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surprised: it is with one of the first ladies of the Egyptian empire for birth, beauty and virtue I intend to bespeak her for you this very day. Had I a daughter of my own, that I deemed worthy of you, she should be your bride; but as I cannot thus gratify myself, I have sought out one to whom I think, even the greatest of monarchs can have no objection." "I Beg," said Joseph," that your majest y will leisurely think of it, before you propose matter of such importance. How would a princess of Egypt be debased in being given to a mean and once unhappy foreigner, whose birth comparatively is obscure ""Say no more of it" replied the king, "for the matter is already determined. It will be an honour to the greatest princess to be advanced to your bed."

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This advantageous offer met not with that agreeble reception with Joseph, as one would have expected. The fair unknown whom he had seen whilst a prisoner, had captivated his heart; for her he languished in secret, and could admit of no thoughts of another to have place in his mind. He knew not well how to conduct himself in a matter so delicate, but at all events he resolved to do no injustice to his first love, although unknown, by admitting a second to his embrace. Prince Potipherah being then at court, king Pharaoh proposed to him a match, between Joseph, lord high chancellor of the kingdom, and the lovely Asenath, his virtuous daughter. The proposal was heartily embraced by the reverend prince, and at his master's command he went home to consult his daughter's inclinations. But how great was his surprise to find Asenath utterly averse to the honourable compact. "I entreat my father," she cried, with tears like pearls dropping down her cheeks: "I entreat that you will not oblige me to marry a man for whom I have not the slightest degree of desire, and who since this proposal is become the object of my real aversion." "What objection can you have Asenath, replied he, " to the lord highchancellor, the favourite of both king and people?

Inconsiderate woman, it is the greatest honour the king can confer upon you; and I insist on your em bracing it, otherwise give me a plain account of your reasons for refusing it." "Ah, Sir!" said she, " the lord high-chancellor is not the man who can make me happy, and I would not marry till I can have the prospect of being happy in my husband."

Young Asenath was one of the party, who to grace the nuptials of Potiphar and Sabrina, went to hunt the monsters of the desart, and had seen the young Hebrew's distinguished gallantry, in rescuing his mistress from the ferocity of the desperate lion. Her young and tender heart, could not but feel the impression of the many graces of his amiable person; but his generous valour most sensibly touched her. In short, she conceived a most ardent and virtuous passion for him, and resolved, that ifever she shouldenter into the marriage relation, Joseph, the gallant Hebrew, should be the man of her choice. But seeing nothing of him for a long time, she conceived a dislike to all other men; and notwithstanding the fame of the lord high-chancellor resounded through every Egyptian mansion, she never had the curiosity so much as to look upon him.

It was insisted on however, by Pharoah and Potipherah, that she should have an interview with Joseph; notwithstanding, they had both of them too much goodness, absolutely to force the inclinations of either. But when they met, what a delightful surprise was it to Joseph to realize in Asenath the features, the air, and the very person of the lovely virgin, whom he had seen whilst a prisoner; and for whom, although unknown, he had renounced the whole female race. Nor was Asenath's surprise inferior in viewing in the person of the lord high-chancellor, every feature and gesture of her almost adored Hebrew. Never did two come together with more consummate aversion to each other, and never were two

more agreeably disappointed. "And is it you, my lovely fair, for whom I so long have sighed, that unknown to me his majesty designed for my spouse,"

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said Joseph? “O my love, you cannot conceive what antipathy I entertained against you; but blessed be the God of heaven, who brings the object of my warmest wishes to my bosom." And can it be possible, that you, my lord, are the very deliverer of the fair Sabrina," said Asenath? "Ever since that jovial day, the noble, the gallant Hebrew, has been the sole lord of all my affection. What a blessed Providence is this, that crowns my wishes by contradicting my inclination; for I hated you, Joseph; I hated the lord high-chancellor of Egypt, for the sake of my amiable Hebrew. Let us adore the wisdom and goodness of that God, who has in such a desirable manner disappointed our fears." The nuptials were solemnized the ensuing day, in the presence of the monarch. Great joy abounded amongst the people upon the occasion, and every body wished prosperity to the new married couple.

While Joseph continued prosperously to govern Egypt, it pleased God to visit eloquent Judah with a remembrance of his former treachery. Er, his first born, mature in years, married a damsel whose name was Tamar, young, beautiful, and virtuous; in many respects surpassing her fellows. Er was atheistical and profligate, disregarded the commands of Abraham's God, and sought only to gratify a sensual appetite, and wallow in the pleasures of the flesh. Judah and Shunah his parents, endeavoured to correct the irregularities of his life, by wholesome precepts and example; but all their instructions he foolishly rejected, and sought for death in the error of his way. His disposition was the very reverse of Joseph's amiable qualities, virtue was the delight of the one, but vice alone was the pursuit of the other. It happened on a day, that Er was sent to a distant part of the country upon some rural business, when going past a fatal thicket, a panther sprung from the midst of it, and instantly tore him to pieces. Not returning at the time expected, messengers were dispatched to seek for him, and found him miserably torn by that monster of the wood. Then it was

that Judah began to realize in his own experience, the heart-wringing agonies of his father upon Joseph's bloody coat being presented to him. Then the pathetic address of his suppliant brother, begging for life, returned to his mind, with all its affecting circumstances. And to the loss of his son, he had the painful reflection of its being a just judgment of the Omnipotent upon him, for having joined his brethren to bring affliction upon chosen Jacob.

That the name of the elder born might not become extinct in Judah's family, Tamar was given to Onan, that seed might be raised up to his deceased brother. But Onan's heart being attracted by other charms, and knowing that should the marrige bed become fruitful, the children would not bear his name; he took care to prevent the fruits of their intercourse, though he did not altogether deny the pleasures of the conjugal state. What he did was offensive to the eye of infinite holiness, and the Most High to avenge himself of his impiety, struck him dead with a blast of lightning darted from the æreal stores of wrath,

O Judah! how sensibly was thy heart affected by this second stroke of the divine hand? How didst thou read thy sin in thy punishment? Both thy sons snatched away by death, in the prime of their days. Tamar, thy daughter-in-law, had the bitterness of burying two husbands, ere she reached the meridian of life. Shelah alone, young and tender, support the hopes of thy family. How did thy heart pant with jealous fear, lest vengeance should write thee down childless, and summon young Shelah to follow his elder brethren. Nothing but the fear of Simeon and Levi, kept Judah back from making a full confession of his guilt before the venerable patriarch. But the fear of them restrained him still from duty, especially as he could never hear in what manner the Ishmaelites had disposed of Joseph.

ARGUMENT.

Joseph purchaseth all the spare corn in Egypt, for seven years-The famine begins to be felt- Jacob sendeth his sons down to Egypt to buy corn-Simeon's dream by the way-They are brought before Joseph-He knows them, but they know not him-He questions them strictly, and chargeth them with being spies-They study to clear themselves of the charge-Ile proposeth to send one of them to bring Benjamin down-That is objected to, on account of Israel and his family-They are imprisoned three days-The brethren reason concerning their cruelty to Joseph, and consider all this as the hand of God upon them-Simeon bound and cast into prisonThe rest set out on their journey-They are surprised at finding their money returned in their sacks-They arrive in Canaan, and relate to their father all that befel them in Egypt-Long discourse between Jacob and them, upon their present circumstances-They persuade Jacob to send Benjamin along with them-Jacob favoured with a divine vision, and his comforted.

BOOK THE SIXTH.

PHARAOH had such proofs daily of Joseph's wisdom and fidelity, that he fixed no limits to his power; whatever was done throughout the land of Egypt, he was the doer of it, and whatever he did prospered in his hand. His equipage was next in grandeur to that of his majesty himself, and only in the throne was Pharaoh greater than he. He went through the whole kingdom, provided granaries, appointed deputies in every province for purchasing of all sorts of grain, the advantage of which was afterwards found not only by the Egyptians but other kingdoms adja

cent.

As his duty and pleasure run in the same channel, he collected corn sufficient, during the seven years plenty, to supply the Egyptian empire for twice seven years of famine, had it been the pleasure of God to continue it so long; and this he was prompted to by his native benevolence, that thereby he might assist

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