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with his providence over the

affairs of men.

What part of Joseph's dream thus came to pass?

A. He became greater than his brethren.

What was God pleased thereby to reward?

A. His patience under suffering, his modesty, his great piety.

What does it also prove respecting the good?

A. That they are under the care of God, though for a time they may seem to be deserted by him.

Joseph and his Brethren.

PART III.

In the seven plenteous years how did the earth bring forth?

What did Joseph do?

When the seven fruitful years had ended, what began?

Who had said that this would happen?

What virtue did Joseph show in thus laying up before the famine came?

A. Prudence. What may we learn from this?

A. When we have plenty, not to waste it, but to lay up against the time of need.

What did Jacob do when he saw there was corn in Egypt?

Whom would not Jacob send?

Joseph and his Brethren.

PART III.

In the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth abundantly; and Joseph gathered up all the food which was in the land, and laid it up in the cities. And the seven fruitful years being ended, the seven years of famine began, according as Joseph had said. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in

Egypt, he said unto his sons, why do you look one upon another? I have heard that there is corn in Egypt; get you down thither, and buy for us, that we perish not. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent for he said, lest peradventure mischief befall him. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not

not:

What was he afraid would befall him?

What do you mean by "peradventure?"

A. Perhaps, by chance. Why was he so anxious about Benjamin?

A. He was the only one that was full brother to Joseph; the others were by different mothers.

Whom did Joseph know? Whom did they know not?

What did he call them? What did he tell them they were come to see? Why did Joseph call them "spies?"

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A. By way of trial.
What did they say?
Who was the youngest?
A. Benjamin.

What do you mean by one is not?"

A. That he was dead.
Whom did they mean?
A. Joseph.

How happened that? A. They thought he had been dead, not having heard of him for twenty years.

How was Joseph determined to prove them?

Whom did Joseph say they should bring to him? What do you mean by "verified ?"

A. Proved to be true. Whom did he bind before their eyes?

What did they say one to ther?

him; and he said unto them,

:

ye are spies to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said, thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. And Joseph said unto them, hereby ye shall be proved; if ye be true men, let one of you be bound: and the rest may carry corn for the famine of your houses but bring your youngest brother unto me: so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And he took Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. And they said one to another, we are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear him; therefore is this distress come upon us. And they knew not that Joseph understood them, for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself from them and wept. And they returned into the land of Canaan, and told all that befel them. And Jacob their father said unto them, me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away also: All these things are against me. And he

What do you mean by

" verily ?"
A. Indeed.

What was it that tormented them?

A. A guilty conscience. Will any distance of time or place prevent the terrors of a guilty conscience?

What did they suppose from that?

How did he speak unto them?

What do you mean by an "interpreter?"

A. One who explains what is said in an unknown language.

What did Joseph do when he heard of their distress? What did he show by this?

A. That he still loved them.

Whither did Joseph's brethren return?

What did they tell? What did Jacob say unto them?

What do you mean by "bereaved?"

A. Deprived, made destitute, stripped.

What did Jacob say respecting his son Benjamin?

When the corn was consumed, what did Jacob desire his sons to do?

What conditions did they wish to make?

What words of reproof did Jacob use to them?

said, my son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone; if mischief befall him by the way in which ye go, then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. When the corn was consumed, Jacob their father said unto them, go again, buy us a little food. And they said, if thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food; but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down for the man said unto

:

us, ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Jacob said, wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man that ye had yet another brother? but, if it must be so, do this, take of the best fruits in the land, and carry down the man a present: take also your brother, and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. And they arose, and went down into Egypt and when Joseph came home they brought him the present which was in their hand, and bowed themselves before him to the earth. And he asked them of their welfare, and

:

Notwithstanding this, to what did he at last consent? What did he advise his sons to do?

What did he pray that God Almighty would do?

What did Jacob's sons then do?

What did they do when Joseph came home?

What was hereby fulfilled?

We have now seen the fulfilment of both Joseph's and Pharaoh's dreams, tell me, therefore, whether we ought to place the same faith or belief in dreams now?

A. No.

For what reason?

A. God, in old times, was sometimes pleased to make known his will by dreams; such dreams are no longer sent, since that will has been fully declared in the Gospel. What questions did Joseph ask them?

What did he prove by these questions?

A. His duty and affection to his father.

What answer did Joseph's brethren make to him respecting their father?

What did his brethren

then do?

What do you mean by "obeisance?"

said, is your father well? the man of whom you spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered; Thy servant, our father, is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, and said, is this your younger brother, of whom ye spoke? God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste, for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

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What did Joseph order his steward to do?

In whose sack was the silver cup to be placed? What was Joseph's object in this ?

A. To see whether they would, from envy, give up their youngest brother, or help him in his danger.

When did they depart? What did Joseph do when they had gone a little way ? What did the steward do? In whose sack was the c ecup

found?

Whither did they then return?

What did they do?

What did Joseph say should be done to the man in whose sack the cup was found?

What was Judah's speech?

Joseph and his Brethren.

PART IV.

And Joseph ordered the steward of his house to fill the men's sacks with corn, and to put his silver cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest; and as soon as the morning was light, they departed. And when they were gone a little way, Joseph said unto his steward, follow after the men, and when thou dost overtake them, say, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good, in taking my lord's cup? And he overtook them and spake unto them these words, and searched and found the cup in Benjamin's sack. Then they returned to the city, and fell down before Joseph on the ground : and he said, what is this that ye. have done? The man in

B

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