'thePát'riapchál lFúnérrll: 5 5 are the font of meri. Jofeph a perfon high ih the.efteent of Fharaoh, higher in the favotir ofGod , great in the power ofEgypt, greater in the power of the spirit, yet he forgets not his filial relation, yet he cannot deny his haturál obligation, but as a pious Son, he pays the laft tribute ofhis duty to Jacob.; Andhe made h moisrn- ingfor his Father, who begat him. Secondly, hemade a mourningfor his Farber, who lovedhini. Ldve;when in an equal, commandeth love ; and this is fo ¡hit, that fire doth not' more naturally create aflame. In this the fimilitude is fo great, that there is no difference in the nature ofthe loveproduced, and that whichdid produce it; But when it fir({ begin- neth in a fuperior perfon,the proper effcl Whichit createthin aft inferiour; isnot Of a tingle nattire;but facha love as ismingled with duty and refpe &. The love Of God to man challengeth love from us; but thatoffuch a nature as cannot be denionftra- ted but by obedience;and thatofa Father to his Son is of the fame condition;though not inthe fame proportion. TheFather loveth, firft withcare and tendernefs ;wit a proper and a tingle love ; the Son returns it with another ccloúr mingled with duty;blended withrefpe&. Now Jacob had many, thildren,andasail eminent ex- ample he loved them all : but among the raft,. there was one clearer and warmer flame ; forhelovedJofephmore than allbis children: the off-fpring ofRachel; 6e Gen. ;;: ¢. Stan ofhis oldage, the Heirofhis Vertues, the Corrector ofhis Brethren, the Be- lovedofGod, had a greater (hare in Jacobsaffcaion than thereft óf hisAle.. He did not fo much prefer his Wivesbefdrehishand- maids, he didnot fohighly volue R,gcbel before Leah;as he did efteem Jofeph beforethe off- fpring ofthem all This Wasthe paternal have of Jacob, and this was anfweredwith as high a filial refpe& in Jofeph ; which after death could not otherwife be expreffed than iii tears ; ìnd therefore he madeamourning forhia Father, who loved liirn: . Thirdly, be made a mourningfor his Father, who had bleffedhim. Ble(iing is the foveraign a&of God,and the power of benedi&ion like thepower ofGod. Ht de= ligiteth this rower unto his Priefts, whohand between God and Mari, 'and blcfs the Sons of men in the name of God. He derives the fame Upon our rfátúral Pá- rents ; that children honouring thenmay expel his blefling upon their delires and prayers. And what greater favour could we ask ofGod then that thofeper- fons who have the molt natural affeetion towardsus,. fhotild'alfo have the greatcft power to blefs its ? Now when the timedrew nigh -that IliadMuff die, when his body drew nearer to theEarth , and his foul to Heaved, when his delires were higheft, and his words of the greateft efficacy; he called tonto hit Sons, and ñlcfd them , e)erj' and according to his biding he ble/fed them: But as he loved Jofeph Gin.. s. tong More than all his Brethren; fohe bleffed him above them all : he made one Tribe of every Son, and two ofhim : his affection fhew'd it felt Rhetorical in hisBend - di£Zion, Paying, The biding: of thy Father have prevailed above the blengs ofmy, Progenitors : unto the ntmoft bounds of the everlafting hills they /hall be on the head of Jofeph; andbn the crown Ofthe head ofhim chai was feparate fromhis treihren. Gtrs. 49: a3. "Giving this Benediction; Jacob dies ; receiving this Blefling; Jofeph fiirvives, who can retìder no other Retribution after his death, but careof his Burial, and tears at tiffs Funeral, e,4nd therefore hemade a mourning for his Father¡ who had b'leffed him: Fourthly; hemade amourningfor his Father, Whohad Mourned for him. The Parents cares and fears are equal; and when any infelicity betides their children, their griefs are great ; and all there bear a proportion with their kite: Íow the Gen; fy. 4. rove of Jacob to Jofeph was tra7iftendent; and being fo, it rais'd ás high an hatred in the hearts-of his Brethren ;' by which he was; in theirintention, and in his Fa- thers opinion, dead: Andnow the Funeral is Jofeph's, let us fee howJacobdöes appear. He rent his cloihes, andput fackcloth upon his loiiis, andmournedfor his Gaño #7. ;5. Son many dayes. Here isa real- demonftration -upon a fuppofed death, and a feri- ous mourning at a feigned Funeral. Had hisdeareft Sonbeen deed, yethémight Well take comfort in his numerous off-fpridg, but he didnot; for äll his Sind and All his daughters rofe up to comfort him ; but he refsfed to be comforted : and hefind, for I willgo down Hatothegrave into mil Son mourning ; thus hi.maim- weptforhim.
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