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straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? Have ye another brother? And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?" To this, we do not find that Jacob made any answer: he was probably convinced that here they had not acted deceitfully, and that their tale was true. Judah then availed himself of the apparent relenting, in his father's mind, and once more urged him to comply. He promised to do his utmost to protect the child Benjamin, and again to restore him; and he represented earnestly and forcibly the urgent necessity for his consent, " that we may live and not die." Dear as Benjamin was to Jacob, he saw the reasonableness of Judah's arguments, and the injustice he did to all the other members of his family by indulging his fond partiality. At the same time, too, he knew that unless corn was brought from Egypt, even his Benjamin

must perish from want. He had, indeed, said, "My son shall not go down with you," but now he perceived it to be necessary, and, though unwillingly, he consented.

This part of our history teaches the painful lesson that we may be called upon, in the dispensations of Providence, to sacrifice whatever is nearest and dearest to our hearts. Our affection for any one object must not make us negligent of the comfort of others; and it is useful to consider that, in consulting the general good, we are most likely to promote the welfare of those more immediately connected with us. Jacob was, for a time, forced to give up his beloved Benjamin, in order to obtain food for himself and his family; and thus may we be required to resign many creature-comforts for the good of others, and for our own eternal happiness. But, whatever we may resign, let us acquiesce in faith, assured that as Jacob received back not only his Benjamin, but

his long-lost Joseph, so will the Lord abundantly requite us for whatever we have been willing to relinquish for his name's sake. In general, that which God calls us to forsake, is but our follies and our vices; those sources of temptation which lead us astray from him, and mar our real happiness. But, whatever it be, he is wise and just in his demand. He will withhold nothing that is truly for our good; he will deprive us of nothing that is not, in reality, rather a snare than a blessing. And hear not these words, brethren, with a mere cold and outward assent. Let your hearts cherish the blessed conviction, let them deeply feel that God in Christ is indeed your reconciled Father, and that he doeth all things well; so shall your faith support you, and God shall have the glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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SERMON VIII.

GENESIS xliii. 1, 2.

And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food."

WE have seen Jacob, after much reluctance, consent that Benjamin should accompany his brethren into Egypt. At first, indeed, he had absolutely refused, but he was now convinced that the case was urgent. Let not persons who have rashly resolved, obstinately persist in their unwise determination. To adhere to what is manifestly wrong, is but doubling the folly which first caused the error, and add

ing an accumulation of sins. The venerable Jacob acted more humbly and judiciously. Seeing the journey he had so much dreaded was inevitable, he no longer opposed it, but endeavoured to do all that was possible to avert the anticipated dangers. He advised his sons to carry with them a present for the "lord of the land." "Take of the best of the fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds." These were things likely to be acceptable to an Egyptian prince, the productions of Canaan, which was in many parts high and mountainous, differing greatly from those of Egypt, which is flat and annually inundated. The dry seasons which would prevent the growth of corn, were perhaps not so unfavourable to the things mentioned by Jacob; but there is reason to believe that the present proposed was of great value, especially during a time of scarcity.

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