The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-26
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOMORROW
BY J. E. GILBERT, IL, D., 'ecretary American Society Religious Education

when the entire household arrived,-an evidence of wise forethouoht.
 fromlsed'- -tVerse 1.)-There was more m Joseph,s words than mere direction 10 leave Canaan for Egypt That alone might have been very unwelcome to the broken heart of the aged Jacob. All Life does not consist in food and raim- ent. tLuke, xii, 15.) Joseph, as a lov- ing son, knew that his father would de- sire some expression that revealed the nourish thee. he said. a promise bi., enough to fill ;he saddest heart with joy. Located in Goshen Jacob would not De left to himself, to draw his support as best he could from such stores as had been laid up or such supplies as nature might afterward yield. But Jo- seph, the dearly-beloved son of the la mented Rachel. supposed to be dead, now clothed with power, would minister to him. Nothing that a good heart could suggest or ample means supply would
 be lacking. And all this he would do out of a sincere desire to protect his fathers household from poverty and want. Beautiful word to be sent to an absent parent
 must have known that this message would seem to his father idle and vain, too good to be true. The story of the coat of many colors, dipped in blood had torn the lad, would come to the mind of Jacob, Gen., xxXvii, 32) His long and bitter lamentation, refusing to De comforted, with all the horror of be- thoughts. The weary years that had passed, probably two decades, during which there had been no intelligence from the lost son, would make the news or his present exceedingly incredible. And the known deceit and dishonesty of these sons who had caused him much trouble Gen. xxiv; 20. would lead him fear tnlt fhpV nT0nnSoA to In difficulty. Hence Joseph found 1t necessary to send assurances to hts fath- CT. His brethren We're to declare, and Benjamin in particular should confirm what they said, that they had seen Joseph, that they had heard him speak, and by their combined testimony, the father was to know of Joseph's honor
 Embraced IA and 15.)-By this time the hearts of all present were flow ing together. The assuring and excus- ing words of Joseph, his elevated concep- tions of Providential leadings his dis position to claim as brothers those who had forfeited all right to his regard, his tender solicitude for his father his gen erous proposition for support during the coming years of famine,-all this com bined to dispel the fear and awaken the admiration. gratitude and affection of the sons of Jacob. Joseph took the ini- tative in the demonstrations that fol- lowed. He fell upon the neck of Benja- min and embraced him, and the two Wept together as brothers restored after long separation. This spectacle moved other hearts, and in turn the ten were treated to the same evidence of regard. These acts performed the company en- gagged in d free and informal talk in which ideas were exchanged, questions asked and answered, and advices given such as brothers might be supposed to offer.
 Reflections. .-Nothing in human nature is more beautiful than the spirit of fra ternity. IL is characteristic of the mo- blest and best of men. The baser sort know nothing of it's delights. Fraterni- ties may rest on the basis of common occupation and interest, or spiritual affinities,-the one seeking material ad- vantage, the other delighting in sympa- thies that satisfy the heart. Blood re- lationship ought to be higher and holier than commercial association. Brothers according to the flesh display blemishes and weaknesses of a revolting kind when they are not in accord, and they ought to have mutual concern because of com mon parentage. The unity of the race. an end proposed in the Gospel, must be promoted largely through the unity of families. Our lesson furnishes an excel lent illustration of what is possible and desirable among brothers. and its secret is to be found in the piety of Joseph, who felt that as a servant of God he must be true to his own people. One of the chief purposes of religion is to bring men into fellowship. (Eph., iv, 31-32)