once criminated either his brethren who had sold him, or his mistress who had falsely accused him : he cast a veil of love over their faults, and sought for nothing but the liberty of which he had been unjustly deprived. Who would conceive that so reasonable a request, pre- sented to one who had such opportunities of knowing his excellent character, to one too on whom he had conferred such great obligations, should fail ? Lord, what is man ? how base, how selfish, how ungrate- ful ! Let us fix our attention upon this incident in the history of Joseph, and make some suitable reflec- tions upon it —
We observe then,
I. That gratitude is but a feeble principle in the
human mind —
[Corrupt and sinful principles are, alas ! too strong in the heart of man ; but those which are more worthy of cultivation, are weak indeed. To what a degree are men actuated by pride — ambition — covetousness — envy — wrath — revenge ! — To what exertions will they not be stimulated by hope or
fear ! But the motions of gratitude are exceeding
faint : in the general, they are scarcely perceptible : and though on some extraordinary occasions, like that of Israel's deliver- ance at the Red Sea, the heart may glow with a sense of the mercies vouchsafed unto us, we soon forget them, even as the Israelites did, and return to our former coldness and indifference.]
II. That its operations are rather weakened than
promoted by prosperity —
[Pharaoh's butler, when restored to his master's service, thought no more of the friend whom he had left in prison. This is the general effect of prosperity, which steels the heart against the wants and miseries of others, and indisposes it for the exercise of sympathy and compassion. It is usually found too that the more we abound in temporal blessings, the more unmindful we are of Him who gave them. That is a true description of us all ; " Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked." On the other hand, adversity tends to bring us to consideration : when we have suffered bereavements of any kind, we begin to feel the value of the tilings we have lost ; and to regret, that we were not more thankful for them while they were con- tinued to us. The loss of a part of our blessings often renders us more thankful for those that remain: and it is no un- common sight to behold a sick person more thankful for an