With the removal of his doubts there was an in- stantaneous change in his determinations. This will appear while we consider,
III. The effect which their removal produced upon him —
He had been hitherto reluctant to leave his home ; but now,
1. He desired nothing so much as to see the one object of his affections —
[Joseph was now more dear to him than ever ; and if he might but live to enjoy a sight of him, he should consider him- self as having attained all for which he washed to live: " It is enough ; Joseph my son is yet alive ; I will go and see him before I die."
And let us once be persuaded that Jesus is set at God's right hand, far above all principalities and powers, and that he has all heaven at his disposal, and has sent to invite us to come unto him, and has made ample provision for us by the way, and prepared mansions for us at the end of our journey, and engaged that we shall dwell in his immediate presence for ever and ever; let us be persuaded of this, and shall we feel no disposition to visit him? Will it not, on the contrary, be the first desire of our hearts ? Shall we not say, " Whom have I in heaven but Thee ; and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee ? " Will not the attainment of this object appear to be the only thing worth living for? And having an assured prospect of this, shall we not say, " Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ? " Yes ; this desire will swallow up, as it were, every other; and to secure this happiness will be the only end for which we shall wish to live.]
2. He disregarded all the difficulties he might encounter in the way to him —