Chapter 11 (6)

Shall ask him bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he bestow A serpent? If then ye being evil know To give your children good gifts, how much rather To them that ask him shall your heav'nly Father. Then what you wou'd men shou'd to you, so do To them: for that's the law and prophets too. Enter in at the strait gate, for the road That doth unto destruction lead, is broad; And wide the gate; and many there be that Enter therein: because strait is the gate, And narrow is the way that is inclin'd To life, and which there are but few that find. False prophets shun, who in sheep's clothes appear, But inwardly devouring wolves they are: Ye by their fruits shall know them. Do men either Pluck grapes of thorns, or figs or thistles gather? Even so each good tree good fruit will produce; But a corrupt tree fruit unfit for use: A good tree cannot bring forth evil food, Nor can an evil tree bear fruit that's good: Each tree that bears not good fruit's hewn down And burnt, thus by their fruits they shall be known. Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, but he That doth my heav'nly Father's will shall be An heir of heaven: many in that day Will call Lord, Lord, and thus to me will say; Have we not prophesied in thy name? Cast devils out, done wonders in the same? And then will I profess I know you not; Depart from me ye that have evil wrought. Whoso therefore these sayings of mine doth hear, And doth them, to a wise man I'll compare, The which upon a rock his building founded, The rain descended and the floods surrounded, The winds arose, and gave it many a shock, And it fell not, being founded on a rock. And ev'ry one that hears these sayings of mine, And not to do them doth his heart incline, Unto a foolish man shall be compar'd; Who his foundation on the sand prepar'd: The rain descended and the floods were great, The winds did blow, and vehemently beat Against that house; and down the building came, And mighty was the downfall of the same. And now when Jesus thus had finished His sayings, the people were astonished Thereat: for not as do the scribes taught he Them, but as one that had authority.

THE PROPHECY OF JONAH

CHAP. I.

Now unto Jonah, old Amittai's son, Thus did the word of the Almighty come, And said, Arise, go thou forthwith and cry 'Gainst that great city Nineveh; for why, The sins thereof are come up in my sight. But he arose, that he to Tarshish might Flee from God's presence; and went down and found A ship at Joppa unto Tarshish bound: He paid the fare, and with them went on board For Tarshish, from the presence of the Lord. But the Almighty a great wind did raise, And sent a mighty tempest on the seas, So that the ship was likely to be broken. Then were the mariners with horror stricken; And to his God they cried every one; And overboard was the ship's lading thrown To lighten it: but down into the ship Was Jonah gone, and there lay fast asleep. So to him came the master and did say, What meanest thou, O sleeper! rise and pray Unto thy God, and he perhaps will hear, And save us from the danger that we fear. Then said they to each other, Come let's try, By casting lots, on whom the fault doth lie, In bringing all this evil now upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonas. Then said they, We entreat thee let us know, For whose cause we this evil undergo, Whence comest thou? What is thine occupation? What countryman art thou? And of what nation? And unto them himself he did declare, And said, I am an Hebrew, and do fear The living Lord, the God of heaven, who Alone hath made the sea and dry land too. Then were the men exceedingly afraid; And, wherefore hast thou done this thing? they said: (For they did understand he did forego God's presence, for himself had told them so.) What shall we do unto thee, then they said, That so the raging of the sea be stay'd? (For it did rage and foam.) Take me, said he, And cast me overboard into the sea; So shall the sea be calm, for on my score

I know it is, that thus the waves do roar. Nevertheless they rowed hard to gain The land, but all their labour was in vain; So much against them did the tempest beat. Wherefore they the Almighty did entreat, And said, We do beseech thee, and we pray, O Lord, that thou would'st not upon us lay The charge of guiltless blood, nor let it be, That now we perish, on th' account that we Take this man's life away; for thou alone As it hath pleased thee, O Lord, hast done. So they took Jonah up, and to the seas Committed him, then did the tempest cease. Then did the dread of the great God on high, Seize on the mariners exceedingly. And they did offer up a sacrifice, And vowed vows unto the Lord likewise. And now the Lord for Jonah did contrive A mighty fish, to swallow 'im up alive, And in the fish's belly for the space Of three days and three nights, poor Jonah was.

CHAP. II.

Unto the Lord his God then Jonah pray'd Out of the belly of the fish, and said, By reason of affliction, which lay sore Upon me, I the Lord God did implore, And he gave ear; and from Hell's Belly I Cry'd unto thee, and thou, Lord, heard'st my cry: For thou into the deep hadst cast me out, And there the floods did compass me about; In the midst of the sea, thy waves were sent, And all thy billows which my head o'erwent. Then said I though thy presence hath forsook Me, to thy holy temple will I look. The waters compassed about my soul, And the great deeps did round about me roll, The weeds were wrapt about my head, I went Down to the bottom of the element; The earth with her strong bars surrounded me, Yet thou, O Lord, from death hast set me free. When my soul fainted, on the Lord I thought, And to thee, to thy temple then was brought My prayer. They their own mercies do despise, Who have regard to lying vanities. But with the voice of my thanksgiving, I Will offer sacrifice to thee on high, And pay my vows which I have vow'd, each one, For why? Salvation's of the Lord alone. And now the fish, as God did give command, Did vomit Jonah out upon dry land.

CHAP. III.

And now the second time to Jonah came God's word, and said, Arise, go and proclaim To that great city Nineveh, what Have heretofore commanded thee to cry. So Jonah rose up, and prepar'd to go To Nineveh, as God had bid him do. (Now was the city Nineveh so great, That it was three days' journey long complete) And as into the city Jonah made His first day's journey, he cry'd out and said, When forty days shall be expired and past, This city Nineveh shall be laid waste. Then did the Ninevites with one accord, Believe this was the message of the Lord; And did proclaim a fast, and every one, From greatest to the least, put sackcloth on: For to the king this news was quickly flown, And he arose, and came down from his throne, And having laid aside his robes of state, He put on sackcloth, and in ashes sate: And issuing out his royal proclamation, And through the city making publication Thereof (being by the king and council sign'd) A solemn and a general fast enjoin'd; And said, I will, that neither man nor beast, Nor flock, nor herd, shall their provision taste: But let them all put sackcloth on and cry Unto the Lord with greatest fervency; Yea, let them all their evil ways refrain, And from the violence which they retain. Who knows if God will yet be pleas'd to spare, And turn away the evil that we fear? And God beheld their works, and saw that they Had turned from the evil of their way. And God turn'd from his wrath, and did revoke The dreadful judgment whereof he had spoke.

CHAP. IV.

But hereat Jonah was extremely vext, And in his mind exceedingly perplext: And to the Lord his God he pray'd, and said, O Lord, I pray thee, was not I afraid Of this, when I was yet at home? Therefore I unto Tarshish took my flight before: For that thou art a gracious God I know, Of tender mercy, and to anger slow, Of great compassion, and dost oft recall The evil thou dost threat mankind withal. Now therefore, Lord, I earnestly do pray That thou would'st please to take my life away, For I had better die than live. Dost thou Do well, said God, to be so angry now? So then out of the city Jonah went, And on the east side of it made a tent,[8] And underneath the shade thereof he sate, Expecting what would be the city's fate. And over Jonah's head behold the Lord Prepar'd, and caused to come up a gourd To shadow him, and ease him of his grief; And Jonah was right glad of this relief. But God a worm sent early the next day, Which smote the gourd; it withered away: And when the sun arose, it came to pass, That God a vehement east wind did raise; Besides the sun did beat upon his head, So that he fainted, saying, Would I were dead, For it is better for me now to die, Than thus to lead my life in misery. And to distressed Jonah, said the Lord, Dost thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he unto the Lord made this reply, I do well to be angry e'en to die. Thou hast had pity, Jonah, on the gourd, For which thou didst not labour, said the Lord, Nor madest it to grow, which also came Up in a night, and perish'd in the same. And should not I extend my gracious pity To Nineveh, so populous a city, Where more than six score thousand persons dwell, Who 'twixt their right hand, and their left can tell No difference, wherein are also found Cattle which do in multitudes abound.

THE LIFE OF JOSEPH, TAKEN OUT OF THE LATTER PART OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.

CHAP XXXVII.

When Jacob from his brother Esau fled, He by the hand of providence was led To Padan-aram, in Assyria, where He serv'd his uncle Laban twenty year; During which time he was in all things blest, And with a num'rous issue 'mongst the rest: Amongst whom none so pleasing in his sight As Joseph was, who was his chief delight: Who by the time that Jacob was return'd Into the land, where's fathers had sojourn'd, Was full arrived at seventeen years of age; And by his hopefulness did then presage, He was endued with a noble mind, That would to virtuous actions be inclin'd; For being sent to feed his father's flock, Among his brethren he great notice took Of what they did, and if in any sort They did amiss, he thereof made report Unto his father, and did thus create His father's favour, but his brethren's hate. His father loved him better than the rest, As being the son wherewith his age was blest. And that his kindness might the more appear, Made him a party colour'd coat to wear. But as it often haps, his father's love Did in his brethren greater hatred move. But that which most incens'd them was his dreams, By which, in a prophetic way, he seems Their low submission, and his future state Of greatness plainly to prognosticate. For to his brethren thus his dreams he told, And said, As we were binding sheaves, behold, My sheaf arose and stood up in the field, And all your sheaves stood round about, to yield Obeisance unto mine: And what, must we Indeed, say they, be subject unto thee? Their wrath increas'd, this added to his crime. And Joseph dreamed yet a second time; And said, Behold, I saw the sun and moon, And the eleven stars to me fall down. At which his father highly was offended, And for these words, the lad he reprehended, And said, Fond youth, dost thou pretend to shew That I, thy mother, and thy brethren too, Must all submit to thee? Thou dost but dream: But Jacob kept his words, and thought of them. Now Jacob's sons did feed their flocks in Shechem, And he desired Joseph to go seek them, And find them out, and come again and tell If all things with them and their flocks were well. So Joseph went, and wander'd here and there, But could not find out where his brethren were, Until a man had told him their intent Of going to Dotham, where he also went. And when his brethren at a distance saw him, They held a consultation how to slay him, And said, Here comes the dreamer, we shall see What the event of all his dreams will be; For we will kill, and in a pit will hide him, And say some beast or other hath destroy'd him. But Reuben somewhat tend'rer than the rest, Endeavour'd to persuade them to desist From murder, saying, Into this pit let's cast him, And this he said in hopes to have releas'd him. And now when Joseph came not dreading ought, They stript him of his party colour'd coat, And led him to a pit that was hard by, And threw him into't, but the pit was dry. And sitting down to eat, they chanc'd to spy, A company of Ishmaelites pass by, Who with balm, myrrh, and spice, their camels lading, From Gilead came, and were to Egypt trading. Then Judah said, 'Twill do us little good To slay our brother, and conceal his blood; Come therefore, brethren, be advis'd by me, Let's sell him to these Ishmaelites, for he Is our own flesh, and 'tis a cruel deed, To kill him, and to this they all agreed. Their brother then out of the pit they hale, And to these merchants offer'd him to sale: Who, him for twenty silver pieces bought, And with them to the land of Egypt brought. But Reuben, ignorant of what was done, Came to the pit, and seeing the lad was gone, He rent his clothes in a great consternation, Returning back with heavy lamentation. And now that they might make their story good They kill'd a kid, and dipped in the blood Their brother Joseph's coat, and home they came, And to their father's view expos'd the same, And said, This we have found, now thou dost know Whether it be thy son's coat, yea or no. And Jacob knew the coat full well, and said, Now hath some evil beast devour'd the lad; Joseph is torn in pieces without doubt, For, too, too well I know this is his coat. He rent his clothes, and putting sackcloth on, He for a long time mourned for his son. His children striving to assuage his grief Endeavour'd to administer relief: But he refus'd, and said, Since he is gone, I will in sorrow to the grave go down. Such lamentation made he for his son.

CHAP. XXXIX.

And now these merchants, sons of Ishmael, Again did poor afflicted Joseph sell, To an Egyptian, named Potiphar, The captain of King Pharaoh's men of war. And God was with him, and did greatly bless, And crown his undertakings with success. Whereof his master being well aware, Committed all he had to Joseph's care; And made him overseer of his house, And, from the time his master us'd him thus, The Lord was pleas'd to give him to partake, So many blessings, e'en for Joseph's sake: Of that with plenty he was hedg'd about, And prospered within door and without. Such was his master's love, and he so just, That all things were committed to his trust. Now Joseph was grown up to manly stature, Of goodly presence, and most comely feature. Wherefore his mistress, with a lustful eye, Beheld his beauty, and resolv'd to try, If to unchaste embraces she could gain The youth, but her endeavours prov'd in vain: For he refus'd, and said, My master knows In all the house of nothing that he owes,[9] For his concerns are all at my dispose: There's not a thing that he hath kept from me But all is in my hand, save only thee; Then how can I commit so foul a fact, And the displeasure of my God contract? Yet still she sued, and still did he deny her, Refusing to be with her, or lie by her. Now on a time when all the men were gone Out of the house, and she was left alone: And Joseph at that instant coming in, About some business he'd to do within; She took advantage of their being together, And held his clothes to force him to lie with her. But Joseph strove, and from her hands got loose, And left his coat, and fled out of the house. And when she saw that he had made's escape, She call'd her servants, and proclaim'd a rape: Come see now how this Hebrew slave, said she, Your master's favourite, hath affronted me. He came to violate my chastity, And when he heard that I began to cry, And call for help, afraid lest you should find him, He's fled, and left his garment here behind him. And now to give her words the greater credit, Until her husband's coming home, she hid it, To whom she spake, and said, Why hast thou brought This Hebrew here, to set me thus at nought? The slave attempted to defile my bed, And when I cry'd, he left his coat and fled, See here it is. Which when he saw, and heard The heavy accusation she preferr'd, He was exceeding wroth at his behavior, And utterly cashier'd him from his favour; Nay more, he cast him into prison, where In fetters bound, King Pharaoh's pris'ners were. But Joseph's God, who never yet forsook Him in extremity, was pleas'd to look With great compassion on his injuries, And gave him favour in the keeper's eyes; So that he was entrusted with the care And charge of all the pris'ners that were there: All were committed unto Joseph's hand, And what was done, was done at his command. The prison-keeper took no care at all, Of ought that he entrusted him withal; Because he saw that God was with him, and All things did prosper that he took in hand.

CHAP. XL.

And now, whilst Joseph in confinement lay, It came to pass upon a certain day, That Pharaoh King of Egypt, being wroth With his chief butler, and chief baker both, For their offences, put them both in ward, In the house of the captain of the guard: Into the place where Joseph was confin'd, Unto whose custody they were resign'd; And he attended on them in the prison. And there they were continue'd for a season, During which time it chanced both of them Did in the same night dream each man his dream: Which dreams, according to interpretation, Had to themselves particular relation. And Joseph coming early the next day, Into the room where Pharaoh's servants lay, Beheld their countenances much dejected: Wherefore he said, What evil hath effected This melancholy frame, what is't that causes These marks of discontentment in your faces? Then said they, We have dream'd each man his dream, And there is no man to interpret them. Then Joseph said, Your dreams to me make known. Interpretations are from God alone. Then unto Joseph the chief butler told His dream, and said, Methought I did behold A vine, whereon three branches did appear, Which seem'd to bud, to blossom, and to bear Clusters of full ripe grapes, which to my thinking I press'd into the cup for Pharaoh's drinking. And Joseph said, Thy dream doth signify, Thou shalt enjoy thy former dignity: The branches which thou sawest are three days, In which King Pharaoh will his butler raise And to thy place again will thee restore, And thou shalt serve him as thou'st done before: But do not, when it shall be well with thee, Forget me, but show kindness unto me, And unto Pharaoh represent my case, That I may be deliver'd from this place; For I was stol'n out of the Hebrew's land, And also here am wrongfully detained. Then the chief baker having understood, That the interpretation was so good, He told his dream to Joseph too, and said, Lo, I had three white baskets on my head, And in the uppermost there seem'd to be, Of baked provision, great variety, Fit for King Pharaoh's table, and there came A flock of birds, and seem'd to eat the same. And Joseph said, Thy dream portends thy fall, For at the end of three days Pharaoh shall Lift up thy head, and hang thee on a tree, So that the birds shall feast themselves on thee. And on the third day Pharaoh made a feast Unto his servants, and among the rest The butler and the baker were brought forth, The day being kept in memory of his birth. And to his place King Pharaoh did restore His butler, and he served him as before. But the chief baker he condemn'd to die, According unto Joseph's prophecy. Yet though the butler had regain'd his place, He was unmindful of poor Joseph's case.

CHAP. XLI.

And now when two years' time was fully past, And Joseph from confinement not releast, It came to pass that Pharaoh dream'd, and He seemed by a river-side to stand, Whence he seven fat well-favour'd kine beheld, Come up and grazed in the neighbouring field. And after them there came up seven more, Lean and ill-favour'd, and did soon devour The seven fat kine which came up just before. So Pharaoh 'woke, and mus'd awhile, and then Soon as his sleep his dream returned again: Wherein he saw upon one stalk there stood Seven ears of corn exceeding rank and good, And seven others, with the east wind blasted, And withered, sprang up, and quickly wasted The seven good ears, and quite devour'd them: And Pharaoh 'woke, and lo, it was a dream. And in the morning he was discontent, And for the wise men and magicians sent, To ease his mind; but there was none of them That could interpret to the king his dream. Then the chief butler, making his address Unto King Pharaoh, said, I now confess My former faults, for when the king was wroth With his chief butler, and chief baker both, It pleased him, to put us both in ward, In the house of the captain of the guard: And in one night we dream'd a dream, each one According to 's interpretation: And there was then an Hebrew there in ward, A youth that serv'd the captain of the guard: To whom we told whereof we had been dreaming, And he interpreted to us the meaning; And what he said fell out accordingly, Me he restored to my dignity, But told the baker he should surely die. Then Pharaoh sent a messenger in haste, And Joseph from the dungeon was releas'd: And having shav'd himself and chang'd his clothes, Into the presence of the king he goes. To whom King Pharaoh said, I have been told Thou canst the meaning of a dream unfold: Now I have dream'd a dream, and there is none Can give me the interpretation. And Joseph said, I cannot do this thing Myself, but God shall answer thee, oh king. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, In my dream, As I stood by a river's side, there came Up from the river seven well-favour'd kine, And fed upon the banks, all fat and fine, And after them there came up seven more, Lean and ill-favour'd, and exceeding poor: Such as the land of Egypt never bred, And on the seven well-favour'd kine they fed, And eat them up, but 'twas not to be seen That they had eat them, they look'd still so thin. So I awoke, and mus'd awhile, and then Soon as my sleep, my dream return'd again; Wherein I saw upon one stalk there stood Seven ears of corn, exceeding rank and good: Then seven others, with the east wind blasted, And withered, came up, and quickly wasted The seven good ears, and quite devoured them. And being unsatisfied about my dream, I sought unto the wise men of the nation, But they could give me no interpretation. And Joseph said, Thy dream, oh king! is one, God shews to Pharaoh what he will have done. The seven fat kine and seven good ears agree To shew, seven years of plenty there shall be. The seven lean kine, and seven blasted ears, Denote there shall be famine seven years. This I declare to Pharaoh, God doth shew To thee, oh king! what he's about to do. Behold seven years of plenty are at hand, Which shall be very great throughout the land. And after them seven years of famine shall Arise, and shall consume the land, and all The former plenty shall not be perceiv'd, So much the land with famine shall be griev'd. And since the dream was doubl'd to the king, It is because God hath decreed the thing, And on this land the same will shortly bring: Now therefore if I may the king advise, Let him look out a man discreet and wise, And make him overseer of the land: And substitute men under his command To gather a fifth part for public use, Of what the seven plenteous years produce; And in the cities lay it up for store, Against the famine in the land grows sore; And let it be repos'd in Pharaoh's hand, That so the famine may not waste the land. And when King Pharaoh and his servants heard The propositions Joseph had preferr'd, They were acceptable in Pharaoh's eyes, And in the eyes of all his court likewise: So that he said, Can such an one be found? A man in whom God's Spirit doth abound. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch As God's great kindness unto thee is such, As to reveal this thing to thee, I know No man so wise or so discreet as thou. Be thou therefore the ruler of the land, And let my people be at thy command; Thou shalt in all things be as great as I, Save only in the royal dignity. Behold this day I have advanced thee Said he, to be a man of high degree Throughout the land. And therewithal the king Bestow'd on Joseph his own royal ring; And him with robes of state did richly deck, And put a chain of gold about his neck, And in his second chariot made him ride, And as he past, Bow down the knee they cry'd, With so great honour was he dignifi'd. And Pharaoh said moreover, I am king, No man shall dare to purpose any thing, Or move his hand or foot in all this nation, Unless it shall be by thy approbation. He also gave to Joseph a new name, And for a wife gave him a princely dame, Who was the daughter of a priest of fame. (Now Joseph had attained his thirtieth year, When he before King Pharaoh did appear.) And he went out from Pharaoh's presence, and Began his progress over all the land. Now in the seven plenteous years, the field Did its increase in great abundance yield. And Joseph gather'd all that plenteous crop, And in th' adjacent cities laid it up: Which like unto the sand upon the shore, Did so abound that he could count no more, Such was the plenty that the earth then bore. And unto Joseph there was born a son, Even by the daughter of the priest of On, Before the years of famine were begun; The which he call'd Manasseh, for, said he, God makes me to forget my misery, And all my father's house. And after him Was born another he called Ephraim; For God, saith he, hath made me to possess Abundance in the land of my distress. And when the seven plenteous years were gone, The seven years of famine next came on, As Joseph said, and there was a great dearth In every nation throughout all the earth; But in the land of Egypt there was bread. And when the people almost famished, Complained to the king, he bade them go To Joseph, and whate'er he said to do. And now the famine daily waxing sore, Joseph began to bring forth of his store, Which he had laid up for the public good; To whom th' Egyptians came and bought their food. And people from all countries far and near To Egypt came to buy provision there; For in all lands the famine was severe.

CHAP. XLII.

And now, behold, when Jacob had been told That there was corn in Egypt to be sold, He said unto his sons, Why stand ye thus? Go down to Egypt and buy corn for us; That so our craving stomachs may be fed, And not be here and die for lack of bread. Thus Jacob's ten sons were to Egypt sent, But Joseph's brother Benjamin ne'er went. For why, his father said, I will not send him, Lest peradventure some ill chance attend him. And Joseph's brethren came among the rest To buy provision, for they were distress'd. Now he was governor of all the land, And all the corn of Egypt in his hand. Wherefore his brethren, when they came to treat With him for corn, bow'd down e'en at his feet: And he no sooner saw them but he knew them, And show'd himself extremely strange unto them: And very roughly asked who they were, From whence they came, and what their bus'ness there. And they made answer, We thy servants from The land of Canaan to buy food are come. Now tho' they knew him not, yet he knew them, And calling now to mind his former dream, He said, I do suspect ye're come as spies, To see in what distress our country lies. But they reply'd again, My lord, we're come Only to buy some food to carry home. Think not thy servants spies, but true men rather, For we are all the children of one father. Nay, nay, said he, but ye are come to pry Into the nation's great necessity. But they reply'd again, Thy servants are Inhabitants of Canaan, and declare, That we're twelve brethren, whom one man begot, The youngest is at home, and one is not Well then, said Joseph, hereby shall I know, Whether ye're spies, as I have said, or no; Now by the life of Pharaoh do I swear, Until your brother come I'll keep you here. Send one of you and fetch the lad to me, And you shall be confin'd, so shall there be A proof of what you say before mine eyes, Or by the life of Pharaoh ye are spies. Then he for three days put them all in ward, And on the third day said, I have regard To equity, therefore if ye are true And honest men, do this; let one of you Be bound in prison here, and let the other Go carry corn home and bring me your brother; So shall ye be approv'd and shall not die. And they prepared to do accordingly. And as they were discoursing to each other, They said, We were in fault about our brother, In that we saw his soul in great distress, And yet were so exceeding pitiless, As not to hearken to his earnest cries: This is the cause of these our miseries. And Reuben said, You know I did forewarn, And beg that you would do the child no harm; But you would not do then as I desir'd, And now his blood is at our hands requir'd. Thus they discours'd about the cause that brought Their present trouble, but they little thought That Joseph knew of what they did confer, Because he spake by an interpreter. And he being moved at their words withdrew To weep, and then returned to renew His former talk; and choosing Simeon out, Before them all he bound him hand and foot. And gave command to fill their sacks with grain, And to restore their money to 'em again; And for their journey gave them food to eat; In such sort Joseph did his brethren treat. Then with their asses laden towards home They went, and when into their inn they come As one of them his sack of corn unty'd, To give his ass some provender, he spy'd His money in his sack again return'd; Wherefore he call'd his brethren and inform'd Them that his money was returned back. Behold, said he, it is here in my sack. On sight whereof their hearts were sore dismay'd, And being very much affrighted said, What is the thing that God's about to do, That we do thus these troubles undergo? Then coming to their father they related, After what sort they were in Egypt treated: And said, the man that's lord of all the land, And hath the store of corn all in his hand, Spake roughly to us, and affirm'd that we Were come the weakness of the land to see. To whom we said, We are all honest men; We are twelve brethren, whereof here are ten, And two elsewhere, all which one man begot, The youngest's with our father, one is not. Then said the ruler of the land, Hereby Shall I make proof of your integrity: Let one of you continue here with me, And take provision for your family; And get you gone and bring the youngest hither, That so I may be satisfied whether Ye are true men, as you make protestation, Then I'll release him, and give toleration To you to come and traffic in the nation. And now behold as they their sacks unloos'd To empty out their corn, there was unclos'd In each man's sack his money therein bound, As when they came from home, which when they found, Both they and their old father were afraid; And to his sons afflicted Jacob said, You of my children have bereaved me, Joseph and Simeon now do cease to be; And of my Benjamin you would deprive me, These things do ev'n into distraction drive me. Then Reuben said, My father I resign To thy disposing these two sons of mine; Give me the lad, and let them both be slain, If I do not return him safe again. But he reply'd, I will not let him go, For why his brother is deceas'd you know; And if upon the way some evil thing Should happen to the lad, you then will bring These my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave; For he's the only comfort that I have.

CHAP. XLIII.

And now the famine still continuing sore, And having spent all their late purchas'd store, Their father bids them to go down for more To whom when Judah had himself address'd, He said, The man did solemnly protest, If we without our brother came again, To seek his face would be for us in vain: If therefore thou wilt send him, well and good, Then will we willingly go down for food; But if thou wilt not, we must let thee know, We are resolved that we will not go: For, as I said before, the ruler swore Without him we should see his face no more. Then Israel said, Why were you so unkind To say you had a brother left behind? The man, said they, was so inquisitive, He asked if our father were alive, Or if we had a brother, whereunto Accordingly we answer'd, could we know If he would bid us bring the lad or no? Moreover Judah to his father said, If thou wilt but entrust me with the lad, We will begone, that so both thou and we May be preserved with our family: I will be surety for him, if I fail To bring him back, on me the blame entail; For if we had not lingered, we had been By this time here the second time again. Well then, said Isr'el, if it must be so, My sons, take my advice before you go; Provide some of the best fruits of the land, To give the man a present from your hand; Balm, myrrh, and spices, and a little honey, Some nuts and almonds, and take double money, For peradventure it was a mistake, In that our money was returned back. And take your brother Benjamin and go, And God Almighty grant the man may shew You mercy, that you may bring back again Your other brother, and my Benjamin, And if I am bereav'd, so have I been. Then did the men prepare the present, and They took their money double in their hand With Benjamin, and down to Egypt went, Who unto Joseph did themselves present. Who, when he saw that Benjamin was come, Order'd his steward to conduct them home, And to provide a dinner, for, said he, I do intend these men shall dine with me. Then did the steward as his master said, And brought them home, whereat they were afraid, And said, The man hath caus'd us to come in, Because our money was return'd again; To take occasion now to fall upon us, And make us slaves, and take our asses from us. Unto the steward they drew nigh therefore, And thus communed with him at the door: O sir, say they, we came at first indeed To buy provision to supply our need; And in our inn as we our sacks unloos'd, We found our money therein all inclos'd In its full weight, whereat surpris'd with fear, Not knowing who had put our money there, We now have brought it in full weight again, And other money too, to buy more grain. Peace, peace, said he, let not fear seize upon you For I had the disposing of your money: God, unto whom you and your father bow, Hath giv'n you treasure in your sacks I trow. And then releasing Simon, who had been Confin'd in Joseph's house, he brought them in And set them water, and they wash'd their feet; And gave their asses provender to eat. Then they made ready, against Joseph came, Their gifts, in order to present the same At noon; for they were told he did design To have their company with him to dine. And now when Joseph was returned home, Into his presence they with rev'rence come, And brought their presents in and laid before him, And fell down at his feet for to adore him. Then he inquired if they all were well, And said, When you were here I heard you tell Of an old man, your father, how does he? Is he in health, or doth he cease to be? Whereto in humble sort they thus reply'd, Thy servant, ev'n our father, doth abide In perfect health, which having said, They bowed their heads and great obeisance made. And Joseph viewing Benjamin his brother (They being both the children of one mother) He asked if he were the lad of whom They spake, then said, God give thee grace, my son. Then making haste to find a secret place To weep, because his bowels yearn'd apace Upon his brother, to his chamber went, Where having giv'n his troubled spirits vent, He washed his face, and did himself refrain, And to his brethren then came forth again, And bade his servants they should set on bread. At his command the tables were all spread; One for himself, and for his friends another, And for the Egyptians one apart from either, That so they might not eat bread altogether; For it is held a great abomination For them to eat among the Hebrew nation, And they were placed as their age required, The eldest first, whereat the men admired. And from his table Joseph sent them messes; But in a larger manner he expresses To Benjamin his kindness, which was such, That he appointed him five times as much As to the rest: and they drank plenteously, Till they were merry in his company.

CHAP. XLIV.

And to his steward Joseph spake, and said, Give these men corn as much as they can lade; And in their sacks bind each man's money up, And in the youngest's put my silver cup Besides his money: and he made haste and did According as his master had commanded. And in the morning by the break of day, With asses laden they were sent away: And now, e'er they had scarce the town's end pass'd, He sent his steward after them in haste, And said, Go, follow them, and ask them why They have dealt by me so ungratefully? And say unto them, You have done great evil To rob my master, who hath been so civil, And steal the cup wherein he drinks his wine; Is it not it whereby he doth divine?[10] Then he pursu'd and quickly overtook Them, and these very words to them he spoke. To whom they said, Why hath my lord such thought? Oh, God forbid that we should be so naught;[11] Behold, thou know'st we brought the money back The which we found bound up in each man's sack, Which shews that we had no design to cheat; How then should we now steal your master's plate? With which of us thy servants it is found Let him be slain, and we to slavery bound. Now as you say, said he, so let it be, He shall be bound, but you shall all go free. Then they unladed ev'ry man his beast, And to his view expos'd their sacks in haste. And he from first to last them searched round, And lo, the cup on Benjamin was found: Thereat surpris'd, each man his garment rent, And lade his beast, and back again they went. And now when Judah and the rest were come To Joseph's house, (for he was yet at home) They fell before him to the ground, to whom He said, What deed is this that you have done? Are you not sensible that such a one As I, can certainly thereof make trial? Then Judah said, My lord, there's no denial: We cannot clear ourselves. The Lord hath sent, For our misdeed, this heavy punishment. Behold, to be thy slaves we all are bound, Both we, and he on whom the cup was found. Then Joseph said, The Lord forbid that I Should exercise so great severity: For he with whom 'tis found, and he alone Shall be my servant, you may all be gone. Then unto Joseph, Judah drawing near, Said, O my lord! I pray be pleas'd to hear Thy servant speak, and be not angry now, For as King Pharaoh is ev'n so art thou. My lord did bid thy servants to discover Whether we had a father or a brother; And we made answer that thy servants had An ancient father and a little lad, The child of his old age, who was our brother, And he the only child left of his mother, His brother being dead; and that this lad Was all the comfort that our father had. Then thou wert pleas'd to bid thy servants bring The lad, that thou might'st have a sight of him. And we made answer, if the lad should leave His father, it would bring him to his grave: And thou didst then protest it was in vain For us without him to come here again. Then towards home thy servants went their way, And told our father what my lord did say. And in a while, when all our corn was spent, Thy servant, ev'n our father, would have sent To buy more food; to whom thy servant said, We cannot go except thou send the lad. Because the man did solemnly declare, Unless we brought him we should not come there. And then thy servant, ev'n our father, said, Ye know that by my wife two sons I had, And one of them went forth and came no more, Which made me think some beast did him devour. And if I now should also condescend To let this go, and mischief should attend, You will with sorrow bring me to my end. When to my father I shall come therefore, And he shall see that I do not restore The lad again, he certainly will die, (Since in his life my father's life doth lie) And we shall bring him to his grave thereby. For I became a surety for the lad Unto my father, unto whom I said, If I do not in safety him deliver, Then let me bear the blame to thee for ever. I humbly pray thee, therefore, to accept Me in his stead, and let me here be kept My lord's bond-slave, and let the lad go free: For how can I, thy servant, bear to see The evil that shall on my father come, If that the lad return not safely home.

CHAP. XLV.

Then Joseph, who by no means now could hide His brotherly affection longer, cry'd, Put all men forth; and he was left alone When to his brethren he himself made known. Then Joseph weeping lifted up his voice So loud, that Pharaoh's servants heard the noise. And to his brethren did himself discover, And said, Lo! I am Joseph your own brother; And doth my father live? Whereat amaz'd, They could not speak, but at each other gaz'd. Then Joseph said, Come near, I pray, behold, I am your brother Joseph whom ye sold To Egypt, be not grieved now therefore, Nor vex yourselves, for God sent me before To save life; for these two years there hath been A famine, and five more to come, wherein Seed time nor harvest shall at all be seen. The Lord, I say, hath sent me to provide A place, and strangely save your lives beside. So now ye sent me not, but it was rather The Lord, and he hath made me as a father Unto the king, lord of his household, and A ruler over all this spacious land. Unto my father, therefore, go your way, And tell him, Thus doth thy son Joseph say: The Lord hath rais'd me to a high degree In Egypt, tarry not, but come to me, And thou shalt dwell in Goshen and be nigh me, And with provision there will I supply thee; Both thou and thine, flocks, herds, and all thou hast, (For yet these five years will the famine last) Lest otherwise, provision being scant, Thou and thy family may come to want. Behold, both you and Benjamin my brother Do see that it is I and not another. Go tell my father this amazing story, And bring him hither to behold my glory. Then falling on his youngest brother's neck, And he on his, they o'er each other wept. And to the rest he did likewise, wherefore They now were more familiar than before. And now whilst they discoursed, the report Of their arrival came to Pharaoh's court, And he was pleas'd thereat, wherefore he said To Joseph, let thy brethren straightway lade Their beasts with corn, and thus unto them say, Unto your native country haste away, And fetch your father, and your households, and I'll feed you with the good things of the land; And since you are commanded by the king, Take wagons with you hence wherein to bring Your wives, your little ones, and come down hither, Your father, you and yours altogether; And never heed to bring your household stuff, For here in Egypt you shall have enough. Then did the Isr'elites accordingly: And Joseph ordering them a large supply Of necessaries for their journey, sent Wagons according to the king's intent. And to each man he gave a suit of clothes, But on his brother Benjamin bestows Five suits, and as a token of his love, A sum of money over and above. And thus he sent ev'n for his father's use, Of the best things that Egypt did produce, Ten asses load, and ten she asses load Of bread and meat, to spend upon the road. Then sending them away, he said, I pray See that you do not fall out by the way. And leaving Egypt with their num'rous train, Unto their father they returned again: To whom, as soon as e'er they did arrive, They said, Our brother Joseph's yet alive, And lord of all the land, which sore dismay'd Him, for he scarce believed what they said. Then they of all that pass'd gave him relation. And shewed the wagons for a confirmation Which being manifest before his eyes, He rais'd himself, and said, It doth suffice; Joseph my son is yet alive, and I Will go to see him once before I die.

CHAP. XLVI.

Then Isr'el setting forward on his way With all his household, came to Beersheba; And offer'd sacrifice there to implore The God his father Isaac did adore. And in the visions of the night God spake To him, and said, Fear not to undertake This journey into Egypt, for I am The God of thy forefathers, Abraham And Isaac; to the land of Egypt I Will go with thee, and there will multiply Thy offspring, and of thee will surely make A mighty nation, and will bring thee back; And thy son Joseph there thine eyes shall close. After which vision he from thence arose, And in the wagons which King Pharaoh sent, He and his family to Egypt went: His sons, their wives and children, and the rest Of their concerns, whereof they were possest When they in Canaan dwelt, and they were then No more in number but threescore and ten. And when to Egypt Israel drew near He sent before him Judah, to prepare His way to Goshen, which when Joseph heard, Immediately his chariot he prepar'd; And unto Goshen he directly went, And to his father did himself present: And being over-joy'd fell on his neck, And for a good while thereupon he wept. Then Jacob said, Since thou yet liv'st, and I Have seen thy face once more, now let me die. And Joseph said, My brethren I will go Unto King Pharaoh, and will let him know That you, and all my father's house are come; And that your occupation when at home, Hath been in feeding cattle altogether, And that you've brought your flocks and herds all hither. Now therefore when you come before the king, And he should ask you what your trade hath been, Say thus: Thy servants from our youth till now Have dealt in cattle, we and our fathers too, That he may let you dwell in Goshen, for Th' Egyptians do a shepherd's life abhor.

CHAP. XLVII.