When the days of their feasting were gone about - At the conclusion of the year, when the birthday of each had been celebrated, the pious father appears to have gathered them all together, that the whole family might hold a feast to the Lord, offering burnt-offerings in order to make an atonement for sins of all kinds, whether presumptuous or committed through ignorance. This we may consider as a general custom among the godly in those ancient times.

And cursed God in their hearts - וברכו אלהים uberechu Elohim. In this book, according to most interpreters, the verb ברך barach signifies both to bless and to curse; and the noun אלהים Elohim signifies the true God, false gods, and great or mighty. The reason why Job offered the burnt-offerings appears to have been this: in a country where idolatry flourished, he thought it possible that his children might, in their festivity, have given way to idolatrous thoughts, or done something prescribed by idolatrous rites; and therefore the words may be rendered thus: It may be that my children have blessed the gods in their hearts. Others think that the word ברך barach should be understood as implying farewell, bidding adieu - lest my children have bidden adieu to God, that is, renounced him, and cast off his fear. To me this is very unlikely. Mr. Mason Good contends that the word should be understood in its regular and general sense, to bless; and that the conjunction ו vau should be translated nor. "Peradventure my sons may have sinned, nor blessed God in their hearts." This version he supports with great learning. I think the sense given above is more plain, and less embarrassed. They might have been guilty of some species of idolatry. This is possible even among those called Christians, in their banquets; witness their songs to Bacchus, Venus, etc., which are countless in number, and often sung by persons who would think themselves injured, not to be reputed Christians. Coverdale, in his translation, (1535), renders the passage thus: Peradventure my sonnes have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hertes.

Thus did Job continually - At the end of every year, when all the birthday festivals had gone round.

sanctified.

Job 41:25 When he raises up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

Genesis 35:2,3 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean...

Exodus 19:10 And the LORD said to Moses, Go to the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

1 Samuel 16:5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice to the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice...

Nehemiah 12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

John 11:55 And the Jews' passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

rose up.

Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son...

Psalm 5:3 My voice shall you hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer to you, and will look up.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave...

offered.

Job 42:8 Therefore take to you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering...

Genesis 8:20 And Noah built an altar to the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Exodus 18:12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel...

Exodus 24:5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:3-6 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish...

according.

1 Kings 18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying...

Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple...

It may be.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband...

cursed.

Job 1:11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.

Job 2:9 Then said his wife to him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse God, and die.

Leviticus 24:10-16 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel...

1 Kings 21:10,13 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, You did blaspheme God and the king...

in their hearts.

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth...

Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?

Jeremiah 17:9,10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it...

Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders...

Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness...

Thus.

Job 27:10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call on God?

continually. Heb. all the days.

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...

Whether all Men Equally are Required to have Explicit Faith
Whether all Men Equally are required to have Explicit Faith We proceed to the sixth article thus: 1. It seems that all men equally are required to have explicit faith. For it is clear from the precepts of charity that all men are required to believe such things as are necessary for salvation, and it was said in the preceding article that explicit belief in some matters is necessary for salvation. It follows that all men equally are required to have explicit faith. 2. Again, no one should be examined …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Snares of Satan
The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man's behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour's mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he seeks to accomplish. When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when indifference prevails …
Ellen Gould White—The Great Controversy

St. Peter of Alcantara Comforts the Saint. Great Temptations and Interior Trials.
1. When I saw that I was able to do little or nothing towards avoiding these great impetuosities, I began also to be afraid of them, because I could not understand how this pain and joy could subsist together. I knew it was possible enough for bodily pain and spiritual joy to dwell together; but the coexistence of a spiritual pain so excessive as this, and of joy so deep, troubled my understanding. Still, I tried to continue my resistance; but I was so little able, that I was now and then wearied. …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus