separated. He forthwith raised an altar, and offered up the sacrifice of prayer and praise.

For thirty years he remained in the land of Canaan. He was still the same "plain man living in tents" that he was formerly. His twelve sons fed their flocks; and he himself lived a quiet homely life.

But Jacob was not without trial any more than others. It pleased God to darken his joy by the loss for a while of his beloved son Joseph. But even this was one of those many things which worked together for his good. For, when a famine afterwards broke out in the land of Canaan, and he was forced to send to Egypt for provisions, he then found that his long lost Joseph was there, and had become Governor of the land.

Happy indeed were the closing days of Jacob's life, surrounded by his family, with his favourite Son near him, and in the enjoyment of everything that could soothe the infirmities of his old age.

As death gently drew near, he called his children around him, and gave them one by

one his farewell blessing. In the midst of his address to them he breaks out in words full of faith and confidence, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord;" and then peacefully resigns his soul to God.

David says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Yes, we are never so dear to our heavenly Father, as when we are going to leave all here on earth, to rest for ever in His bosom. In that hour of weakness, when we so much need His support, He loves to give it. "Fear not," He says, "for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God."

May our end be as calm and happy as was the end of this devout servant of God! May we feel that we are indeed but strangers and pilgrims here, and be looking for our true Home above? May we die, as he did, waiting in patient faith for the salvation. purchased for us by Christ our Lord!

JOSEPH;

OR, THE SECRET OF TRUE PROSPERITY.

WHAT is prosperity? To have the world smiling upon us, and all going on smoothly, says one. To have health, and strength, and family blessings, says another. To make a fortunate speculation, and suddenly to become rich, says a third. But all this comes very far short of that real prosperity, which the Bible sets before us. Let us see if we can get a glimpse of it in the history of Joseph.

Joseph was one of the youngest sons of Jacob-the child of his favourite wife. For his mother's sake Jacob loved him from his very infancy. And as Rachel was taken away after the birth of Joseph and Benjamin, they both became specially dear to their widowed Father.

Now, this partiality for Joseph aroused the jealousy of his brothers. And their

hatred towards him was increased by certain dreams which he had. So that they constantly looked upon him with the most envious feelings, and never rested till they had put him out of the way. This they did by selling him to some travelling merchants, who were passing through the country on their way to Egypt.

Little did he think, when one day he went among his brethren, that they were plotting and planning against him. Little did he suspect that those, who ought to have been bound to him by the bonds of affection, were going to act the part of murderers. Little did he imagine that this was the last time he should see his father's house. envy will steel the heart even of a brother. And Joseph's brethren could stand by, and see these Ishmaelitish dealers carry off the meek and unoffending lad, and listen to his earnest entreaties, without shedding a single tear.

But

What a change for this poor young slave, to be torn from his parents and his home, at the tender age of seventeen, and to find himself a stranger in a strange land, with

none to counsel him, none to soothe him in his sorrows, no one into whose ear he could tell out the inward secrets of his young heart!

But was there no one-no Friend near to comfort and to cheer him-none, with a Father's love and a Brother's tenderness, by his side to help him? Yes, Joseph was not fatherless nor friendless in that foreign land of Egypt. There was an Unseen One,

whom he knew and loved and served-an Almighty One, who had promised never to leave him nor forsake him.

On Joseph's arrival in Egypt, it so happened that he fell into the hands of one of the king's officers, who took him into his service; and his gentle and upright conduct soon won for him his Master's favour. And from that time he began to prosper. But the course of God's people seldom runs very smoothly. Sometimes He leads by a hard rough way those whom He wishes most to bless. He puts bitter in their cup as well as sweet. You will not be surprised then, that we presently find Joseph-the prosperous Joseph -an inmate of an Egyptian prison. Through a falsehood of his Master's wife he is sent