joined into one the next morning; which, he pretends to allege, was a signification of the strict and solid union which subsisted between God and Jacob. And some later interpreters, though aided by the superior light of the gospel dispensation, have been simple enough to adopt this fable, and to explain it, some, of the ineffable union of the three persons who are the object of our worship; others, of the conjunction of the soul, body, and deity in the person of Jesus Christ.

It appears that Jacob intended simply to record, in such characters as his situation afforded, that night's important transaction. He sets up the stone, or stones, upon which his head had reposed when visited with the visions of the Almighty, in the form of a rustic pillar, and solemnly anoints, and thereby consecrates it, to the honour of God, by the name of Bethel, that is, "the house of God;" and over it, thus dedicated, he afresh and voluntarily enters into solemn covenant with God, obliging himself by a sacred vow, to acknowledge and worship none but him; committing himself with filial confidence to the protection of his gracious providence; trusting the time and manner of his return to the care of infinite wisdom; promising ever to consider this monumental pillar as an altar devoted to the service of God; and binding himself, by an explicit declaration, to devote to pious uses the tenth part of whatever he should through the divine blessing acquire. By the way, the oil wherewith he consecrated his pillar was undoubtedly part of the slender provision made for his journey; and apparently a little bread and oil was all he could possibly carry with him. But of that little he cheerfully spares a portion for the purposes of religion; for the possession of a truly pious soul is small indeed, if it bestow nothing when charity, mercy, or devotion give the call.

cob must earn that by long fourteen years servitude, which Abraham's servant was so successful as to accomplish in the pronouncing of almost as many words.

But here we must make another pause, and leave the next sweet scene of Jacob's life, and the sequel of it, to another Lecture. But we must no longer defer, the beginning at least of that parallel which is one object among others, if not the chief, in these exercises.

Jacob was destined of Providence to power and precedency before he was born. Jesus is declared the Son of God, and the heir of all things, by the angel who announced his miraculous conception and birth to his virgin mother. Jacob, the last in order of nature, but first in the election of grace, prefigures him, who, appearing in the end of the world, is nevertheless "the first-born among many brethren." Jacob, hated and persecuted of his brother, is an obvious type of him who was to come, "despised and rejected of men;" crucified and slain by the impious and unnatural hands of those who were his bone and his flesh. Jacob, dismissed with blessings by his father from Beer-sheba, points out to us Jesus leaving heaven's glory, and the bosom of the Father, in compliance with the eternal decree, to become a wanderer in our world; "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." The object of Jacob's journey and of Christ's is one and the same. Jacob, to procure for himself a believing spouse, to become the fruitful mother of an elect offspring; Jesus, to purchase for himself, at the price of his own blood, "the church, which is his body, to espouse it to himself as a chaste bride," united to him in everlasting bands of interest and affection. Jacob, deserted and solitary in the plain of Bethel, is a shadow of Christ forsaken of all in the wilderness of this world, yet not "alone, but his heavenly With what alacrity does he now prosecute Father always with him." The vision of the his journey! What a change in his condi- ladder has already spoken for itself. What tion produced in one short night! When then remains but to add, Jacob's covenant, "the heart is established by grace," difficult consecration, and vow, are so many different things become easy; the valley is exalted, representations of Christ's covenant of reand the hill laid low; the crooked becomes demption: his unction by the Spirit to the straight, and the rough places plain. No-execution of his high office; and not the thing that the sacred historian deemed worth recording, occurred during the remainder of this pilgrimage. Jacob at length arrived" in the land of the people of the east." And now, no doubt, he flatters himself that all his troubles and mortifications are at an end. I add no more but my most fervent prayers His grandfather's servant, Eleazer, had been to Almighty God-That by night and by day, happy enough to finish a marriage treaty for alone and in society, when you sleep and his master's son in a few hours conversation; when you wake, in prosperity and in adversurely then the heir of the same family may sity, you may be still with God: and that be equally successful when making personal" the Almighty may be your refuge, the application for himself. Ah blind to futurity! Most High your habitation," and "underStrange, unaccountable difference in the di-neath" and around you "the everlasting vine conduct towards different persons! Ja-arms.' 19 Amen.

tithe, but the whole of his vast and glorious acquisition rendered unto God even the Father: when the kingdom is finally delivered up to "him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, that God may be all in all."

HISTORY OF JACOB.

LECTURE XXV.

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.-GENESIS xxix. 20.

female heart, if it would not much rather be wooed with the attentions and assiduities of an agreeable man, than by the prudent and disgusting formalities of settlements, and deeds, and reversions. Rebekah was courted by proxy, with presents and promises; Rachel, by her destined husband in person, with the looks and the language, and the service of love. Betwixt the union of Isaac and Rebekah, that match of interest and prudence, no obstacle, except the trifling distance of place, interposed; but many difficulties occurred to retard, to prevent, and to mar the union of Jacob and Rachel, founded in esteem and prompted by affection. They become insensibly attached to each other. For love does not give the first warning of his approach to the parties themselves. But it did not long escape the penetrating selfish eye of the crafty father and uncle; who, from the moment he observes this growing passion in his nephew and daughter, casts about how best to convert it to his own advantage.

men of the present generation, who persist in the neglect of nature's clearest, plainest law, from, I know not what, pretended reasons of caution and wisdom, which would fain pass for virtue; but are in reality the offspring of pride and luxury, pusillanimity and self-love.

The proposal is no sooner made than accepted. And Laban has the satisfaction of at once betrothing his daughter to wealthy Isaac's son and heir, and of securing for himself the present emolument of Jacob's labour, care and fidelity for seven good years. Thus, the rights of humanity, the laws of hospitality, and the ties of blood, are all made basely to truckle to the most sordid and detestable of all human passions. And behold the freeborn grandson of Abraham sinks into abject servitude, and, the worst of all servitude, subjection to a near relation.

But, as every blessing of life has its corresponding inconvenience, so every evil has its antidote. Jacob is contented and happy, while his pains and fatigue are alleviated by the conversation of his beloved Rachel; and, what is it to him, that the stern, discontented father frowns and chides, so long as the beautiful daughter receives him with complacency and smiles? He bears with patience and cheerfulness the ardour of the meridian sun, and the cold chilling damps of the evening, in the hope of that blest hour, when tender sympathy shall sooth his distresses, and every uneasiness shall be lulled to rest, in the bosom of love. In this sweet commerce, the years of slavery glide imperceptibly away: and what absence would have rendered insupportably long, the presence of the beloved object has shortened into the appearance of a few days. Such is the inconceivable charm of virtuous love. "Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."*

Jacob had frankly told him his whole situation, and laid open all his heart. He informed him, that he had indeed purchased the birthright, and obtained the prophetic blessing; but that through fear of his brother he had been constrained to flee from home, and to seek protection in Syria. This was, by no means, a situation likely to engage the attention and to procure the kindness of a worldly mind. An empty, nominal birthright, and a blessing which promised only distant wealth, were very slender possessions, in the eye of covetous Laban. He could not help comparing the splendid retinue of Eleazer, seeking a wife for his master's son, with the simple appearance of Jacob, come a courting to his family, with only a staff in his hand; and he finds it greatly to the disadvantage of the latter. But it is the interest of avarice to put on at least the appearance of that jus- Jacob, having faithfully fulfilled his part of tice which it secretly dreads and hates, if not the covenant, now calls on Laban to fulfil of that generosity which it despises. Jacob what was incumbent upon him. The better had, unsolicited, and without a stipulation, to conceal the fraud which he was meditating, hitherto rendered Laban his best services for he feigns compliance: and, believing, Jacob nothing. Indeed he was thinking of but one is amused with all the usual apparatus of a thing in the world, and that was, how to ren- marriage feast. In conformity to the custom der himself agreeable to his amiable cousin. of those eastern nations, the bride was conWhen, therefore, Laban, who must clearly ducted to the bed of her husband, with sihave foreseen the answer, under an affect- lence, in darkness, and covered from head to ed regard to the interest of his relation, in- foot with a veil; circumstances, all of them quires into and proposes the condition of his favourable to the wicked, selfish plan, which future services, he without hesitation men- Laban had formed, to detain his son-in-law tions a marriage with his younger daughter. longer in his service. Leah is accordingly And, having no marriage portion to give the substituted in room of her sister. And he father, as the custom of the times and of the who by subtilty and falsehood stole away the country required, he offers, as an equivalent, blessing intended for his brother, is punished seven years personal servitude and labour. for his deceit, by finding a Leah where he What is loss of ease, loss of liberty, loss of life, expected a Rachel. He who availed himself to love? When I behold Jacob, at such a price, of an undue advantage to arrive at the right ready and happy to purchase the object of his of the first-born, has undue advantage taken affection, whether shall I pity or contemn of him in having the first-born put in the the cold, timid, selfish hearts of the young |

* Gen. xxix. 20.

side, avarice is quicksighted as the eagle to discern it, and not more penetrating to discover than dexterous to convert it to its own emolument. Unfortunately, Jacob's infirmity was clear as the sun at noon. His unextinguished, unabated passion for Rachel was well known to her rapacious father; who had, with a joy which the worldly mind alone can feel, seen his flocks multiply, and his wealth increase, under Jacob's care. Unsatisfied and insatiable, he builds upon this well-known attachment the project of a far ther continuation of Jacob's servitude, with all its accumulation of riches and conse quence.

place of the younger. He who could prac-other man have what may be called a weak tice upon a father's blindness, though to obtain a laudable end, is in his turn practised upon by a father, employing the cover of night to accomplish a very unwarrantable purpose. Laban was base, treacherous, and wicked; but Heaven is wise, and holy, and just. Let the man who dares to think of doing evil in the hope that good may come, look at Jacob, and tremble. The shame, vexation, and distress of such a disappointment, are more easily imagined than described. And, what are all the votaries of sinful pleasure preparing for themselves? Treasuring up shame and sorrow, when the delirium of passion is over, and the returning light of reason awakens them to reflection The proposal which avarice made without and remorse. They thought it "to be Ra- a blush, love accepted with perhaps too much chel, but in the morning behold it was Leah." precipitation. We are not framing an apology The next day, as may well be supposed, for Jacob's conduct, but delivering the feaexhibited a scene of no pleasing kind: ex-tures of his character, and the lines of his postulation, upbraiding, and reproach. Laban, as avarice seldom chooses to avow its real motives, endeavours to justify his treachery and breach of faith, by a pretended regard for the laws and manners of his country, which permitted not the younger to be given in marriage before the first-born. An honest man would have given this information when the bargain was first proposed. It was an insult, not an indemnification, to produce it now. What will not this base passion make a man do? To deceive the unsuspecting and unwary; to oppress the weak; to practise upon the stranger, are among its simpler and more customary operations. Behold it leading a father, to by what name shall I call it?-prostitute his own daughter. If there be a crime blacker than another; if, Satan, there be a purpose thou wouldst accomplish, which modesty shudders to think of, which the hand trembles to perpetrate, from which the conscience in horror recoils; infuse into some dark heart the demon of covetousness, the love of money; place gain in one eye, prostitution and parricide in the other, and the work of hell is done.

Mark how easy and flexible the conscience of a miser is. Let interest blow the gale, from whatever quarter it be, and lo, with the rapidity of thought, the understanding and conscience of the covetous wretch are veered round with it! The man, who last night shuddered at the thought of violating a foolish and absurd fashion of the country is not ashamed, the very next morning, to propose polygamy and incest; and to make his own children the instruments of them. Whence this strange inconsistency? It was for his advantage to adhere to the custom of the country; and to dispense with the laws of God and nature. What does it concern him, that disorder and distress are introduced into his daughter's family, so long as it can any now redound to his private benefit? If an

history, from the sacred record. But this much we may venture to affirm, that Jacob, left to himself, and to the honest workings of a heart inspired by the love of an estimable object, would never have dreamt of a plurality of wives; much less of assuming the sister of his beloved Rachel, to be her rival in his affections. It does not appear, that the solemnization of Jacob's marriage with Rachel, was deferred till the expiration of the second term of seven years. Provided Laban got sufficient security for performance of the agreement, it was indifferent to him when the other got possession of the bride. It is probable, therefore, that he gave way immediately to Jacob's wishes; and the more so, that his business was likely to be executed with greater fidelity and zeal, by a servant and son gratified, indulged, and obliged, than by one soured by disappointment, dissatisfied and irritated by unkindness and deceit. Be hold then Jacob, at length, at the summit of his hopes and desires. After much delay, through many dificulties, which have strengthened, not extinguished affection, Rachel is at last his wife.

But alas, human life admits not of perfect bliss! The seeds of jealousy and strife are sown in Jacob's family. The wife who enjoyed the largest share of the husband's affection, is doomed to sterility; the less beloved, is blessed with children. Thus a wise and gracious Providence, by setting one thing against another, preserves the pros perous from pride and insolence, and the wretched from despair. Twenty years did Isaac and Rebekah live in wedlock without a child, though the inheritance and succes sion of all Abraham's wealth and prospects depended upon it; whereas the family of Jacob, a simple shepherd, earning his subsistence by the sweat of his brow, the servant of another man, is built up and increases apace. The good things of life seem, to the superficia

and discontented, to be unequally divided; but | and ye are every thing. Be arrogant, imthere is no balance so exact as that in which petuous, self-sufficient, imperious, unreasonall conditions and all events are weighed. able, and ye sink into nothing. I tremble to The great Governor of the world does not think of the dreadful length a woman will go indeed conform himself, in the dispensations to gratify her own spleen, and to mortify a of his providence, to the misconceptions and rival. In truth, she ceases to be a female, prejudices of short-sighted, erring men; but where certain feminine points are to be carhe is affording ignorant, erring men, if they ried; and the leading, distinguishing characwill but be attentive, perpetual cause to teristics of the sex are lost and sunk in the adore and admire his wisdom and justice, his feelings of the individual. What! the jeamercy and faithfulness. Leah bears to Jacob, lous, envious Rachel, who found her beloved as fast as the course of nature permitted, four husband had already one wife too many, to sons one after another; and, what is remark- think of throwing another into his bosom! able, not only is the hated wife first honoured But her too happy sister, and rival is to be with being a mother, but with being the mortified; and she cares not what pangs it mother of the two tribes destined to the costs her own heart. O, my gentle friends, priesthood and to royal dignity; nay, the you are yourselves the framers of your own mother, remotely, of the chosen seed; a dig- fortunes. Be yourselves, and I will answer nity after which every mother, since the first for my own sex. But quit the ground on dawning of the promise, eagerly aspired. which God and nature have placed you, and you are indeed to be pitied. "If I might venture to hazard an opinion, not altogether unwarranted by the history, and which I am convinced by experience to be well founded: you much oftener lose your object by over eagerness than by inattention. You may, now and then, succeed by address, or vehemence, or force; but you will succeed more certainly, and much more pleasantly with God and with man, by meekness, and gentleness, and submission.

The fruitfulness of her sister violently excites Rachel's envy. The partiality of Jacob to her, and all his profusion of tenderness, avail her nothing. She is unable to suppress her chagrin and mortification; and, in the bitterness of her heart, forgets both the respect which she owed her husband, and the submission she ought to have paid to the will of God. "And she said unto Jacob, Give me children or else I die."* How odious, how pitiable are the sentiments, the looks and the language of passion, to the calm and dispassionate; nay, to the passionate man himself, when the fit is over, and passion has spent itself! "And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead; who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" What! and can the anger of Jacob be kindled against his Rachel, his first, his only love! to obtain whom he cheerfully served fourteen years! My fair hearers, presume not too far on the fondness of the men who love you. Be calm, be moderate, be unassuming, be reasonable, be submissive, † Gen. xxx. 2.

Gen. xxx, L.

Thus was Jacob most grievously wounded, there, where he was most vulnerable; most violently disturbed, there, where he promised himself perfect repose. Thus, our heaviest crosses arise out of our dearest comforts; and the pursuits of " vanity," issue in "vexation of spirit." Thus, all things conspire to give full assurance to the children of men," that this is not their rest;" and invite them to seek "another country, that is an heavenly, where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor pain," and "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

HISTORY OF JACOB.

LECTURE XXVI.

And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place and to my country. Give me my wives, and my children for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry, for I have learned by experience, that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. And he said, appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. For it was little which thou hadst before I came: and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also ?-GENE SIS XXX. 25-30.