Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/33

30 same manner; but Joseph hearkened not unto her. But still more severely than even this was his constancy tried. From entreaty and persuasion his master's wife proceeded to force. "While Joseph was one day engaged in his business, when there was no one in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me; and he left his garment in her hand, and fled and got him out." How strong must have been his religious principles, to resist the pleasures of sin thus thrust upon him!

Turning now to the temptress, we have exemplified, in the conduct of the wife of Potiphar, the truth that impure love is inwardly hatred. No sooner did she find that the virtue of Joseph was proof against all her wiles and violence, than her love was turned into hate. The truth is, the love of the evil is self-love. They love others for the sake of themselves, to derive some selfish gratification from their connection with them; and when their hope is disappointed, they can hate the same person that they seemed to love, and seek revenge as a mere gratification. "She laid up his garment by her, until her lord came home. And