e that by Divine Providence was delivered into their hands;
and they already resolved to kill him, and not let slip the opportunity
that lay before them. But when Reubel, the eldest of them, saw them thus
disposed, and that they had agreed together to execute their purpose,
he tried to restrain them, showing them the heinous enterprise they were
going about, and the horrid nature of it; that this action would appear
wicked in the sight of God, and impious before men, even though they
should kill one not related to them; but much more flagitious and
detestable to appear to have slain their own brother, by which act the
father must be treated unjustly in the son's slaughter, and the mother
[1] also be in perplexity while she laments that her son is taken away
from her, and this not in a natural way neither. So he entreated them
to have a regard to their own consciences, and wisely to consider what
mischief would betide them upon the death of so good a child, and their
youngest brother; that they would also fear God, who was already both a
spectator and a witness of the designs they had against their brother;
that he would love them if they abstained from this act, and yielded to
repentance and amendment; but in case they proceeded to do the fact,
all sorts of punishments would overtake them from God for this murder of
their brother, since they polluted his providence, which was every where
present, and which did not overlook what was done, either in deserts or
in cities; for wheresoever a man is, there ought he to suppose that God
is also. He told them further, that their consciences would be their
enemies, if they attempted to go through so wicked an enterprise, which
they can never avoid, whether it be a good conscience; or whether it
be such a one as they will have within them when once they have killed
their brother. He also added this besides to what he had before said,
that it was not a righteous thing to kill a brother, though he had
injured them; that it is a good thing to forget the actions of such near
friends, even in things wherein they might seem to have offended; but
that they were going to kill Joseph, who had been guilty of nothing
that was ill towards them, in whose case the infirmity of his small age
should rather procure him mercy, and move them to unite together in the
care of his preservation. That the cause of killing him made the act
itself much worse, while they determined to take him off out of envy