XXI. Efau complains of his Brother's fupplanting him. Ifaac bleffes Efau. WEary and faint returning from the Chase To meet his Father's Blessing and Embrace Young Efau comes, and begs he'd deign to share Th' Effects of his Good-Fortune and his Care: Trembled the Patriarch when his Voice he knew; "If thou my Son, my Efau, where and who, "Where is th' Impoftor did thy Blessing steal ? "Nor can I that reverse which Heav'n did seal, Fierce Efau hears, with loud and bitter Cries Accules partial Fate, and rends the Skies. O Father, Brother! in my ruin joyn'd! A Brother falfe, a Father as unkind! And have you then exhausted all your Store, He adds with Tears, not One, One Blessing more Can you upon your once-lov'd Son beftow, Who ftrains these Knees,and at your Feet will grow! Of that, at least, a Brother can't deprive; That, ev'n to Efau, may a Father give. The The Patriarch thus, I him thy Lord have made. By Nations ferv'd, by Suppliant Foes obey'd: With Corn and Wine did I his Race fuftain; Yet thou, at length, fhalt break his fervile Chain: But half content did Efau thence depart, And treasur'd Deep Revenge within his canker'd Heart. GENESIS, Chap. XXVII. from Ver. 30. to 41. v. 31. Efau also made favory meat, and brought it unto his father; and faid unto his father, Let my father arife, and eat of his fons venison, that thy foul may bless me, &c. 35. And Ifaac faid, thy brother came with fubtilty, and bath taken away thy bleffing. 39. Behold, thy dwelling fhall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. : 40. And by thy fword fhalt thou live, and fhalt ferve thy brother and it fhall come to pass when thou shalt bave the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. XXII. Rebecca fends Jacob to Padan-Aram. Who fees a Vifion of Angels in the way. ND now his fearful Mother, Jacob fends To Bethuel, and her Aramëan Friends : Who, when Still Night her fable wings had spread, A Stone his Pillar, and the Earth his Bed, Weary with trav'ling takes his welcome Rest, With glorious Dreams, and heav'nly Vifions blefs'd: He faw fair Angels from the Clouds defcend, And to the Place their fhining Footsteps bend: A wondrous Scale he faw from Earth arise Whofe lofty top was hid within the Skies. Th' Angelic Forms were now no longer fair, Their Rays eclips'd, for God himself was there, When loe a Voice was heard, a Voice divine, "I am thy Father's God, and will be thine! "The Land where thou a Stranger, now doft reft "Shall be by thy unnumber'd Seed poffefs'd, "And all the World fhall in thy Seed be blefs' d. "Where e'r thou go'ft my Favour shall attend, "My watchful Angels fhall from Ill defend : "Nor will I leave thee till I thee restore, "Till all my Words I have perform'd, and more. He faid, the glorious Vifions were too bright; Sleep flies away, at once they take their Flight, And modeft Day arofe, and fhone with paler, Light. XXII. GENESIS, Chap. XXVIII. Ver. 10. to 15... 45 V. 10. 11. Jacob went out from Beersheba, and lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night: and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to fleep. 12. And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder fet upon the earth, and the top of it reached unto heaven: and behold, the angels of God afcending and defcending on it. 13. And behold the Lord ftood above it, and faid I am the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Ifaac: the land whercon thou lieft, to thee will I give it, and to thy feed. XXIII. Jacob's Vow. HE Pious Pilgrim ftruck with facred Aw, And deep revolving what he heard and saw; While yet the Sun did scarce his Beams disclose Thus to himself, as he from Earth arose. Well may I tremble, when fuch Caufe for Fear, How dreadful is this Place, for God is here! 'Tis Holy, 'tis Divine -- Away Profane! What mortal Strength fuch Brightness may su- What facred Horror trills thro' every Vein! "God of my Fathers! My Petition grant ! "Let me not daily Bread, and Rayment want! "O profper, and preferve! I ask no more, "And to my Father's Houfe in Peace reftore! "So, thou my God, this Place thy Houfe fhall be, "And Tythes of all thou giv'ft I'll confecrate to Thee: |