"While I was

own heart." And he himself found the blessedness of it: it warmed his heart, and made it glow within him. thus musing (he says) the fire kindled." It is very good for us sometimes to get alone, and think over God's past dealings with us, His mercies, and our shortcomings. It is good to think of the Saviour, and His amazing love to us, and of that Home which He has prepared for those that serve Him here.

Isaac's married life was a very happy one. I do not say that it was all happiness: he had his ups and downs as well as ourselves. It was not all brightness: he had his dark days as most of us have. His path was not always strewed with flowers; sometimes it was rough and thorny.

His parents were taken from him at a good old age. But he mourned over them not as one without hope; for he felt that they were blessed, dying in the Lord.

At their father's grave the two brothers, who had probably been separated for years, met once more. Such solemn scenes have often proved a time of blessing; and hearts

which have been long torn asunder have thus been drawn together. Such was the happy effect of Abraham's death on Isaac and Ishmael.

Shortly after the loss of his father, two children were born to Isaac and Rebecca. But Satan soon spoiled their joy; for he tempted them to make favourites of their children. Isaac had a preference for the eldest son Esau, and Rebecca for Jacob. This favouritism brought great trouble into the little household, and was probably the cause of much future strife between the twin-brothers.

How careful should parents be to avoid all partiality as regards their children. Their affection should be divided as equally as possible. And even if a preference should be felt, they should watch against it, and carefully avoid any outward marks of it.

Yes, Isaac's portion was one of trouble as well as joy. At one time, in order to preserve life, he was forced to leave his own native land where a famine had broken out, and to live for a time among the Philistines. It was a heavy trial to him to sojourn

among a strange people, and a people too who knew nothing of the only true God. But it was a matter of necessity, and not of choice.

We see however in this how God watched over his chosen servant. Not only did he protect him from harm, but he greatly blessed him during his sojourn among these strangers. We read that Isaac "sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him; and the man waxed great." So much so, that the Philistines looked upon him with an envious eye. But the Lord again and again assured him that all would be well, and that he was under His special care.

Happy those who have committed their cause to God! They may meet with trials in the world. The scoffs and jeers of ungodly men may fall like hail around them. But in His hands they are safe; and He will make all things work together for their good.

But Isaac had other troubles towards the close of his life. For many years he was afflicted with blindness; and during this

time his declining days were saddened by the deceit of one of his sons, and the ungodliness of the other.

Thus was Isaac punished for his weakness in preferring one of his children to the other. And thus we see how, even in the case of God's servants, He chastens them for any departure from the right way.

But the Lord loved Isaac, and afflicted him for his good. The scourge, that smote him, was from a Father's hand. The cup, that he was called to drink, was mixed by a Father's love. And now Isaac is far out of the reach of trials. He is a dweller in that happy land, where tears are never shed, because sorrow is unknown.

Blessed Lord, send us trials. Chasten us, if thou wilt. But leave us not to ourselves. Above all," cast us not off in the time of old age; forsake us not when our strength faileth."

JACOB;

OR, THE WRESTLER WITH GOD.

THE first thing that we are told about Jacob in Scripture is that he "was a plain man dwelling in tents." I suppose that means that he was a man who lived a quiet and simple life, and was fond of the occupations of the field.

Two bad points in his character are mentioned, which I will notice before we speak of better things.

The first was his depriving his Brother of his birthright. Esau and Jacob were twins; but Esau was the elder of the two. And it appears that when they were about thirtyfive years old, Jacob took a most unfair advantage of his Brother. Esau, having one day been hunting, came home nearly exhausted, and found Jacob preparing food for himself. He earnestly begged for some of it to relieve his hunger. Jacob, seeing

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