THE

Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

APRIL, 1827.

Remarks on the Forty-sixth Chapter of Genesis; and on the first twelve Verses of the Forty-seventh Chapter.

V. 1. ISRAEL is now going to Egypt to his son Joseph. "Beersheba" lies in the border of the land of Canaan towards Egypt. It most likely was the last town, in his native country, through which he passed, in his way to the land where he was going to sojourn. Here he lingered awhile; and, fondly as he loved his son Joseph-so fondly, that, at the age of a hundred and thirty, he did not decline a long and difficult journey, for the sake of his society he still felt the tie which binds us to the land of our nativity; and many thoughts, probably, rushed upon his mind,-recollections of the past, and doubts as to the future-leading to hesitation as to the step he was taking. He was quitting the country in which he first drew breath, where he had learned to admire the works of God around him, and the still more glorious work of God in revealing Himself in mercy to His creatures,-the land in which he had become a husband and a parent, and the very soil of which was endeared to him, by containing in its bosom the remains of his beloved Rachel, Leah, the mother of so many of his family, the parents who had guided his youth, and Abraham, the object of his earliest veneration. Who could leave a country so connected with every NO. 4.-VOL. VII. H

cherished feeling, sacred, as well as tender, without finding it had a strong hold upon his heart? Besides, of this land God had said, "to thee will I give it, and to thy seed after thee:"-and was there no reason to fear that in quitting it he was forsaking his own mercies, and making void the covenant in which it was promised him for an everlasting possession?-But he "encouraged himself in the Lord his God:"-he tarried at Beersheba not for the purpose of indulging in these reflections, but to seek direction of the Lord-he offered "sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac."

V.2-4. How graciously God answers the cry of His people. "Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you." "He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." There is a great difference in men's religion in this respect. All who have any religion, go to God in their troubles and perplexities: but some do this only on great occasions. Let us ask, what is the habit of our minds? Do we make little occurrences, as well as great events, occasions of communion with God? Do we go to Him only at our stated seasons for prayer, or do our hearts rise to Him through the day, in the midst of our employments, or temptations, with some few words of request or of thanksgiving,"Lord help me now-give me patience-enable me to keep my temper-give me thy Holy Spirit—lift up on me the light of thy countenance-comfort me, Lord-set a watch before my lips,-I bless thee for this mercy," &c.-Such a habit makes us " abide with God" in our calling ;-by this means every little interval of time is turned to account;-and, by cultivating this frequent intercourse with heaven, some Christians pray more in a day than others do in a week; and you may see the effect of it in their holy conversation, for by it they obtain abundance of the gifts of God, and are kept in a devout and obedient frame of mind. Jacob is one proof, among many,

On the Forty-sixth Chapter of Genesis. 147

that "the Lord is good to the soul that seeketh Him." "Fear not to go down into Egypt," was the answer he obtained, together with a repetition of the promise to multiply his seed, and an assurance that Egypt was the very place where it should be fulfilled" I will there make of thee a great nation." And then-lest the aged pilgrim should fear, that, in leaving Canaan, he was going out from the presence of the Lord-He adds, "I will go down with thee into Egypt." Is there a spot upon earth to which we need fear to go if we are assured that God is with us? When we move at His bidding, or where His providence calls us, we often experience more of His power to make us happy, than we ever should do, surrounded by the comforts of home, and the friends of our youth. "Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations," is the thankful acknowledgment of Moses, who for forty years wandered up and down in a wilderness. God promised to Jacob, " I will also surely bring thee up again." Thus the seed of Jacob was not left to be mixed with the Egyptians, but brought out with a strong hand by the God of their fathers.

V. 5-7. "Jacob rose up from Beersheba" with renewed spirit:-there was no more hesitation, for God was with him. All his seed-children and grand-children-went down with him; the small beginning of a nation which " in the fourth generation" came up again by thousands.

V. 8-27. These verses contain the names of all the males of Jacob's house, together with Dinah, his daughter, and Serah, the daughter of Asher. Each of those named-except Er and Onan (v. 12.) who died childless in the land of Canaan-became the head of a family in Israel. (See Num. xxvi. 5-50.)-The eleven sons who went down with him, gave name to eleven of the tribes: the twelfth was made up of the half tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, called after Joseph's two eldest sons, whom

Jacob afterwards adopted as his own children. (Chap. xlviii. 5.)-How unusual it is for a man to see so many of his descendants flourishing around him but now the promise to Abraham "I will make of thee a great nation"--was beginning to be fulfilled.

V. 28. His sons were somewhat acquainted with the country-and the affection and generosity which Judah had shewn, when Benjamin was apparently in danger, would naturally influence Jacob to treat him with distinction and confidence.

V. 29, 30. "And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father." A mark of respect and reverence, as well as the impulse of affection. The meeting must have been affecting in the extreme: and the difference in their feelingsthe warmth and ardour of Joseph, whose tears spoke his emotion; the composure and satisfaction of Israel, expressed in a few emphatic words are finely descriptive of their different ages and cha

racters.

V. 31-34. The object of Joseph, it appears, was to keep his father's house separate from the Egyptians :-in order to effect this, he desired them, when questioned, honestly to mention at once, that their occupation was that of shepherds; and "every shepherd was an abomination to the Egyptians. "His brethren might desire to avoid the confession that they were brought up to a trade so offensive to their new neighbours; but Joseph informed them that he should declare it to Pharaoh, and desired them to use the same frankness. Joseph walked by faith.-He might doubtless have found some among his brethren capable of rising in Pharaoh's court; but he rather chose that blessing which God had promised, than the more dazzling, but dangerous honours of Egypt, the promised land at a distance, rather than present greatness among the ungodly. Who among us has wisdom

On the Forty-seventh Chapter of Genesis. 149 to make the same choice? Only those who are influenced by the same principle. "This is the vic tory that overcometh the world, even our faith."But how senseless are such prejudices as this of the Egyptians. Why is any honest way of getting a livelihood to be despised? However some of us may be disposed to look down on those whose employment is mean and humble,-yet if they are faithful servants of God, they are, in His sight, greatly above such as despise them. The Almighty ap points the employment of every one of us; and, if we do it as His work, and in obedience to His will, we are as much employed for Him, as the angels who see His face, and go or come at His command.

On the Forty-seventh Chapter.

T. B. P.

This chapter begins with the introduction of Joseph's brethren and father to Pharaoh. He lost no time in acquainting his sovereign with their arrival, and then chose out five, to present them before the king.

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V. 3. "What is your occupation?" A question which gently intimated he had not sent for them to nourish them in idleness,-that, though they should have every advantage for carrying on their trade, some trade he expected them to have. This was no hardship. It would not be a kindness to take men who have been used to labour, from their employments, and surround them with all the comforts of life, without their being at any pains to procure them.-You who " eat your bread in the sweat of your face," find rest very pleasant: to come home at night, and sit down, and feel that your day's work is over, is a real enjoyment. To get up on a Sunday morning, and remember that it is a day of rest, in which you shall do no manner of work, is sweet and comfortable; and perhaps you think that