and trembled lest the righteous judgment of God should bring it upon them.

Remember, my young friend, that nothing makes such cowards of men as a guilty conscience. The Bible tells us that "the wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion."

They came near to the steward, while they were yet at the door, and began to excuse themselves to him on account of the money which was found in their sacks. They told him the circumstances under which they found it, and that they had brought it all back again, to give to the governor. They declared at the same time, that they could not possibly tell who it was that put the money into their sacks, or how it got there.

The steward saw their agitation, and endeavored to allay it. He told them not to be afraid, for that nothing wrong had been done, and that no harm would happen to them.

It is possible that this steward, being one of the family of Joseph, had been taught by him concerning the true God, and was a pious man. At any rate, the language which he used was like that of one who feared and obeyed God.

"Peace be to you," said he, "fear not your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money."

As if he had said, "Your money was once paid into my hands for the grain; and my acknowledging that I received it, as the steward of the governor, is sufficient to show that you are honest men. You need not trouble yourselves to ascertain how it found its way into your sacks. Keep it, as a gift from my master, the governor; or rather as a bounty which the kind providence of God-the God whom you profess to worship, and in whom your aged father trusts-has bestowed upon you."

CHAPTER XX.

Simeon brought out of prison.-The brethren of Joseph present their gifts to him.-Joseph can hardly restrain his feelings. His brethren dine with him.-Remarks on temperance, and the duty of promoting it.

SIMEON, who, you recollect, was to be kept in confinement till his brethren returned with Benjamin, was now set at liberty, and brought by the steward to join the rest; and all entered the house of the governor.

The steward (as was customary at that time, and is still among the eastern nations) gave them water

with which to wash their feet; and fed also the asses which they brought with them.

In the meanwhile, the brethren of Joseph unpacked the precious articles which they intended to offer him as a gift from themselves and their father, and arranged them in order for that purpose. They did this, expecting that it would not be long before he would return, to dinner, and understanding that they were to dine there also.

When Joseph came, they presented him their gifts, and bowed themselves down before him quite to the ground; and here was another striking fulfillment of his dream.

He then, by means of the interpreter, "asked them of their welfare; and said, is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance."

Joseph was now directing his attention more particularly to Benjamin, and inquired, as if he were still ignorant of the fact, whether that was their youngest brother, of whom they had spoken to him when they first came down to Egypt. On being told that it was; he said, in a very tender and affectionate manner, as a kind parent would, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

He had scarcely uttered those words, when his

feelings quite overcame him; so strong was his attachment to Benjamin. He could say nothing more. Indeed, he could remain no longer in the presence of his brethren, but hurried away as quick as possible to his chamber, and there gave vent to his feelings in a flood of tears.

But he soon returned; having washed his face, that it might not be known that he had been weeping; and with a good degree of composure gave directions to have the food brought in which had been prepared for them.

He ate alone by himself, as was the custom for the king, and the governor, and others who were high in office, to do.

Some of the Egyptians, too, who formed part of his family, or who had been invited to the entertainment, ate by themselves; and also his brethren apart by themselves.

We are told in the Bible that the reason of this separation was, that it was an abomination (a very disagreeable, and, in the opinion of the Egyptians, wicked thing) for one of their nation to eat with an Hebrew.

Some think that this arose from the fact of the Egyptians worshipping certain animals, the ox and others, which the Hebrews killed and ate, and also offered up in sacrifice. Others suppose that the Egyptians held the Hebrews in abhorrence because they were shepherds, a class of men who had made frequent incursions into Egypt, and done great injury to the inhabitants. Perhaps it is impossible to ascertain what the true cause was, as the thing happened such a long time ago, and the Bible gives no explanation of it.

When the brothers of Joseph were about to sit down to their meal, they were requested to sit in a certain order, which they did. After they were seated, and began to look round on each other, they