A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 1 · Chapter 14 · Section 7
Section the 7th.
Joſephus relateth how this [Judge Potiphar] moſt highly commended his Wifes Chaſtity and Loyalty, whereof he had now ſo clear a witneſs; but poor Joſeph he Condemned for a moſt ungrateful wretch (forgetting all his Maſters Kindneſſes conferr'd upon him) and for a moſt notorious Whore maſter (that would have raviſhd the Judges Wife and his own Miſtriſs) therefore he (though never heard what he could ſay for himſelf) in the Judges Judgment deſerv'd the moſt direful Doom that could be denounced againſt him: Hereupon he is Doomed into a Dungeon (ſo the place of his Impriſonment is expreſly explained, Gen. 40.15. and 41.14.) Until his Sentence of Death, or Day of Execution: The Hebrew word Sohar, Gen. 39.20. ſignifies the Round-houſe or Round-Tower, of Sahar, round, Cant. 7.2. perhaps from the grinding Mills which the Priſoners were forced to turn round, as Judg. 16.21. yet [Bor] in Gen. 40.15. and 41.14. and ſo Zech. 9.11. ſignifies a darkſom dirty Vault under ground: Here is Joſeph let down and laid up, relying wholly upon his Righteous God.
Joſeph's Exaltation after a long Humiliation had two Harbingers or Providential Precurſors fore-running it.
1. The Abatement of his Sufferings, and 2. His Releaſment from them.
1. Of the firſt, Whether his Sufferings were ſuch as Samſon ſuffered in Priſon Judges 16.21. where that mighty Champion is made to grind in the Priſon-houſe, and ſo like a Drudge or Slave, was not ſuffer'd to eat his Bread till he had earn'd it by this ſlaviſh Service, is uncertain, Joſeph hath no ſuch Remark upon him for ſuch matchleſs ſtrength as Samſon had, and therefore the Philiſtims highly hugg'd themſelves with thinking what a commodious uſe they could make of Samſons mighty ſtrength: Yet this is certain that the Egyptians laid Joſeph in Irons, as the Philiſtims bound Samſon in Fetters of Iron, for the Sacred Writ aſſerteth both, Pſal. 105.18. and Judg. 16.21. yet with this difference, Chaſt Joſeph did leſs deſerve his Iron Fetters, than Unchaſt Samſon, who had long ſuffered himſelf to be bound with the Green Withes of Senſual Delights, and therefore was now more juſtly bound in Fetters of Iron: Neither had Joſeph his Eyes put out, as Samſon had, for they had not been Organs or Inſtruments to inflame his Heart with Luſt by glancing or gazing upon a filthy Harlot, as Samſon's had been: However Joſeph ſuffer'd hard things, and ſuch as he deſerved not, yea, for above two years together, yet ſuffer'd he ſilently from firſt to laſt. All this time, Joſeph either pleads not at all for himſelf, or at leaſt, is not heard of thoſe to whom he made his Plea or Appealed: Doubtleſs he denied the Fact and Offence, but durſt not accuſe the only Offender, who ſeem'd ſo high, as to be above the reach of the Rod of Juſtice: Yet, as ſome ſuppoſe, ſhe might Hang her ſelf (and ſo become Gods Executioner upon her ſelf to ſave others the labour) when ſhe ſaw Joſeph Exalted to the ſecond Place of Honour in Egypt. This is the leſs improbable, becauſe Hiſtory mentioneth a juſt parallel to this, of Bellerophon a young Prince, with whoſe Beauty Sthenobaea Queen of the Argives being taken, ſollicited him to Lye with her, which when he refuſed, ſhe accuſed him to her Husband that he would have Raviſh'd her: This he believing (as Potiphar did here) ſent him with Letters to Jobates King of Lycia, juſt as David did Uriah to Joab, 2 Sam. 11.14, 15.) to make him aaway: Jobatet in order hereunto put him upon many deſperate Services to have diſpatcht him; but finding him Valiant and Victorious (eſcaping all Eminent Dangers) he beſtowed his Daughter upon him with half of his Kingdom; which when wanton Sthenobaea heard of, ſhe Hang'd her ſelf for woe, and ſo perhaps might this wanton Huſwife do, when ſhe ſaw Joſeph ſo Exalted by King Pharaoh; likeneſs in Acting may have likeneſs in End: Yet this Death was too good for her. However the leſs Joſeph pleaded for himſelf, the more did his God plead for him, and even by all theſe croſs and contrary means wrought Joſeph's Exaltation and brought both his Dreams to their full Accompliſhment: Behold and wonder how croſs and contrary was Providence to the Promiſe given by God to him in his Divine Dreams. As,
1. Beſides the Arrows aforeſaid ſhot at him by his Miſtriſs, his Maſter (who had highly honour'd him) muſt ſhoot Arrows at him too: So God would have it, he muſt be Uxorious, give credit to his Wives Craft, not heeding the Rule,
Nil temerè uxori de ſervis crede querenti
Saepe etenim mulier, quem cojnux diligit odit.
Cato.
The Wife will hate, whom the Husband loves , and will aſperſe them: He muſt judge him contrary to that old rule of Judgment [foreign] hear both parties, and caſt him by an improbable evidence; for if Joſeph had been the Aggreſſor and aſſaulted her by force, he would never have left his Coat in her Hand to have been a Witneſs of his forcible aſſault (this the Judge ſhould (at leaſt) have ſupected) yea not only caſt his Cauſe, but his Perſon into Priſon by one Witneſs only, and one that was a party, yea the only guilty party too, whereas by two or three Witneſſes (and ſuch as are indifferent and unbiaſs'd) ought the Judge proceed to Judgment, not firſt execute, then Examine.
2. As to Joſeph, God will have it, that he who even now was advanced to the, higheſt Office in his Maſter's Houſe, muſt all on a ſudden be abaſed, and caſt down into a Dungeon for a capital crime: what he ſaid in his own defence Moſes mentions not, if he pleaded not guilty, his plea muſt not have audience, his enraged Maſter (notwithſtanding all his former Affections for him) muſt now in utmoſt outrage, cry, [Sergeant, take the Rogue, tye his Hands, Fetter his Feet, lay him and leave him in the Dungeon, until the day of his Execution.
☜ Note well, I have inſiſted the longer upon this Wanton Womans attempt upon Joſeph's Chaſtity, upon two grand grounds and reaſons.
1. Becauſe this very Sin of filthineſs and carnal uncleanneſs is the very [peccatum flagrans] the flaming out and loud crying ſin of this preſent time: God ſaw no ſuch ſhameleſs ſin in Iſrael, Numb, 23.21. and therefore none of Balaam's Inchantments could prevail againſt them, v. 23. until he by his wicked wiles had wrought them up to commit this Sin, Numb. 25. at large; aſſuredly the Balaam of Rome, hath uſed his Inchantments againſt England, and when none would prevail, he hath groſly Debauched it, and that to purpoſe with this very ſin of filthy defilements, well knowing, may God hereby become our Enemy, hereby, our defence if gone, and the Pope may come. A Debauched Nation will gratefully and greedily embrace a looſe and licentious Religion ſuch as Popery is, that gives diſpenſations for all ſorts of Debauchery. My
2. Grand Ground is, juſt as the Devils Arch-Archers dealt with Joſeph perſonal here, ſetting a wanton and wicked Miſtriſs to ſhoot ſore at him: So the ſame Devil doth now ſet on that Arch-Archer, that Mother of Harlots, the Romiſh Juncto, to ſhoot her envenom'd Arrows againſt Joſeph Myſtical (ſo the Church of God is called, Amos 6.6.) the Reformed Religion, but God makes her Bow abide in ſtrength, as he did Joſeph's here; there is a Spiritual Adultery, to wit, Idolatry, which the Mother of Harlots, tempts us to as inſolently as ever this lew'd Woman did Joſeph to commit Corporal with her; though the beginning be the Devils, yea and the middle too, yet the end will be the Lords, as in Jobs caſe, Jam. 5.11.
NB. Fourthly, So in Joſeph's alſo, whom God ſeemed to neglect for a long time, and to give him (as it were) up into the hands of Satan and his Inſtruments.
1 Of his Brutiſh Brethren who ſold him for a Slave. 2. Of his wicked Miſtriſs who falſly accuſed him (with ſucceſs) of her own ſin. 3. Of his Maſter, who over-credulouſly caſt him down into the Dungeon: God ſuffered all theſe in ſilence: But not withſtanding all theſe injuries done to Joſeph by Divine permiſſion, yet it plainly appears, that Divine Providence all along dropd down many ſweet allays, both to qualify and to dulcify Joſeph's bitter Potions, all which were Soveraign Cordials, and Sacred Memorials of Divine Mercy, in the midſt of his worſt miſery. As,
1. When his Barbarous Brethren deſperately deſign to deſtroy him, either by the Sword; God raiſes up Reuben to ſave him from that: or by Famine; God jostles in Judah to deliver him from that.
2. When he was ſold for a Slave then there God was with him, and gave him great favour in his Maſters Eyes, ſo that he became advanced to the Higheſt Honour in his Maſters Houſe.
3. When his Miſcreant Miſtreſs would have ſeduced his Soul to Sin, God ſtrengthend him to reſiſt it, and to obtain a Conqueſt over that Temptation.
4. When that Wicked Woman had highly incenſed her Husband by her falſe accuſation againſt him, ſo that the rage of Jealouſie, might have immediately tranſported him into a bloody revenge for Raviſhing his Wife (as he was made to believe) and to execute Joſeph with his own hands: Yet God reſtraind that rage (Pſal. 76.10.) and manacl'd the Hands of enraged Potiphar, as he had done Joſeph's Brethren before, ſo that, as they only could caſt him into the Pit, he only could caſt him into the Priſon: Neither of them could Kill him, or cauſe him to be killed by other hands.
5. When Joſeph was caſt down into the Dungeon, (ſo his Priſon is calld, Gen. 40.15. & 41.14.) yet God, who ſuffer'd Joſeph to be caſt thither, ſuffer'd himſelf (as it were) to be caſt thither alſo, for God was with Joſeph there, Gen. 39.21. as he had been with him in his Slavery, v. 2. God would own him, (well knowing his Innocency) though the World diſown'd him, and dealt moſt miſchievouſly with him, as if he had been the worſt Miſcreant in the World: Oh how good it is to have God our Friend, who will be with us, while we be with him, 2 Chron. 15.3. in our Adverſity as well as in our proſperity; God was preſent with Joſeph (as he was with God) every where, and Gods preſence with him, made him like a Pearl in a Puddle, while he was in Egypt, he ſtill retain'd his Orient and Genuine Vertue, both in his Priſons and in his Palaces, though ſome while he ſeem'd to Relinquiſh his Radiant Luſtre and Splendour. Though God ſuffer'd him to be Impriſon'd, and did not immediately (by ſome Miracle) releaſe him out of Priſon, becauſe of his Innocency, but let him be let down into a Dark Dungeon, yet did not God deſert him, but is graciouſly preſent with him, and ſhew'd him light in that place of Darkneſs, Pſal. 112.4. though it was the Darkneſs of a Dungeon: This was the firſt Harbinger of his Exaltation (aforementioned) to wit, the abatement of his ſufferings, as the ſecond is his Releaſement from them: Though God did indeed ſuffer Joſeph's ſufferings to lye ſore and ſevere upon him for ſome time, and lets him lye two or three years in Priſon, Praying, Weeping, Crying, Toiling and Sweating there, that he might be throughly exercis'd in the practice of Piety, and ſo the better prepared for the beſt preferment; yea, God permitted Innocent Joſeph to be caſt into the Kings Priſon, Gen. 39.20. the worſt place for Traitors, as guilty of High Treaſon, he as it were paſſed through the Traitors Gate, into the Tower Houſe or Dungeon, where he was laid in Irons, which did eat into his Fleſh, or entred into his Soul, Pſal.105.18. as a Sword was ſaid to pierce through the Soul of our Lords Mother, Luk. 2.35. that is, bitter ſorrows did ſorely afflict her for her Sons ſufferings; ſo it could not but be a ſad Cor-dolium to good Joſeph's Soul, his Heart muſt be wounded, to have his reputation thus wounded by a wicked Woman, and for no crime to be caſt into Priſon in peril of his Life, beſides, it could not chuſe but wound his mind, to meditate upon his forlorn condition, ſeeming now to be a mere caſt-away from the Church of God, where before he had been Bleſſed to hear the joyful ſound of Gods Word and Promiſes, Pſal. 89.15. in his Fathers Houſe, inſtead whereof, he was continually follow'd with many contrary croſs Providences, and out of this complication of miſchiefs (befalling him) the Devil frames a Chain of Deſpair (complicated of many Links, and far worſe than thoſe Fetters upon his Feet) wherewith to Chain down his Soul, and cauſe it to Sink into the Pit of Deſperation in his own ſad ſelf-reflections; and to ſtrike him down Dead the more, the Devil might ſuggeſt to him that his Dear Father was Dead at the news of his being devoured by Wild Beaſts: All theſe and many more might unqueſtionably Torment Joſeph's Mind, more than his Iron-Fetters could do his Body: Yet all paſs'd through the Hand of permiſſive Providence which appointed the time, the place, the manner, and the meaſure of them, over-ruling them to Gods Glory, and to Joſeph's Advancement, cauſing this very Impriſonment to be the means thereunto, for unleſs he had been caſt into Priſon, and into the Kings Priſon too, he had not been made known to the King, nor thereby exalted. 'Twas Gods preſence with Joſeph in Priſon, that made his Bow ſtill abide in ſtrength (as his Father ſaid of him, Gen. 49.24.) and Armed him againſt theſe Archers; the Arrows of his Miſtreſs's falſe Accuſation, and of his Maſters furious indignation could not (both of them) kill him. The God of Jacob, the Shepherd and Stone of Iſrael defended him, yea, and notwithſtanding all theſe Archers againſt him, made him a Shepherd and feeder of all his Adverſaries, and a Stone for Iſrael to reſt upon in the Land of Egypt.
☞ Hence we may learn 1. Though we be traduced as was Joſeph (no Beaſts bites worſe than Pick-thanks ſaith Demoſthenes;)
2. Though the Prince's Favour towards us, be turn'd into Frowns upon us (there's no fruſt to be put in them, Pſal. 146.3.) as Potiphar's were to Joſeph;
3. Though caſt into Priſon as he was; all theſe may not daunt us: Gods preſence may be ſtill with us, none of theſe evils ſhall prevent, but all ſhall promote Gods Promiſe by his Preſence. God is now fetching a compaſs (which is both ſtrange and wide) he hath a Wheel within a Wheel, Ezek. 1.16. all working one way, yet unſeen in the work: All preparing the way and ſtraightning crooked paths, for accompliſhing the Promiſes of the latter day, yea and preparing us to be Ripe for them. Moſes proveth that Gods Preſence was with Joſeph by a threefold Argument. The firſt is plainly demonſtrative by its effects, to wit, the Abatement and Mitigation of Joſeph's preſent Priſon-Miſery. The ſecond is more plainly demonſtrative in Joſeph's Inlargement and Releaſement out of Priſon. But the Third is moſt of all ſo, in his Advancement to the Higheſt Honour in Court and Kingdom. As to Moſes firſt Argument, he ſaith [Jehovah was with Joſeph in the Tower-Houſe, and extended Mercy unto him, and gave him Grace, Vaji hen chinne Hebr. gave his Grace, in the Eyes of the Prince of the Priſon, Gen. 39.21. which words import that a Priſon cannot keep God from his Servants, Chriſt ſaith of himſelf, I was in Priſon, &c. Mat. 25.36. to wit, in and with my Members to counter-comfort them in all their Miſeries: It was Gods preſence with the Apoſtles and Martyrs▪ that made their Priſons to become Palaces, the Fiery Furnace, a Gallery of Pleaſure, the very Stocks, a Muſick School, which made Paul and Silas to ſing Pſalms of Praiſe to God at Midnight, when their Feet were faſt in the Stocks, Act. 16.25. this place of ſighing to many Pſal. 79.11. [Let the ſighing of Priſoners come before thee] was made a place or ſinging to thoſe Bleſſed Souls, and if the ſighing, then the ſinging, if the Praying, then the Praiſing, of Priſoners do Mount up much more as a ſweet memorial unto the Lord, as Act. 10.4.
☞ God knows how ſoon we may be caſt into Priſons, (as Joſeph was, and as ſome of us have already been) God's preſence with us (if we be but Joſephs) hath been and will be our beſt Cordial, and may make us to ſpeak another Language than ſighing and ſorrowing, even the Language of ſinging, and rejoycing that we are accounted worthy to ſuffer theſe things at the hands of evil men for doing good duties, and what is commanded us of God, Act. 5.41. Hebr. 11.36, 37, 38. with Hebr. 10.34. we ſhould take it for a grace to be diſgraced for Chriſt, who during our Durance and Impriſonment of Body, can give to us Inlargement of Soul. The Joy of the Lord being our ſtrength, Neh. 8.10. our bow may abide in ſtrength (as Joſeph's did here) alſo: If Chriſt do but ſend the Comforter (as he hath promiſed to do, Joh. 14.16, 18, 26. and 15.26, &c.) he ſhall more Encourage, than any Oppreſſor or Perſecutor can Diſcourage. Chriſt's Preſence makes a Priſon a Paradiſe; therefore ſaith Chriſt, [fear none of theſe things] Rev. 2.10. where he ſhews, how the Devil is limited by God, ſaying, Behold, Satan (in the Juſtices of Peace) ſhall caſt ſome (not all) into Priſon (not into Hell) for only ten days, but not for ever: God will not deſpiſe his Priſoners, Pſal. 69.33. Suppoſe we be ſhut up cloſe in Priſon; yea, in a dark Dungeon (as Joſeph was) yet God and his Angels cannot be ſhut out from us, for as God was with Joſeph, ſo his Angel was with Peter, in Priſon, Act. 12.7. who had a light alſo ſhining upon him in that place of Darkneſs, Pſal. 112.4. though the pleaſant light of the Sun (Eccleſ. 11.7.) be ſhut out from us, yet in Gods, light we ſhall ſee light, Pſal. 36.9. which maketh Night and Darkneſs as the Day, Pſal. 139.12. and whereby we may ſee him who is Inviſible, Hebr. 11.27. Hence was it, that all the Holy Martyrs Glory…d in their Tribulations, Rom. 5.3, 4, 5. finding ſo much Joy in them: Thus the Primitive Apoſtles found plenty in penury, as having nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things, 2 Cor. 6.10. when they wanted the external affluence of worldly Goods, they had the internal Influence of Divine Grace. This made them take joyfully the ſpoiling of their Goods, Heb. 10.34. well-knowing, they had Treaſure in Heaven (that is ſubject neither to Vanity nor to Violence) laid up for them: This they knew (not in Books or by the Report of others, but) in themſelves, in their own Experience, and in the workings of their own Hearts: and thus the Modern Martyrs have found Priſons, Palaces and Paradiſes; as Argerius (that Italian Martyr) Dated his Letter to his Friend, [from the Delectable Paradiſe of my Leonine Priſon] and our own Mr. Philpot in the Marian Days, ſaith, [I and my Fellow-Sufferers do rouze as cheerfully in the ſtraw in bloody Bonner's Coal-Houſe (whither I was carried, and where I with many more were Impriſoned) as our Adverſaries can do upon their beſt Beds of Down: Many more ſuch Stories might be produced, for which I refer (for ſhortneſs) to the Martyrologies; adding one more only, Philip Landſgrave of Heſſe, being a long time Priſoner under the Emperor Charles the 5th, was demanded, what upheld him all that time? He anſwered, that he felt the Divine Conſolations of Gods Preſence, as the Martyrs (before him) had done. How God may deal with us, we know not, 'tis not long ago that in many places of this Land it was a like difficult thing to find a wicked man in the Popiſh Priſons, or a Godly man out of them: and ſhould Popery return, ſuch times may return again. Suppoſe God ſuffer ſuch times, yet,
1. Fear them not, as before, Rev. 2.10. If ſo, God will not deſpiſe (or neglect, as ſome read, Pſal. 69.33.) you, if you be his Priſoners, that is Priſoners for Righteouſneſs ſake, Matth. 5.10, 11, 12. though God may neglect or deſpiſe the worlds Priſoners, as being not in Covenant with him, yet he will not do ſo with his own covenanted Children, that are Impriſoned for his ſake, and for being true to his Covenant; Fear them not, I ſay therefore, ſo as to chuſe Iniquity rather than Affliction, Job 36.21.
2. Flee them not, unleſs God give wings wherewith to flee, as he did to the Woman (the Church) wherewith ſhe did flee into the wilderneſs, there to be fed (though not feaſted) for a certain ſeaſon, Rev. 12.6.14. God may raiſe up ſome great Eagle (as he did Conſtantine the Great) that will lend wings to her, ſufficient means of Safety and protection from Peril, when God opes a Door, then flee (Chriſt gives us Warrant, Matth. 10.23.) 'tis then preſumption, and not obedience, to ſet your ſelves as ſtanding Marks to be ſhot at by the Devil's Arch-Archers. Tertullian was too rigid in Condemning all kind of Fleeing in times of perſecution.
3. Flagg or faint not at or under them: There is a Sea-Faith, and a Land-Faith, a Bettel-Faith, and a Priſon-Faith; 'tis given both to Believe and to Suffer, Phil. 1.29. If we want either▪ we muſt ask them of God, Jam. 1.5. David deſired the wings of a Dove (not of an Eagle) to flee away with from his Perſecutors, Pſal. 55.6. yet when he could not flee from Perſecution, but lay long under it, he deſires that God would ſtrengthen his Faith, and lengthen his Patience, Pſal. 119.28. that his Soul might not melt away, or weep it out like water. And his Son Solomon ſaith, If thou faint in the Day of Adverſity, thy ſtrength is ſmall, Prov. 24.10. As is the man, ſo is his ſtrength, ſaid they to Gideon, Judg. 8.21. That a man is indeed, what he is in his Trials, the Hour of Temptation proves oft a Tap to let out lurking Corruption: Affliction tryes what ſap we have, as Hard weather tryes Health: Rotten Boughs will break when weight is laid upon them; ſo do Earthen Veſſels, when ſet empty to the fire: Joſeph's Bow abode in ſtrength here, he was ſemper idem, Always the ſame, ſuch an one is the man that ſameneſs is Grace, and there is Victory. How Joſeph came to conquer this Tryal from his injurious Maſter (who caſt him into Priſon) as well as that Temptation from his Adulterous Miſtriſs, Moſes mentioneth, becauſe God was with him, and gave him his Grace, whereby he ſubdued Satan's Suggeſtions, ſuch as, What profit haſt thou by thy Piety? Job 21.15. Seeſt thou not thy ſelf a caſt-off? Doth God regard thee? Joſeph had a Priſon-Faith, which made him more Happy in his Chains of Iron, than Potiphar (who Impriſon'd him) was in his Chains of Gold: yea, than Pharaoh himſelf, Potiphar's Lord.
Joſeph ſtood by the ſtrength of his Grace (which God (with him) gave to him) for above two years Impriſonment: the ſeverity whereof was likewiſe qualified to him, by God's moving the Maſter-Jayler to mitigate that Rigour which enraged Potiphar had probably preſcrib'd him to inflict upon Joſeph: Though the former of theſe two years ſorrow and ſuffering lay very ſmart and ſevere upon him, whoſe feet all that time were Hurt with Fetters, &c. but the latter of them, he had more Liberty; for as Joſeph had found Grace in the Eyes of God, ſo God gave him to find favour in the Eyes of the Priſon-Prince; The Heart of that Barbarous Heathen was in God's hand, which, though probably of a moſt boiſterous Temper, (as moſt Jaylers uſually are) mollified and melted, yea mellowed into a Tenderneſs toward poor Joſeph; The ſame hand of God, which (all on a ſudden) broke Eſau's revengeful heart, and turn'd his Fury againſt Jacob, into a fraternal Favour towards him, wrought this mighty Heart-changing work alſo towards Jacob's Son Joſeph, and perhaps the Conduct of God's Spirit upon this Jayler's ſpirit, did gradually convince him by the convincing Carriage and Converſation of Joſeph all this firſt whole year of his hard Uſage and cruel Confinement. Upon this Conviction, Joſeph's Fetters were ſtruck off from his feet (ſadly galled by this time ſurely with them) and now he was no more in arctâ but in liberâ Cuſtodiâ, no longer held faſt in the Stocks, but let free to walk at Liberty within the Priſon-walls, then the ſame Preſence of God that had before advanced him to be the Steward in Potiphar's Palace, lifted him up the ſecond time to become the Steward in Potiphar's Priſon, under whom was this Prince-Jayler, when both of them had ſeen him a proſperous Man in all his Proceedings: whether Potiphar was privy to this Jayler's Kindneſs to Joſeph, is uncertain; probably what favour he ſhew'd him at firſt, Potiphar might be ignorant of. 'Tis altogether improbable that Joſeph would betray his own Innocency by too long and baſe a Silence, but as he did clear it up to the Chief Butler, Gen. 40.14, 15. ſo he had done no leſs before to the Chief-Jayler, while the Iron fetters did eat into his Fleſh: There may no doubt be made of it; but that Joſeph (ſo unjuſtly ſuffering even the foreſt fettering of condemned Malefactors) muſt tell the Jayler (out of the Anguiſh of his Soul) all the true Story of his Miſtriſs's falſe and foul dealing both towards his Maſters, and toward himſelf: which when the Jayler heard, he was moved with Compaſſion towards him (God ſo diſpoſing his heart) ſo inlarged him from his Irons, and then Potiphar being informed by the Priſon Keeper of Joſeph's Innocency might give his after Aſſent not only to his Inlargement, but alſo to his Preferment within the Walls of the Priſon, where Potiphar and the Priſon-Keeper both concurr'd ſtill to confine poor Joſeph, not only upon the account of Prudence to maintain the Honour of that Lady of Honour, together with their own Credit, that ſo foul a fact and fault might be huſht, quaſht and buried in everlaſting ſilence: but alſo upon the Account of Profit, for as Potiphar had ſeen himſelf marvelouſly enriched while Joſeph was in his Palace, ſo he ſaw his Priſon-Keeper wonderfully proſper'd by God's Bleſſing upon Joſeph's Labours in his Priſon; There is no doubt but the Provoſt-Marſhal and his Chief Jayler (as we ſay) went ſnips in the Priſon-proſits.
☞ Thus Innocent Joſeph muſt ſtill remain a Priſoner, though both of them knew his Innocency, they are (both of them) injurious to him, a pious man, leſt the Impiety of a wicked woman ſhould come to light, and ſo be injurious to her and themſelves, and leſt they ſhould loſe that Advantage of Profit by Joſeph's Service.
But the great God had other more glorious Ends than thoſe two great Men (both called Princes in Hebrew) in letting Joſeph lye his two years full out in Priſon: God will not ſuffer his faithful Servant to be ſent out of Priſon in a ſneaking Clandeſtine way, as might have been done by thoſe two Princes aforeſaid, after they underſtood their errour in dealing thus roughly and rigorouſly with an innocent perſon, and as thoſe Magiſtrates would have ſecretly diſmiſs'd Paul and Silas, when perhaps affrighted with the Earthquake, they were convinced of their precipitant fury in ſo deſpitefully uſing, and diſgracefully abuſing thoſe two innocent ones, Act. 16.30, 35, 36, 37, &c. No, God would bring forth his Joſeph with an high hand, and with an out-ſtretched Arm, as he did Iſrael out of Egypt's Bondage afterwards. Though in the mean time Jehovah was with Joſeph all his above two years Impriſonment, making it bearable to him; He had his Abatement and Relaxation long before his Releaſement and Deliverance, he muſt wait upon God there, until the time that his word came, Pſal. 105.19. to wit, the time that Gods purpoſe and promiſe, was accompliſh'd which prophane perſons call Fate, Fortune, &c.
☞ Thus as the Afflictions of Joſeph Perſonal were guided not by Humane, but by Divine Counſel, ſo are thoſe of Joſeph Myſtical (the Church, Amos 6.6.) God appoints the times how long the Church ſhall remain under the Croſs, and when ſhe ſhall be freed from it, both theſe times are Divinely determined; it is therefore neceſſary, that ſo long the Church muſt ſuffer Perſecution with patience, ſeeing God is but all that time trying her (as he did Joſeph) as Metals are tryed and made purer by the Fire (ſo Hebr. Tſadaph properly ſignifies) making her Perſecution proof, thereby proving her Patience, Faith and Conſtancy, and thereby rouzing up her Prayers, not only as Pillars of Smoke, Cant. 3.6. but as fervent Flames aſcending up to God, yet all along comforting her, Hoſ. 2.14. that her pain ſhall not be perpetual, ſeeing there is a time prefix'd wherein to put a period to it. Oh then, who would not but endure the Croſs, and deſpiſe the ſhame through contradiction of ſinners, Heb. 12.2, 3. even the Croſs and ſhame of a Priſon! ſeeing 'tis no untrodden path at this day, for Joſeph, Micaiah, Jeremy, John Baptiſt, Peter, Paul and Silas, yea, Jeſus himſelf (who was taken from Priſon, and from Judgment, Iſa. 53.8.) and all the Holy Martyrs of Jeſus, ſince the firſt planting of the Goſpel, (to this day) have gone before us in the ſame path, we ſhould therefore account it an Honour to have ſuch Aſſociates, and we ſhould fetch comfort from hence, that 'tis but for a time, Deus dabit his quo que finem, better will come after, Poſt tenebras ſplendet, ſurgit poſt nubila Phoebus. The upright ſhall have deliverance out of Priſon, Pſal. 146.7. (as Peter had, Acts 12. and therefore ſpoke his own Experience, ſaying, The Lord knows how to deliver the Righteous, 2 Pet. 2.9. and as Joſeph had here) yea, and they ſhall have Dominion as well as Deliverance, Pſal. 49.14. when God hath fitted them by their Affliction, as he did David by Saul's perſecuting him for many years, till his Soul became as a weaned Child, Pſal. 131.2. as he did Moſes by his Forty years Baniſhment into the Land of Midian, and as he did our Joſeph here by his Eleven years Slavery or Servitude, and his above two years Impriſonment: Then (to wit, at Gods time) King Pharaoh ſent and looſed him, Pſal. 105.20. and that by his own Maſter Potiphar, who had clapt him up there by his wanton Wives wicked Inſtigation: He had been bound Ignominiouſly, but now comes he to be looſed Honourably; and this is not all, Joſeph is not let looſe, and ſo bid to ſhift for himſelf, no, but Pharaoh makes him Lord of his Houſe, Pſal. 105.21. who had been made a leſſer Lord twice, in Prince Potiphar's Palace, and in the Royal Priſon; he had Palace-preferment and Priſon-preferment before his grand Deliverance, as Pledges of it. Now Joſeph is mounted to that height of Dominion, as that he might bind Pharaoh's Princes at his pleaſure, Pſal.105.22. even Potiphar himſelf and his Fellow-prince, the Priſon-keeper: if he had liſted, he could have paid them home in their own Coin, but that Gods Law (of recompenſing to no Man evil for evil, Rom. 12.17.) was writ in his Heart: And that his Adulterous Miſtriſs might tremble more than his Injurious Maſter, at Joſeph's Inveſtiture with ſuch an over-awing and over-ruling Authority, is eaſie to imagine: All this Moſes mentions, the means and manner, &c. in Gen. 40. and 41, &c.