known unto God," but in his hands, we should leave them. We know so little what consequences may arise from the fulfilment of our desires, that, with respect to temporal things, we should not dare to ask absolutely, only as they may be consistent with the good of our own souls, or the glory of God. Rachel said, "Give me children, or I die." She had her request; and she died in child-bearing. Rachel called the name of her child," Benoni"-the son of my sorrow; but Jacob, aware that a name which would continually recal her distress to his mind, would render submission to the will of God more difficult to practise-named him" Benjamin"-the son of my right hand-the staff and defender of my age.

V. 27-29. We sometimes imagine that we have got over all our troubles, that, on every side, things are quiet, and that we shall have a season of peace and prosperity: but by and by troubles return again. Most likely Jacob thought, that, now he had escaped from the injuries intended him by La ban and his brother, and from the vengeance of the Shechemites, bad performed his vow at Bethel, and was close approaching the city of his fathers, -that things would go on smoothly-but no trouble returns again;-his beloved Rachel and his aged father are taken from him; and he is left, weakened and solitary, exposed to still greater distresses. And why is this? Does God take pleasure in the afflictions of his people? No;- In all their afflictions he is afflicted;"-but this world is not to be their rest. When outward things smile, the Christian is too apt to forget whose servant he is, and whither he is bound, therefore it is that he often needs the fresh affliction, to remind him to "gird up the loins of his mind," and to call him to the renewed exercise of patience, and hope, and faith which makes unseen things, present.-God afflicts," not for his pleasure, but for our profit,

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that we may be partakers of his holiness." And though "no affliction for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby."

Nothing is told us of Isaac's death, excepting the age at which he was gathering unto his people:"

and this is usually the case in the accounts of Scripture. The man's life is left upon record,his. death is passed over in silence, Why is this? Because the life speaks far more strongly, far more satisfactorily, than his dying words can do. We are perhaps inclined to lay too much stress on the last moments of the dying, when they seem to be so different from what we should expect. Generally speaking, however, as we live so we die. The true Christian is calm and resigned, humbly trusting that he is, through his Saviour's merits, about to enter his eternal abode of happiness. The wicked is generally wretched in his death. -Those who halt between two opinions, are harassed and disturbed. There are exceptions, however, to all these rules. Carelessness may make a wicked man die as carelessly as he has lived, and he may seem to die at ease; whilst a humble and faithful Christian, may be cast down with a sense of his own infirmities; and he may not be able to apply to himself the promises of pardon, so much as he could wish to do. We cannot therefore decide, from what we see in such an hour.. The state of the body, greatly affects the mind too.. The Scriptures say little on this point. Let us imitate their silence. Let all be done to bring the. dying sinner to repentance, and to Christ,-but let. us be backward in pronouncing as to his eternal

state.

4

On the Thirty-sixth Chapter.

The thirty-sixth chapter is taken up with the account of Esau's descendants, in which there is nothing remarkable but the fulfilment of the prophecy that he should be the father of a nation-but inferior to his younger brother.

In the next chapter we enter upon the beautiful and instructive story of Joseph and his brethren. T. B. P.

EXTRACT FROM A SERMON.

THE following extract is taken from a Sermon preached by the Rev. T. Selkirk, at Bury, in Lancashire, on the first Sunday after a general confirmation by the Bishop of Chester :

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Search the Scriptures.

1. In the pastoral address of the Bishop, you were exhorted to read the Scriptures; an exhortation with which I trust you will comply.

The Scriptures contain the revealed will of God, -make known to us the great plan of human redemption-and hold forth to us many "exceeding great and precious promises." "Search the Scriptures" was the command of Jesus Christ-and be assigns as a reason-" for they are they which testify of me."-A compliance with this command has been blessed by Almighty God to the eternal benefit of many souls. It was while the Ethiopian Eunuch read the Scriptures, that Philip, the Evangelist, was sent to "preach to him Jesus." It is said

of Timothy," that he had from a youth known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus." Study the holy Scriptures, then, my young friends, in order that you may know what the will of God concerning you is, that you may learn what doctrines you ought to believe,-what duties to practise in order to please God. Read the Scriptures, that you may obtain right views concerning the great God that made you,-concerning the purpose for which Christ lived and died, concerning the operations of the Holy Spirit, and concerning the state and condition of man. Study the Scriptures, that you may learn how your sins may be forgivenyour corrupt nature sanctified,-your souls saved. One part of the promise which you have just made is, that you" believe all the articles of the Christian Faith." On this account I would the m›re strongly urge you diligently to search the Scriptures; I would have you to learn from the word of God, as the fountain head, what that faith is which you profess to have embraced. It is a reproach to many Christians, that they are lamentably ignorant of the doctrines of the Gospel, and pass through life, professing indeed to believe all the articles of the Christian Faith, but not knowing what the peculiarities of that faith are. Be not you, my young friends, like unto such persons. It is most satisfactory to me to know, that of the young persons to whom we gave tickets for confirmation, there are very few who cannot read well. Turn the ability you possess to good account. Adopt the pious practice of reading some portion of Holy Scripture every day. Regard the Scriptures as "a lantern to your feet, and a light unto your paths," pointing out the only way to endless life and glory; and you will soon esteem it as a pleasure and a privilege to read them,-till at length you will be enabled to

say with the Psalmist," Lord, what love have I unto thy law; all the day long is my study

in it."

SABBATH DRESS AND APPEARANCE.

As the Christian Religion is cheerful, and peaceful, and pure, so should every thing connected with it be of the same character. I never can help fancying that I see something of this character in the Sabbath of a country village where religion prevails. The peaceful cheerfulness, however, which belongs to true religion is widely different from the | noisy mirth which belongs to the careless and the profligate. There is a stillness which belongs to a Christian Sabbath-but it is a happy stillness. You see, in the countenances of those you meet, an appearance of rest, of calmness, of peaceful cheerfulness. There is also in the cleanly Sabbath dress of English villagers, something like an emblem of the purity which belongs to that religion which is to be their guide at all times, but on the Sabbath is their more peculiar business and enjoyment. It is of great consequence to keep up the true character of this sacred day. Let no man, however, suppose that the mere Sunday dress, or the Sunday rest, or even the Sunday ordinances, will of themselves entitle him to be called a true Christian; but, if they enable him, and if they invite others, to make this day a day of holy rest and of Christian improvement, how useful, how needful they may be! Is not a man's mind drawn away from every purpose of Sabbatical rest, when he sees the inhabitants of a village without their Sabbath dress, and when be hears their noisy mirth expressing a feeling so different from Sabbath devotion? And, on the contrary, is he not forcibly led to join in Sabbath em