he should go down to Egypt, or back to Hebron. Every thing he saw around him must fill his mind with awe and affect his heart, by the recollection of what had taken place at this favored spot. That God had formerly manifested his presence to his father Isaac. A happy place! Delightful spot! It was here that Abraham and Isaac sojourned, and here it was that Jacob chose to rest and to offer saerifices to his father. How sweet must be the remembrance of former days, how many changes and trials had he seen in the course of his pilgrimage, and here did the weary pilgrim rest. On his way to Egypt, did he remember Bethel. (Remember what Solomons says “in all thy ways acknowledge God," and the promise is," he shall direct thy paths)."

III. Notice JACOB'S VISIONS. He had closed the day by a solemn sacrifice to God, and retired to rest. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob; and he said, Here am I. Jacob had spo ken to God in prayer, and God now speaks to him in a vision. God called him by name, by his old name of Jacob, he called him twice

by

by that name, to remind him of that time when he went out from his father's house with his stuff only and slept by the way. Jacob like one well acquainted with the visions of God, knew whose voice it was, and answers Here am I. Speak, Lord, Lord, for thy servant heareth and is ready to obey thy command. Let us hear what God says to Jacob. "I am God, the God of thy father." Cheering words! I am God, thy God, the almighty God, the everlasting, the same yesterday, to-day and for ever, the God of thy father. As such Jacob had sought him, he had offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac, and as such he found him to be the God of his father. Thus the covenant he had made with Abraham and Isaac, was renewed to Jacob. "That God would bless him, and make him a blessing, and that in his seed all nations in earth should be blessed." This was comfortable, the good old patriarch must be cheered and revived by it.

2. He had not only comfort but ENCOU RAGEMENT to go forward, to proceed on his journey and go down to Egypt. "Fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will there make of

Whether

thee a great nation." When he heard of Jo. seph's life and glory, he resolved without delay to go and see him, yet upon second thoughts he saw some difficulties would attend his journey, and had some fears about it,. whether it was right for him to go. it was his duty and the will of God that he should. Jacob had many careful thoughts about this journey. It was a long journey, and he was an old man, 130 years old. He must find this journey a little tedious and painful in his old age. Perhaps her membered. that his beloved Rachel died on a journey, and was fearful that some accident might happen to him before he reached Egypt. Perhaps he was afraid his sons would become idolators and worship the Gods of the Egyptians, as they did afterwards in the wilderness. He was fearful lest they should forget the God of their fathers, and the land of promise, which they were now having for some time. He perhaps thought what God had said to

Abraham his

Grandfather, that they should be strangers in a strange land, and in bondage and afliction for 400 years. He did not wish to die and be buried in Egypt. All these thoughts.

might have occupied his mind during his first day's journey, but they were all silenced and put to rest by God-The promise, when he said, I will go down with thee into Egypt. There was therefore not the least cause for him to fear any evil, while God was with him. This promise was a sufficient encouragement to Jacob to trust that he would do all things well. This was a gracious promise: God had promised that he would multiply him in Egypt, that he would go with him to Egypt, be with him while himself and family dwelt there, and that his family should certainly be brought back from Egypt. When God said I will surely bring thee up again, he did not mean Jacob himself, but his children, because he told Jacob that he should die in Egypt, that beloved Joseph should survive him, and be present to close the eyes of his aged father at his death. Probably this was Jacob's wish, that he might perform this last office of love for him, and if so, God promised to grant him the desire of his heart. Thus God sometimes gratifies the innocent wishes of those that love him, and makes their death not only happy, but the very circumstances of it agreeable

agreeable to their desire. He has often in a remarkable manner given many of his people the desire of their hearts with regard to their death.

IV. The MEETING between JOSEPH and his FATHER. After such a Vision as this, no doubt he 1. ft Beersheba with a cheerful heart and went on his way with joy; he is now so old as to stand in need of the carriage that Joseph sent him. It is here called a waggon. Jacob was a plain man and a waggon would serve him. There was a time when Jacob set out on a much longer journey than this, with only his staff in his hand, and when he was drawing near to the end of his journey, he sent Judah before him to tell Joseph that his father was come to Goshen. Thus he had the honor of introducing his father and carrying the news of his arrival to his brother. Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet his father at Goshen. Joseph was Governor over all the land, and next to Pharoah, therefore it was right for him to go in his chariot: It was dignified and suitable to the office he sustained, and at the same time it was a mark of respect both to his

Father