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return him in safety to his father's arms. ing with them a present of the products of the land, balm, honey, spices, and myrrh, and with double money in their hands-for they attributed its return to them before to some oversight, or mistake-they went down to Egypt, and stood again before Joseph.

They were received at this time with great distinction. Instead of being arrested as spies, and charged with falsehood and enmity to the country, they were welcomed as friends, and entertained as princes. Joseph had them conducted to his own house, where he restored Simeon to them, and made many kind inquiries respecting their welfare, and that of their father. "Is your father well," he said, the old man of whom ye spake? is he yet alive?" Then turning towards Benjamin, he asked,

"Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious to thee, my son."

As he spoke, his heart melted into tenderness; tears began to flow, and hastening from their presence, he entered into his chamber and wept there.

After this, Joseph entertained his brethren

at a dinner, or feast; providing for them with great hospitality, sending them portions from his own table, and so conducting the feast as to make them feel at ease, and happy in his company.

"But Benjamin's mess was five times as much of theirs."

as any

This may either mean so much more in quantity, or that Joseph distinguished his younger brother, by placing before him a greater variety of choice and delicate food.

The next day, with the morning light, they made ready to depart. But Joseph had not yet proved his brethren sufficiently. Yet another trial was in reserve for them. He commanded the steward, when he filled their sacks with corn, to return all their money as before, and to put the silver drinking cup, which he used at his table, into the sack of Benjamin.

This cup the brethren had probably observed and admired the day before; it was wrought with mystical figures, and was a kind of cup or tankard, called a divining cup, by the superstitious Egyptians.

All this was done as Joseph directed, and the little company went forth on their journey

homeward. But they had scarcely left the city, before they were pursued and overtaken by the steward, who assailed them with a fierce charge of ingratitude and theft, accusing them of having stolen the silver cup

of his master. The men protested their innocence, and willingly submitted to an examination. Great was their astonishment when the cup was found in the sack of Benjamin. They were exceedingly dismayed, and the whole company, sorrowful and perplexed, returned to the city.

When they came again into the presence of Joseph, they fell before him to the ground. It

would be of no avail to plead their innocence, since the cup was found in their possession, and they gave themselves up submissively to bondage. "Behold," they said, "we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found."

But Joseph said, "Not so; go in peace to your father, all except the one with whom the cup is found; he only shall be my servant."

We may suppose that Joseph designed by this severe test to gain a clear insight into the temper and character of his brethren, that he might know whether the Spirit of God had moved them to repentance for their former deeds.

Would they leave Benjamin to his fate, and return to their father with intelligence that would rend his aged heart with grief? He would see; so he bade all but the criminal "go in peace!"

Then Judah arose, and advancing in front of the others, related all that had passed between them and their father, after their former jour. ney to Egypt; describing the reluctance of the old man to part with Benjamin, and his own solemn pledge of suretyship for him. He concluded with an urgent request that he might

be accepted as the bondman, and Benjamin allowed to return home with his brethren.

"For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father."

When Judah had done speaking, Joseph could no longer restrain his feelings. His heart yearned towards his brethren, and commanding his Egyptian servants to leave the room, he said,

"I am Joseph your brother; doth my father yet live?" And he wept aloud; so that all in the house heard. Again he repeated,

"I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt."

These words filled his brethren with amazement and fear; they were troubled at his presence, and cut to the heart by the remembrance of their former cruelty. They could not answer him a word. But Joseph calmed the tumult of their thoughts, speaking to them in the most endearing manner, and using arguments of consolation, to dispel the painful sense of guilt and shame.

"Be not angry with yourselves," said Joseph, "that ye sold me hither. It was God that sent