patriarchs and prophets-第37部分

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deliverances　that　God　has　wrought　for　him；　supporting　him　in　trial；　opening
ways　before　him　when　all　seemed　dark　and　forbidding；　refreshing　him　when
ready　to　faint。　He　should　recognize　all　of　them　as　evidences　of　the
watchcare　of　heavenly　angels。　In　view　of　these　innumerable　blessings　he
should　often　ask；　with　subdued　and　grateful　heart；　〃What　shall　I　render　unto
the　Lord　for　all　His　benefits　toward　me？〃　Psalm　116：12。

Our　time；　our　talents；　our　property；　should　be　sacredly　devoted　to　Him　who
has　given　us　these　blessings　in　trust。　Whenever　a　special　deliverance　is
wrought　in　our　behalf；　or　new　and

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unexpected　favors　are　granted　us；　we　should　acknowledge　God's　goodness；　not
only　by　expressing　our　gratitude　in　words；　but；　like　Jacob；　by　gifts　and
offerings　to　His　cause。　As　we　are　continually　receiving　the　blessings　of
God；　so　we　are　to　be　continually　giving。

〃Of　all　that　Thou　shalt　give　me；〃　said　Jacob；　〃I　will　surely　give　the　tenth
unto　Thee。〃　Shall　we　who　enjoy　the　full　light　and　privileges　of　the　gospel
be　content　to　give　less　to　God　than　was　given　by　those　who　lived　in　the
former；　less　favored　dispensation？　Nay；　as　the　blessings　we　enjoy　are
greater；　are　not　our　obligations　correspondingly　increased？　But　how　small
the　estimate；　how　vain　the　endeavor　to　measure　with　mathematical　rules；
time；　money；　and　love；　against　a　love　so　immeasurable　and　a　gift　of　such
inconceivable　worth。　Tithes　for　Christ！　Oh；　meager　pittance；　shameful
recompense　for　that　which　cost　so　much！　From　the　cross　of　Calvary；　Christ
calls　for　an　unreserved　consecration。　All　that　we　have；　all　that　we　are；
should　be　devoted　to　God。

With　a　new　and　abiding　faith　in　the　divine　promises；　and　assured　of　the
presence　and　guardianship　of　heavenly　angels；　Jacob　pursued　his　journey　to
〃the　land　of　the　children　of　the　East。〃　Genesis　29：1；　margin。　But　how
different　his　arrival　from　that　of　Abraham's　messenger　nearly　a　hundred
years　before！　The　servant　had　come　with　a　train　of　attendants　riding　upon
camels；　and　with　rich　gifts　of　gold　and　silver；　the　son　was　a　lonely；
footsore　traveler；　with　no　possession　save　his　staff。　Like　Abraham's
servant；　Jacob　tarried　beside　a　well；　and　it　was　here　that　he　met　Rachel；
Laban's　younger　daughter。　It　was　Jacob　now　who　rendered　service；　rolling　the
stone　from　the　well　and　watering　the　flocks。　On　making　known　his　kinship；　he
was　welcomed　to　the　home　of　Laban。　Though　he　came　portionless　and
unattended；　a　few　weeks　showed　the　worth　of　his　diligence　and　skill；　and　he
was　urged　to　tarry。　It　was　arranged　that　he　should　render　Laban　seven　years'
service　for　the　hand　of　Rachel。

In　early　times　custom　required　the　bridegroom；　before　the　ratification　of　a
marriage　engagement；　to　pay　a　sum　of　money　or　its　equivalent　in　other
property；　according　to　his　circumstances；　to　the　father　of　his　wife。　This
was　regarded　as　a　safeguard　to　the　marriage　relation。　Fathers　did　not　think
it　safe　to　trust　the　happiness　of　their　daughters　to　men　who　had　not　made
provision　for　the　support　of　a　family。　If　they　had　not　sufficient　thrift　and
energy　to　manage　business　and　acquire　cattle　or　lands；　it　was　feared　that

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their　life　would　prove　worthless。　But　provision　was　made　to　test　those　who
had　nothing　to　pay　for　a　wife。　They　were　permitted　to　labor　for　the　father
whose　daughter　they　loved；　the　length　of　time　being　regulated　by　the　value
of　the　dowry　required。　When　the　suitor　was　faithful　in　his　services；　and
proved　in　other　respects　worthy；　he　obtained　the　daughter　as　his　wife；　and
generally　the　dowry　which　the　father　had　received　was　given　her　at　her
marriage。　In　the　case　of　both　Rachel　and　Leah；　however；　Laban　selfishly
retained　the　dowry　that　should　have　been　given　them；　they　referred　to　this
when　they　said；　just　before　the　removal　from　Mesopotamia；　〃He　hath　sold　us；
and　hath　quite　devoured　also　our　money。〃

The　ancient　custom；　though　sometimes　abused；　as　by　Laban；　was　productive　of
good　results。　When　the　suitor　was　required　to　render　service　to　secure　his
bride；　a　hasty　marriage　was　prevented；　and　there　was　opportunity　to　rest　the
depth　of　his　affections；　as　well　as　his　ability　to　provide　for　a　family。　In
our　time　many　evils　result　from　pursuing　an　opposite　course。　It　is　often　the
case　that　persons　before　marriage　have　little　opportunity　to　become
acquainted　with　each　other's　habits　and　disposition；　and；　so　far　as　everyday
life　is　concerned；　they　are　virtually　strangers　when　they　unite　their
interests　at　the　altar。　Many　find；　too　late；　that　they　are　not　adapted　to
each　other；　and　lifelong　wretchedness　is　the　result　of　their　union。　Often
the　wife　and　children　suffer　from　the　indolence　and　inefficiency　or　the
vicious　habits　of　the　husband　and　father。　If　the　character　of　the　suitor　had
been　tested　before　marriage；　according　to　the　ancient　custom；　great
unhappiness　might　have　been　prevented。

Seven　years　of　faithful　service　Jacob　gave　for　Rachel；　and　the　years　that　he
served　〃seemed　unto　him　but　a　few　days；　for　the　love　he　had　to　her。〃　But　the
selfish　and　grasping　Laban；　desiring　to　retain　so　valuable　a　helper；
practiced　a　cruel　deception　in　substituting　Leah　for　Rachel。　The　fact　that
Leah　herself　was　a　party　to　the　cheat；　caused　Jacob　to　feel　that　he　could
not　love　her。　His　indignant　rebuke　to　Laban　was　met　with　the　offer　of　Rachel
for　another　seven　years'　service。　But　the　father　insisted　that　Leah　should
not　be　discarded；　since　this　would　bring　disgrace　upon　the　family。　Jacob　was
thus　placed　in　a　most　painful　and　trying　position；　he　finally　decided　to
retain　Leah　and　marry　Rachel。　Rachel　was　ever　the　one　best　loved；　but　his
preference　for　her

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excited　envy　and　jealousy；　and　his　life　was　embittered　by　the　rivalry
between　the　sister…wives。

For　twenty　years　Jacob　remained　in　Mesopotamia；　laboring　in　the　service　of
Laban；　who；　disregarding　the　ties　of　kinship；　was　bent　upon　securing　to
himself　all　the　benefits　of　their　connection。　Fourteen　years　of　toil　he
demanded　for　his　two　daughters；　and　during　the　remaining　period；　Jacob's
wages　were　ten　times　changed。　Yet　Jacob's　service　was　diligent　and　faithful。
His　words　to　Laban　in　their　last　interview　vividly　describe　the　untiring
vigilance　which　he　had　given　to　the　interests　of　his　exacting　master：　〃This
twenty　years　have　I　been　with　thee；　thy　ewes　and　thy　she…goats　have　not　cast
their　young；　and　the　rams　of　thy　flock　have　I　not　eaten。　That　which　was　torn
of　beasts　I　brought　not　unto　thee；　I　bare　the　loss　of　it；　of　my　hand　didst
thou　require　it；　whether　stolen　by　day；　or　stolen　by　night。　Thus　I　was；　in
the　day　the　drought　consumed　me；　and　the　frost　by　night；　and　my　sleep
departed　from　mine　eyes。〃

It　was　necessary　for　the　shepherd　to　watch　his　flocks　day　and　night。　They
were　in　danger　from　robbers；　and　also　from　wild　beasts；　which　were　numerous
and　bold；　often　committing　great　havoc　in　flocks　that　were　not　faithfully
guarded。　Jacob　had　many　assistants　in　caring　for　the　extensive　flocks　of
Laban；　but　he　himself　was　held　responsible　for　them　all。　During　some
portions　of　the　year　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　be　constantly　with　the
flocks　in　person；　to　guard　them　in　the　dry　season　against　perishing　from
thirst；　and　during　the　coldest　months　from　becoming　chilled　with　the　heavy
night　frosts。　Jacob　was　the　chief　shepherd；　the　servants　in　his　employ　were
the　undershepherds。　If　any　of　the　sheep　were　missing；　the　chief　shepherd
suffered　the　loss；　and　he　called　the　servants　to　whom　he　entrusted　the　care
of　the　flock　to　a　strict　account　if　it　was　not　found　in　a　flourishing
condition。

The　shepherd's　life　of　diligence　and　care…taking；　and　his　tender　compassion
for　the　helpless　creatures　entrusted　to　his　charge；　have　been　employed　by
the　inspired　writers　to　illustrate　some　of　the　most　precious　truths　of　the
gospel。　Christ；　in　His　relation　to　His　people；　is　compared　to　a　shepherd。
After　the　Fall　He　saw　His　sheep　doomed　to　perish　in　the　dark　ways　of　sin。　To
save　these　wandering　ones　He　left　the　honors　and　glories　of　His　Father's

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house。　He　says；　〃I　will　seek　that　which　was　lost；　and　bring　again　that　which
was　driven　away；　and　will　bind　up　that　which　was　broken；　and　will　strengthen
that　which　was　sick。〃　I　will　〃save　My　flock；　and　they　shall　no　more　be　a
prey。〃　〃Neither　shall　the　beast　of　the　land　devour　them。〃　Ezekiel　34：16；　22；
28。　His　voice　is　heard　calling　them　to　His　fold；　〃a　shadow　in　the　daytime
from　the　heat；　and　for　a　place　of　refuge；　and　for　a　covert　from　storm　and
from　rain。〃　Isaiah　4：6。　His　care　for　the　flock　is　unwearied。　He　strengthens
the　weak；　relieves　the　suffering；　gathers　the　lambs　in　His　arms；　and　carries
them　in　His　bosom。　His　sheep　love　Him。　〃And　a　stranger　will　they　not　follow；
but　will　flee　from　him；　for　they　know　not　the　voice　of　strangers。〃　John
10：5。

Christ　says；　〃The　good　shepherd　giveth　his　life　for　the　sheep。　But　he　that
is　an　hireling；　and　not　the　shepherd；　whose　own　the　sheep　are　not；　seeth　the
wolf　coming；　and　leaveth　the　sheep；　and　fleeth；　and　the　wolf　catcheth　them；
and　scattereth　the　sheep。　The　hireling　fleeth；　because　he　is　an　hireling；
and　careth　not　for　the　sheep。　I　am　the　Good　Shepherd；　and　know　My　sheep；　and
am　known　of　Mine。〃　Verses　11…14。

Christ；　the　Chief　Shepherd；　has　entrusted　the　care　of　His　flock　to　His
ministers　as　undershepherds；　and　He　bids　them　have　the　same　interest　that　He
has　manifested；　and　feel　the　sacred　responsibility　of　the　charge　He　has
entrusted　to　them。　He　has　solemnly　commanded　them　to　be　faithful；　to　feed
the　flock；　to　strengthen　the　weak；　to　revive　the　fainting；　and　to　shield
them　from　devouring　wolves。

To　save　His　sheep；　Christ　laid　down　His　own　life；　and　He　points　His
shepherds　to　the　love　thus　manifested；　as　their　example。　But　〃he　that　is　an
hireling；　。　。　。　whose　own　the　sheep　are　not；〃　has　no　real　interest　in　the
flock。　He　is　laboring　merely　for　gain；　and　he　cares　only　for　himself。　He
studies　his　own　profit　instead　of　the　interest　of　his　charge；　and　in　time　of
peril　or　danger　he　will　flee；　and　leave　the　flock。

The　apostle　Peter　admonishes　the　undershepherds：　〃Feed