Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/154

 Children  should  show  their  love  for  their  parents  by  never  annoying  or grieving  them,  and  by  helping  them  in  their  necessities. And, in  the same way,  brothers  and  sisters  ought  to  love  one  another.

In order  to  spare  his  old  father  grief,  Juda offered to  be  a slave,  instead  of  Benjamin,  for  the  rest  of  his  life. Have you  ever  caused  sorrow  to  your  parents? Repent of  this, and take  every  pains  to  be  a joy  to  them  by  your  obedience, diligence &amp;c. “Son, grieve  not  thy  father”  (Ecclus.  3,  14).

Juda protected  Benjamin. You ought  to  take  up  the  cause of your  younger  brothers  and  sisters,  and  help  them  to  pray  and learn to  keep  from  evil  and  love  what  is  good. But are  you  not, on the  contrary,  cross  with  them,  and  do  you  not,  sometimes, encourage them  to  do  wrong?

OSEPH could  no  longer  restrain  himself,  and,  therefore,  he commanded  his  officers  and  servants  to  retire. Then, with tears and  sobs,  he  said: “I  am  Joseph. Is my  father  yet  living?” His brothers  could  not  answer  him,  being  struck  with  exceeding great fear. But Joseph  said  mildly  to  them:  “Come  nearer  to me. I am Joseph,  your  brother,  whom  you  sold  into  Egypt. Fear nothing, for  God  sent  me  before  you  into  Egypt  for  your  preservation.”

Then he  said:  “Make  haste,  and  go  ye  up  to  my  father, and say  to  him: ‘Thus  saith  thy  son  Joseph: Come  down  to  me ; linger not; and  thou  shalt  dwell  in  the  land  of  Gessen; and  thou