felves as hardly used in the diftribution of them-that discontent must be no inferior degree of guilt, as it is not only a disparagement of the care of Providence, but repugnant to his exprefs commands—and, laftly, that habitual murmuring is not the way to alleviate, but to aggravate affliction. If thefe confiderations had their due weight, furely little more would be neceffary to perfuade gloomy forrow to feek it's happiness in refignation. To add to the force of these arguments, let it be confidered by the careful about many things, that, if future good is the object of their folicitude, to fear God and to keep his commandments is the way to obtain it without disappointment, perfect and eternal. That, if present afflictions afflictions are the cause of their com plaint, to endure them with patience, as it is the duty of a Christian, so it is the only means of making them more fupportable. God for ever grant that under no circumftances we may depart from our duty, that we may bear every event of life as becometh dependent creatures, and fo pass through things temporal, that we finally lofe not the things eternal. [93] SERMON VI. Paraphrafe and Reflections on the Story of Jofeph. GEN. xlv. 4. 7 am Jofeph your Brother, whom ye fold TH into Egypt. HERE is no story in the facred writings in which the heart has fo much to do as that of Jofeph. Pride, envy, furprize, affection, fear, hope, and joy have their several turns, and, as we read, ftrike upon the attention, or excite the paffions. Jofeph Jofeph was one of the younger chil dren of Jacob, and indulged with those particular forbearances and endearments, which are always due to the tenderest years Thefe little diftinctions of his father's love were, however, the source of many miferies to him; and they leave an ufeful leffon to all parents, to beware. left they fow the feeds of jealoufy in the hearts of brothers. Envious of Jofeph's fuperior favour and privileges, his brethren had long looked upon him with difguft, 'till, at laft, an unfortunate circumftance turned their jealousy into ran our. The innocent and unwary youth inadvertently told them that, in a dream he beheld their fheaves making obeisance to his. "What! my officious favourite, furely this is too much: Your fmooth tales, "and your prattling careffes have caught the heart and the ear of your unthinking father-but to grow vain upon your distinction, young man!. to add infult to treachery !-not con"tented with robbing your brethren of a father's favour, would you alfo de. prive them of their liberty? And do you expect that thofe who are your fuperiors by birth and age, fhould "bow like flaves to you 46 How fpecious are fuch reproaches as these, and what an air of equity and It is the pecu reason do they affume! It is the liar misfortune of innocence, that it makes us too inattentive to the confequences of our common actions: And while we never fufpect that the world has |