us the approbation and the blessing of Almighty God. Though He did suffer Joseph to be cast into prison, he delivered him at last, and gave him wisdom to interpret the king's dreams-which occasioned him to be advanced to great honour and riches. So will God always be the friend of good men. He may afflict them for a season; but this is only for their advantage, and he will at length deliver them from all their troubles, and make them happy for ever.

JOSEPH'S CONDUCT TO HIS FATHER AND HIS BRETHREN.

(Gen. xlii. to 1.)

THE famine, which afflicted the land of Egypt, extended also to the land of Canaan, where Joseph's father and his brethren lived. And when Jacob heard that there was corn to be had in Egypt,

he sent his sons down thither to buy some, that they might have bread to eat and not die. He sent them all down except Benjamin the youngest; him he kept at home lest some evil should befal him.

And when Joseph's brethren arrived in Egypt, they came and bowed down before him; and Joseph knew them again, but they did not know him. Joseph remembered how cruelly they had behaved to him in putting him into the pit, and selling him as a slave; and though he did not wish to be revenged upon them, he wished to see whether their dispositions were changed, or whether their character was still the same. He therefore spake roughly to them, and told them that they must be spies, and that they were come to see in what a miserable state Egypt was. He saw also that his brother Benjamin was not with them; and he wanted to find out what was become of him. So he put them in

prison for three days; and at the end of that time he sent them all away except Simeon, whom he kept bound, that he might see whether they would bring Benjamin to him or not.

When they went home to their father Jacob, and told him all that had happened to them in Egypt, he was very much grieved, and he would not let Benjamin go with them, for he said, "His brother is dead, and he is left alone; and if mischief befal him in the way in which ye go, then ye will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." But at last, when they had eaten up all the corn which they had bought to make bread, and they could get no more any where except in Egypt, Jacob sent his sons down again to that country, and he permitted Benjamin to go with them; and he sent a large present to Joseph, that he might secure his favour.

When Joseph saw Benjamin come, he

was very glad, and he went aside into his chamber and wept for joy; and he made his brethren dine with him; and the mess which he sent to Benjamin was five times as large as any of the rest. And they drank and were merry with him.

But Joseph would not yet tell them who he was, for he wanted to try them still more. So he ordered his steward to put every man's money in the mouth of his sack, and to put his own silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin's. And when they were departed, he sent his steward after them, who soon overtook them, and accused them of having returned evil for good. They told him that they did not know that they had done any thing wrong; they said that he might search their sacks, to see whether they had stolen any thing, and that he, in whose sack any thing was found which belonged to Joseph, should die, and they would consent to be the stew

ard's bondsmen. To this the steward answered, "Let it be according to your word; he, with whom the cup is found, shall be my servant, and ye shall be blameless."

So he searched all their sacks, and found his master's cup in Benjamin's. Then they all went back in great grief to the city, and offered to be Joseph's servants; but he wished only to keep Benjamin, and told the rest that they might go back to their father.

Now Judah, one of the oldest of them, had promised his father that he would bring Benjamin back to him; and he knew that it would break his father's heart, if he saw them return without him. So he went near to Joseph, and reminded him of all that they had said to him, and of all that he had said to them, the first time that he had questioned them; and he told him how unwilling Jacob had been to let Benjamin come with them, and that it would surely