attracted by the sight of the gold, and by the account he had heard, of the state in which Abraham's servant travelled, very prudently concludes, that such a connexion might be improved to very great advantage. Hence that profusion of civility and kindness to an entire stranger, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, wherefore standest thou without? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."*

Did we not afterwards discover him to be grovelling, greedy, and mercenary, this might have passed for the language of kindness and hospitality. But, when the whole is taken in connexion, we see a man from first to last invariably attached to his own interest, employing his very daughters as mere instruments of commerce, and prizing nothing, but in proportion as it ministered to his own advantage.

this perhaps explains the meaning of Elisha's | Abraham's servant being arrived in Mesorequest at the rapture of Elijah, "Let a potamia, in search of a wife for Isaac, his double portion of thy spirit be upon me:" young master, providentially conducted, not as if he meant to ask, or expect, twice lights on Rebekah, the sister of this Laban, so much as Elijah had, but the share of an by the well of water. Having briefly unelder brother. Fourthly-The honour of folded his commission, and made her a prepriesthood resided then and for many years sent suitable to his master's rank and afafter, in the first born, and was justly con- fluence, she runs home to acquaint her residered as the first of privileges. Finally-lations of the adventure. Laban, instantly The promise of the Messiah, "the first born among many brethren," was entailed upon the eldest son: and this was justly understood to confer a dignity and lustre infinitely superior to all temporal blessings. The guilt of Esau consisted in undervaluing and despising an advantage so distinguished.The offence of Jacob's fraud is greatly extenuated, if not wholly extinguished, in the nobility and worth of the prize for which he contended. Behold him, then, retiring from the presence of his deluded father, who had prescience sufficient to discern, at the distance of ages, the future fortunes of his family, without sagacity capable of discerning the imposture, which was, at that very instant, practising upon his credulity and want of sight. Behold Jacob retired, in possession indeed of the blessing, but haunted with the terrors which eternally pursue the man, who Of all the passions of our nature, there is is conscious to himself, that he has acted none so steady, uniform, and consistent as wrong. He has gained the birthright, but this is. Avarice never tires by exercise, he has lost a brother. He has by subtilty never loses sight of its object: it gathers stolen away the prophetic benediction, but strength by gratification, grows vigorous by he has raised up against himself an implaca- old age, and inflames the heart, when the ble foe. The possession of nothing yields vital fluid can hardly force a passage through that satisfaction which we promised our- it. What a feast for such a spirit, the conselves in it beforehand; and conscience will cluding scene of the marriage treaty for Renot permit us to enjoy peaceably that which bekah! "The servant brought forth jewels we have acquired unworthily. His father's blessing announced every kind and degree of prosperity," the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, the servitude of nations and people, lordship over his brethren." But he is instantly constrained to become an exile and a wanderer from his father's house. And when he himself comes to make the estimate of his own life, in the close of it-what is the amount? "Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been." His elder brother is declared his inferior, but he has by much the stronger arm of the two. And, while he is practising deceit upon his nearest relations in Canaan, Providence is silent-out a companion; more forlorn than his ly preparing the means of requiting him in grandfather Abraham himself. For the bitPalan-aram, in the person of one already a terness of his exile was alleviated by the near relation, and about to be much more company and conversation of his beloved closely allied to him, Laban the Syrian, a Sarah; whereas, the affliction of Jacob's man much more cunning and selfish, and banishment was grievously increased, by much less scrupulous than himself. As this the consciousness that he had brought it upis a character which the inspired painter has on himself; and from the bitter necessity of delineated with peculiar felicity and skill, it enduring its wearisome days and nights by may now be necessary to look back for a himself alone. What could have supported few moments, and to observe the first open-a man in such circumstances? A man, who ing of Laban's spirit and temper, as they ap- was attached to domestic life; a plain man, pear on the face of the sacred drama.

of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things." Such was the man, with whom Jacob was now destined to spend a very considerable part of his life; and whose treatment of him, in the eyes of the severest judge, may pass as a sufficient punishment for the little fallacies which he had practised in his father's house.

Behold then, in the covenant head and representative of the holy family, "a Syrian ready to perish," leaving the paternal roof without an attendant, without a guide, with

*Gen. xxiv. 31.

† Gen. xxiv. 53.

firmity, of like passions with others," and whose faults are but the more conspicuous, from the honourable station, and employment to which they were called. It will follow,

abiding in tents;" a man who had fondly flattered himself with the hope of power and tranquillity; who had dreamed of superiority over his brother, but had not attained unto it? I can think of but one thing, that could have rendered his lot supportable, as it then stood. Jacob, after all, was a good man.His conduct was not indeed pure and perfect, but his heart was right with God. He had once and again been mistaken in the means which he had employed, but he had all along aimed at the noblest and most important end: and, from the chagrin and disappointment which ever attended the plans of his own devising, he had always a sure and a satisfying refuge, in the wisdom and mercy of God. In truth, he had not attained the knowledge of true practical, vital religion, in the house of even his father Isaac, in Lahai-roi: but he learns it in silence and in solitude, in the plains of Luz. It is a good thing for a young man to feel his own weight, "to bear the yoke in his youth." At ease, and in a multitude, we forget God-in retirement and danger, we learn and feel our dependence, and call to remembrance a long-church's enemies; these and the like, are forgotten God.

This is also a proper stage for resting on our way. We cannot lead our traveller from home, till we have found for him a place where to lodge. We cannot bear to see him from under the protection of the parental wing, till we are secure that he has got another protector and friend, that "friend who sticketh closer than a brother."

Secondly; That the comparison is not to be stated and pursued through every particular incident of the life, and every feature of the personal character of the person who is the type. Men of very different characters, and in very different situations, typified the Saviour of the world. To suppose every article of their history, condition, and character to be typical and prophetic, would therefore, in many instances, involve absurdity and contradiction. Samson, David, and many others who might be mentioned, were eminent types of Christ; but then, the resemblance holds only in certain great leading circumstances: the miraculous conception, for example, the Nazaritic sanctity, the invincible strength, the solitary, victorious achievements, the triumphant death of the former: the divine appointment and eleva, tion, the royal dignity, the providential suc cess of the latter, the subduing all the

the typical circumstances. But to pursue the resemblance throughout, to make every action of Samson's or of David's life typical of something correspondent in the Messiah, would lead far beyond absurdity; it would issue in impiety and blasphemy.

Thirdly; Scripture by direct application, or by fair, unrestrained analogy, ought therefore to lead, to regulate, and to correct all Conformity to the plan we have proposed, our inquiries of this sort. We shall else be and regard to the analogy of scripture, would in danger of rearing a baseless, flimsy strucnow lead us to exhibit the patriarch Jacob, ture in the clouds, which can afford neither as a type of the Messiah, to whom patriarchs shelter nor rest. When pleasant amusement and "prophets all give witness," and who alone is the object, invention and fancy may was specially prefigured by the son of Isaac. be allowed their full exertion. But when But, his story is not yet sufficiently ad- we aim at religious instruction, we must be vanced, to afford a foundation broad and solid contented to take the Spirit of God for our enough to support a comparison, such as a guide. And here too, men ought to be more extended view of the subject will fur-jealous and watchful over their own spirits; nish, and such as might more rationally con- lest, in endeavouring to establish a favourite duce to the ends of edification. We deem system, and to justify or support preconit of more importance, at this period, to sub-ceived opinions, they give to their own wild mit to your consideration a few general observations, respecting typical representation, and the proper use to be made of it.

First; In order to constitute a proper type, it is by no means necessary, that the person who answers this important purpose should possess perfect moral qualities. Were this requisite, who ever was worthy to represent the Son of God, the holy Jesus, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his lips?" But as "the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity," though the law gives no countenance to error or infirmity; so Providence, "at sundry times and in divers manners," raised up men to prefigure to their contemporaries an immaculate Saviour, who were themselves "compassed with in

imaginations the solidity and weight of divine truth, and, departing from the simplicity of the gospel, presume to stamp the poor trash of their own brain with the sacred impress of God. It has often, and with too much justice, been lamented, that many apply to the Bible for a justification of the opinions which they have already formed, and which they are determined, at all risks, to maintain; and not to receive the information which they need, and to rectify the prejudices under which they labour.

Finally; To determine the nature and propriety of typical representation, it is of importance to inquire, Whether or not the resemblance which we mean to pursue, has a tendency to promote some moral, practical,

Should all, or any of these remarks seem

pious purpose? Does it inspire reverence, wonder, gratitude, love to God; dependence to bear hard on any of the comparisons upon, and trust in him? Does it engage us which we have endeavoured to establish, we to study, to search, to love the scriptures? are disposed cheerfully to relinquish the most Does it impress on the heart a sense of our favourite analogy, rather than seem, in the own weakness, ignorance, and guilt; and, of slightest degree, to misrepresent, disguise, or the deference, respect, and good will which pervert the truth. We mean not to wrest we owe to others? Or, is it made a minis- scripture to our purpose: but would make tering servant to vanity and self-conceit? our purpose with reverence bend to that Leads it our attention from practice to specu- sacred authority. We would not with salation, to theory from real life? Does it crilegious hands force out of the Bible, by place the essentials of religion in modes of violence and art, a scanty and unnatural crop; opinion and forms of worship; and, neglect- but by diligent cultivation and assiduous care, ing the heart, content itself with playing draw from it a plenteous harvest of what the about and tickling the imagination? The soil naturally produces. And, we now reanswer to these questions will decide the turn from this digression, to pursue the point. By its fruit, the tree is known. history of Jacob.

HISTORY OF JACOB.

LECTURE XXIV.

And Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went to Padan-aram, unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went towards Haran.-GENESIS xxviii. 5. 10.

Ar what stage, or in what condition of human life, can a man say, Now my heart is at rest, now my wishes are accomplished, now my happiness is complete? By what unaccountable, untoward circumstances is the comfort of the worthiest, best ordered, most prosperous families, oft times marred and destroyed! Not through vice only do we suffer, but up to some piece of imprudence, or inadvertency; up to some trifling infirmity in our nature, or some petty fault in our conduct, our greatest calamities may easily be traced. Öne man has made his fortune, as it is called, but he has impaired his health in the acquisition of it, or made shipwreck of a good conscience. Another inherits a fine estate; but goes childless. There, we behold a numerous and promising family of children; but the wretched parents have hardly bread to give them: and here, both progeny and plenty; but hatred, and jealousy, and strife, banish tranquillity and ease. The heart of this child is corrupted through indulgence; the spirit of that one is broken by severity.

Isaac is wealthy, but his eyes are dim that he cannot see. God has given him two sons at once, but they are the torment of his life. He is fondly partial to Esau; and Esau does every thing in his power to mortify and disoblige his kind and indulgent father. He is unwittingly drawn in to bless Jacob; and,

the very next breath, feels himself constrained to pronounce sentence of dismission and banishment upon him. "The whole ordering of the lot is of the Lord," but "men themselves cast it into the lap." Providence only brings that out, which, with our own hands, we first put in.

Jacob has by skill and address pushed himself into the birthright, and by subtilty insinuated himself into the blessing. And how do they sit upon him? Very uneasily indeed. His father's house is no longer a home for him. Grasping at more than his right, he loses what he already had. Eagerly hastening to preferment, without waiting for Providence, he puts himself just so much farther back. And, seeking rule and preeminence in his father's family, he finds servitude and severity in the house of a stranger. If men will carve for themselves, they must not charge the consequences of their rashness and presumption upon God.

Behold the pilgrim then, on his way, pensive and solitary; without so much as a favourite, faithful dog, to accompany and to cheer his wanderings. His whole inheritance, the staff in his hand. Now, for the first time, he knows the heart of a stranger. Now he feels the bitter change from affiuence to want, from society to solitude, from security and protection to anxiety and danger. More forlorn than Adam when expelled

from paradise, than Abraham when exiled | every time of need. The strong hand of nefrom his father's house, he has no gentle cessity is upon our patriarch; submit he mate to participate and to soothe his anxie- must, and therefore he submits with alacrity. ties and cares.

a poor benighted pilgrim is not beneath his notice.

much to hear that the land which he then occupied with his weary limbs, as a wayThus, the great plan of the Divine Provi- faring man who continueth but for a night, dence, upholding all things, observing all should afterwards be given to him and to his things, subduing all things to his will, was seed for a possession. It was much to hear, feelingly conveyed to Jacob's mind, in this from the mouth of God himself, the blessed vision of the night. And in it, the world is assurance of protection through his journey, instructed, that however great the distance of success in his undertaking, and of a safe between heaven and earth, however inacces-return to his native home. It was much to sible that bright abode may be to flesh and blood, to celestial spirits it is but a few steps of a ladder; before an omnipresent God, intervening space is swallowed up and lost; and, condescending mercy! sovereign grace keeps that communication ever open, which the malice of hell and the apostacy of man had well nigh interrupted for ever.

hear of a posterity, innumerable as the sand upon the sea shore, and spreading to the four winds of heaven. But the essence of all these promises, the joy of all this joy, was to hear the renewed, the reiterated promise of a seed descending from him, in whom "all the families of the earth should be blessed." What could Jacob ask? What had God to bestow, more than this?

Here then the vision ends, and Jacob awakes. After the obvious, natural, and we trust, scriptural view, which we have attempted to give you of the subject, I shall not use your patience so ungratefully as to trespass upon it by going into a detail of the wild waking dreams of paraphrasts, and Rabbins, and pretended interpreters, on this pas

But I should have given you a very imperfect interpretation of this mysterious dream, did I stop short in it, as merely a symbolical representation of the plan of Providence. For in looking into another part of the sacred record, I find the same expressions and ideas applied to a subject of peculiar concernment to the christian world. Christ, when entering on the discharge of his public ministry, having given Nathaniel a personal and convinc-sage of the sacred history. It is of more iming proof of his divine knowledge, adds, "Thou shalt see greater things than these. Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."* Here then is the true mystery of the ladder which unites heaven and earth. The Son of Man first descending to assume our nature, to achieve in it the work of man's redemption; and then having finished the work given him to do, ascending triumphantly in glorified humanity, up to heaven again. And, hehold here too, "The Lord standing above." The plan of salvation, as of Providence, is the design of him "who worketh all things after the counsel of his will.""Who in Christ Jesus hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence," and who "in bringing many sons unto glory, hath made the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."t

And who are they that ascend and descend along this mysterious scale? "He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them, who shall be heirs of salvation."{

If what by Jacob was seen in vision at Bethel be worthy our attention, no less menorable and important are the things which he heard. It was much to hear a repetition of the covenant of God with Abraham and Isaac, his fathers, ratified and confirmed to himself. It was much to hear the blessing ately pronounced over him by the prophetic ips of his earthly parent, conveyed to his car by a voice infinitely more sacred. It was *John i. 51. † Heb. ii. 10. Ib. i. 7. Ib. i. 14.

portance to attend to our patriarch, restored, with the morning light, to the perfect use of his rational faculties, and making use of the admonitions and consolations of the night season, as a help to piety, and a spur to duty through the day. There was something so singular, both in the subject and external circumstances of his dream, that he immediately concluded, and justly, that it was from heaven. And is it not strange, that he who felt no horror at the thought of laying himself down to sleep in a desert place, under the cloud of night, and alone, is filled with a holy dread when morning arose, at the thought of being surrounded with God. "And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God: and this is the gate of heaven." And, if the visits of the Almighty, as a father and a friend, be thus awful even to good men, what must be the visitation of his wrath to the ungodly and the sinner?

Jacob arises immediately, and erects a monument of such simple materials as the place afforded, to the memory of this heavenly vision, which he was desirous thus to impress for ever on his heart. The difference of the expression in the eleventh verse, "he took of the stones of the place, and put them for his pillows," and in the eighteenth, "he took the stone that he had put for his pillow and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it," has given occasion to one of the Jewish Rabbins to attempt a reconciliation by a fiction of his own brain. Jacob, he says, having chosen out just three stones over night, to support his head, found them al † Verse 18.

*Gen. xxviii. 17