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had gone to another prison, he would not have had an opportunity of interpreting their dreams. In this prison, Joseph is said to have served the Butler and the Baker; that is, being prisoners of rank, he carried them their daily provisions, and so he was in the habit of seeing and conversing with them every day.

I. We shall notice the BUTLER'S DREAM. One morning Joseph went to visit them as usual, and observing that there was a look of sadness or melancholy in their faces, he kindly inquired the reason; they told him that during the night they had each of them dreamed a remarkable dream, they were anxious to know the meaning, but being confined, they could not apply to those who made it their business to interpret dreams.

And the chief Butler told his dream to Joseph, and said unto him, "in my dream behold

a vine was before me, and in the vine were

three branches; and it was as though it bud

ded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the
clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes.
And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand
H 7

and I

took

took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand."

Joseph requested the Butler to relate his dream, and at the same time told him, that interpretatious belonged to God. They had complained that there was no man that could interpret their dreams, but Joseph told them that interpretations belonged unto God; he alone can foretel things to come, and he can communicate the power of interpreting dreams to whom he pleases. Joseph was now a pri soner, but also had been a dreamer as well as they, and the fulfilment of his dreams was yet to come. Thus he reproved them for looking to the pretended wise men of Egypt, instead of having come and offered to himself, as the servant of the true God, to be their interpreter. The dream of the Butler related to his past employ-. ment. It was probably the custom of the Butler to press the full ripe grapes immediately into Pharaoh's cup, and present it to him with the real juice of the vine. They were not acquainted with the present mode of refining the wine after it is pressed from the grape. Such was the simplicity

plicity of the age in which Joseph lived. All dreams are not alike, the greater part of them are unworthy of regard. Yet God has sometimes made use of a dream to impress the mind of man, to bring back his soul from the pit, and to enlighten him with the light of the living.

II. JOSEPH's INTERPRETATION.

The Butler having told his dream to Joseph, he proceeds to tell him the meaning of it. "And Joseph said, this is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shall deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand." Thus he foretold, that the Butler should be delivered from prison and restored to his office. The rapid budding and blossoming of the vine, and ripening of the grapes, seems to have fixed the interpretation to three days, rather than weeks, months, or years: and the actual delivery of the cup into Pharaoh's hand, plainly deno ted, that the event would be prosperous and good. What must have been the feelings

of

of the Butler, when he heard this interpretation given to his dream: surely his countenance was no longer sad, he must have felt great pleasure, and the feelings of his mind would be seen by a cheerful countenance. Surely if any of the diviners or magicians of Egypt had given this interpretation, they would have required a large reward, but Joseph only made a request in behalf of himself.

III. JOSEPH'S REQUEST.

"But think of me, when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me to Pha raoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also I have done nothing, that they should put me into the dungeon." Joseph did not ask for any money. No, he did not ask a present. If any of the Bramins of this country had given such an interpretation, they would have required some hundreds, if not some thousands of Rupees. He doth not say, Bring me into Pharaoh's house. Get me a place at court. No, only bring me out of this house. Let

me

me no longer be in prison; make mention of me to Pharaoh. Speak a good word for me, if it be in your power: do me a kindness, if it be in your way. He casts no reflection on his brethren; he only says, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews. I was brought here by force. He casts no reflection upon her, who had been the cause of his imprisonment. He only asserts his own innocence, by saying, " And here also I have done nothing, that they should put me into the dungeon."

IV. The BAKER'S DREAM and JOSEPH'S INTERPRETATION.

"When the chief Baker saw the the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: And in the up. permost basket there was all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. And Joseph answered and said, this is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head from off thee, and shalt

bang