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Gen_29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Ver. 1. Then Jacob went on his journey.] Heb., Lifted up his feet: indefessi cursoris instar ; as it were a generous and manly horse, refreshed with his wait by the way, he went lightly on his long journey. "The joy of the Lord was" Jacob’s "strength": {Neh_8:10} it became as oil; wherewith his soul being suppled, he was made more lithe, nimble, and fit for action. He that is once soaked in this oil, and bathed, with Jacob, in this bath at Bethel, will cheerfully do or suffer aught for God’s sake. Tua praesentia, Domine, Laurentio ipsam craticulam dulcem fecit , saith one. {a} Gaudebat Crispina cum tenebatur, cum audiebatur, cum damnabatur, cum ducebatur , saith Austin. So did many of the Marian martyrs, as were easy to instance. Bernard gives the reasons: The cross is oiled, {b} saith he; and, by the grace of the Spirit helping our infirmities, it is made, not only light, but sweet; and not only not troublous and terrible, but desirable and delectable. From the delectable orchard of the Leonine prison: so that Italian martyr Algerius dated his letter. {c} Another Dutch martyr, feeling the flame to come to his beard, Ah, said he, what a small pain is this, to be compared to the glory to come! {d} Let us pluck up our feet, pass from strength to strength, and take long and lusty strides toward heaven. It is but a little afore us; and a ready heart rids the way apace.
{a} Aug. in Psalm cxxxvii.
{b} Crux enim inuncta est ,& c. Crucem multi abominantur, crucem videntes, sed non videntes unctionem . - Bern.
{c} Act. and Mon., fol. 857.
{d} Ibid., fol. 813.