The Twenty Sixth of September.

THE STONE OF ISRAEL --- Genesis 49:22-24.

"Joseph is a fruitful bough; the archers have sorley grieved him, and shot at him; and hated him; but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel." --- Genesis 49:22-24.

Joseph is acknowledged to be an eminent type of the Messiah: by bringing some circustances under one view, the resemblance will appear conspicuous and striking. Joseph was in a peculiar manner beloved by his father; Christ is the dear Son of his Father's love. Jacob made for Joseph a coat of many colours; God prepared a body in human nature for Christ, filled and adorned with the various gifts and graces of the Spirit without measure. Joseph was hated by his brethren, and they could not endure to think he should have dominion over them; the Jews, Christ's brethren according to the flesh, hated him, and would not have him reign over them.

Joseph was sent by his father on a long journey to visit his brethren, and know their welfare; Christ was sent from the bosom of the Father, to seek and to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Joseph's brethren conspired to take away his life; the Jews said, "This is the heir, let us kill him;" and they consulted to take away his life. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, at the motion of Judah; and Christ, by one of the same name, was sold for thirty pieces of silver. Joseph was delivered to strangers, and Christ to the Gentiles. Joseph being reckoned dead by his father, and yet alive, may be an emblem of Christ's death and resurrection from the dead.

In Joseph I my Jesus see,
How archers shot and grieved thee;
Into the grave, like Joseph cast,
And raised, like him, a Prince at last.

Devotion for September 26