wrath. Such is the tenor of the prophet's reasoning. Without attending more to the connexion, I design to use God's power as displayed in the natural world, as an argument for us to seek him in the ways of his gracious appointment.

I. To describe the different displays of Almighty power in the natural world, would be an endless work. The notices of the prophet will both guide and limit our inquiry.

1. He "maketh the seven stars and "Orion," that is, he formed the Constellations of heaven.

The names here given to two of these, are taken from the Greek version of the book of Job for in that version they are totally omitted in the text. What particular constellations they are, is not known with certainty. It is supposed, by some of the best writers, that the names by which they are called, are correct. If so, the seven stars or Pleiades are situated in the neck of the Bull in the Zodiac, and by their rising", in the days of Job, announced the return of

d They appear about the end of March.

the spring. Orion is just before the Bull', and by his rising', gave intimations of approaching winter.

Consistent with this explanation, sweet influences are ascribed to Pleiades, and bands to Orion. "Canst thou," says God to Job, "bind the sweet influences of "Pleiades?" that is, stop the fertility of the earth consequent on the rising of this constellation. "Canst thou loosen the bands "of Orion?" or, open the earth hardened at the rising of this constellation. Agreeable to this opinion, the original word of Pleiades, or seven stars, signifies heat, and of Orion, cold.

Both these constellations God made; marked out for them their path, and by them the inhabitants of the earth, in the time of Job and of the prophets, were taught the revolutions of the seasons".

e Goguet supposes it to be the constellation Scorpio. Origin of Laws, vol. i. dissert. 2.

f It appears about the middle of November. Dict. and Calmet's Dict.

Brown's

gno pa. Parkhurst's Lex. and Bates' Heb. Crit. h Newcome calls these constellations Hyades and Arcturus.' Goode considers our translation as correct. His words on this passage are these: "I have concurred with our common version in following the synonyms of "the

As the Israelites were prone to idolatry, and idolatrous homage was paid in those days to the stars of heaven, perhaps to those here named, the prophet very pertinently informs them that the Lord made them. How great must His power be, who called them forth by a word into being, and keeps them in their places! power, who so directs the

How great His machine of na

Septuagint, so far as they go, as believing them to be nearly, if not altogether correct; and under this interpretation of the passage, the Pleiades, (5, chimah,) are elegantly opposed to Orion, (Ds, chesil,) as the vernal renovation of nature is opposed to its wintry destruction; the mild and open benignity of spring to the severe and icy inactivity of winter. The Pleiades are a constellation of seven stars in the sign of Taurus, and make their appearance in the spring time; whence they are denominated by Virgil, Virgilia, spring signs. The Hebrew term Chimah, is peculiarly beautiful in its origin, and implies whatever is desirable, delightful, or lovely; for such is the force of the radical It is probable, that from the term Chesil, (Orion.) the Hebrews derived the name of their first winter month, which they denominate Chislu, and which corresponds with a part of our own November. The constellation itself appears towards the end of November, through December, and a part of January, and hence becomes a correct and elegant synedoche for the winter at large." Goode's Job. Note on the xxxviii. chap. v. 31.

כמה verb

See also the editor of Calmet's Dictionary, in Scripture Illustrated, on Job ix. and xxxviii.

ture, as to afford us regular returns of the

seasons!

When we contemplate the intricacies of the universe, and behold all things, notwithstanding, preserved in their order, we cannot but be filled with wonder at His perfections who sits at the helm. In the solar system all is grand; it absolutely beggars description. How much more grand must He be who is its author and pre

server!

2. He "turneth the shadow of death into "morning, and maketh the day dark with "night."

He affords the vicissitudes of day and night. The latter is called the shadow of death, because descriptive of it. Then silence prevails throughout the works of God, and man lies locked in the embrace of sleep, insensible and careless of what passes around him, whether pleasant or otherwise. Thus silence reigns in the grave, and the dead hear not the voice of the charmer. They see not the beauties of creation, nor are conscious of any thing around them. This shadow of death, this night, God turneth into morning; and the day again, in return,

he maketh dark with the night. How great the contrast between these two!

How admirable His power, who statedly causes the one to succeed to the other! In the morning he makes his sun to arise and gladden the earth. Then commences the exertions of industry. All nature is alive. It is the time for activity and enjoyment. In the night, dark shades envelope the earth; the noise of life is no more heard. It is the time for rest and sleep. In this arrangement of God, there is infinite wisdom as well as infinite power displayed. Well would it be for men did their manner of life accord with it. But human folly always opposes itself to the wisdom of God. The day, at least the morning', by many is spent in sleep, and the night in activi

i "I will here record the observation which I have found of great use to myself, and to which I may say, that the production of this work, (Family Expositor) and most of my other writings is owing; viz. that the difference between rising at 5 and at 7 o'clock in the morning, for the space of 40 years, supposing a man to go to bed at the same hour at night, is nearly equivalent to the addition of 10 years to a man's life, of which (supposing the two hours in question to be spent) eight hours every day should be employed in study and devotion." Doddridge's Fam. Expos. on Rom. xiii. 13.