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clothed them with the armour of the slaughtered Assyrians. When joining with Abraham's Hebrews, they dealt destruction throughout the whole camp, and thousands of the enemy bit the ground in death. Those that escaped out of the camp sought for safety in flight, and were pursued as far as Damascus; so effectually did Abraham follow his blow, that he rescued from the spoilers every prisoner, and all the goods of which they had plundered the sacked cities, and utterly destroyed the four depredating tyrants." "It was always my opinion," said the monarch," that Joseph was descended of illustrious ancestors, and your account of Abraham sufficiently confirms it. Your family, my good old friend, has provided a saviour for Egypt in the person of Joseph, and it is the least thing we can do in return, to take care of his father's house during the scarcity. Go, good old man, and dwell in the land, the best of it is before you. And you, Joseph, know it is the will of your king, that you amply provide for all your father's family, and appoint their dwelling most agreeable to their own inclinations."

The severity of the famine was now felt in every part of the land, and no provision was to be met with but what was drawn from Joseph's granaries; whereby the king's exchequer became immensely rich. For first he gathered up all the money in Egypt in exchange for his corn; when money failed, he received their cattle instead thereof; and when their cattle were all become the king's property, they brought their slaves and bondmen, and exchanged them for corn. Then they sold every man his landed estate to procure bread for their mouths, and at last they gave up themselves for bondmen and bondwomen unto Pharaoh, in consideration of being fed with necessary food. Thus the whole land of Egypt, and all that it contained, became Pharaoh's property: and no subject had any thing left which he could call his own.

The seventh year of the famine elapsed, Joseph issued a proclamation, inviting every person to take

possession of his alienated estate to come and receive seed-corn at the king's granaries, where-withal to sow their fields. Now he returned to every man his horses, camels, and black cattle, and all that the famine occasioned them to part with except their money. Only requiring that a fifth part of the increase of all their lands should be faithfully delivered up at the royal magazines. But surely never were people more astonished than at this unexpected restitution of their estates, and restoration of their liberty, after they and all that they had were become the sole property of the king. And never was monarch better pleased with the conduct of a minister, than Pharaoh was, to see his people, by Joseph's wisdom and moderation, freed from slavery in a manner which secured the lasting dignity and affluence of the crown. To the mutual satisfaction of both prince and people, it was established by an act of state into a law, that the people should enjoy their possessions unmolested, and that the fifth part of all increase should be Pharaoh's for ever.

It was now that Sabrina, the wife of Potiphar, was taken sick unto death; and as she found herself confirmed in her virtue. she ventured to request a visit of Joseph, that she might have an opportunity to confess her folly to him in the presence of her husband, and implore forgiveness for the injuries he had sustained upon her account.

"O Joseph!" said she," it is less shame to confess a crime than to be guilty of it. I need not repeat the baseness of my former guilt to you, who have been so feelingly sensible. I wanted you now that I might unbosom myself to you, in the presence of my worthy lord, before I die. I admire that virtue which made you resist the temptation I laid for you. It has for some years been the object of my imitation, and I think I have felt something of its sweetness. I can tell you, that had you complied with my wild and unlawful desires, you would now have been the object of my aversion, Joseph, even as you yourself foretold. But oh! the virtue and honour were all

yours, and the guilt, shame and confusion, my own. And can my lord-chancellor indeed forgive the baseness of a woman who then criminally loved him to distraction? May Sabrina hope that she dies under the friendship of injured Joseph? That all resentment is departed from his generous bosom, and that he can freely forgive his most violent prosecutor."

"Madam," replied Joseph," my mind is a stranger to resentment, and was so from the first: even when I felt, most, the power of your revenge, you was the object of my warmest pity. I felt it as an evil of affliction, which it was better to submit to, than to an evil of sin. I judged that the omnipresent God would by some means bring good out of it to me, and therefore I cheerfully endured it. It would, madam, bet impious in an high degree, did I forget the means by which my God has advanced me to power, and it would be little less than devilish, to retain revenge against the instruments he might see meet to make us of. By your means, madam, I was cast into prison, where I met with the butler and baker; where also I first saw my lovely Asenath. By their means I was made known unto Pharaoh, by whose goodness I was raised to power; so that from the great good arising to me from the little inconvenience, I suffered through my then mislead mistress, I should be worse than an infidel, if I did not from my heart,, forgive the lady Sabrina. I rejoiced to hear of your virtue returning to its course, and your affections settled upon their proper object, and I now rejoice to see you in this penitent frame of spirit; for whosoever confess and forsake their sins, shall find mercy."

When Joseph returned home, he found a poor man at his gate, soliciting relief of his servants. By his appearance it seemed that he had heretofore been blessed with better days, for even the ruin was noble. The servants had each of them contributed liberally, and amongst them had made him up a purse of fitty pieces, and besides recommended him to the consideration of their lord. Joseph's humanity was such, that he never shut his door upon the poor and needy

yet seldom did he relieve, before he had properly enquired with tenderness into the case. Always observing this rule, to put the suppliant to as little pain, as possible.

The stranger being introduced into the governor's presence, he was desired to give some account of the cause of his misfortunes.

"I am by birth," said he," an Ishmaelite, who traded from the land of Gilead to Egypt. It is some few years since, that having greatly increased my substance, and added to the number of my servants, I ventured to separate myself from the Caravan, with which I usually had travelled; supposing I could make greater expedition when alone, than when tied to the rules of the company. But I soon found that he who maketh haste to be rich, shall presently come to poverty; for the very first journey I made with my own household train, I was beset on a fatal night by a band of thievish Arabs, against whom I was not able to make head. All my merchandize was seized, myself and servants taken prisoners, and basely treated whilst I continued with them. On the third night I found an opportunity of making my escape, which I effected, although not without danger. In the night I travelled, being well acquainted with the wilderness, and through the day I lurked in some lonesome thicket till I got within the borders of Egypt. When I made the best of my way towards the metropolis, expecting to find relief, in those who stood indebted to me for merchandize before then received. But alas! I found there was such an universal insolvency among my chapmen, that I could obtain no relief at their hands. The late famine, my lord, disables many an honest man from paying his just debts. I have been seeking throughout the captital, and all the neighbouring towns, for an amiable young man, an Hebrew, whom I brought down into Egypt and sold to his lordship the general, near twenty years ago. As I am persuaded, that if he lives, he fills some high department, could I meet with him, I doubt not but I should find a friend in the time of necessity."

"What is your name, my friend," said the gover nor; "and what was the name of the young Hebrew ?" "My name," replied he, " is Alvah, and my friend's name was Joseph, the son of Jacob." "I am Joseph,' returned the governor. "You have found your Joseph, your young Hebrew, and I will befriend you Alvah." He said, and flew to his friend's embrace, saying, "O my Alvah! my friend, I grieve for your distresses, yet I rejoice that it is in the power of my hand to help you. But let me first pay my just debts, by returning the money you forced upon me at our parting, Alvah." Here he ordered seven hundred pieces to be counted down, and said, "I insist upon it if you love me, my friend, that you will accept of this as principal and interest, without making any words at all about it. And do give me a just state of all the debts owing to you by the Egyptians, and I will be your paymaster Alvah." Overwhelmed with gratitude, the good old Ishmaelite could not speak a word. He hardly knew whether the whole was not a dream. At last, he gave vent to the swelling of his heart, by shedding a flood of tears. Then said, "Blessed be God, I have found you my son, and you are Joseph still. Riches and grandeur have not divorced virtue from your noble mind."

G. WILSON,
PRINTER,

LEEDS.

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