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discharge of his duties toward those who employed him.

This trait of his character shone forth in all the situations in which he was placed.

He felt it to be a duty that he owed to his father, to tell him of the wicked conduct of some of his brethren, and he did not fear to discharge his duty.

He faithfully obeyed his father in going first to Shechem, and afterward to Dothan, to see his brethren, notwithstanding he must certainly have had some reason to fear their resentment.

He was so faithful while a servant, or rather slave, in the house of Potiphar, that he was intrusted by the latter with the charge of all his domestic

concerns.

While a prisoner, his conduct in small things was such-his faithfulness in complying with all the regulations and commands of the keeper-that he was intrusted with the care of the other prisoners, and with the management of the whole prison. And doubtless, in this difficult and responsible situation, he showed equal fidelity in the discharge of his duties.

All this was strengthening his habits, and forming his character, and preparing him to be able to discharge still more arduous duties with still greater fidelity and success.

No doubt Pharaoh had heard of his conduct while with Potiphar, and in the prison, and he knew that such a man could be trusted.

He elevated Joseph near to the throne, and made him governor of Egypt.

In that arduous and laborious station, and in the midst of the most trying circumstances, you have seen with what fidelity he performed his duty. How exactly he carried into effect all the wishes of the king for the relief of the Egyptians, and how faithfully he fulfilled all his own promises to his father and to his brethren.

He looked to God, indeed, for his Holy Spirit, that he might be thus faithful. He knew that every good thought, and feeling, and purpose, must come from above. Under all circumstances, he felt the need of divine wisdom, grace, and strength. He prayed for them. And he was a man of prayer, because he was a man of faith. See what it is to be a truly good man. Such an one is faithful in the discharge of all his duties to his fellow-men, as well as those which he owes more directly to God.

He is faithful in small things as well as in great. He is faithful when removed from the sight of his fellow-men, as well as when in their presence. He is faithful as well in adversity as in prosperity; as well when he meets with injustice and oppression,

as when he receives approbation and his due reward.

Such was the faithfulness of Joseph. Is such your faithfulness to your parents, to your instructors, to your employers, to all to whom you have made any promises, or toward whom you have any duties to perform.

Without such faithfulness, in small things, too, as well as great, your character will be exceedingly defective, even in the opinion of your fellow-men.

You will fail of securing their confidence. They will not trust you with any business of importance. You will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to succeed in what you undertake.

But what is worse, your conscience will condemn you. You will feel that you have done wrong to others, that you have not done to them as you would have them do to you, and that you are unworthy of their confidence and esteem.

You will lose, too, the favor of God. He sees all who are unfaithful, at all times, and in all places. You cannot escape his notice. You will have to render to him a strict account for all your want of fidelity in the discharge of the duties which you owe to your fellow-men.

Pray; strive that you may be kept from such guilt and folly. Pray for faith in God, for a deep and

constant feeling that his eye is always upon you, and for a willingness and courage to be faithful in the discharge of your duties, and the fulfillment of your promises to your fellow-men; because it is his will that you should thus show your love to him, and obedience to his commands.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Joseph's resolution in resisting temptation.-It grew out of his faith in God.-The reader has his temptations.-How to get strength to overcome them.-Joseph's dependence on God, and submission to his will.-These grew out of his faith in God.-Has the reader this dependence and submission?

We have seen in one event of Joseph's life, how his faith in God enabled him to resist and overcome a temptation to very great wickedness. From his conduct at that time, we have reason to conclude that the strength of his obedience to the commands of God, and his fear of sinning against him, when exposed to powerful temptation, was another striking trait in his character.

That he was often exposed to such temptations, there can be no doubt. Living in the midst of an 17*

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idolatrous and wicked people, and, during the principal part of his life, with kings, and those who were abundant in wealth and high in rank, he must have had many inducements of pleasure, and allurements of sin, to draw him aside from the love and service of God.

His whole character, as it appears in the history to which we have been attending, and especially in the latter part of it, shows that he must have resisted many temptations, and manifested his devotedness of heart and life to the God of his fathers.

Temptations are not confined to the rich and powerful. No station or age is free from them.

You have your peculiar temptations. Some companion invites you to go to places, or to do things, which you know to be wrong, and often highly offensive to God. Or, some alluring object is presented to you, in pursuing and attaining which you are sensible that you will be led to forget God, and your duty toward him.

Now, under such circumstances, what has been your conduct? Have you yielded to such temptations, or have you, like Joseph, resisted and overcome them?

The oftener

you yield, the less and the less will be your power of resistance.

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