FOR THE CLOSET FOR Every Day in the Year. BY WILLIAM JAY, AUTHOR OF "MORNING EXERCISES," CHRISTIAN CONTEMPLATED," ETC. EVENING EXERCISES FOR THE CLOSET. JULY 1.- -"By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff."-Heb. xi. 21. "PRECIOUS in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." No wonder therefore that he graciously appoints the time, the place, and the manner of it; that he honours it with his special presence; and calls upon us to make it the subject of our contemplation: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." For this purpose he has often mentioned it in his word, and has sometimes recorded it with circumstances the most striking and improving. Let us convey ourselves into Egypt, find out Goshen, inquire for the house of Jacob, and enter his chamber of sickness. It will be found none other than the house of God, and the gate of neaven. He is " a dying:" and observe how he dies. First; he "leans upon the top of his staff." Thus he looks like a pilgrim. Had he recourse to this action to aid such an impression? The Jews were to eat the passover with their staves in their hand: and we should observe every ordinance, form every connexion, enjoy every advantage, as those who have heard the voice, Arise and depart hence, for this is not your rest. Abraham wished to preserve the recollection of this, and therefore he "sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God :" and it was thus "they confessed themselves to be strangers and pilgrims upon earth." Give me, says the dying traveller, my staffWas this staff the same he spoke of when he was returning from Haran; "With my staff I passed over Jordan, and now I am become two bands?" If so, and the thing is very probable, how many feelings would this companion of all his journeys revive! For after a length of time even inanimate things draw from us a strange kind of regard, and affect us, if not by themselves, yet by their associations. But it was an instance of his bodily decline and infirmity. He whose constit tion had enabled him to bear such travels and fatigues is now reduced to the weakness of infancy and dependence; and leans upon the top of his staff. "The glory of young men is their strength:" but let them remember their Creator in the days of their youth; for the evil days will come when they shall say, we have no pleasure in them; when they that look out of the windows shall be darkened, and the strong men shall bow |