greedily longed for. Thus also does every unthinking sinner; he sells his birthright for a mess of pottage, and a morsel of meat; for present momentary gratification, he gives up the blessing of his heavenly Father, and parts with his eternal portion in the kingdom of glory.

After several years, Isaac, who was ignorant of the contract between his sons, being very old and blind, and apprehending that his death was near, sent Esau to get some venison, and dress it; with a promise that after he had eaten he would give him his blessing. Rebekah heard the words of Isaac; and having an extraordinary affection and fondness for Jacob, she dressed a kid with savoury sauce, and covered his neck and hands with the skin of the kid, because Esau's hands were hairy, and sent him to his father. Isaac was deceived by these means; and mistaking Jacob for Esau, gave him his blessing.

As soon as Jacob was gone out from the presence of his father, Esau returned; and having found that his brother had gained the blessing, he cried out, Is he not rightly named Jacob? (that is, a supplanter) for he supplanted me twice; he took away my birthright, and now he hath taken away my blessing. Stung with penitent remorse for his folly, he entreated his father, Hast thou but one blessing? bless me, even me also, O my Father. But his repentance came too late; therefore he is said to find no place for repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears; for the blessing was given to Jacob, and not to be recalled; I have blessed him, says Isaac, yea, and he shall be blessed.

Rebekah and Jacob are not to be commended for deceiving Isaac. The method pursued by them in order to obtain the blessing was inconsistent with truth and honesty; and we should never tell lies, whatever advantage may be expected from them. Indeed, the blessing was intended for Jacob, by the sovereign purpose of God; and Rebekah knew it;

for it had been revealed to her, before her sons were born, that the younger should be preferred before the elder; therefore, instead of deceiving and imposing upon her husband in this matter, she should have waited patiently, till God had been pleased to bring it about in his own time, and in his own way. He thought proper, however, to let the blessing pass in this manner; for he over-rules the schemes and contrivances of short-sighted mortals, and makes them subservient to his own wise and gracious purposes.

Before

CHAPTER XIII.

THE LIFE OF JACOB.

Esau was full of resentment and fury against Christ Jacob for having deprived him of his birth1760. right and blessing, and threatened to kill him. He did not remember the sad story of Cain, who slew his brother Abel, and the grievous punishment inflicted upon him for that crime. But Rebekah having been informed of his threats, in order to prevent the mischief, persuaded Isaac to send Jacob to Padanaram, to get a wife among his relations.

Accordingly Jacob, having received the direction and blessing of his father, set out upon his journey, and, at a place called Luz, in the land of Canaan, as he was sleeping in a field, with his head upon a stone, he dreamed, and saw a great ladder, which reached from earth to heaven: and the angels of God ascended and descended upon it. God himself appeared above the ladder, and promised to give him the land whereon he lay; that He would be with him and keep him whithersoever he went: that his posterity should be numerous as the dust of the earth; and that all the families of the earth should be blessed through

him; the Messiah, or Christ, being to be born of one of his descendants.

Jacob, as soon as he awoke, with awful reverence and pious gratitude, set up the stone upon which he slept, and poured oil upon it, and called the name of the place Bethel, that is to say, the House of God. He then pursued his journey, till he arrived at the house of Laban, the brother of Rebekah, who entertained him with great kindness. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob soon showed a particular affection for the younger: and being desirous of marrying her, agreed with her father to take care of his flocks, as a shepherd, seven years for her. But, at the expiration of that time, Laban, by an artifice, obliged him to marry Leah; and excused it by saying, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born: he promised, however, to give him Rachel also, if he would serve him seven other years. this Jacob readily agreed, and took also Rachel to wife. In those days, because there were but few inhabitants in the world, men had more wives than one, and near relations were married to each other; but as the world became more populous, this practice was reformed, and afterwards such marriages. were forbidden.

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His

The prudent and industrious management of Jacob was so favoured by Providence, that every thing which he took in hand prospered. family also increased: he had twelve sons, and one daughter, called Dinah; the two youngest sons, Joseph and Benjamin, were born of his beloved wife Rachel. Being desirous of making some provision for his children, he purposed to return to his father's house but Laban, having experienced the good effects of Jacob's past care, engaged his further service by giving him a share of the cattle. After which the substance of Jacob increased exceedingly, so that he became master of many flocks and herds; the hand of the diligent maketh rich.-At length

:

perceiving that Laban was envious at his prosperity, and that his countenance was not toward him as before, he resolved to depart from him; and accordingly set out in a private manner with his family and all that he had. Laban, however, followed and overtook him; but after some expostulation, a covenant of peace was made between them, and they parted in friendship.

As Jacob pursued his way, he recollected the anger of his brother Esau, (who then lived at Mount Seir, in the land of Edom,) and therefore sent a kind conciliating message to him; but the messenger soon returned with the alarming news, that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Being afraid of his brother's resentment, and being anxious for his tender family, he applied to Him who alone is able to sare, and prayed earnestly for deliverance. The Almighty was pleased to give him a sign or token of the success of his prayer: for he sent an Angel, who wrestled with Jacob, and permitted him to prevail: upon which the angel said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God, and with men also shalt thou prevail. The word Israel literally signifies a prince of God, or prevailing with God.

Jacob divided his flock into several parts, and sent some before him, with instructions to his servants, that, upon meeting Esau, they should offer them as presents in his name, and speak in a gentle and respectful manner to him. A soft answer turneth away wrath.-The heart of Esau was melted into peace and love by this kind and respectful conduct; he ran to meet Jacob with all the affection of a brother, embraced and kissed him; and after some friendly conversation they parted. When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and from thence to Salem, where he built an altar to God. While he

abode there, his daughter Dinah, out of a silly curiosity to see the young women of that country, and the fashions of the place, went to a great festival at Shechem; where her beauty captivated a young prince, named Shechem, who carried her away by force and defiled her. The young man,

indeed, would afterwards have married her; but her brothers resented the injury to such a degree, as to kill Shechem and the men of the city, and to take the women and children captives. Jacob was grieved at this furious and cruel proceeding of his sons: and from an apprehension that the inhabitants of the land would revenge it upon his family, removed his habitation, and went, by the direction of God, to Bethel; and from thence to his father, to the city of Hebron, in the plain of Mamre; where, about fifteen years afterwards, Isaac, being one hundred and eighty years old, died, and was buried by his sons Esau and Jacob.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH.

1728.

Joseph was the favourite son of Jacob, because Before he was the eldest son of his dear Rachel; he Christ loved him more than all his children. This partial affection of his father, and a dream which he related to his brothers, denoting that his condition in the world would be higher than theirs, made him the object of their envy and hatred. Therefore, one day, when they were feeding their flocks, and saw Joseph coming toward them, they cried out, Here cometh the dreamer, let us kill him. Being dissuaded, however, by Reuben, from shedding his blood, they stripped him and threw him into a pit; but seeing some merchants who were at that time providentially passing by into Egypt, they drew him up and sold him to them; after which they stained his coat with blood,

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