fee him again? or that he, who was now fold for a flave, fhould ever rife to eminence in the world; least of all, that he fhould ever have power or authority over them?

BUT things impoffible to all human appearance are poffible with God. He often accomplishes his eternal purpofes by thofe very means which men employ to counteract them, and while thefe are flattering themfelves with the fuccefs of their oppofition, they are but labouring to bring about the event, which of all others they endea

vour to avert.

So it was here: Jofeph is under the peculiar care of God's Providence, who will always fecure the execution of his own decrees; whofe work is always going on, whofe counfel fhall

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ftand, and whofe good pleafure be in the end fulfilled.

To the fuperintendence of Providenceit was owing, that Jofeph fhould be fold to Potiphar rather than to any other perfon; becaufe on this circumftance, happening as it did, all his future fortunes turned: It was a link in the connected chain of events, cach of which depended on fome other, and all confpired to bring forward one great event, the exaltation of Joseph above his brethren.

Ir is faid that the Lord was with Jofeph. Caft off and deferted by his brethren, he is not forfaken by his God. And here we fue the fuperiority of God's love for us, over that of ours for each other: Fraternal affection it must be owned is a ftrong principle, yet we

have an example before us, how envy may blaft, and hatred deftroy it: Parental affection is ftronger ftill, yet unnatural parents there are, who forfake and forget their own offspring; but the love of God knows neither abatement nor decline. When my father and my mother, faith David, forfaketh me then the Lord taketh me up-Yea they may forget, faith God, yet will not I forget thee.

THE Lord was with Jofeph in the houfe of Potiphar the Egyptian. Though a poor Hebrew flave, but juft purchafed from the Ifhmaelitifh merchants, he enjoys the Divine prefence and favour in a very peculiar manner, fhewing how God protects those, whom man forfakes. No doubt but he was diligent and induftrious in his new fituation; of his faithfulness we

fhall presently have fufficient proof; accordingly he was profperous; his picty and virtue enfured a blefling on his labours, and fuch was his fuccefs in all that he undertook, that his mafter could not but fee that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to profper in his hand. Potiphar was not infenfible of the value of fuch a fervant. He fhewed him much kindnefs and efteem-Jofeph found grace in his fight that favour and indulgence which he had not experienced from his brethren in his father's houfe. And he ferved him how much happier fuch a fervitude than the most independent ftate with a confcience burdened with guilt. And he made him overfeer over his houfe, and all that he had he put into his hand. Here was a furprifing change of fortune: He who but a little while ago was fold by his

repay

brethren brought down into Egypt and entered the houfe of Potiphar as a flave, is now entrusted with the whole management of the affairs of one of the moft confiderable officers of Pharaoh's court. And well did he the confidence repofed in him -the Lord bleffed the Egyptian's houfe for Jofeph's fake for the kindnels fhewed to this his fervant, the Lord rewarded him fevenfold into his own bofom; never were his affairs more profperous, than under the adminif tration of Jofeph.

BUT let the righteous prepare their fouls for tempation, As gold is tried in the fire, fo are acceptable men in the furnace of adverfity, even their good is fometimes evil spoken of, and they are liable to fuffer reproach for conduct the moft worthy of praife. So it was