gathered unto his people."-Gen. 49:34. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; from henceforth, saith the Spirit, they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." Jacob was

eminent in his death, in several respects.

1st. By calm and peaceful resignation to the will of God. The composure of mind with which he anticipates, and speaks of his death, is very remarkable. There is no evidence of adhesion to the world, and to the many objects of interest, and affection which he so favorably enjoyed. The measure, and time of his possessing them, he knew were determined by God. To determine this matter was his indisputable prerogative, and in his good pleasure, Jacob knew that it was his duty, and privilege to acquiesce, "My times, O God, are in thy hand." "Thou hast done all things well." "Now let thy servant depart in peace." I hope in thy salvation. This final summons I cheerfully obey. My life, and all I have are thine: reclaimed by thee, I willingly resign them all. To thee I commit my spirit. I add

2d. That Jacob was eminent by his faith in the covenant, and promises of God. In the exercise of this faith he had bound his son Joseph by oath, to bury him where he should lie with his fathers. "And the time drew nigh, that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, lf now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly, and truly with me: bury me not, I pray thee in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. And he said, swear unto me; and he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head." This was the result, not merely of the natural, and common desire that his dust should rest near the graves of his fathers, and kindred; but a recognition of his having the same hope with them, of dwelling with them in a city not made with hands, whose maker, and builder is God. He also had " confessed that he was a stranger, and pilgrim on earth; and that he sought, and desired a better country, that is a heavenly; for God was not ashamed to be called their God; and he had prepared

for them a city." "The righteous hath hope in his death." "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." I add,

3dly, That Jacob was eminent in his death, "by his prophetic announcement of the future character, and condition of his posterity. This is recorded in the 49th chapter of Genesis. "And Jacob called unto him his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father." Then follow the specifications; and their future history proved that he spake by the inspiration of him who "knows the end from the beginning." Prophecy came not, in old time, by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Thus eminent in life, and in death, was the Patriarch Jacob. And that he lives forever with God, Christ proved in confuting the Sadducees, who denied a future life. "As touching the dead, that they rise," (that is, survive the death of the body,) "have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He was not the God of the dead; but the God of the living; ye therefore do greatly err." Is this faithful covenant God ours? Will we, when the days of sojourning are numbered, be admitted to "dwell forever with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God?"

Our days, alas! our mortal days
Are short, and wretched too:
"Evil and few," the Patriarch says,
And well the Patriarch knew.
Let heavenly love prepare my soul,
And call her to the skies,
Where years of long salvation roll,
And glory never dies.

SERMON XII.

JOSEPH, THE SON OF JACOB, SOLD FOR A SERVANT.

PSALM CV. 17, 18, 19.-He sent a man before them, even Joseph who was sold for a servant; whose feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in iron, until the time that his word came.

"GOD's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts." This is true of his purposes, and of the time, and manner of their accomplishment. His purposes are always wise, his designs are always important. This is manifest in all his ways, in so far as they are known to us; and in proportion as they are known. His designs revealed by their final results, show that they are divine. Their vastness, grandeur, and perfection evince the infinite wisdom, benevolence, and power of him who contrived, and accomplished them. Our designs are often erroneous; at best, they are very limited in their extent, and are sustained by an efficiency which is feeble, inconstant, and defective. All God's ways are perfect. They exceed our highest thoughts, and have a greatness, and goodness which, not seldom, offend our ignorance, and tempt us to unbelief, and dis

trust.

The means by which he accomplishes his purposes, are as peculiarly his own, as the ends which he designs, and secures. His plans of operation are not such as we would have chosen. To our scanty foresight they seem to lead to different results. We see not the manner in which they are to operate, nor the consequences which they are to have. Hence we are often perplexed, and offended, and we murmur, and complain of those very dispensations by which the all wise, and all controlling providence of God is bringing about designs of great, and unexpected good.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
Aud scan his works in vain;
God is his own Interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

The history of the world, of the church, and of every individual furnishes illustrations of this truth. Events which, at their occurrence, appeared to be calamitous, were, by their results found to have been the preparations of mercy. How often has this been the fact in personal, and domestic afflictions. In their immediate pressure they were grievous; but, in their issues, and consequences merciful, and kind. The adversities of the church have often been in like manner designed, and overruled for good; and events which seemed to threaten its destruction, were the occasions of its purity, and increase. What human folly, and wickedness intended for evil, God purposed, and made efficient for good. The same case is illustrated even by the ordinary dispensations of providence; and every where we see proofs that "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts."

This truth has another illustration, as respects the time in which he fulfils his purposes, and presents the explanation, and accomplishment of his designs. They are often prosecuted with what men account slackness, unreasonable, and unnecessary delay. Ignorant of the wise reasons by which God proceeds, we become impatient. We see not the fulfilment as soon as we expected, and we despair of its accomplishment, and sometimes, presumptuously, attempt to hasten it. Examples of this kind. are every where to be found-in the world, and in the church;in things temporal, and in things spiritual. We are prone to haste, and impatience, and to charge God with tardiness. Our ignorance, and presumption have many questions, of implied complaint, to ask-why was the actual coming of the Messiah so long delayed? and why has not the triumph of his gospel before now been universal, and complete? why was the bondage of Israel in Egypt so long protracted? and why, now, have not all the oppressed obtained deliverance, and freedom? why are not the nations liberated from their thraldom, and the slave from his task-master? It is not for us to know the times which the Father hath reserved in his own wisdom, and in his own hands; much less to impeach his wisdom, or charge him foolishly. We see, only, in part, and therefore judge unwisely. We see not all the ends which he proposes to fulfil, and cannot determine how, nor

when they can be best accomplished. God's ends, and means, and time are all directed by a wisdom which never errs, and though our thoughts are not as his thoughts, yet he is "righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works"-excellent in counsel, and mighty in working. The remarks which I have now made are exemplified, and illustrated in the case of Joseph, and in God's dealings with the people of Israel.

The whole history of Joseph is preeminent in interest. Its development of human nature is faithful. Its exhibitions of the worst, and best affections of the heart of man are eminently instructive. Vicious passions are presented with a moral deformity which is adapted to provoke the abhorrence of every virtuous, or humane mind; on the contrary, piety, resignation, forgiveness, and mercy are revealed in all their authoritative, and winning excellence, and loveliness. The heart must be worse than callous which is not deeply moved with sympathy for the unoffending sufferer, and with indignation at the unprovoked malignity of his merciless oppressors. In truth to human nature, in tenderness, and interest the narrative is unsurpassed, if not unequalled by any of the records of the character, and life of man. In him as the son of the venerable Patriarch Jacob we feel an affectionate concern: a son eminently beloved, and eminently worthy of love. Whilst we approve not, but condemn the partiality of a father's love, and its manifestations, we are constrained to admit that its object was worthy of high regard, and strong affection; and that the preference shown was sustained, by him, to whom it was given, with admirable humility, condescension, meekness and kindness toward his brethren. But this conciliatory influence they resisted, and cherished envy, and inveterate dislike. How unreasonable, unforgiving, and vindictive is jealousy! How bitter, and malignant its operation when it deliberately disregards the tenderest ties, and most sacred obligations of fraternal duty, and affection! His brethren envied, and hated him, meditated, and, in their purpose, executed a dire, unfeeling, and shameful revenge. Let us consider

1st. The afflictive, and humiliating circumstances into which