enduring form to us. There is a better Canaan in reserve for those who are spiritually "the seed of Jacob." As believers in Christ, we have already partaken of the closing portion of the Bethel blessing, the blessing promised through the Divine Messiah to all earth's families; and with this in possession, we have the other in reversion. There is a solemn exhortation addressed, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, to "look diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God." And the special example of warning is taken from another member of the Beersheba tent with whose name we are already familiar. It is the case of one who made light of temporal advantages, and suffered by their rejection irremediable and irreparable loss. Let us see to it that ours be not the self-forfeiture of Esau. His is the picture of those who traffic and trifle with their soul's best interests—who, in the absorbing love of the present, are willing to barter their immortal weal for a mess of earthly pottage; degraded votaries of the Epicurean creed

"Who snatch the pleasures of the passing hour."

How vividly are such characters reflected, in the brief but most graphic delineation of the elder brother, by the inspired pen-"He did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright!" (Gen. xxv. 34).

M

Young pilgrims on the way to Zion! seek to be ready with the reply to all earthly solicitations, "Truly if we had been mindful of that country from whence we came out, we might have had opportunity to have returned, but now we desire a better country, that is an heavenly" (Heb. xi. 15, 16). As from this outset hour at Bethel, onwards through the future years of his pilgrimage, the promised birthright blessings are ever before the mind of Jacob, stimulating him in all his efforts, raising him superior to his sorrows, cheering him in his exile, sustaining him in his bereavements, softening the asperities of his character, bracing him to noble endurance: So be it with you. Take, as your watchword and motto, "We look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God;" remembering, that "what He hath spoken He is able also to perform."

And, whether young or old, let us ever seek joyfully to recall and rehearse the ground of our titledeed to "the Better Country "-"the smiling fields " beyond Jordan. It is ours alone through Him who is "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life." If ye be Christ's (if ye have found the true antitypical ladder of the Patriarch, by which you climb to the Gates of the city) then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. iii. 29). Striking and beautiful are the words of the Psalmist

as he invokes the blessing of "the God of Jacob," and names Him as such. On what does he found and urge his plea at the mercy-seat? He supplicates that the eye of the great Jehovah, averted and repelled by his unworthiness, may rest on the alone All-worthy ONE. "O Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer give ear, O God of JACOB. Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of Thine Anointed" (Ps. lxxxiv. 8, 9).

As we hear the God of the Patriarch saying from the ladder-summit, "To thee will I give it," let us lay hold of the promise in all the grandeur and magnificence of its spiritual meaning. Be it ours as the children of Jacob (the inheritors of that great covenant of grace ratified on the heights of Bethel), in reverent faith to say, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people and to His saints " (Ps. lxxxv. 8).

XIII.

The Couchsafed Presence.

"And behind the dim unknown Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above His own.'

-Anon.

"There is a promise to particular saints-'I will never leave THEE, nor forsake THEE. - Philip Henry.

"By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin."-Is. xxvii. 9.

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say

to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you."-Is. xxxv. 3, 4.

And behold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave the, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."-Gen. xxviii. 15.

THE VOUCHSAFED PRESENCE.

JEHOVAH had addressed Jacob not only as heir of Promise; but He had coupled his name with the other two representative fathers of His covenant people.

That promise, however, glorious and comprehensive though it be, was of a general kind. It related to the number of his offspring their marvellous extension; the yet more marvellous blessing which in them was to embrace "all the families of the earth." The question therefore still remained with the dreamer, 'How is the Almighty Speaker to deal with me? What share am I individually to expect in His divine guardian care? Am I, the fugitive wanderer, included in this magnificent spiritual heritage which is in reserve for coming generations?'

God proceeds thus to assure him: "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." It is