8 Some things cannot be taken literally^ ]^£^£o^ a man of so high praise, who in a word, we know, received from the Judge of that which is within " the reward of the virtue of patience, settled amidst his afflictions to finish his life by strangling? And sometimes even the very literal words forbid its being supposed that perchance they ought to Jobs, 3. be understood according to the letter. Thus he says, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. And a little ver. 5. while afterwards he subjoins, Let darkness seize it, and let it he involved in bitterness \ And in cursing the same night he adds, Lo/ let that night be solitary. Assuredly this day of his birth, which rolled itself out in the mere current of time, could never stand fast. In what way then did he wish it might be involved in darkness ? For having gone by, it no longer was, neither yet, if it had existence in the nature of things, could it ever feel bitterness ; it is evident therefore that the words cannot possibly be spoken of a day without feeling,whenthe wish expressedis that itbe struckwithafeeling of bitterness ; and if the night of his conception had gone by, blended with the other nights, after what fashion would he have it become solitary, which as it could not be arrested from the flight of time, so neither could it be separated from Job 7, union with the other nights. Again he says. How long wilt Thou not departfrom me, nor let me alone, till 1 swallow iohQ,7.down my spittle. Yet he had said a little above, The things whichmysoul refused to touchare asmy sorrowfidmeat. Now who does not know that spittle is more easily swallowed than food } it is wholly inconceivable then in what connection he, who tells of his taking food; declares that he cannot swallow Job 7, his spittle. Again he says, / have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O Thou preserver ofmen? Or more unequivocally, Job 13, Wouldest Thou destroy me by the iniquities of my youth? Job 27 ^"^^ y^^ ^^ another answer he subjoins, My heart shall not 6. reproach me so long as I live. How then does his heart not condemn him so long as he lives, who by a public avowal testifies that he has been a sinner, for faultiness of practice and acquittal of conscience can never meet together. Yet doubtless whereas the literal words when set against "Interno.someedd.read, 'theEternal " 'E.Y . Let the shadow of death stain Judge.' it.