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There was something in Joseph's conversation and conduct which showed that he feared the true God, and which ied Potiphar to notice it, and to respect him on this account.

My young friends, pray to God to give you his Holy Spirit, that you may be led to imitate this example of Joseph.

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You are called upon to perform certain duties, in obedience to the commands of your parents, or of who have the care of you. persons Whatever you thus do, do it in the fear of God; because he commands you to do your duty; because his eye is always upon you; and because, if you thus love and serve him, he will be your constant protector and friend, as he was of Joseph.

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CHAPTER IX.

Joseph made overseer of Potiphar's house.-He is tempted to great wickedness by Potiphar's wife. He fears to sin against God. He is falsely accused, and cast into prison. -His good conduct there.-He has the whole care of the prison. The great happiness of having God with us.

JOSEPH conducted so well in every thing with which he was entrusted, that Potiphar continued to place more and more things under his care; and at length his confidence in him was so great, that he made him "overseer over his house; and all that he had he put into his hand."

Joseph was now at the head of the whole of Potiphar's business. Both in the house and in the field he directed all the persons whom Potiphar employed, to do as he wished; and so entirely did he have the management and oversight of every thing, that, we are told in the Bible, Potiphar knew not even the different kinds of property which he owned, except the food which he saw on his table. Every thing was provided for himself and the family, without any care of his own, by the skill and industry of Joseph.

In the midst of so much prosperity, Joseph did not forget that he was indebted for it all to the kind pro

vidence of God. He continued to fear and obey God; and I think so, because he, soon after, was severely tried, and tempted to do evil, but resisted the temptation, and showed that he dreaded more than any thing else, to sin against God.

It was the wife of Potiphar who tempted Joseph to sin. She was a very wicked woman, and began to love Joseph, as if he were her husband. She had a husband already, and she knew how sinful it was to think of having Joseph for her husband, and to try to persuade him to love her as his wife.

For any married man or woman to do so, with regard to any other person who is not married to them, you know, is to break the seventh commandment of God, which 66 says, Thou shalt not commit

adultery."

This means, that a married man shall not live with any woman, as his wife, excepting the one to whom he is married: and that a married woman shall not live with any other man, as her husband, excepting the one to whom she is married.

Whoever does this, or, as our Savior, teaches us, even wishes to do so, has committed adultery, and is a very great sinner in the sight of God.

Potiphar's wife endeavored to persuade Joseph thus to sin against God, by violating one of his com mands, in the commission of very great wickedness

Her attempts were in vain; for Joseph was firm

in his obedience to God.

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How can I do this great

wickedness," said he, "and sin against God!"

The love of Potiphar's wife was turned into hatred, and she sought to do Joseph all the injury she could. She told her husband a very wicked falsehood respecting him. She accused him of wishing to have her as his wife, and Potiphar believed it. His anger was roused to a very great degree. He determined to have Joseph in his house no longer. He resolved to inflict a severe punishment upon him; and he caused him to be shut up in prison.

It was the same prison in which those persons were confined who had offended against the king, or broken some of his laws. We read in the Bible, that they were bound; so that it is probable Joseph was also in bonds, wearing them on his arms and legs, and shut up in a gloomy cell or dungeon.

What a change for this poor young man! To be taken from the height of prosperity, at the accusation of a false and wicked woman, and, innocent as he was, to lose the favor of Potiphar, and be cast into prison. without any one to be his defender and friend!

But if he had no human friend, he had an Almighty one. God watched over him for good. Indeed, it was God himself, by his wise providence. who so overruled the designs of Potiphar's wife to injure

Joseph, that his being cast into prison by her husband was the very means of his future prosperity and greatness, and of the exact fulfillment of his dreams.

Many persons, if they were treated as Joseph was; sold by his own brothers; a stranger in a distant land; accused falsely of a great crime; in prison, and in bonds; would murmur and complain, and think that God was unkind and unjust, in permitting them to endure such sufferings.

But Joseph did not feel so. He was not made proud by prosperity; and now, in adversity, he was humble and patient.

The keeper of the prison noticed how he felt and conducted; and God, who can influence the hearts of all men, inclined the heart of the keeper to show Joseph great favor and kindness. So much so, that he entrusted him with the government of the prisoners, and, indeed, with the entire management of the prison.

This was a new and difficult situation for a person so young as Joseph. He is supposed, at this time, to have been twenty seven years of age. But, his wisdom was great for his years, and his uprightness and firmness were equally so.

He conducted the affairs of the prison with so much judgment, that we are told, in the Bible, "the

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