Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/135

 grateful  for  the  love  and  care  shown  them  by  their  parents,  and try to  be  a joy  to  them? Ask yourself  if  you  have  ever  vexed, irritated, or  grieved  your  parents,  and  resolve  that,  for  the  future, you will  be  a joy  to  them  by  your  obedience  and  diligence. And do not  forget  to  pray  every  day  for  them.

Joseph’s brethren  scoffed  at  him  as  a dreamer. Do you  not often tease  your  brothers  and  sisters  or  companions,  and  give  them abusive names? You must  not  let  this  bad  habit  take  possession of you,  for  you  do  not  like  others  to  give  you  such  names. Do unto others  as  you  would  they  should  do  to  you!

N arriving  in  Egypt,  the  merchants  sold  Joseph  to  Putiphar, the captain  of  the  royal  guard  And  the  Lord  was  with Joseph, blessing  him  in  all  he  did;  wherefore  he  found  favour with his  master,  who  gave  him  charge  of  all  his  household. And the Lord  blessed  the  house  of  the  Egyptian,  for  Joseph’s  sake, and multiplied  his  riches. But, after  some  time,  Joseph  was severely tried  in  his  new  home. The wife  of  Putiphar  urged  him  to commit  a most  grievous  sin. But Joseph  would  not  consent,  and said: “Behold,  my  master  hath  delivered  all  things  to  me. How, then, can  I do  this  wicked  thing,  and  sin  against  my  God?”  But even this  decided  refusal  did  not  prevent  the  wicked  woman  from renewing her  attacks  on  Joseph’s  virtue,  and  every  day  she  importuned him  anew. But Joseph  would  not  listen  to  her.

Now, it  so  happened  that  Joseph  was,  one  day,  alone  in  the house, attending  to  some  business,  when  the  woman  took  hold  of the  skirt  of  his  cloak,  and  renewed  her  shameful  proposal. But Joseph fled,  leaving  his  cloak  in  her  hands. The woman,  seeing herself thus  slighted,  began  to  hate  Joseph  and  to  falsely  denounce him to  all  the  household  and  to  her  husband  on  his  return  saying: “The Hebrew  servant  whom  thou  hast  brought,  came  to  me  to