le they had hopes
of recovering their liberty, they might be pardoned; but that their
continuance still in their opposition, when they saw that to be
impossible, was inexcusable; for that if they will not comply with such
humane offers, and right hands for security, they should have experience
of such a war as would spare nobody, and should soon be made sensible
that their wall would be but a trifle, when battered by the Roman
machines; in depending on which they demonstrate themselves to be the
only Galileans that were no better than arrogant slaves and captives.

3. Now none of the populace durst not only make a reply, but durst not
so much as get upon the wall, for it was all taken up by the robbers,
who were also the guard at the gates, in order to prevent any of the
rest from going out, in order to propose terms of submission, and from
receiving any of the horsemen into the city. But John returned
Titus this answer: That for himself he was content to hearken to his
proposals, and that he would either persuade or force those that refused
them. Yet he said that Titus ought to have such regard to the Jewish
law, as to grant them leave to celebrate that day, which was the seventh
day of the week, on which it was unlawful not only to remove their
arms, but even to treat of peace also; and that even the Romans were not
ignorant how the period of the seventh day was among them a cessation
from all labors; and that he who should compel them to transgress
the law about that day would be equally guilty with those that
were compelled to transgress it: and that this delay could be of no
disadvantage to him; for why should any body think of doing any thing in
the night, unless it was to fly away? which he might prevent by placing
his camp round about them; and that they should think it a great point
gained, if they might not be obliged to transgress the laws of their
country; and that it would be a right thing for him, who designed to
grant them peace, without their expectation of such a favor, to preserve
the laws of those they saved inviolable. Thus did this man put a trick
upon Titus, not so much out of regard to the seventh day as to his own
preservation, for he was afraid lest he should be quite deserted if the
city should be taken, and had his hopes of life in that night, and
in his flight therein. Now this was the work of God, who therefore
preserved this John, that he might bring on the destruction of
Jerusalem; as also