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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, 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 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."
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