lifted up to their hurt: but He who enabled him to repel temptation, and endure affliction, enabled him also to bear the glory that was conferred upon him with humility. It is observable, that on going out from the presence of Pharaoh, he did not go hither and thither to show his greatness; but immediately betook himself to business. New honours, in his account, conferred new obligations. The first thing necessary for the execution of his trust was a general survey of the country; which, having taken, he proceeded to execute his plan, laying up grain during the seven plentiful years beyond all calculation.

Ver. 50-52. During these years of plenty, Joseph had two sons by his wife Asenath, both which are significantly named, and express the state of his mind in his present situation. The first he called Manasseh, that is, forgetting; for God, said he, hath made me to forget all my toil, and all my father's house. A change from the extremes of either joy to sorrow, or sorrow to joy, is expressed by the term forgetfulness and a very expressive term it is. Thou hast removed my soul far off from peace; I FORGOT prosperity.A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered, she REMEMBERETH NO MORE the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. But what, had Joseph forgotten his father's house? Yes, so far as it had been an affliction to him; that is, he had forgotten the cruel treatment of his brethren, so as no longer to lay it to heart. His second son he called Ephraim, that is, made fruitful; for God, said he, hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. In both he eyes the hand of God in doing every thing for him, and gives the glory to him only.

Ver. 53-57. But now the day of prosperity to Egypt is at an end, and the day of adversity cometh: God hath set the one over against the other, to sweep away its fulness, that man should find nothing after him. And now the people, being famished for want of bread, resorted to Pharaoh. Had not Pharaoh been warned of this evil beforehand, he might have replied as Jehoram did to her that cried, Help, my lord, O king! If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? Out of the barn-floor, or out of the wine-press? But provision was made for this time of need; and

the people are all directed to go to Joseph. And here, I may say again, Who can forbear thinking of HIм, in whom it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell, and to whom those who are ready to perish are directed for relief?

This sore famine was not confined to Egypt, but extended to the surrounding countries: and it was wisely ordered that it should be so; since the great end for which God is represented as calling for it, was to bring Jacob's sons, and eventually his whole family, into Egypt; which end would not otherwise have been answered.

*

Joseph is now filling up his generation's work in useful and important labours; and, like a true son of Abraham, he is blessed and made a blessing. Yet it was in the midst of this career of activity that his father Jacob said, with a deep sigh, Joseph is not! What a large portion of our troubles would subside, if we knew but the whole truth!

*Psa. cv. 16,

of the famine, but as it relates to Jacob's family, on whose account it was sent. It is remarkable, that all the three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, experienced a famine while sojourning in the land of promise; a circumstance sufficient to try their faith. Had they been of the disposition of the spies in the times of Moses, they would have concluded it to be a land which ate up the inhabitants, and therefore not worth accepting; but they believed God, and thought well of whatever he did.

Ver. 1, 2. Jacob and his family have well nigh exhausted their provision, and have no prospect of recruiting it. They had money, but corn was not to be had for money in their own country. They could do nothing, therefore, but look one at another, in sad despair. But Jacob, hearing that there was corn in Egypt, rouses them from their torpor. His words resemble those of the four lepers : Why sit we here until we die? It is a dictate of nature not to despair while there is a door of hope; and the principle will hold good in things of everlasting moment. Why sit we here, poring over our guilt and misery, when we have heard that with the Lord there is mercy, and with him there is plenteous redemption? How long shall we take counsel in our soul, having sorrow in our hearts daily? Let us trust in his mercy, and our hearts shall rejoice in his salvation.

Ver. 3, 4. The ten brethren immediately betake themselves to their journey. They are called Joseph's brethren, and not Jacob's sons, because Joseph is at present the principal character in the story. But when Benjamin is called his brother, there is more meant than in the other case. It would seem to be assigned as the reason why Jacob was unwilling to part with him, that he was the only surviving child of Rachel, and brother of him that was not! As mischief had befallen him, he was afraid the same should befall his brother, and therefore wished the young men to go without him. Jacob does not say, 'Lest you should do him mischief, as I fear you did his brother:' but I expect there was something of this at the bottom; which, when afterwards urged by a kind of necessity to part with Benjamin, came out: Me ye have bereaved Joseph is not! (ver. 36.) At first, he appears to have thought that some evil beast had devoured him; but upon more mature observation and reflection, he might see reason to suspect at least, whether it was not by some foul dealing on their part that he had come to his end. As nothing, however, could be proved, he at present kept his suspicions to himself; and the matter passed, as it had done from the first, that mischief in some unknown way had befallen him.

Ver. 5. Nothing is said of their journey, except that a number of their countrymen went with them on the same errand; for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Such a number of applicants might possibly excite fears in their minds, lest there should not be enough for them all. Such fears, however, if they existed in this case, were unnecessary; and must always be unnecessary, where there is enough and to spare.

Ver. 6. Now Joseph being governor of the land, they find him on their arrival fully employed in serving the Egyptians. He had assistants; but his eye pervaded every thing. As soon as they could get access to the governor, they, according to the eastern custom, bow themselves before him, with their faces to the earth. Ver. 7. We may wonder that Joseph could live all this time in Egypt, without going to see his father or his brethren. We might indeed allege, that while with Potiphar, he had probably neither opportunity nor inclination; when in prison, he was not allowed