t him.

A peaceful smile now rested on the face of the sleeper, reflecting
the deep happiness which filled his breast; and soon over his
countenance was spread an expression of joy that it had never worn
before.

He saw in his sleep a great ladder of light, the one end of which
rested on the earth, while the other reached right up to heaven.
Beautiful, bright-winged angels, with faces shining like the sun,
were going up and coming down it. And the Lord of Glory Himself, to
whom he had just prayed, stood above it. No words of anger or stern
rebuke were on His lips. No ominous frown darkened His face. Only a
look of tenderness and love lighted it up; and the pardoned Jacob,
unworthy as he knew himself to be, did not shrink from looking up to
Him, who in His gracious compassion had deigned to appear to him.

"I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac," He
said; "and I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither
thou goest."

Oh, how glad and thankful Jacob was thus to be assured that, though
he had so sinned, yet God had not left him, but was still with him!
How deeply thankful he was that he would not now have to go on his
journey alone, as he had feared, but that the God of his fathers
would go with him, to take care of him, wherever he went! His bosom
swelled with joy, and his face grew still brighter; for this was the
happiest moment in all his life.

There, lying on that cold stone, he felt nothing but joy. With the
good and Holy One so near, with His peace and gladness in his heart,
he could smile at all outward miseries.

But the gracious and gentle voice did not cease yet. "I will not
leave thee," it went on to say, "until I have done that which I have
spoken to thee of. The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give
it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth;
and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the
north, and to the south; and in thee, and in thy seed, shall all the
families of the earth be blessed."

So he, who was all alone, was to become the father of innumerable
people; and the one who had deserved only cursing was not only to be
blessed himself, but to be made a blessing to all the earth!

The vision passed away, and Jacob awoke, astounded at God's goodness
and mercy. For he knew that the dream was no idle thing, but that it
told of present and future realities. And as he meditated on it his
joy increased. He to