holy for the affections; this good in scripture, is called bread and meats of all kinds that are eaten. Thus the baker's dream is not about wine or grapes, but of baskets of bread or baked meats. We may now begin to see why the offence of the butler was pardoned, while that of the baker was visited by death. The understanding offends when falsehood is introduced into the mind instead of truth. Falsehood may enter the mind without any evil intention on the part of man, and the understanding, like the butler, may offend; but as no evil was intended, there is a restoration to office, and a full pardon, after the three days or full state of repentance and sorrow for the unintentional error. But with the will it is different. Evil is introduced knowingly; for evil can never be mistaken for good, inasmuch as it pollutes the life and unfits for heaven! the sure and certain effect of evil is the death of the heavenly life in the soul; hence the death of the baker is nothing but the consequent and unavoidable effect of the evil that is loved and cherished. Joseph, the interpreter of both dreams, represents the Lord, who, as the Living Truth, illuminates man's night of dreams, shewing the effects of unintentional error or mistake, as well as the nature of that evil of heart which can end in nothing but death. The butler, in his dream, gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand, to instruct us that mere errors do not condem: but the birds of prey ate the baker's food, to teach us that evils of the heart or will are food for the false persuasions of the mind, signified by bird's of prey.
Learn then. O man! that errors of the understanding may be pardoned, while confirmed evils of will terminate in death. Remember the sad end of the chief baker.
