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yielded ourselves up to suffer whatsoever thou pleasedst； but now
（for we do not plead for mercy to ourselves； though indeed； if we
die； it will be while we are young； and before we have had the
enjoyment of life） have regard to our father； and take pity of
his old age； on whose account it is that we make these
supplications to thee。 We beg thou wilt give us those lives which
this wickedness of ours has rendered obnoxious to thy punishment；
and this for his sake who is not himself wicked； nor does his
being our father make us wicked。 He is a good man； and not worthy
to have such trials of his patience； and now； we are absent； he
is afflicted with care for us。 But if he hear of our deaths； and
what was the cause of it； he will on that account die an immature
death； and the reproachful manner of our ruin will hasten his
end； and will directly kill him； nay； will bring him to a
miserable death； while he will make haste to rid himself out of
the world； and bring himself to a state of insensibility； before
the sad story of our end come abroad into the rest of the world。
Consider these things in this manner； although our wickedness
does now provoke thee with a just desire of punishing that
wickedness； and forgive it for our father's sake； and let thy
commiseration of him weigh more with thee than our wickedness。
Have regard to the old age of our father； who； if we perish； will
be very lonely while he lives； and will soon die himself also。
Grant this boon to the name of fathers； for thereby thou wilt
honor him that begat thee； and will grant it to thyself also； who
enjoyest already that denomination； thou wilt then； by that
denomination； be preserved of God； the Father of all； … by
showing a pious regard to which； in the case of our father； thou
wilt appear to honor him who is styled by the same name； I mean；
if thou wilt have this pity on our father； upon this
consideration； how miserable he will be if he be deprived of his
sons！ It is thy part therefore to bestow on us what God has given
us； when it is in thy power to take it away； and so to resemble
him entirely in charity； for it is good to use that power； which
can either give or take away； on the merciful side； and when it
is in thy power to destroy； to forget that thou ever hadst that
power； and to look on thyself as only allowed power for
preservation； and that the more any one extends this power； the
greater reputation does he gain to himself。 Now； by forgiving our
brother what he has unhappily committed； thou wilt preserve us
all； for we cannot think of living if he be put to death； since
we dare not show ourselves alive to our father without our
brother； but here must we partake of one and the same catastrophe
of his life。 And so far we beg of thee； O governor； that if thou
condemnest our brother to die； thou wilt punish us together with
him； as partners of his crime； … for we shall not think it
reasonable to be reserved to kill ourselves for grief of our
brother's death； but so to die rather as equally guilty with him
of this crime。 I will only leave with thee this one
consideration； and then will say no more； viz。 that our brother
committed this fault when he was young； and not yet of confirmed
wisdom in his conduct； and that men naturally forgive such young
persons。 I end here； without adding what more I have to say； that
in case thou condemnest us； that omission may be supposed to have
hurt us； and permitted thee to take the severer side。 But in case
thou settest us free； that this may be ascribed to thy own
goodness； of which thou art inwardly conscious； that thou freest
us from condemnation； and that not by barely preserving us； but
by granting us such a favor as will make us appear more righteous
than we really are； and by representing to thyself more motives
for our deliverance than we are able to produce ourselves。 If；
therefore； thou resolvest to slay him； I desire thou wilt slay me
in his stead； and send him back to his father； or if thou
pleasest to retain him with thee as a slave； I am fitter to labor
for thy advantage in that capacity； and； as thou seest； am better
prepared for either of those sufferings。〃 So Judas； being very
willing to undergo any thing whatever for the deliverance of his
brother； cast himself down at Joseph's feet； and earnestly
labored to assuage and pacify his anger。 All his brethren also
fell down before him； weeping and delivering themselves up to
destruction for the preservation of the life of Benjamin。
10。 But Joseph； as overcome now with his affections； and no
longer able to personate an angry man； commanded all that were
present to depart； that he might make himself known to his
brethren when they were alone； and when the rest were gone out；
he made himself known to his brethren； and said； 〃I commend you
for your virtue； and your kindness to our brother： I find you
better men than I could have expected from what you contrived
about me。 Indeed； I did all this to try your love to your
brother； so I believe you were not wicked by nature in what you
did in my case； but that all has happened according to God's
will； who has hereby procured our enjoyment of what good things
we have； and； if he continue in a favorable disposition； of what
we hope for hereafter。 Since； therefore； I know that our father
is safe and well； beyond expectation； and I see you so well
disposed to your brother； I will no longer remember what guilt
you seem to have had about me； but will leave off to hate you for
that your wickedness； and do rather return you my thanks； that
you have concurred with the intentions of God to bring things to
their present state。 I would have you also rather to forget the
same； since that imprudence of yours is come to such a happy
conclusion； than to be uneasy and blush at those your offenses。
Do not； therefore； let your evil intentions； when you condemned
me； and that bitter remorse which might follow； be a grief to you
now； because those intentions were frustrated。 Go； therefore；
your way； rejoicing in what has happened by the Divine
Providence； and inform your father of it； lest he should be spent
with cares for you； and deprive me of the most agreeable part of
my felicity； I mean； lest he should die before he comes into my
sight； and enjoys the good things that we now have。 Bring；
therefore； with you our father； and your wives and children； and
all your kindred； and remove your habitations hither； for it is
not proper that the persons dearest to me should live remote from
me； now my affairs are so prosperous； especially when they must
endure five more years of famine。〃 When Joseph had said this； he
embraced his brethren； who were in tears and sorrow； but the
generous kindness of their brother seemed to leave among them no
room for fear； lest they should be punished on account of what
they had consulted and acted against him； and they were then
feasting。 Now the king； as soon as he heard that Joseph's
brethren were come to him； was exceeding glad of it； as if it had
been a part of his own good fortune； and gave them wagons full of
corn and gold and silver； to be conveyed to his father。 Now when
they had received more of th