lower parts of the ea1tb?" These words, supremely true of our Lord are true also of his servants. They must descend ere they ascend. The text teaches 'us- L THAT THE LORD BAS A WORD OF RIOH PROMISE FOR EACII ONE OF HIS PEOPLE, Joseph had his word; so likewise have all like him. We may not be able to discern it so clearly as Joseph did, but our lives reveal it more and more, and ultimately we shall clearly know what all along it bas been. 11. THAT 'MUOH TIME MAY ELAPSE, AND MANY OBSTAOLES HAVE TO DE OVEROOME ERE THAT WORD BE FULFil.LED. See_ this in history of Joseph. Years had to roll by: and everythmg seemed to say that Ins word never could come true. And so of the promise of the kingdom of God, whether in one individual soul or in the world at large. How long it is in coming, and how hopeless it often seems I III. .AND UNTn. THAT WORD COME TO PASS IT IS A BOBE TRIAL. For in "the case of Joseph, that word tried him. 1. By being the cause of his trial. If the Lord hatl never sent those dreams, none of his troubles would have come. And when the word of God's grace comes to a soul now, how often it stirs up a very hornet's nest, both of inward and outward trial I "I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword." How true that word has ever been I 2. By deepening the trial. What a bright, joyous picture that was which Joseph saw before bis eyes when the word of the Lord came to him in his dreams! But when stripped of bis coat of many colours, then flung into a pit, then sold to the Isbmaelites, then horribly because so falsely accused, then imprisoned,-wbat a. contrast a.II this I How the light of the glad word made more dense the darkness of his dungeon! 3. By embittering it. What keenness of disap- pointment, what anguish of heart, the iron entered into his soul I 4. By the dreadful doubts which its non-fvlfilment could not bv,t occasion. How hard to keep believing under so bard and undeserved a lot I 5. .And yet more, not only his faith, but his love to God, wrnild be tried. Could it be that God loved him if be let all this shame and sorrow come upon hirn. ( cf. Ps. :x.lii.)? 6. Then be was tried by being led to almosl wish that he had neoer received such a word. Would it not have been better if be bad been like the rest of his brothers, to whom no such word came? IV. BUT THOUGH THE WORD BE DELAYED, IT WILL COME TO PASS. It did so for Joseph; it does for all like him. Wherefore be of good cheer. And the more, beca.use- V. ALL THAT WEARY TIME WAS WELL-E;PENT TIME. It was a discipline indis- pensable if he were to fitly fill the high station for which God had designed him. And so it ever is.-8. C.
Ver. L-God in history. "Tell the people what things he bath done" (Prayer-book Version). ,Al!, the word rendered "people II is a. plural, the prominent idea seems to be the duty of making the God of history, whose working is so evident in the Jewish history, known to the heathen. If we can read history aright, and see God's working in it, we must read it aloud, so that others may be helped to find what we have found. Reviews of history are always interesting, and were specially plea.sing to the Jews, who regarded themselves &6 a specially favoured. nation. History at first is but a collection of facts, then it becomes the estimate of relations, ea.uses, and results, which we call the philosophy of hi.story. But that philosophy is not complete or satisfactory which fails to recognize the overruling and modifying Divine force which moves history to pre- ordained ends. He only reaches the true philosophy of history who finds God in history. In this psalm we have such a. reading of the national history a.e the Jewish exiles would undertake when the prospect of return to Canaan was near. We have to see the special points of view from which they would conduct their review. 'l'he thing prominent in their minds was, that God was about to redeem them from captivity, and to restore them to their own land; so they read the story of their race to find God's redemptions, And they were easy to find when men looked for them in such a. mood. L GoD's REDEMPTION OF Isa.A.EL FROM THE EGYPTIAN FAIIUNE. Thie was at the very outset of the national history. The famine affecte<l the neighbouring countries, and God made Egypt a rafu.ge for bis redeemed people. Deliverance by quiet providences. II. GoD's REDEMPTION OF ISRAEL FllOM TIIE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE. For the pince of rtfuge presently became a place of ~lavery. This deliverance was accompanied with PB. CV. 1-46.) 'l'llE IlOOK OF PSALMS. 421