 Next; he denies idolatry of gold : — 
 
 Exulting, on account of wealth, untold. 
 
 Also, idolatry of sun and moon. 
 
 JSTot morning's beams, nor sunset's hues, nor 
 
 noon. 
 When in high majesty it stood as king. 
 Had found his heart the sun as worshipping. 
 Nor, when the paler lunar power had sailed 
 Softly through floating clouds, and partly veiled ; 
 Though, at such times his mouth had kissed his 
 
 hand. 
 And waved it high, yet did his heart expand 
 To higher Light, and reverent worship bring 
 To God, the Lord, his Sovereign and his King. 
 Or, otherwise, he would the Lord deny, 
 And merit judgment for idolatry. 
 With such self -searching, did Job analyze 
 His character, and fully he denies 
 The accusations which he has reviewed ; 
 Before himself and God, acquitted stood. 
 Still Job enlarges on his hopes and fears, 
 And his experiences of former years. 
 Then, weary with rehearsal, sadly sighs, 
 That the Almighty would but make replies : 
 His adversary cause a written book 
 
176 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Of accusations, wherein all might look, 
 
 To be produced. He would, that book put down, 
 
 Take up and wear — a diadem and crown. 
 
 Sure, in a princely way, he could maintain 
 
 His own defence ; and royal honor gain. 
 
 (This, in parenthesis, by pain borne down ; 
 
 And every face a sneer, or scoff, or frown.) 
 
 But suddenly occurs another charge. 
 
 His borders, never sought he to enlarge — 
 
 More' land to gain, by measures false or wrong ; 
 
 If he had eaten fruit thereof, and long 
 
 Unpaid the laborer ; or, had failed to pay ; 
 
 Had fraudulently dealt in any way ; 
 
 Called he for thistles, and for cockles' growth. 
 
 Where wheat and barley grew in beauty, both. 
 
 No more had he to say, but to append. 
 
 That, simply, here the words of Job have end. 
 
A NEW SPEAKER. 177 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 A NEW SPEAKER. 
 
 To Zophar, now, all look for his reply. 
 Profoundly silent pass the moments by. 
 Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, — all are mute. 
 Who shall explain why they no more dispute ? 
 Had stubborness a mingling in the cause ? 
 Does self-complacence, thus produce a pause ? 
 Does ground, once taken, pride forbid to yield ? — 
 Sure that, being prosperous, they can hold the 
 
 field? 
 Since pain proves guilt, clearly, they're not in 
 
 sin, — 
 They've won the victory ! Those may laugh, 
 
 who win. 
 Accounts this for the silence they maintain ? 
 Or, has Job's argument seemed right and plain, 
 And they are silenced since they can't refute ? — 
 For lack of courage to admit, keep mute. 
 Or, are they horrified that Job should dare 
 Invoke more evil than he now does bear ? 
 
178 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Amazed, that he, with all his woes and pain, 
 Still, boldl}^, dare his righteousness maintain ? 
 Hence, silent wait, expecting there will fall 
 Some stroke of vengeance, that will Job appal. 
 There was another who was waiting, too : 
 And had been waiting, many speeches through. 
 And he was young, ruddy, perchance, withal ; 
 With buoyant spirits, coming without call. 
 He looked at Job, when Job the speaker was, 
 And at Job's friends, when they maintained their 
 
 cause. 
 Seemed it to him, when bridling hard his tongue, 
 A serious disatvantage to be young. 
 Doubtless, from Job, he wisdom had received ; 
 Been told to trust in God, nor be deceived 
 By what one man, or many men, might say ; 
 !N"or loving service ever fail to pay : 
 Always, and everywhere, defend His cause ; 
 Stand in His fear, and keep His righteous laws : 
 The truth to vindicate, in all he said. 
 Then stand erect, God's blessing on his head. 
 Long time, this youth, had longed to take a part. 
 His plethoric brain, and overburdened heart. 
 Could scarce sustain the weight of such a load ; 
 But age demanded, he must yield the road. 
 
A NEW SPEAKER. 179 
 
 The barrier ceases now. They pause. And he 
 May speak, without offense to courtesy. 
 Rising, with swelling chest, and glowing eyes, 
 With ardent zeal that all defeat defies. 
 With fijin belief in God as wise and good, — 
 In His complete and perfect rectitude ; 
 Because that Job himself had justified 
 Eather than God, this young man did decide 
 That he was right indignant Job to view ; 
 Hence, kindred was, the wrath of Elihu. 
 For if, indeed, Job was entirely right, 
 Then God was wrong ! No reverence could incite 
 Worshipful love, to one dispensing wrong — 
 In whom, all confidence, could not belong. 
 God, if not worthy of implicit trust. 
 It were impossible, though told he must. 
 To love and serve. Eobbed of his God, was he ! 
 Hence 'twas, that Elihu indignantly 
 Addressed himselP to Job. All Job had said 
 About himself, — the righteous life he'd led, — 
 Doubtless, as truth, by Elihu was received. 
 Eor he, the next to God, in Job believed. 
 No counter-evidence had been adduced, 
 None even circumstantially produced ; 
 And yet, his three friends still persisted, in 
 
180 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE, 
 
 Accusing him of wilful, perverse sin. 
 And this, the wrath of Elihu, inflamed ; 
 That, without proof they, constantly, Job blamed : 
 Charged him as though they positively knew 
 The crimes they charged him with^ were wit- 
 nessed to. 
 With modest prelude, Elihu began, 
 As giving vent, his words most freely ran. 
 '^ I'm young," he said, "and ye are very old, 
 I, my opinion, therefor^ did withhold, 
 I stood in fear, my thoughts, to you to show, 
 Thinking, within myself, that ye must know, 
 I said that days should speak, and multitude 
 Of years teach wisdom." Now the magnitude 
 Of his anticipations, brought rebound, 
 Equaled by him in disappointment found. 
 But he a quite important truth descries^ --= 
 One may be aged, without being wise ; 
 Also, that there a spirit is, in man, 
 Inspirable, and that the Almighty can 
 By inspiration, understanding give ; 
 Depending not on length of days, men live, 
 But on a willingness to know the truth : 
 Nor age, is more inspirable than youth. 
 Therefore, great men are neither atways wise, 
 
A NEW SPEAJvER. 181 
 
 Nor, in the aged, understanding lies. 
 
 "Wherefore, for this," continued Elihu, 
 
 " I said, hear me, and let me give my view," 
 
 (The speaker changes straight from person third, 
 
 To person first, in what was said and heard : 
 
 Giving a sure and quite conclusive look. 
 
 That Elihu, author was, of Job, the book.) 
 
 "For take you note," he adds, "I gave due heed. 
 
 Watching your reasons as you did proceed. 
 
 I waited for your words, in your delay. 
 
 While ye were searching out what ye should say. 
 
 Earnest attention gave I you. Behold, 
 
 None of you Job convinced, though ye are old. 
 
 Lest ye should say, "we wisdom have found 
 
 out; 
 God thrusts him down, not man; without a 
 
 doubt. 
 Job still stands upright in integrity. 
 Ye have not crushed him in the least degree. 
 Now Job hath not addressed himself to me, 
 Nor, with your speeches, since I disagree 
 Therewith, will I make answer unto him." 
 At this point there appears an interim 
 In the narration, to describe the three 
 That Elihu reproves, — though young is he. 
 
182 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 And evidence appears witli clearer look 
 
 That he — the speaker — wrote of Job, the book. 
 
 Por, here digressing, he makes special note 
 
 Of the amazement that the three friends smote. 
 
 After the prologue, it appears, he paused : 
 
 Gave opportunity, if he had caused 
 
 Desire in them to alter, or explain ; 
 
 To contradict, retract, or, to again 
 
 Eehearse their views. "But they answered no 
 
 more. 
 They left off speaking : silent as before. 
 They spake not, but stood still : nor answered 
 
 they. 
 " I said, I also, answer will, my part : 
 And my opinion show.'^ 
 
 With head and heart 
 Attuned, directly he proceeds, to tell 
 How, while they spake, ideas in him did swell ; 
 How hard it was their utterance to suppress. 
 That now, the spirit him constrains, to express 
 What then had well-nigh burst the bounds of 
 
 flesh. 
 That he will, gladly, giving vent, refresh 
 Himself by speaking what he has in mind, — 
 To neither party partially inclined : — 
 
A NEW SPEAKER. 18c> 
 
 Not flattering, nor with undue reverence, 
 Accepting one, at other one's expense. 
 Nor one, nor other party will he fear ; 
 But, as in fear of Go J, make truth appear 
 As he beholds it. 
 
 Then, the prologue ends, 
 And he, at first, himself to Job commends : 
 From the uprightness of his heart, he claims 
 To speak ; — Best basis, this, for earnest aims. 
 
 He recognizes first, his origin 
 Direct from God : — His Spirit's, breathing-in : 
 His life was in God's breath. Since Job desired 
 A daysman, like himself, in flesh attired, 
 He, as from God, would come at Job's command : 
 Bids Job to answer ; calls on him to stand 
 And set in order v>^hat he has to say. 
 Claims he's Job's wish : like Job, is made o£ 
 
 clay. 
 Job had desired that he might God address 
 As he would man, with freedom none the less. 
 Now Elihu proposed to take the place, 
 And all the arguments of Job to face : 
 For he, to God, in spirit was allied. 
 Job might approach him, all unterrified. 
 Since he, like him was also formed of clay, 
 
184 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Nor would a heavy hand upon him lay. 
 Then Elihu rehearsed what Job had said ; — 
 As best appears, when, in the text it's read : — 
 Wherefore Job had complained that, as His foe, 
 God held him, searching ill of him to know. 
 Now Elihu claimed, herein. Job was not right : 
 God had His reasons, though not plain to sight : 
 Not of His matters He, to any man 
 Doth give account, nor open out His plan. 
 Why, he enquires, against God doth Job strive ? 
 Thus losing knowledge that he might derive. 
 He speaks of dreams 5 — God's method, in that 
 
 day. 
 Of making known what He to man would say. 
 As he proceeds, his words appear to imply. 
 Job may have wrought, in time that has gone by. 
 Not error merely, but some sinful deed, 
 Prom which, his sufferings do, of course, proceed. 
 Of which, will he but make acknowledgment. 
 His soul shall be redeemed from banishment. 
 This intimation, Job can scarce withstand j 
 He moves to speak, but Elihu waves his hand. 
 " Mark well, Job, and hearken unto me. 
 Hold thou thy peace, and I will speak." 
 
 Here he 
 
A NEW SPEAKER. 185 
 
 Relents, and bids Job, has be anything 
 To say, to answer : speak. He would not bring 
 Harsh charge 'gainst Job : he'd rather justify. 
 lie paused awhile, that Job might give reply. 
 Job bore in silence. Perfect self-control 
 He held : — patient possession of his soul. 
 "While Elihu paused, deep sympathies awoke 
 In him for Job : nor Job the silence broke. 
 Then Elihu said (since Job refrained from 
 
 speech), 
 If thou speak not, then thee, I'll wisdom teach. 
 Whether, or not, he thcught to make amends. 
 From Job he turned, and addressed Job's three 
 
 friends. 
 ^•' Hear ye my words, wise men, and give ear 
 Ye that have knowledge. For the words we hear, 
 Trieth the ear, as the mouth tasteth meat ; 
 And it decides upon a mental treat." 
 Earnest attention he would fain awake. 
 Because their knowledge and experience, make 
 Them qualified to sanction and declare 
 If his deductions are not right and fair. 
 The object prime, being for themselves to judge 
 Job, by the speech in which he did indulge, — 
 His sad condition taken into account, — 
 
186 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 That to true good their knowledge might amount. 
 Job had grown less, in Elihu's esteem, 
 As a wise teacher, could no longer seem. 
 Now he rehearsed what cited oft has been, — 
 Job's firm belief that punishment for sin 
 Was not his due ; and, that God was severe. 
 He asked, " Bid ever man like Job appear ? '^ 
 " Try to convict, and bring him to confess ; 
 The next you know, your speech is emptiness. 
 Sick as he is, he takes up your replies, 
 As draught of water, thirsty man supplies. 
 He ranks with wicked men, who walk abroad. 
 Because he says, a man, by serving God, 
 Keceives no profit. Therefore, hear to me. 
 Ye men of understanding. Let it be 
 Far from God that He should do wickedly ; 
 The Almighty to commit iniquity ! 
 What man shall earn, that Ho to him will pay ; 
 Each man shall find, according to his way. 
 Yea, surely, wickedly God will not do." 
 
 With how much pity must the Most-High view 
 These erring men, who labor to explain 
 Truth, that to them one day shall be made plain. 
 Yet pity they need less, who, reasoning, err ; 
 Than those who ask not, of God's character. 
 
A NEW SPEAKER. 187 
 
 Kow Elihu is grieved, that Job should be 
 Bereft, and compassed by infirmitj, 
 Yet say that God has not in justice dealt; 
 That not his sins have caused the woe he's felt. 
 That he should bear such punishment, yet cry 
 If guilt he'should admit, his lips would lie ! 
 In substance, Elihu says, " Who ever knew 
 A man down sick, and suffering through and 
 
 through. 
 Bereft of children, servants,— all, true friends, — 
 And all his property ; which comprehends 
 His substance all ; yet still persist to say 
 He has not deviated from the way 
 Of rectitude ? — nor even will allow 
 That God is dealing justly with him now !'^ 
 Hence, he desires Job's trial may proceed 
 Till Job, and wicked men, in very deed 
 May have no answer, to those who declare, 
 " God's way with Job is just, and right, and 
 
 fair." 
 He claims that Job, rebellion adds to sin : 
 That multiplied too oft, his words have been. 
 As advocate for Job, Elihu began. 
 Were he in Job's place, would he know his man ? 
 But Job had now attained the highest power ; 
 
188 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Summit and dome of the triumphant hour. 
 Suffering no less, but having learned to ] ide 
 Upon oppression's overwhelming tide ; — 
 Like to a skiff upon a surging wave, 
 "Was he buoyed up : and those who strove to 
 
 save — 
 Like his three friends, and the young Elihu, 
 Were like the surge, felt, but beneath him, too. 
 Accused without, but unaccused within. 
 Job waited, uncomplaining ; while of sin, 
 Iv-enewedly, his would-be-daysman, stands, 
 And charges Job, because he's in God's hands : — 
 In the arena, it not being known 
 Satan has made attack upon God's throne ; 
 Having this world the field for his display. 
 To show his principles ; — his chosen way : 
 And this first thesis w^ould as base secure ; 
 None will serve God, unless the pay is sure. 
 
 Now God proves Satan false, his words a lie ; 
 By means which, Satan chose to justify 
 His words and deeds. Heaven sees, in suffering 
 
 Job, 
 The man distinguished most upon earth's globe ! 
 Who, to the universe, makes God's word sure, 
 Por which, he, to the end, must needs endure. 
 
A NEW SPEAKER. 189 
 
 Job knew that Elihu argued, to defend 
 Almighty God : and, only for this end 
 Bore down on him. No less did Job desire 
 Concerning God : yet must, His cause enquire. 
 The old told creed, was quite worn out with him, 
 That suffering was indicative of sin. 
 The case he saw in a far different light, 
 Which put the once-held theory to flight. 
 While to put suffering on a virtuous one, 
 Placed virtue at a discount : put upon 
 Vice a premium ! Thus it seemed to be. 
 And this, to him, was unsolved mystery. 
 But, finding what bewilderment was brought 
 By his denial ; what excitement wrought ; 
 And what confusion, agitation, fear, — 
 Which may toward doubt in God Himself, 
 
 verge near ; — 
 He, having shown how things appear to him. 
 Though thoughts well up, and answers reach the 
 
 brim. 
 Dare not relieve himself by farther vent. 
 But holds within, his thoughts inclosed, all pent. 
 The while, pent up, his speculations bring 
 A scries of connected wondering : 
 Such as, does God precisely know or care 
 
190 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 To note each, small event — minute affair ? 
 
 Every and all, so that, on all the earth, 
 
 Naught that transpires, to Him is nothing 
 worth ? 
 
 And, if He knows and cares for each and all. 
 
 Can He design, and everything forestall, 
 
 So that frustration never, nor surprise 
 
 Shall thwart his plans ? Whether God were 
 a^^-wise. 
 
 And, if all-knowledge, and all-wisdom, were 
 
 Inherent qualities of character, — 
 
 He, needing not experiment, to know ; 
 
 Nor, testing man, of man could wiser grow, — 
 
 Were he potential in ability, 
 
 And matchless power, held, in authority ? 
 
 Or, was there not an unseen hostile foe, 
 
 Invisible to man, and working woe ; 
 
 Which power God would^ but could not, circum- 
 scribe ; 
 
 Could not control, would not descend to bribe ? 
 
 Perchance, he reasoned, either God don't know 
 
 Of my uprightness, and apalling woe ; 
 
 Or, knowing, does not heed my cry and case ; 
 
 Or, some malicious foe dares to efface 
 
 His plans and purpose ; whom God can't control \ 
 
A NEW SPKAKKR. 191 
 
 Or, God does choose, to afflict a lightecus soul. 
 The last of which, to think, vras to deny ; 
 Judged by himself, who would not willingly 
 Evil for good admin^'sler. This left 
 Conclusion that God is of one bereft ; — 
 Knowledge or power. Thus, to himself, explain 
 His great calamities, and trying pain. 
 Early, these great calamities Job found, 
 Serene in mind, with fortitude profound. 
 He, with majestic patience, calmly bore 
 All, till his friends accused him, o'er and o'er, 
 Of bringing on himself his misery. 
 This, truth required, that he at once deny. 
 During which contest he, sometimes, was drawn 
 Into the utterance of what, upon 
 Eeflection he, reviewing, disapproved ; — 
 Though not by wickedness to speaking moved. 
 Vv'hile any effort, now to explain, might tend 
 To lead them farther to misapprehend. 
 But Elihu, who had deeply been impressed, 
 Seeing that Job did not make manifest 
 A disposition to retract, perceived 
 That he must argue what himself believed. 
 Ho feels a pity for Job's deep distress. 
 And thinks it cannot possibly be less 
 
192 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 While Job continues his defensive ground ; 
 Therefore resolves a problem, to propound, 
 Answer to which, the friends shall comprehend, 
 As right and just, and thus the matter end. 
 ^' Look to the heavens," he said. Doubtless up- 
 rolled 
 Incipient tempest. "There the clouds behold. 
 Higher than thou ; but how much higher He 
 'Gainst whom thou sinnest ! Yet, although by 
 
 thee 
 Be multiplied transgression, what the less 
 Has He ? or, more, if thou work righteousness ? 
 Thy wickedness may hurt a man like thee, 
 Thy righteousness, to him, may profit be. 
 But what to God ? 
 
 No doubt Job gave due heed. 
 Answering, in mind, as Elihu did proceed. 
 Interrogating too, — only in mind, — 
 To silence, wisely, being still inclined. 
 And Job, no doubt, his answer did define 
 More clear than Elihu's question did outline. 
 " Against Him what do I, if I do sin. 
 Or give to Him, if righteousness, I win ? " 
 Thus Job replies, "If right, I give Him joy 
 Of me approving : — I, in His employ. 
 
A KEW SPEAKER. 
 
 193 
 
 And the delight of seeing that His thought 
 Is followed out and to i^erfection brought : 
 That in myself His ideal — His design, 
 Is realized. He, therefore, with benign 
 Complacence, may behold the work of His own 
 
 hands, 
 Meeting the standard He, of right, demands; 
 'Tis this, if righteous, I to Him do give, 
 From w^hom alone derives the life I live. 
 His bliss that 's absolute, no more can I 
 Affect; than mote, the sun that shines on high. 
 Yet, shines the sun on a translucent gem, 
 The rays, reflecting, carry back in them 
 A radiance, that were never known and seen. 
 Did only opaque object meet the beam. 
 And is it naught to God, if this I give. 
 Himself reflected, who, in me, doth live ? 
 Or, if I sin against Him, then I give 
 So much the less, than did I rightly live : 
 I should ignore, the debt to Him I owe 
 Por life, and all the joys that from it flow : 
 Give Him the pain displeasure must needs bring, 
 The lack of joy. He'd have, in witnessing 
 My life, if spent in a true, righteous way ; 
 All I should owe, yet fail my debt to pay." 
 
194 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Some such reply, in Job's mind must have 
 
 wrought, 
 While he, in silence, busy was with thought. 
 But, since he chose his silence to maintain, 
 Elihu, with hope to make the matter plain, 
 Continued. All enthusiastic, he, 
 That God appear from all injustice free. 
 But his endeavors move not Job to speech, 
 And none confess that his words wisdom teach. 
 More tender he, of Job, than Job's three friends ; 
 And Job, against hypocrisy, defends. 
 Yet error blends with truth, while he would fain 
 Recover Job, and God as right maintain. 
 Digression now, in Elihu's mind, is wrought. 
 Minute affairs, he notes, are in God's thought ! 
 The misty water-drops he maketh fall. 
 The dropping clouds, distil, abundant all. 
 " Can any understand the spreading cloud, 
 His tabernacle's noise, that soundeth loud ? " 
 A storm approaching, all his thought employs, 
 The dashing rain, the thunder's fearful noise. 
 The flood-like streams, descending to the sea, 
 Like sea-roots, seem, rooted in sky to be. 
 He comments on the effect such storms produce. 
 The increasing storm makes language hard to 
 
 use. 
 
A XEW SPEAKER. 195 
 
 Black clouds and dense, rush wild with mighty 
 
 roar, 
 Whirring, with vapor mixed ; awe-struck, before 
 Which, men and cattle, mute, aghast with fear, 
 Alike are silent : and, now still more drear ; 
 The vivid light departs. The sombre clouds. 
 The day, have wrapped and draped in gloom and 
 
 shrouds. 
 The rattling thunder, peal repeats on peal. 
 Quick, on the lightning serpentine to steal 
 With sudden burst, and prolonged echoing tone, 
 Blending with whistling wind's incessant moan. 
 Awhile all mute remain : then Elihu 
 Owns to heart-trembling. Agitation too 
 Betrays itself, as speaking, he proceeds. 
 But he takes note that Job the storm scarce 
 
 heeds. 
 Observes him pacing slow, with thought intent, 
 As, ere the storm, he had the slow hours spent. 
 He bids him hear attentively the sound, — 
 Kor is Job listless to the peal profound : — 
 That God directs it, and the lightning too, 
 Elihu states. Kor Job takes other view ; 
 But silent is, and, still not satisfied. 
 Elihu dwells on the storm, — still terrified; 
 
196 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 The lightniDg's flash, the thunder, wakening fear, 
 
 Exciting awe, suggesting very near 
 
 A Majesty Divine. He talks of rain, 
 
 The whirlwind, snow, cold, frost, clouds; and, 
 again 
 
 Quiet restored, by warm south wind, so bland. 
 
 '^Hearken, Job," he begs, and bids him stand: 
 
 " Stand still and see the wondrous works of 
 God." 
 
 He cannot concentrate his thoughts. Abroad 
 
 They range, to Him who works ; and, swift, de- 
 scend J 
 
 Awhile upon material forces bend 
 
 Without arrangement ; wandering, as the storm 
 
 Itself attracts by ever-varying form. 
 
 He notes the working of the elements ; 
 
 Quick turns to the Disposer of events. 
 
 "Did He at first arrange the electric course? 
 
 Ordain the execution of its force ? 
 
 Does every lightning's stroke, His programme 
 meet; 
 
 Perform, what will His first design complete ? 
 
 Or, did He leave some things in a loose way. 
 
 To mete them out as they occur each day ? 
 
 Ordained He all life from the very first, — 
 
A XEW SPEAKER. 197 
 
 Had each in mind ? " 
 
 If Elihu thus rehearsed 
 What must have be^n, he must liave seen, the 
 
 worst 
 That could each one befall, God must have 
 
 known ; 
 And made arrangement for all who would own 
 His guidance ; and, for those who would deflect. 
 iSTot else, could He, His system first perfect. 
 Elihu asks Job, how the clouds, balanced are ; 
 But feels the answer is from Job afar. 
 Unless he with the Maker were, on high, 
 "When, as a mirror. He spread out the sky. 
 ISTow feels he his own inability : 
 A shadowy darliness veils him mentally. 
 Asks what to say ! 
 
 The ready volunteer 
 To stand for God, is hushed with trembling fear. 
 He'll champion stand for God who rules on high. 
 But if, in majesty, he feels Him nigh. 
 Lest he be swallowed up, he dares not speak. 
 And now, than Job, he finds himself more weak. 
 Confesses humbly, " The Almight}^, we 
 Cannot find out. Most excellent is He. 
 In power, in judgment, He is plenty too." 
 
198 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Abruptly ; closes thus, brave Elihu ! 
 Silent, with Job, he waits in wondering fear, 
 Nor knows the voice of God, he soon shall hear. 
 Just reached, the point, where wisdom doth begin ; 
 Fear opes the gate to let more wisdom in. 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 199 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 
 
 Sublimely silent now, awe-hushed, and still 
 Were all ; while led by mind, or heart, or will, 
 To self-communion ; or, to that more high. 
 Led by the unseen Spirit, ever nigh. 
 The lightning's flash, now dim and distant shone. 
 The thunder's peal, majestic still in tone. 
 Was tardy in responding to the gleam 
 Electric. Muttering, without pause, its theme. 
 In one continuous, ponderous, sounding roar. 
 
 The clouds break white, and luminous, and o'er 
 
 All nature, shed a clear, pellucid light, 
 
 Eoreteiling power to banish darkest night. 
 
 The mighty whirlwind dissipates the cloud. 
 
 A voice, distinct, deep-toned, and clear and loud 
 
 And unmistakable, is heard abroad. 
 
 Give ear : it is the answer of the Lord ! 
 
 He speaks. Let earth and all its voices hush : 
 
 The pallid clouds their roarings cease, and blush. 
 
 He answered Job. When silent were all men, 
 
200 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 And waiting all ; — it was the Lord's time then. 
 
 No students are in better readiness 
 
 Solution to receive, than who confess 
 
 To solve the problem they have vainly tried, 
 
 And with themselves can not be satisfied. 
 
 He who has sought, found not, but sought in vain, 
 
 Will glad receive truth's light, and best retain : 
 
 Will willing be, as shall God's people all, — 
 
 In God's day of great power, when truth shall fall, 
 
 And lodgment find : — gladly go forth to meet 
 
 Dew-decked and beautiful. His truth to greet. 
 
 God's plots are perfect. Who'll presume to say 
 
 Which means, which end ; which wait, and which 
 
 withstay ? 
 Truth for those waiting, or they for the light ? 
 God's adaptations are complete and right. 
 Silently waiting, speaking none attempt ; 
 Vanquished, but not by any argument : 
 Then spake the Lord ; and it is strangely true, 
 His reasoning takes the track of Elihu. 
 " Who, this that darkeneth counsel ? " He in- 
 quired, 
 ^^ By words that knowledge lack ? " (In Elihu, 
 
 inspired ; 
 As is all language, and all thought, that's true. 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 201 
 
 God's inspiration, brought to human view). 
 
 Nowise intimidated does Joli seem. 
 
 Anticipating, he may be, a gleam 
 
 Of light : may think that God has heard his 
 prayer, 
 
 And now, will manifest His presence, where 
 
 He may be found. And why He does contend 
 
 Will now explain, and own Job is His friend. 
 Scripture hints not that J ob felt slightest fear 
 
 When the Lord's voice he heard pronouncing 
 near. 
 
 Like Adam, conscience-stricken, he was not ; 
 
 Had naught to hide: God's voice was what he 
 sought. 
 The Lord accused ; but not of crime, or guilt : 
 
 Simply, his counsel was unwisely built. 
 
 For lack of knowledge, he did, reasoning, err ; 
 
 Lacking true theses ; falsely did infer. 
 
 Hence, Job it was, who counsel had obscured, 
 
 By words that knowledge never had assured. 
 
 So Elihu complained, in time gone by, 
 
 "Words, without knowledge, Job doth mul- 
 tiply.'^ 
 
 Not that God's perfect wisdom, he'd attained. 
 
 When he, of Job and his three friends, com- 
 plained. 
 
202 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 But it appears, that when a man arrives 
 At truth's concretest form, the harmonies 
 Between his own and God's mind, do compare, 
 And, in due time, God will the fact declare. 
 
 The Lord continues. Job, attent, gives ear. 
 Does He bid Job, " Bow down : " or, to appear 
 In reverential posture ? No : but " Gird 
 Up now thy loins like a man." Kot a word 
 Implying cringing. 'Tis the Lord's delight 
 That man in mind and heart should be upright : 
 Nor calls for other attitude : yet all. 
 Being Spirit-prompted, may, before Him, fall. 
 For posture should derive from deep within, 
 Or, tainted with hypocrisy, 'tis sin. 
 Job, in his suffering and distress, had prayed, 
 " Withdraw Thy hand, and make me not afraid. 
 By dread. Then call, and I will answer thee. 
 Or, let me speak, and then Thou answer me." 
 He felt, what charge against him might be 
 
 brought. 
 That he could answer as the righteous ought : 
 Or, if the judge preferred to interrogate, 
 Give fair reply to questions He might state. 
 Jehovah now accedes. He will demand ; 
 And Job in place of answerer shall stand. 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 203 
 
 Job probably expects question direct 
 
 On some specific subject, to effect 
 
 An explanation of his suffering. 
 
 Instead of which, this leads the questioning : — 
 
 Heard through the whirlwind, coming from the 
 
 cloud, 
 Majestic, thought-inciting, low and loud ; — 
 " When the foundations of the earth I laid ^ 
 Where wert thou ? ^' Hushed, Job listens, un- 
 afraid. 
 " Declare if thou hast understanding.'^ Now 
 Job has a theme ; and he may stand, or bow : 
 Suit his position to his frame of mind. 
 The Lord can wait till Job can answer find. 
 While Job has pause, we will consider, too, 
 The starting-point God calls attention to. 
 Solve we the problem of man's destiny, 
 Man's origin, the first necessity. 
 This, the foundation is, the starting-point ; 
 Base this aright, and logic finds true joint. 
 With Job, this is a subject new, for thought : 
 Theme unconsidered, full of interest fraught. 
 The Mightiest hurries not. Job thinks, to know. 
 The mills of God grind fine, but very slow : 
 Amply He time supplies ; and patient, waits. 
 
204 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 God's thought strikes light: thus helped, Job 
 
 meditates. 
 Had God's inquiry, by some man, been brought, 
 It would have been dismissed with little thought. 
 Job might have said, " I nowhere was, of course." 
 And thought the question had but little force. 
 He'd volunteered to give to God, reply ; 
 iSTor, the first question, might pass lightly by. 
 Asked by the Maker of the universe, 
 Job must elaborate, or brief, rehearse. 
 Eeflecting thereupon, he must have thought, 
 " Where ivas I ? Somewhere ? anywhere ? or, 
 
 not? 
 1 could not have existed. For my mind 
 Can, in that past, no recollection find. 
 Yet, notwithstanding, might my mind have birth 
 Before were laid foundations of the earth : 
 Since surely, I had life, one year — or more. 
 Before my memory treasured any store. 
 And who can live a year, nor recognize 
 That life ; may, also, ere the earth did rise 
 From its foundation, have existed. Then 
 The lack of memory, argues not that men 
 Had not existence ere the earth began, — 
 They, comprehended, in God's wondrous plan, 
 

 TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 205 
 
 When the type-system of the earth He drew.— 
 Kedemption, the event He had in view. 
 Memory may be dispensed with then, to show. 
 What, for some cause, 'tis best to learn to know. 
 Job might have reasoned farther, had he known 
 The purpose he was answering near God's throne ; 
 The system of God's universe, what did 
 Com.prise. But which, from him, must needs be 
 
 hid. 
 Job, reasoning thus respecting memory, 
 Proceeds. '' Not only might, my being, be j 
 I even must, of a necessity 
 Have then existed: or, objectively 
 Endued with conscious power to will, to be ; 
 To think and know, experience sentiently ; 
 Or, as subjective, in God's thought, prepend; 
 To whom, existence conscious, he would lend, 
 When, in the fit time, in my orbit. He 
 Should set me forth ; — as from eternity 
 He had ordained, who, as a whole, doth view 
 And, all things, comprehend. To whom, nor new 
 Nor old is ; but one grand and vast sublime. 
 And this mosaic, now being wrought in time, 
 Foreseen, foreknown, foreplanned, and foreor- 
 dained, 
 
206 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Ere first objective atom self attained." 
 
 Naught has transpired, since time began to 
 be, 
 That God did not, from all eternity, 
 Foreknow as certain in time to take place : 
 And fix for each event a time and space; 
 So that the evil to be wrought, should be — 
 (The evil, sure, not a necessity 
 Upon His system ; but as sure to rise. 
 As free-born agents, birthright, might despise.) 
 Assigned its place, — arranged its destiny ; — 
 As on the organ's key-board, is each key, 
 Which sends, responsive to the touch, its sound; 
 There, in its own place, always to be found. 
 And every discord which, untuned, would break 
 The harmony ; complete the chord shall make ; 
 And so produce, combined, a minor strain, 
 To swell the major chorus, when again 
 Loud hallelujahs shall, from all arise, 
 "Who fill the many mansions of the skies. 
 Did discord know itself, it pain must be 
 To dwell forever in discordant key : 
 But blending with the whole, there worketh 
 praise 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 207 
 
 To Him who glorious harmony can raise . 
 
 The wrath of man, and discords, make to chime 
 
 With richest music in the realm sublime. 
 
 Job, in his musing whether he had birth 
 Before were laid foundations of the earth ; 
 Whether he were, as individual, 
 Then conscious self, and free to stand or fall ; 
 Whether a spirit-life he then did know. 
 Or slept in mind of God, in embryo ; — 
 " I may have had a past," he might have thought, 
 " And in that past, perchance, the answer sought. 
 To the deep problem, may indeed be found. 
 Which oft, my sons discussed, with reasoning 
 
 sound : 
 Which made me stand in fear and profound awe. 
 Lest some conclusion, that they must needs 
 
 draw — 
 Eeasoning from seen to unseen, — might bring 
 
 down 
 Some visitation of their Maker's frown. 
 If there, I had free choice, and did refuse. 
 The life ordained for me, myself to choose ; 
 If there, as here, refused I to submit 
 Till I knew better why, than God saw fit 
 In wisdom to reveal ; then it may be ^ 
 
208 PERFECTION ATTAJNABLE. 
 
 A new probation he has granted me : 
 
 Nor for rebellion would annihilate, 
 
 But built the earth, in a symbolic state. 
 
 With things that perish ; so to typify 
 
 The higher life, that was not meant to die : 
 
 Sin's wages show ; and, by antithesis, 
 
 The way of life, peace, glory, joy, — true bliss. 
 
 A new minority has granted man 
 
 To practise free powers, by a mundane plan. 
 
 And, by experience, here on earth attain — 
 
 Arriving home, in heaven, — a higher plane 
 
 'Tis possible 'tis so. Man, like a tree 
 
 Cut dowD, may live again, live consciously." 
 
 Job may have reasoned thus, until he drew 
 As of life past, an almost confirmed view 
 Of life to come ; which, shadowy though, and 
 
 dim, 
 Was consolation, and a hope to him. 
 And, tracing on, reasoned, without a doubt, 
 That even he, himself, was not left out 
 In the computing of the wondrous whole : — 
 That there was worth, in every human soul. 
 Ensuring him, ere founding of the earth, 
 A time and place : and then, ordained his birth. 
 What time his life upon earth should begin 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 209 
 
 On conscious plane, when he might lose or win 
 Eternal life : if he hear not, or heed 
 The monitor within : — " Let not self lead 
 To selfishness : for life they do but lose. 
 Who seek to save it, selfishly to use.'^ 
 
 Even so early, in earth's peopling, may 
 Some gleam of light, have heralded truth's day. 
 
 Divinely questioned, Job, we still behold. 
 Sublimely calm God's thoughts, in words unfold. 
 Above his ills Job rises high, to find 
 Not bread alone sustains. Man lives in mind. 
 Led by Divine inquiry, Job was taught, — 
 So guided, was to full assurance brought, — 
 That the whole earth, and every event 
 Transpired, or to transpire ; each incident, 
 Each so-called accident ; with each and all 
 Comprising God's creation, great and small, 
 Were all embraced by the unerring Mind : 
 Computed, balanced, as it were, to find 
 What, of creation, would be the expense ; 
 AVhat must needs be, with what he might dispense 
 Of things unseen, in types of things on earth. 
 Yet true ideal they, who should have birth 
 Thereon, might well conceive: till they should know 
 Eye hath not seen, nor ear had heard, nor glow 
 Entered the heart, of jojs to be bestowed, 
 
210 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 When the fiv^e gates no longer hold the road: — 
 When, flesh dissolved, new avenues, shall find 
 To high delights, the ever-opening mind. 
 So God adapted all material things, 
 And to the mind of Job this knowledge brings ; 
 That he did not employ machinery 
 Not knowing what result would surely be ; 
 Nor leave earth to chance-fate as engineer. 
 On seasons great, himself, but to appear. 
 But that the All-wise Architect-Divine, 
 In His conception, plan, scheme and design. 
 Exceeded, in His knowledge accurate. 
 Human artificer's best estimate, — 
 Who would for all emergencies provide, 
 And, first of all, wisely, the cost decide ; — 
 As infinite, does finiteness, exceed 
 In thought, conception, word, design and deed. 
 Earth has foundations : held as sockets sink. 
 "Who laid the measures?" Job is called to 
 
 think. 
 Whereupon, stand its firm foundatioDS fast. 
 The corner stone, who laid, in ages past ? 
 Who, impulse gave, revolving nebula. 
 When inspiration sped from star to star ? 
 And all the mornivg stars together sang, 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 211 
 
 And sons of God, for joij, the chorus rang. 
 (Whicli proves God's choice, — his first, thus 
 
 best, design. 
 Was sentient being in celestial line.) 
 The sons of God are first brought forth, to see 
 Creation's work and love the harmony. 
 These, with their Maker, sympathy maintained ; 
 Enjoyed the life divine for them ordained. 
 Not on this earth was spirit-life begun ; 
 From dust developed, first earth's race to run — 
 Here germinate, — then be transplanted where 
 Are better soil for growth, and better air. 
 God does not need to experiment, to find 
 The wisest way to waken conscious mind. 
 Knowing the best. He took His first, best way ; 
 But made provision for the long delay 
 Whicli fall of angels, and the sin of man, 
 Would intervene, between His perfect plan 
 And the purged system ; which, restored should 
 
 be 
 Increased, and lasting, as eternity. 
 
 The Lord, discoursing, plainly shows to Job, 
 That there's no power upon this earthly globe, 
 However mighty, beyond His control ; 
 And that His knowledge comprehends the whole. 
 
212 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Asks Job, " when earth, cloud, as a garment, 
 
 wore " — 
 Ere human type had looked its wonders o'er — ■ 
 '' Whose wisdom, caused a barrier to be found. 
 To keep the sea within its mete and bound ? '' 
 Not chance it was. An agent, then shut up 
 The sea, secure, in earth's vast hollow cup. 
 Who said, " Come hither, and no farther go. 
 Thy proud waves here be stayed. '^ This, doth 
 
 Job know ? 
 Which, doubtless. Job to allegory leads. 
 The lesson, as he understands it, reads. 
 If Job knew not the weight and balancing 
 Of the material system, nor could bring 
 Distinct decision, — what upholds the earth. 
 Which had foundation ere himself had birth j 
 How could he feel assured he knew the ground 
 Of government Divine ? — its mete and bound ? 
 The regulated measures it should deal ; 
 Nor, might it, liabilities conceal. 
 Causing requirements, by himself, unknown — 
 Views from the arena, than views from the throne, 
 Being discrepant, circumscribed, because 
 The shades of earth conceal, for highest cause, 
 The government of God : His sovereign laws ? 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 213 
 
 And thus on faith, since lacking sight, Job draws : 
 
 Learning, on Him confidingly, to lean, 
 
 Whose loving-kindness is unequalled seen 
 
 In that benevolence, the which awards 
 
 The title perfect to hlin who accords 
 
 In moral principle with the Divine : 
 
 ISTor mine secures at the expense of thine : — 
 
 Who, life devotes, with an unselfish end ; 
 
 Bearing good will to all, to all a friend. 
 
 When motive leads thus — earnest, honestly.; 
 
 Kindly compassionate, as Judge, is He. 
 
 Conceruing what transpired before his day. 
 Job, hitherto, was called his thoughts to stay : 
 Was, by such subjects, rationally led 
 To such conclusions, as his mind well fed. 
 iNow his attention is still onward drawn 
 To things and matters since himself was born. 
 Had he commanded morning, since his day ? 
 The dayspring regulated ? made the way 
 So plain, the sun might know just where to rise. 
 The day to mark from night, below the skies — 
 With the attending influence, that would shake 
 The wicked from the course they dare to take 
 When darkness covers them ? — though they, 
 within, 
 
214 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Feel constant turmoil ; — need to hide their sin. 
 If on God's governmental dealings, Job 
 Would shed a light to radiate earth's globe ; 
 By his own wisdom let him first essay- 
 To show he understands the spring of day : — 
 Day natural can show, direct the light, 
 Control its course, and, by it shake off night. 
 These can he not control and regulate, 
 He may not higher light elucidate. 
 It shines, though it, to him, obscured may be : 
 Lacking that light, he, therefore, is not free 
 On his mysterious suffering to decide. 
 The clouds and darkness that o'er him abide. 
 May be the point where truth's clear light shall 
 
 spring. 
 Job does not know the power of suffering : — 
 That there, in moral principle, is power, — 
 \Ylien man is led, by it, in trying hour. 
 And through it led, firm and unfaltering 
 To do aright ; endure what foes may fling ; 
 And erring friends, and hades may oppose, — 
 To work with God, and help subdue His foes. 
 
 God's lesson-book, creation, is for use ; 
 He shows the method that Himself doth choose. 
 There's naught that might not illustrate. The 
 
 springs, 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 215 
 
 That to the mighty sea, its water, brings ; 
 Had Job considered ? If so, he might know 
 Himself was tributary to the flow 
 Of the great mass of thinking, sentient mind 
 Toward God, the source; as natural spring, 
 
 would find 
 Its source, the sea. Its depths, if unattained, • 
 Knowledge, by searching, comes ; thus, wisdom 
 
 gained. 
 With life the ocean teems, in every drop ; 
 No life, of which, within itself doth stop. 
 Related each, to every other, life. 
 Stagnates but one, becomes stagnation rife. 
 All is not pure, with one impurity. 
 
 Job's mind was clear, presented truth, to see. 
 Knowledge and wisdom, in the mind of God, 
 Perceived he infinite ; as now abroad 
 By God directed, he, the subject viewed. 
 He never doubted God was great, and good. 
 J^b, by suggestion taught, is brought to see. 
 From surface to the deepest depth of sea. 
 All that's included — all with life that's fraught, — 
 Each object is, of the Creative-thought. 
 INIinutest particle of water-drop. 
 By heat expanded, till expansion stop 
 
216 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 In the perceptible : water condensed — 
 
 Solidified to ice by cold intense — 
 
 Divine conception is ; emblem, to show 
 
 Some higher truth, God meant for man to know. 
 
 Not alway would he live ; Job once had said. 
 
 The dead, he thoupjht, to their own selves were 
 
 dead. 
 A problem, now awaking deepest thought. 
 The same Inquirer, to Job's mind has brought. 
 '^The gates of death; have they been ope'd to 
 
 thee? 
 Death's shadowy doors, has it been thine, to see ? " 
 Now doth the mind of suffering Job, expand. 
 Death's doors ? death's gates ! does death, as 
 
 usher, stand 
 And open doors and gates to other land ? 
 A portal, death ? opening a future, where 
 The righteous may live on, forever, there ? 
 Shall dying man, not simply live again, 
 But conscious live, to pain not subject, then ; 
 Part with the perishing ; but mind, and soul, 
 Affections and emotions ; — what makes whole 
 Power of enjoyment ; these, shall he retain, 
 In compass and intensity to gain ; — 
 Each power revived, identity renewed, 
 
TRUTH TRIUMrHANT. 217 
 
 Life ne'er to end, while God, the mental food, 
 The normal craving of the soul, supplies ? — 
 Himself, the food, for which the spirit sighs ! 
 
 Job, waiting, suffering, in that early day, 
 Knew not, toward God, direct, his pathway lay. 
 Still, the sad path he now in darkness trod, 
 Was leading to the glorious light of God. 
 Who holds all knowledge in supreme command,— 
 Whose thoughts, by nature, blossom and expand ; 
 Conceptions whose, by far, transcending all 
 Human ideals, that men, beauty, call ; — 
 He condescends, discourse with Job, to hold 
 So kindly, that the thought does not unfold 
 Of condescension ! Simply that he hears 
 God speak of that which in his range appears. 
 Job, thus instructed, promptly doth conclude 
 That God, in knowledge, is as great as good. 
 His felt experience, this did testify. 
 God, he had trust in, though He seemed not nigh ; 
 Seemed cruel to him : he, in heart, could say 
 He would trust God although He, him should 
 
 slay. 
 So high, his heart attained, above his head, 
 And he, in spirit, was divinely fed. 
 Deep his affection : now, his intellect, 
 
218 TERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Divine discourse shall balance and perfect. 
 Job, earlier thought, to cope with the Most 
 
 High; 
 That His attention passed small matters by ; 
 Surprise now met him that he ever thought 
 God knew not all things ; could by him, be 
 
 taught ! 
 Rehearsing how brute creatures are supplied, 
 God asks, if Job did, for their wants, provide. 
 Job takes the question home ; feels, surely he 
 Could not direct ; no power held, to decree. 
 He had not viewed creation with such scope ; 
 A single thought, it took him time, to cope; 
 While God embraced all knowledge. Did he 
 
 dare 
 His mite, with God's all-knowledge, to compare ! 
 His wish had been, his enemy would write 
 A book, enrolling what he would indict 
 Against him : — let the charges be where he 
 Could read, and thus rehearse them readily. 
 But here was book, presented by no foe. 
 Divine Instructor, teaching Job to know ! 
 Showing, how true, " Nature has God at heart ; " 
 Hiding to teach : and, of himself, impart. 
 Job had desired discourse with God to gain, 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 219 
 
 If God would ask, he thought he could explain. 
 
 Would God appear, and but the question state, 
 
 He would reply, and would not hesitate. 
 
 Not in his mind was such a train of thought. 
 
 When he proposals made, and conference sought. 
 
 But many questions God has now proposed, 
 
 Nor, by an answer, has Job one disposed. 
 
 He is approaching deep humility. 
 
 The Lord proposes now, more pointedly. 
 
 "He who contends" — reply Job must con- 
 struct — 
 
 " With the Almighty, shall he Him instruct ? 
 
 He who reproveth God, let him reply." 
 
 Job now an answer can nowise deny. 
 
 That he had ever thought his case unseen. 
 
 When naught 'twixt God and truth could inter- 
 vene ; 
 
 That, of himself, he had wished God to tell ; — 
 
 Creation all, he now knew, God knew well. 
 
 That he'd charged God with counting him His 
 foe, 
 
 When truth to God was clear, and he must know ; 
 
 That he'd to God, of cruelty, complained ; 
 
 Whose kindness, brute creation all, sustained : — 
 
 Abundant thought to frank confession led. 
 
220 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 With solemn candor, to the Lord, Job said 
 " Lo I am vile, what shall I answer Thee ? " 
 His hand upon his mouth he'd lay. And he, 
 Though once he'd spoken, yea, two charges 
 
 brought ; 
 Would not proceed. By God he had been 
 
 taught. 
 That God knew all. He silent would remain ; 
 Nor would he question, though all was not plain. 
 Let it be noted. Job does not retract 
 What, of himself, he'd stated as a fact, 
 Relating to his character, before, 
 Or since, the pain and grief he bore. 
 But, having harbored thoughts, and uttered 
 
 speech 
 Concerning God, of things beyond his reach, 
 Implying that, in knowledge, God fell short ; 
 Against the which, God evidence had brought, 
 Proving that wisdom, and all knowledge lay 
 In Him : — all things beheld as open day : — 
 To have accused Him ! sick, though he, the 
 
 while, 
 Reduces self-esteem, till Job feels. vile: 
 And, with his character, in true accord. 
 This, frankly, he confesses to the Lord. 
 
 \ 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 221 
 
 The Lord well knew Job would to this be brought 
 As the result of what he would be taught 
 By His instruction: knew if mortal should 
 AVith him compare, though perfect he, he would, 
 The veil withdrawn, and His perfections known. 
 Feel vile ; and freely his condition own. 
 Yet, had the Lord, to Job, this statement made, — 
 That, to himself he did himself degrade, 
 Misjudging God, — him, to consider less 
 Than infinite, in all those qualities 
 Which comprehend and make the righteous God, 
 Could Job have fdt it, though in spirit awed ? 
 Not God's assertion could conviction bring. 
 Hence God, All-wise, pursued the arguing: 
 Which answered just the end He had in view : 
 Just what. He knew the perfect man would do. 
 The Lord now answered out of the whirlwind. 
 Is there some statement that He will rescind 
 That Job's not perfect ? Or, that he's not vile ? 
 Will He give penance ? Keep him sick awhile, 
 Until the vileness, which he does confess, 
 Is purged and burned away ? If penances 
 Are what God ordains, — such His system, — now 
 'Tis opportune to make the offender bow. 
 He answered. Did He say to Job, " Be crushed : 
 
222 PERFECTIOX ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Yes, you are vile! Be silenced now, and 
 
 hushed ? '^ 
 No. God, unangered, makes to Job address, 
 Alluding not to what Job did confess. 
 " Gird up thy loins now like a man." So calm 
 The voice of God, Job feels His sheltering arm. 
 " I will demand, declare thou unto me." 
 Can Job withstand the sovereign Majesty ? 
 He humbly had acknowledged, he was vile. 
 And silenced. But he could not reconcile 
 The judgments God had sent on him, as quite 
 Consistent if God knew, and held all might. 
 Were He all-powerful, as He was, all-wise, 
 Why visit hiiu with such dire miseries ? 
 That God knew all, Job now was satisfied. 
 Could he accomplish, he must yet decide. 
 Job saw himself superior to the brute. 
 Yet, held the brute power he could not dispute 
 Or rival ; neither could restrain, nor bind. 
 Hence, argued Job, might not heaven's Sovereign 
 
 find 
 Some foe, or force, that ranged all unrestrained, — 
 Not by God's will, — who sometimes victory 
 
 gained ? 
 Job had conceived so ; hence his words and 
 
 grief : 
 
TRUTH TEIUMPHAXT. 223 
 
 And God's discourse, had not changed his belief. 
 His righteousness^ Job held, by right, should 
 
 save 
 Him from calamities, and early grave. 
 
 The Lord resumes : asks Job will he condemn 
 The Lord to his accusers, that to them 
 Himself may righteous be ? Then, by discourse, 
 And questions close, brings home the truth with 
 
 force. 
 Could not Job argue for himself, and see 
 Who infinite in knowledge was, must be 
 Supreme in power. Almighty to decree? 
 That though he suffered, yet God had done right ; 
 And he must walk by faith, when failed him 
 
 sight? 
 Job had seemed to claim peerage with the Lord. 
 The Lord accused him not, nor marked it fraud j 
 But, by comparing qualities that may 
 Be mentally discerned, prepares the way 
 By which Job may behold, as analyzed, 
 The claim himself had fully recognized. 
 Had Job an arm like God's ? Could he sustain 
 Material things on vast harmonious plane ? 
 Hold up the earth ? The constellations keep 
 In their own orbits, through the heavenly deep ? 
 
224 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Could he emotions raise, sublimely high, 
 
 By mighty thunders sounding through the sky ? 
 
 Could he irradiate, with beauty's glow. 
 
 All nature ? on himself the same bestow ? 
 
 Ordain, precisely, that which should befall, — 
 
 Which justl}', upon ill-desert, must fall ? 
 
 Could he abase, and individualize 
 
 The proud ? till each, position, occupies 
 
 That's right, and relative ? till each decide 
 
 The dust his place, — all, there, their faces hide ? 
 
 Could Job thus do ? Then would the Lord 
 
 confess 
 Job's own right hand himself could save and 
 
 bless. 
 That Job had power, the Lord would recognize, 
 A governmental system to devise, 
 That would, the righteous, quite exempt from 
 
 pain. 
 His own right hand might such a code ordain. 
 But, otherwise, did he with matter find 
 A limitation to his power to bind, 
 He must confess superiority 
 Existing far beyond his own degree. 
 And if he could not on material plane 
 Cope with the brute, equality maintain, 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 225 
 
 Could he in intellectual quality 
 
 Claim peerage with the One who rules on high ? 
 
 Could he, with calm assurance boldly stand, 
 
 On equal terms to reason make demand ? 
 
 Could Job conclude that there might not obtain 
 
 A greater lack on immaterial plane 
 
 Which should deter him, and at once preclude 
 
 Him from deciding adverse, — less than good, 
 
 Omnipotent, or righteous, just or wise, 
 
 Th^. Sovereign Ruler of the earth and skies ? 
 
 Attention undivided. Job had given. 
 
 Instruction taking, as, 'twere food, from heaven. 
 
 Hungering and thirsting, he, for righteousness, 
 
 Received provision, felt God's power to bless. 
 
 Job answered, then, the Lord. He is assured. 
 
 Perceives the truth, and, in it, rests secured. 
 
 '•I know Thou canst do everything." No doubt 
 
 Remains of power. No thought, from Him, left 
 
 out. 
 Doubt, he had held, unuttered, God resolved : 
 And now, no doubt remains; although involved 
 Matters and subjects he can not explain, 
 Quiescent grown, he wills not to complain. 
 He now has risen to a height sublime, 
 His vision ranges high : the things of time 
 
226 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Diminisli, while he rises to behold 
 From point Divine, views gradually unfold. 
 From this high point, the subject-object, he, 
 Himself sees, as he would another see. 
 Compares his views, — how changed since days 
 
 gone by ! 
 Beholds himself, as the All-seeing-eye 
 Had then beheld him, when the question came, 
 " Who darkeneth counsel ? " Now He asks the 
 
 same. 
 " Indeed, who is this that thus counsel hides, 
 Ere knowledge comes, and he by it abides ! 
 Therefore I uttered ; nor have understood 
 The import of my words, correctly viewed. 
 Too wonderful for me ! I thought I knew 
 Things, I now see, were hidden from my view." 
 Job now puts forth earnest, beseeching prayer, 
 That God Himself, still farther, will declare. 
 He knows he need not utter spoken word, 
 His mind is seen, his every thought is heard. 
 Not sin, nor guilt, does Job confess, or feel. 
 He had misunderstood. He had to deal 
 "With his accusers, and he said, what then 
 Seemed true to him, replying to those men. 
 Now, he's assured, his suffering in the past, 
 
TRUTH TrvIUMPHAXT. 227 
 
 God had good reason for : convinced at last. 
 Believes, God's knowledge, equal to His skill ; 
 Power, to His knowledge, just and right His 
 
 will: 
 God, balanced in all attributes sublime, 
 Euling supreme, by right, throughout all time. 
 All former knowledge, as a hearsay seems ; 
 The present, eyesight. Job, self -searching, deems 
 Himself most insignificant : surprised 
 That he, had God severely criticised. , 
 So kind, so angerless was God ! so true . 
 Patient in reasoning ; unaccusing, too ; 
 The more accused Job felt himself, that he 
 Should, toward the patient God, accuser be. 
 Wherefore, himself, he with abhorring viewed ; 
 In dust and ashes penitence renewed. 
 
 Now the three friends see Job reduced, to where 
 They failed to place him, though with jealous care 
 They strove to plunge him, hoping he would find 
 Some guilt to own, by effort of their mind. 
 They feel he's right at last. They will advance- 
 But ere they've time congratulating glance 
 To exchange, and to each other calmly tell 
 They'd better go to Job and wish him well ; 
 They bear, words of the Lord, to them addressed ! 
 
228 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 Thouglits turn from Job ; each, for himself, im- 
 pressed. 
 Who charged no crime on Job, prescribed no rite, 
 Thus spake to Eliphaz, the Temanite, — 
 To him, that thought God, as accuser, stands. 
 And charges folly on angelic bands . — 
 " My wrath is kindled against thee/' and then 
 Pronounced the same toward his two fellow-men. 
 "For,'^ said the Lord, " ye have not spoken right 
 As hath My servant Job." Now their delight 
 Must have been clouded by a strange surprise. 
 They were, to God, than suffering Job, less wise ! 
 Job, whom they'd bade acquaint himself with God, 
 More right than they, and yet beneath the rod ! 
 Now, here was evidence held up to view. 
 That what God said at first, continued true. 
 God's word as truth, Satan's worst test had stood. 
 Job, perfect proved ; upright, evil eschewed. 
 Eor, be it noted, ne'er to be forgot, 
 God, — just, and right, and true, — against Job 
 
 brought 
 No other accusation, than the charge 
 Of ignorance ; — of reasoning at large 
 While unaware of principles. This gave 
 Shadow and darkness, without power to save 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. " 229 
 
 By hope, wliich, anchorage in truth, must find. 
 This now he learned direct from God's own mind. 
 While Job had been enduring for the Lord 
 Unconsciously, expecting no reward ; 
 By Satan tortured, put to cruel test, 
 His friends, unconscious, Satan served with zest. 
 The keenest weapons they, which he could find, 
 Since to apparent fact, they turn stone blind. 
 But truth has power, and, in its normal course 
 It will acquit, or else convict with force. 
 
 And now the Lord addresses Eliphaz 
 And his two friends ; who, as his servant has, 
 Have not so spoken what of Him is right. 
 Doubtless they see their error in God's light. 
 He bids them sacrifice, seek Job to pray 
 For them ; or He will deal in their own way 
 With them, according to their erring creed. 
 
 The pious men, direct, to Job proceed. 
 As priest, Job offered what they freely brought ; 
 In their behalf, to God, by prayer, he sought. 
 For them, he prayed, as God did them direct. — 
 Their evil speaking was their great defect. — 
 Job prayed : — an honest, earnest, hearty prayer. 
 Then, Satan, baffled was : no margin there 
 For profit to him. All, was lost, entire. 
 
230 PERFECTION ATTAIXABLE. 
 
 His expectations, with Job's prayer, expire. 
 Job would not curse, if, for such friends, he'd 
 
 pray ! 
 Satan saw truth, ah, turned from it away. 
 
 When Job, in kindness, offered fervent prayer 
 For those who did by no means censure spare ; — 
 No ill-will holding, thoroughly infused 
 With love like God's, — his spirit thus enthused; 
 As priest officiated ; — it was then 
 Job the most p:'rfect, stood, confirmed of men. 
 Then did the Lord turn Job's captivity. 
 Satan could get no hold, and Job was free. 
 The Lord blessed Job : not only did restore 
 His lost possessions, but repeated o'er. — 
 Gave twice as much as he had owned before. 
 Then came his brethren, and his sisters came ; — 
 How oft repeated, since, has been the same ! 
 What vain excuses relatives will find, 
 When adverse fortune makes their vision blind : — 
 The way is far. The nimble steed won't stand. 
 They must drive by, and come to level land. 
 But to Job's case. Came his acquaintance, who 
 Doubtless, the Lord had prompted, thus to do. 
 They'd been his friends before : again eat bread 
 With him. And, kindly, while his bounty fed, 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 2ol 
 
 They did bamoan him : and to comfort sought, 
 Concerning evil, — all the Lord had brought 
 Upon him. And, sincerity to show, 
 A piece of money did each man bestow. 
 And every one an ear-ring gave, of gold. 
 To bind his friendship with a stronger hold. 
 
 As type of the great Prototype, Job stood. 
 Who came to earth and did endure to blood, 
 To witness to the truth, make God's love known, 
 Defeat the tempter and destroy his throne. 
 With love in death. He prayed for those who slew, 
 *' Father forgive, they know not what they do." 
 
 Job had not sheltered been, and screened away, 
 Thus kept by God from falling finally. 
 He had been fully held in Satan's power ; 
 Who, all he could concoct from hour to hour, 
 To poison life, and comfort to destroy. 
 His intellect and malice did employ : 
 Nor curse, could wrench, from Job ; who could 
 
 not see 
 That God was dealing with him righteously. 
 
 All suffering that the arch-fiend could contrive. 
 All onp, retaining reason, could survive. 
 Job had outridden ; — borne above the tide : 
 And thus to Satan's lie had testified. 
 
232 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. _ 
 
 To the celestial realm the fact was brought 
 That Satan, who had asked, ^'Serves Job for 
 
 naught ? •' 
 Was vanqjiished ; since, there was one, he must 
 
 own. 
 Whose acts were based on principle alone. 
 The principle which rules in realms of light — 
 Vnselfish love. 
 
 Job, pledged to truth and right. 
 His health regained, his friends, and honor, too ; 
 The past receded, pressed by visions new. 
 So blessed the Lord the latter years of Job, 
 Who had enwrapt himself as with a robe, 
 With honor and integrity. The Lord 
 Blessed Job ; delighting him more to award. 
 Than his beginning had by Ilim been blessed. 
 Increased his stock, till double he possessed, — 
 Of that which may by figures be explained, 
 Above the losses which he had sustained. 
 As many children as were smitten down ; 
 Seven sons to bless and bitter memories drown ; 
 Three daughters fair, and held in high esteem : 
 Seemed what they should be; were, what they 
 
 did seem. 
 Nor sees their father, in whom wisdom lies, 
 
TRUTH TPdUilPHANT. 233 
 
 Ground for distinction in th:>ir sex to rise. 
 Daughters and sons alike have filial claim, 
 And he, bequeathing, dearly loves each name. 
 Gave, with their brethren, them inheritance, — 
 Saw equal rights, to be but common sense. 
 Thus Job was blessed, to stand on record ; first 
 To have his life and character rehearsed. 
 Was spared, the truth, God had to him made 
 
 known. 
 To tell to generations of his own : 
 To gain a glimpse of that blest realm on high, 
 Prom which celestial watchers hover nigh. 
 Of which his former life received no ray : 
 Nor, till he sacrificed in priestly way 
 For his three friends. To him were then re- 
 vealed 
 Celestial visions ; which before were sealed. 
 Assurance that existence would remain 
 When the material could no more retain 
 The mind in fetters. Then, incumbrance free, 
 'Twould soar, and live to all eternity ; . 
 And dwell at home in Him from whom life came. 
 Who best is known by His revealed name ; — 
 "The Loud, the LoPwD God," — feebly words 
 portray 
 
234 PERFECTION ATTAINABLE. 
 
 The God of love to whom his children pray. 
 " Gracious and merciful," he would be shown ; 
 And suffering long, to make His goodness known ; 
 In goodness and in truth abundant. And 
 For thousands mercy keeps ; though, they with- 
 stand, 
 And in iniquity, transgress and sin : — 
 His nature holds forgiveness deep within. 
 While he, by no means, will the guilty clear, 
 Connive at wrong, and make it right appear ; 
 He views, transmission, as a rule of right. 
 And holds it plainly to the parent's sight. — 
 As children, to their parents, likeness bear. 
 They shall their virtues, or, their vices, share. 
 Be ye, as I am, perfect, he requires. 
 And who perfection honestly desires, — 
 From loving impulse strives, aright to live j 
 No malice holds, is ready to forgive ; 
 Like Job, is ready, as their priest, to pray 
 For those, who've crossed him in his heavenward 
 
 way; — 
 On such the Father looks approving down, 
 And they shall wear, with Christ, the victor^s 
 
 crown. 
 He would that all their parallel should find ; — 
 
TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. 235 
 
 Their true relation to their Author's mind : 
 Not, without knowledge, rashly, peerage claim : 
 But, feeling kinship, own our Father's name. 
 


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