GOd said] By immediate revelation of himselfe to Jacob, whether by vision, when he was awake, or by dreame, when asleepe, it is not set downe; but howsoever, hereby we see that God is ready at hand to succour his in their troubles.
Bethel] That is, the house of God, where, at his going to his Uncle Laban, when he fled for feare of the threatned revenge of his brother Esau, he made a vow to God to be confirmed upon his safe returne. See Genesis 28. from vers. 19. to the end of the Chapter.
An Altar unto God, that appeared] That is, to me who appeared unto thee, as Numb. 26. God speaks as if himself were a distinct Person from the God to whom this Altar must be built; and thence some inferre, that God the Father commands an Altar to be built to God the Son; and it is true, he being God is to be worshipped no lesse then God the Father; but though that be true, and it be a sign of a pious mind to take all good occasions to intimate the doctrine of the Trinity, and the Deity of the Son of God, yet this phrase will not serve to beare up an argument against such as are opposite to that high and hard, though Orthodox or true doctrine; since that phrase, viz. of Gods speaking of himself, as in another person, is used else-where, whence no such observation can be deduced, as both in the third and fourth Commandements of the decalogue.