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And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins [were] in her womb ; and she had hard labour; as a pun 28 ishment for her sin. And it came to pass, when she travailed that [the one] put out [his] hand and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out 29 first, and shall be considered as the firstborn. And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out and she said, How hast thou broken forth? [this] breach [be] upon thee: therefore his name was called Pha30 rez, that is, a breach. And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand and his name was called Zarah, he ariseth or cometh forth again. Some commentators have laboured to find an extraordinary mystery in the birth of these children, as relating to the Jews and Gentiles; but I think without any solid foundation.

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REFLECTIONS.

IOD is highly displeased with the sins of young people. Neither Er nor Onan could be much above sixteen, yet they were severely punished. Youth has no licence to act at random. Some sins are called tricks of youth, and therefore are looked upon as small matters, but they are not so in God's esteem. When men are capable of discerning good and evil, God expects that they act wisely, and he will punish them here or hereafter if they do not. He sometimes takes them away in his wrath, and thus makes them awful warnings to others. Therefore young men are exhorted to be sober minded, and to flee youthful lusts, which war against the estate and reputation, the body and soul.

2. How does lust besot the mind, and bring shame on those who indulge it! What scandalous stories are these! Such as Josephus, the Jewish historian, was ashamed to mention, as bringing a disgrace on the father of his nation. Lust robs a man of his bracelet and staff, his ornament and defence, and leaves men in a weak, infamous state. What a wretched figure does this patriarch make, when going in, as he supposed, to an harlot ! It : should make us all careful to mortify the deeds of the body, and keep ourselves pure.

3. How many dread shame more than sin; the tongues of men more than the eyes of God! Lest we be shamed, has a greater influence with many, than lest we be damned; so unaccountable is the folly of this world. But how unworthy is this of the character of one of God's people! Seneca, an heathen, could say, Though all men should be ignorant of the evil I do, and I knew the gods would forgive me, yet for the filthiness there is in sin, I would not commit it.' Fear of shame may preserve from some sins, but the fear of God is the only preservative from all sin.

4. How ready are we to censure our own faults when we ob serve them in others! Judah pronounced a very severe sentence on Tamar. Let us take heed that wherein we judge others, we do not at the same time condemn ourselves our Lord's advice is, First take the beam out of thine own eye, then thou wilt see clearly to take the mote out of thy brother's eye.

CHAP. XXXIX.

We have before us a remarkable instance of Joseph's chastity and integrity, and his overcoming one of the most formidable temptations that ever youth was attacked with; a deliverance, says one of the ancients, as astonishing and remarkable as that of the three children in the fiery furnace. We have in this chapter his advancement, his glorious conquest of a strong temptation; his false accusation and imprisonment; and God's gracious appearance for him

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ND Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard who attended the king's person when he went abroad, and who had the charge of the state prison, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thith2 er: into his family Joseph was taken, and God blessed him. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; . God was with him, blessing and prospering all he took in hand: and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian, and applied himself patiently and faithfully to that low estate wherein 3 God's providence had placed him. And his master saw that the LORD [was] with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand; which probably was not the case 4before Joseph came into his family, And Joseph found grace in his sight, was no longer treated by him as a slave, and he served him, attended his person; and, after some time, he made him overseer over his house, and all [that] he had he put into his hand, he became steward of his household, and su 5 perintended all his affairs. And it came to pass from the time [that] he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field; every thing ⚫ succeeded the better for Joseph's having a hand in them. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which he did eat; every thing was trusted to Joseph's management. Thus was the muɛter happy in an excellent servant, and the servant happy in a

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kind and friendly master. But in this changing state, the most pleasing situation may be rendered uncomfortable, yea, dangerous. And Joseph was [a] goodly [person,] and well favoured, a beautiful youth, about twenty seven years of age.

And when Joseph was in these flourishing circumstances, an unexpected trouble came upon him, for it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and became a lewd tempter to him; and, forgetting her sex, hér duty, and station, having lost all principles of virtue and honour, with an impudent face she said to him, Lie with me. Who can hear such a proposal without indignation! It is probable she had tried some other methods to allure him, before her passion rose so high; but finding them disregarded, she became more urgent. Joseph was young and prosperous, and stood high in his master's favour: it would have been much for his interest to have obliged his mistress; it was at his peril to refuse; he had continued importunity and convenient seasons; But, by divine assistance he overcame this strong temptation and refused, and held fast his integrity; nevertheless he showed so much respect to his mistress as to reason with, and did not fly in her face and reproach her': he suggests many arguments why he could not comply, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what [is] with me in the house, and he 9 hath committed all that he hath to my hand; [There is] none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou [art] his wife how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?* who has been so good to me, and who sees and knows all my secret thoughts and actions; how can I do it? He speaks of it as an impossible thing. One would have thought so much virtue would have abashed and confounded this abandoned seducer, 10 but she haunted him still. And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, [or] to be with her. He resolutely and wisely shunned her discourse and company, till, tired 11 with his refusals, she resolved to succeed or ruin him. And it came to pass about this time, that [Joseph] went into the house to do his business; and [there was] none of the men of the house there within, being gone to a feast, as Jose12 phus tells us. And, Joseph coming in to settle his accounts, she

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*He argues 1. from gratitude to his master; He hath advanced me so much above my expectation, and showed me so much generosity, that I should be a monster of ingratitude if i was to abuse him in this matter. Shall I, a stranger and a slave, put infamy upon my master, and do him irreparable mischief? 2. He argues from his fidelity; My master knoweth not what is in the house, he hath committed all to me, except thyself, and shall I prove a traitor and deceive him? Shall I be guilty of the basest treachery and unfaithfulness, by invading his bed, and breaking the sacred matrimonial tie? But then comes the chief argument, 3. How shall I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? His virtue was founded on religion, and this made it steadfast and unmoveable. This interrogation peaks the greatest detestation of the vice to which he was solicited: How can I sin against my master; against thee; against my aged father and my brethren; against my own body and soul? But above all, How can I sin against God?

caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me and he thought it to no purpose to reason any more, and not being willing to struggle with her, left his garment in her hand, and fled, 13 and got him out, fled as for his life, for his soul. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her 14 hand, and was fled forth, that her lust turned to rage, so That she called unto the men of her house, made an uproar, and forged a most notorious falsehood, and spake unto them when they came, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us, to abuse us, and so cause us to be disgraced; he came 15 in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him 16 out. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came 17 home. And she spake unto him according to these words, say

ing, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, 18 came in unto me to mock me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. This story was very unlikely to be true; her having his garment, rather showed that she solicited him, than he her; had he attempted to force her, he might easily have secured his 19 garment. And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kind. 20 led. And Joseph's master took him, perhaps without hearing his apology, or at least to save appearances and his wife's credit, and put him into the prison, or dungeon, a place where the king's prisoners [were] bound and he was there in the prison, in irons, as the psalmist tells us, (Psalm cv. 18.) Whose feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in iron.'

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But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, that is, the under keeper, to whom he probably told this story. 22 And the keeper of the prison, being convinced of his innocence and integrity, committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that [were] in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer [of it,] that is, it was done by his direction and order. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing [that was] under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and [that] which he did, the LORD made [it] to prosper. So true are Jacob's words (ch. xlix. 23, 24.)

The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: but his bow abode in strength; and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.

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REFLECTIONS.

OW happy is it for a man to enjoy the blessing of God upon his affairs! Joseph's brethren sold him, and left him in great distress; but the Lord was with him; and no wonder then that he was a prosperous man. He was separated from his friends, but not deprived of the presence of God; though removed from his earthly father, his heavenly father was near him still; the blessing of God came upon the head of him who was separated from his brethren. Those who desire prosperity, should secure the favour of God, make him their father and friend, and carry with them, wherever they go, a sense of his presence and friendship, and do nothing to forfeit that favour. Then, as the psalmist says, they shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water; their leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever they do, it shall prosper.

2. To have good servants is to be considered as an instance of the kind providence of God: and those who are so, should be esteemed and valued. God made Joseph a good servant, and gave him grace, or favour, in the eyes of his master; and he advanced him, took him to be his own servant, and chief steward. It is a great satisfaction to masters and mistresses to have those about them in whose prudence and integrity they can confide. Potiphar trusted all to Joseph; whereas masters in general are obliged to be the chief servants in a family, and the work often falls heaviest upon them. Good servants are a blessing to the family where they dwell, and families may sometimes be blessed for their sake. Potiphar was blessed for Joseph's sake, and Laban for Jacob's sake. Such therefore should be highly prized and esteemed, not only as servants, but as brethren in the Lord all kindness and encouragement should be shown them, to reward their fidelity; and though perhaps they may not be altogether so suitable in other respects, if they fear God, and are faithful to their trust, they should be esteemed very highly in love.

3. How infamous and wretched is that mind which is abandoned to the irregularity of passion! What a wretched figure does this audacious woman make! Her name is buried in oblivion and forgetfulness, but her character remains as a reproach to the family and nation to which she belonged. Her headstrong passions hurried her along to break through all the bonds of decency, modesty, and fidelity; her conscience was seared and unimpressed. When this unclean spirit gets possession of human nature, it is hard to dispossess him. How careful therefore should men and women be to guard against the least approach to such sins, to check all unclean and sensual thoughts. How careful should they be to make a covenant with their eyes, and keep a rule over their own spirits, that they may not be, as this wretched creature was, like a city without any defence, acting a disa

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