of grass in the land of Canaan. They concluded by requesting the king to allow them to dwell in the land of Canaan.

turning himself to his favorite seph, thus addressed him:

Pharaoh then counsellor Jo

Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: The land of Egypt is before thee: in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen, (seeing that they prefer it) let them dwell." This was an instance of Pharaoh's gratitude to Joseph, who had been such a blessing to him and his kingdom, therefore he was kind to his relations for his sake. He left Joseph to make them happy in their own way: and if there were any men of activity, or extraordina ry in their business, make them rulers over my cattle, let them have the care and management of my flocks. Pharaoh enquired for ac tive men; men of business; men of diligence and industry, like Joseph; these were the men he would prefer. "Seest thou a man diligent in his business, says Solomon, he shall stand before kings." If they are ingenious or industrious, if they excel, they shall be the chief shepherds

shepherds of my flocks. Having obtained what he desired for his brethren, he now introduces his aged and venerable father to the king, by way of respect.

I. JACOB PRESENTED TO THE KING OF EGYPT.

When he presented his brethren, they stood before the king, they were young, and it would have been very disrespectful if they had sat in the presence of Pharaoh; but Jacob, in honor of his years and compassion to his infirmities, is placed on a seat before Pharaoh. The good old man beheld Pharaoh sitting in his Royal robes. The sight of a Prince, who had shewn such kindness to himself and family in the time of their distress, calls forth the most lively sensations of gratitude. He saFutes the Monarch with respect, and pronounces a blessing on him. How affecting the sight, to behold a venerable good old man, with grey hairs, and a long beard, lifting up his hand to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the true and living God. Jacob had as a Prince had power with God, and prevailed when he wrestled with the An

gel at Peniel. His blessing was very desira bie. Jacob was the son of Abraham, the poste rity of Abraham were to be blessings to man. Joseph had been a great blessing to Egypt. God heard his servant Jacob, and no doubt Pharaoh was blessed for his sake. Pharaoh must not only be struck with his appearance, but with his salutation. How different was it from that of Egyptian sages or wise men, how heavenly and divine, how solemn! This is indeed the father of that man, in whom was the Spirit of God. This is no more than what he might expect from Joseph's father.

II. PHARAOH'S QUESTION.

How old art thou? This is a very common question, one that is usually put to persons who are aged. We ought to admire and to revere the aged. "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man," saith the Lord. Jacob's countenance showed him to be very old, for he had been a man of labour and sorrow. People did not live to so great an age in Egypt as they did in Canaan, and therefore Pharaoh looked upon Jacob with wonder and admiration; perhaps he thought him older

than

than he really was, therefore he was curious to know his age. Cultivate respect for the aged.

III JACOB'S ANSWER to PHARAOH'S QUES TION.

How affecting, how impressive, how uncommon, how instructive! "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." What a remarkable answer. How spiritually minded is the good old patriarch. Only hear and attend, and you must be instructed: Jacob calls his life a pilgrimage, he looked upon himself as a stranger in a foreign country, and as a traveller towards another world; intimating that he was a pilgrim on earth, and that this was not his home; that his habitation and inheritance was in heaven, He confessed at the spot that he was a stranger and a pilgrim, and declared plainly that he not only desired, but sought a better, that is, an heavenly country, to which he was daily advancing like a traveller on a + + journey,

journey, expecting soon to be at the end of it. He reckoned himself not only a pilgrim, now he was in Egypt, a strange country, where he Bever was before, but his life even in the land of Canaan was a pilgrimage.

He numbers his life by the "DAYS OF HIS YEARS." For even so it is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of our continuance in this life a single day, we may be turned out of this ta bernacle at an hour's notice or warning. A few years, each year composed of a few days, ore day runs away after another, and the year is soon gone: thus one year flies away after ano ther till life is ended, with all its many sorrows and pleasures, pains and joys, so that our life like a wearisome journey, grows shorter and shorter till we come to our long home.

The CHARACTER he gives of the days of his years. He says they are "few and evil" few, though he had now lived an hundred and thirty years, yet he counts them but few when compared with the lives of his forefathers, and they were fewer still when compared with Eternity, the Eternal God, and the eternal state in which a thousand years,

longer

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