that he honours it with his special presence; and calls upon us to make it the subject of our contemplation: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." For this purpose he has often mentioned it in his word, and has sometimes recorded it with circumstances the most striking and improving. Let us convey ourselves into Egypt, find out Goshen, inquire for the house of Jacob, and enter his chamber of sickness. It will be found none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven. He is "a dying:" and observe how he dies.

First; he "leans upon the top of his staff." Thus he looks like a pilgrim. Had he recourse to this action to aid such an impression? The Jews were to eat the passover with their staves in their hand: and we should observe every ordinance, form every connexion, enjoy every advantage, as those who have heard the voice, Arise, and depart hence; for this is not your rest. Abraham wished to preserve the recollection of this; and therefore he "sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God:" and it was thus "they confessed themselves to be strangers and pilgrims upon earth." Give me, says the dying traveller, my staff.

-Was this staff the same he spoke of when he was returning from Haran; "With my staff I passed over Jordan, and now I am become two bands"? If so, and the thing is very probable, how many feelings would this companion of all his journeys revive! For after a length of time even inanimate things draw from us a strange kind of regard, and affect us, if not

by themselves, yet by their associations.-But it was an instance of his bodily decline and infirmity. He whose constitution had enabled him to bear such travels and fatigues is now reduced to the weakness of infancy and dependence; and leans upon the top of his staff. "The glory of young men is their strength:" but let them remember their Creator in the days of their youth; for the evil days will come when they shall say we have no pleasure in them; when they that look out of the windows shall be darkened, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the grasshopper be a burden, because man goeth to his long home.-It was also a proof of his conscientiousness in duty. He would place himself in the best posture of devotion his infirmities would admit. We are to glorify God in our bodies as well as in our spirits; and though he does not bind us down to any corporeal forms, yet every thing in his service should be expressive of reverence and godly fear. The Seraphim veil their faces with their wings. Our Lord kneeled three times in the garden. So Jacob, aged as he was, and under the debility of approaching dissolution, when he would adore God, rose upon his knees, though he was obliged to seek support. Think of this, ye who, in full health and vigour, instead of kneeling or standing, sit during the devotion of the sanctuary; and see how far you come short of the self-denial and godliness of this patriarch.

Secondly, He "worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." He had been trained up in the nurture and admonition of the "fear of his father Isaac:" and had long walked before him. But now he was ending the worship of him on earth, to join in the worship of

him in heaven that would never end. This worship doubtless included confession. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Some talk of looking back upon a well-spent life. A good man, if he has been distinguished from others, knows who has made him to differ; and sees in the review of his obedience a thousand imperfections which humble him, and prevent all confidence in the flesh. He feels that he is an unprofitable servant, and says, in his last approach still more than in all his former ones, "I come, trusting not in my own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies." It had also in it thanksgiving. He had experienced many per sonal and relative troubles; but out of them all the Lord had delivered him. The angry storms of life were now blown over, and a serene evening had arrived. He had escaped the difficulties and dangers of a tiresome road, and was now in sight of the journey's end, and of his father's house. It is easy to imagine the grateful emotions of his mind when he remembered his flight from the face of his brother, the vision of Beth-el, and the promise of God that he would be with him, and keep him in all places, and never leave him nor forsake him. All this had now been accomplished. "Bless the Lord," would he say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and, all that is within me, bless his holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." It contained also prayer. He would implore mercy and grace to help in this time of need: for he had yet to die. O my God strengthen me this once. "O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now

also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." And he prayed not only for himself, but for others, especially those of his own house. For,

Thirdly, he "blessed both the sons of Joseph," and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." The affair is recorded in the book of Genesis with the most touching simplicity. Understanding that his father was sick, Joseph hastens to visit him: and he takes his two sons with him. It was wise in him to shew these youths, who had been living in splendour, such a solemn scene, and to place them under the dying benediction of this man of God. Jacob was overjoyed at their arrival, and said, "Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them." The feelings of men towards their grandchildren are commonly very powerful: but every thing here tended to increase affection. Manasseh and Ephraim were the offering of Joseph; and Joseph was his favourite son, endeared by his loss and sufferings; he was also the son of his beloved Rachel. Oh could he have seen the image and representatives of Rachel-her son and her grandsons! "But the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And Joseph brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my

fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh." Let us endeavour to be useful as long as we continue here, and do good, not only living but dying. It will be well if we are able to say something that shall bless survivors. Parting words are peculiarly impressive and memorable. Children who have disregarded the living counsel of a father have followed his dying admonitions and the commendations of religion which Christians have expressed, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost which they have experienced, in the final hour, have frequently rendered their departure a blessing to many. It has encouraged the fearful. It has convinced the unbelieving. It has induced even a Balaam to say, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

Finally; "By faith he blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." We allow there was something extraordinary in this transaction. Jacob was under a degree of Divine inspiration. This appears in the manner of his blessing these children: for he not only poured forth the tenderness of his heart towards them, but he admitted them, though born in Egypt, into his family and the congregation of Israel; and constituted them, though their mother was a Gentile, heads of tribes, like his own offspring; and overruled the claims of seniority, and pronounced their future number and prosperity. Yet all his faith on this occasion was not of this extraordinary nature. The Apostle does not speak of him as a seer so much as a saint. He would