him, Who art thou? And he said I am thy Son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly and said, Who? Where is he that hath taken venison and brought it to me before thou camest and I have blessed him? Yea, and he shall be blessed." The good old man was at first angry with Jacob, but having reflected that what he had now done unknowingly ought to have been done willingly and cheerfully, confirms the blessing. These last words affected Esau very much, indeed his disappointment and anguish of mind was very great. "And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me alSo, O my father. And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, behold I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants! and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my Son. And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice and wept." Esau wept, but his tears could not absolve him from his oath. They could not wash from his memory that he had

had sold his birthright to his brother Jacob, and with it the blessing also. Still, see how desirous he is of a blessing, if it be only one, and that a common one, any blessing is better than none at all. It is better to have a light blessing than a heavy curse. How many wish to die like the righteous; but do not like to live as they do. Many will ask the wise virgins for oil when their own lamps are gone out, but they will find that the wise have none to spare. Be wise betimes. Seek heavenly wisdom, seek divine grace, seek pardon, peace and holiness through Christ alone. Seek, and ye shall find, ask, and it shall be given.

Esau asked his father for a blessing, and he gave him one. "And Isaac his father said un him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; and by thy sword shalt thou live and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass that when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."

V. CATECHETICAL QUESTIONS.

1. What are the words of the Text? Read them.

1:

2. Why did Isaac ask Esau to go for veni son, that he might eat and bless him before he died? Because he was old, and knew not the day of his death.

1

8. Who was it that overheard Isaac speak to Esau? Rebekah.

4. What did Rebekah tell Jacob to do? To go and fetch two good kids that she might make savory meat, that Isaac might eat and bless Jacob.

5. When Jacob said that his father would find him, and he should bring a curse on his head and and not a blessing, what did Rebekah say? Upon me be thy curse, my son. 6. How many falsehoods did Jacob tell in order to obtain the blessing?

No less than five LIES.

(1) That he was Esau the first born. (2) That he has done what his father told him. (3) That it was his venison. (4) That the Lord God of his father had brought it to him. (5) And that he was indeed his very son Esau.

7. Which was the most wicked? That where he said, because the Lord thy God brought it to me.

8.

Did he obtain the blessing? Yes. 9. When he was just gone from the pre sence of his father, what happened? Esau his brother came in from hunting, and brought savory meat to his father, in order that he might eat and bless him.

10. When Isaac found what he had done, how did he feel? He trembled very exceed. ingly, but confirmed the blessing he had given. PRACTICAL ADDRESS.

VI.

My dear young friends-You are all like Isaac. I do not mean that you are old and blind and cannot sec, but I mean that you know not the day of your death. How desir able it is to be prepared for death. The grace of God alone can prepare you for that solemn hour. You must not do evil that good may The method which Rebekah and Jacob used to obtain the blessing, was sinful and wicked. You must not imitate them. Their conduct cannot be excused. Jacob was guilty of so many real falsehoods that every one must hate and despise the deceitful means by which he obtained the blessing. The exam ple of Jacob should teach you never to step a

come.

side from the path of truth and sincerity, one fie makes way for another, and how many lies must be told to hide the first. The conduct of Rebekah was still more blameable than that of Jacob, even allowing she had a good end in view. She proposes and recommends the plan of deceiving Isaac, and offers to take the whole blame on herself. She acted her part and Jacob acted his, and both acted very badly. How many parents there are who imitate Rebekah by training up their children in the arts of lying and deceit, for the sake of a little wordly advantage. The Hindoos think falsehood and deceit are not sins. They think it an honor to excell in cheating. Their Shas ter permits a man to tell a lie if it is to save the life of a Bramin, or to appease an angry wife. It is allowed also if it is to save his own life or the goods in his house from being spoiled. But you are not to tell lies for peace sake, nor yet to tell only half the truth when the telling of the whole would be better. The truth may be told in such a manner as to do all the harm and mischief of a lie. How ready and quick was Jacob with those lying answers to the questions of his father Isaac. Take heed, my dear