Chapter VII: Documents (3)

The testimony of _Josephus_ is famous, _lib._ 7. _de Bel. Jud. cap._ 24. saying, _The Emperour Titus passing between Arca, and Raphanea, Cities of King Agrippa, he saw the wonderfull river, which though it be swift, yet it is dry on every seventh day; and that day being past, it resumes its ordinary course, as if it had no change; and it always observes this order. It is called Sabbaticall; from the solemne feast of the Jews, because it imitates their rest every seventh day._ I know some do otherwise expound those words of _Josephus_, but they hit not his meaning, as appears by this, that he calls the River, Sabbathio, or sabbaticall: which word cannot be derived but from Sabbath; and who doth not see that it ceaseth to flow, or move, on the Sabbath day; and so _Josephus_ must be understood according to my sense. _Pliny_ also confirms this opinion, _lib._ 1. _Nat. hist. c._ 2. he saith, _In Judea a River lies dry every Sabbath_; yet I think _Pliny_ is deceived and ill informed, when he saith it is a River in Judea; neither is to be found in Judea, but in another place, where many Jewes live. _R. Selomoh Jarchi_ who lived 540. years since mentions that River in _Comment. Talm._ saying, The stones, and sand of that River do continually move all the six dayes of the week, until the seventh. _R. Mardochus Japhe_ in his learned book _Jephe Thoar_ saith, The _Arabians_ derive Sabbathion from the Sabbath, who use to adde the particle (ion) to adjectives. The same saith, that it was told him of an hour-glasse filled with the sand of Sabbathion, which ranne all the weeke till the Sabbath. And I heard the same from my father; which testimony I account as good, as if I saw it my selfe; (for fathers do not use to impose upon their sons.) He told me that there was an Arabian at _Lisborn_, who had such an hour-glasse; and that every Friday at evening he would walk in the street called the new street, and shew this glasse to Jewes who counterfeited Christianity, and say, _Ye Jewes, shut up your shops, for now the Sabbath comes_. Another worthy of credit, told me of another hour-glasse, which he had some years before, before the Port _Mysketa_. The Cadi, or Judge of that place, saw him by chance passing that way, and asked him, what it was? he commanded it to be taken away; rebuking the Mahomitans, that by this, they did confirme the Jewish Sabbath. I should not speak of these glasses, if the authority of such a man whom I have alledged, did not move me; though I beleeve that God did not only work that miracle, that he might keep part of the ten Tribes there, but other also, as you may see in _Esdras_. _R. Moses Gerundensis_ a learned Cabalist, and Interpreter of the Law in _Parasa Aazinu_, thinks the River Sabbathion to be the same with Gozan, of Guz, which signifies to snatch away, because except the seventh day, on all the other, it carryes with it, by its swiftnesse, the very stones. Of this there is mention in 2 _King._ whither the King of _Assyria_ led his captives; and so relates _Benjamin Tudelensis_ in his journall, that part of the ten Tribes dwelt at the bank of that River. But I know not where the River Gozan is. In the year 5394, that is, 15 years agon in the City _Lubin_, two _Polonians_ after they had travelled long, they wrot in Dutch a book of the originiall of the Sabbaticall River, but the Senate commanded it to be burnt at the Mart of Breslaw, by the perswasion of the Jesuites. _Abraham Frisal_ in his Orchot Olam. _c._ 26. will have this river to be in _India_, he saith, _The head of the Sabbaticall river is in the country of Upper India, among the rivers of Ganges_. And a little after, _The Sabbaticall river hath its originall from the other side of Kalikout_ (which lyes far above the bound of _Lamik_, which he placeth beyond the _sinus Barbaricus_) _and it parts the Indians from the Kingdome of the Jewes, which river you may certainly find there_, Though he takes _Gozan_ for _Ganges_, for some nearnesse of writing; yet its not to be doubted that in that place there are many Jewes, witnesse _Johannes de Bairos_ in his Decads. _Eldad Danita_ speaking of the four Tribes: which he placeth at _Gozan_ saith, _The Sabbaticall river is among them_. _Josephus_ saith, that _Titus_ saw the Sabbathion between _Arca_ and _Raphanea_. Which testimony seems the truer, because its not to be thought that _Josephus_ would tel a lie of him, by whom he might be rebuked. I think that ye must look for it not far from the Caspian Sea: and I am not alone in this opinion. What ever it be it appeares that this river is somewhere, and that part of the ten Tribes are hid there; and I may say with _Moses_ in _Deut._ 29.28, 29. _And the Lord cast them out of their Land in anger, and in wrath; Secret things belong to the Lord our God._ For it is not known when they shall return to their Countrey; neither can it perfectly be shewed where they are, God suffering it, as its said in _Deut._ 32.26. _I determined to cast them forth unto the ends of the earth, and to make their remembrance cease from among men._ As if he should say, I wil cast them unto the furthest places of the world that none may remember them; and therefore they are truly in Scripture called _imprisoned_, and _lost_.

_SECT._ 21.

Neither is there weight in the Argument which some have brought to me, if they be in the world, why doe we not know them better? There are many things which we know, and yet know not their original; are we not to this day ignorant of the heads of the four Rivers, _Nilus_, _Ganges_, _Euphrates_, and _Tegris_? also there are many unknown Countryes. Besides, though some live in knowne and neighbour Countrys, yet they are unknown by being behind Mountains; so it happened under the reign of _Ferdinand_, and _Isabel_, that some Spaniards were found out by accident, at _Batueca_, belonging to the Duke of _Alva_, which place is distant but ten miles from _Salamanca_, and near to _Placentia_, whither some Spaniards fled, when the _Moors_ possessed _Spaine_, and dwelt there 800 years. If therefore a people could lie hid so long in the middle of _Spaine_, why may we not say that those are hid, whom God will not have any perfectly to know, before the end of days?

And these things we have gathered concerning the habitations of the ten Tribes, who, we beleeve, do still keep the Jewish Rites, as in 2 _King._ 17.26. when the Israelites were carryed captive by _Salmaneser_, and those of _Cuthah_ came in their stead, an Israelitish Priest was sent by the King, to teach them, because Lyons infested them, for that they were ignorant that there was another worship used in the land: but when the Priest saw that it was impossible to take that people wholly off from Idolatry, he permitted them to worship divers gods, so that they would acknowledge one, to be the mover of all things. The same is also sufficiently proved out of all the Histories which we have alledged. And our brethren do keep the law more zealously out of their land, then in it, as being neither ambitious, nor contentious (which hath sometimes happened with the family of _David_) by which means they might easily erre in the true Religion, not acknowledge _Jerusalem_, and withdraw that obedience, which is due to the Lord, and to his Temple.

_SECT._ 22.

Wee learne out of the first of _Ezra_, that none of the ten Tribes entred the second Temple; for it is said that only some of the Tribe of _Judah_, and some of _Benjamin_ did returne. _Ezra_ also saith the same in the first of _Chronicles_, that _Salmaneser_ carryed the ten Tribes to _Hala_, _Habor_, and _Hara_, and to the river _Gozan_ to this day: so that you may gather that at that time they were there. So likewise _Josephus in Antiq; Ind. lib._ 11. _c._ 5.

Perhaps some will say, since _Media_ and _Persia_, are near to _Babylon_, why did they not return to _Jerusalem_ with the two Tribes? I answer, because so few of the two neighbouring Tribes did return from thence to _Jerusalem_, for that they were wel seated in _Babylon_; or else because they heard the Prophets say, that they must not look for any redemption but that which was to be at the end of dayes. How then can we thinke that they who were more remote, and also had learnt the same things of the Prophets, should leave their place, perhaps to suffer new miseries, and calamities? Besides, we doe not read that _Cyrus_ gave leave to any to return, but only to the two Tribes of _Juda_ and _Benjamin_. And also it is probable (as some Authors affirme) that they could not goe up from thence, because they had continually Wars with the neighbour people.

_SECT._ 23.

Hitherto we have shewed that the ten Tribes are in divers places, as in the _West-Indies_, in _Sina_; in the confines of _Tartary_, beyond the river _Sabbathion_, and _Euphrates_, in _Media_, in the Kingdome of the _Habyssins_; of all which the Prophet _Isaiah_ is to be understood, in _Isa._ 11.11. _It shall come to passe in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left from_ Assyria, _from_ Egypt, _from_ Pathros, _from_ Ethiopia, _from_ Elam, _from_ Sinear, _from_ Hamath, _and from the Islands of the Sea_. From whence you may gather, that it is meant of those places where the ten Tribes dwell. _Syria_ and _Ægypt_ shall be the two places of their generall meeting; as more fully hereafter.

_Pathros_, is not _Pelusium_, nor _Petra_, but _Parthia_, neare to the Caspian Sea, where I thinke, with many others, the Sabbaticall river is. Although there is a _Pathros_ in _Ægypt_, as the learned _Samuel Bochardus_ saith in his holy Geography.

_Chus_, according to common opinion, is _Æthiopia_, as is proved out of _Jer._ 13.23. and in this place of _Jeremy_ are meant the _Israelites_, who live in the Country of the _Abyssins_.

_Elam_, is a Province in _Persia_, as it appeares in _Dan._ 8.2. where are desert places, in which, perhaps, the remnant of the ten Tribes is.

_Shinar_, is a Province about _Babylon_, as in _Gen._ 10.10. where _Babel_ is said to be in _Shinar_; and _Dan._ 1.2. it is said, that _Nebuchadnezzar_ carryed the holy Vessels to the Land of _Shinar_.

_Hamath_, there are many Hamaths mentioned in the Scripture, many understand it of _Antioch_; but because Geographers reckon up 12 places named _Antioch_, therefore we can affirme nothing for certain; but I thinke, that that is meant, which is placed in _Sythia_. The seventy Interpreters by _Hamath_, understand the Sun, from _Hamath_ the Sun; and they translate it, From the rising of the Sun; and I thinke it is no ill translation; for hereby all the _Israelites_ who are in greater _Asia_, _India_, and _Sina_, may be understood.

The _Islands of the Sea_; so almost all translate it; but I thinke it is to be rendred The Islands of the West, for (_jam_) in holy Scripture signifies _The West_, as in _Gen._ 28.14. and in many other places; and upon this account those _Israelites_ are implyed, who are Westward from the Holy Land, among whom the _Americans_ are.

_SECT._ 24.

The Prophet adds in _Isa._ 11.12. _And he shall set up a signe for the Nations, and he shall assemble the out-casts of_ Israel, _and gather together the dispersed of_ Judah _from the foure quarters of the earth_. Where he notes two things; 1. That he cals the _Israelites_ out-casts, but the _Iewes_ scattered; and the reason is, because the ten Tribes are not only farre off from the Holy Land, but also they live in the extremities and ends of Countries; from whence the Prophet cals them _cast-out_. But he doth not say, that the _Israelites_ are to be gathered from the foure quarters of the Earth, because they are not so dispersed through the World, as the Tribe of _Iudah_ is, which now hath Synagogues, not only in three parts of the World, but also in _America_. The Prophet adds in _ver._ 13, _The envy also of_ Ephraim _shall depart, and the adversaries of_ Judah _shall be cut off_. For then there shall be no contention between _Iudah_, and the ten Tribes, which are comprehended under the name of _Ephraim_, because their first King _Jeroboam_ was of that Tribe. And then, as it is in _Ezek._ 37.22. _One King shall be King over them all, and they shall be no more two Nations, neither shall they be divided any more into two Kingdoms._ There shall be one King to them both, of the family of _David_. Also the Lord at that redemption will dry up _Nilus_, and _Euphrates_, and will divide it into seven streames (answerable to his drying up the red Sea when they came out of _Ægypt_) perhaps that the seven Tribes, which are in those parts, may goe over it; as they passe into their Country, as _Isaiah_ saith in ch. 27.12, 13. _And it shall be in that day, and he shall shake off from the bank of the river_, (some understand _Euphrates_) _unto the river of_ Egypt (_Nilus_) _and ye, O children of_ Israel, _shall be gathered one by one_. Which was never done in the captivity of _Babylon_.

The Prophet _Isaiah_ saith in chap. 11.11. _that he will return them the second time_, &c. Now the redemption from _Babilon_, cannot be called such an one, because all of them were not brought back to their Country. But the redemption shall be universall to all the Tribes, as it was when they went out of _Ægypt_, which redemption shall be like the first in many things, as I shewed in the third part of my _Reconciler_; and so it may be called the second, in reference to that first from _Ægypt_. Whence _Jeremiah_ saith, Cha. 23.7, 8. _That then it shall not be said, He that brought_ Israel _out of_ Egypt, _but from the North, and from all Countries, whither he had driven them_. That they shall not mention their departure from _Ægypt_, for the cause fore-mentioned.

_SECT._ 25.

The same Prophet, _sc._ _Isa._ 43.5, 6. saith, _I will bring thy seed from the East, and will gather thee from the West: I will say to the North, Give up; and to the South, Keep not back; bring my Sons from farre, and my Daughters from the ends of the earth_. For _Media_, _Persia_, and _China_, lye on the East; _Tartary_ and _Scythia_ on the North; the Kingdome of the _Abyssins_ on the South; _Europe_ on the West, from the Holy Land. But when he saith, _Bring ye my sons from farre_, he understands _America_; so that in those verses he understands all those places, in which the Tribes are detained. Also in Chap. 49. from ver. 7. to the end of the Chapter, he saith, that that returne shall be most happy. And in ch. 56. vers. 8. God saith, _He that gathers the out-casts of Israel_. And the Prophet _Jeremiah_, in ch. 33. ver. 16. _In those dayes shall_ Juda _be saved, and_ Jerusalem _shall dwell safely_. It is certaine, and _Jerome_ assents to all our Authors, that when _Judah_ is joyned with _Israel_, by _Israel_ the ten Tribes are meant. The same adds in _chap._ 31. _ver._ 15. in the comforting of _Rachel_, who wept for the carrying away her sons, _Joseph_, and _Benjamin_, the first by _Salmaneser_ into _Assyria_, the last by _Nebuchadnezzar_ into _Babilon_, he saith, in vers. 16. _Refraine thy voyce from weeping, and thine eyes from teares, for thy work shall be rewarded._ And it followes in Chap. 33. ver. 7. _And I will cause the captivity of_ Judah, _and the captivity of_ Israel _to returne, and I will build them up as at the first_. _Ezekiel_ saith the same in Chap. 34.13. and in Chap. 37.16. under the figure of two sticks, on which were written the names of _Judah_, and _Ephraim_, by which he proves the gathering together of the twelve Tribes to be subject to _Messiah_ the Son of David, in ver. 22. he saith, _And one King shall be King to them all_; according as _Hosea_ saith in Chap. 2. So also saith _Amos_, in chap. 9. vers. 14, 15. _And I will bring againe the captivity of my people_ Israel, _and they shall build the wast Cities, and inhabite them; and they shall plant vine-yards, and drink the wine thereof: they shall make gardens, and eate the fruit of them. And they shall be no more pulled up out of their Land, which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God._ So also _Mica_. in cha. 2.12. _I will surely assemble_, O Jacob, _all of thee, I will gather the remnant of_ Israel, _I will also place him as the flock in the sheep-fold_. For that in the captivity of _Babilon_ all were not gathered together. The Prophet _Zechariah_ in chap. 8.7. and in chap. 10.6. and all the rest of the Prophets do witnesse the same thing.

_SECT._ 26.

But which way that redemption shall be, no man can tell; but only so farre as we may gather out of the Prophets. That at that time the ten Tribes shall come to _Jerusalem_ under the leading of a Prince, whom some Rabbins in the _Talmud_, and in some places of the Chaldy Paraphrase, doe call _Messiah_ the Son of _Joseph_; and elsewhere _Messiah_ the Son of _Ephraim_; who being slaine in the last War of _Gog_ and _Magog_, shall shew himselfe to be _Messiah_ the sonne of _David_, who shall be, as _Ezekiel_, and _Hosea_ say, _The everlasting Prince of all the twelve Tribes_. Our wise men doe, in many places, especially in the _Babilonian_ Talmud, _in tract. suca_: _c._ 5. make mention of that _Messiah_ the sonne of _Ephraim_; where they say, that he shall dye in the last war of _Gog_, and _Magog_; and they so expound that of _Zach._ 12.10. _And they shall looke upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourne for him, as one mourneth for his only sonne._ They adde also, that the foure Captaines, of whom the same Prophet speakes in chap. 11. are, _Messiah_ the son of _David_, _Messiah_ the son of _Joseph_, the Prophet _Elias_, and the high Priest; which foure are those dignities, which shall shew their power in that blessed age. Observe, that sometime they call _Messiah_ the son of _Ephraim_, sometime of _Joseph_; for he shall come out of the Tribe of _Ephraim_, and shall be Captaine of all the ten Tribes, who gave their name to _Ephraim_, because that their first King _Jeroboam_ was of that Tribe. Not without cause doe they call him the son of _Joseph_, for he was the true type of the house of _Israel_, in his imprisonment, and future happinesse. Adde to this, that he was so long hid from his brethren, that they did not know him: as in like manner the ten Tribes are at this day, who are led captive, but hereafter shall come to the top of felicity, in the same manner as _Joseph_ did. That _Messiah_ of _Joseph_ shall dye in the battel of _Gog_, and _Magog_, and afterward shall rise againe, that he may enjoy the dignity, not of a Kingly Scepter, but the office only of a Vice-roy, as _Joseph_ in _Ægypt_; for that the Empire of the house of _Israel_ fell under the reigne of _Hosea_ the son of _Elah_; as the Prophet _Amos_ saith in chap. 5.2. Therefore the Kingdome of the ten Tribes shall not be restored, as _Ezekiel_ saith in Chap. 37. under the reigne of _Messiah_ the son of _David_, who shall be everlasting; and by the death of _Messiah_ the son of _Joseph_, the ten Tribes shall see, that God will not that they should have more Kings then one. As its already spoken.

_SECT._ 27.

Those Tribes then shall be gathered from all quarters of the earth, into Countries neare to the Holy Land; namely, into _Assyria_, and _Ægypt_; and from thence they shall goe into their Country; of which _Isaiah_ speakes, in chap. 27.13. _And it shall be in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they who were lost, shall come into the Land of_ Assyria; _and they who were cast out, into_ Egypt; _and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at_ Jerusalem. As if he should say, as trumpets sound, to call any army together: so they shall come together, who were dead (that is, dispersed through all _Asia_) into _Assyria_; and the out-casts (that is, which are in _America_) shall come by the _Mediterranean_ Sea to _Alexandria_ of _Ægypt_; and in the like manner those who are in _Africa_, when _Nilus_ shall be dried up, and _Euphrates_ shall be divided; as we have already said. And because the gathering together of the captivity, shall begin at those who are in _America_, therefore _Isaiah_ saith, _The Islands shall trust in me, and the ships of_ Tarsis (that is of the Ocean) _first of all, that they may bring thy sons from farre, and with them, their silver, and gold_. They shall then come with speed from those Countries, prostrating themselves at the mountaine of the Lord in _Jerusalem_, as the Prophet _Hosea_ saith of that redemption in chap. 11.11. _They shall come as birds out of_ Egypt, and as _Doves out of_ Assyria; so saith _Isaiah_ in Chap. 60.8. _Who are those that fly as a cloud, and as Doves to their nests?_ They which come first, shall also partake of this joy, to see others to come to them every moment; for which cause the same Prophet saith, _Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold them who gather themselves to thee_. And because the two Countrys of _Assyria_ and _Egypt_, shall first of all kindly receive the people of _Israel_, and shall know the truth, first of all imbracing the Religion of the Jewes, sacrificing and praying to God, therefore the prophet _Isaiah_ saith, in c. 19.25. _Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the worke of my hands; but Israel is my inheritance._ For so those words are to be understood.

_SECT._ 28.

All those are the sayings of the holy Prophets, from whence doth appeare the returne of Israel into their Country. It is given to none to know the time thereof, neither is it revealed to _Rabby Simeon ben Johay_, the Author of the Zoar; because that God hath reserved that mystery to himself, as _Moses_ saith. _It is hid with me._ And _Isaiah_ in ch. 63.4. _For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year in which the redemption shall come._ Which the Rabbins thus interpret, _I have reveiled it to my heart and not to Angells_: and elsewhere, _If any man tell you when Messiah shall come, beleeve him not_. So also the Angel saith to _Daniel_ ch. 12.9. _All things are closed up and sealed to the time of the end._ Therefore all those, who search after that time, as _Rabbi Seadiah_, _Moses_ _Egyptius_, _Moses Gerundensis_, _Selomoh Jarchi_, _Abraham bar Ribi Hijah_, _Abraham Zacculo_, _Mordehai Reato_, _and Isaac Abarbanel_, have been mistaken; for that they would go beyond humane capacity, and reveale that, which God concealed. And even to _Daniel_ himselfe (to whom was made knowne the secret of the change of the four Monarchies) it was so revealed to him, that hee confessed he did not understand it. Our Ancients did point at this from the Letter (m) in _Isa._ 9.7. where he saith, _Of the increase of his government_: which (m) in the Hebrew, being such an (m) which they write onely in the end of words, and a close letter, yet is put in the middle of the word, against common practise: because that the time of the fifth Monarchy shall be hid, till the time when it shall begin.

_SECT. 29._

_Yet this I can affirm, that it shall be about the end of this age_; and so the Prophet speaks of that age _about the end of dayes_: and that after many labours, and a long captivity. So _Balaam_ prophesies, _Numb._ 24.17. _I see, but not now; I behold, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob._ Isa. 24.22. _They shall be cast into prison, and they shall be visited after many daies._ And Isa. 49.14. _And Sion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me._ Hos. 3.4, 5. _The children of Israel shall be many days without a King, and without a Prince: And after that they shall seek the Lord their God, and David their King._ The King and Prophet complains of that delay, in _Psa._ 44. _Psa._ 69. _Psa._ 74. _Psa._ 77. _Psal._ 83. And after that in _Psal._ 89.50.51. he thus concludes, _Remember, O God, the reproach of thy servants, who suffer so many injuries of so many people: wherewith they have reproached the steps of thy Messiah_. As yet at this day it is said, that ALTHOUGH THE MESSIAH WERE LAME, HE MIGHT HAVE COME BY THIS TIME. Though we cannot exactly shew the time of our redemption, yet we judge it to be near. For,

1 We see many prophesies fulfilled, and others also which are subservient to a preparation for the same redemption; and it appears by this, that during that long and sore captivity, many calamities are fore-told us under the four Monarchies. _David_ saith in _Psal._ 120.7. _Lord when I speake of peace, they speake of war._ And elsewhere, _We are slaine all the day for thy name, and are accounted for sheep which are slain_. In Isa. 53.7. _He shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearers: he shall be dumb, and shall not open his mouth._ O how have we seen these things in the banishments of _England_, _France_ and _Spaine_! and how have they proved those crimes, which most false men have said that ours did commit! Behold they have slaine them, not for wickednesses, which they did not commit, but for their riches which they had. O how have we seen all those things done by divine providence, for that those misfortunes for the most part happened on the ninth day of the month _Ab_, an ominous, and unhappy day, on which the first, and second Temple were burnt, and the spies wept without a cause.

_SECT. 30._

What shall we say of that horrible monster, the Spanish Inquisition, what cruelty hath not daily been used against a company of miserable ones, innocents, old men, and children, of every sex and age, who were slaine, because they could not divine who was their secret accuser? But let us see, why in al those places (in which that Spanish tyrannicall Empire rules,) they were slain, who would observe the law of _Moses_; and by how many, and how great miracles hath that law been confirmed; and what unrighteousnesse is there in it? We daily see examples of constancy in ours, worthy of all praise, who for the sanctifying of Gods name, have been burnt alive. Truly many who are still living, can witnesse all those things. In the year 1603. At _Lisbone_, _Diogo d’Assumean_, a Monk of 24. years, was burnt alive, who defended himselfe in the Inquisition against some, who would have reduced him to Christianity, who was born a Christian, and made a Jew; which all wonder at; the Inquisitors being grieved that they had published the reasons which he had alledged, would have recalled their sentence; but it was then too late; for it was divulged through the world, which I my selfe have by me. Also the Lord _Lope de Veray Alacron_ deserves the praise of Martyrdome, who being born of a noble, and eminent Family, and very learned in the Hebrew, and Latine tongues, did imbrace our Religion; neither thought it sufficient to be such himselfe, but discovered himselfe to many others; thereupon in _Ann._ 1644 in the twentieth of this age, he being imprisoned at _Valladolid_, though he lived in the darke, yet he discovered light to many; neither could the great number of Doctors, nor the greater affliction of his parents, move him from his enterprise, either by tears or by promises. He circumcised himself in prison (O strange act, and worthy of all praise!) and named himselfe _beleeving Judas_; and at last, as a second _Isaac_, offered himselfe to the flames, contemning life, goods, and honours, that hee might obtain immortall life, and good things that cannot perish; in the 25^{th} yeer of his age. Now though those were not of the family of Israel, yet they obtained an immortall glory, which is better then this life.

Also we have many examples of our own, which did equalize them, of which that is one, which is done in our time, and is worthy to be remembred; _Isaac Castrensis Tartas_ (whom I knew, and spoke with) a learned young man, and versed in the Greek, and Latine; he being but newly come to _Fernambuc_, was taken by the _Portugese_, and carryed to _Lisbone_, and burnt alive; he was a young man of 24. years old; scorning riches, and honours, which were offered to him, if he would turne Christian. They who say he was a traytor, do lye egregiously; for he did defend that place where he was Governour, most valiantly; as ours do deport themselves in those fortified places which are committed to their charge. The same Martyrdom was undergone at _Lima_, by _Eli Nazarenus_, in _Ann. 1639. Janu. 23._ who after he had lived 14 whole years in prison, all which time hee eat no flesh, lest he should defile his mouth; he called himselfe by that name, after he had circumcised himselfe. Such a Martyr also, this year, was _Thomas Terbinon_ in the City of _Mexico_.

_SECT. 31._

If the Lord fulfilled his word in calamities, he will fulfill it also in felicities. Therefore _Rabbi Aquibah_ laughed, when hee saw a Fox run out of the Temple being destroyed, though his companions wept; he saying, Now is fulfilled that prophecy of _Jeremiah_, _Lament._ 5.18. _And the foxes shall run therein_; and he added, and those blessings also shall follow, which the Lord hath promised. We see all the curses of God come to passe, which are mentioned in _Leviticus_ and _Deuteronomy_; as well as those, which concerne our being scattered to the ends of the earth (which is _Portugall_) and those concerning the calamities of the Inquisition; and those of our banishments, as I have opened in my booke, _De termino vitæ_; from whence it appears, that all the happy prophesies shall be fulfilled. And as we have perished, so also shall _Bozra_ (that is, _Rome_) perish. See _Isa._ 34.6.

_SECT. 32._

Secondly; The argument which we bring from our Constancy under so many evills, cannot be eluded, that therefore God doth reserve us for better things. _Moses_ in _Levit._ 26.44. saith, _Though they be in the land of their enemies, yet I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly, and to breake my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God_. And truly these things are now fulfilled, for that in this captivity, and among the many reproaches which we Jewes suffer, yet many of ours are honourably entertained by Princes, with a singular affection. So _D. Ishac Abarbanel_, who comes of _Davids_ line, is Counsellor to the King of _Spaine_, and _Portugall_. By this also he hath got a great name, for that he composed the differences, which arose beene the King of _Portugall_, and the Republique of _Venice_. And from that Family of _Äbarbanel_ (which I note by the by) doe proceed my Children, by my wives side. And in the house of his sonne, _D. Samuel Abarbanel_, and of his wife _Benuenida_, the Lady _Leonora de Toledo_, was brought up at _Naples_, who is the Daughter of _D. Peter de Toledo_, the Vice-roy of _Naples_; who afterwards was married to the most eminent Duke _Cosmus de Medicis_, and having obtained the Dukedome of _Toscani_, she honoured _Benuenida_ with as much honour, as if she were her mother.

That peace, which the _Venetians_ made with the Emperour _Sultan Selim_, 75. yeares agone, was made, and ratified by a certaine Jew _Don Selomo Rophe_, who was sent Ambassadour to _Venice_, and received with great pomp, by the _Venetians_. At _Constantinople_ D. _Ben Jaese_, _Anaucas_, and _Sonsinos_ are of great authority with the _Turk_. In _Ægypt_ the _Jewes_ were alwayes _Saraph baxas_, and also at this day is _D. Abraham Alholn_. Who knowes not that _D. Josephus Nassi_, otherwise called _Joannes Michesius_, about the 66. yeare of the former age, was Duke of _Naccia_, Lord of _Milum_, and of the seven Islands, of whom see _Famian_. _Strada_ in _Histor. Belgic. part._ 1. _lib._ 5. He was raised to these honours by _Sultan Selim_. As also by _Sultan Amurat_, _Jacob Aben Jaes_, otherwise called _Alvoro Mendez_, was made Governour of _Tyberias_; witnesse _Boterus_ in _Relation, part._ 3. _lib._ 2. in _Barbary_, the Lords _Rutes_ were always Governours of _Sekes_, _Phes_, and _Taradanta_. In _Ann._ 1609. _D. Samuel Palaxe_ was sent Ambassadour to the States, by _Mulai Zidan_ the King of _Maracco_. But he dyed at the _Haghe_ in _Anno._ 1616. And the most eminent Prince _Maurice_, and the Nobles, were at his Funerall. In _Persia_ who knowes not of what account they are? There, thirty years since, _Elhazar_ was second to the King, and as it were Governour. Now _David Jan_ succeeds him, to whom others also being joyned, they live in the Court. And that must not be forgot, that when the most eminent Duke of _Holstein_ sent _Otto Burchmannus_ Ambassadour to _Persia_, in _Ann._ 1635. he desired commendatory letters from our _Jewes_ at _Hamburgh_, to them, who (as we have already told you) doe live there in the Court, that they would make way there, for him that was a stranger: that he might dispatch his affaires: Which was also performed. By which means ours, who are in _Persia_, dismissed _Burchmannus_, with rich gifts, and with Letters to the most eminent Duke of _Holstein_, which the twelve Chuzæ, or Princes, had subsigned. A copy of which Letters the most excellent _D. Benjamin Mussapha_, one familiar with the Prince helped me to. Also _Claudius Duretu en son thresor des langues_, _fol._ 302. saith, that there are almost an infinite number of _Jewes_ in _Asia_, especially in _India_, and that King _Cochini_ is their great favourer. Yea _Linschotes_ saith (where he treats of _Cochini_) that they have Synagogues there, and that some of them are of the Kings Counsell. At _Prague_, _Mordocheas Maisel_ had Armes given him by the Emperour _Matthias_, who also knighted him. Which honour _Iacob Bathsebah_ also had, under the Reigne of _Ferdinand_; and many other Families are graced with other honours. And in this very captivity (who could thinke it) they are so wealthy, that (Gods providence favouring them) they may challenge to themselves a place among the most Noble.

_SECT. 33._

Who can enumerate the number of ours, who are renowned by fame, and learning? The learned _R. Moses bar Maimon_ was Phisician to _Saladin_ the King of _Ægypt_. _Moses Amon_ to the Emperour _Sultan Bajaseth_. _Elias Montalto_ to the most eminent Queen of France, _Loysia de Medicis_; and was also her Counsellor. _At_ Padua _Elias Cretensis_ read Philosophy; and _R. Abraham de Balmas_, the Hebrew Grammer. And how much honour had _Elias Grammaticus_ at _Rome_? And almost all the Princes of _Italy_ honoured him with all kinde of honour, _Abraham Kolorni_; as appeares by a Letter writ to him by _Thomas Garzoni nella sua piazza universale del mundo_. _Picus Mirandula_ (who useth to say, _That he had but small understanding, who only looked after his owne things, and not after other mens_) and others, had Hebrew teachers. _David de Pomis_ dedicated his Book to Pope _Sextus_ the fifth, who lovingly, and courteously received both the Author, and work. So at this day we see many desirous to learne the Hebrew tongue of our men. Hence may be seene that God hath not left us; for if one persecute us, another receives us civilly, and courteously; and if this Prince treats us ill, another treats us well; if one banisheth us out of his country, another invites us by a thousand priviledges; as divers Princes of _Italy_ have done, the most eminent King of _Denmarke_, and the mighty Duke of _Savoy_ in _Nissa_. _And doe we not see, that those Republiques doe flourish, and much increase in Trade, which admit the Israelites?_

_SECT. 34._

_Moses_ saith in his last song, that God would revenge the bloud of his people who are scattered. And _Ieremiah_ saith, in chap. 2.3. _Israel is the Lords holy thing, the first fruits of his increase; all who devoure him shall be found guilty; evill shall come upon them, saith the Lord._ And that the Histories of divers times, even from _Nebuchadnezzar_ to these very times, doe testifie. Have not the Monarchies of great Princes been destroyed? Consider with me the miserable ends of _Antiochus_, of _Pompey_, of _Sisibuthus_, of _Philip_ the King of _France_, of A_lonsus_ the sonne of _Iohn_ the second. And we may remember, how King _Sebastian_ with his fourth Generation, and with all his Nobles, was slaine in a battell of A_frica_, in that same place, in which he had caused the _Iews_ to be banished. _Ferdinand_, and _Isabel_ were the great Persecutors of our Nation, but how did both he, and she dye? as for him his Son-in-law, and his owne Subjects did persecute him; and his only sonne dyed (leaving no issue) on his Wedding-day, being seventeen yeares old. His daughter being Heire of the Kingdome, and of her Fathers hatred, would not marry to _Emanuel_ King of _Portugal_, unlesse he would compell us to be banished, and change our Religion. But she dyed in Child-birth of her Sonne _Saragoci_, and also her Son, before he was halfe a yeare old; and the succession was devolved upon the Kingdome of _Spaine_. It is not long since, that the _Spaniards_ exercised upon us at _Mantua_, what ever cruelties they could invent; what shall we say of that at _Madrid_ in the yeare 1632, was done by the Inquisition, the King, and Princes of the Kingdome concurring; but in the very same month dyed the Infant _Charles_, and their Kingdome declined. What wonder is it if God hath chastised divers Kingdomes by sundry wayes: but of this I treat farther in my History of the _Iewes_. Let us conclude therefore, that that good, which God hath promised, will shortly come, since we see that we have suffered those evils, which he hath threatned us with, by the Prophets.

_SECT. 35._

[Sidenote: 3ly,]

The shortnesse of time (when we beleeve our redemption shall appeare) is confirmed by this, that the Lord hath promised that he will gather the two Tribes, _Iudah_, and _Benjamin_, out of the foure quarters of the World, calling them _Nephussim_. From whence you may gather, that for the fulfilling of that, they must be scattered through all the corners of the World; as _Daniel_ saith, _Dan._ 12.7. _And when the scattering of the holy people shall have an end, all those things shall be fulfilled._ And this appeares now to be done, when as our Synagogues are found in _America_.

_SECT. 36._

[Sidenote: 4ly,]

To these, let us adde that, which the same Prophet speakes, in ch. 12. ver. 4. _That knowledge shall be encreased_; for then the prophecies shall better be understood, the meaning of which we can scarce attaine to, till they be fulfilled. So after the _Otteman_ race began to flourish, we understood the prophesie of the two leggs of the Image of _Nebuchadnezzar_, which is to be overthrowne by the fifth Monarchy, which shall be in the World. So _Jeremiah_ after he had handled in Chap. 30. the redemption of _Israel_, and _Judah_, and of the war of _Gog_, and _Magog_ (of which _Daniel_ also speakes in ch. 12.) when he treats of the Scepter of the Messiah the son of _David_, of the ruine of the Nations, of the restoration of _Judah_, of holy _Jerusalem_, and of the third Temple, he adds in ver. 24. _The fierce anger of the Lord shall not returne, till he hath executed it, and till he hath performed the intents of his heart; in the latter dayes ye shall understand it._ From whence followes what we have said, that the time of redemption is at hand. And because _Jeremiah_ in that Chapter makes an abridgement of all things that shall be, therefore it is said in ver. 2. _Write thee all the words which I have spoken to thee in a book._ By this meane making the Prophecie clearer, by relating in a cleare style, whatever the Prophets had fore-told; imitating _Moses_, the last words of whose song are, _Sing, O ye Nations, with his people_, in _Deut._ 32.43. Also the last words which he spake, after that he had blessed the Tribes, are these, _Happy art thou, O_ Israel: _who is like to thee, O people? saved by the Lord, who is the sheild of thy help, and the sword of thy excellency; and thine enemies shall be found lyars to thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places_, in _Deut._ 33.29. From whence it appeares, that God will revenge the bloud of _Israel_, which had been shed. _Joel_ confirmes the same in ch. 3.19. _Ægypt shall be a desolation_, and _Edom shall be a filthy desert, for the violence, and injury offered to the_ Jewes, _and because they have shed innocent bloud in their Land_. And as they shall be punished by the just judgement of God, who wish us evill: so also God will give blessings upon them who favour us. And those are the trees of the field which then shall rejoyce. So God saith to _Abraham_, in _Gen._ 12.3. _I will blesse them who blesse thee, and curse them that curse thee._

_SECT. 37._

These are the things which I could gather concerning this matter, which hath not been heretofore handled; from whence these consequences may be deduced.

1. That the _West-Indies_, were anciently inhabited by a part of the ten Tribes, which passed thither out of _Tartary_, by the Streight of _Anian_.

2. That the Tribes are not in any one place, but in many; because the Prophets have fore-told their return shall be into their Country, out of divers places; _Isaiah_ especially saith it shall be out of eight.

3. That they did not returne to the second Temple.

4. That at this day they keep the _Jewish_ Religion.

5. That the prophecies concerning their returne to their Country, are of necessity to be fulfilled.

6. That from all coasts of the World they shall meet in those two places, _sc._ _Assyria_, and _Ægypt_; God preparing an easie, pleasant way, and abounding with all things, as _Isaiah_ saith, ch. 49. and from thence they shall flie to _Jerusalem_, as birds to their nests.

7. That their Kingdome shall be no more divided; but the twelve Tribes shall be joyned together under one Prince, that is under _Messiah_ the Son of _David_; and that they shall never be driven out of their Land.

_SECT. 38._

I returne to the relation of our _Montezinus_, which I prefer before the opinions of all others as most true for that _Peru_ should be derived from the name _Ophir_, as _Gulielmus Postellus_, _Goropius in Ortelius_, _Bozius de signis Eccles._ _lib._ 2. _c._ 3. _Marinus in arca Noah_, _P. Sa. in 3. Reg. Pomarius_ in his _Lexicon_, and _Possevinus_ _lib._ 2. _Biblith._ _c._ 8. do think, cannot be proved; as _Pineda_ hath wel observed, in _Job_, _c._ 28. _p._ 500. for we have said out of _Garcilasso de la Vega_, that that name was unknown to them of _Peru_. _Ophir_ then is _East-India_, if we beleeve _Josephus_, _lib._ 8. _Antiquit. Judaic._ _c._ 6. & _Acosta in lib. 1. Histor. Ind._ from whence _Solomon_ fetched gold, and precious stones. But what _Gomara in part 1. hist. Ind._ _fol._ 120. and _Zarate in proæm. hist. Peru_, would have, that ours did passe over that famous, and much praised Island (by _Plato_ in _Critia_, and _Timæus_) of _Atlantis_, and so went into the neighbour Islands of _Barlovent_, and from thence to the firm land, and at last to the Kingdom of _Peru_, and _New-Spain_; it is deservedly exploded as fabulous; and _Acosta_ laughs at it, _in lib. 1. hist. Ind. c._ 22. But _Marcilius Ficinus in comment. in Timeum, c._ 4. & _Critia_, that he might defend _Plato_, thinkes (and his Disciples, _Porphiry_, _Origen_, and _Proclus_ doe follow him) that all that which is in _Critia_, and in _Timæus_, is to be understood allegorically. And who will beleeve _Lescarbotus_, who saith that they are the _Canaanites_, who fled thither for feare of _Joshua_? For I cannot be perswaded that they sought out Countries so far remote. They who will have them of _Peru_ to have come out of _Norwey_, or _Spain_, may be confuted by their very form, manners and the unlikenesse of their Languages. But that is more false, that they are _Israelites_, who have forgot circumcision, and their rites. For they are of a comly body, and of a good wit, as saith Doct. _Johannes Huarte_, in his book which is called, _Examen ingenior._ _c._ 14. But contrarily all men know that the _Indians_ are deformed, dul, and altogether rude. And we have abundantly shown, with how great study, and zeal, the _Israelites_ have kept their Language, and Religion, out of their Country.

_SECT. 39._

_Montezinus_ then speaks most likely; that as other people forced the _Israelites_ to betake them to the mountains: so _America_ being first of all inhabited by the persecuting _Tartars_, they were driven to the mountains of _Cordillere_, where at last they were hid, as God would have it. Truly, comparing the _Israelites_ themselves, or their Laws, with other people, I see not anything that comes nearer truth. Perhaps also _America_ was not of old contiguous to _Asia_ on the North side. It doth not seeme to me such an absurdity, to say, that the Israelites went out of _Tartary_ into _America_ by land; and afterward, that God, to preserve his, among other miracles, also wrought this, to make that a Sea, where now is the streight of _Anian_. Yea that might be don without a miracle, by accident, as we know that more than once, the Sea by a violent storm hath carryed away the Land, and made Islands. _Xenophon in suis æquivoc._ mentions the inundations of _Ægypt_, which happened in the days of _Prometheus_, and _Hercules_. Also _Berosus in lib._ 5. and _Diodorus li._ 6. mentions the inundation of _Attica_, in which _Athens_ stands. _Pliny in lib._ 2. _c._ 85. & _lib._ 13. _c._ 11. _Strabo in l._ 1. & _l._ 12. and _Plutarch in Alexandr._ relate the drowning of the Isle _Pharaonica_; of which _Luther_ speaks so elegantly in _lib. ultimo._ Besides, who knows not how many, and how great Cities have at divers times been almost wholly ruined by several earthquakes? _Sueton, in Tiberio, c._ 48. writes, that under _Tiberius_, twelve Cities in _Asia_ have been by this means ruined. _Orosius lib._ 7. _c._ 4. and _Dion Cassius lib._ 57. do affirm the same, though they differ about the time. _Tacitus in lib._ 14, and _Eusebius in Chron._ relate the destruction of that famous and rich City of _Laodicea. Origen tom._ 28. _in Joan_ and _Baronius tom._ 2. _Annal. Ecclesiast, Ann._ 340: do speak of other earthquakes, which have destroyed divers, and very many men, and Cities. And _P. Alonsus in suo manual. tempor._ relates, that the same hath happened in our dayes; saith he, In the year 1638. _A great Earthquake happened in the Islands of the Terceræ, but especially in St. Michael, where the Governour dwells; for that unheard of shaking of the earth, and houses, struck so great terror into the Inhabitants, that al fled out of their houses & lived in the fields, a little after, two miles from thence, they saw the Sea vomit up abundance of fiery matter, which made a very thicke smoake, which covered the very clouds; and it cast up many great stones which seemed like rocks; part whereof falling downe againe, made an Island in the Sea which was halfe a mile over, and sixty fathom high, & an hundred & fifty fathom deep. That hot exhalation which that fiery mountain sent forth, pierced the very waters, and stifled so many fishes, that two Indian ships could not carry them._ The same Island two years after, was swallowed up again of the Sea.

_SECT. 40._

Hee that doth seriously weigh those things, may (I think) well gather, that the Sea of the Streight of _Anian_ was an inundation. By affirming which, this doubt may be answered, _sc._ That after the universall Flood, man-kinde encreased againe, and all beasts, which had been preserved in the Arke. But how could so many kinds of beasts, (which come by propagation, and are not bred out of the earth) be found in those Countries? Some did swim thither, some were brought thither by some huntsmen, some were bred out of the earth, as _Austin_ thinks it happened in the first Creation. But what Land-beast can swim over so great a Sea? And would Huntsmen carry Lyons thither, and other such kind of beasts, oftentimes to the great hazzard of their lives? And if God would have created those beasts out of the earth, he would not have commanded _Noah_ to have kept them in the Ark. I am fully perswaded, that the beasts which are found there passed that way into _America_; unlesse any thinks that this new world is joyned to the old, on some other side, as _Herrera_ beleeves _Dec._ 3. _lib._ 11. _c._ 10.

_SECT. 41._

As for the other things in the relation of our _Montezinus_, they say nothing which savours of falshood. For their saying that the _Semah_, truly it is the custom of our people, in what part soever of the world they live; and it is the abridgement of the confession and religion of the Jewes. That revelation of the Magicians whom they call _Mohanes_, it agrees with those things which in 2 _Esdras_ you may see, concerning the Miracles which God wrought for the Israelites, as they passed over _Euphrates_, concerning those conditions of not revealing secrets to any, but such an one who hath seen three hundred Moons, (which make twenty five years) it appeares to be true, by what the famous _De Laet_ tells in many parts of _America_, that the _Indians_ do compute their years by Moones. That a secret must be told in the Field, doth not that argue a _Jewish_ custome, which the ancients have observed in _Jacob_? who being about to depart from _Laban_, he called his Wives into the field.

I now conclude this discourse, in which this only was in my intention, that I might briefly, and compendiously declare mine, and the Rabbies opinion, concerning those things which I have handled. I hope that this my indeavor will not be unacceptable, being desired by many men famous both for Birth, and for Learning; not unprofitable, having therein explained the relation of _Montezinus_, with what brevity I could. The Name of God be blessed for ever. _Amen._

CONSIDERATIONS
Upon the Point of the
_CONVERSION_
OF THE
JEWES: