the world and rules over the inhabitants of the earth. This ladder also represents the media tion of Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by one Spirit to the Father. For there is one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. Christ is the way, all God's blessings come to us through Christ, and all our services must go to him through Christ. We must offer up our prayers and seek for pardon in his name. All the kind offices which Angels perform are all owing to the Lord Jesus Christ. This vision must have been very comforting to Jacob's mind, to find that he was under the care and protection of his father's God, and that the Angels were his guard. He had a sight, a short and pleasing sight of that glory which was to be accomplished in his children's children.

2. What Jacob HEARD.

Jacob heard God speaking from the top of the ladder Confirming and enlarging the blessing of his father, giving new promises, very precious, full of consolation and enconragement. Jacob had lately acted a very bad part, and if he was sensible of it he must have been very unhappy. He cannot feel that. peace

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peace of mind which he wished to enjoy. He was taking leave of Canaan, and knew not whether he should ever return, but God promised to give him the land whereon he slept, that it should be given to him and to his children, which he would know that he was only going to stay at Háran for a short time. God said he should have a numerous family, that those who descended from him should spread abroad to the west, east, north and south, and that all nations should be blessed in him; by which it was intimated that Christ Jesus, the desire of all Nations, should be born from among those who were to descend from him.

He had no doubt been thinking as he walked along, that he might possibly have many danand difficulties to encounter, that he was gers travelling in an unknown road to an unknown country, to persons who were strangers to him. He was also afraid of danger from Esau. But God graciously promised, that he would be with him to keep him in all places, and that he would bring him back again in safety to the land he was now leaving, that he would go with him and not leave him till he had brought

all

all these things to pass.-Let us now notice, III. The EFFECTS of this DREAM on JACOB'S MIND.

"And Jacob awaked out of this sleep, and he said, surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the House of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Awaking from his sleep in the night time he seemed to be greatly impres sed with his dream. Surely this can be no common dream. He is surprized at the tokens he had seen of the presence of God: surely God is in this place and I knew it not. He was afraid, there was a holy fear that took possession of his mind at the time. How dreadful is this place. I shall always remember it with reverence and fear. I shall have a respect for this place, my dream will make me remember it as long as I live. What he saw at this time made it appear that it was none other than the house of God, the place where the Lord lived; yea, he had seen it to be as the gate of heaven; as the entrance into that holy happy place where God, the holy Angels and good

men live after death. It seemed to him as if the Angels had met at the entrance of the holy city, and he saw them going out and coming in. Like travellers passing and repassing through the gates of a large city. This was a season much to be remembered and most probably the happiest period of his life. It is sup posed by some that at this time, during this remarkable night, an important change took place in Jacob's character, that he now became acquainted with true religion and acted from this time upon right principles. Whether he slept any more that night or not, we cannot say; but we know that he rose up early in the morning. What he did and said I will tell you in the next Lecture.

IV.

CATECHETICAL QUESTIONS.

1. What are the words of the Text? And he dreamed and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending upon it.

2. What did Jacob see at the top of this ladder? And behold the Lord'stood above it. 3. What did the Lord say to Jacob? I

am

am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac.

4. Did he make any promise to Jacob con cerning the ground on which he slept? The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed.

5. Was Jacob to have a numerous seed? And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth.

6. To what parts were they to extend? And they shall spread abroad to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.

7. Was there any promise respecting Christ? Yes, "and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

7. What other promises did God make to. Jacob? "And behold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land for i will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."

9. When Jacob awaked out of his sleep what did he say? Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not.”

"And he was

10. How did Jacob feel? afraid and said, how dreadful is this place!