ciliation took place at this time between Esau and Jacob.

"And they wept." They both wept. Jacob' wept for joy to think how kindly his brother had received him, and how graciously God had heard and answered his prayers. Esau probably wept for shame and grief, when he thought of the evil design which he had in his heart against his brother Jacob. He could not but weep when he found how strangely and unaccountably God had prevented him from the execution of the design which he had formed against his brother's life. We cannot but rejoice to see the heart of Esau thus melted. Let us not forget that it was all God's doing, who turneth the hearts of men as rivers of water. Think on the means which Jacob had made use of to turn his brother's heart. A present of 580 head of cattle, an humble and submissive message, by each servant who had the charge of these cattle: bowing himself to the ground seven times: and earnest and fervent prayer to God. "A brother offended (says Solomon) is harder to be won than a strong city." These are the means which Jacob

E 7

Jacob used to win his brother's heart,

to ob

If you

tain his forgiveness and affection. pray as Jacob did and be as kind, humble and submissive as he was, you will find it much more easy and comfortable as you pass through the world, than you would if you stood out for every trifle and contended for honor and right on every occasion.

III. Attend to the CONVERSATION that passed between ESAU and JACOB,

"And he lifted up his eyes and saw the women and the children; and said, who are those with thee? And he said, the children which God hath graciously given thy servant. →Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves, and Leah also with her children came near and bowed them selves; and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themthemselves." Here we see eleven or twelve little children, the eldest of them not yet fourteen years old, following their father's example, and bowing themselves before the face of their uncle Esau. What an interesting sight this must have been. It was enough to

melt

melt a harder heart than that of Esau's to see his brother's children and his brother's wives acknowledge him their lord. Jacob, had not mentioned his wives and children in the message which he sent to his brother. He might well be surprized and ask him, "who are those with thee? To this common question Jacob returns an uncommon answer. "They are the children which God hath graciously giv en thy servant." The common answer which we would naturally expect to hear would be, They are my wives and my children. Jacob spoke like a man who feared God, like one who acknowledged him in all his ways even in the common concerns of life. We do not hear one word from Esau when he saw Jacob's family. No expression of pleasure. No blessing, not even a good wish when he saw them bowing before him one after the other, Had they been Esau's children bowing before Jacob, we should have heard him say, God bless you, my children, or God be gracious to you my children. Not a single word is recorded as spoken by Esau on this interesting and affecting interview.

Esau

Esau then asked his brother concerning the present which he had sent him. "What mean est thou by all this drove which I met? And hè said, these are to find grace in the sight of my Lord. And Esau said I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand for therefore have I seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me." Some think that Jacob made use of a proverbial expression, when he said these words to his brother. It was very strong language and expressive of strong feelings. Such were the feelings of Jacob's mind at the time. As if he had said, “ I have seen thee reconciled to me and at peace with me, in the same manner as I desire to enjoy peace and reconciliation from God. He might mean that he had seen God's favour to him in the manner in which Esau had received him.

"Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt grasiously with me, and because I have enough.

And

And he urged him, and he took it." Esau then proposed to return with his brother and his family, and be their guard by the way. He seems also to have invited his brother to his habitation at Mount Seir; but Jacob on ac▾ count of the children and cattle that were with him, declined this invitation. Let us hear him speak for himself.

"And he said, Let us take our journey and let us go, and I will go before thee. And he said unto him, my Lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if the men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die." Here we see what a gentle shepherd and what a tender and kind father Jacob was. How much more kind is God our heavenly Father to little children. What a kind and gentle shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ; he will gather the Lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. "Let, my Lord, I pray thee, pass on before his servant; and I will lead on

softly

* Isaiah 40. 11,