steps of his father's faith, and is now sitting together with “Abraham and Jacob in the kingdom of the Father."

"But unto them that do him fear

God's mercy never ends;

And to their children's children still

His righteousness extends."-Ps. ciii. 17.

Note. "The religion of Abraham and his family was the same as that of Adam and Noah, with the addition of circumcision, and the expectation of Canaan to be given to his seed, as a type of heaven, and a trust in the promise of the Saviour who should spring from him, and bless all nations."

This was called the Abrahamical Dispensation.

EXERCISES.

1. How old was Abraham when he left his native country? Who came with him? Where did he first set up his altar to worship God? What was the cause of his going down to Egypt? What great fault was he guilty of there? Who was Eliezer? Who was the mother of Ishmael? To what was Abram's name changed? Who pleaded with God to spare Sodom? Why was Sodom not spared? What was the greatest trial of Abraham's faith? How old was Sarah when she died? Where was she buried? How old was Abraham? Where was he buried? Give an outline of his character?

2. Concerning what did Abraham take an oath of his servant Eliezer? Whence did he bring a wife to Isaac? What was her name? 3. What relation was Lot to Abraham? Was he his companion in going to and from Egypt? What was the cause of their separation? Who invaded the land where he dwelt? Was he taken as a prisoner? By whose valour was he and his property restored? After this restoration, did he leave the country and go into the city of Sodom? Was this a prudent step? Where did he wish to go when Sodom was to be destroyed? Of what is Lot a signal instance?

4. How old was Abraham when his son Isaac was born? Who was his mother? Was he a type of Christ? What do you mean by a type?

CHAPTER IV.

FROM THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB TO THE DEATH OF JACOB, A. M. 2168-2315.

Birth of Esau and Jacob-Jacob Buys Esau's Birthright-Tricks him out of his Father's Blessing-Sent out of Harm's Way to his UncleServes him for Wives and Cattle Twenty Years-Leaves him Secretly -Meets Esau, and finds favour-Settles in Canaan-Joseph is Hated

and Sold into Egypt by his Brothers-Advanced to be Governor over all the Land of Egypt-His Brethren go there to Buy Corn-Joseph Brings down his Father to Egypt and Nourishes him-Jacob Dies in Egypt, &c.

Of Jacob it has been justly said by the author of the "Bards of the Bible," "that he is a thorough Jew. In him, subtlety, love of this world's goods, and timidity, coexist with profound attachment to the God of his fathers, and ardent devotion."

In Gen. xxv. 19-28, we have an account of the birth of Esau and Jacob, the twin-sons of Isaac and Rebekah. The struggle between the two brothers was begun in the womb of their mother, respecting which "She went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." Agreeably to this prediction they were different at their birth, and different all their days. "The boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." And it fell on a day, when Esau came from the field, hungry, faint, and weary, that he said to Jacob, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage: And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?—and he sold his birthright to Jacob for bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright," which was his by providence, but Jacob's by promise. Yet in this Jacob could not be justified, seeing that he took advantage of his brother's necessity to make him a very bad bargain, regarding which Esau used no means to have it revoked; but by justifying himself in what he had done, he put the bargain past recal. Thus was repentance hid from his eyes. People are ruined, not so much by doing what is amiss, as by not repenting of it.

In Gen. xxvii. 1, we find, "that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him, My son and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And Isaac said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Go now to

the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: my father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her elder son Esau, and put them upon Jacob. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

And he came unto his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me." In this base deception Rebekah and her son Jacob were verily guilty of great wickedness. The cheat succeeded. Jacob obtained the blessing, incurred the deadly hatred of his brother, and was sent by his mother out of harm's way to her brother Laban in Padan-aram. On his way thither "he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And Jacob took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel. And he vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."

In due time Jacob arrives in safety at the home of his uncle Laban, meets first with his cousin Rachel as a beautiful young shepherdess, about to water her father's flock, falls in love with her all at once, is kindly received by her father, with whom he makes an agreement to serve seven years for Rachel his younger daughter. When the time agreed on was fulfilled-somehow or other, by means not honourable-Laban deceived Jacob, by giving him Leah his elder daughter instead of Rachel; his excuse for so doing was frivolous, saying, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born;" hence another bargain, that Jacob should serve other seven years for Rachel, which he did. "Love makes long services short and easy.' He afterwards served other six years, having cattle for his wages. During these twenty years "Jacob increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants and men-servants, and camels, and asses.'

Having met with hard usage from Laban, he resolves to return to his own country, which resolution was speedily sanctioned by Divine counsel." I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Now Jacob stole away unawares to Laban, in that he told him not that he fled." Laban pursued Jacob, and after seven days journey overtook him in mount Gilead. After some warm and bitter disputations, it was agreed that no act of hostility should take place between them; after which "Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim," that is, two hosts. He next sends messengers before him to Esau; they return to Jacob, saying, "We came to thy brother, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him." These news greatly distresses and alarms Jacob, who without loss of time puts himself and family in the best position that his present circumstances will admit of; and then betakes himself to PRAYER, in these words:"O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea." In

this prayer Jacob's pleas are many. How magnificently he speak of God! How meanly of himself; disclaiming all thoughts of his own merit. Those are best prepared for the greatest mercies who think themselves unworthy of the least.

Jacob having thus piously sought the friendship of God by prayer, prudently seeks the friendship of Esau by a present. -Gen. xxxii. 13. "So went the present over before him; and himself lodged that night in the company. And he arose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women-servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And Jacob said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And he blessed him there." After this he went on his way to meet his brother Esau, and found favour in his sight.

In Genesis, 35th chapter, we find that God ordered Jacob to go up to Bethel; and in obedience to that order he purged his house of idols, and prepared for that journey. At Bethel Jacob built an altar in honour of God, who had appeared unto him, and in performance of his vow. He called the place Elbethel, the God of Bethel. God appeared unto him again, and confirmed the change of his name, and his covenant with him. Of which appearance Jacob made a grateful acknowledgment. "And they journeyed from Bethel; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour," in which she died, and with her dying breath called her new-born son Ben-oni, the son of my sorrow; but Jacob, because he would not renew the sorrowful remembrance of the mother's death, called him Benjamin, the son of my right hand, very dear to me. After that Jacob had buried his beloved Rachel in the way to Ephrath, and set a pillar upon her grave, he afterwards came unto Isaac his father, unto Mamre, which is Hebron.

In Genesis, 37th chapter, we read, "And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. Now Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: for, behold we