Character of Joseph Taken Away by False Accusation

    It might be supposed, that if Providence overrules and directs all things, the interests, and especially the characters of God's people, would always be safe and unassailed. Would any parent allow slander to exist even for a moment, or even to originate against his beloved children, if he were able to prevent it? But God's ways are not as our ways. Here we see, that instead of keeping his people from injury and the tongue of slander, it is by the means of false accusation that Providence brings Joseph to prison. The man of God is aspersed with calumny, and charged with sins which he had resisted under temptation of the strongest kind. That part of his character which is the admiration of every age, was the very part in which he suffered. A character was fixed on him, remarkable for crimes of which he was not only innocent, but to which he possessed the contrary virtues in a degree beyond any instances on record. And this false'accusation had a plausibility that imposed on integrity, and prevailed, without anything for a long time to counteract it, keeping him in the bondage of a prison. There is no security, then, to the people of God, that their lives, their property, and their characters, may not be taken away unjustly. There may be occasions when Providence will open a door for any, or for all, of these calamities. But this will never be the case, except it shall be for the glory of God, and for the good of the suffering individual. And, when in prison, Joseph was rendered comfortable by providential interference. If his character was unjustly taken away, it was restored in the fullest manner; and the virtues of his illustrious character are a perpetual record to his honour.