are more numerous. Between friends there are a thousand little circumstances taken into the account, which could find no place among strangers, and which, in fact, often operate more forcibly on the mind than the more immediate subject in dispute. Above all, the foundations of their regard are over- thrown. Each thinks himself in the right. Each thought highly of the honour, the integrity, the friendship, or perhaps the piety of the other: and behold, each imagines that the other's conduct towards him has violated all these principles, and given him reason to fear, that he was deceived in his judg- ment of the other ; or at least, that he was not deserving of that high opinion which he had entertained of him.
From some such considerations as these, the alienation of the parties from each other, if not more fierce and violent, is usually more fixed and settled, in proportion to their previous intimacy and connexion.]
But,
II. However deep the resentment of any one may be, we may hope by proper means to overcome it —
We cannot have a better pattern in this respect than that which Jacob set before us. The means we should use, are,
1. Prayer to God —
[God has access to the hearts of men, and " can turn them whithersoever he will." The instances wherein he has exerted his influence upon them, to induce them either to relieve his friends, or to punish his enemies, are innumerable. By prayer his aid is obtained. It was by prayer that Jacob prevailed. He had experienced the seasonable and effectual interposition of the Deity when Laban pursued him with such wrath and bitterness : he therefore again applied to the same almighty Friend, and again found him " ready to save." Prayer, if fervent and beheving, shall be as effectual as ever : there is nothing for the obtaining of which it shall not prevail. To this then we should have recourse in the first instance. Nothing should be undertaken without this. We should not neglect other means ; but our chief dependence should be placed on this ; because nothing but the blessing of God can give success to any means we use.]
2. A conciliatory conduct to man —
[Nothing could be more conciliatory, nothing more inge- nious, than the device of Jacob, in sending so many presents to his brother, in so many distinct and separate parts, and with the same information so humbly and so continually repeated