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meeting. And they came into the land of Goshen.

Here Jofeph presented himself unto his father; and he fell upon his neck, and wept a good while: And Ifrael faid unto Jofeph, Now let me die, fince I have feen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

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The interview between Jacob and, Jofeph may be conceived, but cannot be defcribed. To have furmounted the length of the way, to have escaped the dangers of the journey, and to find himselffafe in the arms of his favourite fon, is more than the old man can bear; the measure of his earthly happiness is complete; he has nothing further to wifh or defire in this life

Now let me

die, fince I have feen thy face, becaufe thou

art yet alive.

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Is there then to the hoary Patriarch nothing more worth living for? And is he content to refign this mortal life, the very moment he begins to enjoy it? It is even fo-For he has feen the accomplishment of God's promifes

In

He has feen, though many obftacles intervene; though the bleffing be long delayed, God will at length effect his purpose. He is convinced, that the counsels of the Almighty cannot be fruftrated, and that he will never forfake his chofen fervants. this faith, he defires to die. Having tafted an earnest of his inheritance, he longs for the full poffeffion of the proinifed reft. The arms of Jofeph may yeild him a momentary fupport, but the bofom of God, the encirclings of the everlasting Love, is his final happiness and hope.

Can we contemplate this fcene, and not think of aged Simeon, a just man and devout, who waited for the confolation of Ifrael; and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghoft, that he should not fee death, till he had feen the Lord's Chrift. The confolation of Ifrael after the flesh, was Jofeph; but the confolation of the true Ifrael of God, is Jefus. When the venerable man faw the child Jefus brought into the Temple, then took he him up in his arms and blessed God, and faid, Lord now letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have feen thy falva

tion.

The confolation of our infirm and fuffering humanity is JESUS CHRIST. We do not indeed fee him with the bodily eye, or embrace him with the arm of flesh, but by faith we behold his falvation, and rely on his all-fuffi,

ciency. Has the world any thing comparable to him! The defirable things of the world lofe their luftre when poffeft; and even defire itself faileth; the chilly hand of age benumbs our capacities of earthly enjoyment; but the confolation of Ifrael, the knowledge of the excellency of Chrift Jefus, is a bright fun-fhine that gilds the winter of human life, and through the dark mists of mortality beams with the luftre of eternal glory.

Why should we wish to live, but that we may fee the falvation of Chrift not that we may enjoy the world, for of itself it is not worth enjoying, but that we may be fit to die. How pathetically does the Pfalmift urge his fuit on this head Hear my prayer, O' Ο Lord, and let thine ears confider my cal ling, hold not thy peace at my tears, for

I am a franger with thee, and a fojourner, as all my fathers were; O fpare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and am no more feen. We may defire to live a little longer, that we may serve God better, that we may get strength to amend our lives, to correct our faults, and to do fome little good among those with whom we live. The love of life is a divine inftin&t implanted in man; it is coeval with our birth, nor quits us till we die. Wearied and worn out with age and infirmities, we ftill love the feeble remains, which become the more precious, in proportion as their tenure grows the more uncertain. Befides, who can tell what ends Providence may have yet to anfwer by his longer continuance upon earth? Or what future bleffings he may yet be deftined to receive, or be the happy inftrument

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