XI.

It has seemed a strange thing to me, my mother, when I have thought since of my conversation with Onias, and Zadok, and of the disclosures then made concerning Sejanus, and the league which was about to be secretly formed with him, that I, who am still in some sort a Roman, should be privy to such a contract, made or about to be made, whose end and object is a revolution in Rome, not less than Judea. A little while ago, and I should have thought that he designed evil against me, who had held me capable, and reported me so, of any alliance with a spirit so base as that of Sejanus, or of joining myself to an undertaking that aimed at any alteration, or overthrow, of the powers in Rome. But I now know one thing which once I did not, that 't is not we who shape our course in life, but Providence that marks it for us; that 't is not good alone that works out good in the plans of God, but evil also, and that so evil is itself, in part, good. Thus as in the earth foul things, and things

not so much as to be named, contribute toward the production of other things the most beautiful and necessary, and even poisonous things to the production of those that are nutritious or medicinal, so wicked men are not wholly hurtful or useless, but seeing that they must exist because human nature is such as it is, they are made to work out ends of righteousness through the providence of God, where they had no good intention or purpose themselves, but rather the contrary. Wherefore it may happen, and so I think it will, that though Sejanus be in himself unworthy, he may through that which he shall confer upon Herod in return for acts, or promises on his part, greatly help the people of God, and their deliverance from a galling bondage. And, surely, little evil would be inflicted upon any, though the monarch of Capreæ should be thrown from the rocks whence he casts those whom he desires to torment or destroy, and were buried in the depths of the sea. Sejanus for Tiberius might indeed be no gain to Rome; but it would be no loss. As it is not possible to conceive a worse being than he whom we place in the sovereignty of Hell, so cannot the imagination form an image of a human creature, more wicked or vile than Tiberius, and whether it is he or his parasite who shall rule in Rome can matter little to its inhabitants.

Since the evening passed in the dwelling of Zadok, and the conversation held there with the Rabbi and Onias, thy brother has returned to his usual manner and appears, as Judith asserts, even as was his wont, ere he had entered into the schemes which have taken him away from his home, and filled him with anxieties and cares. There is to be seen in him the common effect of relieving one's self of a secret within his own household. To those whom he chiefly esteems, Onias now feels free to speak of the things which engage, or which trouble him, and by dividing thus the burden, it is more easily borne. Judith, to her exceeding joy, now shares his confidence, although she will not approve, as she doubts the wisdom of the plans he is pursuing. Of Herod she holds an opinion, which no persuasion or reason whatever can force her to alter, and which allows her not for one moment to look upon him as he is seen by Onias. Upon what foundation her judgment rests, I as yet know not, nor whether it be such as to warrant the strength with which she holds it; but this is certain, that whatever judgment she forms is worthy to be well weighed, for she is both deliberate in forming her opinions, and honest and true as Astræa herself.

The reports which reach us of John, now called the Baptist, are of his gathering still more and more about him, and in a land already divided by sects of all kinds, of his forming yet another. By what he is to distinguish himself and his followers I know not, unless it be by the severity of his doctrine and manner of life. This, indeed, is constantly affirmed, that he announces the approach of a prophet greater than himself, whose servant even, he is not meet to be; but who that prophet is he declares not, whether Elijah, or he who shall precede Messiah, or Messiah himself. He has already drawn upon him the hatred of the Pharisees, for he spares not their vices in his harangues to the people; but he secures the regard of the populace, who ever love to hear their rulers involved in at least the same condemnation in which they are themselves included. Against Herod, however, as well as against the Rulers, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees, has he lifted up his voice, whose enmity as it will be easily excited, so he will find it more difficult to escape from or appease. Nay, as for that, there are none in the land, Greek, Roman, or Jew, Pharisee or Essene, Herodian or Sadducee, high or low, from the Chief Priests and the council at Jerusalem, to the Ruler of a Synagogue, whose enmity he will not rouse against both himself and his fol

lowers, if the same kind of speech continues to mark his preaching. On the coming Sabbath, in the chief Synagogue of Beth-Harem I shall trust to hear what his follower, the Tanner of Enon, who still lingers here, will have to say.

The Sabbath has come and passed, my mother, and I sit down to relate to you such of its incidents as may give you any satisfaction.

The household of Onias frequent chiefly a synagogue on the banks of the Jordan, not more remote in one direction, than, is Beth-Harem in another. Often, however, they resort to that within the walls, of which Shammai and Zadok are rulers. Thither was I desirous to go for many reasons, but chiefly that I might learn somewhat more distinctly concerning John from his follower, if, perchance, he should be permitted to declare himself. The cool and balmy air of the morning invited me early abroad, that I might enjoy for a time the solitude which on this day I crave, and of late have been accustomed to, and might be among the first who should reach the synagogue. As I emerged from the shaded grounds of Onias upon the highway leading to the city, I found it already sprinkled with companies of those who, like myself, were going up to worship: The scene was beautiful to the eye, presented 25

VOL. I.