ut to undertake differed widely from those which had preceded
it.

"Hitherto," he said "you have but skirmished around the Romans, and
have run but comparatively little danger; but now, those who go
with me must make up their minds that they are going to Jerusalem
to die. It may be that the Lord will yet deliver the Holy City from
her enemies, as he delivered it in days of old. But you know what
has been doing in Jerusalem, for the last four years; that not only
the streets, but the altar itself have been flooded with the blood
of the people, how the Jews themselves have desecrated the Temple,
and how wickedness of all kinds has prevailed in the city.

"Thus, you can judge for yourselves what chance there is that God
will interfere on behalf of the people who have forsaken and
insulted him. If he does not interfere, in my opinion the fate of
the city is sealed. I have seen the Romans at work, at Jotapata and
Gamala; and I know how the strongest walls go down before their
engines and battering rams. Moreover I hear that, in the wars which
have been raging within the gates, the magazines--which contain
sufficient food to last even her great population for years--have
been entirely destroyed; and thus those who go to defend her have
to face not the Roman sword only, but famine.

"Therefore, I say that those who go up to defend the Temple must
make up their minds that they go to die for the Temple. It is for
each of you to ask yourselves whether you are ready to do this. I
ask no one to go with me. Let each, before it is too late, ask
himself whether he is ready to do this thing. I blame none who find
the sacrifice too great. It is between them and their conscience.

"Therefore, I pray you, let all tonight disperse among the hills,
each by himself, so that you may think over what I have said; and
let all who may come to the conclusion that they are not called
upon to go to certain death, in defense of the Temple, depart to
their homes without reproach from their comrades. Each man here has
done his duty, so long as hope remained. Now it is for each to
decide, for himself, whether he feels called upon to give his life
for the Temple."

Silently the crowd dispersed, and John joined the captains, and
passed the night with them.

"I fear we shall have but a small gathering in the morning," one of
them said, as they sat down by the fire. "Many will fight as long
as there is hope, but few will go down to certain death."