husband's. Husbands and wives should be help.era, not hinderera, of each other's prayers. 3. Tlie gracious response. "The Lord was entreated of Isaac, and Rebekah conceived." Noto the character of God as the Hearer of prayer, the habitual practice of God, which is to listen to his people's Rupplications, the power which belongs to prayer of being able to prevail with God, and the special virtue which resides in united prayer (Matt. xviii. 19). II. Tm: ANXIOUS wun,:. 1. The un"!'onted experie-Me. In two respects the preg- nancy of Rebekah was unusual. First, she had never conceived before ; and secondly, the attendant sensations were uncommon. Great mercies are often accom- panied by great discomforts to prevent gracious souls from resting in the gifts and neglecting the Giver. 2. The remarkable interrogatum. "Rebekah went to inquire of the Lord." Her conduct was remarkable for the impatience it di~playecl, the piety it evinced, the faith it implied. If in her querulous exclamation there was sin, in her seeking to God with her anxiety there were grace and faith. 3. The mys- terious oracle. This contained three distinct announcements: the first hopeful, that Rebekah should be the mother of twins; the second painful, that, besides being mutually antagonistic from their birth, her two sons should develop into hostile nations ; the third unusual, that the elder should serve the younger. III. THE HAPPY MOTHER. 1. ller days were fulfilled. A special mercy which pregnant mothers can appreciate. 2. Her sons were born. Another cause of rejoicing to a mother (John xvi. 21). (1) Their names. "Esau and Ja.cob." Names of men are sometimes prophetic of both character and condition. (2) Their birth : remarkable for the singular phenomenon by which it was accompanied. Jacob's holding of Esau's heel was intended to foreshadow the early character of Jacob, his future over-reaching of Esau, and his ultimate precedence in grnce. N.B The first in nature is often last in grace. Between nature and grace there is per- petual antagonism. The great achievements of gracious souls have sometimes fore- Hhadowings in nature. (3) Their nppearnnce. Esau red like n. hairy cloak; Jacob catching Esau's heel. The boy is oft the father of the man. 3. Her husband was spared. "Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." A third mercy not n.lways granted to mothers, to retain their husbands to participate in their run.ternal joys (1 Sam. iv. 19). Lenrn-1. That children in a home are n special mark of Divine favour. 2. That anxious wives and mothers should carry their troubles to God's throne. 3. That the future histories and destinies of children are known to God, if not to their 1iarents. 4. That mothers of families have peculiar joys as well as special sorrows.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. l!l-34.-Divine purposes unfolded. We are now entering n new stage of tho sacred history, where we are looking less upon the development of one man's character than upon the unfolding purposes of Jehovah in the family with which he has made his covenant. Again wo nre in the region of-1. Gracious interposition. 2. Supe1-natural assistanc, of human infi,rmitv_. 3. Prophetic announcements. 'l'he ntmospherc is that of the covenant. The cluldren in tho womb nre two nations. Tho history of great peoples is anticipated.-R.