in the time of distress, we use not the meant he has graciously provided for our preservation. We must not expect useless miracles.'
"If a multitude of starving people were on one side of a brook, and on the other there was an abundance of corn for which there was no consumer, would it not be a tempting and a mistrusting of God, who had provided that superfluity, if they did not use the means he had graciously provided for their preservation—if they did not take of such things as they could spare, and give them in exchange for that for the lack of which they were on the brink of starvation? It would be the height of presumption and profanity if they looked for useless miracles—if they stood listlessly still and expected manna to be rained down from heaven, while before them lay the produce of an abundant harvest, and all that they had to do was to cross the brook and make an amicable bargain for a share?
"About two hundred years after the Chaldean chief had sought supply in Egypt, in the time of a descendant of his, who had arrived at the rank of a great prince, another famine afflicted the land, and he, like his ancestor, sought for relief from the abundance of a more fortunate country. We find it recorded 'that, when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt he said unto his sons: Why do you look one upon another? Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt; get you gone down thither, and buy for us from them, that we may live and not die.' Upon this passage, full as it is of instruction to us, who live three thousand five hundred years after the event, and yet have framed laws to prevent the abundance of one country from relieving the distresses of another, the enlightened commentator—enlightened by the very spirit of the—old record says:—
"'Thus Providence orders it that one place should be a succour and supply to another, for we are all brethren. The Egyptians, the seed of accursed Ham, have plenty, when God's blessed Israel want. Thus God, in dispensing common favours, often crosses hands. Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt; he saw the corn that his neighbours had bought there and brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see where supplies are to be had, and to see others supplied. He reproved his sons for delaying to provide corn for their families. He said, 'Why do you look one upon another ?' Note, when we are in trouble and want, it is folly for us to stand looking one upon another; that is, to stand desponding and despairing as if there was no hope, no help; to stand disputing, either which shall have the honour of going first, or the safety of coming last; to stand deliberating and debating what we shall do, and doing nothing. Let it never be said, 'we left that to be done to-morrow which we could as well have done to-day.' Jacob quickened them to go to Egypt.'Get you down thither.' Masters of families must