him, and keep him whither foever he went; that his pofterity should be numerous as the duft of the earth; and that all the families of the earth should be blessed through him; the Meffiah, or Christ, being to be born of one of his descendants.

Jacob, as foon as he was awaked, with awful reverence and pious gratitude, fet up the stone upon which he flept, and poured oil upon it, and called the name of the place Bethel, that is to fay, the House of God. He then purfued his journey, till he arrived at the house of Laban, the brother of Rebekah, who entertained him with great kindness. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob foon fhewed a particular affection for the youngest; and, being defirous of marrying her, agreed with her father to take care of his flocks, as a fhepherd, feven years for her. But at the expiration of the time, Laban, by an artifice, obliged him to marry Leah; and excufed by faying, it must not be fo done in our country, to give the younger before the first born: he promifed however to give him Rachel alfo, if he would ferve him feven other years. To this Jacob readily agreed, and took alfo Rachel to wife. In thofe days, because there were but few inhabitants in the world, men had

more wives than one, and near relations were married to each other; but as the world became more populous, this practice was reformed, and afterwards fuch marriages were forbidden.

The prudent and induftrious management of Jacob was fo favoured by Providence, that every thing which he took in hand profpered. His family alfo increased; he had twelve fons and one daughter, called Dinah: the two youngest fons, Jofeph and Benjamin, were born of his beloved wife Rachel. Being defirous of making fome provifion for his children, he purpofed to return to his father's houfe: but Laban having experienced the good effects of Jacob's paft care, engaged his further fervice by giving him a fhare of the cattle. After which the fubftance of Jacob increafed exceedingly, fo that he became mafter of many flocks and herds; the hand of the diligent maketh rich.-At length, perceiving that Laban was envious at his profperity, and that his countenance was not towards him as before, he refolved to depart from him; and accordingly fet out in a private manner with his family, and all that he had. Laban however followed and overtook him; but after fome expoftulation, a cove

nant of peace was made between them, and they parted in friendship.

As Jacob purfued his way, he recollected the anger of his brother Efau, (who then lived at Mount Seir, in the land of Edom), and therefore fent a kind conciliating meffage to him; but the messengers foon returned with the alarming news, that Efau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Being afraid of his brother's refentment, and anxious for his tender family, he applied to Him, who alone is able to fave, and prayed earneftly for deliThe Almighty was pleafed to give him a fign or token of the fuccefs of his prayer; for he fent an Angel, who wrestled with Jacob, and permitted him to prevail: upon which the Angel faid, thy name fhall be called no more Jacob, but Ifrael; for as a prince haft thou power with God, and with men alfo jhalt thou prevail. The word Ifrael literally fignifies a prince of God, or prevailing with God.

verance.

Jacob divided his flock into feveral parts, and fent fome before him, with instructions to his fervants, that, upon meeting Ejau, they fhould offer them as prefents in his name, and speak in a gentle and respectful manner to him. A foft anfwer turn

eth away wrath.-The heart of Efau was melted into peace and love by this kind refpectful conduct; he ran to meet Jacob, with all the affection of a brother, embraced and kiffed him: and after fome friendly converfation, they parted. When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and from thence to Salem, where he built an altar to God. While he abode there, his daughter Dinah, out of a filly curiofity to see the young women of that country, and the fafhions of the place, went to a great fef tival at Shechem; where her beauty captivated a young prince, named Shechem, who carried her away by force, and defiled her. The young man indeed would afterwards have married her; but her brothers refented the injury to fuch a degree, as to kill Shechem and the men of the city, and to take the women and children captives. Jacob was grieved at this furious and cruel proceeding of his fons; and from an apprehenfion that the inhabitants of the land would revenge it upon his family, removed his habitation; and went by the direction. of God, to Bethel; and from thence to his father, to the city of Hebron, in the plain of Mamre; where, about fifteen

years afterwards, Ifaac, being one hundred and eighty years old, died, and was buried by his fons Efau and Jacob.

CHAP. XIV.

THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH.

Before JOSEPH was the favourite fon of Chrift Jacob, because he was the eldest 1728. fon of his dear Rachel; he loved him more than all his children. This partial affection of his father, and a dream which he related to his brothers, denoting that his condition in the world would be higher than theirs, made him the object of their envy and hatred. Therefore one day, when they were feeding their flocks, and faw Jofeph coming toward them, they cried out, here cometh the dreamer, let us kill him. Being diffuaded, however, by Reuben from fhedding his blood, they ftripped him, and threw him into a pit; but fecing fome merchants, who were at that time providentially paffing by into Egypt, they drew him up, and fold him to them. After which they ftained his coat with blood, and carried it to Jacob; who concluded from thence that his fon was devoured by a wild beaft; and he put on fackcloth, and mourned for him many days. Jofeph in the mean