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agreeable, shameful, scandalous part, and adding one degree of horrible wickedness to another. Let every one learn to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; neither using filthiness, or foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient. How suitable is the apostle's advice, keep thyself pure; and how much need have we to pray, Lord, create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us.

4. The fear of God is the most excellent preservative from sin. The omniscience and universal government of God, made Joseph resist this violent temptation so boldly. He considered it not only as a sin against his master, but against God. Thus Nehemiah, speaking of the wickedness of his predecessors, adds, So did not I, because of the fear of GOD. The fear of men, or shame, or natural decency and modesty, may keep men and women from sin in some circumstances, and on some occasions; but real religion is an universal preservative from sin; it gives a 'divine sanction to social duties, and all the strictest branches of personal virtue. It is a good thing then, that the heart be well established with grace, which will keep us from those snares which are most artfully laid. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil; and happy is he that feareth always.

5. What an amiable and lovely character is this of Joseph, and how fit a model for young men to imitate. Paul commands Timothy to flee youthful lusts, and Titus, to exhort young men to be sober minded. Joseph was stripped of his coat, but not of his virtue; he carried that along with him. Satan tried him by such a temptation as was peculiarly suitable to those whose blood is warm, and their constitution vigorous; but he resisted him steadfast in the faith. He looked upon uncleanness, and especially adultery, as a most enormous crime; he did not esteem it, as too many in these days affect to do, as a light matter, a trick of youth; as a thing that by right should not have been a sin, as some have profanely talked; but he was struck with horror at the thoughts of it, and chose rather to expose himself to the hatred and resentment of an imperious, lustful, revengeful woman, than sin against his master and his God. The example of some great men, and the generality of our modern plays, are eminently calculated to corrupt the minds of youth; the debauchery of their heroes, and their men of resolution and bravery, have a wretched influence on young minds. There was every circumstance in Joseph's temptation, that could render the sin pleasant and profitable; but, through divine grace, he overcame it. He is the only hero, who can resist temptation. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not; and in order to this, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; repel every temptation with this reply, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

6. If we would avoid sin, we must keep out of the way of temptation. Joseph did so; he kept out of the sight and com

pany of his mistress, he would not sit with her, or be near her This lovely youth might have argued and reasoned ever so long, but probably he would have been overcome if he had not avoided the tempter. Thus must we do, if we would be safe. So Solomon advises, Go not near the door of her house, the house of the strange woman, or harlot. Avoid every occasion of sin; mind your own proper business; for idleness is an inlet to this and every other sin. Do not stand parleying with temptation, but give it a short and sharp repulse; Get thee behind me, Satan. He that parleys is half won. Get out of harm's way. To pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation, and yet to run into it, is an abominable mockery of God. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.

7. How liable is innocence to be injured by false accusations! Joseph seemed to be justly condemned, when for his eminent virtue he was cast into prison. It is easy for men to raise and spread a spiteful story, to ruin the reputation and comfort of the person injured, as long as he lives. What devilish malice must it be to charge persons in any circumstances, and especially persons of worth and eminence, with such vices as bring a wound, and a dishonour, and a reproach, which perhaps can nevbe wiped off. A malicious tongue is set on fire of hell; the wisest and best of men have often been injured by it, and have had no remedy but an appeal to the heartsearching God. Those who are most clear and untainted, may yet be exposed to hard speeches and unjust reproaches. So Joseph was; so Christ himself was; but God will at length bring forth the righteousness of his servants as the noon day: and those who have reviled and slandered others, shall feel the most bitter remorse in this world probably, but certainly in another, when characters that have been unjustly aspersed shall be cleared up. Jesus, who bore the contradiction of sinners against himself, shall then plead the cause of his injured servants; and to those who have been slandered and oppressed he shall give eternal rest.

8. How cheerfully may innocence repose itself on God, under all the injuries it suffers! God distinguished Joseph by his favour and blessing, in the prison, as well as in Potiphar's house. From his having the favour of the keeper of the prison, one would think that Potiphar supposed it to be a suspicious affair, and therefore he was not so highly incensed against Joseph. Perhaps he knew something of his wife's character; though for the sake of his own, as well as her's he still kept him in prison; but God was with him there. To the upright there ariseth light in darkness and dungeons; the gates of the prison could not shut out God's favour and blessing. He raised him up friends during his confinement, and made his bondage comfortable. So will God do for all his oppressed servants. This instance should encourage those who suffer wrongfully, to bear it patiently. This, says the

apostle Peter, is praiseworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endureth grief, suffering wrongfully. To conclude with the words of one of the Apocryphal writers: Joseph, that righteous man, was sold; but wisdom, that is, the wise God, forsook him not, but delivered him from sin ; went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds, till he brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him : as for them that had accused him, he showed them to be liars, but gave unto him perpetual glory. Wisdom x. 13, 14.

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Joseph's story is continued, whom we left in prison; and have here the imprisonment of two of Pharaoh's servants; their dreams, and Joseph's interpretation of them; and the accomplishment of Joseph's predictions concerning them.

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ND it came to pass after these things, [that] the butler, or cupbearer, of the king of Egypt and [his] baker 2 had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two [of] his great officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. What their crime was, is not mentioned; some think a conspiracy to 3 take away the king's life by poison. And he put them in ward in the house of Potiphar the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph [was] bound, or had been bound; for he was now at liberty, and made overseer of the 4 prisoners. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, being told by the under keeper of his fidelity and care, and probably believing his innocence, though he still kept him in prison; and he served them, that is, waited and attended upon them and they continued a season in ward.

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And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, that is, a dream which was significant of something to come, which did also come to pass, according to the interpretation given thereof; (ch. xli. 13.) the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which [were] bound in the prison. • And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they [were] sad; because they perceived the dream was sent from God to betoken something fu7ture, and they understood not the meaning of it. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that [were] with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye [so] sadly today?

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it; there is no magician or soothVOL. I.

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sayer that we can apply to in our fresent confinement. And Joseph said unto them, [Do] not interpretations of dreams [belong] to God? not to such persons as those? tell me [them, I pray you, for I fear and serve him, and doubt not but he will hear my prayers, and reveal this matter to me. Probably he had a strong impulse on his mind, which led him to say And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said 10 to him, In my dream, behold, a vine [was] before me; And in the vine [were] three branches and it [was] as though it budded, [and] her blossoms shot forth; and the clus11 ters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: And Pharaoh's cup [was] in my hand and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

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And Joseph said unto him, This [is] the interpretation of it: The three branches [are] three days, that is, signify three 13 days: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, that is, bring thee to trial, and at that time restore thee unto thy place and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, 14 after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. Joseph, though patient in adversity, yet uses all good means to procure his liberty : 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. This modest and decent request, is admired by the critics as one of the finest passages of antiquity. The request is made in the strongest manner, with the tenderest motive, and has every thing in it that could affect a generous, grateful, and compassionate breast; and as the butler knew the misery of confinement, Joseph therefore hoped he would take pity upon him.

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When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also [was] in my dream, and, behold, 17 [I had] three white baskets on my head: And in the uppermost basket [there was] of all manner of bake meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

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And Joseph answered and said, This [is] the interpretation thereof: The three baskets [are] or signify three days: 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, shall bring thee to trial, take thy office from thee, and cut off thy head, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

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And it came to pass the third day, [which was] Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants; he reckoned with them, brought them to

21 trial before all his officers. And finding him innocent, he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave 22 the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker, whom he found guilty; as Joseph had interpreted to them.

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Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but courtier like forgat him, neglected him and his desire: but God remem bered, and at length delivered him.

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REFLECTIONS.

BSERVE here how gradually the providence of God wrought for Joseph; in bringing those men to prison, in filling their heads with significant dreams, and so ordering it, that the butler should tell his dream first. Had the baker began, the interpretation would have been so dismal, that the butler would probably have concealed his. In these circumstances we may see, and should own, the hand of God, in which are the hearts of all men, and who can turn them as he pleases.

2. We may learn humanity to sufferers, from the conduct of Joseph to these prisoners. They were put under his care, and he treated them with sympathy and kindness. He did not think the crimes, with which they were severally charged, to be a sufficient ground for using them severely and roughly; he ministered unto them, and compassionately inquired about their grief, It is the duty of all to be pitiful and courteous; to be kindly affec sioned one toward another, even to those who have been guilty of great offences. It is a part of christian compassion to inquire into the cause of the sorrow of others, that we may do kind services for them; at least speak comfortable words to them; thus are we to bear one another's burdens.

3. Let us humbly refer to God all those gifts with which we are favoured. Do not interpretations belong to God? Joseph was desirous that God might have the glory of this gift of foreseeing things to come. All things come of him, ordinary as well as extraordinary, and he should have the praise. The reasoning of the apostle will hold good with regard to every advantage and accomplishment; Who maketh thee to differ, and what is there that thou hast not received? Wherefore then shouldst thou boast?

4. Let us be careful not to indulge ourselves in passionate complaints of injuries received, v. 15. Joseph made no complaint of his mistress, any more than of the cruelty of his brethren; but only asserted his own innocence, which was necessary for his deliverance. It is the glory of a man to pass by a transgression. When men are obliged to vindicate themselves, they think they have a right to speak evil of others, and represent those who have injured them in the blackest light. But we see, in the conduct of Joseph, how much more agreeable and fitting it is to prove our innocence, without upbraiding others. Let us learn to forgive and forget, forbearing one another, and

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