money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in, that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. "And when they communed with the steward concerning the matter, he answered, verse 23, "Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks," &c.

Verse 26. "And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth." Thus his brethren's sheaves bowed again to his sheaf. O, the wonderful of God! "And he asked them of their wel

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fare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive and they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread." Verse 33. "And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another." And

well they might; for it must have appeared most mysterious to them, as they would naturally wonder how the Egyptian ruler could so exactly discern their gradations of age. "And he took and

sent messes unto them from before him : but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him."

But, although he thus showed such kindness to them, yet had he another test of their affection in reserve. They had not been sufficiently proved yet. God gave him wisdom how to sift them thoroughly. Joseph was one with them, therefore he knew well their various dispositions-so, wisely used such means as would bring out their true characters, and likewise a perfect family reconciliation.

Chap. 44. "And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.' After which they departed, as soon as it was morning; when the steward followed after them, to enquire wherefore they had "rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my Lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? Ye have done evil in so doing." For by it he proved them to the quick, and brought them again to call their sin in selling their brother to remembrance. And that is what every sinner must be brought to, before he can specially claim Christ for his Saviour: but, nevertheless, as all the dealings of Joseph were mingled with love, so are all the dealings of Christ with poor sinners, to bring them to submit to him, however severe, mingled with love also; and he waiteth and longs to embrace and kiss them. And

happy is it for poor sinners, when God in his providence causeth something which they are not in the present instance really guilty of, to be laid to their charge, to bring them immediately to examine themselves, and consider, like Jacob's sons, that, although they may be innocent of the present charge, yet are they guilty before God, of sinning against their brother Jesus Christ; who made himself one with us who loved us, and gave himself a ransom for us— s—and who, instead of taking vengeance upon us for our cruelty to him, does, like Joseph, who was a type of him, our spiritual Joseph, exercise and prove us, and fit us to come into close communion and fellowship with him. And, most touchingly and beautifully does the conduct of Joseph with his brethren illustrate the love of Christ to sinners: he loves to see them broken-hearted for sin, for he knows well that when he has brought a poor sinner to hate his sin, that then he will prize him above all things, and not till then: and neither were the sons of Jacob fit to know and embrace Joseph as their brother, until they were brought to such condition; therefore he put the cup into Benjamin's sack, to fetch out their sin.

Verse 12. "And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house, (for he was yet there,) and they fell before him to the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear our

selves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants," &c.

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Thus they were brought indeed to see and confess that the whole matter was the work of God, on purpose to find out their sin. Behold," said Judah," we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found." But Joseph replied, "God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up " Thus he tried them, peace unto your father." to see what kind of spirit they were of, and to break down their proud and stubborn hearts, to see their sin in its true character, and so be the more able to appreciate his love to them, when he saw fit to reveal himself to them. But what a struggle had he to suppress his feelings of love to them, until the proper time?

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O, then, if Joseph's love for his brethren was so superlative, who was but a man, what must be the love of Christ to sinners, who is God as well as man, and whose love constrained him to die for sinners whilst they were yet enemies to him. Then, why should any poor broken-hearted sinner despair, whilst Christ waiteth to be gracious, and, like Joseph, longs to embrace him. For, after he had heard the touching appeal of his brother Judah, for the release of his brother Benjamin, enforced by the declaration, that if the lad did not return again to his father, that the old man's hairs would be brought down with sorrow to the grave, poor Joseph could no longer refrain himself, but (chap. 45) immediately, with tears of affectionate joy, made himself known to them, proclaimed them his brethren, fell on their necks

and kissed them, bid them go and fetch his father to him, and cautioned them not to fall out by the way; assuring them that it was not them, but God, that had sent him before them into Egypt, to preserve their lives. And thus was the prayer of their father answered far beyond his most sanguine expectations.

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And when they came to their father, and told him that Joseph was yet alive, his heart fainted, for he believed them not yet when he saw the waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him, his spirit revived; and he said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die." Thus at last he found it all well, all right and so does every saint, at his journey's end, find that the way which God hath led him all his life through, was the right way. And Israel said (chap. 48, .ver. 11) to Joseph, "I had not thought to see thy face; and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed." So can the dying saint in Christ say, I did not think, when darkness and temptation was at one time overwhelming me, and the distracting cares of this world perplexing me, and the hypocrisy of my own evil heart deceiving me, that ever I should see the king in his beauty; but now I see that my blessed Lord and Saviour hath made all these things to work together for my good; they are the means by which he hath weaned me from the world, and now I find my all in Christ," who is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, justification, sanctification, and redemption;" and I can say, "Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

Thus does the saint of God at last triumph