the least suspecting that Rachel had taken them, had actually gone so far as to say, "With whomsoever thou findest the gods, let him not live."

Rachel sat all this time quietly on the camel, covering the treasures with her spreading dress, and pleading uneasiness and delicate health as an excuse for not rising up before her father; and, indeed, some excuse was very necessary at that olden time, when parents exacted the greatest deference from their children.

In public a son never sat down before his father, seldom eating in his presence.

Jacob did not like this severe search-this close examination of his things by his father-in-law; he felt that the old man was taking a great liberty with him, and he said angrily, "What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?" And he recalled to Laban's mind all he had done for him; others might have served him, but would they have served him so faithfully?

"Twenty years have I been with thee," he said; "through many a scorching day, through many a frosty night." For in those regions the change of temperature is sudden and trying, and an almost wintry night often follows a burning summer's day; and though the shadow and coolness of the night are

it must be the division between them, and that Jacob must not come beyond that pillar to encroach upon him, or in any way to do him harm.

They tarried all night on the mount, and ate bread there together.

Early the next morning they separated, with, I am happy to be able to tell you, a much better feeling existing between them, for Laban kissed his sons and daughters, and blessed them as he bade them farewell.

It always grieves me when I hear of angry and revengeful feelings existing between those who profess to fear and love God. Have they not one common Father? rise not their hopes towards the same home? Do they not receive their daily blessings as gifts from the same hand? and how can they retain their relationship to a God of love and peace whilst thus warring and jangling among themselves?

Little children, love one another; for by this shall all men know that you are following your Saviour, whose dearest, holiest name is love.

If, in your own young hearts, there lies a sense of His gracious kindness towards you, be thankful; and in your gratitude, tell others of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus; tell them that Jacob's God waits to be their God-to be their Guide for ever and ever, even unto death.

XVI.

Jacob journeyed on, and the angels of God met him those ministering spirits sent to the heavenbound pilgrim to refresh and strengthen him in the great journey of life. Thus he was continually reminded of his Master, and the realities of the distant and invisible world were brought very near to him.

Blessed indeed are those who live in communion such as this with their heavenly Father! There is within their hearts a little spot of holy ground, into which the world enters not; it is filled with sweet thoughts and gentle hopes, and these wonderfully strengthen and encourage the pilgrim on his way.

Remember, dear children, that the youngest among you may possess this inner life of peace. Jesus, the Redeemer, will give it to you if you seek it, and will reveal Himself even unto you as He does not unto the careless world. Will you ask for it in the name of Jesus? Seek, and you shall find. Think what a pleasant and happy thing it will be to have a great portion of your life hidden with Christ in God-a communion between your soul and the Eternal, close, solemn, holy!

There are angels of mercy around every child who

looks up to God as his Father, loving him, watching him, holding him in their arms when danger is near, and whispering to him of the consolation and salvation that are in Christ.

Jacob had gentle, loving, peaceful thoughts in his heart after this converse with the heavenly inhabitants. He remembered his brother-that brother from whom he had hurried away in conscious fear; and he sent messengers to him-messengers to break through the long silence that had existed between them; he sent to tell the brother of his childhood how he had lived with Laban, and how he had become one of his family by taking his daughters to wife. He told him how he had prospered, and I dare say he told him too how his efforts had sometimes been baffled; and how, in the sorrows of the way, he had traced the hand of the Lord, and been sustained and strengthened by his father's God.

Anxiously he waited for an answer. He longed to know if Esau had forgiven him; he longed to clasp to his heart once again the dear brother from whom he had been so long estranged.

When the servants returned, they merely said that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Poor Jacob! He was greatly alarmed. His past treachery rose up a dark shadow over his heart. "My

brother has not forgiven me," he thought to himself, " and now he is coming to attack me."

So he immediately divided his people and his cattle into two bands; for, at all events, he said, whilst Esau is fighting with one company the other will have a chance of escaping.

But he did not act on his own surmisings; no, he lived too near to his God not to spread his trouble out before Him. At once he is in prayer!

I am sure, my dear children, I cannot impress upon you too much or too strongly the importance of prayer; and, therefore, I will just pause a moment in my narrative, whilst the picture of Jacob in his uneasiness is before you, to entreat you now, ere the evil days come; now, in the helplessness and docility of childhood, to make Jesus your friend. So clear is your way, so fearlessly may you approach the Eternal through the Mediator of the new Covenant, so sweetly over the rosy morning of your life does the echo of those blessed words float, "Suffer little children to come unto me," that you, of all others, in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, should let your requests be made known unto God!

Children have fears which disperse, it is true, with manhood; but what a blessing to have childhood freed