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11. One after another we pass off the stage of action. Abraham buries Sarah-soon he dies and his children bury him-so it is with all: we help to put others into the ground, and think but little how soon we shall go there ourselves. "Lord teach us to num

her our days."

12. Abraham's was a peaceful death, full of hope. This had been promised him, (Gen. xv. 15,) and here it is fulfilled. "There is no peace saith my God to the wicked." "Let me die the death of the righteous," &c. To have a peaceful death we must be at peace with God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

13. None, in our days, live to be as old as Abraham; but every one lives long enough, and is full of years, if he lives long enough to love and serve God. Happy is the man who only wishes to live so long as he can glorify God.

14. Even the bodies of believers shall be raised up, and then united again to their souls; be truly gathered to the assembly and church of the first born.— Heb. xii.

15. The wicked shail be raised up after the righteous, and their souls and bodies be cast into hell. Flee from the wrath to come.

LESSON 16.-Gen. xxviii. 1-5, 10-22.

1. BLESSED HIM. As he was about to send Jacob away, his father calls him to give him his parting benediction. Some suppose it here means that Isaac confirmed the prophetic blessing which he had previously obtained by subtlety.

CHARGED HIM. Gave him a very strict command.

THOU SHALT NOT TAKE A WIFE. You shall not marry any of the females of the Canaanitish nations, by whom we are surrounded. An excellent reason for this is GIVEN in Deut. vii. 3, 4. Esau had OFFENDED, by mar

rying heathen. The DESIGN of God respecting the family of Abraham in keeping them distinct, was to preserve the true religion from being mixed with idolatry. His design also was that the Messiah should descend through the family of Abraham.

2. PADAN-ARAM. This is the name which the Hebrews gave to that part of Syria which is called Mesopotamia. Hosea tells us Jacob went into Syria. (See xii. 12.) In the Bible Dictionary it is supposed that Padan-aram meant more particularly the north west part of Mesopotamia.

THY MOTHER'S FATHER. Thy grandfather.

BETHEL. The son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham.

LABAN. Brother of Rebecca. (Gen. xxiv. 29.)
DAUGHTERS OF LABAN. Cousins of Jacob.

3. ALMIGHTY. One who is able to do all things, and this is God alone.

MAKE THEE FRUITFUL. Cause thee to have a great many children.

4. BLESSING OF ABRAHAM. The same blessing which had been given to Abraham, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. This blessing includes the Messiah. It includes every thing temporal and spiritual which had been promised to Abraham.

INHERIT THE LAND. Canaan.

A STRANGER. Not a regular inhabitant.

SYRIAN. Native or inhabitant of Syria. (See Sacred Geography, page 37.)

10. HARAN. A town in Padan-aram or Mesopotamia. It is called in Acts, Charran.

11. LIGHTED. Stopped for the night.

A CERTAIN PLACE. Verse 19.

TARRIED. Remained-staid.

Took (some) OF THE STONES FOR PILLOWS. One of these seems to have been larger than the rest: see ver. 18. But we are not to suppose he lay naked on the

stones. The Easterns sleep in their usual garments; some of these doubtless covered Jacob's pillow.

12. ASCENDING AND DESCENDING. Going up and coming down.

A LADDER. "A multitude of fanciful things have been spoken of Jacob's vision of the ladder, and its signification. It might have several designs, as God chooses to accomplish the greatest number of ends by the fewest and simplest means possible. 1. It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which he watches over and regulates all terrestrial things: for nothing is left to merely natural causes: a heavenly agency pervades, actuates, and directs all. In his present circumstances, it was highly necessary that Jacob should have a clear and distinct view of this subject, that he might be the better prepared to meet all occurrences with the conviction, that all was working together for his good. 2. It might be intended also to point out the intercourse between heaven and earth, and the connexion of both worlds by the means of angelic ministry. That this is fact, we learn from many histories in the Old Testament; and it is a doctrine that is unequivocally taught in the New. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation? 3. Nothing could be a more expressive emblem of the incarnation and its effects; Jesus Christ is the grand connecting medium between heaven and earth, and between God and man. By him, God comes down to man through him, man ascends to God. It appears that our Lord applies the vision in this way himself. 1st. In that remarkable speech to Nathanael, "Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man;" John i. 51. 2dly. In his speech to Thomas, John xiv. 6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."Dr. Clarke.

13. THE LORD. The second Person in the Tri

nity. God the Father never has been seen. (John i. 18.)

THE LAND WHEREUNTO. Canaan.

14. AS THE DUST. Exceeding numerous.

SPREAD ABROAD. Extend. In the Hebrew," Break forth," like waters, on the right and left."

These promises have been fulfilled to the house of Jacob, because there is at this moment scarcely any country where his descendants cannot be found.

AND IN THY SEED, Here means Christ. This is the same promise formerly made to Abraham and Isaac, now continued to Jacob.

15. UNTIL I HAVE DONE THAT WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEE OF. That is, until all the families of the earth shall be blessed in Christ, by having the gospel preached to them, and become one fold under one shepherd.

16. I KNEW IT NOT, He had not expected such a communication from God.

17. AFRAID. Filled with reverence and godly fear. DREADFUL. Rather awful-solemn.

HOUSE OF GOD. House means habitation. Jacob merely meant to say, that God was there in a very peculiar manner.

GATE OF HEAVEN. Entrance into Heaven. By these expressions Jacob expressed his reverence for the place, ́and his delight in communion with God.

18. PILLAR. A stone set up erect.

POURED OIL. This was the way the ancients had of dedicating any thing to God.

19. BETHEL. Literally the house of God.

20. VOWED A vow. Made a solemn promise. RAIMENT. Clothes.

21. IN PEACE. Without any accident or harm. THEN SHALL THE LORD BE MY GOD. I will truly serve God.

22. THIS STONE SHALL BE GOD'S HOUSE. The place I

where I set up this stone, shall be a place of peculiar sanctity to me. I will make it a place to worship God at. He did so afterwards, chap. xxxv. 7, 14.

THE TENTH. "This is the second mention of tithes, or tenths, and the first specific dedication of them to God, and from this place we may conclude that Jacob, the grandchild of Abraham, vowing the tenth of all, as Abraham had before given the tenth of the spoil, was induced to do it, by the custom then prevailing among religious people."

REFLECTIONS.

1. Whoever God blesses, he always charges. The soul that has the benefit of God's grace, is always charged to obey God's orders; and where God bestows blessings upon those who make him no return of gratitude, it aggravates their condemnation. No religious person is safe who forms connexions with the irreligious. It is running into temptation, and in most cases the irreligious exerts the successful influence. Bad example is always easier to follow than good. Any one who wishes the favour of God, and expects to do his will, must keep clear of evil "Evil commu company. nications corrupt good manners.'

2. While all men are to be loved, there ought always to be a peculiar attachment between relations. Christians ought particularly to love one another, for they are brethren-brethren of one another-and brethren of Christ, for he says, (Matt. xii. 49, 50.)

3. Those are blessed indeed, whom God Almighty blesses, for as he is Almighty, he is able to make the blessing come to pass. The blessing of a father may fail, but the blessing of the Almighty cannot. Children are a great blessing to parents when they are good, but when they are wicked they make their parents' hearts ache. A great deal of happiness, or a great deal of misery is connected with children. The wise man says. (Prov. x. 1.)

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