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Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of is
nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his
righteousness, and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the
greatest city we have. I was myself brought up with my brother,
whose name was Matthias, for he was my own brother, by both
father and mother; and I made mighty proficiency in the
improvements of my learning, and appeared to have both a great
memory and understanding. Moreover, when I was a child, and about
fourteen years of age, I was commended by all for the love I had
to learning; on which account the high priests and principal men
of the city came then frequently to me together, in order to know
my opinion about the accurate understanding of points of the law.
And when I was about sixteen years old, I had a mind to make trim
of the several sects that were among us. These sects are three: -
The first is that of the Pharisees, the second that Sadducees,
and the third that of the Essens, as we have frequently told you;
for I thought that by this means I might choose the best, if I
were once acquainted with them all; so I contented myself with
hard fare, and underwent great difficulties, and went through
them all. Nor did I content myself with these trials only; but
when I was informed that one, whose name was Banus, lived in the
desert, and used no other clothing than grew upon trees, and had
no other food than what grew of its own accord, and bathed
himself in cold water frequently, both by night and by day, in
order to preserve his chastity, I imitated him in those things,
and continued with him three years. So when I had
accomplished my desires, I returned back to the city, being now
nineteen years old, and began to conduct myself according to the
rules of the sect of the Pharisees, which is of kin to the sect
of the Stoics, as the Greeks call them.
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