at some distance, they take their departure with all possible speed. But here a strange circumstance is added; "Rachel had stolen

her father's images." What were these images? Doubtless they were those smaller representations of the heathen deities which they were wont to keep in their dwellings as their household gods: and this shews that Laban and his family, although they could speak of the true God, and probably had not wholly renounced his worship, had become tinctured with the abominations of the heathen, and had set up idols in their houses. Nay, it seems most probable that Rachel herself also was infected, and that she stole the images that they might be the guardians of her way, and the objects of her worship when she became settled in Canaan. And we find afterwards that when Jacob was warned by God to go to Bethel, and dwell and make his altar there, he had to command his household to put away their strange gods, which no doubt were these Teraphim of Rachel's, and others of a similar kind. The human heart is prone to idolatry, and

even when in possession of some knowledge of God, is ever mixing up with it the worship of other gods than him. We see this in Laban's family; we see it in the images of the Romish church: it appears in many who set up their idols in their hearts if not in their houses, who worship the creature more than the creator, and make gods of their belly, their riches, or pleasures, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. But you cannot serve God and Mammon. The commandment runs, "Thou shalt have no other Gods but me," whether these be invisible and ideal spirits, or statues of wood and stone graven by art and man's device, or images of wax and paintings on canvass, or unallowed objects of affection and desire in the heart within. "Thou shalt not bow down to" any of "them nor serve them."

No sooner did Laban hear of the flight of Jacob, than he pursued him with a considerable force, and overtook him after a space of seven days. And now he would certainly have done him some injury had not God

interposed. "He came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." Thus Laban was overawed, and after an ineffectual search for his gods, as he hesitates not to call them, and some chiding between him and Jacob, they made a covenant together, that neither now nor henceforth would they injure each other ; and thus they parted in peace, Laban returning to his home, and Jacob pursuing his way to Canaan.

We see from this history the value of a servant of God to others. Laban was prospered for Jacob's sake. We shall hereafter see the same in the house of the Egyptian where Joseph dwelt. The servants of God are but little esteemed by the men of the world, yet have they often been not only blessings to the families in which they reside, but preservers of the nations wherein they dwell. Had there been ten righteous men in Sodom, it had been spared for their sakes. How often does the Lord suffer the tares to grow, lest in rooting out them, the wheat

should be destroyed. These stand in the gap for a land, when his wrath is awakened against its other guilty inhabitants; in pouring out its vials he shortens the days of judgment for the elect's sake; and the kindness which he shews to them extends to others with whom they are connected.

We see also the folly as well as the wickedness of injustice and oppression. Laban would have hindered Jacob from making any provision for himself; but it might not be. God disappointed all his schemes. In whatever way he changed the wages of Jacob, God made him still to prosper. Could the clouds be withdrawn which hide the measures of God's providence from our sight, we should see far more of this than we now suspect. In the case of many we should see that the withholding more than is meet tendeth to poverty. We should see God by numberless methods, now unobserved in his providence, disappointing their selfishness, and punishing their oppression.

We see also that God can protect his people. When Laban with superior numbers

had overtaken Jacob, what could he do? Though he had physical force enough to make it in the power of his hand to hurt him, he dared not to exert it. God had checked him; and the influence upon his mind was such that he departed as a friend and ally from the man whom he had sought as an enemy. How often does God put a hook in the nose and a bridle in the lips of a furious man hastening to destroy, and sends him back by the way that he came! How often, when a man's ways please the Lord, does he cause his enemies to be at peace with him! In the case of our having any adversaries ourselves, how can we do better than pray, that it may please God to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts?"

Finally, let us learn to be thankful for the clear light of the gospel which we are privileged to enjoy. This, if duly studied and regarded, will preserve us from those failings and offences which appear in the patriarchs. The son of God hath come and spoken to us, and therefore we shall have sin, if we do those