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cerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, spake I not unto you, saying do not sin against the child, and ye would not hear? Therefore, behold, also, his blood is required;" (or God is about to demand of you why you exposed him, perhaps, to an untimely death; and to inflict upon you, for doing so, the severest punishment.)

CHAPTER XVII.

Joseph affected at what his brethren say of their guilt.-Simeon chosen as the one to stay.-Joseph's brethren set out for Canaan with the grain.-Difference between good and wicked men.-To which class does the reader belong? Let conscience do its work.

JOSEPH heard the conversation of his brethren, and understood it all; though they did not suppose so. For he had been speaking to them by an interpreter; who explained what Joseph said in the Egyptian language, to them in Hebrew, which was the language they spoke; and then, what they said

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in Hebrew, to Joseph in Egyptian-as if he did not understand the Hebrew language. This he did, lest they might suspect who he was, if he spoke to them in their own language.

As soon as Joseph heard the conversation of his brethren he was much affected by it, and turned away from them, so that they could not see him, and wept.

What a difference between the tenderness of his feelings toward them, and their former hard-hearted cruelty toward him!

He was almost ready to tell them who he was, and to relieve them from their trouble. But he thought that this, on the whole, was not best. He wished still to try their sincerity—to know if they really spoke the truth with regard to Benjamin; and to lead them to a deeper repentance for their guilt.

After some further conversation with them, through the interpreter, he selected Simeon as the one who should remain behind while the rest were gone to Canaan, and ordered him to be bound in their presence. This he did to let them see that Simeon was to be kept in confinement until they returned and brought back Benjamin with them.

Joseph then gave directions (without their understanding what he said) that the sacks which they

brought should all be filled with grain; and that the money which each one had paid for the grain should be put in his sack; and that they should have provisions enough to last them during their journey.

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They then put the sacks of grain on their asses, and set out for Canaan; while their brother, Simeon, was taken to a place of confinement, to await their return.

You see, in that part of the history to which we have just been attending, the striking difference be

tween good and wicked men-between Joseph who feared God and endeavored to do his duty, and his brothers, who had been full of pride, hatred, revenge and cruelty, and who had, probably, as yet, felt no true repentance for their sins, nor desire to love and obey God.

Now, to which class of persons do you belong? Do you resemble, in your disposition and conduct, the tender-hearted and upright Joseph, or his hardhearted and wicked brethren? Do you fear and love God, and esteem it your greatest happiness to obey his commands, and do good to others; or, are you thinking all the time about yourself alone, and in what way you can do something, or get something, to gratify your own selfish wishes, and make yourself happy, without caring about the good and happiness of others?

You know very well to which class of persons you ought to belong. Your conscience tells you how much better it is for you to be like Joseph than to be like his brethren. Well, what do you mean to do, if you are not yet at all like Joseph-if you have no true love to God and trust in the Savior, and no desire to imitate his example, in obeying the will of God, and in doing good to your fellow-men? Do you mean to keep on just as you are; without repentance for sin; without faith in Christ; without hav

ing God for your friend, and his Son for your Savior; without any preparation for death; and with-out any hope of happiness beyond the grave?

When the brethren of Joseph were brought into trouble, they felt as if the anger of an offended God was resting upon them, to punish them for their guilt. Conscience, after slumbering more than twenty years, awoke, and they felt its stings.

Your past sins may not now alarm you. Your conscience may be asleep. You may not feel your guilt and danger. But God can overtake you with his judgments, even in this life; and rouse your conscience; and fill you with remorse and dread; and make you tremble before him. And in the world to come, ah! there, conscience will do its awful work most thoroughly; and the impenitent sinner, who is banished, for ever, from the presence of God and the joys of heaven, will find nothing but anguish, in looking back upon what he has been, and nothing but despair, in looking forward to what he is yet to be.

Now, then, let your conscience do its work. Think how much, and how often, you have sinned against God. Go to him with sincere sorrow of heart, confessing your sins. Beseech him, on account of what Christ did and suffered, to pardon your sins. Trust in this Savior, as your only Savior and hope. Pray

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