to themselves； since it was they that forced their father to send
him with them； when he was averse to it。
8。 The horsemen therefore took Benjamin and brought him to
Joseph； his brethren also following him； who； when he saw him in
custody； and them in the habit of mourners； said； 〃How came you；
vile wretches as you are； to have such a strange notion of my
kindness to you； and of God's providence； as impudently to do
thus to your benefactor； who in such an hospitable manner had
entertained you ？〃 Whereupon they gave up themselves to be
punished； in order to save Benjamin； and called to mind what a
wicked enterprise they had been guilty of against Joseph。 They
also pronounced him more happy than themselves； if he were dead；
in being freed from the miseries of this life； and if he were
alive； that he enjoyed the pleasure of seeing God's vengeance
upon them。 They said further； that they were the plague of their
father； since they should now add to his former affliction for
Joseph； this other affliction for Benjamin。 Reubel also was large
in cutting them upon this occasion。 But Joseph dismissed them；
for he said they had been guilty of no offense； and that he would
content himself with the lad's punishment； for he said it was not
a fit thing to let him go free； for the sake of those who had not
offended； nor was it a fit thing to punish them together with him
who had been guilty of stealing。 And when he promised to give
them leave to go away in safety； the rest of them were under
great consternation； and were able to say nothing on this sad
occasion。 But Judas； who had persuaded their father to send the
lad from him； being otherwise also a very bold and active man；
determined to hazard himself for the preservation of his brother。
〃It is true；〃 （9） said he； 〃O governor； that we have been very
wicked with regard to thee； and on that account deserved
punishment； even all of us may justly be punished； although the
theft were not committed by all； but only by one of us； and he
the youngest also； but yet there remains some hope for us； who
otherwise must be under despair on his account； and this from thy
goodness； which promises us a deliverance out of our present
danger。 And now I beg thou wilt not look at us； or at that great
crime we have been guilty of； but at thy own excellent nature；
and take advice of thine own virtue； instead of that wrath thou
hast against us； which passion those that otherwise are of lower
character indulge； as they do their strength； and that not only
on great； but also on very trifling occasions。 Overcome； sir；
that passion； and be not subdued by it； nor suffer it to slay
those that do not otherwise presume upon their own safety； but
are desirous to accept of it from thee； for this is not the first
time that thou wilt bestow it on us； but before； when we came to
buy corn； thou affordedst us great plenty of food； and gavest us
leave to carry so much home to our family as has preserved them
from perishing by famine。 Nor is there any difference between not
overlooking men that were perishing for want of necessaries； and
not punishing those that seem to be offenders； and have been so
unfortunate as to lose the advantage of that glorious benefaction
which they received from thee。 This will be an instance of equal
favor； though bestowed after a different manner； for thou wilt
save those this way whom thou didst feed the other； and thou wilt
hereby preserve alive； by thy own bounty； those souls which thou
didst not suffer to be distressed by famine； it being indeed at
once a wonderful and a great thing to sustain our lives by corn；
and to bestow on us that pardon； whereby； now we are distressed；
we may continue those lives。 And I am ready to suppose that God
is willing to afford thee this opportunity of showing thy
virtuous disposition； by bringing us into this calamity； that it
may appear thou canst forgive the injuries that are done to
thyself； and mayst be esteemed kind to others； besides those who；
on other accounts； stand in need of thy assistance； since it is
indeed a right thing to do well to those who are in distress for
want of food； but still a more glorious thing to save those who
deserve to be punished； when it is on account of heinous offenses
against thyself； for if it be a thing deserving commendation to
forgive such as have been guilty of small offenses； that tend to
a person's loss； and this be praiseworthy in him that overlooks
such offenses； to restrain a man's passion as to crimes which are
capital to the guilty； is to be like the most excellent nature of
God himself。 And truly； as for myself； had it not been that we
had a father； who had discovered； on occasion of the death of
Joseph； how miserably he is always afflicted at the loss of his
sons； I had not made any words on account of the saving of our
own lives； I mean； any further than as that would be an excellent
character for thyself； to preserve even those that would have
nobody to lament them when they were dead； but we would have
yielded ourselves up to suffer whatsoever thou pleasedst； but now
（for we do not plead for mercy to ourselves； though indeed； if we
die； it will be while we are young； and before we have had the
enjoyment of life） have regard to our father； and take pity of
his old age； on whose account it is that we make these
supplications to thee。 We beg thou wilt give us those lives which
this wickedness of ours has rendered obnoxious to thy punishment；
and this for his sake who is not himself wicked； nor does his
being our father make us wicked。 He is a good man； and not worthy
to have such trials of his patience； and now； we are absent； he
is afflicted with care for us。 But if he hear of our deaths； and
what was the cause of it； he will on that account die an immature
death； and the reproachful manner of our ruin will hasten his
end； and will directly kill him； nay； will bring him to a
miserable death； while he will make haste to rid himself out of
the world； and bring himself to a state of insensibility； before
the sad story of our end come abroad into the rest of the world。
Consider these things in this manner； although our wickedness
does now provoke thee with a just desire of punishing that
wickedness； and forgive it for our father's sake； and let thy
commiseration of him weigh more with thee than our wickedness。
Have regard to the old age of our father； who； if we perish； will
be very lonely while he lives； and will soon die himself also。
Grant this boon to the name of fathers； for thereby thou wilt
honor him that begat thee； and will grant it to thyself also； who
enjoyest already that denomination； thou wilt then； by that
denomination； be preserved of God； the Father of all； … by
showing a pious regard to which； in the case of our father； thou
wilt appear to honor him who is styled by the same name； I mean；
if thou wilt have this pity on our father； upon this
consideration； how miserable he will be if he be deprived of his
sons！ It is thy part therefore to bestow on us what God has given
us； when it is in thy power to take it away； and so to resemble
him entirely in charity； for it is good to use that power； which
can either give or take away； on the merciful side； and when it
is in thy power to destroy； to forget that thou ever hadst that
power； and to look on thyself as only allowed power for
preservation； and that the more any one extends this power； the
greater reputation does he gain to himself。 Now； by forgiving our
brother what he has unhappily committed； thou wilt preserve us
all； for we cannot think of living if he be put to death； since
we dare not show ourselves alive to our father without our
brother； but here must we partake of one and the same catastrophe
of his life。 And so far we beg of thee； O governor； that if thou
condemnest our brother to die； thou wilt punish us together with
him； as partners of his crime； … for we shall not think it
reasonable to be reserved to kill ourselves for grief of our
brother's death； but so to die rather as equally guilty with him
of this crime。 I will only leave with thee this one
consideration； and then will say no more； viz。 that our brother
committed this fault when he was young； and not yet of confirmed
wisdom in his conduct； and that men naturally forgive such young
persons。 I end here； without adding what more I have to say； that
in case thou condemnest us； that omission may be supposed to have
hurt us； and permitted thee to take the severer side。 But in case
thou settest us free； that this may be ascribed to thy own
goodness； of which thou art inwardly conscious； that thou freest
us from condemnation； and that not by barely preserving us； but
by granting us such a favor as will make us appear more righteous
than we really are； and by representing to thyself more motives
for our deliverance than we are able to produce ourselves。 If；
therefore； thou resolvest to slay him； I desire thou wilt slay me
in his stead； and send him back to his father； or if thou
pleasest to retain him with thee as a slave； I am fitter to labor
for thy advantage in that capacity； and； as thou seest； am better
prepared for either of those sufferings。〃 So Judas； being very
willing to undergo any thing whatever for the deliverance of his
brother； cast himself down at Joseph's feet； and earnestly
labored to assuage and pacify his anger。 All his brethren also
fell down before him； weeping and delivering themselves up to
destruction for the preservation of the life of Benjamin。
10。 But Joseph； as overcome now with his affections； and no
longer able to personate an angry man； commanded all that were
present to depart； that he might make himself known to his
brethren when they were alone； and when the rest were gone out；
he made himself known to his brethren； and said； 〃I commend you
for your virtue； and your kindness to our brother： I find you
better men than I could have expected from what you contrived
about me。 Indeed； I did all this to try your love to your
brother； so I believe you were not wicked by nature in what you
did in my case； but that all has happened according to God's
will； who has hereby procured our enjoyment of what good things
we