it is not in us, of our own natural weakness, to be wise, or good, or happy, so it is unto God through Christ Jesus that we are indebted, for "our wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption b;" so that "whereinsoever we glory, we may glory in the Lord?" The Apostle teaches us to carry this principle into the most ordinary occurrences, into the most necessary and indispensable business of life. "Whether ye eat or drink," saith he, "or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Do we adopt the principle in its full extent, and in its universal application? and labour so to conduct ourselves in the more trivial and familiar, as well as in the more important and public transactions that we are engaged in, not in order to promote our own honour or interest, but "that men may see our good works, and" being led to regard them as proceeding from the love of God, may “glorify our heavenly Father," who hath graciously enabled and disposed us to perform them?

2. Again the love of God was manifested in Joseph by a belief in his superintending and directing Providence. Do we like him believe, that "God meaneth all the evil," that is thought or wrought against us, "for good," and that he will ultimately cause" all things to work together for good to them who love him?" It is not probable that our faith will be put to those severe trials, by which almighty God saw fit to exercise the faith of Joseph. Torn from his native country, from the arms of an affectionate and only surviving parent, of whose declining years he was the support and the comfort; betrayed by his brethren, the children of his father; sold as a slave into a foreign country; and there persecuted, slandered, and imprisoned: he "held fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end":" he knew that it was "the word of the Lord which tried him." Under trials much less severe than these, trials which do not exceed the ordinary portion of man, many of them probably the consequences of our

own sinful lusts, and many probably brought upon us and continued by our own perverse tempers, is our faith unshaken in the goodness and providence of God? Knowing that "we have access by faith in Jesus Christ into this grace wherein we stand," do we not only" rejoice in hope of the glory of God," but "glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience?" It is an essential part of religion, not only to "believe in God that he is;" but also to believe, that he judgeth and ruleth the world in righteousness, that he can bring good out of evil, that he can and does make all things, yea even the evil designs and actions of wicked men, work together for the good of his faithful people. Is this our belief? are we assured, under all the trials that exercise us, under all the evil that befalleth us, that "God meaneth it for good?"

3. Again; the "faith" of Joseph was "made perfect" by his resignation: he believed in God, as the all-wise Disposer of

1 Rom. v. 2.

human events, and "the trying of his faith wrought in him patience." If we believe as Joseph did, we shall be resigned also like him. Is such our resignation? Believing that" whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and that he scourgeth every son, whom he receiveth;" do we " endure chastening," as intended "for our profit, and that we may be made partakers of the holiness of God k?" Do we submit to the rod of affliction, knowing who hath appointed it'," and that he hath appointed it for wise and salutary ends? Do we in the season of distress," cast all our care upon God," believing that "he careth for us m Do we "humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, assured that he will exalt us in due time";" that having "called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that we have suffered awhile, he will make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us?" As the desires of human nature will "lust against the Spirit," and prevent us from becoming perfect in "the beauty of

holiness;" so will the infirmities of our nature sometimes rebel, and hinder us from being "steadfast in the faith P;" from submitting with that complete and uniform subjection of our will, which we owe and should strive to practise, to "the Father of spirits." Is it however our hearty endeavour to attain the faith and resignation, which it becometh us to practise; to manifest that subjection of our will to the will of God, which is our duty in all the dispensations of his Providence? "The flesh" may be, to a certain extent it always will be, "weak;" is "the spirit" nevertheless willing?"

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4. Again; united with resignation under the chastening hand of God, Joseph possessed a heart grateful to him for the blessings which he bestowed. "Give me neither poverty nor richess," was the prayer of a wise man, well aware of the dangers which accompany each extreme. Proof against the evils of each, as adversity had