by night and by day; with either a clear or a cloudy sky over head, they pursue their course with unerring precision, and since its discovery the coasts of almost every land on the surface of the globe have been explored, and a friendly intercourse opened up between the remotest regions.

Great difference of opinion prevails as to who was the originator of the invention. It was long contended that to Tilavio Gioia, of Amalfi, near Naples, must be awarded this honour, and the Italians are still strenuous in the support of his claim. Others affirm that Marcus Paulus, having made a journey to China, brought back the invention with him, in the year 1260. But, whoever was the inventor, or at whatever period the instrument was first constructed, there is no authentic evidence, that we are aware of, to prove that the Mariner's Compass was brought into general use for navigable purposes until about the year 1420. The dip of the needle also, or its inclination, was the undoubted discovery of an Englishman, as also various other important improvements.

The advantages of the discovery, even in a commercial point of view, are beyond all calculation. Without the help of this noble instrument, the nations of Europe and the western parts of Asia, the sole depositories of divine revelation, would never have been able to convey the gospel to the distant islands sitting in darkness. And even at the present day, although money may be contributed for missionary purposes, and men may be ready to sacrifice the ties of friendship and of country, to go to India, Canada, Australia, and China, to publish salvation, yet the only unerring guide which can direct them along the trackless deep, to their destined spheres of labour and of toil, is the Mariner's Compass. Oh! how grateful, then, ought we to be, that thus, by the providence of God, the efforts of human genius are made to subserve not only the commercial interests of nations, but the still nobler and more glorious designs of redeeming mercy.

We just wish to remind our young readers, that as guilty sinners we need another compass. We are each of us out on the ocean of time, in danger of suffering shipwreck, by running against hidden rocks and unknown shores. We need a compass, an unerring guide to direct us aright across this dangerous ocean to the shores of a blessed eternity. An instrument, blessed be God, has been provided, bearing the stamp of infinite wisdom-the compass is God's word. How many are there who refuse to take this compass with them-they attempt to navigate the ocean of life alone-the light of reason they regard as a sufficient guide; and as we proceed we behold the shattered fragments of shipwrecked hopes and

principles, warning us to beware of the rocks that are in the way. Little readers, listen to the voice of warning; turn to your compass; go to the word of God; for, "wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" even "by taking heed thereto according to thy word."

Halifax.

THE BIBLE CLASS.

THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH.

J. H.

JACOB, after having taken advantage of his brother's ne cessity to obtain his birthright, and of his father's infirmity to obtain the blessing, was compelled to escape into Mesopo tamia, to avoid the consequences of his brother's wrath. Arriving in Mesopotamia, he was deceived by his uncle Laban, and in servitude lived with him until he had a nume

rous family. But Joseph, whose instructive history is to be the subject of our present exercise, and Benjamin, his brother, were the children which Rachel bare to him. Rachel died 300n after Benjamin was born.

Joseph, the elder of the two brothers, was born in Mesopotamia, A.M. 2259. From very early years he appears to have been religiously inclined, and very dutiful towards his father. Jacob was extremely fond of him, and proclaimed his affection by dressing him in finer apparel than the rest of his sons, for he made him a coat of many colours, Gen. xxxvii. 3, such as young princes then wore.

It was natural for Joseph's brethren to become very jealous of these marks of particular affection, and Joseph himself, it would appear, very innocently increased the evil disposition by remonstrating with them on their wickedness, but, above all, by relating to them certain dreams which he had, and which they thought reflected somewhat upon them. See Gen. Xxxvii., beginning at the 5th verse. Very little dependence generally is to be placed upon dreams; often they are only made up of fantastic and unconnected ideas, which have no other existence than in our own imaginations. Sometimes, however, God has been pleased to show to his servants, by dreams, events which were to take place at some future time. Joseph's dreams about the eleven sheaves of his brethren doing homage to his sheaf, and of the sun, moon, and eleven stars paying reverence to him, were of a prophetical character; the emblems foretelling that all his father's family should do obeisance to him, and be subject to his rule. Jacob at length rebuked him for telling his dreams, fearing he might grow vain and proud. "Shall I, and thy mother, and thy brethren indeed bow down to thee?" he said; and his brethren were indignant at the allusion. "Shalt thou indeed reign over us ?" they asked, or "Shalt thou indeed have dominion over us ?" and they hated him yet the more for his dreams. But Jacob observed the saying, knowing that God had been pleased sometimes thus to reveal his intentions to those who loved him.

were

In the 12th and following verses of the 37th chapter, we have an account of Joseph's visit to his brethren, when they feeding their flock in Shechem, many miles distant, and of the cruel conduct which they manifested towards him. The visit was undertaken at his father's special request, and it simply to make inquiry respecting their welfare. They 110 sooner, however, found him to be in their power, than they behaved towards him in the most cowardly and wicked manner. They laughed at him, and called him a dreamer;

was

some of them had already resolved to kill him, and they were just about to commit the horrid deed, when Reuben pleaded that they would spare his life. At length it was resolved to throw him into a deep pit, and leave him there to perish; but Reuben's secret intention was to remove him the first opportunity, and to bring him back to his father. May we not be sure there would be many tears, and entreaties, and remonstrances from poor Joseph, while they were stripping him of his coat of many colours, and preparing to cast him into the pit; but the anguish of his soul failed to soften them -his cries were unavailing. They resolved to cast him into the pit, and this is the scene set forth in our engraving.

At length, on beholding a company of Ishmaelites who were going to Egypt with their camels, bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, in the absence of Reuben, Judah proposed to sell Joseph to them for twenty pieces of silver, about £2 6s. sterling. Thus was Joseph sold as a slave to a company of foreign merchants, his cruel brethren neither knowing nor caring how he might be treated by them, or what might become of him.

But what account must be conveyed to their father respecting Joseph? How are they to conceal their wickedness? These false and unnatural brothers contrived the following story to deceive their aged father. The coat of many colours which they had taken from Joseph they dipped in the blood of a kid which they killed, and they brought it to their father, saying that they had found it; and they asked him whether it were Joseph's coat. Jacob at once knew it, and concluded that his beloved son had been devoured by a wild beast, never supposing, for one moment, that his sons could practice such a deception upon him. The aged parent wept greatly for the loss of his son. Verses 31-36. What hardened, wicked creatures! Surely God was not in all their thoughts!

You see, dear children, how envy and hatred will blind the mind and harden the heart. Joseph's brethren hated him because of his excellencies. They cast off all fear of God, and were thus prepared for the most flagrant crimes. Never, oh! never cherish in your hearts feelings of envy or hatred towards any one. When you feel the stirrings of passion, oh! pray to God to give you his Holy Spirit to subdue them.

You may see also in this portion of Joseph's history the overruling hand of Divine Providence. At first, the intention of Joseph's brethren was to murder him; this purpose was overruled by the interference of Reuben. Then they agreed to cast him into a deep pit, and leave him there to

perish; this wicked design was overruled, and he was sold to the Ishmaelites. Thus was his life preserved. God has the hearts of all men in his hands-he can control and restrain them just as it pleaseth him.

The Midianitish merchants who bought Joseph carried him down to Egypt, where he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, a man who was very prudent and humane. Joseph's excellent parts, his integrity and diligence, soon won the confidence of his master, who exalted him to a higher station in his service, and made him the steward of his house and the director of all his affairs. But however great our prosperity, we are never, while in this world, placed beyond the reach of trial. The vanity of security under prosperity is very impressively set before us in Psalm xxx. 6, 7. This, Joseph was soon made to experience, for his master, Potiphar, had a very imprudent wife, who tempted Joseph to sin against God; but Joseph could not act a part so wicked, and being strengthened by Divine grace, he escaped all her snares. Gen. xxxix. 7, 8, 9. The wicked woman, however, was filled with malice and revenge against him, and at length persuaded Potiphar that he had abused the confidence reposed in him, and had proved himself to be a base wretch. Joseph, however, though the victim of her malice and revenge-though accused to Potiphar of crimes he had never committed-and ordered to prison, was not cast down and miserable. His innocence supported him in this dark and cloudy day.

"When a man's ways please the Lord," it is said, "he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Prov. xvi. 7. The history of Joseph gives us a beautiful illustration of this proverb. Whilst a prisoner, bearing the reproach which malice and revenge sought to heap upon him, his exemplary conduct obtained the confidence of the prisonkeeper, and the care of all the prisoners was entrusted into Joseph's hand. Here again we see the overruling Providence of God. It came to pass that Pharaoh's butler and baker had offended him, and they were cast into prison; one night they each dreamed a very singular dream, which produced a deep impression upon their minds, and made them feel very unhappy. When Joseph went round to see all the prisoners the next morning, he observed that they looked sad, and on inquiry into the cause, each told to him the dream that they had had, and the perplexity they experienced in consequence. Joseph, according to the wisdom which he received from God, was enabled to give to each the interpretation of his dream, and according as he had said it