worshipping other gods, ten of the tribes wero swept away, and Lave never been redisco,-ered. Indeed the stream was tainted in sourcE , and II grew no purer na it rolled along." When Achan brought the Babylonish garment into the camp of Israel, the chosen of God could not stand before their enemies, but when it was rcmo,·ed they were again victorious. So strange gods must be removed from our homes and from our hearts, or we can never be successful in the conflict ao·ainst sin or in the acceptability of the worship we offer. It is for each Christian to ~earch hi~ soul, and to see whether there is any desire, habit, or practice which in the least militates ngainst the worship of God. Many who were incorporated with Jacob's household were Syrians, who brought their evil practices with them. When any enter God's Church they must leave behind them the practices of the world· nor possessions nor position must be the gods then worshipped. "If any man lo;e the world, the love of the Father is not in him.'' III. THE HARBOURING OF ANY SPECIAL SIN WILL BE A SURE HINDRANCE. The sons of Jacob had not only outward false objects of reverence, but inward evil propensi- ties. They were treacherous, cruel, lustful, envious, murderous. See how they treated the Shechemites, and in after years their own brother Joseph. What scandal- ising, jealousy, and even opposition, are found in some homes I How hard it is to alienate sinful habits from the heart and the home I how hard to get the right tone for devout service in the home I Certain habits of temper, ridicule, sarcasm will chill and check all won;hip. Jacob urged his sons to be "clean,"-pure,-" to change their garments." They had need to do the latter, for they had been spotted with the blood of the men they had murdered. Jacob meant that they were,to put on the g'arments kept for the worship of God. Rebekah had garments by her in which Esau as eldest son worshipped God, and which she put on Jacob. It is probable that it was the practice under the patriarchal dispensation to perform certain ceremonial ablutions prior to entering on the solemn worship. 11 Cleanliness is next to godliness." It leacls to it. The need of purity in the worship of God is thus indicated by ablu- tions and change of garments. But how easily we may have the outward without the inward. We need cleansing in the holy fountain opened by Christ, and to be clothed by his righteousness. IV. A great hindrance to successful worship is l:IAVING LOW IDEAS OF THE DIGNITY OF TJIE ACT' AND THE MAJESTY AND HOLINESS OF HIM WHOM WE WORSHIP. God must be made to appear great to us. He is" high and lifted up." He made not only these frames of ours, but this vast universe. He is worshipped by worlds of intelligent spirits, and has been worshipped from the depths of eternity. He is holy and full of majesty. Shall we be indifferent as to the duty or the mode of worship? What o. marvel that we should be permitted to have fellowship with our Crea.tor I If we have it, it must be in the way and place he appoints. For Jacob it was at Betha_), for the Jews at Jerusalem, for Christians o.t the cross. To Jacob and the Jews 1t was by annual sacrifices, to us it is by the offering of Christ "once for all."-H.
EXPOSITION. Ver. 16.-.lnd they journeyed-not in and Rachel travailed, and she had hard opposition to the Divine commandment (ver. labour-literally, she had hare labour in her 1), which did not enjoin a pennanent settle- parturition, which was perhaps all the more ment at Bethel, but in accordance probably severe that sixteen or seventeen years had with his own desire, if not also Heaven's coun- elapsed since her first son, Joseph, was born. sel, to proceed to Mamre to visit Isaac-from Ver. 17.-And it co.me to paee, when she Bethel (southwardsin the direction of Hebron); was in he.rd labour (literally, in lter labour- and there waa but a little way (literally, ing hard inlier parturition), tbat the mid- there wa., yet a Bpace of land,· probably o. wife Be.id unto her, Fear not; thou sbalt few furlongs (Murphy), about four English have this son also-literally, for also tkis to miles (Gerlach). The Yulgate tranBlates, thee a son; meaning either that she would "in the spring-time," and the LXX. render, certainly hn.ve strength to bring forth another i')',v,To ;;; r1vi~a i,yy,au ,i, xa/3pa9ri, both of son, or, what is ruore/roba.ble, that the chihl which are misunrlerstandiugs of the original was 11lrcndy born, 11n that it was a. sou. -to come to Eph.rath :-Fruitful; the ancient Ver. 18.-And it oame to pass, as her soul ua111e of 1!,.'1,lehem (~i<k ii.fr<J, vcr. 19)-- w11s in depe.rtini:-,-litcrally, in t!te cf,1;r11•t- rn. XXXV. 16-20.J 'rHE BOOK OF GENESIS. 417