XVIII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXIV. from Ver. 17:

37.

to 20.

V. 17. The fervant ran to meet her, and faid, let me (I pray thee) drink a little water of thy pitcher. 18. And fhe faid, drink my lord: and he hafted and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink.

19. And when she had done giving him drink, fhe faid, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

20. And he hafted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

XIX.

Rebecca being barren, Haac prays for her, Efau and Jacob born. Their conditions foretold.

V

Ain Man, when of his darling Wish possess'd Still fomething wants which leaves him still unbless'd.

We ask of Heaven and murmur when deny'd,
We ask fair Children and a beauteous Bride.
But Heav'n alone foresees the dark Event,
And whether they in Wrath or Mercy sent.
And is there no Relief for mortal Care
No Balm for all our Wounds? There is "Tis
Pray'r:
By this, unfhock'd, the fierceft Storms we bear,
By this remove; new Light and Joy receive,
And breath agen a while, and think we live.
This all the Fuft of old, this Ifaac try'd:
No fmiling Heir to blefs his lovely Bride:
Can Heav'n forget what Heav'n itself decreed,
Where are his Hopes, and where the Promis'd Seed!
His barren Wealth, th' effect of all his Care
Muft Rapine feize, or thankless Strangers fhare?
The fruitful Poor he blefs'd-Yet did he not despair.

Full

Full Twenty Tears he pray'd, nor pray'd in vain, But does at length a doubled Blessing gain : The fad Rebecca's barren Womb's unfeal'd, And of her struggling Birth the Fate's reveal'd: "Two Nations, thus faid God, are in thy Wemb "Two different Warring People thence shall come "The younger Hand the Scepter doom'd to fway, • The Elder, tho' relucting, must obey.

And now her ripen'd Burthen prefs'd to fhare The cheerful Light and taft fweet Vital Air: A double Birth from her glad Labor came, Rough ESAU was the First, JACOB the Younger's Name.

GENESIS, Chap. XXV. Ver. 21. to 26.

23. The Lord faid unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels: and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall ferve the

younger.

24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment: and they called his name Efau.

26. And after that came his brother out, and his band took hold on Efau's heel; and his name was called Jacob.

XX.

Jacob gets the Bleffing from Efau.

Wift Hours and winged Moments, why so fast,` And Oye Ages! who commands your Haft? How foon the Bloom of Life and Youth are flown? How foon we grow unto our Selves unknown? Decrepid Ifaac now has loft his Sight,

His Orbs in vain attempt the cheerful Light ; Fair Heav'n, and Man's dear Face they Search in vain:

His heavier Sences only firm remain :

Touch, Hearing, Tafte, and Smell, unbroke and ftrong,

And ftill the glimm'ring Lamp of Life prolong.

But his Immortal Mind renews its Sight,

More quick and vig rous grown when wing'd for flight
And on the Ridge of Life can farther fee
Within the Realms of dark Futurity.

Of thofe Two Sons which blefs'd his Nuptial Bed
He his lov'd Efau call'd, and thus he faid.

Hence to the Woods my Son! and swift as wind Go chafe the lofty Stag, or nimble Hind: When Heav'n thy Labor crowns with wish'd fuccefs Return, and thee before my Death I'll blefs.

His Mother heard, her favour'd Jacob fent His lingring Brother's Bleffing to prevent: The Father blefs'd, unknowing his Deceit, And God confirm'd his Word, and made it Fate: Thus, Good from Ill, unbounded Wisdom draws, And thus juft Heav'n difpofes what it did not cause.

XX.

GENESIS, Chap. XXVII. 1. to Ver.23,

41

V. 17. Rebecca gave the favery meat, and the bread which he had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18. And he came unto his father, and faid, my father: and be faid, here am I; who art thou my son? 19. And Jacob faid unto his father, I am Efau thy firft-born; I have done according as thou badeft me: arife, I pray thee, fit and eat of my venifon, that thy foul may blefs me.

23. And he difcerned him not, because his hands. were hairy, as his brother Efau's hands: fo he bleffed him,