Lecture to pass unchallenged. But it goes, as you see, to borrow a
VIII. phrase old as this ancient book, to ' the root of the matter.' If
„, .. Eliphaz is right, we may close the book ; for it is so far, merely

the history of the just punishment of a Pharisee, ' who had
devoured widows' houses,' had offered a tainted sacrifice,
and played false with God and man. It is the history of no
Saint, but of a long undetected, and now convicted male-
factor. And having at last said this, the speaker naturally
presses home the lesson of his words. ' Thy sins,' he says in
verse lo, 'have found thee out. These snares (a common figure
for sudden heaven-sent pains), these spiritual terrors, this black

ver. II. darkness, these deep waters' — how familiar the images! —
' these floods that roll over thee, seest thou not in them thy
just retribution? ' And then — we can imagine that we hear the
voice of some spiritual adviser or 'director' of centuries later —
he tries to read to Job the secret of his inner life ; the history of
the frame of mind which had brought him to his doom. ' Far
above the starry heavens,' he reminds him, ' is the dwelling-

ver. 1 2. place of God ; Behold the height of the stars, how high they are.
But this thought, instead of solemnising thy soul, and deep-
ening thy piety, led thee to question His rule on earth.
ver. 13. Distance, thou thoughtest, and the clouds of earth would hide

ver. 14. thee from the eye of Him who walketh on the vault of heaven.
