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was also his first concern, and both in the field, and in the tent, he carefully sought, and happily enjoyed communion with his God.

Jacob did honour to the memory of his progenitors, from the time that he left his father's house, until his return to his native land; he was evidently a man of prayer, on which account he was honoured with the name of Israel. His history, however, shews that the closest walk with God does not exempt Zion's pilgrims from the severest trials. Your daughters, madam, have just beheld the Patriarch pitching his tent, as if arrived at a place of rest, expecting to enjoy the domestic mercies with which he was surrounded;

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but trials awaited him there, and sently followed each other in rapid succession. From many others I have selected an event for representation, which strikingly illustrates that whatever expectation he might indulge, he was not yet beyond the boundaries of the thorny wilderness; your young ladies, I have no doubt, will discover immediately to what it refers.

Harriot.-I am obliged to acknowledge, that I do not. The general view is similar to one which we have already seen. An extensive plain, flocks-herds-shepherds. The shepherds are conversing together, and there is a young man approaching them. I know now what it means,

Joseph and his brethren, for I can discern his coat of many colours.

Amelia. What anger is expressed

in the countenances of the shepherds! One of them (I suppose Reuben) points to an adjacent pit.

Harriot.-Look, look how they seize their brother! See how Joseph struggles! but they are too strong for him. They strip off his coat, and absolutety throw him into the pit! Cruel, cruel brothers; with what indifference they now sit down to eat!

Amelia.-I imagine that they will not be long at their meal, for the Ishmaelitish merchants and their camels

now appear.

Harriot. So they do, and Joseph's

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brethren draw him up out of the pit, and though we cannot hear what passes, yet we may easily guess what is the subject of their communication with the merchants.

Amelia.-Again observe Joseph, his actions would inform you of his painful situation, if you had not previously known the history; how piteously he looks! how earnestly he supplicates! See how he turns to Judah, interceding for his life and liberty! Oh the wicked creatures! they thrust him from them! receive the silver, and thus their yet imploring brother becomes a slave to the Ishmaelites. They must have been extremely hardened, before they could have treated him with such cruelty.

D.-Your observation, Miss, is just, and we should ever remember that sin is of a very hardening nature. In the case of Joseph and his brethren you may mark its progress. They took umbrage at the attention which Israel paid to the son of his old ageenvied him the peculiar affection that his father evinced towards himhated him on account of his dreams, and would have murdered him, had not Reuben and Judah interposed on his behalf.

Harriot.-I have not thought on the subject exactly in the same manner as you have mentioned, Sir, although I have never read the history without feeling the greatest abhorrence

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