with the least kindness. He will torment you with pleasure and laugh at your misery. The Lord gave Joseph favor in the sight of the keeper. Perhaps Joseph, by means of his con versation and example, was the means of con. verting the Jailor from idolatry to the wor ship of the true and living God. Good men and good children will try to do good wherever they are. They will be a blessing to all. Paul and Silas sung the praises of God in a prison. All those who have conscience void of offence both towards God and man, may sing in a prison as well as in a palace. Take heed lest you should at last be confined in the prison of Hell. Seek mercy from God in and through Christ, and you shall obtain it. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. Say with all your heart, Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. Amen.

A HYMN.

The Mysteries of Providence.

GOD moves in a mysterious way.
His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the Sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will

Ye fearful minds, fresh courage take,
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace,
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour,
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan his work in vain, God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.

Cowper.

LECTURE

LECTURE XLI.

THE BUTLER AND THE BAKER.

GEN. 40. 4. And the Captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; and they continued a season in ward, THAT is the Butler and the Baker that were put under Joseph's immediate charge. He was responsible for their safety; he waited on them. daily to supply their wants. This is one of the most remarkable Chapters in this Book. It contains the History of the means by which Joseph was delivered from prison and made. Governor of Egypt. There is no station so low but the Lord can exalt us in it. Who would have thought of Joseph's advancement in a prison. We are told that "it came to pass after these things, that the Butler of the King of Egypt, and his Baker, had offended their Lord, the King of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the Butlers, and against the chief of the Bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the Captain of the guard, into the H 5 prison,

prison, the place where Joseph was bound." Then follow the words I have read to you, contained in the fourth verse.

8

We know not the crime for which the Butler and the Baker were put in prison: some think that they were accused of attempting to take away the king's life by poison. Probably they were only suspected, and on that accourt confined in the state prison, till the matter was examined, till they were brought to trial. It seems that Potiphar had the charge of this prison; that it was near his house, or else formed a part of the building in which he resided. The keeper of the prison was probably a person employed under Potiphar. If the Jailor was the deputy of Potiphar, then Joseph was the deputy of the Jailor. It should seem from his committing these prisoners to Joseph's care, that he was convinced by some means or other, that Joseph was innocent, and that he had been-unjustly accused. It is very remarkable that the Butler and the Baker should be put into the same prison where Joseph was confined. In this we see the hand of God. If they

had

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