departed friends. The connection that fubfifted between them and you is interrupted, fo far as relates to this carnal, animal, life; but their connection with the Divine Being is eternal, and indiffoluble. The foul of man is an immortal fubstance, and therefore cannot die; it must fubfift for ever, because it depends not for fupport, on the perishable fubftances of this world, but has its life fed and nourished from the fpiritual and eternal effence of God himfelf. The body is compofed of the elements of this world, and must be refolved into them again; but the foul has an higher origin, and is formed. to know, and love, and praise the Author of its exiftence. All the relations that begin in the body, muft end with it; but fpiritual relationship, or the apt congruity of mind to mind, which is the fource of pure affection, and

genuine attachment, is feated in the foul, has its origin from God, and fhall endure for ever.

AND as they live to God, fo they live to each other, mutually connected and endeared by focial fympathies

by fympathies, which no parting pang fhall ever wound for neither can they die any more. It is not there, as here, where one generation goeth, and another cometh_where the children of this world marry, and are given in marriage and a new race fprings up to fucceed that which is paffing away

but all is there fixed and eternal! being fons of God, and of the refurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage.

BUT they are as the Angels of God in Heaven The life of the faints in glo

ry

is of a nature purely angelical. It

is not faid, they are Adam in Paradife that were much

but, as the bleffed,

angels of God in Heaven more than mortal heart can conceive, or mortal tongue exprefs. They are always praifing God; therefore, they are always happy. They fhall hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither fhall the fun, nor heat fmite them; for he that hath mercy on them fhall lead them, even by the fprings of water fhall he lead them, and they fhall drink of his pleafures, as out of a river.

FROM the Cave of Machpelah, the fons of Jacob, with all the mourning train, return to Egypt. The forrowful impreffion, made by the death of their father, was not foon to be erased, nor was their own ill treatment of Jofeph forgotten. Though he had be

o o

haved to them with feeming kindness and affection, during the life of their common parent; yet, this reftraint being removed, they were afraid he might not now forego the opportunity of revenge. So fufpicious is guilt, ever apprehenfive of punishment, becaufe confcious of having deferved it. They will not venture to appear in the prefence of Jofeph, till they have first fent a meffenger to avert his dif pleasure. Thy father, faid they, did command us before he died, faying, Thus fhall ye fay unto Jofeph, forgive, I pray thee now, the trefpafs of thy brethren, and their fin; for they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the trefpafs of the fervants of the God of thy father. It is the

4

father of Jofeph that here pleads with him in behalf of the brethren. The brethren of Jofeph urge their fuit, not only as the children of the fame parent,

but as the fervants of the fame God whom Jofeph's father worshipped. It was not poffible to refift this double plea, of nature, and of grace—Jofeph wept when he heard it. After the recent event that had happened, to fee fo many fons of his father, now all in his power their prefent forrow and diftrefs their plain and open confeffion. of their guilt the affecting idea of their condition, which reduced them to the neceffity of holding up their hands. for mercy, when they had loft their protector; might well call forth the tears of Jofeph. And he faid, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to fave much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and fpake kindly unto them.