brother again: how much more will sinners tremble when they see Jesus on his throne! Some will then have to say, "My sins helped to crucify him. I never repented of them; now he is come to punish them-what shall I do?" That day has not come yet. Now, the words of Jesus are, Children, come to me, and be saved." Dear children, will you not come, and come to-day?

For, in one thing more, Joseph in his greatness may remind us of Christ in his glory. He was made ruler over all the land of Egypt, that he might save the people. Pharaoh gave him a name that most likely meant this. A hard name to say, truly!-Zaphnath-paaneah.* May not this remind us of Christ's " new name, which is above every name"? They cried before Joseph, "Bow the knee;" and is it not said that at the name of Jesus "every knee shall bow?" And what does the name of Jesus mean? SAVIOUR. Yes, our Elder Brother is all-mighty and all-glorious; but he is great, that he may save.

Joseph kept alive the bodies of the people. Jesus saves our souls. And think of his love. Was it not a charming sight when Joseph looked

66 a revealer

* Some interpreters think that this word signifies of secrets;" others, "Saviour of the age," 66 or Saviour of the world."-See Zaphnath-paaneah, or History of Joseph, by the Rev. Thornley Smith, p. 75.

+ See Gen. xli. 43; Phil. ii. 10, etc.

through his tears of love and joy upon his brothers, so ashamed of what they had done, and said, “Come near, I pray you ;" and when he afterwards kissed them all, and wept, while they wept too with joy strangely mingled with shame and sorrow, and Joseph lovingly comforted them? But what is the love of Christ when we come in our sin and weakness to him, and when we learn to know him as our Saviour? It is his love that leads us first to repent, and then that comforts us and bids us hope.

May he be Saviour, Brother, and Friend to each one of us for evermore! Amen.

The Unseen Hand.

EXODUS ii.

The company of slaves-Their promised home-"How shall we ever reach it?"-Pharaoh's cruel law-Jochebed's babyAn unsafe hiding-place-The ark of bulrushes-Miriam's story-The babe's new name-How he grew fitted for his work-His good education—His mother's religious teaching -Training of his mind and his heart-How he became meek and patient-Eighty years of waiting-The call from the burning bush.

WE are now called away from the pictures of Joseph's greatness, and Jacob's peaceful death, to look for a moment at a company of slaves toiling so sadly in the brick-fields of Egypt. Perhaps there never was a more miserable company. It is a bitter thing for anybody to be a slave; but if a king's son were forced to be one, would he not be far more unhappy than one who had been all his life in bondage? Now, these slaves in Egypt were not kings' sons, but they were something better and greater still-the children of GOD. Yes, God was their Father, and he had promised them a home. That home, we know, was in the land of Canaan; but how far off must it have seemed! How were they and their little ones ever to get there? Years and years had

rolled away, and still found them working in those dreary brick-fields. Their cruel masters were stronger than they, and would never let them go. Even if set free, how could they find their way, and take care of themselves, across the desert that lay between them and Canaan ? I wonder whether the poor Israelites ever talked over these things among themselves. "God's word must be true," one might say. "But how can it be done?" another would ask. "Perhaps we may become strong in time, or our children may-strong enough to fight with these Egyptians, and make them set us free. Or perhaps Pharaoh may grow merciful, and send us himself to the land of promise." But, then, suddenly comes the news that Pharaoh has commanded all the baby boys to be drowned. This seems to put an end to all hope. How could the people ever become strong if none were to grow up to be men? I fancy I hear the poor slaves cry, "This is the worst thing of all! What is to become of us now?"

Yes, this did appear the worst thing of all. Little, indeed, did the Israelites know that it was the very thing which was to lead to their freedom. Yet so it was, as we shall soon see. Let us think again of the beautiful old story, that some of us have loved so long.

Amram and Jochebed had a baby-a little son. I suppose that if Pharaoh had not made that cruel law they would have nursed him as other

babes were nursed. He would have grown up the little playfellow of his elder sister and brother, Miriam and Aaron; and when he was old enough he would have been set to learn brickmaking, like the rest. But now this would not do. The king's men might come at any moment to snatch the smiling, beautiful babe from his mother's arms. Oh, never, never! She could not bear the thought. Could he not be hidden? It was easier to do this in Egypt than it would be in England, for there the women used to have rooms to themselves, into which none but their own family might enter.

'Hush, hush, hush!" was now, day and night, the cradle song. But the little one grew so stout and merry, that his mother was afraid to keep him any longer. Sometimes he cried, and sometimes crowed so loud, that Jochebed was terribly afraid the Egyptians would hear. Poor babe! he was not in the secret, and did not understand that if he wanted to be safe he must be quiet. Yet his mother did not believe she should, after all, lose him. What would happen she could not tell; but she had kept him secretly "by faith," and now that she dared not keep him any longer, she would still trust him to God.

Well, we all know what she did. Yes, she was quite sure, as she walked out that bright morning, with the little ark in her arms, that from yonder blue sky there was an eye of love * Heb. xi. 23.