balm the body. After a general mourning seventy days, he solicited the king's permission to go with the remains of Jacob into Canaan, to which Pharaoh consented; and with Joseph went up all the state-officers and principal nobility of Egypt, so that when they came to the place of interment, the Ca naanites were astonished, and said, "This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians."

Thus have we brought pious Jacob "unto the house appointed for all living," after a chequered life of one hundred and forty-seven years, most of which were spent in exile and trouble. But confidence in GOD was his firm support, and by an obedience to the Divine commands he was carried through all his trials, and brought, at last, to enjoy abundant peace and comfort. His remains were preserved by the art of the physicians; but the Holy Spirit has embalmed his memory in the records of truth, so that his life stands an instructive example to all generations.

JOSEPH.

Born Anno Mundi 2260, died 2369.

DIVINE Providence often acts in a manner unaccountable to human wisdom. The most unlikely and unpromising circumstances are made to effect the greatest and best of purposes. Weak instruments are chosen to bring about vast designs; and troubles, misfortunes, persecutions, and even criminal actions, are made subservient to the mighty purposes of Gon. He "takes his way in the sea, and his path in the great waters," to accomplish his designs, for this very reason, that man may not know them till they are fulfilled; and that when he sees how they have been brought about, "he may adore him who is excellent in counsel. doing wonders."

History gives us innumerable instances of this great truth; but in the sacred records we have it more strikingly elucidated, because the impression of a Divine agency is marked on every narrative. In the life of Joseph, particularly, we are presented with such a complex series of strange events, all necessarily connected, and each so perplexing, that the mind cannot resist the conviction, that the whole was the result of Divine direction.

We have already taken a cursory glance of this wonderful youth in the Life of his father. To the fond partiality of Jacob may be attributed the dis*resses of Joseph. It was natural for the patriarch to love the amiable son of Rachel; and more so, as his manners and disposition were the reverse of those of his other children. But Jacob is said to have loved Joseph because he was the "son of his old age;" a weak and frivolous reason, but too common in persons far advanced in life. The same weakness prompted Jacob to distinguish his favourite above the rest of his children, by dressing him in a splendid vesture, or a garment of divers colours. This badge of parental partiality heightened the malice of Joseph's brethren, so that they would not "speak peaceably unto him."

Gaudy dress is one of those vanities which fond parents are too apt to indulge, especially when their favourite children are handsomer than ordinary. This was the case in the present instance. Joseph was beautiful in his person, and therefore his father dressed him in showy attire, to set him off to the best advantage. Ridiculous and dangerous distinction! Ridiculous, because nature requires no ornaments, and virtue is not advanced by the trappings of fashion. Dangerous, because it tended to excite envy in the hearts of Joseph's brethren, and in his own mind vanity and conceit. To be unmoved by this mark of his father's affection, would have shown more philosophy than could be expected in a youth of seventeen. We cannot, therefore, much blame

Joseph for being elated by this distinction; but his father and brethren were reprehensible, the one for want of prudence, and the others for making so trifling a cause the occasion of a most unnatural hatred. The elder sons of Jacob were, as we have already seen, very vicious and unprincipled men. With them Joseph was associated in the pastoral employment; a circumstance which throws considerable blame upon Jacob, if he was well acquainted with the characters of those young men. But we are charitable to hope that he did not; for their behaviour was so bad, that Joseph, young as he was, could not endure their society, and returned to his father, with an account of their proceedings. On the mere face of the narrative we might be apt to fancy that Joseph was a tale-bearer; but the fact was, that being vexed with the unrighteous conversation of his brethren, he left them, and of course his father would naturally inquire the reason. Truth is not to be concealed because the vices of a brother will be exposed. It was not right to keep Jacob in ignorance of the evil conduct of his sons; for by so doing the proper exercise of his authority and admonitions would be omitted, and their reformation prevented.

In this conduct of Joseph there is much to admire. The vicious examples of elder brethren have generally too powerful an influence upon the younger, when they live together; and the inexperience of youth can hardly resist the force of such alluring patterns and temptations. Joseph, at that early age, resisted the immoral courses of his brothers; he was deaf to their persuasions, unmindful of their ridicule, and determined to be virtuous. With great prudence, therefore, he quitted their company, returned to his father, and "brought unto him their evil report."

The pious Jacob could not be unmoved at this instance of virtue in his beloved child, and the increase of his partiality to him was natural and just.

But if this evidence of their father's preference or

Joseph was hateful to the other sons, a circumstance soon after occurred which tended to inflame their enmity into revenge.

Joseph was favoured with two remarkable dreams, both alike in points of representation, and the one strongly confirming the other.

Dreams, in general, are chimerical delusions, the scattered images of sensible things floating on the mind, and forming incongruous, but sometimes singular associations in sleep. But that this method of communication has been adopted by Providence to inform men of future events, to warn them of danger, to give them directions in cases of importance, and to bring them to repentance and religion, there can be no doubt, if the testimony of the Bible is to be literally believed.

The dreams of Joseph were hieroglyphical prognostics of his future eminence; and they were so very striking, that we cannot be surprised at their producing a strong impression upon his mind. But he was wanting in a prudent regard for his own happiness, and in a respect for his father and brethren, in relating to them these wonderful manifestations.

"And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. For behold we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and behold your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words."

His next dream was similar, but attended with more splendid circumstances. "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold I have dreamed a dream more; and behold the sun and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."

Joseph had found that the relation of his former dream highly displeased his brethren, and provoked

their displeasure. Now this was calculated to heighten their animosity against him, for it was a full confirmation of the first. He ought not, therefore, to have communicated it to them; but there was something in it so flattering to human vanity, and pleasing to ambition, that Joseph could not help mortifying his brethren, by telling them this dream also. Their envy was increased; and even Jacob himself chided Joseph, saying, "Shall I, and thy mother, and thy brethren, indeed, come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?"

But though Jacob was vexed at the idea of being made subject, with his family, unto his younger son, yet the singular connexion of these dreams had an effect upon his mind; and he observed them, or treasured them up in his memory, conceiving that they had a Divine origin. The elder sons of Jacob were inflamed the more against Joseph for uttering such remarkable prognostics, which indicated his future pre-eminence over them. They had already a rooted enmity against him on account of the preference with their father had evinced for him; and the animosity was now heightened into the most rancorous malice. His dreams made a deep impression on their minds, and they were resolved to counteract the prediction, by making away with the dreamer. But vain are the attempts of mortals to cross the designs of Providence. What God hath purposed and foretold, shall assuredly come to pass, even by the instruments employed to prevent it.

An occasion soon occurred, when the envious brethren of Joseph thought themselves secure in putting an end to his expectations. They were feeding their flocks in Sechem, which was at a considerable distance from Beersheba, where Jacob dwelt, and the patriarch, from a tender solicitude for their welfare, sent thither the darling son to see how it fared with them. The manner in which he addressed Joseph, is sweetly expressive of his affection for his children, who badly requited such love and con