ere ever any clamor or disturbance to pollute their house； but they give every one leave to speak in their turn； which silence thus kept in their house appears to foreigners like some tremendous mystery； the cause of which is that perpetual sobriety they exercise； and the same settled measure of meat and drink that is allotted them； and that such as is abundantly sufficient for them。
6。 And truly； as for other things； they do nothing but according to the injunctions of their curators； only these two things are done among them at everyone's own free…will； which are to assist those that want it； and to show mercy； for they are permitted of their own accord to afford succor to such as deserve it； when they stand in need of it； and to bestow food on those that are in distress； but they cannot give any thing to their kindred without the curators。 They dispense their anger after a just manner； and restrain their passion。 They are eminent for fidelity； and are the ministers of peace； whatsoever they say also is firmer than an oath； but swearing is avoided by them； and they esteem it worse than perjury （4） for they say that he who cannot be believed without ＇swearing by＇ God is already condemned。 They also take great pains in studying the writings of the ancients； and choose out of them what is most for the advantage of their soul and body； and they inquire after such roots and medicinal stones as may cure their distempers。
7。 But now if any one hath a mind to come over to their sect； he is not immediately admitted； but he is prescribed the same method of living which they use for a year； while he continues excluded'； and they give him also a small hatchet； and the fore…mentioned girdle； and the white garment。 And when he hath given evidence； during that time； that he can observe their continence； he approaches nearer to their way of living； and is made a partaker of the waters of purification； yet is he not even now admitted to live with them； for after this demonstration of his fortitude； his temper is tried two more years； and if he appear to be worthy； they then admit him into their society。 And before he is allowed to touch their common food； he is obliged to take tremendous oaths； that； in the first place； he will exercise piety towards God； and then that he will observe justice towards men； and that he will do no harm to any one； either of his own accord； or by the command of others； that he will always hate the wicked； and be assistant to the righteous； that he will ever show fidelity to all men； and especially to those in authority； because no one obtains the government without God's assistance； and that if he be in authority； he will at no time whatever abuse his authority； nor endeavor to outshine his subjects either in his garments； or any other finery； that he will be perpetually a lover of truth； and propose to himself to reprove those that tell lies； that he will keep his hands clear from theft； and his soul from unlawful gains； and that he will neither conceal any thing from those of his own sect； nor discover any of their doctrines to others； no； not though anyone should compel him so to do at the hazard of his life。 Moreover； he swears to communicate their doctrines to no one any otherwise than as he received them himself； that he will abstain from robbery； and will equally preserve the books belonging to their sect； and the names of the angels （5） ＇or messengers＇。 These are the oaths by which they secure their proselytes to themselves。
8。 But for those that are caught in any heinous sins； they cast them out of their society； and he who is thus separated from them does often die after a miserable manner； for as he is bound by the oath he hath taken； and by the customs he hath been engaged in； he is not at liberty to partake of that food that he meets with elsewhere； but is forced to eat grass； and to famish his body with hunger； till he perish； for which reason they receive many of them again when they are at their last gasp； out of compassion to them； as thinking the miseries they have endured till they came to the very brink of death to be a sufficient punishment for the sins they had been guilty of。
9。 But in the judgments they exercise they are most accurate and just； nor do they pass sentence by the votes of a court that is fewer than a hundred。 And as to what is once determined by that number； it is unalterable。 What they most of all honor； after God himself； is the name of their legislator ＇Moses＇； whom if any one blaspheme he is punished capitally。 They also think it a good thing to obey their elders； and the major part。 Accordingly； if ten of them be sitting together； no one of them will speak while the other nine are against it。 They also avoid spitting in the midst of them； or on the right side。 Moreover； they are stricter than any other of the Jews in resting from their labors on the seventh day； for they not only get their food ready the day before； that they may not be obliged to kindle a fire on that day； but they will not remove any vessel out of its place； nor go to stool thereon。 Nay； on other days they dig a small pit； a foot deep； with a paddle （which kind of hatchet is given them when they are first admitted among them）； and covering themselves round with their garment； that they may not affront the Divine rays of light； they ease themselves into that pit； after which they put the earth that was dug out again into the pit； and even this they do only in the more lonely places； which they choose out for this purpose； and although this easement of the body be natural； yet it is a rule with them to wash themselves after it； as if it were a defilement to them。
10。 Now after the time of their preparatory trial is over； they are parted into four classes； and so far are the juniors inferior to the seniors； that if the seniors should be touched by the juniors； they must wash themselves； as if they had intermixed themselves with the company of a foreigner。 They are long…lived also； insomuch that many of them live above a hundred years； by means of the simplicity of their diet； nay； as I think； by means of the regular course of life they observe also。 They contemn the miseries of life； and are above pain； by the generosity of their mind。 And as for death； if it will be for their glory； they esteem it better than living always； and indeed our war with the Romans gave abundant evidence what great souls they had in their trials； wherein； although they were tortured and distorted； burnt and torn to pieces； and went through all kinds of instruments of torment； that they might be forced either to blaspheme their legislator； or to eat what was forbidden them； yet could they not be made to do either of them； no； nor once to flatter their tormentors； or to shed a tear； but they smiled in their very pains； and laughed those to scorn who inflicted the torments upon them； and resigned up their souls with great alacrity； as expecting to receive them again。
11。 For their doctrine is this： That bodies are corruptible； and that the matter they are made of is not permanent； but that the souls are immortal； and continue for ever； and that they come out of the most subtile air； and are united to their bodies as to prisons； into which they are drawn by a certain natural enticement； but that when they are set free from the bonds of the flesh； they then； as released from a long bondage； rejoice and mount upward。 And this is like the opinions of the Greeks； that good souls have their habitations beyond the ocean； in a region that is neither oppressed with storms of rain or snow； or with intense heat； but that this place is such as is refreshed by the gentle breathing of a west wind； that is perpetually blowing from the ocean； while they allot to bad souls a dark and tempestuous den； full of never…ceasing punishments。 And indeed the Greeks seem to me to have followed the same notion； when they allot the islands of the blessed to their brave men； whom they call heroes and demi…gods； and to the souls of the wicked； the region of the ungodly； in Hades； where their fables relate that certain persons； such as Sisyphus； and Tantalus； and Ixion； and Tityus； are punished； which is built on this first supposition； that souls are immortal； and thence are those exhortations to virtue and dehortations from wickedness collected； whereby good men are bettered in the conduct of their life by the hope they have of reward after their death； and whereby the vehement inclinations of bad men to vice are restrained； by the fear and expectation they are in； that although they should lie concealed in this life； they should suffer immortal punishment after their death。 These are the Divine doctrines of the Essens （6） about the soul； which lay an unavoidable bait for such as have once had a taste of their philosophy。
12。 There are also those among them who undertake to foretell things to come； （7） by reading the holy books； and using several sorts of purifications； and being perpetually conversant in the discourses of the prophets； and it is but seldom that they miss in their predictions。
13。 Moreover； there is another order of Essens； （8） who agree with the rest as to their way of living； and customs； and laws； but differ from them in the point of marriage； as thinking that by not marrying they cut off the principal part of human life； which is the prospect of succession； nay； rather； that if all men should be of the same opinion； the whole race of mankind would fail。 However； they try their spouses for three years； and if they find that they have their natural purgations thrice； as trials that they are likely to be fruitful； they then actually marry them。 But they do not use to accompany with their wives when they are with child； as a demonstration that they do not many out of regard to pleasure； but for the sake of posterity。 Now the women go into the baths with some of their garments on； as the men do with somewhat girded about them。 And these are the customs of this order of Essens。
14。 But then as to the two other orders at first mentioned； the Pharisees are those who are esteemed most skillful in the exact explication of their laws； and introduce the first sect。 These ascribe all to fate ＇or providence＇； and to God； and yet allow； that t