9  Num.  14. 18;  P8H.  103.  8.-


Mati.5.^


Job  xlii,  12.  Lord. .  .mercy — Job's
exair.ple  does  not  prove  tliat  you  will
hufe,  like  hini,  a  prosperous  latter
end;  but  it  does  prove  tlie  character
of  our  Lord  J  aud  that  it  is  his  nature
to  append  a  happy  consequent  to  our
patient  antecedents.
6.  Cautions  against  use  of  violent
laniruagre,  12.
12.  Above  all  things — Not  that
this  was  the  greatest  of  crimes,but  that
it  was  one  of  the  greatest  sins  that
a  good  Christian  would  bo  likely  to
incur.  Swear  not — A  precept  of  holy
patience.  It  inculcates  a  preserva-
tion of  moral  serenity  by  an  avoidance
of  profane  and  violent  speech.  The
conversational  oath,  which  is  not  con-
tent with  the  simple  yea  and  nay,  is
the  result  and  the  token  of  an  impa-
tient and  peremptory  spirit,  akin  to  the
violence  of  persecutors  and  brigands.
That  recklessness  which  constitutes
the  charm  is  the  reverse  of  the  calm
spirit  that  rests  on  God  aud  reveres
his  name.  Of  course  this  has  nothing
to  do  with  the  solemn  oath  in  the
court  of  justice,  in  which  reverence  is
the  spirit,  aud  an  end  of  strife  is  the
aun.  Let  your  yea,  your  affirma-
tion, be  not  an  oath,  but  a  simple  yea.
Condenuiation — From  violent  feeling
or  action,  produced  by  violent  language.
Conclusions— 1.  Consolations  for
the  sad,  the  merry,  the  sick;  the
prayer  of  faith,  13-18.
