and keeping us, is better than food and raiment. A sense of this will moderate our desires for inferior things, as it did Jacob's. A little, with the fear of the Lord, is better than great treasures with trouble. If God be with us, and keep us, the mere necessaries of life will make us happy. The vow itself contains an entire renunciation of idolatry, and a taking Jehovah to be his God. And inasmuch as it looks forward to his return to Canaan, it includes a solemn promise to maintain the worship of God in his family. Then he would rear an altar to him in Bethel, and consecrate the tenth of all his substance to his cause.

In the course of the history we shall perceive the use that Jacob made of this vision, and that which the Lord made of the vow which here he vowed to him. But I conclude with only remarking, that in the former chapter we saw much of man; but in this we have seen much of God. In the works of the one, sin abounded; in those of the other, grace hath much more abounded.

DISCOURSE XXXVIII.

JACOB'S ARRIVAL AT HARAN.

Gen. xxix.

VER. 1. Jacob's second day's journey was very different from the first; then he had a heavy burden, but now he has lost it. His outset from Bethel is expressed by a phrase which signifies he lifted up his feet; that is, he went lightly and cheerfully on. Nothing more is recorded of his journey, but that he came unto the land of the people of the east.

Ver. 2-10. The first object that struck him was a well, with three flocks of sheep lying by it, ready to be watered. The shepherds coming up, rolled away the stone from the well's mouth, watered the flocks, and then put the stone again in its place. Jacob, who had hitherto looked on, now began the following conversation with them.-My brethren, whence be ye?-Of Haran. Know ye Laban, the son of Nahor ?-We know him.-Is he well? He is well; and behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. On this, Jacob suggests that it was too soon to gather all the flocks together, as they did at night: and that there was much time yet for their being again led forth to pasture. Water ye the sheep, said he, and go and feed them. It might appear somewhat out of character for a stranger to be so officious as to direct them how to proceed with their flocks: but the design was, I apprehend, to induce them to depart, and to leave him to converse with Rachel by herself. They tell him, however, that they must stop till all the

flocks are watered; Rachel's, it seems, as well as the rest. Such probably was the custom, that the well might be left secure. While they were talking, Rachel came up. The sight of the daughter of his mother's brother affected Jacob. He could have wished that so tender an interview had been by themselves but as this could not be, he, in the presence of the shepherds, went and rolled away the stone from the well's mouth, and watered her flock; which being done, he kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. The tears shed on this occasion must have arisen from a full heart. We cannot say that the love which he afterwards bore to Rachel did not commence from his first seeing her. But, however that might be, the cause of this weeping was of another kind: it was her being the daughter of his MOTHER's brother that now affected him. Every thing that revived her memory, even the very flocks of sheep that belonged to her brother, went to his heart. Nor did he wish to be alone with Rachel, but that he might give vent without reserve to these sensations.

Ver. 12-14. It must have excited surprise in Rachel's mind, to see a stranger so attentive in watering her flock, and still more so to receive from him so affectionate a salutation: but now, having relieved his heart by a burst of weeping, he tells her who he is; he is her father's near kinsman, Rebekah's son ! And now we may expect another very tender interview. Rachel ran and told her father; and the father ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. After an interchange of salutations, Jacob tells him his whole story; and Laban seems much affected with it, and speaks to him in affectionate language, Surely thou art my bone, and my flesh.

Ver. 15-20. During the first month of his stay, Jacob employed himself about his uncle's business; but nothing was said with respect to terms. On such a subject it was not for Jacob to speak so Laban very properly intimated that he did not desire to take advantage of his near relationship, that he should serve him any more than another man for nothing. Tell me, said he, what shall be thywages? This gives Jacob an opportunity of expressing his love to Rachel. Aware that he had no dowry, like his father Isaac, he could not well have asked her, but for such

an opportunity as this being afforded him. It was humiliating, however, to be thus in a manner obliged to earn his wife before he could have her. This is twice afterward referred to in the scriptures, as an instance of his low condition. It was a part of the confession required to be made by every Israelite, when he presented his basket of first-fruits before the Lord, A Syrian READY TO PERISH was my father! And when, in the days of Hosea, they were grown haughty, the prophet reminds them that Jacob FLED into the country of Syria, and Israel SERVED for a wife and for a wife he KEPT SHeep. Half the generosity which Laban's words seem to express would have given Jacob the object of his choice, without making him wait seven years for her. It was very proper for the one to offer it; but it was mean and selfish for the other to accept it. If he had really esteemed his daughters, and on this account set a high value on them, he would not afterwards have imposed two, where only one was desired. But his own private interest was all he studied. In his sister Rebekah's marriage there were presents of gold and silver, and costly raiment, besides an assurance of the Lord having greatly blessed the family, and that Isaac was to be the heir. These were things which wrought much on Laban's mind. He could then say, Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife. But here are none of these moving inducements. Here is a man, it is true, and he talks of promised blessings: but he is poor, and Laban cannot live upon promises. He perceives that Abraham's descendants are partial to his family, and he is resolved to make his market of it. The sight of the very flocks of Laban, as being his mother's brother, interested Jacob's heart; but he would soon find that Laban will make him pay for his attachments. Such however was the love he bore to Rachel, that he took all in good part, and consented to serve seven years for her. Nay, such was the strength of his affection, that they seemed unto him but a few days. Some would suppose that love must operate in a contrary way, causing the time to appear long rather than short; and therefore conclude, that what is here spoken is expressive of what it appeared when it was past: but the phraseology seems rather to denote what it appeared at the time. The truth seems to be this : VOL. V.

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