station; and to know that you have it, because you endeavor, with the aid of his grace, to fear God and keep his commandments.

CHAPTER XIV.

Providence of God.-Our duty to submit to it, and to trust in it.-Joseph lays up the grain.-His two sons, reasons of their names.-The famine begins.

How wonderful were the steps which raised Joseph from being the son of a husbandman in Canaan, and thirteen years in bondage, to the office of governor of Egypt, and next in authority to the king of that great country!

In looking back upon these steps, how much we have to admire the providence of God, in bringing good out of evil, and in overruling the wicked passions of man, so as to accomplish his own wise and benevolent purposes!

I refer to this subject thus often, my dear children, that it may be fresh in your minds, as we pass from one event to another in the history of Joseph. For no one truth ought to be more deeply felt by you than that of this overruling providence

of God. Study it as you read other parts of the Bible, and the histories of nations and of individuals. Study it in the history of your own lives, and in those of your friends.

If you truly love God and put your trust in him, this doctrine of his providence will be to you a source of constant comfort and support.

Knowing that nothing happens without his knowledge and permission, and that his government reaches to the smallest things as well as to the greatest, you will always feel safe under his care-just as a little child feels safe in the arms of a kind father or mother.

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We are taught in the Bible, that all things work together for good to them that love God; all things, prosperity or adversity, health or sickness, life or death. It was so in the case of Joseph. It will be so in yours, if you do, indeed, love God, and put your trust in him. Even in this world you will find many things which at first appear very discouraging, and give you much pain and trouble, afterward so overruled by the providence of God, as to work together for your comfort and happiness. And if they do not, and you are still called on to endure various kinds of sufferings and trials, bear them with submission and patience. God sees that his children need such chastisements, just as a kind

father sees that his sick child needs medicine to restore him to health. These sufferings and trials, if you beseech God to give you the Holy Spirit, that you may make a wise use of them, will do your soul good. They will work together to increase your love to God, and your faith in Christ, and your imitation of his blessed example. They will prepare you for a peaceful death, and for greater happiness in heayen.

Study, then, the providence of God, and learn every day that you live to get both wisdom and comfort from it.

Joseph, himself, had still further reason to admire this providence of God, and to trust in it.

When he was made governor of Egypt he was about thirty years old. He soon entered upon the discharge of his arduous duties. He left the king and took a journey throughout the whole land.

This enabled him to see the condition of the people, and to do those things which were necessary to prepare for the seven years of famine that would be soon at hand.

During the seven years of plenty, the earth brought forth every thing in great abundance. God ordered it so, as Joseph told Pharaoh it would be. It was his kind providence which made every thing work together the sunshine and rain, the

clouds, and winds, and storms; the planting of the seeds, their growing up to ripeness, and their ingathering in the time of harvest; the health and strength of the inhabitants, and their willingness and ability to labor; it was the kind providence of God which made all these things "work together," so as to produce such plenty throughout the whole land, that we are told that Joseph ga

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began to keep an account of it, to find how many bushels there were; but it came in in such quantities that he left off numbering it.

He laid it up in store-houses in the cities, and doubtless, appointed suitable officers under him, to take care of it, that it might be kept in safety for the future supply of the people.

Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Manasseh is a word which means, causing to forget. Joseph gave this name to his eldest son, "for God," said he, "hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house;" that is, the various trials and sufferings which I have undergone here, in Egypt, and also those which I endured while at home, from my envious and cruel brethren.

His other son, Joseph called Ephraim, because this word means, made fruitful. "For God," said he, "hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

It was, doubtless, a great comfort to him to be the father of these two sons, and to have a family of his own; separated, as he was, such a great distance from his father, and from all the delights and privileges of his father's house.

At length the seven years of plenty were ended, and those of famine came.

This famine extended, not only over all the land of Egypt, but through other lands. Every where else, it was very grievous, and the people found it