The Calling of the Jews, Title page – Summary of biblical prophecies
The Calling of the IEVVES.
A PRESENT TO IVDAH AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL that ioyned with him, and to IOSEPH (the valiant tribe of EPHRAIM) and all the houſe of ISRAEL that ioyned with him.
The Lord giuegive them grace, that they may returne and ſeeke IEHOVAH their God, and DAVID their King, in theſe latter dayes.
There is prefixed an Epiſtle vntounto them, written for their ſake in the Hebrue tongue, and tranſlated into Engliſh.
Publiſhed by William Gouge, B. of D. and Preacher of Gods word in Blacke fryers. London.
LONDON Printed by EDVVARD GRIFFIN for WILLIAM BLADEN, and are to be ſold at his Shop neare the great North dore of Pauls, at the ſigne of the Bible. 1621.
foreign
foreign
foreign
foreign
A BRIEFE AND SUMMARIE DECLARATION OF THE PROPHECIES of the old and the new Teſtament, ſo far as they concerne the calling of the IEWES.
THE inuiſible things of God, that are to bee ſeene in all his workes, ſhine moſt cleerly in the Church. Wherein, as Dauid ſaith, Pſal. 29. 9. he vttereth all his glory. But aboue all, the Church of the Iewes carrieth the liuely print and marke of his praiſes. What things did he for them? Nay, what did he not in Aegypt, and at the red ſea, in the wilderneſſe, and Land of promiſe, when they were in Babylon, the ſeuenty yeeres captiuity, and after, by ſending of his Son among them?
Theſe things were the firſt act (as a man may call it) of the great and glorious workes of God toward that nation.
But the Cataſtrophe, or ſhutting vp, is no leſſe, if not much more, to be admired: How, for refuſing Chriſt, that came into the world, to ſaue them, and ſhamefully nayling him vponupon the Croſſe, they are become a renegate people, now 1600 yeeres together, without Church, without Common-wealth, without forme, or face of gouernment, good or bad: their pleaſant land turned into a wilderneſſe: their fruitfull Countrey, into a dry and barren Deſert. How, for all that, he leaueth them not without comfort. Nay, he lifteth vp their hearts with a certaine expectation of moſt high and ample promiſes. Such and ſo great as are altogither incredible, but that the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it. Some of the choiſe and principall, not following Iewiſh fables, but the vndoubted Oracles of the word of God, it ſhall not be amiſſe, before we proceede further, to lay downe in certaine Aphoriſmes or Poſitions. Which may all be reduced into fiue heads.
1. The firſt head concerneth the Iewes refuſall of Chriſt.Refuſing Christ.
Whereupon ſhall follow
2. Both their reiection to be no more his Church and Reiection.people.
3. (Notwithſtanding which, a ſmall remnant, a hole ſeed, Remnant.ſhall be left. Rom. 11. 5.)
4. And alſo their long deſolation.Deſolation.
The ſecond head is of the calling of the Iewes. For
5. Of this remnant God will be pleaſed to gather a Call.Church vntounto himſelfe,
6. In the laſt dayes. Ezech. 38. 8. Hoſhea 3. 5.Laſt dayes.
7. Not of a few, ſingled out here and there, but of the Generall call.Nation in generall. Rom. 11. 25, 26, 27. Cantic. 8. 10.
8. And that of the ten Tribes as well as of the reſt of the X. Tribes.Iewes. Ezech. 37. 16. 19. Hoſh. 1. 11. Ier. 3. 12, 13. &c. Eſay 11. 12, 13. Obadia verſ. 20. Zach. 10. 6. Rom. 11. 26.
9. But this extendeth not to eueryevery one. Some there ſhall Wrath againſt refractaries.be, refractarie Spirits, that will not euen then ſtoope to Chriſt. Againſt whom the wrath of God ſhall be euident. Reu. 21. 8. Dan. 12. 2. Eſay 65. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.
The third head reſpecteth the beginnings of their conuerſion; of whom it ſhall be, and when, and the things that ſhall follow thereupon.
10. The firſt conuerted ſhall be out of the North and the Eaſt quarters. Dan. 11. 44. Eſay 41. 26, 27.Firſt converted.
11. And that about the time when the Turkiſh tyrannie Time of firſt converſion.ſhall hauehave laſted 350 yeares. Dan. 7. 25. & 12. 7. 11. Reu. 9. 15.
Things following vponupon it are
12. They ſhall repaire towards their owne country. Eſay 11. 15, 16. & 51. 10, 11. Ier. 3. 18. Hoſh. 1. 11.Repaire towards their country.
13. In the way, Euphrates ſhall be laid dry for them to paſſe, as once the Red Sea was. Rev. 16. 12. See Eſay 11. 15. & 51. 10, 11.Euphrates dry.
14. The tidings of this ſhall ſhake and affright the Turkiſh power. Dan. 11. 44.Turke ſhaken.
15. A marueilous conflict ſhall they hauehave with Gog and Magog, that is to ſay, the Turke. Ezech. 38. & 39. Conflict with Gog.Rev. 20. 8.
16. And ſhall be in ſore diſtreſſe. Dan. 12. 1.Sore diſtreſſe.
17. This conflict ſhall be in their owne country, the land Place of conflict.of Iudaea. Rev. 20. 8, 9. Eſay 25. 10. Ioel 3. 2. Ezech. 39 2, 4. Zach. 14. 2. 4. 3, 4, 5. Dan. 11. 44, 45.
18. A noble victorie they ſhall obtaine.Conqueſt.
19. God from heauen miraculously fighting for them. Gods fighting.Rev. 20. 8, 9, 10. Eſay 27. 1. & 31. 8, 9. Ezech. 38. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Zach. 14. 3, 4, 5.
20. It ſeemeth the maine blow where the Grand Signior Place of Gogs fallhimſelfe muſt fall, ſhall be at, or neere Ieruſalem. Rev. 10. 16. & 20. 9. Ioel 3. 2. Ezech. 39. 16.
21. The vtter ouerthrow of the whole Armie, perhaps ſhall be beſide the Sea of Gennezaret, otherwiſe called, Place of the armies diſcemfit.the Lake of Tiberias. Ezech. 39. 11.
22. This conqueſt of Gog and Magog commeth 45. yeares after their firſt conuerſion, which is the 395. Time of conquest.yeare and laſt period of the Ottoman Empire, Reu. 9. 15. Dan. 12. 12.
The fourth head is their flouriſhing ſtate of Church and Common-wealth, after this victory once obtained. For,
23. They ſhall dwell in their owne Countrey. Ier. 3. 18. and 23. 8. Ezech. 37. 21, 22. Amos 9. 14, 15.Dwell in their Countrey.
24. They ſhall inhabite all the parts of the land, as before. Inhabit all the Land.Obad. 15. 19, 20. Ier. 31. 38, 39, 40. Eſay 27, 12. and 65. 10.
25. They ſhall liue in ſafety. Eſay 60. 18. Hoſh. 2. 18.Safety of the Kingdome.
26. They ſhall continue in it for euer. Ezech. 37. 25. Amos 9. 15.Continue for euer.
27. The land ſhall be more fertile then euer it was. Ezech. 36. 35. Hoſh. 2. 21, 22. Ioel 3. 18. Amos 9. 13. Zach. Fruitfulneſſe of the Land14. 10.
28. The Countrey more populous then before. Eſay 49. Countrey populous.19, 20, 21. Ezech. 34. 31. and 36. 37, 38.
29. There ſhall bee no ſeparation of the ten tribes from the other two: but all make one entire Kingdome. One Kingdome.Ezech. 37. 22, 24. Hoſhea 1. 11.
30. And a moſt flouriſhing Common-wealth. Dan. 7. 27.Flouriſhing Common-wealth
31. Touching their Church, it ſhall bee moſt glorious. Eſay 4. and 24. 23. and 60. 1. 2. Reu. 21. and 22. Glorious Church.Dan. 12. 3. Ier. 3. 16, 17. Ioel 3. 19, 20.
32. Which glory ſhall appeare in outward beauty. Eſa 24. 23. and 30. 26. and 60. 20. and 62. 1, 2, 3, 4. Reu. Churches beauty21. 23. and 21. 5. Zach. 14. 6. 7.
33. Sanctity. (all prophane purged out) Ioel 3. 17. Zach. 14. 20, 21. Reu. 22. 3.Sanctity.
34. Purity of doctrine. Ezech. 37. 23. Hoſh. 2. 16, 17. and 14. 8. Zach. 13. 2, 3.Purity.
35. Excellency of the new couenant. Eſay 61. 8. Ezech. 37. 26.Couenant.
36. Abundance of ſpirituall graces. Faith, Knowledge, Spirituall gracesZeale, Piety, &c Eſay 25. 6.
37. Cheerefull obedience. Eſay 66. 7. 8.Cheerefull obedience.
38. Multitude of beleeue s. Hoſh. 1. 10. 11. Zach. 10. 10.Multitude of Beleeuers.
39. Happineſſe and proſperity. Eſay 25. 8. and 51. 13. and 60. 19, 20. Reu. 21. 4.Proſperity.
40. Ioy. Eſay 30. 29. and 35. 10. Hoſh. 2. 15. Zach. 10. 7.Joy.
41. Safety. Zach. 10. 12. and 14. 11. Ier. 23. 6. and 33. 16.Safety of Church.
42. Stability. Eſay 26. 1. and 33. 16. Ier. 30. 20.Stability of the Church.
43. Perpetuity. Eſay 60. 21. Hoſh. 2. 19. Ioel 3. 20.Perpetuity of the Church.
44. The fift and laſt head is, that after their call, Aſhur and Aegypt, all thoſe large and vaſt Countries, All nations embracing Chriſt.the whole Tract of the Eaſt and of the South ſhall be conuerted vntounto Chriſt. Eſay 19. 23, 24, 25. and 27. 12, 13. Micah. 7. 11, 12. Zach. 10. 10, 11, 12. and 14. 8, 9. Pſal. 68. 31. and 72. 9, 10, 11. Reu. 21. 14. The chiefe ſway and ſoueraignty remaining ſtill with the lewes. So as,
45. All nations ſhall honour them. Reu. 21. 24. Eſay 49. 23. Nations honouring them.and 60. 3, 5, &c. and 61. 9. and 66. 10, 11, 12. Zephan. 3. 19, 20. Reu. 16. 12.
46. And the enemies of the Church by them ſubdued. Enemies ſubdued.Numb. 24. 17, 18, 19. Eſay 11. 14. Ioel 3. 19. Obad. verſ. 18. Zach. 10. 11. and poſſeſſed, Eſay 14. 2. and 61. 5. Ioel 3. 8. Amos 9. 12. Obad. verſ. 17. 19. ſhall willingly or perforce come vnderunder Chriſts obedience.
The truth of ech poſition, I will not here ſtand to diſcuſſe. This Treatiſe following (where they are noted in the margent) doth aboundantly proue them all.
The time drawing neere, wherein theſe things fore-told ſo long before, come now to be accompliſhed, how ſweet a thing it is, to looke into the propheſies that giuegive aſſurance of it.
May it therefore pleaſe the iudicious and learned Reader, to weigh the Scriptures following: which proſeſſedly, and of purpoſe, ſpeake of theſe things. Some in plaine and euident termes, other more obſcurely, but all layd together, caſt ſuch a light, as leaue this doctrine without exception. But before we enter vponupon the particular Texts, take ſome few rules, for the better vnderſtanding of the propheſies of this kinde: Aſwell touching the threatned deſolation, as for the conuerſion of this people, and the enemy that ſhall fall before them.
1. The deſolation ſpoken of, Cities without inhabitant, houſes without men, the land deſolate, Eſay 6. 11. The mountaines, hils, riuers, valleyes, waſte. Ezech. 36. 4. No King, no Prince, no forme, or face of Church, or Common-wealth, good or bad, and that for many dayes, Hoſh. 3. 4. Were neuer before, but now are truely verified in the height of them, ſome 1600 yeeres together, ſince they reiected Chriſt.
2. Though the Prophets, when they handle theſe things, thunder againſt the ſins of their owne age, that is, but to note the Iuſtice of the future deſolation: for God is righteous to puniſh in the children, their fore-fathers faults, when they walke in the ſame ſteps of diſobedience, Eſay 14. 21. Touching their conuerſion.
1. Where Iſrael, Iudah, Tſion, Ieruſalem, &c. are named in this argument, the Holy Ghoſt meaneth not the ſpirituall Iſrael, or Church of God collected of the Gentiles, no nor of the Iewes and Gentiles both (for each of theſe hauehave their promiſes ſeuerally and apart) but Iſrael properly deſcended out of Iacobs loynes.
The ſame iudgement is to bee made of their returning to their land and ancient ſeates, the conqueſt of their foes, the fruitfulnes of their ſoile, the glorious Church they ſhall erect in the land it ſelfe of Iudah, their bearing rule farre and neere. Theſe and ſuch like are not Allegories, ſetting forth in terrene ſimilitudes or deliuerance through Chriſt (whereof thoſe were types and figures) but meant really and literally of the Iewes. It was not poſſible to deuiſe mote expreſſe or euident tearmes, then the Spirit of purpoſe vſeth to cut off all ſuch conſtruction. Neither were Ioſias or Cyrus more plainely named hundred of yeares before they were borne, then theſe things are plainely deliuered for the confirming of that peoples faith. Wherefore wee need not be afraid to averre and mainteyne, that one day they ſhall come to Ieruſalem againe, be Kings and chiefe Monarches of the earth, ſway and gouerne all, for the glory of Chriſt that ſhall ſhine among them. And that is it Lactantius ſaith, Lib. 7. Cap. 15. The Romane name (I will ſpeake it, becauſe it muſt one day be) ſhall bee taken from the earth, and the Empire ſhall returne to Aſia, and againe ſhall the Eaſt beare dominion, and the Weſt bee in ſubiection.
2. Such promiſes of the Goſpell as come in order after that deſolation, or after mercy to be ſhewed to the gentiles, are without queſtion to be referred to theſe times.
3. Nay, generally all Euangelicall promiſes made vntounto them, ſeeing they neither at the firſt receiued the goſpell, nor euer hitherto enioyed that peace, plenty, and proſperity, which the promiſes doe purport, cannot but aime at ſomwhat that is yet to come.
4. The great and glorious things, which in the height and excellency thereof, are ſpoken peculiarly to them, doe in their meaſure and degree, appertaine in common to all the faithfull. And ſo in the new Teſtament, are ordinarily applyed: Whereof ſee more in this treatiſe following vponupon Eſay, 54.
5. Their conuerſion vntounto Chriſt in the laſt dayes, commonly is intimated by turning from Idolatrie. Which howſoeuer the Iewes be not now infected with, (if you ſpeake of bowing to ſtockes and ſtones) was then the maine ſinne of the times. And taketh vsus forth this worthy leſſon that it is meere Idolatrie, and a worſhip of falſe Gods, whatſoeuer worſhip looketh not to God in Chriſt, which Iohn alſo teacheth. 1 Ioh. 5. 20. 21. When hauing laide down the doctrin, that Ieſus Chriſt is the true God, and life euerlaſting, immediately he addeth, Little children keepe your ſelues from Idols. This rule for the expoſition of the Prophets, I learne of the Apoſtle, Rom. 11. 27. vouching Eſay 27. 9. (which ſpeaketh of their caſting away of Idols) as a principall place to warrant the calling of the Iewes.
6. Albeit the thorow comming in of the Gentiles, for all nations with one conſent to receiue Chriſt, be put off to the Iewes conuerſion, yet that nothing hindreth but the places that ſpeake of the ſame, may well ſerue to warrant the firſt inceptions of their calling. And ſo doth Iames cite them. Act. 15, 16, 17. out of Amos cap. 9. 11, 12. and Paul, Rom. 9. 25, 26. out of Hoſea Chap. 1. 10.
7. The conuerſion of the Gentiles, is many times intimated by the Iſraelites maiſtring of them, poſſeſſing them for ſeruants, and for handmaides as Eſay, 14. 2. Amos 9. 12. Obadiah, verſ. 19. Which is not meant ſo much of a temporall ſubduing, as of a ſpirituall ioyning with them, in ſeeking of the Lord; yet ſo as the chiefe ſoueraigntie and ſtroke of keeping men within the liſts of their ſubiection and obedience vntounto Chriſt, ſhall remaine among the Iewes. And ſo Iames teacheth vsus to expound thoſe phraſes, Act. 15. 17. Where that which Amos ſaith, that they (the Iſraelites) may poſſeſſe the remnant of Edom, Iames rendreth, that the reſidue of men may ſeeke after the Lord.
The enemy whom indeed they ſhall conquer, roote out, and deſtroy, after they hauehave groaned long vnderunder his hard yoke and bondage, is not alwaies repreſented by one and the ſame name. But ſometimes more obſcurely, by one or other of the capitall enemies of Gods people, Moab, Edom, Rabba, that is to ſay, the Ammonites, Aſshur, Eſay 25. 10.Iauan; whether becauſe the holy Ghoſt would thereby Eſay 34. 5. 6. & 63.note the cancred malice of that tyrant to the Church: or Pſal. 110. 6.that thoſe which inhabit the ſeat of theſe people, ſhall ioyn Eſa. 30. 31. & 31. 8.hands and fall in the ſame deſtruction.Hoſh. 13. 13. (compared with Hoſh. 14. 3.)
Sometimes his qualities and conditions paint him out: Leuiathan, a Serpent, a Dragon, Eſay 27. 1. Somtimes you hauehave him more plainely decyphered, either by the countrey from whence he deriueth his pedegree. Gog of the land Mica. 5. 5. 6.Zach. 9. 13.of Magog, Ezech. 38. 2. or elſe by his territorie and dominion, the King of the North. Dan. 11. 40. the Dragon which is in the ſea, Eſa. 27. 1. But by all theſe names, one and the ſame enemy is vnderſtood, which marueylouſly cleereth the place in Ezechiel, chap. 38. 17. where the Lord by his Prophet ſpeaketh to Gog in this wiſe; Art thou hee of whom I hauehave ſpoken in ancient time, by my ſeruants the Prophets of Iſrael which prophecied in thoſe dayes and yeares. Hee can not moane himſelfe nor Daniel, which was but one of his age, much leſſe Zacharie that came after, but hee meaneth the ancient Prophets long before, who ſpake of the ſame perſon, though not by the ſame name.
Theſe things premiſed, we come now to the particulars, wherein my meaning is, not to open eueryevery hard word, or darke and obſcure phraſe, much leſſe to endeauour in eueryevery place a full expoſition of the text, That muſt bee had from other the godly and learned interpreters. But only to point at the heads of thoſe Scriptures, and that but ſo farre as they concerne the thing wee deale with, to lead vsus by the hand in the diſcouery of this heigh and heauenly ſecret, for that name the Apoſtle giueth it, Rom. 11. 25. The reader that would profit thereby, I deſire to hauehave the text before him as hee goeth. The comparing whereof, will bring great light to things that otherwiſe may ſeeme obſcure, and that he be not deceiued in the chapters, and verſes, I follow not (where any difference is) the Hebrew, but number them as they are in the Engliſh tranſlation.