other distressed states. Never was a person more venerated than Joseph was by the Egyptians, when they saw every thing come to pass according to his prediction. All held him to be a particuliar favourite of the gods, and many of the vulgar could not help believing him to be some celestial deity, come down in human form to be the preserver of their beloved nation. For the Egyptians were under no doubt at all, that they were the people most dear to heaven. What different treatment did Elijah meet with from the seed of Israel, when he foretold the famine that fell out in his days? He was accounted the troubler of Israel, and was glad to fly for his life.

Joseph had continued to purchase corn for the space of seven years; but such was now the will of Providence, that the rains fell not at their season upon the mountains of Abyssinia, in their usual quantity, to feed the streams of the Nile. So that the waters measured not above seven cubits upon the Nilescope, A quantity scarce sufficient to water the very lowest parts of the country. Of course there was very little grain produced in any part of the land, and that which grew was like Pharaoh's thin ears, not worth the reaping. Now the famine began sensibly to be felt in the land of Canaan; and the Egyptians applied in their turn to their provident governor, to purchase food for their families.

The aged patriarch seeing the approach of pale hunger towards his family, made diligent enquiry where food might be procured for money; and being informed that in Egypt only there was corn, he assembled his descendants, and thus addressed them. "You see my sons, that the all wise governor provoked by the sins of men, has denied the first and latter rains in their season. Those lofty seas which ride upon the air, are not suffered to descend and visit the thirsty world. You see there is neither earing nor harvest in the land, our family provision is almost exhausted, and ghastly famine makes hasty strides towards the dwelling of Israel. But why stand we gazing fearfully one at another? Let us use the

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means of support whilst in our power. We can but die, when the means of life have forsaken us. informed that fertile Egypt abounds with provision whilst the rest of the world is starving for want; and that hospitable is the governor of that land, that he sends none away empty who applies unto him for relief. Arise therefore my sons, go down thither, and bring us provision for money; for money will be useless to us, when the staff of bread is cut off from our mouths. Thus shall ye avoid seeing your wives and children perish for want of sustenance.-Go all of you except Benjamin. I desire that he may be left to superintend our domestic affairs in your absence." Benjamin being all that the patriarch now possessed of his dear departed Rachel, he could not bear the thoughts of his being exposed to the dangers. of such a journey.

The sons of Israel readily agreed to his proposal, and departed the ensuing morning towards Egypt. Two days before they arrived at the capital, in the dead of the night as they slept in the inn, Simeon dreamed that he was at Dothan along with his brethren consulting the death of Joseph; which being determined, he thought that just as they were going to cast him into the pit, an invisible hand was stretched down from heaven, snatched Joseph from the threatning danger and carried him out of their sight. And as it lifted Joseph from the earth, with a jostle tumbled Simeon himself into the pit designed for his brother. Alarmed with his danger, he awoke in a fright ere he reached the bottom. Hard as his Ainty heart was, the impression of this dream made him realize the anxiety of Joseph's mind on that day of his calamity. Nor could he, notwithstanding his resolution and courage, prevent his heart being dejected under the apprehension that his dream was ominous of some event fatal to his peace. Therefore the rest of the journey was dull and unpleasant to him.

Joseph by the spirit of prophecy knew that the famine was extensive, and reached even to the land of his fathers; and therefore conjectured that, amongst

the many who came for provision, his brethren also might arrive; therefore described them to his steward, and directed him, that if such men should arrive, that they should not be served before they were brought before him. According when they came and applied at the granaries for corn, they were directed to wait on the governor's steward, who told them that he could not possibly give them an answer till his master, the lord high-chancellor, came home. But that being only gone out with his majesty for an airing, he would have them abide near the palace till noon, about which time he expected his return. They did so, and beheld such dazzling splendour in the king's and Joseph's equipage as they had never seen at any time before.

Brought before Joseph, he immediately recollected the features of every countenance, but they had not the least suspicion of him; and notwithstanding his eminent meekness and humanity, he could not help the recollection of their baseness. The sight of them brought all his suffering afresh to his mind. They bow before him with the most humble reverence, with their faces towards the earth, and wait for him to ask their business. This brought his dreams also to his mind, and with a borrowed sternness he demanded their business with him, and directed his eye chiefly to Simeon

Judah replied, for he was speaker at this time for the rest. "May it please your excellency, we are from the land of Canaan. Being pressed with the famine in our native country, hearing there was plenty of corn in Egypt, and also the fame of the governor's hospitality, we were induced to come down to purchase a little food for ourselves, our wives and children, that they perish not in the general scarcity."

"Tell me not," said he, with a menacing countenance," of such men as you being concerned in traffic. There is something in each of you that bespeaks you sprung from no common race; for by your deportment you might be the sons of a king. I suspect you to be men of birth, servants of some

martial enterprising state, come under this disguise to spy out the nakedness of the land."

No, my lord," returned the parent of the Jews; "We are no spies, but true men; by the nakedness of our own country forced to seek for provision in a land more blessed with the bounties of Providence. We are strangers to court intrigue, and have no concern in martial atchievements. Whatever may be the appearance of our persons, your excellency may assure yourself that all our concern has been about cattle from our infancy; for your servants are not courtiers but simple shepherds, and our only business in Egypt is to procure food for our families, for which we are very willing to pay whatever my lord may demand."

"No, no," returned Joseph, "such men as you have not the appearance of shepherds. Nor does your eloquence, my friend, discover you to be an attendant on the bleating herd. You would not be proper agents for carrying on a treacherous design against our state, if you had not sagacity enough to cover it over with dissimulation and guile, I tell you, you are spies, come with a bad design against the state."

"Far be it my lord," said Judah, "from your servants to be guilty of the dissimulation that your excellency speaks of. I assure you that we are all shepherds, as our fathers for some generations backward have been. We are the descendants of Abraham, whose name perhaps your excellency has heard of. We ten are brethren, sons of one man in the land of Canaan. One remains this day with our father, and the other, alas! is not now numbered among his brethren."

"Well," replied Joseph, " ye declare your innocence in point of treachery. But I shall not take your bare word for it, but will prove you, and if ye bear the trial and approve yourselves to be true men and no spies, you shall find in me a friend; and you shall have liberty to go and come at your pleasure, and traffic in all the coasts of Egypt; but if it is found

that ye are traitors and spies, ye shall surely be put to death. By this shall ye prove yourselves to be honest men. Let one of you be dispatched to your father's house and fetch that younger brother of whom ye speak, and then will it appear that your words are right. If you refuse this, it is a sign that your purpose is bad, and as sure as Pharaoh lives, ye are spies upon our state."

"No, my lord, we are not spies, indeed," answered Judah with a submissive voice," notwithstanding we have one reason wherefore we cannot with pleasure submit to your excellency's command. And that is not fear of being detected as spises; but the famine of our houses. For we left but barely sufficient to supply the wants of our wives and children, during the time necessary for us to come hither for food and return again unto them. If we should do as my lord hath said, then must all our father's house perish for want in our absence, and we should be guilty of their blood. Wherefore if nothing but that will satisfy your excellency of our fidelity, it is better for us to return and be witness of the evil to come upon our dearest kindred; for we cannot survive the destruction of our father's house."

Joseph commanded his guards in waiting to take the ten brethren into custody, and carry them, to prison, where he kept them three days and three nights; but withal he gave secret orders to his steward to look well to them, to their servants and cattle, that they should lack nothing. On the third morning, as soon as the sun enlightened the earth, he ordered them all before him, and thus he addressed them. "I have considered all that ye have said when ye was last before me; and as there is a possibility of your testimony being true, I would not expose your old father of whom ye spake, nor your wives and little ones, to the severity of famine; for I fear God, and am no stranger to the feelings of humanity. One condition I propose to you, which must and shall be complied with, and that is, one of you shall be left bound in the house of your prison, as an host