Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/152

 mercy: he  was  so  moved  by  the  sight  of  them  and  their  anxieties  that he could  not  restrain  his  tears. Is he  not  a noble  and  beautiful  character ? Would that  all  brothers  and  sisters  loved  each  other  like  that!

Restitution. Jacob  bade  his  sons  take  back  with  them  the  money which they  had  found  in  their  sacks*  the  reason  which  he  gave  being that it  might  have  been  put  there  by  mistake. Jacob was,  we  can  see by this,  upright  and  conscientious,  and  wished  to  restore  what  he  had found to  its  owner. “If”, said  he  to  himself,  “this  Egyptian  governor refuses to  take  money  for  the  corn,  and  has  had  the  money  returned in the  sacks  on  purpose,  then  we  can  keep  it  with  a clear  conscience; but if  it  has  been  given  back  by  mistake,  I will,  anyhow,  return  it, and then  my  conscience  cannot  reproach  me.”

How do  you  behave  to  your  brothers  and sisters? Do you  provoke  or  strike  them? And are  you  angry and revengeful  when  they  have  injured  you? Do you  often quarrel with  them? Where, then,  is  your  love  for  them? You ought to  love  all  your  neighbours;  and  surely  your  brothers  and sisters are  nearer  to  you  than  any  one  else,  and  you  ought  to love  them  more  than  any  one  else.

Do you  really  love  your  parents ? Do you  ever  vex  or  grieve them? You will  have  neither  happiness  nor  blessing  in  life,  if  you do not  honour  your  parents.

Have you  kept  anything  which  does  not  belong  to  you? Have you  always  restored  anything  you  have  found  to  its  owner, or returned  the  money  when  too  much  change  has  been  given to you  &amp;c.?

HEN Joseph  commanded  the  steward  to  fill  their  sacks  with corn, and  to  put  each  one’s  money  in  the  top  of  his  sack; but to  place  in  the  mouth  of  Benjamin’s  sack  Joseph’s  own  silver cup. This was  done,  and  the  brothers  set  out  on  their  journey.

But they  had  scarcely  gone  forward  a little  way,  when  Joseph sent his  steward  after  them,  who,  overtaking  them,  accused  them of stealing  his  master’s  cup. He said:  “Why  have  ye  returned evil for  good?”  Struck  with  terror,  and  angry  at  being  suspected of theft,  the  brothers  replied: “With  whomsoever  the  cup  shall