SERMON VII. JOSEPH MADE KNOWN UNTO HIS BRETHREN. GENESIS, xlv. 1. Then Jofeph could not refrain himfelf before all them that flood by him; and he cried, Caufe every man to go out from me: and there food no man with him while Jofeph made himfelf known unto his brethren. WE are now arrived at one of the moft interesting fcenes of this hiftory. On one fide are the fons of Jacob in the utmoft diftrefs on account of their younger brother whom the governor of Egypt claims for his fervant, because in his fack the cup was found; on the other fide ftands Joseph, wil ling to difmifs the brethren, but refufing to release Benjamin. He hears the interceffion of Judah; a mafter-piece of eloquence and nature; the most tender circumstances are brought forward to move his compaffion, and to prevail with him to let Benjamin go. Much is there of unaffected art, of unftudied rhetoric in this speech. With what deference and refpect does he addrefs Jofeph, calls him his Lord, himself and his brethren his fervants, begs his patient hearing, and paffes a mighty compliment upon him, thou art even as Pharaoh, thy favour as desirable, thy wrath as dreadful as Pharaoh's. Benjamin, he reprefents as well worthy his compaffionate confideration. He was a little one, compared with the reft of them; the youngeft; not acquainted with the world, nor ever inured to hardfhips, having been always brought up tenderly with his father. It made his cafe the more piteous, that he alone was left of his mother, and his brother was dead. Little did Judah think what a tender point he now touched upon, and that the perfon before whom he pleads, is himself that brother whom he fuppofes to be dead. He urges it very clofely, that Jofeph had himfelf conftrained them to bring Benjamin; had feemed defirous to fee him, had forbidden them his prefence unless Benjamin was with them; circumstances thefe which indicated fome intentions of kindness: And after all, after being brought with fo much difficulty, muft he find no other favour at the hands of the governor than a fentence of perpetual flavery! Was he not brought down to Egypt in obedi ence, purely in obedience to the command of Jofeph, and will he not fhew him fome mercy? But the great argument he infifts upon, is the infupportable grief it would be to his aged father, if Benjamin fhould be left behind they had pleaded against Jofeph's infifting on his coming down. His father loveth him—This If he fhould leave his father he would die much more if he was now to be left behind never more to return. This, the old man of whom they spake, had pleaded against his going down If mifchief befal him, ye fhall bring down my grey hairs, that crown of glory, with forrow to the grave_This therefore Judah preffes with much earneftness His life is bound up in the lad's life —and it fhall come to pass, when he feeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die, and thy fervants fhall bring down the grey hairs of thy fervant our father with forrow to the grave_Lastly, Judah pleads that he for his part could not bear to fee this, and offers to remain a bondfman inftead of his brother_____ For how fhall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? left peradventure I fee the evil that fhall come on my fa ther. Now behold the effect of this addrefs-Jofeph could no longer refrain himfelf before all them that stood by him The governor of Egypt is moved; and the emotions of his heart are too strong for concealment. The diftrefs of the brethren excites in his bofom the fympathy of a brother. The Egyptians are abruptly commanded from his prefence. He will be alone with his bre thren while he discovers himself unto them. |