from what is plain, to respect what is obfcure; we may confole ourselves, that what we know not now, we may know hereafter; and may reft affured, that no part of God's word is fo obfcure, but that a devout heart may gather fome inftruction from it.

that

The prophefy of Jacob is ufhered in with this folemn preface. -Gather yourfelves together, that I may tell you which fhall befal you in the last days. It must have been an awful fcene, when the twelve fons of Jacob liftened with filent astonishment, each to his own and his brethren's future deftiny, as pronounced from the infpired lips of their dying father. Their fates are pictured forth in ftrong colours, and emblematically expreffed in hieroglyphical language; a language much ufed in those days, particularly in Egypt. Each

emblem denotes fome leading feature in the character of the perfon and tribe to which it bel ngs. And perkaps Jacob might fee reprefented in vifion the things he defcribes.

Firft, Reuben is characterifed with the tenderness of a father for his eldeft fon. Obferve the endearing expreffions Reuben thou art my first born, my might,and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. But did Reuben answer the high hopes and expectations of his fond parent? Alas! his hopes proved abortive: He is degraded and dishonoured by this very fon, who, he flattered himself, would have been the first in wisdom, as well as the first in age. Water is the emblem by which he is characterised— Unftable as water, thou shalt not excel for as water

is fluid, and evaporates, fo did the hopes of his father concerning this youth, flow away and evaporate in air.

the

NEXT follow Simeon and Levi Simeon and Levi are brethren not only by blood, for so were all the rest, but in difpofition and manners, in treachery, cruelty and revenge. inftruments of cruelty are in their habitations Jacob fees pictured before his eyes, that cruel scene, when these bre. thren fell upon the defenceless Shechemites, and put them to the fword. Doubtless he had severely reproved them at the time the fact was committed; and now he bears his dying teftimony in abhorrence of fuch barbarous perfidy. How muft it have grieved the righteous foul of Jacob, to have

expreffed himself concerning the conduct of his fons in fuch words as thefe: O my foul, come not thou into their fecret; untotheir affembly, mine honour be not thou united; for in their anger they flew a man, and in their felf-will they digged down a wall. Curfed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath for it was cruel. Having thus ftated his deteftation of their crime, he proceeds, in the fpirit of prophecy, to denounce their punishment I will divide them in Jacob, and difperfe them in Ifrael. Behold and fee the confequences of affociation in guilt, divifion and difperfion-to have no home, no friend to become like Cain, a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. This is precisely the ftate of the Jews at this day for the murder of the fon of God His

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blood still refts on them, and on their children.

JUDAH is next in order -Fudah thou art he whom thy brethren fhall praife

alluding to the fignification of his name, which fignifies, "praife." When Judah was born, his mother faid, Now will I praife the Lord; therefore fhe called his name Judah. From Judah, the people of Ifrael were called Jews a name dear to God, who alluding to the origin of this name, declares by the mouth of the prophet It Shall be to me a name of Joy, a praife and an honour before all the nations of the earth.

JUDAH is eminently a type of Chrift. To him may we apply the words under which this fon of Jacob is described -Thou art he whom thy brethren fhall praife; thy hand fhall be upon the neck of thine enemies, thy father's children fhall bow down before thee.