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them； laughed at what he said； and wondered at the abusive
language which the servant gave them； when he was so hardy as to
accuse those who did not before so much as retain the price of
their corn； which was found in their sacks； but brought it again；
though nobody else knew of any such thing； … so far were they
from offering any injury to Joseph voluntarily。 But still；
supposing that a search would be a more sure justification of
themselves than their own denial of the fact； they bid him search
them； and that if any of them had been guilty of the theft； to
punish them all； for being no way conscious to themselves of any
crime； they spake with assurance； and； as they thought； without
any danger to themselves also。 The servants desired there might
be a search made； but they said the punishment should extend to
him alone who should be found guilty of the theft。 So they made
the search； and； having searched all the rest； they came last of
all to Benjamin； as knowing it was Benjamin's sack in which they
had hidden the cup； they having indeed searched the rest only for
a show of accuracy： so the rest were out of fear for themselves；
and were now only concerned about Benjamin； but still were well
assured that he would also be found innocent； and they reproached
those that came after them for their hindering them； while they
might； in the mean while； have gotten a good way on their
journey。 But as soon as they had searched Benjamin's sack； they
found the cup； and took it from him； and all was changed into
mourning and lamentation。 They rent their garments； and wept for
the punishment which their brother was to undergo for his theft；
and for the delusion they had put on their father； when they
promised they would bring Benjamin safe to him。 What added to
their misery was； that this melancholy accident came
unfortunately at a time when they thought they had been gotten
off clear； but they confessed that this misfortune of their
brother； as well as the grief of their father for him； was owing
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 indee