SERMON

IV.

65

IN

GENESIS XXXIX. 2.

The Lord was with Jofeph.

N the conclufion of my last discourse SERM.
we left Joseph's brethren on their re-

turn to the land of Canaan, whither they
were haftening, with all poffible expe-
dition, to fetch Benjamin, and redeem
Simeon, who was left as an hoftage in
Egypt, when a circumstance happened
which greatly terrified and alarmed them.
As they stopped to bait on their jour-
ney, behold, the money which they had
carried with them to buy corn was re-
ftored to them; and every
man's money was

found in the mouth of his fack, where it had

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been

SERM. been fecretly and purposely conveyed by

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order of Jofeph, who, we may imagine, thought it would have been an agreeable furprize to them: but they confidered it in another light, as a premeditated defign of the governor to accuse them of fraudulent practices, and take the opportunity of making them bondsmen and flaves; a groundlefs fufpicion, which they had no reason to entertain. But guilt is always timid, jealous, and alarmed; it is the curfe of the wicked to be afraid where no fear is: they were fearful of punishment, because they knew that they had deferved it; and their frightened imagination suggested to them. the worst that could poffibly happen. The conduct of Jofeph was indeed something ftrange and myfterious, for which they could not eafily account. Uncertain, however, and anxious for the event, they proceeded on their journey, and foon ar

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tived fafely at the houfe of their father, SERM.
acquainted him with every thing that
had happened, and concluded, by re-
quefting him to fend their brother Ben-
jamin back with them to Egypt. This
was a fevere ftroke, which the afflicted
Jacob little expected; he could not bear,
at this time of life, thus to be deprived
of every remaining comfort, and left
childlefs and forlorn, in the extremity of
old age. He expoftulates with them in
the tendereft manner: Me fays he, have
ye bereaved of my children: Jofeph is not,
and Simeon is not, and ye will take Ben-
jamin away.
It was in vain to reprefent
to him the neceffity of returning with
the younger to free the elder brother.
When the mind is oppreffed by a greater
calamity, the lefs is fcarce felt or re-
garded. Reuben, however, who was the
leaft culpable, was, probably, on that
'very account, the most bold and confi-
dent

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2

J

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SERM. dent amongst them; he promifes his father, in the moft folemn manner, to restore Benjamin fafely to him, and even offers up his own two fons to be flain, if he did not perform it. Judah enforceth the arguments of Reuben, and generously yields himself up as a furety: If I bring him not unto thee, fays he, let me bear the blame for ever. The old man at length, prevailed on by their importunities, delivers his darling Benjamin into their hands, gives them more money for corn, together with several valuable prefents for Jofeph, and, with a heavy heart, takes his fecond leave of them, little hoping, perhaps, that he should ever meet them all again but the Lord, ever watchful over his chofen fervants, had only funk him to this state of misery and defpair, to give him the more exquifite joy and pleasure at their return. Thus doth our gracious Creator often try the patience,

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patience, and deprefs the hearts, of his SERM. faithful fervants, by the most bitter afflictions, which are afterwards turned unto good, and rendered productive of greater and more perfect happiness.

Again, then, let us attend Jofeph's brethren to the court of Pharaoh, where the favourite of the Almighty no fooner beheld his beloved Benjamin accompanying them, than he immediately gave orders for their reception, in such a manner, as fufficiently fhewed how welcome a guest they had brought along with them. As foon as they came into his prefence, he enquires with most solicitous tenderness after their aged father, and then, turning towards Benjamin, falutes him in fuch terms, as, no doubt, greatly aftonished the reft of his brethren: God be gracious to thee my Son!

How

muft their admiration have been in

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creased,