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?" 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"?" 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 "stedfast in the faith";" 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 riches," 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

s

P 1 Pet. v. 9.

Prov. xxx. 8.

9 Heb. xii. 9.

Matt. xxvi. 41.

not caused the Hebrew Patriarch to repine, and call in question the goodness of God, so prosperity did not seduce him into a forgetfulness of his almighty Benefactor. His public dignity and his domestic enjoyments were alike attributed to their proper origin; as benefits, "which God had given him." As our sufferings cannot, generally speaking, be as intense as were those of Joseph, so neither can our blessings be great as his. Yet blessings we all of us enjoy; some in a greater, others in a less degree. The gifts of an exalted rank and of abundant riches are bestowed on few men; and such is the spirit with which they are too often received, so little thankfulness do they commonly excite towards him who hath bestowed them, and such and so little worthy are the purposes to which they are applied, that it was only a just observation of human nature that drew from Agur the prayer, to which I have just alluded, wherein he desired not riches, "lest he should be full, and deny God, and say, Who is the Lord ?" If however we do possess the good things of this world in a great degree, do we endeavour

to be grateful in proportion? If not, do we learn to be content with whatever blessings we do possess, and to be grateful to God for them? Whatever we have, we have no claim to it; but it is the free gift of a good and gracious Providence; whether it be the necessaries, the comforts, the conveniences of this world, or the promise of eternal life, and the aid of divine grace for attaining it, in another; it is more, much more, than we deserve; and it is conferred upon us out of regard, not to any righteousness of our own, but to the abundant merits of our Saviour, and of the great and uncontrolled mercy of God. According to the freeness of the gift, so ought to be our sense of gratitude towards the Giver. From a debtor we may receive what he pays without thanking him it is our due, and he cannot withhold it. But where the gift is free, great should be the thankfulness of the receiver; and it should rise, if possible, in proportion to the absolute freedom of him who bestows it. I will not ask whether our gratitude to God is in proportion to what, under the circumstances of the case, we receive; it is not, it cannot

be. But do we endeavour, as much as we can, to make it so? Do we cherish lively feelings of gratitude in our hearts? Do we express them with our lips and in our lives? Do we give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ?"

5. Another proof of the love of God reigning in the heart of Joseph is that he feared him that is, he feared to do what might be displeasing in his sight; and was careful not to sin against him, but to "keep his commandments." Is this our fear of God? Is such our obedience? Do we avoid those things, which we know to be sinful, because God hath forbidden them? do we do those things, which we know to be "lawful and right," because God hath so commanded? When temptation assails us in the discharge of our duty, whether religious or moral, whether towards God or towards man, do we meet it on the ground of obedience to the divine law; do we re

t Eph. v. 20.