sensual gratifications to sway our minds in religious duties.

899. Isaac was to bless Esau before he died, ver. 4 -We should earnestly desire, and endeavour to deserve, the blessing of pious parents.

900. Esau immediately followed his father's directions, ver. 5.-We ought never to delay obedience, but should instantly do what our parents require of

us.

901. Rebekah betrayed her husband's confidence in allowing her to hear his directions to Esau, ver. 6.We should never betray the confidence reposed in us by others.

902. Rebekah told Jacob all the good that was intended for Esau, ver. 7.-We should never attempt to make others discontented on account of their own wants, nor envy the good of others.

903. Rebekah requested and commanded her son to do as she required, ver. 8.-We should never use the affection of others, nor our own authority in tempting them to sin.

904. Rebekah knew the savoury meat which Isaac loved, and could herself make it, ver. 9.-We should never use our knowledge, or abilities, for sinful purposes.

905. Rebekah intended to defeat the intentions of her husband by giving him savoury meat, ver. 9.-We should never pretend kindness, nor take advantage of the weakness of others, in order to deceive or betray them.'

906. Rebekah spoke only of Jacob taking the meat to his father, but did not speak of his telling the lie, ver. 10. We should beware of deceiving ourselves, or others, by denying or concealing the sins included in what we enjoin them to do.

907. Jacob was to deceive his father, that he might get his blessing, ver. 10.-We should never do evil

that good may come; nor deliberately commit one sin

to avoid another.

908. Jacob reasoned with his mother, ver. 11.-We should deliberately consider the lawfulness of doubtful acts, before we undertake them.

909. Jacob objected, not because of the sin, but from fear of detection, ver. 12.-We shouk do good and avoid evil, because of our duty to God, and not from fear of consequences to ourselves or others.

910. Jacob was afraid of incurring a curse, ver. 12. -We should deliberately consider the consequences of sin when we are tempted to commit it.

911. Rebekah took upon herself the consequences of the curse, ver. 13.-We should never tempt others to sin, by offering to suffer its consequences.

912. Jacob fetched the kids, ver. 14.-We should zealously obey our parents, as far as we can do so in submission to the authority of God.

913. Rebekah made savoury meat, such as her husband loved, ver. 14.-We should never flatter, pamper, or even benefit others, for the purpose of deceiving, or taking an undue advantage of them.

914. Rebekah took Esau's clothes for Jacob's use, ver. 15. We should not, without leave, make use of other people's property, especially for the purpose of doing them an injury.

915. Rebekah put the skins of the goats on Jacob's hands and neck, ver. 16.-We should never exert our abilities nor ingenuity in ungodly deeds.

916. Rebekah put the savoury meat into Jacob's hands, ver. 17.-We should never, by our actions, any more than by our words, tempt others to sin,

SECTION XLV.

Jacob steals Esau's blessing.

Gen. xxvii. 18-29.

18. And (1) he came unto his father, and said, My father. And (2) he said, here am I: who art thou, my son?

1. Jacob.-2. Isaac.

18. To whom did Jacob come? To whose father? What did Jacob say to his father? What answer did Isaac give to Jacob? What question did Isaac ask at Jacob?

19. And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau, thy first-born; I have done (1) according as thou badest me; (2) arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of (3) my venison, that thy (4) soul may (5) bless me.

1. That which.-2. Rise up.-3. The flesh of wild animals which I have brought.-4. Spirit.-5. Pray for prosperity to.

19. To whom did Jacob speak? What did Jacob say to his father? Who did he say he was? What was Esau? Whose first-born was Esau? What did Jacob say he had done? What did Jacob desire his father to do? Of what was he to eat? Of whose venison was he to eat? Why was he to eat of the venison? Bless whom? Who was to bless him? When was he to bless Jacob?

20. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God (1) brought it

to me.

1. Assisted me in hunting, and made me successful.

20. What did Isaac say about his finding the venison? Who had found it quickly? What had he found quickly? Who asked how he had found it quickly? How did Jacob say he had found it? Who did he say had brought it? Whose God? What did he say the Lord his God had done? Brought what? To whom did he say the Lord had brought it?

21. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may (1) feel thee, my son, (2) whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

1. Put my hands upon.-2. That I may know whether thou art.

21. What did Isaac bid Jacob do?-Who was to

come near? To whom was he to come near? What was Isaac to do to Jacob when he came near? Whom was he to feel? Why was Isaac to feel Jacob? Whether he was what?

22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and (1) he felt him, and said, The voice (2) is Jacob's voice, but the hands (3) are the hands of Esau.

1. Isaac.-2. Appears to me to be the voice of Jacob.-3. Seem to be Esau's hands.

22.

What did Jacob do? Who went near? To whom did he go near? What did Isaac do to Jacob when he went near? Who felt him? What did Isaac say when he felt Jacob? Whose voice was it? What did Isaac say of his hands? Whose hands did he think they were?

23. And he (1) discerned him not, because (2) his hands were hairy, (3) as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

1. Did not know him.-2. Jacob's.-3. Like.

23. What did Isaac not do? Whom did Isaac not discern? Why did Isaac not discern that this was Jacob? What were hairy? As what were Jacob's hands hairy? as whose brother's hands? Who was Jacob's brother? What did Isaac do to Jacob? Who was blessed? By whom was Jacob blessed?

24. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And (1) he said (2) I am.

1. Jacob.-2. Yes, I am.

24. What did Isaac say to Jacob? Art thou what? Whose son? Who did he ask if he was? What did Jacob say when his father asked if he was Esau? Who said he was Esau?

22. And (1) he said, Bring (2) it near to me, And I will eat of my son's venison, that my (3) soul may (4) bless thee. And (5) he brought it near to (1) him, and he did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 1. Isaac.-2. The food.-3. Spirit.-4. Pray for prosperity to-5. Jacob.

25. What did Isaac bid Jacob do?

to bring near?

he to bring it?

What was he
Whither was

What was Isaac to

Who was to bring it?
Near to whom?

do? What was he to eat? Whose venison? Who

was to eat of his son's venison? Why was he to eat

of his son's venison? That what might bless him? Bless whom? What did Jacob do with the venison? What did Jacob bring near? To whom did he bring it near? What did Isaac do when Jacob brought the venison to him? Who ate? What did Jacob bring to Isaac besides the venison? What did Isaac do with the wine?

26. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come (1) near now, and kiss me, my son.

1. Close to me.

26. What did Isaac say to Jacob when he had eaten and drank? Who was to come near? To whom was Jacob to come near? What was Jacob to do when he came near to his father? Who was to kiss him? Whom was Jacob to kiss? What was Jacob to Isaac?

27. And (1) he came near and kissed (2) him: and (2) he smelled the smell of his (3) raiment, and (4) blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed :

1. Jacob.-2. His father Isaac.-3. Clothes which were Esau's.-4. Pronounced a blessing upon him.

27. What did Jacob do? What did Jacob do when he came near? Whom did he kiss? What did Isaac do when Jacob kissed him? What did Isaac smell? of whose raiment? Whom did Isaac bless? What did Isaac say when he blessed Jacob? What was the smell of Jacob? Like the smell of what kind of a field? That who had blessed?

28. Therefore God give thee (1) of the dew of heaven, and (2) the fatness of the earth, and (3) plenty of corn and wine.

1. The benefit of the dew and rain from.-2. Make thy ground bring forth abundantly.-3. May God always give thee plenty of bread.

28. What did Isaac pray God to give Jacob? The dew of what? Who was to get the dew of heaven? From whom was he to get the dew of heaven? The fatness of what? Of what was Jacob to get plenty ? Who was to get plenty of corn and wine? From whom did Isaac wish him to get plenty of corn and

wine.

29. Let people (1) serve thee, and nations (2) bow down to thee: be (3) lord over (4) thy brethren, and let thy (5) mother's sons bow down