had slept in silence, curtained around with carelessness and ease; but no sooner did the impending danger give the alarm, than she started from her slumbers, and turned her evidence against them-We are verily guilty concerning our brother!

Thus they communed in his presence, not aware that Joseph understood them. No sooner did he discover the anxiety and contrition of his brethren, than the full tide of violated affection rushed into his bosom, and dissolved him into a flood of tears-it was affection, which the long absence of twenty years could not lessen, and which could not be eradicated by all the unkindness and severity he had experienced. It is true, he had spoken harshly to them, accused, and imprisoned them, and, if it were resentment, it were but just-it were, surely, but a small retribution for all the shame and sorrow to which their treachery had exposed him ;

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but his subsequent conduct proves he had a much higher motive-their repentance and spiritual improvement; for, when he saw them sorry, and heard their self-accusation, his nature was no longer able to contend with the restraint, all the springs of fraternal tenderness were opened, and he turned away and wept.

Such is the representation of the God of Heaven-he threatens us while we slumber in our sins, making bare his holy arm, and revealing himself to us as a jealous and avenging God; and he sendeth us affliction that he may awaken and persuade us. But no sooner doth the deep-breathing language of confession enter his ears, and the tear of penitence give an earnest of its sincerity, than he changes his aspect towards us, and, from the cloud of his displeasure, comes forth (like his emblem in the firmament) clad in the bright habili

ments of paternal goodness-The Father of mercies, and God of all comfort!*.

But overcome as Joseph was by fraternal tenderness, he could not but remember how resolutely wicked his brethren had once been, when no entreaty-no pity-moving anguish, could soften them into mercy; and he still seems to fear, that their grief might be nothing more than the sorrow of the world, excited by the impending danger. Therefore, having bound Simeon as a pledge, he secretly directs that the price of the corn be returned into their sacks, that he might prove their integrity, and they laded their asses with the corn, and departed.

On their way, it appears, they had stopped at an inn, to rest and refresh themselves, and one of them opening his sack to give his ass provender, espied his money; and when he told the

* 2 Cor. i. 3. vide Nahum i. 1-7.

circumstance to his brethren, it is said that their heart failed them. Cowardice. is the general concomitant of guilt, and hence the proverbial saying, trite, but no less true-"a guilty conscience needs

no accuser."

"It is a blushing shamefaced spirit that mutinies in the bosom of man," makes him start at every sound, and tremble at every shadow; while virtue is a stranger to fear, and shines with conspicuous nobleness in time of difficulty and danger, and so the contrast is aptly drawn by the spirit of the wise-The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.* Had there been no crime, wherewith to accuse themselves-had there been no punishment which they might in justice expect, they had taken refuge in the strong hold of their innocence, and considered themselves safe -but, unfortunately, it was not so with

* Proverbs xxviii. 1.

them; and THIS circumstance, added to the rest of their difficulties, they looked upon as a palpable interposition of Providence, and we hear them saying one to another-What is this that God hath done to us? It would, indeed, be well for us all, my brethren, did we universally adopt the same method in this particular, and, when visited with the rod of affliction, instead of referring to second causes, to apply this very question to ourselves-What is this that God hath done unto us? It might induce us, upon such occasions, to examine ourselves-to note our offences-and, by God's grace, lead us to repent, and to amend them.

Harassed and perplexed with these accumulated difficulties, they hasten onward, expecting (we may naturally suppose) to be apprehended for the money, which they had found deposited in the sack. On arriving in Canaan, they relate to Jacob all that had befallen them; how that the lord of Egypt