jealoufy of his brethren towards the hated favourite. Jacob neglected this prudent precaution; not contenting himfelf with a fecret preference for his fon Jofeph, he teftified the partiality of his affection in the most open manner by making him a coat of many colours.

THE Confequence was as might be expected when his brethren faw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not Speak peaceably unto him. Their hatred fhewed itself outwardly in their words and behaviour The kindness of his father drew upon him the reproaches of his brethren They could not fpeak peaceably, or as fome would render it, give him the customary falutation of," Peace be unto thee."

THUS We fee it was ufual for perfons even in thofe days to accoft one another with expreffions of good-will: And here the language of compliment points out the path of duty; the welfare of our brethren is the common concern of all Chriftians who are members of one family, and as they wish well to each other's happinefs, fo are they to labour to promote it as far as lies in their power.

BUT far other fentiments than goodwill and benevolence rankled in the hearts of Jofeph's brethren; how these operated, and what direful effects they produced, will be feen in the fequel of this history.

Ir having pleafed God to favour Jofeph with two dreams which conveyed no very obfcure intimation of

his own future exaltation, and the fubjection of the rest of his family to him as their fuperior, he was fo imprudent as to relate them to his brethren, thereby ftill further provoking their refentment against him.

In his firft dream he appeared to himfelf as binding fheaves with his brethren in the time of harveft After he had bound his fheaf and laid it upon the ground, it feemed to him to rife up and ftand erect the fheaves of his brethren alfo which they had bound, feemed to rise up in like manner and standing round his fheaf to bow down before it.

His brethren understood this dream and were highly offended at its import Shalt thou indeed, faid they, reign over us! or fhalt thou indeed have domi

nion over us. They could not bear to be told, that a time would come when they must all fubmit to the authority of this their brother. And they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words, both for having had these dreams, and for relating them.

His fecond dream was of the fame fignification with the former, and a confirmation of the truth of it, only the reprefentation was different, and more comprehenfive_The fun,moon, and eleven ftars feemed to make obeifance unto hin_This alfo he told unto his father and his brethren.

HOWEVER Jacob might appear to difcourage Jofeph for relating thefe dreams, feeing the effect they had upon his other fons, he could not be ignorant of their meaning-What is this,

faid he, that thou haft dreamed, fhall I and thy mother and thy brethren come and bow down ourselves to thee to the earth. Thus by the fun he understood himself, the head and life of his family; by the moon, his wife, the leffer inftrument of rule in the family, but whofe influences contributed much to its welfare and profperity, by whom is not meant Rachel, who was now dead, but Leah, Jofeph's ftepmother, or elfe Bilhah Rachel's handmaid, who fince her death was as a mother to Jofeph: and by the cleven ftars, the eleven brethren of Jofeph; the children of Jacob, dependent on their common parent, as the ftars that derive their light and luftre from the fun.

In what manner thefe dreams received their fulfilment will be seen hereafter.