of the Gentiles is come in will the deliverer come out of Zion and turn away, ungodliness from Jacob. In considering Joseph and the things concerning him as applicable to Jesus and his ministry we find an extensive field opened before us, a field fruitful as a garden, in all the most beautiful flowers of divine representations, and in the fruits of grace. The visions of the holy prophets, in which they saw the extensive empire of the Saviour of the world, the subjection of all the nations of the earth to his divine and glorious government, seem to be represented by the dreams of Joseph, which served to kindle his brethren's hearts with envy. The declaration from heaven, which designated Jesus as the beloved Son of God in whom the Father is well pleased, seems to be represented by Jacob's love for Joseph.-How angry it made the scribes, the pharisees, the priests and the doctors of the law, that Jesus should pretend to be the Son of God. A man by no means of their standing; why should he pretend to be the king of Israel? they were as determined not to have this man to rule over them as Joseph's brethren were that he should not rule over them. As Joseph was separated from his brethren, so was Jesus separated from his; as Joseph was sold for money, so was Jesus; as Joseph was the gracious saviour of the whole family of promise, so is Jesus the Saviour of the whole family "of heaven and earth." My brethren, look, see the future saviour of the family of Israel, leaving his brethren in Dothan to go down to Egypt a slave, to see them no more until he sees them as his humble subjects, and is acknowledged their lord and protector; then look again and see the blessed Jesus, bearing his cross, going bound to Calvary, separated from his brethren and from all the living, to see them not again until in a glorious resurrection state, he appears "the Lord from heaven," Let us here talk freely on the grace and plan of salvation by Jesus Christ, as represented by the temporal salvation wrought by Joseph. Joseph was appointed by heaven to be the saviour of all his father's house. He was in fact the saviour of his brethren before they knew him in Egypt. He had treasured up a supply of bread during the seven years of plenty for thousands who were not then born. He was the saviour of vast multitudes, by the merciful appointinent of heaven, who weré strangers to him, and who knew him not. All the time before his brethren came to Egypt, Joseph was the appointed saviour of them and of their little ones. It was just as certain that they would all partake of the rich bounties of Joseph, even before the famine commenced as it was after they were all removed into the land of Goshen. Now what reasonable objection can there be to the sentiment, that the grace of God,and the scheme of man's spiritual salvation "is ordered in all things," and rendered as sure as the temporal salvation of the house of Israel was in the scheme which we have noticed? Joseph's brethren did not believe that they, their wives and their little ones were all to be fed from the bounty of him whom they had so cruelly treated and sold into Egypt. But what power had their ignorance and unbelief to frustrate the divine plan in which their welfare was secured? It is true, they could not enjoy a confidence in their brother until they knew him and were assured of his forgiveness; but he was as truly their brother and friend during their ignorance and unbelief as he was after he had made himself known to them. Is it not equally true, that Jesus is the sinner's friend and Saviour as truly during the season of ignorance and unbelief as he is after faith is given? The name of Joseph in Egypt was synonymous with bread, it was synonymous with life; and in no other name was there any confidence. All power in Egypt was committed into the hands of Joseph, there was no other name given whereby the life of the people could be saved. Is not all this true in spirit respecting the name of Jesus, is it not synonymous with Saviour? Is not this the bread of God which came down from heaven, and gave life to the world? In his wise and gracious appointment, the God of heaven gave life to millions in Joseph before they were born;" and this is the record that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." This life was the life of the world from the beginning. This was our life before we came into this world, and the unborn ages to come are equally entitled to all its blessings. The envy, the hatred, the deadly enmity of Joseph's brethren towards him, could do no more than was necessary to promote his glory and advance him in the way of the divine appointment. So all the cruel envy, hatred and persecution practised on the blessed Jesus, by his enemies, only advanced him towards that glory that during eternal ages will continue to brighten and beautify the rational creation of God. As we may notice this subject in part in our next lecture, which will be on the subject of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, we may be brief. How tender are the words of Joseph to those who had hated him without a cause: "Come near to me I pray you." This is the language of the blessed Jesus in the Gospel of his grace. He speaks to every sinner, saying, "come near to me I pray you." The apostle says " we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God; for he hath made bim to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." As we have seen that the blessing which came upon the head of Joseph, was in all respects, as large and rich as could be desired, may we not believe with confidence, that the Redeemer will as fully "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied?” If in room of that most interesting account of the humble submission of all Joseph's enemies to him, we were informed that three only were ever brought to repentance, and to be humble before him, and also to receive of his bounty, could we consider his reward to be equal to what the present account makes it? Would it be possible, in this case to see how his dreams were fulfilled? His sheaf stood upright, and all his brethren's sheaves made obeisance to it. The sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance unto him. With less than the submission of all could these heaven-inspired dreams have fully come to pass? With all this was he blessed, and blessed in the sweet enjoyment of a forgiving spirit, and in the victory that spirit gained over the affections of his breth. ren. Moreover, he was bountifully blessed in his liberal bestowments on his dependant brethren.They were all blessed in him, but he was the most blessed of all: for "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Thus we believe, that with less than the reconciliation of all men to Jesus, the faithful word of all God's holy prophets since the world began, who have spoken of the restitution of all things, can never be fulfilled. Nor can Jesus see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied with less than the humble submission to his laws, of all who have ever been his enemies. We believe, and believing we rejoice, that the kind Redeemer shall finally be blessed with the full enjoyment of forgiving the iniquities of all his enemies, of feeding them at his own table, with the bread of everlasting life. All will be blessed in him; "all nations shall call him blessed;" but he shall be the most blessed of all, as it is "more blessed to givé than to receive." Blessed were the people that heard the joyful tidings, that there was corn in Egypt. How did the busband's heart leap for joy, that the companion of his bosom should not " perish with hunger!" How unspeakably happy were parents made when assured that their children could be supplied with bread! More blessed still are the "people who know the joyful sound," of the gospel of Jesus, and walk in the light of the Lord. Parents look, behold the shepherd of Israel taking your little children in his arms, and saying "of such is the kingdom of heaven." Said the risen Saviour " go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Yes, my friends, you are all welcome to the bread of life; and "Christ hath sent me to invite you, |