Volume 2

140 Life of Jesus Christ
Governor's court. About fifty citizens were present and
five tables were spread. Jesus was at that of the most distinguished,
and the disciples were scattered among the
guests at the other tables. I think Jesus and the disciples
also contributed something to the entertainment. Plants
like little trees in pots adorned the table. Jesus taught during
the meal, going from table to table and speaking to all
the guests. When the tables were cleared of all but their
ornamental foliage, and grace said, all present ranged in a
half-circle before Jesus, who delivered an instruction and
invited them to come next morning to the "Place of
Grace," where He would discourse to them more at
length.
Next day toward nine in the morning, Jesus set out with
the disciples for the place of instruction, where over one
hundred distinguished men were gathered under the shade
of the trees. In the outer circle were some women also. On
the way thither, Jesus and the disciples arrived at the
palace of the Governor who, in magnificent robes and attended
by his officers, was just about setting out for the
same place. But Jesus commanded him not to go in such
array, but to make his appearance like the other men in a
long mantle and penitential garb. The mantle was of dyed
wool. They wore also a scapular of one piece in the back
but open on the breast, the two held in place over the
shoulders by a narrow strap. The two pieces, front and
back, were black with the names of the seven capital sins
wrought into them in different colors. The women were
veiled. When Jesus stepped up on the teacher's chair, the
people bowed reverently. The Governor and the most distinguished
men of the city stood close to the chair.
The disciples, standing in the outer circles, had each
around him a group of men and women receiving instructions.
Jesus first raised His eyes to Heaven and prayed
aloud to His Father, from whom all graces flow, that His
teaching might fall upon hearts repentant and sincere. He