The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-03-26
FIRESIDE SERMONS !!
And Joseph dreamed dream, and he
told it his brethren; and they hated him
vet the more."-Gen. xxXvii 5.

would De denOmlnaCed Gno smart boy OF
the family. The father. Jacob, thought
more of Joseph than of any other boy in
the family, and what BODIED i'll to the favo-
rite, the father did not attempt to conceal
his partiality but rather vaunted it by the
fact that he gave Joseph coat of ''many
colors." This would not perhaps be con-
sidered highly fashionable garment in
this day and generation, but Joseph doubt
less felt that he was setting the fashions
for the higher grade of Society, and per-
haps felt a commiseration bordering on
contempt, for his brethren who had, by
force of circumstances, to cOnfine them
selves to one plain simple color for coat.
The brethren saw that Joseph was the es-
pecial pet of the old gentleman, which did
not tend to intensity their love for him
and when the variegated coat was donned
their envy and hatred overstepped the
bounds of safety and reason. Joseph had
that fatal weakness common to many
young men who have been for the time
being exalted above their FELLOWSHIP was
fond of boasting of himself.
AS they were binding sheaves in the
field he expressed to the brethren dream
he had experienced, in which his own
sheaf had stood upright in the field, while
the sheaves of all his brethren stood round
about and made obeisance to his sheaf
After the relation of this dream the breth-
rem hated him with still deadlier hatred.
But the young boaster of the speckled
coat was not through with his boastings
yet. He had still another dream of which
he informed his brethren. This time the
sun and moon and eleven stars made
obeisance to him. This was even too
much for the father, and he rebuked the
young man-colored coat and all. For
this dream placed not only the brothers,
but the parents, in the attitude of servants
to the young man. The father, seeing the
condition of feeling on the part of the en-
vious brothers, sent them to feed his f1ocks
at distance. But Jacob-noW known
as Israel-sent Joseph to see how the
other boys were getting along with the
f1ocks. Joseph became lost and was wan
dering about searching for his brethren
and their f1ocks, when man found him
and informed him that the brethren and
the f1ocks had gone to Dothan. Thither
he went, but his brothers seeing him COM
ing resolved to slay him. One, Reuben,
besought them not to slay him, but to
cast him into pit which was in the will
derness, which was done. AS the breth-
ren sat down to eat, a caravan of Ishmael-
ties came along, and Joseph, this young
man who was such a great favorite with
his father, this pet who possessed such a
beautiful coat, and who dreamed such
grand dreams, was sold to them for twen-
ty pieces of silver, and he was taken to
Egypt. Then the boys took the beautiful
coat, and killed kid-all of Jacobs bad
luck centered In a transaction in kids
dipped the variegated garment into the
blood, and took it home, convincing the
father that his favorite had been devoured
by beast.
Thus came about disastrous result,
almost murder, because of the inexcus-
able pride of a young man in asserting
his superiority over his brethren. And
shall we say that Joseph was the last man
to wear highly-colored garment? All
along the pathway of life you may find
the modern Joseph. folding his dainty
garment about him, and attempting to
avoid contact with his less fortunate fel-
styled as the being who is nearest the
cross-too frequently permit their heads
to be entirely carried away by the gaiety
of their colored garments, and look with
disdain upon their plainly clad sisters
Yet all these proud people know not at
what moment they may be placed COM
pletely in the power of their seemingly
less fortunate fellows, and dependant en-
tirely upon the forbearance or charity of
the latter. Joseph's trouble came of
wearing highly-cOlOred coat. But even
this would not necessarily have rendered
him an object of hatred, had there not
been, connected with it, spirit of boast
ing over his fellows. Outside ornamental
tion, or inside dreaming will not make
man or woman superior to his or her fel-
lows. There are other and far different
essentials of Christian character, other
qualities of mind and heart, that must be
cultivated, in order to give one the highest
standing obtainable in this life. An hon.
est heart and nobility of purpose may
lurk beneath tattered vest, and very
contemplate character may revel in the
gayest colors. The proper way to arrive
at proper estimate of ones own charac-
ter, is to throw aside all fine ornamental
ton, and in the plain yet rich garb of
Gods children, compare experiences. one
with another, and if to that is added a
mutual purpose and effort to build up the
character and bless the SOUL the Lord may
thus be glorifed in His children.