rospered sons; but I thank God I may find
in my text "Over the hills to the palace."

As if to disgust us with unfilial conduct, the Bible presents us the
story of Micah, who stole the eleven hundred shekels from his mother,
and the story of Absalom, who tried to dethrone his father. But all
history is beautiful with stories of filial fidelity. Epaminondas, the
warrior, found his chief delight in reciting to his parents his
victories. There goes AEneas from burning Troy, on his shoulders
Anchises, his father. The Athenians punished with death any unfilial
conduct. There goes beautiful Ruth escorting venerable Naomi across
the desert amid the howling of the wolves and the barking of the
jackals. John Lawrence burned at the stake in Colchester, was cheered
in the flames by his children, who said: "O God, strengthen thy
servant and keep thy promise!" And Christ in the hour of excruciation
provided for His old mother. Jacob kept his resolution, "I will go and
see him before I die," and a little while after we find them walking
the tessellated floor of the palace, Jacob and Joseph, the
prime-minister proud of the shepherd.

I may say in regard to the most of you that your parents have probably
visited you for the last time, or will soon pay you such a visit, and
I have wondered if they will ever visit you

IN THE KING'S PALACE.

"Oh," you say, "I am in the pit of sin!" Joseph was in the pit. "Oh,"
you say, "I am in the prison of mine iniquity!" Joseph was once in
prison. "Oh," you say, "I didn't have a fair chance; I was denied
maternal kindness!" Joseph was denied maternal attendance. "Oh," you
say, "I am far away from the land of my nativity!" Joseph was far from
home. "Oh," you say, "I have been betrayed and exasperated!" Did not
Joseph's brethren sell him to a passing Ishmaelitish caravan? Yet God
brought him to that emblazoned residence; and if you will trust His
grace in Jesus Christ you, too, will be empalaced. Oh, what a day that
will be when the old folks come from an adjoining mansion in heaven,
and find you amid the alabaster pillars of the throne-room and living
with the king! They are coming up the steps now, and the epauletted
guard of the palace rushes in and says: "Your father's coming, your
mother's coming!" And when under the arches of precious stones and on
the pavement of porphyry you greet each other, the scene will eclipse
the meeting on the Goshen highway, when Joseph and Jacob fell on each
othe