Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/35

32 life the name and place which their worth may deserve. But He who knows what is best for our eternal good, permits us as His children to suffer even for conscience' sake. In those times in which Joseph lived, the Divine Providence was often manifested as if it had its final issues in this life, because there was no clear knowledge of another life, and because prosperity in this world was the type or ensample of eternal happiness in the next. The present course and sufferings of Joseph were the means by which Providence was to work out a higher place and name than he had enjoyed in the house of Potiphar, captain of the guard.

Again abandoned and cast into the lowest depths of misery, even for his virtues' sake, Joseph is not left without succour. He, without whom a sparrow falls not to the ground, allows not this faithful one to fall without a purpose, nor to suffer without His care. "The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison." The Lord did not appear visibly to Joseph, but He gave him miraculous