201 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, 2 Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me. 3 I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding. 4 Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment? 6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds, 7 Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? 8 He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as a vision of the night. 9 The eye which saw him shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.
10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth. 11 His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust. 12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue, 13 [Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth, 14 His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him. 15 He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. 16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him. 17 He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter. 18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice [therein]. 19 For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build. 20 Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired. 21 Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure. 22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
23 It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh. 24 If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through. 25 He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him. 26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent. 27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him. 28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger. 29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.
211 And Job answered and said, 2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations. 3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on! 4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth. 6 Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of +God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe. 13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. 14 And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways! 15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him? 16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger? 18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away? 19 +God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]: 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty. 21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off? 22 Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high. 23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet; 24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened; 25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good: 26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked? 29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens: 30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath. 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? 32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him. 34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
24 And on the morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and [his] intimate friends. 25 And when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did [him] homage. 26 But Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: I myself also am a man. 27 And he went in, talking with him, and found many gathered together. 28 And he said to them, Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to me God has shewn to call no man common or unclean. 29 Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me. 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I had been [fasting] unto this hour, and the ninth [I was] praying in my house, and lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea [who when he is come will speak to thee]. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done in coming. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, 35 but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all things,) 37 ye know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached— 38 Jesus who [was] of Nazareth: how God anointed him with [the] Holy Spirit and with power; who went through [all quarters] doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 We also [are] witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross. 40 This [man] God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen, 41 not of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, us who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among [the] dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who was determinately appointed of God [to be] judge of living and dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins.
44 While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word. 45 And the faithful of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that upon the nations also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out: 46 for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47 Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also [did]? 48 And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay some days.
(Read Acts 10:19-33)
When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.
(Read Acts 10:34-43)
Acceptance cannot be obtained on any other ground than that of the covenant of mercy, through the atonement of Christ; but wherever true religion is found, God will accept it without regarding names or sects. The fear of God and works of righteousness are the substance of true religion, the effects of special grace. Though these are not the cause of a man's acceptance, yet they show it; and whatever may be wanting in knowledge or faith, will in due time be given by Him who has begun it. They knew in general the word, that is, the gospel, which God sent to the children of Israel. The purport of this word was, that God by it published the good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ. They knew the several matters of fact relating to the gospel. They knew the baptism of repentance which John preached. Let them know that this Jesus Christ, by whom peace is made between God and man, is Lord of all; not only as over all, God blessed for evermore, but as Mediator. All power, both in heaven and in earth, is put into his hand, and all judgment committed to him. God will go with those whom he anoints; he will be with those to whom he has given his Spirit. Peter then declares Christ's resurrection from the dead, and the proofs of it. Faith has reference to a testimony, and the Christian faith is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, on the testimony given by them. See what must be believed concerning him. That we are all accountable to Christ as our Judge; so every one must seek his favour, and to have him as our Friend. And if we believe in him, we shall all be justified by him as our Righteousness. The remission of sins lays a foundation for all other favours and blessings, by taking that out of the way which hinders the bestowing of them. If sin be pardoned, all is well, and shall end well for ever.
(Read Acts 10:44-48)
The Holy Ghost fell upon others after they were baptized, to confirm them in the faith; but upon these Gentiles before they were baptized, to show that God does not confine himself to outward signs. The Holy Ghost fell upon those who were neither circumcised nor baptized; it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. They magnified God, and spake of Christ and the benefits of redemption. Whatever gift we are endued with, we ought to honour God with it. The believing Jews who were present, were astonished that the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also. By mistaken notions of things, we make difficult for ourselves as to the methods of Divine providence and grace. As they were undeniably baptized with the Holy Ghost, Peter concluded they were not to be refused the baptism of water, and the ordinance was administered. The argument is conclusive; can we deny the sign to those who have received the things signified? Those who have some acquaintance with Christ, cannot but desire more. Even those who have received the Holy Ghost, must see their need of daily learning more of the truth.
