when it is founded on a great and manifest difference in their moral character; inasmuch as it is a parent's duty to mark his approbation of religion and morals. But in no case ought that partiality to be shewn by such vain distinctions as Jacob adopted. Joseph's " coat of many colours" was calculated to generate nothing but vanity in the possessor, and envy in those who thought themselves equally entitled to their parent's favour : and indeed this very distinction proved a source of all the calamities which afterwards befell him.]
God himself also was pleased to point him out as destined to far higher honours —
[God revealed to him in dreams that all his family should one day make obeisance to him. The dreams were doubled, as Pharaoh's afterwards werea, to shew that his exaltation above all his family, and their humblest submission to him, should surely come to pass. These dreams being divulged by Joseph, he became more than ever an object of most inveterate hatred to his brethren. They could not endure that even God himself should exercise his sovereign will towards him. They considered every favour shewn to him (whether by God or man) as an injury done to themselves ; and the more he was honoured, the more were they offended at him. They did not consider, that he was not to be blamed for his father's par- tiality, nor to be condemned for those destinies which he could neither procure nor prevent. Blinded by envy, they could see nothing in him that was good and commendable, but made every thing which he either said or did, an occasion of blame.]
To set his brethren's conduct in its true light, we will endeavour to shew,
II. The evil of that principle by which they were actuated —
Envy is one of the most hateful passions in the human heart:
1. It is most unreasonable in itself —
[It is called forth by the honour or advantages which another enjoys above ourselves. Now if those advantages be merited, why should we grudge the person the possession of them? If they be not acquired by merit, still they are given to him by the unerring providence of God, who " 1ms a right to do what he will with his own. Is our eye then to be evil because he is goodb?" Besides, the things which we envy a person the possession of, are often snares, which we should
a Gen. xli. 32. b Matt. xx. 15.