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reader, that he had drank deeply of the spirit of the gospel; and that his virtues procured him the special favour and protection of God. It would be both instructive and interesting to review the great events through which he passed in Galilee; but even a summary account of them would be too voluminous for our present purpose. I shall therefore notice only the close of his public life, as this part of his history is con nected with two passages, which have been considered as utterly inconsistent with the character of a believer in Christ..

The siege of Jotapata makes a figure in the history of the Jewish War*, next to that of Jerusalem; and the capture of it, with its illustrious general, are connected with circumstances of so doubtful a nature as to require particular explanation. Josephus, when no longer able to withstand the Roman arms, retired with his army to this strong fortress. There he was pursued by Vespasian, who looked upon this retreat as the most fortunate event, as it offered to him the sure prospect of capturing the commander with all his army. Vespasian regarded Josephus not only as the ablest officer among the Jews, but as the very pillar on which their hopes of success chiefly de

* The history of this siege occurs in J. W. lib. 3. c. 7, 8.

pended; and he expected to meet with no farther difficulties in the reduction of Judea as soon as he had that general in his power. The valour and fertility of invention with which Josephus defended the place, equalled at least the steady perseverance and experienced bravery with which the Romans pressed the siege; nor was the fortress ultimately taken, but by the treachery of a deserter, after a siege of forty-five days, aggravated by internal calamities of the most dreadful nature. The Romans smarting under the injuries inflicted on them by the besieged, and exasperated by their obstinacy, refused to give quarter; and they put all to the sword, except infants and the women. The captives and the slain, by the reduction of Jotapata, amounted to forty thousand.

The following pathetic incident, as it evinces the confidence and respect which the people had in Josephus, I shall relate in his own words. When he saw that the city could no longer be maintained, he meditated on some means of escaping. "But Josephus," writes he, "disguising his intention to provide for his own safety, assured the people that he was desirous to leave the city as the most likely measure to rescue them; for he could do them no service, while they were yet untaken, but wait their common ruin; whereas he might afford them material re

lief, if he once escaped the siege, by collecting the Galileans in the country, and diverting the attention of the enemy. While he staid within, he afforded inducements to the Romans to press the siege more closely, whereas his flight might induce them to leave the fortress and pursue him. This representation, however, did not convince the people, but inflamed them the more to hang about him. Accordingly the children, the old men, and the women with their infants, flocked around him mourning, fell before him, and clinging to his feet, besought him with great lamentation not to depart, but to share to the last in their misfortunes: and this I think they did not from envy at my deliverance, but from the hope of their For they did not give up the expectation of being saved, as long as Josephus remained with them." He therefore yielded to their entreaties, assuring them, that he would rather die than leave them; and would partake in their calamities to the last, rather than join the Romans, though they might spare his life. Accordingly he resolved to defend the town to the last extre mity; and he exhausted every resource which skill or valour could suggest, till treachery rendered farther resistance impossible.

own.

As soon as the enemy was in possession of the city, the first object of Vespasian was to find and secure Josephus, for whom he caused diligent

search to be made among the living and among the dead. But their enquiry, as Josephus expressly states, was eluded by the special providence of God. For passing unobserved through the midst of the enemy, he leaped into a pit, which led to a den very spacions, and invisible to those who were above ground. Here he entered and found forty of the principal citizens concealing themselves with provisions sufficient to maintain them for many days. In this place he lay hid for some days, till his retreat was discovered by a woman leaving the den to seek pardon and protection of the enemy. Vespasian dispatched two tribunes to seize him, not, however, without the most solemn assurance of pardon. Josephus, nevertheless, mistrusting the fair promise made by the tribunes, refused to leave the den, till Nicanor, a confidential officer under Vespasian, and in former days an acquaintance of Josephus, came and persuaded him to surrender. And this was the critical moment in which life and death hung over him in equal balance; and I may say with confidence, that the Almighty never more signally interposed to save a human being, than at this time to preserve Josephus.

When the companions of his misfortunes perceived that he was willing to comply with the advice of Nicanor, they crowded around and thus accosted him-" The religion of our an

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cestors may now well sigh-that religion, which, under the sanction of God, steels our souls to the contempt of death. Art thou, Josephus, so fond of life, and canst thou bear to see the light in a state of slavery. How soon hast thou forgotten thyself, thou who hast persuaded many to die for liberty. Ill founded is thy fame for valour and for wisdom, if thou canst accept pardon from those against whom thou hast so zealously fought. But though the fortune of the Romans hath made thee forget thyself, we shall prevent thee from tarnishing thy glory. We offer thee our right hand, and a sword: and if thou wilt die willingly, -thou wilt die as it becomes a leader of the Jews; but if unwillingly, thou shalt die as a traitor to them." Having said this, they began to brandish -their swords at him, and threatened to kill him, if he thought of submitting to the Romans. To this Josephus made the following reply, which -contains the profoundest and most powerful arguments against self-destruction which have ever been delivered; and which, if we consider the occasion on which they were uttered, evince at once the amazing depth of his understanding, and his extraordinary presence of mind. Why, my friends, are we thus bent on killing ourselves; why determined to separate those ever dear companions, the soul and the body? Will any one presume to say that I am changed? The Ro

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