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SERMON III.

VOWS CALLED TO REMEMBRANCE.

GEN. XXXV. 1, 2, 3.

And God faid unto Jacob, arife, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, that

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appeared unto thee when thou fleddeft from the face of Efau thy brother. Then Jacob faid unto his household, and to all that were with him, put away the · Strange Gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments, and let us arife, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my diftrefs, and was with me in the way which I went.

THE pieces of history preserved in the book of Genefis are peculiarly valuable, and worthy of our regard. They poffefs the claim of truth, of impartiality, of remote antiquity, of individual and minute description. They are family fcenes, which always charm. We feel ourselves in private life. We purfue fingle characters through all the vicifitudes of their pilgrimage, and obferve the various workings of their minds, their imperfections, and their excellencies, the flesh lufting against the spirit, and the spirit gaining

a victory over the flesh. They are alfo recommended, as holding forth the difpenfations of divine Providence and Grace combined. It is painful to see a man raised up to be an instrument only; girded and guided, by a hand which he knows not; accomplishing designs which he never defired or approved; and then laid afide or dashed to pieces as a veffel in which there is no pleasure, and fuch are often the philofophers, the politicians, and the heroes of this world. But how delightful and edifying is it, to contemplate men who were not only inftruments, but favourites; who did "the will of God from the heart," and " had the "testimony that they pleased Him;" who were the depofitaries of the divine counfel, and increased the treasures of revelation: "of whom, as concerning "the flesh, Chrift came," and with whom we hope to refide forever:" for many fhall come from the east "and west, and fhall fit down with Abraham, and “Ifaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." The command of God alfo leads us back to the patriarchal age, fends us forth in search of these renowned worthies, and enjoins us "not to be flothful, but followers " of them, who through faith and patience inherit "the promises."

These reflections, my brethren, are intended to raise this book in your esteem, and to engage your attention to the words which I have detached from it for your edification this evening. "And God faid unto "Jacob, arife, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and "make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto "thee when thou fleddeft from the face of Efau thy "brother. Then Jacob faid unto his household, and

"to all that were with him, put away the ftrange gods "that are among you, and be clean, and change your

garments: and let us arife, and go up to Bethel ; "and I will make there an altar unto God, who an"fwered me in the day of my diftrefs, and was with

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me in the way which I went." Let us REVIEW

THE TRANSACTION TO WHICH THESE WORDS REFER; DRAW FORTH SOME OF THE INSTRUCTIONS IMPLIED IN THEM; AND DISTINGUISH THE CHARACTERS IN THIS ASSEMBLY, WHO ARE CONCERNED IN THE COMMAND AND THE EXAMPLE“ Arife, and

go up to Bethel.""Let us arife and go up to "Bethel; and I will there make an altar unto God, "who answered me in the day of my diftrefs, and was with me in the way which I went."

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PART I. The paffage before us refers to a very interesting part of the hiftory of Jacob, which it will be neceffary for us to review. To efcape the fury of his brother Efau, Jacob, by the proposal of his mother, goes to Padan-Aram, to the houfe of his uncle Laban. On the first night of his journey he dreamed. He faw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, angels afcending and defcending upon it, and God above it, in a posture of attention," standing," and viewing a poor pilgrim below. He also fpake; and affured him of the relation in which He stood to his pious ancestors, promised to give the land of Canaan to his feed, to render his progeny illuftrious, and innumerable, and eventually in one of his defcendants to blefs all the families of the earth. To accommodate Himfelf ftill more to the exigencies of his condition, he added,

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"behold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all

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places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again "into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have "done that which I have spoken to thee of." Deeply impreffed, Jacob arose and before he proceeded on his journey, "VOWED A Vow, faying, If God will be with "me, and will keep me in the way that I go, and will

give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, fo that "I come again to my father's house in peace; then "shall the Lord be my God, and this stone which I "have fet for a pillar fhall be God's house, and of all that "thou fhalt give me I will furely give the tenth unto "thee." His wishing to lay God under an additional bond marks his infirmity. God had fpoken, and Jacob should have been fatisfied. But it was wife and pious to bind himself. Some have been inclined to cenfure Jacob, as too conditional and too selfish on this occafion; fuppofing he engaged only to serve God, provided he fhould be indulged with the bleffings he specifies. This would have been cenfurable indeed, and utterly oppofite to the faith of the patriarchs, one of whom faid, "though he flay me, yet will I trust in him;" and another of whom, when commanded, "obeyed, " and went out, not knowing whither he went." The meaning is that God by these fresh inftances of his favour, would furnish him with fresh motives to serve and glorify Him; and he ftipulates the manner in which he would difcharge the obligation he fhould be laid under.

After twenty years hard fervice in the house of his uncle, Jacob refolves to return. Three days after his departure, Laban pursues him. He overtakes him in

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Gilead, is pacified, and withdraws. Jacob moves on, croffes the ford of Jabboc, defcends on its fouthern bank, reaches the ford of Succoth, wrestles with the angel, paffes over the river Jordan weftward, and comes to Shalem. This was an eventful position; here he bought a piece of ground from Hamor; here he raised an altar; and here befel him the affliction he experienced in the feduction of his daughter, and the murder of the Shechemites; here he lingers till feven or eight years have elapfed. O Bethel, how art thou forgotten! O Jacob, where is your vow to repair thither as foon as you returned! Your God has fulfilled his engagement. He has been with defended you, profpered you, and you are come back in peace. Where is your altar? Where the tenth of your poffeffions to maintain it? We may compare one character with another. Behold David. What is he faying?" I will go into thy houfe with burnt offerings; I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have

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you,

"uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in "trouble." Hannah occurs. I fee her in the bitter"And

nefs of her foul, praying and weeping fore. "fhe vowed a vow, and faid, O Lord of Hofts, if thou "wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, "and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, "but will give unto thine handmaid a man child, then "I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, " and there shall no razor come upon his head." He is born; and his very name fhall be a remembrancer. He is weaned; and fhe takes him with her, and brings him unto the house of God in Shiloh, and intro duces him to Eli. "And she said, O my lord, as

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