God was with him, and prepared way to his persuasions of the
multitude; and as they had often been disobedient, they were now
sensible that such disobedience was disadvantageous to them and
that they had still thereby fallen into calamities.

3. But this man was admirable for his virtue, and powerful in
making men give credit to what he delivered, not only during the
time of his natural life, but even there is still no one of the
Hebrews who does not act even now as if Moses were present, and
ready to punish him if he should do any thing that is indecent;
nay, there is no one but is obedient to what laws he ordained,
although they might be concealed in their transgressions. There
are also many other demonstrations that his power was more than
human, for still some there have been, who have come from the
parts beyond Euphrates, a journey of four months, through many
dangers, and at great expenses, in honor of our temple; and yet,
when they had offered their oblations, could not partake of their
own sacrifices, because Moses had forbidden it, by somewhat in
the law that did not permit them, or somewhat that had befallen
them, which our ancient customs made inconsistent therewith; some
of these did not sacrifice at all, and others left their
sacrifices in an imperfect condition; many were not able, even at
first, so much as to enter the temple, but went their ways in
this as preferring a submission to the laws of Moses before the
fulfilling of their own inclinations, they had no fear upon them
that anybody could convict them, but only out of a reverence to
their own conscience. Thus this legislation, which appeared to be
divine, made this man to be esteemed as one superior to his own
nature. Nay, further, a little before the beginning of this war,
when Claudius was emperor of the Romans, and Ismael was our high