up before them in all its enormity! How mean and degraded they must have felt in his presence! How justly they must have thought they deserved his severest rebuke! They probably were expecting it, as the least punishment, even if he did not inflict any other, which was due to their wickedness!

But what amazement must have filled their breasts, to see, that instead of all this, their injured brother was about to treat them with the greatest kindness. He does not reproach them at all. He even tries to turn their thoughts from the recollection of their own guilt, to the merciful providence of God, who had over-ruled it for his good, and for that of themselves, and their father, and their whole family.

Perhaps, in this respect, Joseph may have been too lenient. But he knew there would be another, and probably a better season, for them to think over all that had happened. He wished to show them how freely and fully he forgave them. And, if any thing could lead them to the deepest repentance for their past guilt, it was surely such generous and noble conduct on the part of a brother whom they had so grossly injured.

How have you felt toward those who have injured you; and how have you treated them? No one, presume, has ever done you an injury any thing

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like that which the brethren of Joseph inflicted upon him

He felt no revenge, no desire to injure those who had injured him. On the contrary, he wished to return them all the good in his power, for the evil which he had received from them. See, too, the kind and affectionate, the noble and generous manner in which he showed these feelings. There was no allusion to their cruel and wicked treatment of him; no exulting because he had them in his power; no boasting of his being willing to forgive them; not even a rebuke or a reproach, or a word said to make them feel their littleness and their

meanness.

Have you felt so, and acted so, toward those who have injured you? Do you not think that the conduct of Joseph is worthy of your highest effort to imitate it?

It is, indeed, so. If you have not felt and acted at all as he did, toward those who have injured you, then you are like his wicked brethren; and the evil passion of revenge still finds a place within your breasts.

You have need, then, of sincere repentance before God on this account. And this should show you the exceeding sinfulness of your heart. For you

have not the spirit of Joseph. You have not the spirit of Christ.

Christ forgave his enemies, even those wicked and cruel men who nailed him to the cross! He prayed for them in his dying moments, that God also would forgive them. And he has told us that if we do not forgive our enemies, those who have injured us in any way whatever, and pray for them, and return good for evil, God will not forgive us, but banish us, for ever, from his presence.

Think of all this. And seriously ask yourselves the question, if these things are so, whether you must not become very different from what you are; whether you must not have your inmost soul renewed and made holy by the Spirit of God, before you can hope to enjoy his presence and favor in heaven?

CHAPTER XXIV.

Pharaoh and his household glad to see that the brethren of Joseph are come.-Pharaoh tells Joseph to invite his father and all his family to come to Egypt.-Joseph furnishes them with things necessary for their removal.— His parting advice to them.-Peace-making.

Ir was not long before the king of Egypt and all his household heard of the strange things which had taken place, and that the men who had come from Canaan to buy grain were the brethren of Joseph; and that his venerable father was still living.

They were all, both Pharaoh and those who were about him, exceedingly pleased to hear it. And to show his strong personal friendship for Joseph, and the deep interest that he felt in the welfare of Jacob and the whole family, Pharaoh requested Joseph to give this very kind invitation to his brethren.

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'this do ye;

Say unto thy brethren," said he, lade your beasts and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; and take your father, and your households, and come unto me and I will give you the good

of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

"Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt, for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff," (the furniture, and the various implements and tools that you have, and all things of that description.)

The brethren of Joseph were overjoyed at this kindness of Pharaoh, and prepared to follow his directions.

They were furnished with wagons by Joseph, as Pharaoh had commanded, and also with abundance of provisions for the journey. Joseph gave them, beside all this, a supply of clothing.

It was customary for rich men, at that time, to present garments to those whom they intended to treat with peculiar respect and friendship. They usually kept a large wardrobe, or collection of garments of different kinds and sizes, so that they could make these presents whenever they chose, without any delay or difficulty.

Joseph, in this way, meant to let all the Egyptians see with how much respect he wished to treat his brethren, and what an affectionate regard he had for them.

He gave each of them changes of raiment, or