CHAPTER XIV. 463 permitted the devil, by kindling of lightning, and by stirringup robbers and plunderers among his heathen neighbours, to bereave him of all his cattle and his wealth in one day, and to destroy alt his children, even seven sons and three daughters, by a tem- pest which blew down the house in which they were feasting ; Verses 6-19. 5. Q. Wasthe devil suffered to vent his malice upon theper- son of Job ? A. Yes, God permitted hint to smite Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head ; Job ii. 6, 7. 6. Q. What was the design of God in these providences toward Job ? A. 'ro try the strength of his piety, and to set him up as an example of patience, both in the exercise of it, and in the rewards of ; Job xxiii. 10. James v. 11. 7. Q. What was the behaviour of Job under this trial ? A. He blessed the name of the Lord, and did not murmur at his providence ; Job i. 20-22. and'ii. 10. S. Q. What was a further aggravation of Job's distress ? A. That his wife tempted him to abandon all religion, because God suffered him to be thus afflicted ; Job ii. 9, 10. 9. Q. Had Job any comforter ? A. Three friends came from the neighbouringplaces to mourn with him and comfort him ; Verse 11. 10. Q. How longdid his patience continue in this perfect ex- ercise of it ? A. Seven days he sat down in ashes, and was silent under the hand of God'; Verse 13. 11. Q. Wherein did any impatience of Job at first appear ? A. In cursing the dayon which he was born ; Job iii. 1 -26. 12. Q. What were the sentiments of Job's three friends on this mournful occasion, and how did they carry it towards him ? A. When they saw him to be so dreadfully afflicted, they rashly concluded he had been guilty of very great sins notwithstanding his outward profession of piety, and therefore they severely re- provedhim for his grievous complaints ; Chap. iv. &c. 13. Q. How did Job answer to their charges ? A. He maintained against them all this great truth, that God did sometimes afflict those who were innocent, for wise and unsearch- able reasons ; and he vindicated his own innocence, placing his trust in God ; Chap. ix. &c. 14. Q. Wherein did Job fail in his duty towards God in this matter ? A. Under the violence of his distress, and the uu just accusation of his friends, he sometimes spoke words of unreasonable despair, and sometimes he used rash and unbecom- ing language against the great God, and vindicated himself too . much, as though he had been perfectly innocent before God, as well as before men ; Chapters vi. and vii. &c. 15. Q. How was the controversy between Job and his friends compromisedat last ? A. Elihu, a fourth friend who was
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