[ 57 ]
of men, who by his violence will run into sinnearly of every kind. Abraham said unto his wife, say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake, and my soul shall live because of thee. See Gen. 12 c. 13 v. This was no lie, because. she was his niece, being the daughter of his brother Aaron, therefore, in the stile of the Hebrews, she might truly be called his sister, as Lot is called Abram's brother. See Gen. 14 c. 12 v. Plurality of wives, though contrary to the primitive institution of marriage, was by divine dispensation, allowed to the patriarch, which allowance seems to have continued during the time of the law of Moses; but Christ our Lord reduced marriage to its primitive institution. See Math. c. 19. "What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder." God tempteth no man to evil. Jas. 1 c. 13 v. But by trial and experiment maketh known to the world and to ourselves, that we are as here by this trial the singular faith and obedience of Abraham, was made manifest. Gen. 27 c. 19 c. "And Jacob said, I am Esau thy first born, I have done as thou didst command me, arise, sit, eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me." In treating at large upon this place it excuses Jacob from a lie, because this whole passage was mysterious as relating t» the performance which was afterwards to be given to the Gentiles before the carnal Jews, which Jacob by prohphetic light might understand. So far is certain that the first birth-right, both by divine election and by Esau's free cession, belonged to Jacob, so that if there was any lie in the case, it could be no more than an officious and venial one. This blessing was to be bestowed upon Jocob as a temporal blessing, which caused his brother Esau to be very wroth against him, and Jacob took a journey to Mesopotamia, to the house of Labon, and there continued for a number of years and become very rich.
We will now consider something about the spiritual blessing. Gen. 23 c. 29 v. Jacob asked him and said tell me I pray thee thy name;- and he said, wherefore that thou doest ask after my name: and he blessed him there.
Observation. This angel in human shape, as we learn. Ish 45 c. 21 v. I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. And because he represented
