no more." (Job 32:16.) Then came, like a rising star, before unnoticed, a speaker that amazed all, with words that to me, were like the words of Elihu to Job: "the voice of one crying in the wilderness."

Mistaken Job, as materialistic in his thoughts of God as were his three friends, believed that God (eternal Good) had persecuted him in his mind and body. (Job, 19:6 to 11.)

Elihu, speaking truth, says: “The Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict." (Job, 37:23.)

David says: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."

But righteous and just are the laws of Truth, and that man is blessed, when punishment for wrongdoing overtakes him, for this is his real need. “He is chastened with pain . and the multitude of his bones

with strong pain." (Job, 33:19.)

Job had mistaken chastening instruction for cruel persecution. And this also has been the mistake of countless thousands. Moreover, this mistake must be corrected, here or hereafter, before any shall be able to say, "but now mine eye seeth Thee!" (Job, 42:5). "The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm!" (Nahum, 1:3.) This tempest is wholly within the human consciousness.

Job had indeed passed through this developing and purifying storm. During all his former years, he had been governed by his own selfish mind, (Behemoth), and this had now been made apparent to him. He saw this superintending Behemoth, with his mistakes and dis

cords; his arrogance, perversity and unrighteousness. But better far, he discerned and recognized his heretofore unheeded and neglected Spiritual self, and realized that this was the true man, the enduring "Image and Likeness". From henceforth his vision, his hearing and his understanding remained through the channel of the higher-the Spiritual element-within him. "The Kingdom of God is within you!" The glorious light of this Truth now shone upon his ascending path. No longer did his faith "stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1st Cor., 2:5.)

We can now imagine Job as saying to Behemoth— "O thou pretentious Unreliable; be still; cease from thy wandering; cease from thy folly; cease from thy plotting and planning; cease from anger, worry and discord; cease from strife; cease from your efforts to control us; yield to Spirit and be at peace. Let us be gathered together in His name and there will the Christ be even in our midst. (Much is meant by the word "Midst!") "You cannot protect us, nor even save your own self. Heretofore you have been to me like the blind leading the blind. You have neither eye for guidance, nor ear for Truth. Let the 'quickening Spirit,' the awakened sleeper, be in control. Then shall we see the Light and hear the instructing Voice. "Then shall we be satisfied." (Ps., 17:15.)

The "Unreliable" enters his own hell by having his own way, and not until he yields to the control of Spirit, can he escape. The Spiritual element within us, must advance in strength, influence and effect. In no other way can regeneration (the new birth) be attained.

CHAPTER 11.

Conclusion.

Here ends what the writer has to say of the book of Job. I believe myself justified in seeing a certain analogy between Job's experience and those of other men as exemplified in myself. Not that I have yet attained the elevation that came to him through the voice out of the whirlwind, but unmistakable utterances have come to me from a source higher than human reason. This I know, and no man, nor any human combination can take it from me. I have heard the voice of the forerunner and am watching and listening for the higher voice of Truth (John 14:17), which comes, not through human reasoning!

The grandest instruction I have been able to obtain from a careful study of the book of Job (and likewise supported through my own experience), is its teaching of the vast power which is opened to man through Spiritual sight and hearing. The "voice out of the whirlwind," "the thunder of his power."

Job was, and is, a type of the regenerated man, when brought to an understanding of truth, when transformed by the ever-present Christ, which was "before Abraham" and "before the world was."

Through suffering, he had gone down to a point where there were just two paths before him. One was the broad avenue, which leads down "into the pit," and was plainly apparent to his human sense-the end of his human existence. He had gone down to a point where he had lost all expectation or hope for a continuance of human life, or any satisfaction in such life.

He had even lost all desire for a longer existence. (Job, 3:21 and 22.)

The other was "the narrow way," which is only discerned Spiritually. And just here his Spiritual eyes were first opened by Elihu (Job 33:22-24). Later came the instructing voice of God, the unseen though everexisting and ever-present Christ, which enabled Job finally to say, "But now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore I abhor myself."

He who through pain and suffering is brought down to the pit, realizes, that God is his only refuge or strength; as others, may not.

Like Job, men mistake instruction for persecution, until their eyes are opened by the voice of Truth, which is the Christ. To our human understanding, suffering is not enjoyable and therefore does not meet our wants. But if it strengthens our desires to be free (from affliction of any kind), does it not make us more earnest, in seeking for that Truth which makes us free? Then it is plain that suffering meets not our wants, but our needs; which are "absolute faith in God," and "Spiritual understanding of Him." This condition is the grand transforming influence which is available to all who experience suffering, like or similar, to that of Job.

Paul had his "thorn in the flesh" and asked for relief from it, "besought the Lord three times." Turn to your Bible, my friend, and read the answer he received. Then he saw and realized the supporting power of the everpresent Christ. Spiritual strength, is developed through human suffering. "There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I be

sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me: therefore I take pleasure in infirmities." "For when I am weak, then am I strong." (2d Cor. 12:7-10.) That is, his infirmities, and the protection he received which annulled their power to harm him, was a constant reminder that the higher strength of the Christ, was with him. And from this he was able to write, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18.) Our closed eyes are opened by chastisement. Job's case illustrates this. Elihu first pointed it out to him, but, the Christ-the voice out of the whirlwind—compelled him to understand it! Such things are being repeated today.

If the Christ, is immortal Good, from Heaven (His sphere), to the earthly man-who shall say it did not come in ancient days? If it came in the man Jesus nineteen centuries ago, who shall say it did not come through cloud and storm ages before? "Before Abraham was I am." Who shall say it comes not today, through the whirlwind of affliction? Verily "The wind bloweth where it listeth!" Who shall tell of "that which is born of Spirit?" (John, 3:6.)

Paul's "thorn in the flesh" he describes as "a messenger from Satan." He did not, at first, comprehend the benefit of suffering, or rather that condition, which comes through suffering. He therefore sought escape from it. But after the answer he received, through