July 19

Genesis xxxv.—1. And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there, and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

2. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

3. And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

5. And they journeyed; and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

6. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan (that is, Beth-el), he and all the people that were with him.

7. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el, because there God appeared unto him when he fled from the face of his brother.

On returning to Canaan, Jacob had established himself in the beautiful Vale of Shechem, where he bought the well which to this day bears his name. But a quarrel arose between his sons and the men of Shechem; and the patriarch moved southward to Bethel,—the place hallowed by his vision of the ladder, when he lay there, a solitary fugitive, with a stone for his pillow. Rachel had brought with her "for good luck" the amulets and charms that were used in her father's house. No doubt the servants had many things of the same sort, and some of the household had been led to adopt such as they found in use at Shechem. Earrings having images of the

8. But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died; and she was buried beneath Beth-el, under an oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth [that is, the oak of weeping].

9. And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him.

10. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel.

11. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.

12. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it; and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

14. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink-offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

15. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him Beth-el.

gods were used as amulets. Jacob purified and reformed his household from these practices of idolatry, and restored them to the true worship of Jehovah. God would have us keep in remembrance his former mercies by memorials of his grace. When one who has grown rich in the city returns to his birthplace in the country, and rebuilds the dilapidated church or schoolhouse, or founds a library, an academy, an asylum, he is following the example of Jacob in building an altar to the Lord, who answered him in the day of his weakness, and was with him in the way which he went. One may thus make himself a very patriarch of blessing to after-generations.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 2, 17, 42.

Almighty God, who hast revealed unto us what eye had not seen, nor ear heard, and what had never entered into the heart of man to conceive, we bless thee for the manifestation of thyself in Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh! for his sake hear us, and take away our sins. Thankful for the mercies of the night and of the week now closed, we joyfully commit ourselves to thee for this holy day.

Lord of the sabbath, bless us with thy Spirit, that, through the power of his grace, we may enter into the holiest rest, and partake of the purest joy. Go with us to thy house. Help us to worship in the beauty of holiness. May we put away all idols from our hearts, all sins from our thoughts! and may thy truth make us wise unto salvation through faith in thy Son!

We commend to thee, O God! the whole catholic Church. Pour down upon thy ministry, and all congregations committed to their care, the healthful spirit of thy grace. Bless all Sunday

schools, all missionary labor, all the efforts of thy people to save the lost. Let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Holy Father, we pray for all who are in trouble and sorrow, that it may please thee to comfort them in their distress, and give them a happy issue out of their affliction. Have compassion on the poor; succor the tried and the tempted; loose the chain of the captive; hear the sigh of the prisoner; and be with those who are doomed to die. Praised be thy name for the mercies of this life,—for our home-comforts, our means of education, our manifold enjoyments and privileges. We commend ourselves as a family, with all our kindred and friends, unto thy heavenly care and blessing. May this family altar be to us a Beth-el, making this the house of God! Accept our thanks, pardon our sins, sanctify our souls, and prepare us for glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator. Amen.