Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

5. What answer did they give him? They said, we know him.

6. Did Jacob inquire after Laban's welfare. Yes, he asked them if he was well, and they said, he is well.

7. When Jacob told them to water the flocks and go and feed them, what answer did they give to Jacob? And they said, we cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth then we water the sheep.

8.

When Jacob saw Rachel with the sheep, what did he do? He "went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother."

9. What did Jacob say to Rachel? And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother and that he was Rebekah's son.

10. When Rachel heard this, what did she do? She ran and told her father.

11. When her father heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, what did he do? "He ran to meet him and embraced him, and kiss

ed

* A name usually applied to any near relation in the East, though not born of the same mother, or in the same family.

ed-him, and brought him to his house."

12. When Jacob had told Laban the rea son of his coming to Haran, what did Laban say? Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. That is, he owned Jacob to be a very near relation.

III. PRACTICAL ADDRESS.

Rachel's name signifies a sheep. Whether her father when he gave her this name in tended her for a Shepherdess, we know not. The employment in which she was engaged seemed to agree with her name. Surely the sheep must be well taken care of when she had the charge of them. No doubt there were proper persons under her who assisted her in this employment. She superintended or overlooked the whole herself, and it was her business to see that they did their duty, that the sheep were well fed and well watered, that they grew and increased. I think that all parents are employed like Rachel. They have a family which may be called their flock to take çare. Ministers are called Shepherds; they watch over the souls of men, and they must give an account to him who is the great Shep

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

herd and Bishop of our souls. Ministers' daughters may be like Rachel, and assist in taking care of their father's flock; at least they may feed the Lambs of his flock. They ought all of them to be Teachers in Sunday schools. I know a little Girl in India whose, name is Rachel, who assists her Mother in taking care of a little flock. She had even a class of little girls under her own charge. Go, my little Rachels, and all of you imitate her. Instruct the ignorant. Teach poor children their letters. Teach them what you know of Jesus Christ. Pray for them and with them, pray for your younger brothers and sisters. If you have no other little flock to attend to, you can take care of them. Imitate the humility, industry and piety of Rachel. Always pray to God when you want any thing from God. Never say if I have not this thing I shall die. There are many who like Rachel wish for those things which may be very injurious to them. See that if you are not Shepherdesses, that you are the Lambs of Christ, the good Shepherd, who will carry you in his bosom, and when you die, take you to dwell in his fold above for ever and ever. Amen.

A HYMN,

A HYMN.

Christ the good Shepherd.

SEE the kind Shepherd Jesus stands,

With all engaging charms;
Hark how he calls the tender lambs,
Aud folds them in his arms.

Permit them to approach (he cries)
Nor scorn their humble name,
For it was to bless such souls as these
The Lord of Angels came.

He'll lead us to the heavenly streams
Where living waters flow,

And guide us to the fruitful fields
Where trees of knowledge grow.

The feeblest lamb amidst the flock.
Shall be its Shepherd's care,
While folded in our Saviour's arms
We are safe from every snare.

Ye little flock with pleasure come,
Ye children seek his face,

And fly with eager joy to hear
His messages of grace.

[blocks in formation]

JACOB AND LABAN; OR THE UNCLE

AND NEPHEW.

GEN. 30. 36. And Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

YOU have already heard of Jacob's arrival

at Haran, how he met with Rachel at the well and rolled away the stone and watered the flocks of Laban his Uncle. That Rachel ran and told her father that Jacob was come, and Laban ran and met him, and embraced him and brought him home to his house. After Jacob had been a month with his uncle, he proposed to give him wages and to employ him while he remained with him. "And Laban said unto Jacob, because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought, tell me what shall thy wages be?" During the month that he had been with his uncle, it appears that he was not idle, but continued to do all he could for his uncle. Laban was so much pleased with Jacob's care of his flocks, that he

was

« ÎnapoiContinuă »