the exactions of his ungenerous kinsmaa, and set out secretly for the land of Canaan. He was hotly parsed, oud with a hotile disposition by his father-in-law, and rostakes on The weyouth day in Mt. Gilead. Providace once muse interpages for him, and a covenant of pure and gued wil is athed between them, which enables Jacob to go on his way toward Canaan rejoicing. Scarcely had the farewell been pronounced, ere we find the angels of God pressing forward to weet him, and in the extraordinary scene which followed, a new and honorable name was given to Jacob, even Israel-prince with God. Hardly had this ended when the interview with Esau hastened on. It came, and with it an agreeable suprise, for he found only kindness and affection, where he expected anger and resentment. They soon parted,-Esan to his own possessions in Mt. Seir, Jacob to visit his aged father, who was till living. What mixed emotions must have agitated his mind as he presented his family to his venerable parent! How fervent mast have been their gratitude, as they mutually recounted the goodness of God to them in those long years of separation. Sorrowful reflections, indeed, mingled with joyous feeling, for when he looked upon his particularly beloved children, Joseph and Benjamin, he could but think of his dear departed Rachel, whose precious dust they had left behind. He purchased an estate, spread his tent, but where is rest for the patriarch? Calamity is yet to succeed calunity, and the climax of suffering seemed at hand, when suddenly his favorite son was torn from him, and his fate to him senier with oblivion At this time, sinking himself into the dust, under the pressure of a burden which nature was unable to sustain, he was called to lay his honored father in the grave, while grief itself was hastening him to his last, long home. He knownot yet the providential concurrence of circumstances that are coming to shed light upon his path and ay up AI Days of darkness and fami such the r. shuld be. Whe 1, but y attiver the exactions of his ungenerous kinsman, and set out secretly for the land of Canaan. He was hotly pursued, and with a hostile disposition by his father-in-law, and overtaken on the seventh day in Mt. Gilead. Providence once more interposes for him, and a covenant of peace and good will is ratified between them, which enables Jacob to go on his way toward Canaan rejoicing. Scarcely had the farewell been pronounced, ere we find the angels of God pressing forward to meet him, and in the extraordinary scene which followed, a new and honorable name was given to Jacob, even Israel,-prince with God. Hardly had this ended when the interview with Esau. hastened on. It came, and with it an agreeable surprise, for he found only kindness and affection, where he expected anger and resentment. They soon parted,-Esau to his own possessions in Mt. Seir,-Jacob to visit his aged father, who was still living. What mixed emotions must have agitated his mind as he presented his family to his venerable parent! How fervent must have been their gratitude, as they mutually recounted the goodness of God to them in those long years of separation. Sorrowful reflections, indeed, mingled with joyous feeling, for when he looked upon his particularly beloved children, Joseph and Benjamin, he could but think of his dear departed Rachel, whose precious dust they had left behind. He purchased an estate, spread his tent, but where is rest for the patriarch? Calamity is yet to succeed calamity, and the climax of suffering seemed at hand, when suddenly his favorite son was torn from him, and his fate to him sealed with oblivion. At this time, sinking himself into the dust, under the pressure of a burden which nature was unable to sustain, he was called to lay his honored father in the grave, while grief itself was hastening him to his last, long home. He knows not yet the providential concurrence of circumstances, that are coming to shed light upon his path, and joy upon his soul. Days of darkness and famine ill betoken them, but such the result should be. When Egyptian plenty attracted his family thither for supplies, little did the old man's heart conceive what was in store for him there. Much less when his dearest earthly hope-his darling Benjamin, was required, was he conscious of the plan of mercy, God, even then, was working for him. What overpowering emotions must have been his, when the tidings came back, "Joseph is yet alive," and that too, in a position of distinguished royalty. The splendid retinue sent to convey him to his long-lost son, forbids his doubt, and leaving his home in Canaan, he with all his house seek the promised asylum in a land of plenty, more grateful still as the scene which Joseph graced. We incline rather to gaze in silence upon that meeting between father and son, for that long, tearful embrace, that rush of feeling, those overpowering recollections, find not their expression in words. The presentation to Pharaoh, the sage conduct of the patriarch, the filial devotion of the son, the clemency of the king, all combine to form an admirable picture, such as is rarely given us. Seventeen years of unruffled tranquillity Jacob passed in Egypt, enjoying the most complete of all human gratifications that of witnessing the prosperity, and experiencing the attachment of a favorite and dutiful child. Having obtained the security that his body should be conveyed to the repose of Macpelah's cave, he set his heart at rest, feeling for himself no further worldly concern. The sun has shone upon his head at length, but not till it was covered with gray hairs. He has found his Joseph again, and even embraced his sons; but not till the hands are reduced to do the office of the eyes. He walks down the steep of life in tranquillity, but his limbs tremble under him, and he fast arrives at that point to which the sorrows and joys of life equally tend, in which all events of whatever complexion, must finally issue. Feeling in himself the approach of dissolution, and warned by that spirit who had been his comforter in all his tribulations, he ummons his children to his presence, and, with |