made; its own nature; and the succeeding progress of the history reasonably and fully justify. The former history assuredly points to Christ; the statements which follow centre indisputably in the same Person; and were the apparent difficulty (for I regard it after all as apparent rather than real)were it far greater than it may seem to the most sceptical, it would still be a more solid objection, that with so many statements, both antecedently and subsequently pertaining only to Christ, this, which was the real fulfilment to Abraham of the promised seed, should stand out alone without reference or connection with him.

Scripture is silent at this point in regard to Abraham; but the continuity which we require, is thoroughly preserved in respect of his descendants, both of Isaac and his son Jacob. Abraham had been gathered to his fathers. There was a famine in the land, where Isaac dwelt, and he went down to Abimelech, king of the Philistines at Gerar. While in that place," the Lord* (JEHOVAH) appeared unto him," forbad him to go down to Egypt, and commanded him to dwell in the promised land of Canaan. But the point which is the most valuable in this appearance is the distinct repetition of the promises which were made to Abraham; exhibiting in them the very conclusive fact, that while the person who now spoke was the same, he evidently acted upon his own sole authority. "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee and unto thy seed, I will give these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham * Gen. xxvi. 2.

thy father. And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

I am loth to weaken the force of this extract by any comment; its very simplicity is its strength; and relying on that, I pass on willingly to the remarkable vision vouchsafed to the patriarch Jacob at Beth-el. By his father Isaac's desire, he journeyed towards Padan Aram, with the double purpose of escaping the aroused vengeance of his brother Esau, and of taking a wife from the daughters of his uncle Laban. His mind was disconsolate. He had sown a dissension in the house of his father, which to all human probability would never be healed. He had left behind him a brother, whose wrath might only be appeased with his death. He had relinquished to him the full enjoyment of that inheritance, to acquire which he had hazarded so much; while he himself wandered solitary through that land which had been promised to his fathers:-a staff in his hand; the earth his couch; and heaven his canopy. In a hour so humiliating and so comfortless, Christ descends to him in a vision of an exceeding glory; and renews with him, as the destined, though not actual heir of Isaac, the Covenant and promises which he had originally made to Abraham.* "He dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth,—and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And behold the Lord (JEHOVAH) stood above it, and said I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of

* Gen. xxviii. 12.

Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

Many years pass prosperity.

Comforted and sustained by the vision, Jacob proceeds joyfully on his journey. over. He is blessed with great His flocks and herds and camels are in such abundance, that the loss of his inheritance is scarcely felt. A numerous progeny has gladdened his marriage; and, with one thought reserved-his exile from home -his heart is happy. The house of Laban too is blessed for his sake; and both feel and acknowledge, that the Lord's hand is upon him in much bounteousness and favor. God throughout has been his counsellor ; ;- his refuge in doubt; his protector in trouble. He has frequently revealed himself to him. He has supported him in his separation from Laban ; he has turned the heart of Esau in love and kindliness towards him; and given him during some succeeding years, a rest from his wanderings in the promised land, near the city of Schechem.* The treachery however, and cruelty of his sons in the slaughter of

There is one revelation, which, though eminently remarkable, we have omitted in the text, for this reason; that it may be open to question, whether the Being who appeared, was a created angel; or Christ himself. I allude to the wrestling at Peniel. My own belief is, that it was Christ;-which opinion is supported by the authority of commentators. The design however of this enquiry, is not forwarded by that instance; although there is nothing whatever, that militates against it. Jacob was doubtful of the reception he should meet with from his brother Esau: and its object was to show by a forcible symbol, that he should prevail over his wrath in the coming interview. If therefore it were Christ, it makes for my

the Schechemites, disturb the tranquillity he has begun to feel; and render a longer sojourn in that part of the land inexpedient. The time has again arrived, when, in the mind of God, a divine intervention of a more decisive character has become necessary. The language and the person are still the same. "And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up

to Bethel and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.”*

was obeyed. The altar was raised

The command

and sacrifices

and solemn rites were offered to the God who had descended in the vision.

Now the command to raise an altar and to offer sacrifice to the very Being who had revealed himself, proves clearly, that he was no inferior or created angel,—the mere interlocutor between the patriarch and a superior power. He could not, under such a character, consistently with any notions of religion, have enjoined worship to himself; while the fact of his appearance is alone sufficient, under the principles laid down, to prohibit any thought, which would hastily imagine him to be God the Father. We refer to Beth-el; and joining the appearance now in question to the vision vouchsafed at that place, refer it at once, without question, to the Messiah. And beautifully under this idea does the subject open upon us on his arrival at Beth-el. God appeared again to him, and formally changed his name views; if an angel, it makes nothing against them. It might be wrong to pass it over altogether; and for the reason given, I have rather named it in a note, than in the body of the narrative.

* Gen. xxxv. 1.

from Jacob to Israel. "And God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God went up from him, in the place where he talked with him."*

An interval of nearly thirty years takes place before the next revelation; during which, those events in the life of Joseph transpire, by which the Israelites became at first sojourners, and eventually captives in the land of Egypt. The famine has pressed sore on the family of Israel. They have been relieved from the granaries of Pharaoh. Joseph has been made known to his brethren; and his father, at his earnest entreaties, has consented to leave the land of Canaan for a season, that he may again behold the countenance of his best-beloved son: but passing, and very natural doubts, fell on his mind, whether he should be justified in departing from the country which had been appointed as his home, and had been promised to his posterity, on a journey beset with perils, and to a kingdom from which he had, in former life, been prohibited. We are led to infer this from the terms of the vision with which he is assured and comforted in his journey to Beersheba. It would seem to have removed an apprehension, which had previously disturbed him. He raised an altar, and offered sacrifices † "unto the God of his Father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, † Gen. xlvi. 1.

* Gen. xxxv. 9.