A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 1 · Chapter 14 · Section 8
Section the Eighth.
Moſes having demonſtrated the firſt Mercy of God to his Suffering Servant Joſeph, to wit, the abatement and mitigation of his Sorrows and Sufferings, comes next to the ſecond, to wit, his Releaſement out of Priſon, where he
1. Declares the Preparatory Providences falling out in tendency towards it; and
2. The Providential Performance of it. Firſt of the Firſt.
Firſt, The foreign or Preparation towards it is moſt Remarkable in many Eminent Occurrences concurring to Joſeph's Deliverance; for in order to it,
1. Two of Pharaoh's Princes muſt offend King Pharaoh.
2. Theſe two muſt be caſt into Priſon for that Offence.
3. Into that very Priſon where Joſeph was.
4. Joſeph muſt then be the Ruler of that Priſon.
5. The Provoſt Marſhal even Potiphar muſt have theſe two Offenders committed to him, as his Priſoners.
6. Potiphar muſt give Joſeph (now the Ruler of the Priſon) the charge of thoſe two Princes.
7. Theſe two Priſoners muſt have each their troubling Dreams there and then.
8. Joſeph in his adminiſtring to them (as he did to all the other Priſoners according to his Ruling Office) muſt obſerve the ſadneſs of them both, and enquire after the cauſe of it.
9. They hereupon muſt declare their ſeveral Dreams (congruous to their diſtinct conditions) unto Joſeph.
10. Joſeph (by the help of his God, whom he had preſent with him in Priſon) muſt be made able to Interpret both theſe Dreams in correſpondency to the Events in both.
11. Pharaoh muſt Dream too, and twice, ſuch Dreams as none of his Magicians could Interpret, either his firſt or laſt.
12. At this non-plus, the Butler muſt remember Joſeph, mind Pharaoh how he had Interpreted his Priſon-Dream: Hereupon Joſeph muſt be releas'd out of Priſon in all haſte, brought before Pharaoh; interprets both his Dreams; for which he was exalted to be the ſecond Man to the King: From hence have we many moſt famous remarks. As
1. Obſerve here the marvellous contexture of many Divine Diſpenſations, which the moſt wiſe God did (as it were) link together (in a way of Subſerviency one to another) and all to bring about this one, his own glorious End, to wit, Joſeph's Deliverance. David enquiring of God, muſt not go the direct way, but he muſt fetch a Compaſs, 2 Sam. 5.23. As David muſt not, ſo David's God and our God will not go the direct way, but he will fetch a Compaſs, and ſo undoubtedly God is doing at this day: God loves to go a way of his own, which is always a good way, yea, the beſt way, though it ſeem (to Humane Eyes) oft but a crooked way: God loves to walk the Maze in many Meanders, Windings and Turnings, and is never at ſuch a loſs in any Labyrinth, but by the Clew of his own Wiſdom he can extricate himſelf and his own work upon the Wheel, and he will certainly unravel all thoſe Intricacies of our preſent times, bringing them all to a Glorious Iſſue, as he did all thoſe Intrigues about poor Joſeph: The like limits are allotted to us now, as were allotted to Gods people of old, even a limit or border of fetching a Compaſs, Numb. 34.5. Though we be Paſſive and God only Active herein; and though Providence hath its pauſes, it hath alſo (as the Planets) its Eccentrick motion, yet even in thoſe Oblique Lines wherein it moveth, its Eye hath a direct proſpect to its proper period, which in the appointed time it alway attaineth, and none can fruſtrate it. Thus the Great God goeth about, while he goeth about to do ſome great work: 'Tis a Law the Creator hath put upon his Creature (the Sun) to traverſe the Oblique Lines (about the Equinoctial) of the Zodiack, yet neither the Sun, nor God much leſs (who made the Sun) ever loſt their way.
The ſecond Remark is, Obſerve the predominancy of Divine Providence overall Humane-Affairs, as manifeſtly appeareth in all theſe twelve particular Inſtances aforementioned: All which teach us, that there is an admirable Providence of God, which Governs all Matters in the World, and that many things happen to Mankind, which to us ſeem altogether fortuitous, caſual and contingent, yet at the length appears to be ſo diſpoſed and ordered by a Divine Hand, that God is all that time, and in all thoſe Circumſtances leading his Servants by the Arm, Hoſ. 11.3. through many crooked ways and windings to a very happy and joyful event. What things ſeem to happen by Accident, or according to the Cuſtom of the Countrey (as that thoſe two Courtiers offending the King, ſhould be caſt into the Kings Priſon, which was under Potiphar's chief Charge, &c.) as to Men; yet as to God they fall out neceſſarily and unavoidably, as this did, that theſe two Offenders muſt be caſt into the ſame Priſon where Joſeph was confined; which plainly demonſtrates, that the Providence of God is predominant over all the Potentates of the World. God Ruleth all the Matters in Rulers Palaces, yea, even in the Courts of ſuch Kings as are mere Heathens, and know not God; ſuch an one was this Pharaoh, yet the only wiſe God over-ruled both his Courtiers Offences, his own Indignation againſt them, his Provoſt Marſhal's, and the Jayler's Actings toward Joſeph, &c. God ſo diſpoſed of all, as theſe crooked things were made ſtraight, Iſa. 40.4. and all had a direct tendency to Joſeph's following high Exaltation: Therefore though things run crorſs (in Court and Countrey) and may be croſſer ſtill, yet let not your Hearts be troubled, John 14.1. There is certainly an expediency in all that happeneth, John 16.7. This may be our comfort, The Lord reigneth, Pſal. 97.1. This Iſle may rejoice (among the reſt) thereat, as all the Righteous are required to do, Pſal. 32.11. and 33.1. We read of the Fortunate Iſlands of Cyprus call'd Macaria, a Bleſſed Iſland, becauſe plenty of Commodities are found therein, but this our Iſland is more happy than they, having Gods Eye upon it from the beginning of the year to the end thereof, Deut. 11.11, 12. and wherein his Name is recorded, Exod. 20.24. yea, whereby God gets more glory (by ſo many ſincere Saints ſerving him inſtantly night and day, Acts 26.7.) than from other Lands, either Iſlands, or the whole Continent: Chriſt is Lord of all (both of the Church and of the World,) Acts 10.36. and therefore will not ſuffer the Church to be wrong'd by the VVorld. He doth whatſoever pleaſeth him both in Heaven and Earth, Pſal. 135.6. and doth all things well, Mark 7.37. theſe croſs Contingencies in City, &c. are all well done, as done in the perfection of Wiſdom. Myconius writes to Calvin upon the view of the Enemies being uppermoſt, [Gaudeo quod Chriſtus Dominus eſt, alioqui totus deſperâſſem; I rejoice in this, that all theſe Diſpenſations (which portend danger to the Church) are ordered and over-ruled by my Lord Chriſt, otherwiſe I had deſpaired.
The Third Remark is, All worldly Affairs are compared to wheels, Ezek. 1.15, 16. and 10.9 becauſe of their motion and mutation. This the Heathen Poets happily hammer'd at (though they could not hit right on the Head of the golden Nail of this Heavenly Truth) in their fooliſh Fable of Fortune's Wheel, yea, and James mentions the Wheel of Nature [foreign] Jam. 3.6. and indeed the whole world is of a wheeling Nature, moveable and mutable. The four wheels repreſent the four quarters of the world, or the four Empires: All the Affairs whereof ſeem to run on wheels, and to be oft (as to Humane Apprehenſions) obſerving no certain courſe or order, but ſeems turn'd upſide down (as it were) in Promiſcuous Adminiſtrations; ſo that one Kingdom or Quarter is uppermoſt at one time, and another at another. Thus Spain a while ago was for an Abſolute Monarchy, and now France is for it; Thus Joſeph is one while baſely abaſed, and by and by moſt highly exalted, his Priſon was miraculouſly turn'd into a Palace, how might he then cry with the Prophets words [O wheel] Ezek. 10.13. yea, all the time of Joſeph's Humiliation. There was a wheel within a wheel, (as Ezek. 1.16. and 10.10.) though Joſeph little underſtood it, or the intricate motion of it; yet the unſeen turning of this inward wheel had a direct tendency to his Exaltation. This [Galgal] or rolling world like a wheel yet obeys the Commands of the Son of God (who is the Man cloathed in Linnen as the Church's High-Prieſt) in all its rollings and revolutions, Chriſt ſtands between or beſide the four wheels, at his Father's Command, Ezek. 9.2. and 10.2.6. and though the hands of thoſe Angels (whoſe Miniſtry the Lord uſeth in ordering the Diſorders of the World) be ſaid to be under their wings, Ezek. 1.8. and 10.8. to denote their inviſible operations as to Humane Eyes, yet Chriſt's hand is always upon the wheels, whereby he guides and governs all the motions thereof, as he is their Maker and their Maſter: Now, if we conſider the great wheel (not of Fortune, but) of Providence (which is ſlow in motion, as all great wheels are, and we ſhould not quarrel that it moves not ſo faſt as we would have it) is top-full of Eyes (inſtead of Cart-Nails) Ezek. 1.18. and 10.12. ſo cannot miſtake its way or work, as God (who over-ruleth all to his own Glory) is foreign, All Eye; ſo his Providence is full of Eyes, and (like a well-drawn Picture which vieweth all in the Room) inſpects every individual in that great Room or Houſe of the Univerſe, 2 Tim. 2.20. and did inſpect Joſeph, both in the Pit and in the Priſon, and in all other places; and certainly there was a wheel within a wheel, (as Ezek. 1.16. and 10.16.) that inſenſibly whirl'd about poor Joſeph, and though in this its Motion ſeems like to that of the Waterman, who looks one way and rows another, yet always it goeth to the place whither the head looketh, Ezek. 10.11. God guideth the whole Chariot of Time by an Univerſal, and equal Inſpiration: The Head of him that ſat upon the Throne directeth all, giving either Stands or Motions to All, Ezek. 1.12, 20, 21. All are but his Servants, Pſal. 119.91. and means in his hand to ſerve his Providence, whoever is the Inſtrument of Providence (as all are) yet God is ever the principal Agent: the Kings heart is in his band to turn it as he pleaſeth, Prov. 21.1. as he did Pharaoh's to Joſeph, working all things according to the counſel of his own will, Eph. 1.11. Though there be Diverſities of Operations, (ſome Pro and ſome Con) yet 'tis the ſame God, who worketh all in all, 1 Cor. 12.6. and Col. 3.11. All Animate and Inanimate do but fulfil God's Word and Will, Pſal. 148.8. whether in their Stands, or in their Motions, either for or againſt his Church; though oft-times God's Way is both in the Deep and in the Dark, and his VVork ſo perplex'd and Intricate, that the wiſeſt men know not what to make of them, when at a loſs, ſo as neither to feel Bottom nor ſee Shore: Thus wonderfully did the wheel of Providence whirl about with Joſeph, raiſing him up firſt out of the Dirty Pit, wherein he might have been famiſhed, then out of the Dirty Priſon, wherein he might have periſhed, (beſide other lifts out of his low Eſtate, both in the Provoſt-Marſhal and in the Chief Jayler's Houſe, this great wheel gave him) to the very higheſt Honour in King Pharaoh's Court and Kingdom; oh what a marvellous Metamorphoſis, and not much leſs than a Miracle was this, that ſo ſad a Prologue ſhould have ſuch a joyful Cataſtrophe, and ſo ſweet an Epilogue: whereby God gave him a gracious Performance of his own Divine Promiſe, in making him the Head, and not the Tail, Deut. 28.13. and were we but right Joſephs, God would do no leſs for us; but alas, we are made the Tail and, not the Head, v. 44. becauſe of our Diſobedience: Thus it was with Ephraim, Hoſ. 13.1.
The Fourth Remark is, ſuch an over-ruling Providence of God attended Joſeph, that thoſe very means, which let in upon him his State of Humiliation, were improved thereby to hand him into his State of Exaltation: Thus God can by the ſame means, whereby we were caſt down, raiſe us up; let us leave it with the Lord, 'tis not good to ſearch too deep into God's Secrets, Deut. 29.29. As the Declaring of his own two Dreams to his envious Brethren, brought him into all this Miſery; ſo the Interpreting of the Butler and Baker's two Dreams to them, proved in due rime a great means for his full Delivery at his Age of 28, and two years after, the Expounding of Pharaoh's two Dreams to him, became not only the Effectual means of his Actual full Delivery, but was the very ſtep and ſtirrup whereby he did climb up into his laſting full Advancement, Gen. 40.13, 17. and 41.1.25, 46, &c.
The Fifth Remark is alſo, God gave to Joſeph for his 13 years Affliction in his Service and Impriſonment, full fourſcore years Liberty, Proſperity and Honour; God is a liberal Pay-maſter, and his Retributions to his Servants (for all their Sorrows and Suffrings) are more than bountiful as to Joſeph his Servant here, whom God both Inlarged and Advanced by Dreams, as before he had been ſo low abaſed by them, as at laſt to be thruſt down into a Dungeon: but behold, his God lets down a Ladder of Love to him (as he had done to his Father Jacob, Gen. 28.12.) to lift him up out of his low Condition, a Ladder of many Rounds, every aſcending Step exactly anſwering thoſe of his deſcending, in this Ladder of Promotion. As,
1. For his Servitude and Slavery he hath given him a Ring, an Enſign of Liberty, an Ornament of Honour, and a Badge of Authority, Gen. 41.42. It being his Signet or Sealing-Ring, wherewith he was inveſted with power (as well as honour) to Seal with Royal Authority what Commands or Decrees he pleaſed for the People's obſervance; ſee Eſth. 3.10. and 8.2 and Luk. 15.22.
2. For his Courſe kind of Cloathing ſuitable to his ſervile and ſlaviſh Condition, yea, for his Mourning Priſon-Garments, Pharoah gave him a Sute of Silk, or very fine Linnen, Cotton, or Bombazene, ſuch as Princes wore, ſo he was ranked among his higheſt Courtiers.
3. For the Iron fetters upon his fett, Pſal. 105.18. He hath a Chain of Gold about his Neck, that he might not ſeem Inferiour to any Prince in the Kingdom.
4. For his being fixed in a faſt and firm Priſon and Dungeon (he could not ſtir his feet out of the Stocks) Pharaoh gives him a moveable Chariot, whereinto he ſet his feet, to go abroad (at his pleaſure,) with Honour, yea, the ſecond Chariot of the Kingdom, Gen. 41.43. which was one of the Royal Chariots, as 2 Chron. 35.24. wherein to Ride as a Vice-Roy raiſed above all the other Princes, as Mordecai was mounted upon the King's Horſe, Eſth. 6.8. ſo was Joſeph in the King's Chariot, and is made the Second man in the Kingdom, for Interpreting Pharoah's Dreams, whereas Daniel was but made the Third man, for Reading the writing upon the wall, Dan. 5.29.
5. For all his opprobrious Reproaches and contumelious Diſgraces, that both his barbarous Brethren, and his leud Miſtriſs loaded him with, he hath now (in their ſtead) the King's Herald to Proclaim before him, [Abrech] Tender-Father, or Father of the King (for as [Ab] Hebr. is Father, ſo [Rech] in Syriack is King, from whence the Latin [Rex] is derived) or, Oh thou Bleſſed one (as it comes of Barak to Bleſs) whom God hath made a Father to Pharaoh and all the People, Gen. 45.8. and while they thus Bleſſed him (who had been ſufficiently curſed) they bowed the knee to expreſs their Reverence to him who was young in Years, yet old in Wiſdom [foreign] an old young man.
6. For his being ſeparated from his Brethren, Gen. 49.26. He was received into the Royal Society of the Right Honourable the King's Privy-Councillors, and was conſtituted as Chairman at the Conncil-Table, which, though Moſes doth not expreſs, yet David intimateth in Pſal. 105.21, 22. All the very Privy-Councillors, as well as the Private People, were bound (poſſibly by Oath) to obey him in all things, and, as out of the Chair, he magiſterally taught theſe Senators Wiſdom. Thus the Hebrew Rending runs [He bound the Princes to his Soul (or according to his Will) and made wiſe his Elders] teaching them not only Civil and Moral, but alſo Divine Wiſdom; for which Cauſe God ſent Joſeph (ſaith he) into Egypt, that ſome ſound of the Redemption of faln Mankind might be heard in that Kingdom, at that time the moſt flouriſhing in the World: Neither is Moſes altogether ſilent herein, for he calls him a Maſter of Wiſdom, or Father to Pharaoh, Gen. 45.8. much more to his Councillors, and he ſays, that no hand or foot ſhall move (to wit, in Affairs of State at Home, or (in foreign Embaſſies) abroad) without Joſeph's order, he was the King's Plenipotextiary, Gen. 41.44.
7. For his being ſcoſt'd at by that ſcornful title of Dreamer, Captain-Dreamer, Hebr. or this Architect of Dreams, Gen. 37.19. and Rogue &c. by Potiphar and his Brethren, &c. behold now he hath an High name of Honour and Office put upon him, that is, [Zaphnath Paaneah Gen. 4….45. which ſignifies in the Egyptian Tongue [a Revealer of Secrets] for his foreſhewing the ſeven years of Plenty, and the ſeven years of Famine, or [thee Saviour of the World] for his ſaving many Lands from being Famiſh'd, by ſtoring up Proviſion before the Famine came: Wherein he became a moſt eminent Type of Chriſt, who is ſo Indeed.
8. For his ſolitary Life he had led a long time, both as a Servant and as a Priſoner, God gave him in Honourable Marriage, the Daughter of Potipherah Prince of On, for ſo [cohen ſignifies, Exod. 18.1. and Davids Sons are called cohenim, 2 Sam. 8.18. Chief Rulers, they were Princes, but not Prieſts: And though Joſeph was in this ſtrange country conſtrained to Marry an Idolater, (becauſe he could not take a Wife out of his Fathers Kindred) as Jacob did the Daughter of Laban an Idolater in Syria, and Moſes a Midianitiſh Woman; Yet the Daughter of a Civil Prince (though Idolatrous) was a fitter Match for this Religious Man, than one of a Superſtitious Prieſt, who was a Maſter of Idolatrous Myſteries, this Joſeph's Conſcience could not diſpenſe with, unleſs he had in this (as he had in other things) ſome ſpecial direction from God. However, 'tis beyond doubt, Joſeph inſtructed her in the true Religion, &c.
9. And that Joſeph might have a full accumulation of comforts, proportionable to the time of his Troubles, for thirteen or fourteen years of his ſtate of Humiliation (whereof about three years he lay in Priſon) God gave him Fourſcore years of his Honourable Principality: For he was going on ſeventeen when he was ſold, Gen. 37.2. and he was thirty compleat, when he ſtood before Pharaoh, Gen. 41.46. about nine years after, he received his Father into Egypt, after which he lived in Honour ſeventy one years, and Died at an hundred and ten years old, Gen. 50.26. This may comfort Gods ſuffering Servants, and cheer up their Hearts, that though for a ſeaſon they ſuffer hard things under the prevailing power of ungodly Persecutors, yet may they be aſſured, that (if they ſuffer not as evil doers, 1 Pet. 4.15.) God will plead their cauſe, do them Juſtice, and make them full amends for all their injuries, as he did to Joſeph, and if he do it not (as to him) here, be ſure it ſhall be done hereafter. Here was the ſecond thing, to wit, the Providential Performance and Accompliſhment of Joſeph's Deliverance.
This brings in the Third General Head, to wit, Joſeph's Exerciſe in this his Higheſt ſtate of Exaltation, and the ſecond ſort of ſore Archers; whereby he had, 1. A Paſſive Exerciſe; and ſecondly, His Active Exerciſe or Employ in his Exalted Eſtate, which was to lay up the fifth part of the ſeven Plenteous years, againſt the ſeven years of Famine: In performance of which Office he diſcharg'd his Duty, 1. In his Fidelity to Pharaoh, keeping Him and his People from being Famiſhed. 2. In his Filial reſpects to his Father; 1. By ſending Corn twice to him, Gen. 42. & 43. & 44. & 45. 2. By ſending for him and all his into Egypt. 3. By placing them in Goſhen.