brethren took up ftones to caft at him for LECT.

making himself the Son of God: and when he told them they fhould fee him coming in the clouds, and fitting at the right hand of power, they pronounced him to be guilty of blafphemy, and inflicted thofe fufferings which were neceffary to his exaltation. They fold him into the hands of the Romans, to be treated as a flave, fcourged, and crucified. With the kingdoms of the Gentiles, to whom his brethren delivered him, he remains to this day; and thither they must come after him, if they are to meet with him, as Jofeph was followed by his family into Egypt.

Much more might be faid to fhew how exact the parallel is between the history of Jofeph and the hiftory of Christ, if we were to pursue it. We fee Jofeph in company with two malefactors in the prison, and promifing life to one of them: we fee him endued with fuch wisdom, that even Heathens were obliged to own that this Hebrew spoke by the fpirit of God; and

they

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VIII.

At the

LECT. they were content that he should receive the power and glory of dominion amongst them; while his brethren had rejected him as an infignificant dreamer. One circumftance, however, I must not pass over, which is particularly noted by St. Stephen; that at the Second time Fofeph was made known to his brethren. first meeting they knew him not: but after they had accused themselves for being guilty of his death, and had imputed their troubles to its proper caufe, then their brother was made known unto them. Thus we truft it will be at laft betwixt Chrift and the Jews. The time will come, when they shall see the true reason why they have been wandering backwards and forwards, and seeking their bread with anxiety and fufpicion, in a strange land; and fhall fay with the brethren of Joseph, we are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his foul when he befought us, and we would not bear; therefore is this diftrefs come upon us*. God who found out the iniquity of

* Genefis xlii, 21.

Jofeph's

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Jofeph's brethren, and at laft opened their LECT. eyes to fee and confefs it, can turn the hearts of the Jews, how hard foever they may be at present, and prepare them for that fecond meeting when their Saviour fhall be known to them.

Some things which have paffed before us in the present lecture would suggest many profitable reflections, if I had time to infift upon them.

From the office of John the Baptist, which was preparatory to the doctrines of Jefus Chrift, we are to learn, that no man can receive the truth of the gospel, unless he is prepared by a baptism of repentance, and is ready to forfake his fins. The counsel of God for his falvation can take no effect, till his former evil ways are given up. With an attachment to his old fins and errors, he can neither understand nor approve any thing the gospel offers to him; but will either hate or despise it, and tempt others to do the fame: as the scribes did, who would not accept of John's bap

LECT. tifm. Why do not all men receive the

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gofpel, but because fome have taken part with the world, the flesh, and the devil; and determine never to renounce them? To all fuch the gofpel is a thing of no value.

4

From the cafe of Jofeph, and our bleffed Saviour, hated and perfecuted as they were; we should learn to fufpect all those whom the world magnifies, and not trust to reports and appearances, where self love and temporal interest are concerned to disguife things. This is a world in which truth is neglected, goodness evil spoken of, and innocence run down and perfecuted. It is the conftant practice of mankind to mifrepresent and defame those whom they have injured, that their own injuftice may not appear. When virtue is oppreffed, it is generally filent; while its oppreffors never fail to be clamorous in their own vindication and in most cafes, men may : guish where the fault lies, by the noise that is made to conceal it. When Christ was defamed he answered not again; and

diftin

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his difciples also fuffered in patience; LECT. while the Jews were running here and there all over the world to tell their story, and turn the hearts of men against the gofpel, that they might be prepared to difbelieve and reject it, as soon as it should come to their ears.

In the history of Jofeph's brethren, you fee them in diftrefs under their wants; not able to stay at home without ftarving, nor daring to go into Egypt, taking the lord of the country for their enemy. Every mortal man will fuffer under the like miferable dilemma, who cannot find his happiness in the world, and dare not feek it where only it is to be found. All this happens because he does not know Jefus Chrift; does not know that he is the brother and the friend of finners, ready to take them under his protection and fupply all their wants; but fuppofes religion to be his enemy, and expects to be roughly handled. The brethren of Jofeph did not know him; and were diftreffed with fear and anxiety; the Jews did not know Chrift,

and