August 2

Genesis xli.—39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had: and they cried before him, Bow the knee; and he made him ruder over all the land of Egypt. 44. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On: and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

The signet-ring was a sign of special favor, and a seal of royal power. The highest ambition might well have been satisfied with such a sudden exaltation. But far more than the favor of the king was to be prized that favor of Providence which had raised the slave-boy to be prime-minister of the most rich and powerful empire, and allied in marriage with the chief priest of the city of the sun. He did not, however, assume the sacred functions of the priesthood.

Since the crops in Egypt depend upon the yearly rising of the Nile, which is fed by vast lakes under the equator, which drain half a continent, Egypt is often flourishing when neighboring countries that depend on rain are suffering with famine. But when, as sometimes happens, the Nile fails to rise so as to

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

We will sing unto the Lord as long as we live; we will sing praises unto our God while we have any being. We bless thee for the light of the day: Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. We bless thee for the breath of life: Lord, grant us life eternal. We bless thee for the continued use of our faculties: assist us to use all our powers for thy glory. We thank thee for the shelter of our dwelling: be thou our strong refuge to which we may continually resort. We praise thee for the bread that perisheth: feed us, O God! with the bread of life. We thank thee for the love of kindred and friends: may we have the friendship of Him who sticketh closer than a brother! We bless thee for access to thyself: prompt us to pray without ceasing, and in every thing to give thanks. We thank thee for the mis-

47. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls: 48. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; the food of the field which was round about every city laid he up in the same. 49. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 53. And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended. 54. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55. And, when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the store-houses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn, because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

irrigate the country, the famine in Egypt is terrible. Every thing is cut off at one blow. At the close of the twelfth century there was a famine so sore, that parents devoured their own children. The foresight of Joseph averted such a calamity; and we may still see on the tombs pictures of huge granaries such as he used for storing the food of the nation.

The title conferred upon Joseph by Pharaoh was analogous to such titles as the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, &c. There was a quarter of Memphis, the capital, which took its name from a temple there dedicated to a goddess who was styled "the Life of the World." Joseph was apparently made governor of that quarter; and hence his title, "Prince of the World of Life."

Prayer.

[Nos. 59, 68, 81.

sion of the Holy Ghost: may we never grieve the Holy Spirit of God! We worship thee for thine unspeakable gift: may Christ be precious to our souls! We bless thee for the revelation of heaven: O God! grant that we may be daily maturing for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Prepare us for whatever shall befall us; and teach us to walk with God, believing that all things work together for good to them that love thee. And do thou cause all grace to abound toward us, that we may abound to every good work. Exalt thy Church, O God! Make manifest thy saving power. Pity the children of sorrow. Heal the wounds of their hearts, and wipe away their tears. Overthrow the dominion of sin; and let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, for Christ's sake. Amen.