"The spirit of man is an instrument which cannot give out its deepest, finest tones, except under the immediate hand of the Divine Harmonist." - PRINCIPAL SHAIRP. "He seems to hear a Heavenly Friend, A labor working to an end." TENNYSON. PERSONS The LORD (JEHOVAH). JOB, a wealthy landholder of Uz; a man perfect and upright. able and devout wise man. BILDAD, of Shuah; a disciple of tradition. ZOPHAR, of Naamah; a dogmatist, elo quent and impetuous. Friends of Job. ELIHU, son of Barachel the Buzite; a young Aramaan, full of zeal and self-confidence. The SATAN, or Accuser; the spirit that denies. Job's Wife. Sons of God, Friends, Messengers, and Spectators. PLACE: Uz, a country lying eastward of Palestine, between Idumæa and Chaldæa. TIME: The patriarchal age. THE ARGUMENT I. PROLOGUE. -I. Job's prosperous estate and his piety. II. His first trial determined in heaven, and inflicted on him in the loss of family and possessions. III. His second trial determined in heaven, and inflicted on his body in sore disease. IV. His three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, visit him, and are silent at his affliction. (Chapters i., ii.) II. JOB. - Opens his mouth, and I. Curses the day of his birth. II. Laments that he ever was born. III. Longs for death, being in darkness and bewilderment as to the meaning of his life. (Chapter iii.) III. ELIPHAZ. Addressing Job courteously, I. Reminds him of the faith in which he had formerly found comfort. II. Recounts a vision of his own, that revealed to him God's unapproachable holiness. III. Warns Job of the danger of anger against God's ways. IV. Directs Job to return to God and be blest. v. Gives sweet promise to him who accepts God's chastening. VI. Concludes. (Chapters iv., v.) IV. JOB. I. Justifies his anger, and finds Eliphaz's words insipid. II. Passionately desires death to release him, while his integrity yet remains. III. Bewails the treachery of his friends, and urges return of friendship. IV. Describes the greatness and hopelessness of his anguish. v. Resolves to speak out and seek explanation of God. (Chapters vi., vii.) V. BILDAD. Reproaching Job for his rash words, I. Maintains that God has dealt justly, yet promises restoration to Job on condition of repentance and confession. the sayings of the ancients describes the precarious existence of the wicked. III. But holds out promise to Job. (Chap ter viii.) II. From I. Acknowledging the truth of Bildad's words, |