raiment," (ver. 15,) and to have been highly perfumed with aromatic drugs,—a custom, as Mr. Roberts, in his "Oriental Illustrations of the Scriptures," informs us, adopted by the natives of India, who use for this purpose camphor, civet, sandal-wood, and a great variety of highly-scented water. Hence, some people know their children by their smell; and it is common for a mother or a father to say, "Ah, child, thy smell is like the Sen-Paga-Poo." And of an amiable man it is said, "How sweet is the smell of that man! The smell of his goodness is universal."

Highly expressive, then, were the words of Isaac, and full of the beautiful poetry of the East. The smell of Jacob was like that of a field blessed of the Lord, and bringing forth abundance of odoriferous herbs. And to him his father gave, by prophecy, the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine, together with lordship over all his brethren; a prophecy which was fulfilled in the history of his descendants, when they obtained possession of the land of Canaan, and * A flower sacred to Chrisna.

when, as in the times of David, the Edomites and other tribes became subject to their rule.

And now Jacob's object, or that of his mother, was accomplished. The blessing of the firstborn was secured. The rights of primogeniture, forfeited by Esau, were given to him. He retired, therefore, from his father's presence, and went back, as we may suppose, to inform his mother of his complete success.

IV. THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

Jacob had scarcely left his father's tent, ere Esau, who had returned from hunting, and had also made savoury meat such as Isaac loved, came into his presence, and besought the promised blessing. The discovery of the fraud which had just been practised upon him greatly affected the aged patriarch, and he "trembled very exceedingly," or, as the margin renders it more literally, "trembled with a great trembling greatly." And bitter was Esau's disappointment, when he heard what had taken place. He came, expecting to obtain his father's blessing. That the paternal benedic

tion would be bestowed upon him, and that the privileges to which he was entitled as the firstborn would be his, he did not doubt. But had he then forgotten the transaction with his brother? or did he suppose that it was of no practical importance? Ah, how often do we think lightly of our follies! A young man commits an act of sin, and imagines, perhaps, that afterwards he will hear of it no more; but that sin is a seed, and it takes root, and in the end produces its own sad fruit. Esau approaches his father as if he had never sold the brithright, or as if he thought that the sale of it was void: but God's eye had been upon him from that very hour; and now that he comes to claim the blessing, he finds both it and the birthright gone.

We do not approve of the conduct of Jacob; but we look upon that of Esau, in disposing of his birthright, as the principal cause of the position in which he was now placed. It is true that God intended from the first that Jacob should have the precedence; but He did not intend that the change should be effected in the manner it was. It could have been done in

some other way,-in the way of mutual agreement between the brothers, honourable and satisfactory alike to both; but by despising his birthright, Esau proved himself unworthy of it, and hence it passed from him in a manner which caused him intolerable distress.

And his error in supposing that the sale of the birthright would have no effect upon his future history, is one into which not a few young people fall. They imagine that though they commit acts of sin and folly, it will be all the same in the course of a few years; or, at least, that by tears and penitence they can wash out the stain, and that then no evil consequences will ensue. "What if in my youth I am thoughtless, fond of pleasure, and addicted to vice?" says many a one: I can reform by and by; and when I am a man, I shall be staid and serious enough." But, ah! the consequences of early crimes often cling to men to the very end of life; and even when genuine repentance has been exercised, and pardon sought and found, there are certain temporal results of sin which accompany the transgressor to his grave.

"Will the storm hear the sailor's piteous cry,

Taught to mistrust, too late, the tempting wave; When all around he sees but sea and sky,

A God in anger, a self-chosen grave?

"Or will the thorns that strew intemperance' bed
Turn, with a wish, to down? Will late remorse
Recall the shaft the murderer's hand has sped,
Or from the guiltless bosom turn its course?"

No, youthful reader, no! and hence we may learn the great importance of early piety. It is preventive of evil; it fortifies the mind against principles which, if once they find a lodgment in the breast, are not easily driven out, and which, if driven out, leave behind them stains almost, if not altogether, indelible.

V.-ESAU'S SORROW.

The distress of Esau was as great as his disappointment was severe. "Who? where is he," said Isaac, “that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed." "And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry."

We cannot be surprised at his great sorrow;