ater he knew how to reward and appreciate worth. Would that other masters took note and valued the services rendered them by those under their government. Pharaoh with his dark heart sets an example of large hearted gratitude, enough to put thousands of professing enlightened Christians of the present day to the blush. His conduct was worthy of a follower of Jesus.

Again, let us go with Joseph's brethren, and see the effect the good news will have on their aged father, who no doubt was waiting full of nervous anxiety for their return, having met with strange receptions on their other journeys. We may derive much comfort and encouragement in the midst of our deep perplexing trials each day, by remembering all the Saints and Prophets of old were not exempt from trials, and often intense suffering; even our own beloved Saviour was a man of sorrows, crushed to the earth until the sweat ran off him like great drops of blood. Look also at the bold Apostle St. Paul, see how his faith was tried on every hand, but he stuck fast to the rock which his soul had anchored upon; like David he gloried in his tribulations, as only the more sure testimony that the Lord loved him, and was only magnifying His Holy name, by testing openly the truth of his servant's faith and words, who in the

midst of all was able to exclaim, though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.

But to return to Joseph's brethren. When they told Israel, their father, Joseph was yet alive, the old man's heart fainted within him, for he believed them not; but when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them, and he saw the wagons sent to carry him down to Egypt, his spirit revived and he said, it is enough, Joseph, my son, is yet alive, I will go and see him before I die. Then Israel arose and took his journey with all he had, halting at Beer-sheba, to offer sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in a vision that night, saying, I am God, the God of thy father; fear not to go into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. How tenderly good our Heavenly Father is, always drawing closer to his children at the time of great need, to strengthen their faith, and banish all fears, with the assurance of His powerful presence. Thus cheered by his God's loving promise Israel proceeded on his journey, and all the souls born of his flesh, which were three score and six. When they drew near to the land of Egypt he sent his son Judah

to direct Joseph to meet him at Goshen. So Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up and met Israel his father there, and fell upon his aged neck, and wept a long while. Then Israel said, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. Like Simeon, when he saw the young child Jesus, he cried, "Now, Lord let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." Both of these aged Prophets' hearts bounded with satisfaction when they saw the fulfilment of the promise, God's faithfulness overpowered them; blessed are the eyes that see as they see, and hearts that can understand and acknowledge God's goodness in all the events of life. But to proceed. Joseph said, I will go and tell Pharaoh you are come. When he calleth you to his presence, and asks what is your occupation, say, thy servants trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we and also our fathers; we have brought our flocks and herds with us. Joseph desired them to speak thus to Pharaoh, as a shepherd was in the eyes of the Egyptians an abomination. Joseph thought if they told this it would induce Pharaoh to let them dwell in the land of Goshen, to be kept separate from the idolatrous rule of the Egyptians. Joseph presented five of his brethren to Pharaoh; and then he led the aged Pilgrim into his presence, whose

Jacob

years numbered one hundred and thirty. blessed Pharaoh, who commanded Joseph to choose the best of the land in Goshen, and give it to his brethren as a possession. He gave Rameses unto them, and they dwelt there. Joseph nourished them with bread all the time the famine lasted, and they flourished and multiplied exceedingly. Jacob their father lived seventeen years after they left Canaan for Egypt. What a happy time for Joseph, to be enabled thus to solace the last years of his father's life, by surrounding him with peace and plenty, whilst the inhabitants round about Egypt and the land of Canaan where dying for bread. God had in His providential wisdom made provision for the old age of Israel, and his household whom he loved, by using as His instrument the long lost and mourned for Joseph, to become their bodily saviour.

In due time Israel fell sick; feeling himself about to die, he called Joseph, and kissed and blessed his two sons, laying his right hand upon Ephraim's head, which was the younger, and placed his left on the head of Manasseh; which did not please Joseph, who said, not so, my father, this is the firstborn, put thy right hand on his head. Israel refused, saying, I know it, my son; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great;

shall be with you and

but, truly, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed Joseph, aud said, May the Angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And he blessed them that day, saying, in thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh, setting the younger before the elder. Then he said to Joseph, Behold, I die, but God bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover, I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow. Then Jacob finally blessed his twelve sons with that prophetic wisdom given to him by the Most High to foretell the future destiny of each. To Judah, his fourth son, he said, Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as an old lion, who shall rouse him up. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah. We read in Balaam's prophecy of Israel,