July 30

Genesis xxxvii. — 23. And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him.

24. And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25. And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27. Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh: and his brethren were content.

28. Then there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29. And Reuben returned unto the pit: and,

Though the brethren of Joseph were agreed in wishing to rid themselves of such a competitor for the family honors, Reuben and Judah had enough of pity or of compunction to wish to save his life. Reuben contrived to have him cast into an empty cistern, intending afterwards to rescue him; and now Judah managed to preserve his life by proposing to sell him into slavery. There was much commerce between Egypt and Asia. The spices and resins so much used in Egypt for emaciating were brought from the East. Slaves, too, were always in demand. The route of caravans crossing the Jordan at Beisah lay near Dothan; so that these Ishmaelites had traders naturally passed that way. Thus every incident of the narrative is verified by the geographical features of the country, and by the commercial customs of the times. The

behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31. And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32. And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

33. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

35. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

36. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

natural way in which these incidents are given, and the perfect accuracy of all such allusions, mark the story as an authentic record of fact.

Crime begets crime. Envy brought forth malice, deceit, lying, the intent of murder, and the kindred crime of manstealing. Such a fountain of iniquity is the heart of man! What a dreadful secret had these ten men to carry all their lives! And poor old Jacob! — his final retribution for the deception practised upon his brother comes in this cruel deception, that shall carry him mourning down into the grave! God, indeed, had better thoughts for him; but the guilt of men remains the same, however God may overrule it for good. As we cannot charge upon God our own evil-doings, neither can we credit ourselves with the good which God brings out of evil.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 147, 166, 171.

O God, our heavenly Father! we come to thee in our need; for thou alone art able to succor us: we come to thee in our weakness; for thou alone canst give us strength: we come to thee in our sins; for thou alone canst pardon, heal, and save us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord! for the sake of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ; and suffer us never to fall away from thee.

Thou art good, and doest good continually; and thy tender mercies are over all thy works. Thou didst create us to be blessed in each other and in thyself; to dwell in love, and so to dwell in God: oh! keep us ever in thy love. We praise thee for thy watchful providence over us in our persons, in our family, in our home, in all that pertains to our well-being; and we beseech thee grant unto us, this day, health and prosperity, and preserve us from all harm and danger. Keep us from all impatience and anger, from envy and jealousy,

from every evil lust. Keep our hearts from the thought of evil, and our lips from speaking guile; keep our feet from falling, our eyes from tears, our souls from death. Grant us grace to be faithful in all the offices and relations of life. May we study to be helpful to each other, be patient of each other's infirmities, and rejoice in each other's prosperity! Let no selfishness disturb our peace. [May parents and children, brothers and sisters, all be joined together in the household of faith!] And may the love that blesses our earthly home interpret to us the love of our Father in heaven, and draw us toward the better home! We make supplication for all men; beseeching thee, the Father of all, to dispense unto all thy mercies according to their several conditions and necessities, and to show forth thy salvation in all the earth, through Christ our Lord. Amen.