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had fold to the Ifhmaelites, that it was impoffible for them to discover that the person was the fame.

21. Jofeph, at the inftant that he faw his brethren before him, obferving that he was unknown to them, resolved to keep them for a while in ignorance, that he might have an opportunity of difcovering their prefent difpofitions, and particularly of trying the ftrength of their affection for their father and their brethren.

22. To carry on this defign, he affumed a sternnefs of afpect, and feverity of language, that ill accorded with the tender emotions which this interview had occafioned.

23. He reproached them with coming into Egypt as fpies, and required that before they fhould be permitted to carry a fecond fupply of corn into Canaan, they fhould prove the truth of the account which they had given of them. felves, by bringing their younger brother along with them, and in the mean time fhould leave one of their number bound in prison as a pledge for their return.

24. This demand, which included in it so many afflict. ing circumstances, involved them in the utmoft perplexity and diftrefs. In the hour of calamity, it is natural for the guilty to upbraid themselves, and afcribe their sufferings to their crimes.

25. The horrid plot which they had formerly devised a gainst their brother's life, and their cruelty in turning a deaf ear to his cries, and abandoning him to all the wretchedness of flavery, now rofe before their imaginations in their true colors.

26. Their confciences accufed them; and they faid one to another, in their own language, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we faw the anguifh of his foul when he befought us, and we would not hear, there fore is this distress come upon us." Jofeph was fo touched with this fcene that he was obliged to turn afide and weep.

27. Determined however, to execute his defign, he foon refumed his counterfeited feverity, and perfifted in requir ing them to bring their younger brother.

28. When Jacob heard the hard conditions on which they were to expect the continuance of the neceffary fupplies of food, he was beyond meature afflicted, and refused to comply.

29. At length, however, finding that no other refource remained, he confented, and with a heart full of grief said, "If it must be fo now, take your brother, and arise, go again unto the man; and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin: if I be berieved of my children, I am bereaved."

30. On their fecond arrival in Egypt, the governor finding they had obeyed his orders, received them with great kindness, and so far indulged the natural feelings of his heart as to inquire affectionately concerning their father, and give the young ftranger a cordial welcome.

31.

"He asked them of their welfare, and faid, Is your father well? the old man of whom ye fpake, is he yet alive? And they answered, thy fervant our father is in good health, he is yet alive; and they bowed their heads, and made obeifance."

32. And seeing Benjamin his mother's fon, he faid, "Is this your younger brother, of whom ye fpake unto me? and he faid, God be gracious unto thee, my fon."

33. The scene now became too interesting to be supported without the natural relief of tears that he might not therefore prevent the complete execution of his purpose by a premature difcovery, he retired into his chamber and wept there.

34. After having received feveral tokens of kindness from the governor, they fet out with fresh fupplies of corn on their journey homewards; but Jofeph, who now became impatient to discover himself to his brethren, made use of an artifice to recal them, and to give him an opportunity of revealing the important fecret.

35. Having ordered the filver cup out of which he drank to be privately conveyed into Benjamin's fack of corn, he called them back, charged them with the theft, and required that the person in whofe fack it should be found should be his fervant.

36. When the cup was found with Benjamin, all his brethren were exceedingly afflicted for their father; and Judah, in a most pathetic fpeech, acquainted the governor with all the particulars of the cafe, and entreated that he himself might be permitted to remain a bondman instead of Benjamin.

37. Jofeph was now fufficiently convinced that his breth ren retained a dutiful and affectionate regard for their fath er, that mutual harmony fubfifted among themselves, and that they fincerely repented of their former behavior to

wards him.

38. It was enough: his generous heart defired no more. Unwilling to give them pain for a fingle moment longer than was neceffary to discover their prefent difpofitions;

39. Unable, after what had paffed, to disguise his feelings, and fupprefs the ftrong emotions that struggled with in him; commanding the attendants to withdraw, a flood of tears burft from his eyes, and he faid unto his brethren, "I am Jofeph. Doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him.

40. And Jofeph faid unto his brethren, come near to me I pray you; and they came near; and he faid, I am Jo. feph your brother, whom ye fold into Egypt: now there. fore be not grieved nor angry, with yourselves, that ye fold me hither; for God did fend me before you to preferve life."

41. Before we proceed with the narrative, let us pause to admire the tender, generous and noble spirit which Jo. feph discovered through the whole of this interesting scene. His fudden and extraordinary advancement had not fo far elated his spirit, as to render him capable of looking down with contempt on his brethren;

42. Abfence had not worn out the impreffions, which natural relation and early connections had made; nor had even the malicious barbarity of his brethren, in that scene of his life which was too diftrefsful ever to be forgotton, been able to tear afunder the bonds of nature.

43. Though they had injured him beyond reparation; though he had fuffered fuch indignities and cruelties as might have been fufficient to have juftified the warmest refentment; he ftill remembered that the perfons who had treated him in this manner were his brethren ;

44. He still felt the powerful attractions of natural af. fection; and, finding them difpofed to receive, and capable of enjoying, his friendship, he ufed his utmost endeavors to establish a mutual and lafting attachment.

45. He did not fatisfy himself with coldly affuring then

that he had forgiven them; he reftored them to a place in his heart, treated them with every external mark of kindnefs, and continued, through the remainder of his life, to render them the most important and generous fervices.

46. Such generofity as this, it is much easier to admire than to imitate. When we are called to make the application, and to exhibit in our own conduct fimilar examples of of a forgiving temper, we are too apt to imagine that there are fome effential peculiarities in our circumftances, which may serve as a 'reafonable apology for indulging our refentments.

47. Though the injury we have fuffered may bear no proportion to that which Jofeph knew how to forgive; though no attempt has been made on our life, our liberty, or our property;

48. Though perhaps the offence that has been committed amounts to nothing more than an angry word, a cenfo rious reflection, a bold contradiction of our opinion, or merely a violation of the rules of good breeding and politenefs;

4.9. Yet we find means to perfuade ourselves that the culprit has no claim to forgiveness, and that to perfift in our refentment against him is innocent and even laudable. The true reason of this is, that we do not in reality poffefs fo much of the genuine spirit of benevolence and piety as we may perhaps perfuade others, and ourselves, to imagine.

50. How much foever men may declaim on the excellence of charity, and boaft of their philanthropy, they are in reality deftitute of this divine principle, if it hath not taught them the leffons of forbearance and forgiveness; "for charity fuffereth long, is not eafily provoked; beareth all things; endureth all things."

51. Nor is a difpofition to refentment and revenge confiftent with a becoming regard to the Supreme Power; for the genuine principles of religion would teach us, that even the paffions and vices of men, under the direction of the wife Governor of the world, contribute towards the general order and happiness ;

52. And would enabe us to bear with the infirmities of our brethren, with an humble reliance on that Providence which can bring harmony out of difcord, good out of evil.

It was on these principles that Jofeph reasoned, when he faid to his brethren, "Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.”

53. There is yet another part of Jofeph's hiftory, which places his character in a peculiarly amiable point of view, and fuggefts the most useful inftructions; namely, his behavior towards his father and his brethren, after he had made himself known to them.

54. Far from being ashamed of his defcent from an obfcure Canaanite, and his relation to a family of fhepherds, he rejoiced in the opportunity which his rank and authority gave him, of making the last days of his aged parent easy and comfortable, and granting his whole family an agreea. ble fettlement in Egypt.

55. Had he been governed by that foolish vanity, which in weak and depraved minds is often the effect of fudden elevation, he would gladly have availed himself of the dif guife which his new station afforded him, and continued unknown to his brethren: he would rather have chofen to fupprefs the efforts of natural affection on their unexpected ap pearance before him, than to difgrace himself by acknowledging fuch poor and obfcure relations :

56. Or if, in the ftruggle between pride and natural af. fection, the latter had fo far prevailed, as to induce him to afford them fupport and affiftance, he would have thought the obligations of the filial and fraternal relations fufficiently discharged, by privately granting them fupplies in their own country.

57. But Jofeph was too wife, and too good, to fuffer any portion of this contemptible fpecies of pride to find a place in his heart. The firft ideas which occurred to his mind, after the tender emotions which attended the discovery of himself to his brethren had fubfided, were, not, "How fhall I avoid the difgrace which this discovery will bring on me? In what manner fhall I difpofe of these poor fhepherds, to escape the ridicule and contempt of the courtiers, and the king my mafter ?"

58. But "How fhall I most effectually employ my power and influence in the fervice of my family?" His message to his father by his brethren was this, "God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not, and thou fhalt dwell in the land of Goshen ;

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