120 The Favour of God obtained by Wifdom; S E R M. felves wings, and flee as an eagle towards V. heaven. But the favour of God is a fove- `" reign good, and never-failing foundation of hope, and fpring of comfort ; it extendeth to all poffible cafes, and is a fupport in the moft diftreffed fituation of affairs ; of which we have a remarkable example in the hiflory of Jacob's returning from the land of Syria. When his family had grown to a confider - able number, and his fubitance likewife en, creafed in a painful fervice, indeed under a long oppref ion, fo as to draw upon him the envy and difcontent of his father-in -law, from whom he efcaped with difficulty, a new and a greater danger meeteth him from his brother, with whom he had parted on ill terms, and expeäed now the deftruäive efeEts of his refentment againft himfelf and his defencelefs family. In this great extre- mity, having made the belt difpofitions he could for faving at leaft force of his bode- hold, Taft of all, he betook himfelf to prayer, the earneftnefs and importunity of which is reprefented by an angel's wrefiling with him in the likenefs of a man, and the refult was, that he obtained a blef:ng ; thatis, the pro - mife of God's fpecial favour, which had been made to Abraham and I/aac, was re- 3 newe4
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