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favored as at the beginning. So I awoke.

"And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it unto me."

These were the dreams of Pharaoh, and very strange ones indeed they were. No wonder he was so much disturbed about them. Pharaoh had paid Joseph a very high compliment when he first entered into his presence. I have dreamed a dream, said Pharaoh, and there is none that can interpret it. and I have heard that thou canst understand dreams and give the true interpretation of hem. Some young men would have felt themselves a few inches taller, and would have thought themseves wiser and more knowing than all the venerable grey beards that were to be found in Egypt. Some would have been puffed up with pride, but Joseph is the same man in the palace as he was in the prison.

It is not in me, said Joseph; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Here we see the humility of Joseph, and at the time a noble concern for the glory of the true God: That infinite, holy, and powerful Being, be fore whom all the idols of Egypt would fall to the ground.

Pharaoh dreamed he stood upon the banks of the river Nile, by which the land of Egypt is watered; that he saw fourteen cows or kine, come up out of the river, seven fat ones and seven lean ones; that the lean ons devoured the fat ones, and yet looked as lean as before. That he saw seven ears of corn growing upon one stalk, which were devoured by seven thin and withered ears that were blasted with the east wind. In saying that God would give Pharaoh an answer of PEACE, be removed all fears from the king's mind as to an unfavourable interpretation.

II. JOSEPH'S INTERPRETATION.

"And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one; God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are and the seven

seven years,

good

good ears are seven years; the dream is ore. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them, are seven years; and the seven empty years blasted with the east wind, shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do, he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land: And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by Ged, and God will shortly bring it to pass." Under two different emblems or representations, by the appearance of seven fat and seven lean kine, and by the appearance of seven full ears, and seven thin ears, king had been warned in his sleep, that seven years of great plenty, would be succeeded by seven years of great scarcity. The fat cattle

the

and

and the full ears of corn, were emblems or representations of plenty, and the lean kine and blasted ears were emblems of famine. The kine seems to refer to grass, by which cattle is fed, and the ears of corn to bread, which is the staff of life. The dream was repeated in order to shew not only the certainty, but the near approach of the events foretold in it.

How humble, how dignified, is the conduct of Joseph. With pious and Christian courage does he mention the true God, in the presence of the monarch and all his courtiers and wise men. He stood surrounded by some of the highest in rank, and the most remark able for wisdom. Their eyes were fixed Joseph, they were all attentive to his words. They hear him declare, that God shall give · Pharaoh an answer of peace: that God had shewed Pharoah, what he is about to do. What God is about to do he

on

sheweth unto

Pharaoh. The thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. What courage and piety, what wisdom and humility were displayed by Joseph, when he stood "before Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

III.

CATECHETICAL QUESTIONS.

1. How long was it after the Butler was restored to his office, that Pharaoh had these two remarkable dreams?" It came to pass after two full years."

2. What were the dreams of Pharaoh about? "Seven fat and seven lean kine, seven full and good ears of corn, and seven thin ears blasted with the east wind."

3. To what did these two things refer, what did they mean? The things which in Egypt were more remarkable, cattle and corn,

4. What was there remarkable in these dreams? The cattle or kine devouring each other, and the ears of corn devouring each other.

5. What did the Butler say, when he remembered Joseph to the king? "I remember my faults this day."

6. What did Pharaoh say to Joseph? "I have heard say of thee, that thou canst un derstand a dream to interpret it."

7. What answer did Joseph make? "It is not in me, God shall give Pharaoh au answer of peace?"

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