are accomplishing in a way that we know not. And so, in their present conduct regarding the gospel of Christ, they might be speaking peace to themselves, whilst sudden destruction was coming upon them unawares. The very means which they took to secure themselves, might bring about the evil which they feared.

To this purpose, there was a remarkable instance in the case of Joseph, of which Stephen next reminds them.

9. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

10. And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

12. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

13. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he and our fathers,

16. And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in

the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem.2

Stephen adverts to these facts, without drawing out the inference to which they might lead. But we cannot help remarking how nearly the case of Joseph resembled the case of Jesus.

Joseph was innocent, yet in trouble: nay, in trouble for this very reason, because he was innocent. The envy of his brethren, whom he so greatly excelled; the malice of the wife of Potiphar, which he refused to conciliate, these were the cause of the affliction into which he was thrown.

So whilst the Lord Jesus was upon earth. Had he not convicted the Scribes of their covetousness, and the Pharisees of their hypocrisy, and the chief priests and rulers of unfaithfulness to their trust, he would have been unmolested by them. "For envy they delivered him" to Pilate.3

It was, however, through the injustice done to Joseph that the purpose of God was answered. In the sight of men, it might appear that Joseph 66 was smitten of God, and afflicted." But on the contrary we are told, that God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions. It was part

2 In the course of copying, an error has crept in here, and the name of Abraham has been inserted instead of that of Jacob. It appears by Gen. xxxiii. 19, and Joshua xxiv. 32, that Jacob was the purchaser of the sepulchre in which Joseph's bones were laid. 3 See Matt. xxvii. 18. Mark xv. 10.

of the plan, which God had before revealed to Abraham, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land. His brethren's malice sent Joseph down to Egypt. His captivity in Egypt saved his father

and his brethren from famine.

And so it was by the death of Jesus, procured through false and malicious accusation, that God was preparing salvation: salvation even for some out of those very enemies who had before despised and rejected their deliverer. As the family of Jacob would have perished, if Joseph had not been sold into Egypt, and imprisoned in Egypt :—so if Christ had not died, that remnant of the family of Jacob, and of Isaac, and of Abraham, would have perished everlastingly, concerning whom we lately read, that they were "added to the church daily," became "obedient to the faith," were "converted " and "baptized," were "saved."

Things so remarkable and unexpected, strongly remind us of the conclusion to which St. Paul is brought, after a similar strain of reflection. (Rom. xi. 33.) "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever! Amen."

LECTURE XVIII.

CONTINUATION OF STEPHEN'S
DISCOURSE. -A. D. 33.

ACTS vii. 17-36.

17. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18. Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

19. The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

20. In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

21. And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

Thus silently and unobservedly the counsels of God proceed. Perhaps it was in the mind of Stephen to point this out to his countrymen. For a long series of years their forefathers, the favoured people of God, were evil entreated. "Their lives

1

were made bitter with hard bondage." An attempt was even formed to cut off the whole race.

1 Ex. i. 14.

VOL. I.

F

But this very attempt proved the means through which effect was given to the divine purposes. If the command had not been issued, that no male children should be preserved alive, Moses would not have been cast out from his father's house, would have been brought up as a bondman like his father, instead of being nourished as a prince is nourished, and instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.

Yet Moses, thus designed of God for the deliverance of the nation, was at first rejected by his own brethren.

23. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian :

25. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them : but they understood not.

26. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27. But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

28. Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?

29. Then Moses fled at this saying; and was a