ment.

and attention to his guests must have excited equal admiration and astonishNo longer proftrate on the earth before him, they had been feated at his table, and partook with him in the pleasures of the feftive board. Nor was it the leaft matter of their joy, that he, for whofe welfare they were most alarmed, had been received by the governor with the moft diftinguifhing marks of favour. How muft they have exulted, with the idea having such welcome news to carry back to their father.

BUT they confidered, that while they were thus feafting in Egypt, their aged parent, their wives, and their children, had a fore famine to contend with in the land of Canaan. Amidft the mirth of Jofeph's table, they forget not groans and cries of their families

the

for lack of bread, who looked forward to their return with the impatience of extreme diftrefs.

THEY are again furnished with provifions as much as they can carry, and every man's money is placed in his fack's mouth the fame as before: But here a new circumftance is added at the command of Jofeph, his cup, the filver cup is placed with the cornmoney, in the fack's mouth of the youngeft.

BUT why this new trial of the brethren to involve them in fresh dif trefs.

It seems to have been defigned with a view to try the affection of the brethren for Benjamin; and to fee how they would condu&t themselves, on his

being expofed to danger. Or perhaps it was the intention of Jofeph to furnifh himself with a plea for the detaining of Benjamin Or in order that he might difcover himfelf to his brethren in the moft tender and affecting

manner.

HOWEVER this might be; they are fcarce gone out of the city, when he fends his steward after them, to accufe them of having ftolen the filver cup, and to bring them back. Aftonished at fo unexpected a charge, they difclaim the theft; already had they given proof of their honefty in acknowledging the money they had found in their facks, how improbable then was it, that men who had acted fo honourably on the former occafion, fhould in the prefent inftance fo far debase themselves, as to fteal from the houfe of their be

nefactor veffels of filver or gold. With all the confidence of innocence, they denounce their punishment, fhould they be found guilty and voluntarily offer themselves to the fearch With

whomfoever of thy fervants it be found, both let him die, and we will be my Lord's bondfmen little aware in whofe fack the cup was concealed. The steward takes them at their word, only mitigating their fentence He with whom it is found fhall be my fervant, and ye shall be blameless. He then proceeds to fearch them one after another, beginning at the eldeft, and leaving off at the youngeft, when to the amazement of them all, the cup is found in Benjamin's fack. With fuch evident conviction, what could they urge in their defence— How exceffive their diftrefs___Confcious of their innocence, yet unknowing how to clear away the imputation

Q

of guilt. Sorrowing they return to the city, once more to verify their brother's dreams, and throw themselves at his feet, the objects of his mercy.

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AND Jofeph faid unto them, what is this that ye have done! Wot ye not that fuch a man as I can divine!. He, who had fuch great knowledge, as for that reafon to be exalted to the head of the kingdom, and entitled Zaphnath-paaneah the revealer of fecrets; what rafhnefs and prefumption to think to deceive fuch a man as this! Here Jofeph continues to affume the character of an Egyptian, and pretends to know the real circumftances and conduct of the brethren from divination.

AND well did he know their real circumftances and conduct, though