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Reuben to propofe a milder fentence Shed no blood, faid he, but caft him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him. Nor was it his intention to leave him there to starve, but that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father.

To the propofal of Reuben the reft affented.

AND by this time Jofeph came up to them, expecting perhaps a kind welcome in the embraces of his brethren; but instead of a falutation of peace, they violently feize upon him, ftrip him of his garment, the coat of many colours which had given them fo much offence, and càft him into the pit.

WHO would not think in the

pre

sent state of the hiftory, but that the

cafe of Jofeph is truly defperate? In the greatest calamities that can befal us, we may confole ourfelves with the reflection, that our prefent fufferings are only to prepare the way for greater degrees of bleffedness hereafter. Jofeph in the pit, fhall yet be exalted above his brethren. Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

JOSEPH's brethren having proceeded thus far, fat down to eat bread, a feast of communion to teftify their approbation of the deed: And while they were thus feafting, and congratulating one another at their having thus difpofed of the hated favourite of their father, and effectually prevented the accomplishment of his dreams, it fo happened that a company of Ishmaelitifh merchants came by that way.

On feeing these merchants, a thought inftantly occurred to one of them, that it would be some advantage, and at the fame time anfwer their purpofe full as well, to fell their brother for a flave as to ftarve him in a pit. The propofal was coloured over with fome fhew of humanity, but whether humanity or avarice was the prevailing motive might be difficult to determine, for both feem to be implied in the words of Judah, who here fhews himfelf a true Jew, the worthy ancestor of that nation which derives its name from him, and whofe ruling paffion is avarice. And Judah faid unto his brethren, what profit is it if we flay our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us fell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him for he is our brother and our flesh; and they were content never once fufpecting that

D

he whom they now fold for a slave, would hereafter be their Lord.

REUBEN it feems was not prefent either at their impious feftival, or during the fale of Jofeph to the Ifhmaelites: while these things were transacting he was fecluded from the brethren, with a view to deliver Jofeph and reftore him to his father, but on his return to the pit, behold Jofeph was not in the pit.

His charitable purpose being thus defeated, he rent his clothes, an expreffive token of grief and faid, the child is not, and I, whither fhall I go? He had relented in the beginning; it was he that prevailed on his brethren to change their refolution of putting Jofeph to death. He confented to their cafting him into the pit, only that he

might the more fecurely deliver him out of their hands. And now that he fuppofes him dead, we fee him in the greateft perplexity, not knowing what to do, or where to turn himself.

No doubt but the brethren told him the real truth, that they had fold their brother for twenty pieces of filver. But how shall they conceal this tranfaction from their father's knowledge? Guilt ufually flies to falfehood for concealment. And so these men veil over their crime under the fpecious infinuation that fome evil beaft had devoured him. They do not say fo in direct terms, but they produce the coat of Jofeph which they had previously dipped in blood, pretending that they had found it in the field. This, faid they, have we found, know now whether it be thy fon's coat. It was indeed

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