angels going up and down, are the great ministers of God's Providence, by whom he manages all things here below, and who are never idle but always in motion to succour and assist the servants of God. Their ascending shows their going to receive the divine commands, and the descending the execution of them. Or to speak more particularly of Jacob's present condition, one signified their safe conduct of him in his journey to Padan Aram, and the other, their bringing him home again. Above the whole appeared the Almighty as the immovable director of all events, from which all things proceed as the first cause, and return at the last end." When Jacob awoke, the awful impression remained on his mind; and he felt a holy dread at the idea that this was the place where the Majesty of Heaven held communion with mankind on earth. Though the visitation was full of love and promise, yet there was something in it awful and tremendous, that it made Jacob afraid, and he said, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the house of God; and this is the gate of Heaven." Gen. xxviii. 17.

521 Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake

The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. Luke xvi. 22. 522 Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds.

Behold a chariot of fire, and horses of fire,and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 2 Kings ii. 11.

When great Elijah in the fiery car,
Flam'd visible to heaven, a living star,

A seer remained to thunder what he knew, And with his mantle caught his spirit too. 531 Over the promis'd land to God so dear,

The land of Canaan, in Asia, has had the several names of the Land of Promise, the Land of Israel, Palestine, Judea, and the Holy Land.

It received the name of the Land of Promise, because God had promised to give it to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 535 From Paneas the fount of Jordan's flood.

The Jordan, a river in Palestine, which it crosses from north to south, and falls into the Red Sea, near the spot where Sodom and Gomorrah stood.

536 To Bëersaba where the Holy Land

Beersaba, a place in Canaan; the Holy Land is bounded on the north by Syria, on the east and south by Arabia, and on the west by the Mediterranean.

537 Borders on Egypt

Egypt is a narrow vale on both sides of the Nile, bounded by parallel ridges of mountains or hills, in Africa. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, on the north; by the Red Sea, east; by Abyssinia, or the Upper Ethiopia, on the south; and by the Desert of Barca, and the unknown parts of Africa on the west.

and th' Arabian shore;

Arabia, a country in Asia. The climate is very various; in some parts it is excessively hot and dry, and subject to poisonous winds. In other parts the soil is fertile, and the air highly salubrious. In the desert travellers are guided

vials full of odours.

Rev. v. 8. In this world the disciples of Christ are only a little flock; but when they stand upon the heavenly mountain, they shall appear ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; and all the harmony of their voices, and all the ardour of their souls, inconceivably improved, as all their powers will be, shall be united on this happy occasion. Form us, O Lord, we entreat thee, for this divine employment, and teach us to anticipate its pleasures in the regions below.

that brightest Seraphim

Approach not, but with both wings veil their

eyes.

In scripture denotes an holy angel of the first order. Each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face. Isa. vi. 2..

386 Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines.

Who is the image of the invisible God. Col. i. 15.

388 Transfus'd on thee his ample spirit rests.

The spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord. Jo. xi. 2.

401 Father of mercy and grace.

The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. For as the sufferings of Christ abound so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Cor. 1. 3. 5.

in us,

Shall be the copious matter of my song

Oh goodness infinite! goodness immense !

And love that passeth knowledge! Words are

vain ;

Language is lost in wonders so divine.

"Come then, expressive silence, muse his praise."

418 Meanwhile upon the firm opacous globe

Of this round world,

Satan's arrival on the outside of the new created world, and that shapeless unformed heap of materials, which still lay in chaos and confusion, strikes the imagination with something great and wild. He after wandering on the surface discovers a wide gap, which led to the creation, and is described as the opening through which the angels pass to and fro into the lower world upon their errands to mankind. He looks down into that vast hollow of the universe with the kenn of an angel. He surveys all the wonders in this immense amphitheatre that lie between both the poles of Heaven, and takes in at one view the whole round of creation.

431 As when a vulture

A voracious bird larger than the eagle, of an excellent sight and smelling, more than other birds. Milton compares Satan in his pursuit of man to the vulture. It can perceive the savour of dead carcases many miles from it. They do not touch the living.

431 Imaus.

A large mountain of Scythia, which is part of Mount Taurus.

436 Of Ganges or Hydaspes.

The Ganges, a large river of India, falling into

It inundates the adjacent
Like other rivers, it

the Indian ocean.
country in the summer.

was held in the greatest veneration by the inhabitants, and this superstition may be said still to exist in some particular instances. The Hydaspes likewise in India, the boundaries of Alexander's conquest in the east. It falls into the Indus. 438 Of Sericana where Chineses drive.

Seres, a nation of Asia, according to Ptolemy, between the Ganges and the eastern ocean. They were naturally of a meek disposition. Silk was brought to Rome from their country, and on that account it was called Sericum, and thence a garment of silk is called serica vestris. Heliogabalus, the Roman Emperor, was the first who wore a silk dress, which at that time was sold for its weight in gold. It afterwards became cheap, and was the common dress among the Romans. Some suppose the Seres are the same as the Chinese.

441 Walk'd up and down alone, bent on his prey,

Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. 1 8.

Pet. v.

463 Hither of ill join'd sons and daughters born.

Then the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days: the same became mighty men, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. Gen. vi. 2. 4, 5.