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When Jonathan and his companions heard this, they were in fear of
their own lives, and in danger lest they should be assaulted by the Galileans
on nay account; so they contrived how they might run away. But as they
were not able to get off, for I desired them to stay, they looked down
with concern at my words to them. I ordered, therefore, the multitude to
restrain entirely their acclamations, and placed the most faithful of my
armed men upon the avenues, to be a guard to us, lest John should unexpected
fall upon us; and I encouraged the Galileans to take their weapons, lest
they should be disturbed at their enemies, if any sudden insult should
be made upon them. And then, in the first place, I put Jonathan and his
partners in mind of their [former] letter, and after what manner they had
written to me, and declared they were sent by the common consent to the
people of
Jerusalem, to make up the differences I had with John, and how
they had desired me to come to them; and as I spake thus, I publicly showed
that letter they had written, till they could not at all deny what they
had done, the letter itself convicting them. I then said, "O Jonathan!
and you that are sent with him as his colleagues, if I were to be judged
as to my behavior, compared with that of John's, and had brought no more
than two or three witnesses,
1
good men and true, it is plain you had been forced, upon the examination
of their characters beforehand, to discharge the accusations: that therefore
you may be informed that I have acted well in the affairs of
Galilee, I
think three witnesses too few to be brought by a man that hath done as
he ought to do; so I gave you all these for witnesses. Inquire of them
2 how
I have lived, and whether I have not behaved myself with all decency, and
after a virtuous manner, among them. And I further conjure you, O Galileans!
to hide no part of the truth, but to speak before these men as before judges,
whether I have in any thing acted otherwise than well."