Vers. 1, 2.-Spiritual renovation. Spiritual life is a thing of growth; never finished here (Phil. iii. 13; Heh. vi. 1). No doubt the all-important question is, Art thou in Christ? And in every ~hristian life there is ·a point, known to God, when the soul passes from death to life (1 John v. 12). For by nature children of wrath. Still there is a life's work. The spirit may have chosen Christ; but the flesh is weak, and the law of sin still works. Most commonly in such a life certain times v.'ill stand out, connected with special lessons and special dealings, when some window of the soul has been opened to heavenly light, some line of action pressed upon the mind. I. THE LESSON LEARNED BY JACOB HIMSELF. We know not when his spiritual life began. Probably before he left home; for with all his faults he desi~ed a spiritual blessing. But at Bethel and Penuel great steps were made. He learned the presence of God, and the protecting care of God, as he had never known them before. Yet the lessons were chiefly subjective; they regarded his own attitude towards God. And this generally comes first, but it is not all. " Arise, go up to Bethel." Take up again the lesson book. Is there not more to be learned from it ? Those angels ascending and descending, were they chaTged with thy good only ? The Lord who stood above, did he care only for thee? With all thy possessions thou art in "a solitary way" (Ps. cvii. 4). Here Jacob seems first to realise his responsibility for the spiritual state of others ( cf. Ps. cxix. 136). The Christian characteT is not thoroughly formed till it is felt that the possession of truth binds us to nse it for the good of others. Being "bought with a price," we are debtors to all (Rom. i. 14); and chiefly to those with whom we are connected (1 Tim. v. 8). II. TEE wonK ru: TOOK IN HAND. To press upon his household-I. Single-hearted service of God. "Put away the strange gods." Sinceiity lies at the root of oil real renovation. Hitherto the semi-idolatry of teraphim seems to have been tacitly allowed. Jacob's fondness for Rachel may have kept him from forbidding it. Hence a divided service (2 Kings xvii. 33; Mark vii. 7). Putting away does not refer only t.o formal worship. It is putting away service of the god of this world : covetousness (Col. iii. 5), worldly aims (John v. 44), gratification of self (Luke xii. 19; xiv. 11), traditional maxims of conduct and judgment (Mark iii. 21; 1 Pet. iv. 4). It is seeking first the kingdom of God, and resting in him (Ps. x.xxvii. 5). 2. "Be cle:tn." No toleration of evil (Matt. v. 48). Christians are to be a holy people (1 Pet. ii. 9). This is much more than a mere upright and honourable life. 'l'ho Le\'itical rules, strict and minute as they were, faintly shadowed the extent of the law of righteousness. Seo the Sermon on the Mount. Vast difference between nn upright life and a holy life. The one is a following of rules, the other a walk with God. 3. "Chauge your garments." Under the law this a necessary part of puri- licntion. Coutrast the garments, Ps. cix. 18 and Isa. lxi. 10. The explanation, Zeclt. iii. 4. In New Testament language, "put on Christ." The root is atonement, t!1c covering of sine (P~. xxxii. 1), the forgiveness of the sinful (Uom. iii. 26). No OB. XXXV. 1-15.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 415
real renovation without this change-casting away self-righteousness, nnd c1ir,gin" to the work of Christ (Jer. uiii. 6; Rom. x. 4). Many have r;aid trust in fre~ grace points to sin. God's word from end to end declares it is the only way of holinese.-M.