The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-08-22
Our Young People
BY REV. R. H. RIVERS. D. D.
JOSEPH.
4 Model for Young Men.


l desire to talk to you, young
people, this morning about Joseph
the son of Jacob. l can remember
well when 1 first read the history oil
Joseph, as it is given in the Bible
l was wonderfully interested. Tho
but boy, 1 had begun the reading
of my Bible regularly through,
When 1 got to Joseph l could not
rest until had read all that related
to him L thought the Bible the
most interesting Book that 1 had
ever read. l think so still; and
among the most beautiful things in
the good Book are those that are
told about Joseph. His father and
mother were old when he was born.
He was a beautiful and favorite
boy; his father loved him too well.
This excited the envy of his broth
ers. of whom there were ten besides
Benjamin. They were all shep-
herds and they would carry their
flocks from one pasture ground to
another. Joseph, besides exciting
their envy on account of his icing
the favorite of his father, had some
wonderful dreams, which gave to
his brothers great offence. This
caused them to determine upon his
death. Now, you must all get your
Bibles and read how strangely he
was saved after he was thrown into
the pit to starve to death; how he
was sold as slave; how rich man
named Potipher bought him; how
be lost his place by the wickedness
of Mrs. Potipher; how he was
thrown into prison, and what
strange dreams he explained to the
butler and baker OF the king; how
this led to his being called upon to
tell the meaning of the dreams oi
Pharaoh, King of Egypt; and how
he was placed at the head of all the
men that Pharaoh honored. Then
| want you to read about the fam
inc, and all about his brothers com.
ing to buy corn from him, not know,
ing who he was, and how at last he
made himself known to them. You
will find it all in the first book OF
the Bible, and it will be more inter
esting to you than any novel.
My object in talking to you about
Joseph is to show you what a good
boy he was, and what a good man
he became. He was not spoiled be
cause his father loved him so much
1t is a wonder that he was not. II
is very apt to make a boy foolish
and vain for his father to show thai
he loves him more than he does his
brothers. But Joseph was not
ruined even by his beautiful coat OF
many colors which his father gave
him. He was modest and humble
even when tempted to be naughty
and proud. His brothers hated
him, but he did not hate them in
return. He continued in the path
of duty, the same noble boy, and
was not turned out of the way by
the too great fondness of his father
or the envy and hatred Of his broth
ers. His strong character with
stood the shocks Of too great par
TALLY on the one hand and of in
tense hatred on the other. That is
he remained firm, true and consist
ent in the midst of circumstance
which would have caused most PEG
pie to fall He was no tattler, and
yet he felt it to be his duty to tel
his father some sins Of which his
brothers had been guilty. Now, on
different occasions have cautioned
you against tattling and talebearing,
1t is an abominable habit. Joseph,
acting from principle, told his IA
ther what he ought to know. He
did it for the good of his brothers.
He did it from a sense of duty, we
may well believe, 1t was an un-
pleasant duty. 1t is always I'M
pleasant to inform parents of the
faults of their children. ! have
known it to make both parents and
children the enemies of the one
who, from the purest motives, gave
information which ought to have
been given to the parents. Upright,
good men oftsR shrink from such a
painful duty. know from painful
experience what a trial it is; and
yet it is often a duty that pure love
to both parents and children die
tates. The highest interests of the
child can be met only by the father
when he knows the faults of his
children.
Brother" said Sabbath-school
superintendent to a most devoted
father, ''your son Tommy behaved
very badly at church last Sunday"
Now, Tommy was a bright, beautl-
full boy, and was the pride Of his ia
Their. The information mortified
the father very much, but it did not
offend him with the good superin-
tendent. 81 thank you," said he,
"for telling me. l will see Tommy
and correct him for such conduct
He knows that / do not allow it,"
Now this was right, and was cred
liable TO both the superlntendent
and the father o. TomtIy. Tommy
is now a noble man, and never mis-
behaves at church. This, as | I'M
derstand the character of Joseph,
was the very motive that prompted
him at the early age of seventeen
years to bring the evil report to his
father.
Joseph had perfect control of his
ne meyer showed anger.
He did not retaliate when his broth
ers abused him. He was always
patient. They ridiculed him; they
threatened to kill him; they threw
him into a pit; they cruelty sold
aim as a slave; they tore his beau
.iful coat OF his back and bid him
20; and under all this he manifested
10 bad temper. He was cruelty
.reated by the guilty wife of Poti
lher. She abused him. She told
ler husband a tale that had in it
Tot a word of truth. She had him
deprived of his place AS steward,
md thrown into prison, and Joseph
vas patient under all this limo