XXIII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXVIII. Ver. 18. to the End.

47

v. 18. Jacob rofe up early in the morning, and took the ftone that he had put for his pillows, and fet it up for a pillar, and poured oyl upon the top of it.

19. And he called the name of that place Beth el. 20. And Jacob vowed a vow, faying, if God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on; 21. So that I come again to my fathers boufo in peace: then fhall the Lord be my God.

22. And this ftone which I have fet for a pillar, fhall be God's boufe: and of all that thou shali give ine, I will surely give the tenth to thee.

XXIV.

Jacob comes to the Well of Haran: fees Rachel. Is received by Laban...

Ncourag'd thus, his Journy he pursues,

Till Harans Eaftern Fields at length he views, Cover'd with Flocks which graz'd the fertile Plains Conducted and fecur'd by harmless Swains.

The Sun fhot fiercely from the heigth of Day, Panting for Heat the Flocks and Shepherds lay Around a limpid Fountains Brim; but none Cou'd from the Entrance move the pondrous Stone: Twice Six of our degen'rate weaker Race The rocky Fragment hardly cou'd difplace; With ease the Hebrew throws it from the brink, And makes wide way for all the Flocks to drink; For Laban's Flock he fees approaching near, He fees their lovely Shepherdess appear, The Charms of Innocence and Beauty wear. With more than Friendship in his Eyes and Face He look'd and bluf'd, and ran to her Embrace: His Name and Kindred to the Maid reveals

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With trembling Lips, and scarce his Love conceals.
Rich Laban hears, he meets him at the Gates,
His Kinfman, to his House with courteous welcome
waits.

GENESIS, Chap. XXIX. Ver. 10. 14.

10. When Jacob faw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban; that Jacob went near, and rolled the ftone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mothers brother.

II. And

11. And Jacob kiffed Rachel,and lifted up his voice

and wept.

14.

And Laban faid to him, furely thou art my bone and my flesh and he abode with him the space of a month.

XXV.

Jacob loves Rachel, and ferves for her Seven Tears.

LL Apes of ancient Truths, the Pagans,feign

See here the Founder of the Sacred Race
For Sev'n long years that pleafing Toil embrace!
His Sheep their Mafter's watchful Eye confefs,
Tho' more he heeds their charming Shepherdefs:
Or on fome hanging Mountains verdant Side,
Or near fair Streams which thro' the Valleys glide,
Or on a flow'ry Bank, beneath the fhade
By fpreading Palms and lofty Cedars made,
Which fcreen'd the Sun, but fann'd his inward Fire,
He fate, and fung, and touch'd his tuneful Lyre.
He fung what pass'd a vulgar Shepherds Lays,
How God did this fair World from Chaos raife;
How, Man, its Lord, he made, and from his Side,
(What cannot Heav'n?) educ'd his beauteous Bride;
When firft they met, what Foy, what ftrange furprize,
And all their blefs'd Employ in Paradife.

Nor did his Virtuous Suit fuccefsless prove,
For Verfe and Mufick ne'r were Foes to Love:
Her Heart he wins, he wins her Friends affent,
And brings the beauteous Prize in triumph to his Tent.

GENESIS, Chap. XXIX. Ver. 18

to 20.

18. Jacob loved Rachel, and ferv'd feven years for her; and they feemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

XXVI.

Jacob's departure. Laban pursues him. God appears to Laban: He makes a Covenant with Jacob.

Ull twenty Years the happy Exile ftay'd

FULL

In Harans Fields, his Labors well repay'd: So well his faithful Induftry was blefs'd

His Flocks and Herds thro' all the Plains increas'd.
A num'rous Offspring crown'd his nuptial Bed,
Nor they the Scorn of Fools for want of Bread.
Yet fomething ftill of Happiness behind:
His once dear Home he often call'd to mind,
And Father's Houfe; fain wou'd he close his Eyes,
And fee the aged Sire before he dies.

With Heav'n to Friend at length he homeward went,
Nor jealous Laban knew his Son's intent :
By gentle Journeys ftill to Weft he leads,

And Paths well known with his fair Troop he treads.
They thro' rough ways, thro' various Regions pafs'd,
Euphrates cross'd and Bafhans Fields, at last

Fair Gilead reach'd, he hopes the Danger's o'r,
His richly laden Bark in fight of Shore:
But angry Laban hears, and like the Wind
With his tempestuous Friends came fwift behind;
The feeble Troop o'retake, and nothing breath
But Wrath and Vengeance, Slavery and Death:
Too late to fly, too weak to meet the Foe:
But interpofing Heav'n put by the Blom
For God a Vifionary Scene difplay'd,
And thus by Night to trembling Laban said:
"Touch not my Servant, my peculiar Care,
"And ev❜n the leaft provoking Word forbear:
1' th' Morn they meet, and in a League combine,
Which ragged Heaps of Stones to after-Ages fign.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXI. 17.20.21. 23. 24. 25. 44. to 51.

v. 21. Jacob fled with all that he had toward Mount Gilead

24. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and faid unto him, take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

51. And Laban faid to Jacob, behold this heap, and behold this pillar which I have caft betwixt me and thee;

52. This heap be witnefs, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unte me, for harm, &c.