thought
fit to be done, as those that, upon the theater, love to make a show
of their hands, and of their weapons, but do it at their own hazard,
without considering, what was for their advantage, and for their
security; for that if they now go and attack the city immediately, "they
shall but occasion their enemies to unite together, and shall convert
their force, now it is in its height, against themselves. But if they
stay a while, they shall have fewer enemies, because they will be
consumed in this sedition: that God acts as a general of the Romans
better than he can do, and is giving the Jews up to them without any
pains of their own, and granting their army a victory without any
danger; that therefore it is their best way, while their enemies
are destroying each other with their own hands, and falling into the
greatest of misfortunes, which is that of sedition, to sit still as
spectators of the dangers they run into, rather than to fight hand to
hand with men that love murdering, and are mad one against another. But
if any one imagines that the glory of victory, when it is gotten without
fighting, will be more insipid, let him know this much, that a glorious
success, quietly obtained, is more profitable than the dangers of
a battle; for we ought to esteem these that do what is agreeable to
temperance and prudence no less glorious than those that have gained
great reputation by their actions in war: that he shall lead on his army
with greater force when their enemies are diminished, and his own army
refreshed after the continual labors they had undergone. However, that
this is not a proper time to propose to ourselves the glory of victory;
for that the Jews are not now employed in making of armor or building of
walls, nor indeed in getting together auxiliaries, while the advantage
will be on their side who give them such opportunity of delay; but
that the Jews are vexed to pieces every day by their civil wars and
dissensions, and are under greater miseries than, if they were once
taken, could be inflicted on them by us. Whether therefore any one
hath regard to what is for our safety, he ought to suffer these Jews to
destroy one another; or whether he hath regard to the greater glory of
the action, we ought by no means to meddle with those men, now they are
afflicted with a distemper at home; for should we now conquer them, it
would be said the conquest was not owing to our bravery, but to their
sedition." [10]

3.