and Pharisees held councils ag·ainst Jesus, the gentle pure 1 loving teacher of truth and he~ler of diseases, They sought ~ow they mig·ht kill him. Thoy excommuni~ l!ated hnn, they sent othe1:s to entrap !nm .. ~hey ~ucceeded at length in nailing him to the cross. They can-1ed out their evil mtentions ; but that cross became the throne of the Saviour's power, ihe salvation; and the death of Christ became the life of ~he world. They went by wagging th.eir he!ds,_but at Inst they had to wring their hands. They themselves were left m theu· srn, and their "houso left unto thC'm desolate," while unto the Christ they hated all men are being drawn. 2. That God OYerrnles evil ·s no license to do evil. Many would say," Let us do evil that good may come." This would suit carnal nature. They would suy, 11 Sin is not 80 firent an evil, since God can overrule it." To t~lk like this would be like throwing dust 111 our own eyes when we have reached an emmence from whence we might behold 11 beautiful landscape. It would be like n youth who, seeing a gardener prunino- trees should take a knife and cut and slash all the trunks. Or, it would be like th~ net of one who, seeing how an artist ha~ wrought inn ~ic~ure some blunder into o. beauty, sho1;1ld take a brush an~ streak with bl~ck the bnllrnnt sky. We are not at liberty to sm tl1at God may brmg good out of 1t. 3. That God overrules evil should make ~s feel oitr dependence on him. If we could succeed in good without him, if all wo mtendcd to do could surely be calculated upon, we should become proud. It is well that God sometimes even breaks up our good plans in order that we may learn this 1esson. Vve might even intend g·ood without him otherwise, and that would lead tu evil in ourselves. But we are dependent on him to check the evil of our own lives and of others' intentions. 4. It should make us hopeful also with respect to our affairs. Surely out of this thought we may get "royal contentment," as knowing we are in the hands of a noble protector, "who never gives ill but to him who dese1·ves ill." 5. It should make us hopeful with respect to the order and destiny of the world. In some way, far off, God's glory may be advanced, even by the way in which he will han subdued, by Christ, all things unto himself. 6. Intended good is not always a benefit to those for whom intended. God intends good to men, and provides a way to bless, but men refuse. See at what a cost the way has been provided. Those who refuse are under worse condemnation. "It were better for them not to have known tLe way of righteousness than, after they have known it, to turn from t);ie holy com- mandment delivered unto them." 7. We must all face our wrong-doing some time or other. ,ve shall find that the evil we have sown has prod1:1ced a harvest of weeds, which we shall have sorrowfully to reap. We ought to pray earnestly, "Deliver us from evil."-H. Ver. 26.-The lesson,s of a life. Joseph's life remarkable for the variety of his experience, e.nd for the consistency of his character through all. A man full of human sympathy, who also walked with God. Here the charm of hie history. We can thoroughly enter into his feelings. In his boyhood, deservedly loved by his father, and on that very account hated by his brethren (1 John iii. 13); in his un- merited sufferings; in his steadfast loyalty to God and to his master;_in hie exalta- tion and the wisdom with which he ruled Egypt; and .in Lis forgiveness of those whd had sold him as a slave, we feel for him and with him. Bnt Joseph died. His trials and his triumphs passed away. The scene where he had played so conspicuous a p □ rt is filled by other forms. And ho who was tLe means of saving a nation must sbRre the lot of the most commonplace life. One event happens to all (Eccles. ii. 15). I. THE UNCERTAIN TENURE OF EARTHLY GOOD. No care can keep away misfortune, not even care to walk uprightly before God. Sin brings sorrow sooner or later; but it is a great mistake to think that all sorrow springs from faults committed (Pa. hxiii. 5). J oseph's slavery was because his Godward life condemned his brothers and made them angry. His being thrown into prison was because he would not yielcl to temptation. '!'his often a stumbling-block. If God really marks nil that is rlone wl,y are !,is most faithful servants often so sorely smitten? We can neither deny' the fact nor trace the reason of the stroke. Enough to know that it is part of Gud's plan (Heb. xii. 6), to fit us for the end of our being. As Christ wns perfected Ly suffering (Heb. ii. 10), so must wo be. And just because to benr the cross is needful for a follower of Christ (Matt. xvi. 24)-and ibis is not tho endurance of OH. L, 15-26.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 5-13
suffering CLt our own choice, but the willing receiving of what God is pleased tc send-the uncertainty of life gives constant opportunity for that submission to his will which is the result of living faith. II. TnE ONE END OF ALL LIVING (Exod, i. 6). How varied soever the outward lot, wealth or penury, joy or mourning, one day all must be left behind. To what purpose then is it to labour for good, or to dread impending evil? Can we no! remember many whose name was much in men's months, full of youthful vigour or mature wisdom? And they are gone, and the world goes on as before. Joseph, embalmed in Egypt with almost royal honours, ,vas as completely separated from nll his wealth and power as if ho had never possessed them. Others filled his plac'l and occupied his gains, in their tum to give them up, and awake from the dream of possessions to join the company of those who have left all these things behind. And 1s this all? Has life nothing worth striving for? Is there no possession that we can really regard as our own ? III. LIFE BAS ABIDING TREASURES. Was it nothing to Joseph that he possessccl and showed a forgiving spirit (Matt. vi. 14, 15), and singlenes~ of heart, and earnest benevolence, and watchful consciousness of God's presence? These are treasures the world thinks little of. But these are treasures indeed, mimstering comfort with- out care. And when earthly things slip from the grasp these abide, reflections of the mind of Christ, anc:l telling of his abiding in the soul (Rev. xiv. l;l).-M. HOMILETICAL INDEX
TO
THE BOOK OF GENESIS.