sible, and in a way that would be pleasant to the taste of Isaac. For she well knew how he preferred to have it done.

She then took some of Esau's best garments, which were near at hand, and clothed Jacob in them. As his skin was so different from that of his brother, she endeavoured to guard against detection in this respect, by a singular artifice. She put a part of the skins of the kids, which were covered with soft hair, upon Jacob's hands and upon his neck, -that, if Isaac should feel him, as possibly he might, to ascertain in this way whether it was really Esau, he might not detect the imposition.

Having thus arranged every thing, as she supposed, so skilfully as to ensure success, she gave the savory meat and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of Jacob and left him to present them to his father.

You see, my dear reader, in all this affair, what a strong temptation will do, when there are selfish and sinful desires in the heart to be affected by it. Those who hope that they do indeed love God, need constantly to pray and strive against such desires, that they may

not be led into temptation. You may be tempted to deceive others, as Rebekah and

But re

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Jacob were. The temptation may be a strong one. You may feel sure that you will gain some great advantage by it. member that you cannot deceive God. will see all that you do. He will be exceedingly displeased with you for doing it. Nothing of worldly good that you can gain will compensate you for the loss of God's approbation and favour. Pray and strive against such temptations, and against all deception and falsehood.

STORY XXIII.

JACOB OBTAINS THE BLESSING WHICH ISAAC INTENDED FOR ESAU.

JACOB, attired in Esau's dress, and his hands and neck covered with the hairy skins of the young kids, hastened to carry the food which had been prepared, to his father. Encouraged by his mother, he had made up his

mind to go through with the deception, whatever sacrifice of truth it might cost him. If one falsehood would not answer the end that he wished to accomplish, more must be used. So it is with all who begin to deceive. One lie leads on to another, till none are too bad to be told. Sin of all kinds increases itself. It grows greater and greater,— stronger and stronger,-and more and more difficult to be overcome.

Jacob 66 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. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau, or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac, his father; and he felt him and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he dis

cerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau ? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank." "And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me my son. And he came near and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said; See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field, which the Lord hath blessed. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee; Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee."

His gross deceit, his solemn appeal to God as having aided him in the procuring of the food, and his repeated declarations of what was utterly false,-thus obtained for Jacob the wished-for blessing from his father. How

great must have been his shame and remorse, (when he came to have right views and feelings,) in looking back upon his mean and sinful conduct! How often, in his subsequent life, as his piety towards God, and his fear of offending him increased, must he have abhorred the vile deception which he had practised upon his aged parent, and repented of it before God, with the deepest humility and self-abasement!

What folly and wickedness in Jacob, to distrust God, and to use such deceit to obtain the blessings that he longed for, when God had promised to fulfil with regard to him, the solemn covenant which he had made with his father Abraham! What painful remorse of conscience he would have escaped; what a calm peace of mind he would have enjoyed; had he put confidence in God, and left it with him to control all that might pass between Isaac and Esau, as he deemed best, and to carry into effect his promises, confirmed by an oath, in his own time and way!

After having accomplished his object, Jacob withdrew, and, doubtless, went to his mother to inform her of what had happened,