now willingly follows. Jacob's course had been somewhat crooked. Even as regards Joseph, he was not altogether blameless. Joseph was too much his idol. And now his idol is removed, in order that he may, more than before, set his affections on things that are above. LESSON 55.-JOSEPH IN CAPTIVITY.-Genesis xl. 1-23. 103. We should Try to Relieve Distress, (verses 6-8.)-A poor woman was reduced to extreme poverty by the loss of her cow-her only means of support. A poor neighbour went round to different ones to solicit money to buy another cow for her. He went from one to another and told the pitiful tale. Each offered sorrow and regret, but none practical assistance. At last he became impatient, and exclaimed, "Oh, yes! I don't doubt your feeling; but you don't feel in the right place." "Oh!" said the party addressed, "I feel with all my heart and soul.' "Yes, yes," replied the solicitor, "I don't doubt it; but I want you to feel in your pocket." 104. We should Cheerfully Submit to God's Will, (verses 1-23.)-Do we see any traces of murmuring or complaining from Joseph while in prison? Does he not seem to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord ? A clergyman once paid a visit to a deaf and dumb asylum in London, for the purpose of examining the children in their knowledge of Divine truth. A little boy was asked, in writing, "Who made the world? He took up the chalk and wrote, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.' He was then asked, in a similar manner, "Why did Jesus Christ come into the world?" A smile of delight and gratitude rested on the countenance of the little fellow as he wrote, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." He was then asked, Why were you born deaf and dumb, while I can hear and speak ?" One who was present said that he would never forget the look of resignation which sat upon the little boy's countenance, as he took up the chalk and wrote, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." LESSON 56.-JOSEPH BEFORE PHARAOH.-Genesis xli. 1-36. 105. Blessings come through Suffering, (verses 12, 14, &c.)-A gentleman in Hartford (America) had a beautiful little daughter. But how her parents grieved when they found that she was deaf and dumb, and could never speak or hear! She was bright and lovely, and no child among them all nestled so near her father's heart as little Alice; and so anxious was he for her, that he had no rest till the Deaf and Dumb Asylum was established, at which hundreds of such children have been educated; so that all this great good may be said to have grown out of the sufferings of little Alice. So, too, Joseph's sufferings led to his introduction to Pharaoh, to his exaltation to the greatest honours, and to his becoming the preserver of a great nation. 106. All our Blessings come from God, (verses 16, 25, 28.)-There was once a poor boy who was called "Little Peter." He was an orphan, and begged his bread from door to door. He sang very sweetly, and people seldom sent him away empty-handed. It was an idle and sad life which he led; but Peter had no one to care for him, and he did not know what else to do. He had the singular custom of saying, on every occasion, "It comes from above." I will now tell you why. When his father was on his death-bed, he said to Little Peter, "My dear Peter, you will now be left alone, and many troubles you will have in the world. But always remember that all comes from above, and then you will find it easy to bear everything with patience." Little Peter understood him; and in order not to forget the words, he often spoke them aloud. He received every gift with the words, "It comes from above." As he grew up he used to consider what they meant. He was wise enough to see that, as God rules the world, we may well believe of everything that happens in the way of His providence, "It comes from above." This faith of Little Peter often turned out for his benefit. Once, as he was passing through the town, a sudden gust of wind blew off a roof-tile, which fell on his shoulder, and struck him to the ground. His first words were, "It comes from above." The bystanders laughed, and thought he must be out of his senses, for, of course, it could not fall from below; but they did not understand him. A minute after, the wind bore off an entire roof in the same street, which crushed three men to death. Had Little Peter gone on he would probably have been at that moment just where the roof fell. Another time a gentleman employed him to carry a letter to a town, bidding him make all haste." On his way he tried to spring over a ditch, but it was so wide that he fell into it, and was nearly drowned. The letter was lost in the mud, and could not be recovered. The gentleman was angry when Little Peter told him of the loss, and drove him out of doors with his whip. "It comes from above," said Peter, as he stood on the steps. The next day the gentleman sent for him. "See here," said he, "there are two half-crowns for you for tumbling into the ditch. Circumstances have now so changed, that it would have been a loss to me had that letter gone safely." I could tell you much more about Peter. When he had become a great boy he was still called "Little Peter." A rich gentleman who came into the town, having heard his story, sent for him, in order to give him something. When Little Peter entered the room, the gentleman said, "What think you, Peter, why have I sent for you?"-"It comes from above," replied Peter. This answer greatly pleased the gentleman. After thinking awhile, he said, “You are right; I will take you into my service, and provide well for you. Will you agree to that ?" "It comes from above," still answered Peter; "God is very good to me; I will gladly go with you." So the gentleman took him away. It was a good thing for the poor boy, who had been taught no trade. Long afterwards, we learned, that when his master died, he left him a large sum of money to carry on the business, and that "Little Peter" was then a wealthy man in Birmingham. But he still said of every occurrence, "It comes from above." LESSON 57.-JOSEPH AS RULER.-Genesis xli. 37-57. 107. God Never Forgets His Faithful Servants, (verses 37-40.)-When returning from Scotland, many years ago, one of Her Majesty's faithful servants, to whom the Queen was much attached, was taken ill, and died. During her illness the Queen evinced much anxiety for her spiritual welfare, and when she died her body was buried in Bonnington cemetery. A plain but beautifully chaste tombstone was placed over her grave, with the simple intimation that it was erected by Victoria. In the autumn of 1860, when the Queen was returning from Balmoral, and staying for a day at Edinburgh, she left the palace of Holyrood in the evening, walked quietly down to the cemetery, looked thoughtfully at the grave, and seemed to drop a silent tear in remembrance of the little maid. Them that honour me, I will honour." 108. God should not be Forgotten in the Day of Prosperity, (verses 51, 52.)— See in these two verses how Joseph continues to acknowledge God in everything. A Christian, whom God had prospered greatly, became less earnest in his piety. His wealth was gradually engrossing his affections. The disease was dangerous, and the Lord adopted severe measures for its cure. First, his wife died, but he still remained worldly-minded. Then a beloved son was removed; still a cure was not effected. Then his crops failed, and his cattle died; still his grasp of the world was not loosened. Then God touched his person, and brought on him a lingering disease. The world, however, still occupied too much of his thoughts. His house took fire, and as he was carried out of the burning building, he exclaimed, "Blessed be God! I am cured at last." He shortly after died in peace. |