When he arrived, they gave him the present, and bowed themselves before him to the ground. He enquired, "Is your father well; the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?" 66 Thy servant, our father," they replied, "is yet alive, and in good health."

And again they bowed their heads and made obeisance. Joseph then, fixing his eyes on his own brother Benjamin, asked them, "Is this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me?" and without waiting for their reply continued, "God be gracious unto thee, my son." He could say no more; for his heart was full. The sight of his brother had fanned the ardour of that fraternal

selves, considering it an abomination to eat at the same table with Hebrews, who, being shepherds, were accounted an inferior people. The eleven brethren being placed before Joseph, according to the exact order of their birth, wondered greatly at the strangeness of the thing, and could not account for it. However, being so kindly entertained,—for Joseph sent them provisions from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as any of his brethren,

they ate and drank freely, and made themselves merry with him.

3. So far, their proceedings had been favourable beyond their most sanguine expectations; and they might now reasonably conclude that

towards him; and now, he was SO overcome by his feelings that, to hide his emotion, he sought where he might weep tears of love in secret : and he entered into his chamber and wept there.

Having washed his face, that it might not be observed he had been weeping, he returned to his brethren with a cheerful countenance, and ordered dinner to be brought in. Joseph, on account of his dignity, sat by himself; and his brethren sat by themselves. The Egyptians who dined with them also sat by them

cause anxiety and disappointment.

But they had yet to pass through a severer trial than any they had yet experienced. Their hard hearts, which had been steeled against the anguish of Joseph's soul, when they sold him into slavery, must be wrought upon by still sorer affliction, And though Joseph, for the sake of his beloved brother Benjamin, earnestly longed to make himself known to them, he was yet constrained to delay doing so a little longer, that he might impress them with a fuller conviction of their cruelty towards

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12. While Joseph's brethren, prompted by their hatred, were seeking how they might be revenged on their innocent brother, an unexpected opportunity offered itself; their good father becoming the unconscious instrument of delivering his darling into their malicious hands. Joseph's ten brethren having gone to feed their father's flock in Shechem, the paternal care of Jacob, induced him to send Joseph to them to enquire after their welfare. So calling him one day he said to him, Go, I pray thce, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again." Joseph, in ready obedience, went to Shechem; and not finding them there, he wandered about the fields seeking them. At length he was met by a certain man who asked him what he was seeking. Joseph replied, "I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks." The man said, "They are gone from this place; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan." On hearing this

But

will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams." Reuben who was of a milder disposition than some of them, endeavoured to thwart their design, saying, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him." He hoped by this means to preserve his brother's life; intending to get him out of the pit secretly, on the first opportunity, and deliver him to his father again.

13. When Joseph was come to his brethren, without giving him an opportunity of delivering his message, they seized him, and stripped him of his coat of many colours, and cast him into the pit, which, at that season, had no water in it. They then sat down to eat and drink and make themselves merry.

While thus employed, they saw a company of Ishmaelite merchants passing near, who were travelling from Gilead with spices, and balm, and myrrh, which they were carrying down to Egypt. And now Judah began to feel some pangs of conscience at the thought of what they had done, and feared that his poor brother Joseph might, before long, be found starved to death: so he proposed another means of getting rid of him, and said to his brethren, "What pro

fit will it be to us to slay our brother,

and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother." Considering that they should be gainers by this step, they determined upon doing as Judah had suggested. So taking Joseph out of the pit, they sold him to the merchants for twenty pieces of silver; shutting their ears against his bitter cries, and earnest entreaties that they would send him home again to his father. The Ishmaelites took him with them into Egypt.

14. Reuben was not with his brothers when they sold Joseph; and not knowing what they had done, he secretly went to the pit, intending to release him and send him home. But on looking in, he found to his grief that his brother was not there: on which he rent his clothes, and returned to his brethren, crying in great agony of mind, "Joseph is gone; and I, whither shall I go?" They then told him what they had done in his absence; and began to consult together how they could best manage the matter with their father, so as to take away all suspicion from themselves. They at length agreed to kill a kid of the goats, and dip Joseph's coat in the blood; which, having done, they

sent it to their father with this message, "This we have found: see now whether it be thy son's coat or no." The poor old man at once knew that it was Joseph's, and said, "It is my son's coat an evil beast hath de-' voured him: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces!" Then, in an agony of grief, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And now, his unfeeling and guilty sons, pretending to sympathise with him in his grief, hypocritically offered to comfort and console him under his bereavement; but he refused to be comforted, saying, "I will go down into the grave to my son, mourning."

15. When the Ishmaelites who bought Joseph arrived in Egypt, they sold him to Potiphar, captain of king Pharaoh's guards, who took him into his house. His comely appearance and amiable disposition, together with the integrity and faithfulness of his conduct soon attracted' the watchful eye of his master, who saw too, that the Lord was with him' and made everything that he did to prosper. Very soon, therefore, he' appointed him to be his steward, giving him the charge over his house, and all that he possessed. And he did not go unrewarded: for the God of all grace, who had been

with Joseph and blessed the work of his hands, now caused His blessing to descend upon the house of Potiphar, for Joseph's sake, because he had shewn kindness to one of His chosen ones; so that prosperity rested upon his house and possessions, till at length he knew not their extent; it was known only to faithful Joseph. 16. Being thus happily situated, he might reasonably have looked forward to a life of much comfort, though in slavery, and have hoped to obtain his liberty as a reward for his faithful and profitable services. His virtue, however, had to pass through some severe trials before he could assure himself of a state of tranquillity and peace.

Providence had been very bountiful to Joseph, in bestowing upon him a comely form, adorned with a manly dignity and grace. These personal attractions did not long pass unnoticed by his master's wife, who became enamoured of him, and, forgetting the sacredness of the tie that bound her to her husband, importuned Joseph to break one of God's most holy commandments. But he refused, and said to her, "Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath into my hand: there is none greater in this house than I:

neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God." Notwithstanding this solemn refusal, day after day she continued to urge her request, to which he as constantly refused to yield.

At length an opportunity presented itself, when the servants of the house were engaged in their duties at a distance, and Potiphar was from home on the king's business, which she thought favourable to a more determined attempt to induce him to comply with her desires. So with much importunity she again spoke to him, and laid hold of his garment to prevent him from leaving her. seph's resolution was still unshaken : still he resisted her; and having no other means of escape, he left his garment in her hands and fled from the house.

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17. Being now exasperated against him beyond measure, and fearing that he might betray her base conduct to his master, she determined to prevent his accusing her, by making a charge against him. So raising a great outcry, and calling the servants of the house, she said to them, “See; your master hath brought a Hebrew into the house to expose us to scorn and infamy. He came into my room;