V. 12-18. In these verses we have the account of Ishmael's family shewing the fulfilment of the mises to Hagar. (chapter 16, and 21.)

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V. 16. These are their names by which their descendants, their towns, and their castles, or forts, were known.

V. 22. Rebekah in her perplexity went to enquire of the Lord. An example for the imitation of us all in our distresses and anxieties. In what manner she enquired we are not informed; but the Christian, now, has a certain guide to the will of God, and to the purposes of his dispensations, in that holy word which is a "lamp to his feet and a light to his paths" and which contains directions, consolations, and exhortations, suited to every possible condition.

V. 23. Rebekah's uneasiness was the occasion of the delivery of a very remarkable prophecy. The Lord told her, that, from the children who should be born of her, two nations should proceed, of very different characters; one of which, the nation descended from the younger, should be much more powerful than the other, and should be served by it. Now this prophecy does not relate to Esau and Jacob personally, and, except in the difference of their characters, did not receive any part of its accomplishment during their lives. Jacob and his family were not at any time during that period superior in power to Esau, nor did they receive ser→ vice from them. Esau's descendants were settled and distinguished as a nation in Mount Sur, (Num. xx. 14-1 Chron. i.) before those of Jacob had obtained their inheritance in Canaan. But no word of the Lord shall fall to the ground, no promise of his shall fail; it has its appointed time; "though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry." In the reign of David, we find him putting garrisons throughout all Edom. (2 Sam. viii. 14.)

Remarks on the 25th Chapter of Genesis. 291

V. 25 -27. The characters of the two brothers, were as different as their persons. "Esad was a cunning hunter, a man of the field" bold, daring, impetuous, such a character as loves the world, and as the world loves and "Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." His tastes were simple, his temper quiet; to dwell in tents with his father and grandfather, heirs together of the same promise, he preferred to the boisterous pleasures of his brother.

V. 28. "Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his venison." No good reason, but people are described in Scripture just as they are, without any attempt to conceal their infirmities or their faults.

V. 29-34. "When I would do good, evil is present with me;" says St. Paul. Sin is apt to mix it self with all we do. If our motive and end be right, sin then defiles the means, through the weakness and corruption of our nature, and our want of faith and trust in God, who will provide for the accomplishment of his own purposes, without our going aside from the path of duty. The right of the first-born, was the inheritance of a double portion of his father's substance; (Duet. xxi. 17.) but, from Heb. xii. 16, where Esau is called "profane Esau," an expression not applicable to a contempt for the good things of this world; it does not appear to have been the temporal advantages of the birthright, which he despised, or which his brother sought, but the spiritual blessings which were in this instance connected with it, the honour of being one from whom the Messiah should spring, and of having his descendants taken as the peculiar people of God. Jacob was right in valuing these, and in desiring to obtain them, and he probably also had learnt from Rebekah, that it was the will of God that they should be his. But the manner in which he took advantage of his brother's necessities, to induce him to part with the birthright, was both unkind and ungenerous. He was evidently on the

watch to get possession; and, instead of “trusting in the Lord with all his heart, he leant to his own understanding," and practised deceit.

But if Jacob was wrong, in the method he took to attain his purpose, what shall we say of "profane Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright?" For the satisfaction of a dainty appetite, (for we cannot suppose that in his rich father's house, there was any real danger of his perishing for want of food,) without scruple beforehand, or remorse afterwards, considering only the gratification of the moment, gave up his relationship to Christ and his people;-gave up Eternity.V.32-34.Would that he were the only Esau! but alas, of how many it may be said, thus or thus he despised his birthright. Those broken Sabbaths that ungodly company frequented against the remonstrances of conscience, that method of unlawful gain persisted in-above all, that most common snare, the making the world and the things of the world, the first and engrossing concern, how many, for the sake of these things, shut their eyes to Eternity, and, for one morsel of meat, sell their birthright? "O that they were wise, that they understood these things, that they would consider their latter end!"

T. B. P..

DISCONTENT.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

MR. EDITOR,

DISCONTENT is a sin so inconsistent with the duty of a Christian, and yet it is one to which human nature is so much inclined, that I am induced to send you the following anecdote, which, if it find a place in your little Visitor, will, I hope, convince those who read it, both of the sin and folly of in

dulging in a habit so destructive to their own happiness and that of their friends.

THERE was a benevolent old gentleman who had a female relation in very low circumstances, being principally supported by the occasional bounty of her friends; and, as he was anxious to relieve her from this unpleasant state of dependance, he determined to take a lodging for her at his own expence, and also to supply her with an allowance sufficient for her support-which she was to receive weekly. For this, she was, of course, exceedingly grateful; and the first time her relation went to visit her, in her new abode, she appeared to be very comfortable, and expressed many thanks to him for all his kindness. At his second visit, however, her thanks were not so warm; and he perceived that there was something amiss; on pressing her to tell him what it was, she said, upon the whole she was tolerably comfortable, but that she did not find it quite agreeable to be served by other people's servants, and if she had only one, even a girl, she should be so much more happy. The gentleman having satisfied this wish, soon after went again to see her; but, discovering that all was not yet right, he again questioned her; and she then said that she certainly found her maid a great comfort to her, but that she was too much disturbed by the noises of the street in which she lived, to be quite at her ease. Upon this, he placed her in a more retired part of the town, but she soon complained that this was too dull and confined, and that she should be perfectly happy in the smallest cottage in the country, where she might have two or three neighbours, and still be quiet. Her benevolent patron, always willing to oblige her, took a lodging in the country which he thought she

must like; but she was no sooner settled in it than she complained of the noise and disturbance of the other lodgers; that there was always somebody moving about in the house, and that she could not enjoy the perfect stillness which was necessary to her happiness. Her kind benefactor, determined to do every thing in his power to make her comfortable, took a small house for her in a pleasant village, where she might have one neighbour within a very short distance. The next time he went to see her, she appeared quite delighted and happy, and expressed her gratitude in the warmest terms. Soon after this, he again paid her a visit, but, perceiving by her manner that she did not now find her situation so agreeable as at first, he enquired whether she had any new cause of complaint. She replied, "It is true, I am, in many respects, comfortable here, I have a house to myself, and every thing in it that I can wish for. I have also a neighbour, who is very attentive to me, but this neighbour unfortunately has a peacock, which is a constant annoyance to me, by coming screaming into my garden. I have complained of this to her, and requested her to have it killed; but though she is in every other way extremely accommodating, she will not comply with my request, and this vile peacock makes me wretched."" Then, madam," replied the gentleman, "I must give up all attempts to make you happy; I see that whereever you go, you will always find a peacock; for if you do not meet with a real inconvenience, you will allow a trifle to discompose you; your discontented disposition will prove a constant source of unhappiness to yourself and of discomfort to others; I have done what I could to render life agreeable to you, but since, after all my exertions, you still remain dissatisfied, I shall henceforward cease to interest myself in your affairs, and leave you to provide for yourself." He did as he had said, and