cred and uncorrupt the knowledge and worship of the true God. LOADED with honours and bleffings from the munificence of his prince, Jofeph iminediately proceeds to the execution of his new office. He makes a tour throughout the kingdom to furvey the fruitfulness of the land during the feven years of plenty, which were already commenced; and to provide magazines and storehouses for the reception of the corn which was to fupply the wants of the people in the approaching years of famine. AND Jofeph was thirty years old when he ftood before Pharaoh; fo much wifdom and forecaft in so young a man cannot fail of our admiration. Well might the King say to his fervants, can we find fuch a man as this, a man in whom the fpirit of God is? The conduct of Jofeph juftifies the choice of Pharaoh. AMIDST the cares of ftate and the endearments of domeftic fociety, the mind of Jofeph feels neither leifure nor inclination to look back on his former fufferings; the duties of his prefent ftation engage all his attention; the hardships he had undergone, the confinement of the prifon, the injuries he had received from his brethren, nay and even his father's houfe, are alike forgotten. In this ftate, two fons are born unto him, whom he names in allufion to his prefent circumftançes_He called the name of the first born Manaffih: for God, faid he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's houfe; and the name of the fecond called he Ephraim, for, faid he, God hath caufed me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Thus in the names of his children he commemorates the goodnefs of God He could not think of them, or speak to them, without reflecting on the mercies he had experienced. SOON did the feven years of plenty pass away; and the feven years of famine commenced, which were to confume the produce of the former plenteous years the dearth was in all lands, in all the countries adjoining Egypt, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. The Egyptians being apprifed of this famine, every one had laid up fome ftore in the years of plenty, which could not be immediately exhaufted. Ar length the famine is felt in Egypt. The flock of individuals fails; and in the midft of the general calamity, every eye is directed towards Pharaoh, as the common father of his people, on whofe provident care they depend for the fupply of their preffing neceffities; all the land of Egypt was famifhed, and the people cried unto Pharaoh. Pharaoh directs them to Jofeph whom he had appointed over this business Go unto Jofeph, what he faith unto you, do. To him therefore the hungry go to be fed; and from his florehouses, the wants of an whole nation are relieved. Nor Egypt alone, but even diftant countries experience the bleffings of his adminiftration, for the famine is fore in all lands, and all countries come into Egypt to Jofeph to buy corn. TURN we now from Jofeph exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh, and fupplying the wants of Egypt; to contemplate JESUS, exalted to the right hand of God, and difpenfing life and falvation to a famished world. Here we fhall fee a more wonderful counfellor; the true Zaphnath-paaneah, the revealer of fecrets, the interpreter to us of the mind and will of God. This was he who fuffered in the flefh, who groaned and bled at Calvary, who is now crowned with glory and majefty unfpeakable That fame Jefus whom men flew and hanged on a tree, him hath God raifed up to be a Prince and a Saviour Behold he cometh with clouds Bow the knee before him—for the Father hath committed all judgment unto the fon―There is given unto him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; that all |