XIII.-JACOB'S RETURN.

AND it was told Laban on the third day after, that Jacob was fled. And Laban took his brethren with him, and pursued after Jacob seven days journey; and they overtook him in the mount of Gilead. Jacob could not travel fast, because he had young children, and much cattle with him; so he could not escape. He must have felt afraid when he saw his unkind uncle coming in sight, and the men that were with him. But Jacob had prayed that God would be with him, and would keep him in the way that he went, and would bring him again to his father's house in peace; and God had not forgotten Jacob's prayer. God had granted him that which he had asked, and therefore no one could hurt him. Jacob was as safe in the lonely mountain-path with his angry uncle near, as if he had been in his

father's house. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help; whose hope is in the Lord his God!

God came to Laban in a dream by night, and said unto him, "Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." Then Laban overtook Jacob. And Laban said to Jacob, "What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me? It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." Then Jacob reminded his uncle of how he had served him, and of the treatment which he had received at his hands. See how boldly Jacob speaks to his uncle, and there are his two wives Rachel and Leah wondering how this meeting with their father will end. And Jacob said, "Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away empty. God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee

yesternight." Then Laban made a covenant with Jacob; and they raised a heap of stones. And Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount. And early in the morning, Laban, Jacob's uncle, rose up, and kissed Jacob's children, and departed, and returned to his place. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations; and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished.

And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's host." Jacob had seen the holy angels twenty years before, in his dream by night, when he lay on the bare ground; he had seen them coming down from Heaven in the name of the Lord Jesus, on messages of love to those whose sins were pardoned, and to little children-for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. And he had seen the holy angels whose work was done, returning back again in the name of JESUS-the only name to which the gate of Heaven opens from this sinful Earth. Jacob had seen this twenty years before; therefore he was not