Genesis — Chapter 28

Iacob trauailing into a strange countrie went in such poore estate, the better to hide his departure from Efau, who otherwise might haue killed him by the way. It was also thus disposed by God, that Iacobs faith and confidence might, to his greater merit, be exercised; and that Gods prouidence might more manifestly appeare, as it did in his returne after twentie yeares, when with most grateful mind he recounted Gods benefits saying (Gen. 32.) With my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan, and now with two troups I doe returne.

He that was in temporal distresse was maruelously comforted spiritually, by seeing a ladder that reached from the earth to heauen; Angels passing vp and downe the same, and the Sonne of God leaning vpon it, as he that reigneth both in heauen and earth, who in particular promised him and his seed that whole land, that he and his seed should be blessed, yea that in His Seed al nations should be blessed, and that he would keep and protect him wheresouer he went.

Iacob erected a stone and powred oyle thereon.] What Iacob did in this place, is now vsed in the Catholike Church. For so Rabanus, a diligent obseruer and writer of Ecclesiastical Rites, Ceremonies, and Customes, touching the vse of holie oyle witnesseth (li. 1. c. 45. Institut. cleric.) that the Altar being first sprinkled with water, is annointed with Chrisme, to the example of the Patriarch Iacob, who after that dreadful vision, erected a stone for a title powring oyle theron, and calling that place The house of God. S. Cyprian also writing of Chrisme mentioneth the two sorts of holie oyle vsed in the Church; one of simple oyle consecrated by a Bishop, which is vsed for Catechumens before Baptisme, persons possessed, and the sick; the other is made of oyle and balme, also consecrated by a Bishop, and this is vsed in Baptisme, Confirmation, and in consecrating Altars, Kings, and Priests.

Vowed.] It can not be vnderstood that Iacob heer vowed or promised only to serue God, as the Soueraigne Lord of al creatures, for to that he was bound, whether he should prosper temporally or no; but that he vowed particular godlie works, to which he was not otherwise obliged. As heer he expresseth two things. First, And this stone, which I haue erected for a title, shal be called the house of God. Wherby he promised the building of a Church, performed at his returne (chap. 35.) Secondly, he added, And of al things which thou shalt giue me I wil offer tithes to thee. And this likewise was of free deuotion. For tithes also in the law of nature were due to Priests, and by inferiour Priests to the chiefe Priest, as Abraham gaue tithes to Melchisedech.

and this ftone , which I haue erected fora title, fhal be called the Houfe ot God: and of al things that thou fhalt giue to me, I wil offer tithes to thee.