refrain himself." All strangers were hastily removed, and Joseph, with all tenderness of affection and

delicacy of feeling, made himself known to them as the brother whom they had sold into Egypt, but whom in

reality God had sent before for the purpose not only of saving their lives, but of preserving their posterity,

that so His counsel of mercy with the world might be accomplished. Then let them not be grieved, for God

had overruled it all. Three times must he speak it, and prove his forgiveness by the most loving marks,

before they could credit his words or derive comfort from them. But one object Joseph had now in view: to

bring his father and all his family to be near him, that he might nourish them; for as yet only two out of the

seven years of famine had passed. And in this purpose he was singularly helped by Divine Providence.

Tidings of what had taken place reached Pharaoh, and the generous conduct of his vizier pleased the king.

Of his own accord he also proposed what Joseph had intended; accompanying his invitation with a royal

promise of ample provision, and sending "wagons" for the transport of the women and children. On his part,

Joseph added rich presents for his father. When the eleven returned, first alone, to their father, and told him

all, "the heart of Jacob fainted, for he believed them not." Presently, as he saw the Egyptian "wagons"

arriving, a great reaction took place. "The spirit of Jacob their father revived." The past, with its sorrows and

its sin, seemed blotted out from his memory. Once more it was not, as before, Jacob who spoke, but "Israel"

(the prince with God and man) who said, "It is enough, Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him

before I die."