to heavenly wisdom; to live in habitual contemplation of tho end, that they may not be afraid when doath comes, and to cultivate that holy alliance with the God of ealvation which will e~able them to say, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were chssolved, we have a building of God an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." ' III. JAcon's DYING REQUEST. "Bury me not in Egypt; but I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying-place." This request was addressed to his son Joseph, whom he had hastily summoned to his side. It is not quite certain that at this moment Jacob was confined to bed, or that he was actually so near his decease as he imagined. Tho probability is that he sur- vfred for some little while longer, but that with the knowledge that his departure from ihe e-arth could not be long delayed, he desired to leave his last instructions for his funeral with his honoured and beloved son. Accordingly, in a conversation he explained that he was anxious that Joseph should convey bis remains to the £ad1i1y vault at Hebron, and lay them beside the dust of Abraham and Isaac. It was a natural desire that the old man should seek to sleep among his kindred; but the wish had a higher origin than simply the instincts of nature. Canaan was the God- given inheritance of hintself and his descendants ; and though as yet a long interval must elapse before his children could enter on its possession, he would manifest his faith in the Divine promise by laying his bones in the sacred soil. It becomes God's people to imitate the patriarch in still holding on to God's sure word of promise, although the fulfilment should be long delayed, and in particular to remember that as with Jacob so with them, God's best promises will be realised not on earth, but in the better country, even an heavenly. IV. J ACOB's DEEP A:-IXIETY. ".And he said, Swear unto me," It might have been supposed that Joscph's word of promise, "I will do as thou hast said," would be sufficient to allay the aged patriarch's apprehensions, but it we.a not. Remembering the old form of oath which .Abraham had employed in connection with Eliezer, he imposed it on his son, as if to bind him by the holiest obligations to fulfil his last request. Joseph, we may be sure, would have honoured his aged parent's wish without the additional ceremony of swearing; but inasmuch as it was not necessarily rinful, and it would tend to dispel his father's fears, he consented to the proposal, "and be sware unto him." Jacob perhaps might have dispensed with the oath, e.nd certainly Christians should be satisfied with a simple II yea" or II nay," remembering that whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil; but sons may learn from Joseph to bear with an aged parent's infirmities and to humour his inclinations, when these are not sinful. V. JACOB's SOLEMN wonsmr. "And Jacob bowed himself upon the bed's head," or II worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." But whatever was the exact position of the patriarch, his exercise was devotion. With reverent inclination of Lis aged head he poured out his soul in grateful adoration to his God, who bo.d enabled him so successfully to arrange everything connected with his funeral that he had now nothing left to do but die. .And in this too the patriarch might ndvo.n- tageously be followed by his spiritual children. Happy they who before being sum- moned to put off this tabernacle are able to say, 11 Father, I have finished the work thou gavest me to do I " It is a special mercy for which they may well give God thanks. HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ters. 27-31.-Tlie sunset of a long life. There is a touching beauty in this dccne between the veteran Israel and the prosperous Joseph. I. An illustration of HUMAN INFIRMITY. The supplanter, tho prince of God, must succumb at last to the King of Terrors. "Israel must die," Yet he is not afraid of denih. II. STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. Grace appears brightest at the end, His gray hairs have not been "brought with sorrow to tho grave," although he feared ihey would. The lost son is the comforter of his last days ; to him he commits his <lust to be laid with !,is fathers. Ill. PERSEVERANCE 1S NOT THE FRUIT OF MAN'S PEilFECTI0:-1, DOT OF GoD 1S MJCRCY. en. XLVIII. 1-22.] 'l'lIE BOOK OF GENESIS. 517
Jnuob is faithful to the covcnnnt spirit to the end, although in many respects his character was a mingled one. Yet be clung to the Divine word. Seventeen years could not wear out bis love for the promised land. He knew the solemnity of an onth, for had he not himself sworn and changed not? lie would leave behind him in his last wishes a testimony which would help to keep his children faithful. "And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head." The LXX., nnd the Syriac, and the Itala versions, with the reference in Hob. xi. 21, by a slight change in the Hebrew vowels, have rendered the words "he W(J'T'shipped upon tlie top of his stajf"-i. e. leaning on that which had borne him through his pilgnmage, and thus, as it were, declaring the long journey at an end. But whether he turned towards the bed's head, as it were nway from the world towards God, or leaned on his staff, the idea is th~ same-he bowed himself, like Simeon, saying," Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." It was n lovely sunset after a day of many clouds and much weariness and fear.-R.