47. And when Joseph's steward had brought them into Joseph's house, they were still afraid, and spoke to him before the door concerning the money which they had found in their sacks. But he comforted them, and said, I found your money, and have had it: your
God has bestowed treasure in your sacks. And he brought Simeon out to them; and brought them into Joseph's house, and gave them water to wash their feet, and gave their asses provender. But they prepared their present against Joseph should come at noon; for they had heard that they should eat bread there (Gen. xliii. 17-25).
48. This now is the figure, and representation of a troubled man, who now enters into Joseph's house, and gives again the unrighteous thing; for he had done much unrighteousness and wrong, because he had nothing to give. He gives it again with his heart before the house of Joseph in true confession and acknowledgement, and would fain give it back again with his hand, if he were but able to do it. To such a one says Joseph's steward, Fear no more, I have clearly received it in your repentance, Christ has paid and restored it for you in his blood, so that all is done away, and nothing remaining; and you are in poverty and misery, therefore keep that little which you have, to cherish your life, though indeed you have it of wrong, and should have nothing in this world for your own; yet God has given you treasure. Take water, and wash your feet; that is, cleanse the conversation of your hands and feet, and do evil no more; keep not that which is unrighteous, but only that little which you have of right, wherewith you cannot repay the wrong.
49. Not so to understand it that he should not restore again that which is of wrong, of his own which he has rightly gotten besides extortion, if he be able. We speak of the poor, which has nothing but a piece of bread left to sustain life: no excuse avails before God, the conscience must become pure, or else you are a thief. For the figure here adds that the steward gave their asses provender, which signifies the earthly body, that Christ will by his steward cause provender and food to be given to it.
50. These stewards here are honest and virtuous people in the world, which shall help to take care of it, that it may live; even though he was formerly a wicked man, if he were now honest from his heart.
51. Not as the false wicked world judges, who know a fault in a converted man, which he has had, and still always upbraid him and condemn him for an unrighteous man, which devilishness the world is full of; that if they see a man who is converted, they cast all failings and infirmities which everyone has in flesh and blood upon him, and judge him for it, and look upon what he has been, and not upon what he now is. Here says Christ, Judge not, and then you shall not be judged (Matt. vii. I).
52. Now when Joseph entered into the house, they brought him the present in their hands, and fell down before him to the earth. But he saluted them friendly, and said, Is it well with your father, the old man whom you told me of ?
Does he yet live? And they answered, It is well with your servant our father, and he yet lives. And so they bowed and fell down before him (Gen. xliii. 26-28).
53. This now is the state and condition of the soul when it comes plainly before the eyes of God, and has wrapt its present up in the sufferings and death of Christ, and bears it in its hands with the figure of the nail prints of Christ, in the presence of God. That is to say, the will to righteousness, truth, chastity, love, patience, hope, faith, meekness; these are now in the will of the soul, and these the soul gives to the heavenly Joseph, and falls down before him in humility.
47. And when Joseph's steward had brought them into Joseph's house, they were still afraid, and spoke to him before the door concerning the money which they had found in their sacks. But he comforted them, and said, I found your money, and have had it: your
God has bestowed treasure in your sacks. And he brought Simeon out to them; and brought them into Joseph's house, and gave them water to wash their feet, and gave their asses provender. But they prepared their present against Joseph should come at noon; for they had heard that they should eat bread there (Gen. xliii. 17-25).
48. This now is the figure, and representation of a troubled man, who now enters into Joseph's house, and gives again the unrighteous thing; for he had done much unrighteousness and wrong, because he had nothing to give. He gives it again with his heart before the house of Joseph in true confession and acknowledgement, and would fain give it back again with his hand, if he were but able to do it. To such a one says Joseph's steward, Fear no more, I have clearly received it in your repentance, Christ has paid and restored it for you in his blood, so that all is done away, and nothing remaining; and you are in poverty and misery, therefore keep that little which you have, to cherish your life, though indeed you have it of wrong, and should have nothing in this world for your own; yet God has given you treasure. Take water, and wash your feet; that is, cleanse the conversation of your hands and feet, and do evil no more; keep not that which is unrighteous, but only that little which you have of right, wherewith you cannot repay the wrong.
49. Not so to understand it that he should not restore again that which is of wrong, of his own which he has rightly gotten besides extortion, if he be able. We speak of the poor, which has nothing but a piece of bread left to sustain life: no excuse avails before God, the conscience must become pure, or else you are a thief. For the figure here adds that the steward gave their asses provender, which signifies the earthly body, that Christ will by his steward cause provender and food to be given to it.
50. These stewards here are honest and virtuous people in the world, which shall help to take care of it, that it may live; even though he was formerly a wicked man, if he were now honest from his heart.
51. Not as the false wicked world judges, who know a fault in a converted man, which he has had, and still always upbraid him and condemn him for an unrighteous man, which devilishness the world is full of; that if they see a man who is converted, they cast all failings and infirmities which everyone has in flesh and blood upon him, and judge him for it, and look upon what he has been, and not upon what he now is. Here says Christ, Judge not, and then you shall not be judged (Matt. vii. I).
52. Now when Joseph entered into the house, they brought him the present in their hands, and fell down before him to the earth. But he saluted them friendly, and said, Is it well with your father, the old man whom you told me of ?
Does he yet live? And they answered, It is well with your servant our father, and he yet lives. And so they bowed and fell down before him (Gen. xliii. 26-28).
53. This now is the state and condition of the soul when it comes plainly before the eyes of God, and has wrapt its present up in the sufferings and death of Christ, and bears it in its hands with the figure of the nail prints of Christ, in the presence of God. That is to say, the will to righteousness, truth, chastity, love, patience, hope, faith, meekness; these are now in the will of the soul, and these the soul gives to the heavenly Joseph, and falls down before him in humility.
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