A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 5 · Part 2

A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine · Book 5 · Part 2

p. 189EZEKIEL his VISIONARY LAND OF CANAAN.

CHAP. I. Ezekiels visionary Land, City, and Temple uncapable of a literall meaning.

§ 1. PErusing the nine last Chapters of Ezekiels prophesie (invited thereunto with the mention of many places in Palestine) whilest I hoped to find,No literall sense in Ez…kiels land and feel a Solid body, I onelyonly grasped the flitting aire, or rather a meer spirit; I mean in stead of a literall sense I found the Canaan by him described no Geography, but Ouranography, no earthly truth, but mysticall prediction. Now, his Description will appear irreconcileable with a literall interpretation (no Topicall, but a bare Typicall relation) if the particular location of the Tribes therein be seriously considered.

§ 2. For, so transposed, and inverted is the method of their severall portions, as neither reducible to an agreement with the order of their birth, nor blessing by Iacob, Reader this draught I borrowed from the reverend and learned Iohn Richardson D. D… of Ardaugh, to whose exellent notes on Ez…kiel (shortly to come forth) I refer thee for farther satisfaction.nor division of the land by lot in Ioshua's, nor parting it into Purveyorships in the days of Solomon. Behold here in this rud… draught how the seven northern Tribes, as it were, march before in the Van; whilest the five southern Tribes bring up the Rere. See the Temple in the midst, supported with the Priests portion on both sides, and that of the Levites coming behind, and holding up the train thereof (parting the Temple from the City) whilest the Princes portion flanketh it on both p. 190sides. Quav…s dictio, contradictio; Each word flatly opposeth the literall position of those Tribes and places, and therefore the interpretation thereof Is risen it is, not here, not buried beneath in the words, but is mounted above in the mystery.

§ 3. Adde hereunto the miraculous fruit (unfading and new every monethmonth) which this land produced,Miraculous fruit. one leafe whereof was more worth then all the greateeNum. 13. 23.Num 13:23 Grapes, Pomegranates, and Figs, the Spies brought from Canaan, as being unfading andffEz…k. 47. 15. soveraign for medicines. Now surely such as understand this literally have need of some of those Leaves to cure their distempers therein.

§ 4. It will be objected,Objection. that this Propheticall Palestine makes frequent mention of Seas, ggEzek. 47. 15.Ezek 47:15Great Sea, andhhIbid. …. 18. East Sea; River, Io…dan, Mountain, Gilead; besides the land is bounded, North, South, and East with severall places of name, and note, asiiEzek. ibid. Hethlon, Zedad, H…math &c. Now, what saith our Saviour?kkLuke 24. 39.Luke 24:39 A spirit hath not flesh and bones, meer visions are of a more rarified, and attenuated nature, not consisting of such gross, and drossie parts, and therefore the Prophet seems rather to be taken at his word, and his literall relation to be embraced, without farther search for a mysticall meaning therein.

§ 5. It is answered,Answer. Omnis visio fundatur in historia; the most refined vision hath some mixture of, and analogie with an historicall truth. As in a Web, the stamen, or Warp, it fast fixed, through which the Woofe is cast, or woven; …o there re certain standards in all visions, being the materiall and corporall ground-work, for a spirituall flourish, or descant to improve it self thereupon. More particularly, because so many places of Palestine are named in this vision; yea, seeing the body thereof is confo…med to an unlike likeliness (as I may terme it) of the earthly Canaan, it intima…es, that the Iewish nation shall have more then a single share in the accomplishment of this Prophesie, and have their happiness highly concerned in the performa…ce thereof.

§ 6. As the Land, The City not literally meant.so the City described by the Prophet, is not appliable to the earthly Ierusalem. It is said of Christ, Thou art llPsal. 45. 2.Ps 45:2fairer then the children of men; sure I am, this City as presented by the Prophet, was fairer, finer, slicker smoother, more exact, more uniforme then any fabrick the earth afforded. This Triumphant Ierusalem (as I may term it) was a compleate square of four mmEzek. 48. 16.Ezek 48:16thousand five hundred reeds, with a just Iury ofnnIbid. ver. 31. gates, three of each side, according to the names of the twelve Tribes) with most regular suburbs, reaching two hundred and fifty reeds every way, so terse, so trim, that not an house started out of its due proportion. Whereas the literall Ierusalem, built by parcels at severall times, on abrupt precipices, ranged about with the wals rather for strength, then beauty, being on the East and South suburbless, and without such correspondency, either in the number, or position of the gates thereof. In a word, that so exact structure in the Prophet, never sprang by art out of earth, but was let p. 191down by a miracle from heaven▪ to which Saint Iohn alludes in his celestiallooRevel. 21. 10.Rev 21:10 Ierusalem.

§ 7. Lastly, the Temple, as framed by the Prophet, is not suitable with Solomons, and the very waters rising from under the threshold thereof, encreasing by degrees unto an unpassableppEzek. 47. 5.Ezek 47:5 river, doe drown all possibility of a literall sense therein. Expect not here, I should intermeddle with a particular description of the foresaid Land, City, and Temple; both because they being meerly mysticall are alien from our subject, and because I am deterred from so difficult an undertaking by the ensuing computation.

1 Moses saith, the days of our **Psal. 90. 10.Ps 90:10years are threescore years, and ten.

2 The Iews made an ordinance, that none should read this vision, till thirty years old.

3 Villalpandus confesseth, he studied this Prophesie twenty three years, yet understood not the difficulties thereof.

If life be so short, and we must begin so late, and study so long on this Prophesie alone (without attaining the full understanding thereof) high time at the end of those studying years, to leave the measuring of this vision, and survey the dimensions of our own Graves.

§ 8. To conclude,The mysticall meaning. as once our Saviour told Pilate, ppJohn 18. 36.John 18:36My kingdome is not of this world: so the sense of Ezekiels Land, City, and Temple, is not carnall, and corporall, but mysticall, and spirituall. Yea, God may seem of set purpose to have troubled, and perplexed the text, imbittering the Nibbles thereof with inextricable difficulties, meerly to wean us from the milke of the letter, and make us with more appetite seek for stronger meat therein. For the main therefore, it is generally conceived, this vision imports the great inlargement, and dilatation of the Church under the Gospell, when the Gentiles shall be called to the knowledge of Christ, and the Iews also (as mainly concerned, though not solely intended in this vision) brought home to their true Messiah, not excluding even those of the ten Tribes, from having each one his Childs-portion in the performance of this Prophesie. A word or two of whose condition, since their captivity.

CHAP. II. What became of the ten Tribes since their captivity, and where probably extant at this day.

§ 1. POlitick was the practice of the Kings of Assyria, Policy in transplanting conquered people.when conquering a Countrey, neither to kill the natives thereof, nor to continue them any longer in their own land, but to transport them into a far distant Countrey, and in exchange planting other colonies in their room. For, first to kill them (besides the cruelty thereof in cold bloud) p. 192had been an improvident act, men amongst them being precious to people their vast dominions, which otherwise, if empty, had been more exposed to the invasion of enemies. To continue them in their own land had not been safe; who, best knowing the advantages thereof, would on all occasions practice the recovery of their lost liberty; and therefore to prevent farther disputes, the subject of the question was taken away, and they advisedly disposed of in far distant places. Lastly, the removing them into other parts, and substituting others in their land, taught both these plantations an immediate dependence on their Prince, (having no other plea but his bare pleasure for their present possessions) which made them, (like the Turkish Timario…s) more dutifull at home, and daring abroad in their undertakings.

§ 2. These reasons moved the Kings of Assyria to transport the Israelites from their native soil. Indeed they, if any people, might term the land their own, having a threefold ti…e thereunto; by Donation from God, the supreme Proprietary; by conquest of the Canaanites, the ancient owners; by prescription of more then seven hundred years peaceable possession thereof. But this threefold cable was broken with the weight of their sins, and so was Israel carried away from theiraa2 Kin. 17. 23.2 Kgs 17:23 own land to Assyria unto this day. Even Lands as well as Goods are moveables, though not from their Center, from their Owners, at leastwise the owners are moveable from their lands.

§ 3. Yet God did not all at once begin,Their threefold captivity. and end the captivity of the ten Tribes, but foreign, at sundry times, and in diverse manners. For,

1bb1 Chr. 5. 16.1 Chr 5:16 P…l King of Assyria in the reign ofcc2 King. 15. 19.2 Kgs 15:19 Menahem carried the Reubenites, Gadites, and half Tribe of Manasseh away to the Cities of the Medes.

2 Tiglath-Pi…eser in the days of Pekah, transported (besides Gilead, and the remains of the aforesaid Tribes)dd2 King. 15. 292 Kgs 15:29 Galilee; namely, so much thereof as was in the land of Naphtali, unto Assyria.

3 Shalmaneser cleared all the rest in the ninth year of Hoshea, carrying them away toee2 King. 27. 6. Halath, and Habor, by the River Gozan in the Cities of the Medes.

Probably the second, or middle captivity of the Naphtalites, afterwards removed themselves into Tartary, where Ortelius findes their very name, and a City called Tabor (ffJosh. 19. 34.Josh 19:34 Asnoth-Tabor we know was a place in the border of Naphtali) imposed (no doubt) to perpetuate the memory of their native Countrey.

§ 4. Scripture gives us no account what afterwards became of these ten Tribes. Since seemingly utterly lost.OnelyOnly in2 E…d…. 13. 40. Esdras (… book accounted by some as the Ap…rypha of the Apocrypha, because never owned for Canonicall, either by the Iews, Romish ggSee B…ll…rmin…s Argurmēts against it.Church in generall, or Protestant writers) we finde them travelling over Euphrates (miraculously dried up in their passage) towards Arsareth [or Tartary] a great way; namely, a journey of a hh2 Esdr. 13. 45.year and an half. A p. 193long stride indeed, and yet might be but little, if mending their pace no more then their ancestors did in their passage between Egypt, and Canaan. But waving Esdras his single testimony, these ten Tribes appeare not since in any authenticall relation; strange! that the posterity of the two Tribes (Iudah and Benjamin) should be found [almost] every where, whilest the off-spring of the ten Tribes are found no where! Thu… God hath on them … that curse which he formerly threatned, To scatter them into corners, and make the iiDeut. 32. 26.Deut 32:26remembrance of them to cease. Not, that he hath utterly extinguished the being (an opinion as unreasonable, as uncharitable) but hath hitherto concealed the known b…ing of so numerous a nation, whom we may call the lost-lo…t sheep of Israel; both in respect of their spirituall condition, and corporall habitation.

§ 5.Supposed by some in America. SomekkSee the book of my worthy f…iend M▪ Tho. Th…owgood on Iews in America. conceive the modern Am…ricans of the Jewish race, collecting the same from some resemblances in rites, community of customes, conformity of clothes, fragments of letters, foot-steps of knowledge, ruines of language, (though by a casuall coincidence some straggling words of the Athenians may meet in the mouths of the veriest Barbarians) and many other Iudaismes amongst the Indians. And lately, allManasseh Ben Israel in his book called Spes Israelis. Jewish Rabbin of Amsterdam tels us, that beyond the Cordiller hills, and river Maragnon, a fair people are found with long beards, and rich in clothes, living by themselves, different in religion from the rest of the Indians, whom he will have to be the ten Tribes there remaining in a body together. His arguments so prevaile on some, formerly contrarily minded, as to turn the tyde of their judgment to concur with his, with others they make it dead water, not to oppose his opinion, whilest a third sort listen to his relation, as onelyonly priviledged from confutation by the remoteness thereof.

§ 6. For mine own part,Our private opinion. I behold his report as the Twilight, but whether it will prove the morning twilight, which will improve it self into full light; or that of the evening, darkening by degrees into silence, and utter obscurity, time will discover. When the eleven Tribes (so virtually may I term them) brought news that one lost Tribe [Ioseph] was found, Iacobs heart ooGen. 45. 26.Gen 45:26fainted, for he beleeved them not, till afterwards he was convinced on clearer evidence. How much more then may I be permitted to suspend my judgment, when one man brings tydings of ten lost Tribes, all found in an instant, untill farther proof be made thereof? Surely we, who now secretly smile at some probable insinuations in his report, shall on better assurance have our mouthes filled with PPPsal. 126. 2.Ps 126:2laughter (notqqGen. 18. 12.Gen 18:12 Sarahs laughter of distrust, butrrGen. 17. 17.Gen 17:17 Abrahams, of desire, delight, and beliefe) when his relation shall be confirmed to us from other hands. And indeed, the messenger deserves to be well paid for his pains, who brings clear proof thereof, the discovery of the posterity of these ten Tribes being an happy Forerunner, and Furtherer of their future conversion.

p. 194CHAP. III. Of the Jews their repossessing their native Countrey.

§ 1. IT is a conceit of the modern Iews, that one day they shall return under the conduct of their Messias to the Countrey of Canaan, The Iews fancy of a temporall kingdome.and City of Ierusalem, and be re-estated in the full possession thereof. If any object, that their land, now base, and barren, is not worth the regaining: They answer, when they shall recover their Countrey, the Countrey shall recover its former fruitfulness; as if God would effect miracles, as fast as man can fancy them. With them concur some Protestant Divines, maintaining, that the Iews shall be restored to a flourishing Commonwealth, with the affluence of all outward pomp, and pleasure, so that they shall fight and conquer Gog and Magog [the Turke] with many other miraculous achievements. OneaaM. Finc… in his Book of the calling of the Iews (published by Will. Gouge D. D. Anno 1621.) for which he was imprisoned. Scripture produced for the opinion. Author so enlargeth the future amplitude of the Jewish State, that thereby he occasioned a confining to himself. His expressions (indiscreetly uttered, or uncharitably construed) importing, that all Christian Princes should surrender their power as homagers to the temporall supreme Empire of the Jewish nation.

§ 2. For the proof of this their position, never did the servants of Benhadad more diligently observe, or more hastily catch any bb1 King. 20 33.1 Kgs 20:33thing [of comfort] coming from the mouth of Ahab, then the Iews search out, and snatch at every gracious promise made to them in the old Testament. Such principally as Deut. 30. 3. Then [on their repentance] the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return, and gather thee from all nations, whiter the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. Isaiah 11. 12. And he shall set up an Ensigne for the nations, and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Iudah from the four corners of the earth. Levit. 26. 44. And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God.

§ 3. This last place the Iews highly price,The Iews their Golden Ap…. and such of them as live in Germany, call itccSee … his common places, de Extr… mo Iudicio. pag. 258. Simiam auream, or the Golden Ape. And why so? Because (forsooth) in the Hebrew it begineth with foreign, ve Ape, And yet. A frivolous conceit on the similitude of sound of two words, of different sense, in the Hebrew, and Dutch tongues. Indeed, all the loud threatnings in Scripture, may more fitly be termed Lions, all the meek promises therein, Lambes; amongst which, this cited out of Leviticus is of especiall note, whilest it is to be feared, such Iews (as found hence their temporall kingdome) will prove themselves Apish in their ridiculous comment thereupon.

§ 4. But,Arguments to the contrary. most learned Divines are of a contrary opinion, because totall and finall desolation is in Scripture, so frequently denounced against their Countrey, and Cities therein. The Virgin of Israel is fallen, she p. 195shall ddAmos …. 2.NO MORE rise; I will ccZ…ch. 11. 6.NO MORE pity the inhabitants of the land, and out of their enemies hand I will NOT deliver them: I will love them ffHosea. 9. 15.Hos 9:15NO MORE: The land shall fall, and gg… 4. 20.NOT rise again: I will break this people and this City as a Potters vessell, which can hhJer. 19. 1….Jer 19:1NOT be made whole again.

§ 5. As for the Scriptures alleadged by the Iews for their temporall restauration to an illustrious condition in their own countrey, they have found their full accomplishment,Jewish reasons confuted. in the return of that nation, to their own land, from the Captivity in Babylon; and therefore farther performance of such promises, is not to be expected: and accordingly it is resolved in their owniiSeder Olam & Talmud. best Authors, Possessionem primam, & secundam habituri erant, possessio autem tertia non erit illis. And if any more fulfilling of those promises remaineth behinde, it must be made up, in the sprirituall conversion of the Iews, in Gods due time, to the knowledge of Christ, and embracing of the Gospell. Some of their ownkkIn K…li Iachan cited by Ge…ard de Extremo Iudicio pag. 259. writers affirming, that all things which relate to the office of their Messiah (whom they expect) are heavenly, and not corporall.

§ 6. The farther prosecution hereof,An eminent instance. we leave to those Authors, who have written large discourses of this subject. OnelyOnly we will observe a remarkable difference betwixt a place of Scriputre, written in the Old, alleadged, and applyed in the New Testament.

Amos 9. 11, & 12.

In that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof, and I will raise up his ruines, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doth this.

Act. 15. 16, & 17.

After this I will return, and I will build again the Tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: and I will build again the ruines thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things.

Here the Apostle Iames, more following the sense, then the words of the Prophet, as an Expositor, rather then Translatour, renders the possessing of the remnant of Edom, to be, by seeking after the Lord; by which Analogy we collect, that those Topicall promises to the Iews, of their conquering and possessing such, and such places, in, and near their own Countrey, import onelyonly a spirituall propriety, and shall mystically, not carnally be accomplished, in their sincere conversion to Christ.

§ 7. More probable therefore it is,The Iews their land will come to them. that the Iews shall not come back to their land, but their land shall come back to them; I mean, those severall places, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, wherein they reside, shall on their conversion, become as comfortable unto them, as ever the Land of Canaan was to their Ancestors. Forti quaevis terra patria; and a contented minde in them, shall make any mountain, their Olivet; river, their Iordan; field, their Carmel; forest, their Libanus; fort, their Zion; and city, their Ierusalem. But, as for their temporall regaining of their old Countrey, in all outward pompe, and magnificence, even such as are no foes to the Iews welfare, but so fa… friends to their own judgments, as not p. 196to believe, even what they desire, till convinced with Scripture, or reason, account this fancy of the Iews, one of the dreams proceeding from the llRom. 11. 8.Rom 11:8Spirit of slumber, wherewith the Apostle affirmeth them to be possessed.

CHAP. IIII. Of the generall calling of the Jews.

§ 1. BY Iews, The question stated.we understand, some left of every Tribe (asaaLib. 1. formerly hath been proved) being banished their own Countrey, since the death of our Saviour; not extending it also (as some doe with small probability) to the ten Tribes, carried captive by Shalmane…er, and never since certainly known, where existent. By calling, we intend, their reall converting by the word, to the knowledge and love of God in Christ. By generall, we mean not every individuall Iew, whereof some refractary Recusants will ever remain (were it but to be foiles to Gods favour in saving the rest) but a considerable, yea conspicuous number of them. And it is a charitable opinion, ancient, and conformable to Scriptures, that in this sense, the Iews in Gods due time, shall be generally called.

§ 2.Severall Scriptures to prove it. Come we now to the places of Scripture alleadged for the proof of this opinion. Now as Mesha King of Moab, when his Countrey was invaded, stood not the choosing of select souldiers for fight, butbb2 King. 3. 21.2 Kgs 3:21 gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upwards: so authors muster up all places of Scripture, which put on any probability to this purpose, and can carry any countenance thereunto, amongst many others, these ensuing▪

Should these quotations be severally examined, many would be found rather to perswade, then prove; rather to intimate, then perswade the matter in hand: and that, onelyonly to such free, and forward apprehensions, as are prepossessed with the truth thereof. But, amongst these, and many more numerous Scriptures cited, that one place Rom. 11. 25. principally deserveth our serious perusall thereof.

§ 3. The words of the Apostle run thus,The staple place for the calling of the Iews. For I would not brethren that yee p. 197should be ignorant of this mystery (le…t yee should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part is hapned to Israel, untill the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be saved &c. This is conceived the strongest, and clearest Charter for the Iews generall conversion▪

§ 4.Objection to the con…rary. It will be objected, that by all Israel the believing Gentiles are meant (for Gods Church, being a collective body, of some Iews, and moe Gentiles) which in Scripture are styledddG…l. 3. 7. the children of Abraham, eeG…l. 6. 16.the Israel of God; ffRom. 2. 29.Rom 2:29Iews inwardly, with circumcision of the heart, in the spirit, not the letter. Yea, in the same verse, Saint Paul [a Iew] called the Romans being Gentiles, brethren, the kindred coming in by their regeneration: and in the same sense, all converted Gentiles may be called Israel, whose praise is of God, and not of man.

§ 5.Answered. It is answered, allowing elsewhere in Scripture believing Gentiles to pass under the name of Israelites, here literally the naturall Iews by extraction must be intended,

1 Because clean through the Chapter, the Apostle opposeth the Gentiles and Israel, as contradistinct termes.

2 He acquainteth the Romans with a mystery, which was none in effect (but stale news, and generally known) if onelyonly the saving of the Gentiles were therein intended.

3 It was his design, to comfort the Iews, and curbe the Gentiles, from over-insulting on their sad condition.

And lest any should say slightingly to this opinion, as David once civilly to Ittai, gg2 Sam. 15. 20.2 Sam 15:20Thou camest but yesterday; know, it descendeth unto us recommended from the Primitive times.

§ 6. Origen was the first that mentioned it,The opinion …avoured by Fathers, School men, and modern Divines. and h… (otherwise the Allegorizer Generall) interprets the Apostle literally, in his exposition thereof. Say not that being the first of the Fathers who wrote a Comment, no wonder if he wandred in his Glosses (he who first went from place to place, never found out the nearest way) seeing better judgments afterwards built on the same bottome, Hierom, Ambrose, hhIn their severall Comments on Rom. 11. 25.Rom 11:25Chrysostome, and iiLib. 2. Quaest. Evangel. Quaest 13.Saint Augustine. In the School-men the opinion of the Iews their conversion, is not dead, but sleepeth: Parables, and Prophesies, are no dishes for their diet. Their heavy studies delighted not to tread the water (at best the marishes) of future contingencies, but on the terra firma of certainties, where arguments might be grounded. Yet the most peaceable amongst them, (more medling with Comments, then Controversies) such is Dionysius Carthusianus, concur in their judgments therein. But, the silence of the Schools is recompensed with the loudness of the Pulpits in our later age ofkkSee Gerardi Loc. Com. p. 262. Romanists, Lutherans, and Calvinists, generally maintaining the certain expectation of the Iews conversion.

§ 7. Adde hereunto, that the Iews ever since their exile from their own land,Counten…nced by their long continuing an unmixt …tlon. when the Romans sold their Countrey, (and a learnedllM. Mede. man observes, they set no land to sale save Iudea alone) have continued many p. 198hundred years a distinct nation. As if had learned from their River of Iordan, running through the Galilean Sea, and not mingling therewith, daily to pass through an Ocean of other nations, and remain an unmixt, and un-confounded people by themselves. A comfortable presumption (when in company with other arguments) that they, once Gods mmD…ut. 14. 2.peculiar, are still preserved a peculiar people, for some token for good, in due time to be shewed upon them; and that these materials are thus carefully kept entire by themselves, because intended by Divine Providence, for some beautifull building to be made of them hereafter.

§ 8. Let it also be seriously considered,And some Iews converted in all ages. that in all ages God hath dropt some considerable convert-Iews into the treasury of the Christian Church, as good-handsell, and earnest of a greater payment to ensue. Amongst whom we meet with a Mess of most eminent men. Nicolaus Lyra, that grand Commentator on the Bible; Hieronymus de Sancta Fide turned Chistian about Anno 1412. (Physitian (as I take it) to Benedick the thirteenth Pope) who wrote a book unto his Countrey-men the Iews, wherewithnnIn the preface of his book in Biblioth. …. five thousand of them were converted; Ludovicus Carettus livingooHis Epistle is at the end of B…tor…s Syn. Iud. in Paris Anno 1553. and the never sufficiently to be praised Emmanuel Tremellius. And besides the visible converts, falling uner the notice of man, we may charitably presume many concealed ones, especially on their death-beds known to God alone. Yea, I conceive that learned ppRabbi S…m. Marochianus de ad…entu Messi…. cap. 6.Rabbin, more then Agrippa qqAct. 2… ▪ 28.Acts 2:28, almost a Christian, who hath this amongst other pious expressions, I dread, and fear, O Lord, that that Iesus whom the Christians worship, may be that righteous sold for silver, according to the Prophet rrAmos 2 6.Amos 2:6Amos.

§ 9.Time of their conversion. As for the time of the Iews conversion, let us content our selves for the generall, it shall be after the fulness of ssRom. 11. 25.Rom 11:25the Gentiles shall come in. But, for the particular year, by some so peremptorily, and positively assigned, I cannot but admire at the confidence of men therein. Especially, seeing some, which pretend such familiarity to future events, are not the best acquainted with passages in former ages; and those, which seem to know all which is to come, know but little of what is past; as if they were the better Prophets, for being the worse Historians.

§ 10.Cruelty conjoyned with confidence. But well it were, if their confidence were confined to themselves alone, being onelyonly content to abound in their own sense, without imposing it on others. But, besides their confidence, such is their cruelty, to exact, yea, extort the uttermost farthing of our beliefe, to be paid in (even at the first sight) to their conceits, or else we must into the Prison, yea, deepest dungeon, and be condemned for being weak, or wilfull; ignorant, or obstinate. Whereas, in such peremptory particularizing of the very year, such as pretend to plough with the heifers of Gods Spirit, may be suspected to be drawn away with the wild buls of their own imaginations.

§ 11.Different Dates thereof. The rather, because so great the difference betwixt the severall p. 199Dates assigned by them. Some making it 1652; others, 1660▪ Some sooner, and before; some later, and after the destruction of the Romish Antichrist. It is therefore the most safe, and sober way, in so much variety to leave a blanke in our judgments, for God to write the true time therein, when we, or after-ages shall behold the same brought to pass. One day teacheth ttPsal. 19. 2.Ps 19:2another; and, to-day (yesterdays school-master) is scholar to to-morrow, at whose feet (as Paul at Gamaliels) it will at night …it dutifully down for farther informaton. Yea, by an inverted method, the daughter doth instruct the mother; and, the day which in time cometh after, goeth before in knowledge.

CHAP. V. Of the present obstructions of the calling of the Jews.

§ 1.Civill distance in society. MAny are the obstacles both externall, and internall, which for the present obstruct the conversion of the Iews. First, our want of civill society with their nation. There must be first conversing with them, before there can be converting of them. The Gospell doth not work (as the weapon-salve) at distance, but requires some competent familiarity with the persons of Probationer-converts. Whereas the Iews, being banished out of England, France, and Spaine, are out of the call of the Gospell, and ken of the Sacraments in those Countreys.

§ 2.Cruell usage in point of …state. Secondly, the cruel ussage of them in the Papall, and Imperiall dominions, where they swarm most, and where publick authority doth not endevour to drop, and distill piety into them; but to squeese, and press profit out of them. Especially, whilest that merciless law stands in force, that on their conversion, they mustaaD. Heylin in Micro. in Palest. pag. 570. I think out of S^t. Edwin Sandys. renounce all their goods as ill gotten. If the resolutions of the promise-forward Disciple quickly recoyled, at our Saviours tentative command, to sell all, and give to the poor; I say, if he hhMat. 19. 22.Matt 19:22went away sorrowfull, for he had great possessions; no wonder if the rich and covetous Iews distast our Religion, when before they can embrace it, they must take a finall farewell of their large estates. Rather should those Princes imitate the pious example of our Henry the third, who, between the new, and old Temple, erected anccComd. Brit. in Middlesex pag. 428. house of Converts (afterwards appointed by Edward the third for Records to be kept therein, now called the Rowles) endowing it for the maintenance of poor Iews converted to Christianity, and baptized, allowing two pence**Stowes Survay. pag. 435. a day unto each of them during their lives.

§ 3.Offence at Image-worship Thirdly, the constant offence given them by the Papists their worshipping of images, the present Iews hating Idolatry with a perfect hatred, whose knees may sooner be broken, then bended to such superstitious postures. And, to speak out the plain truth, the Romanists are but backfriends to the Iews conversion, chiefly on this account, because the Rabbins generally interpretddEspecially, on the Burden of Dum… Isa. 21. 11.Isa 21:11 Dumah, or Edom, to be Rome, and Edomites, Romans, in p. 200their expositions on the old Testament. And therefore, all those passages have (by order no doubt from Superiours) been lately purged our, and expunged the Veneti…n eeSet forth by Daniel Bomb… gius.edition of the Rabbins. Yea, there is a constant tradition, currant time out of minde, amongst the modern Iews, that after the destruction of the City of Rome, their nation shall be put into a glorious condition. No wonder then, if cold, and dull the endevours of the Romanists, for the conversion of the Iews, who leave that taske of be performed by Moses, and Elias, whom the Papists fondly fancy, shall towards the end of the world personally appear, and by their powerfull preaching, perswade the Jewish nation unto the Christian Religion.

§ 4.Discords amongst Christians. Lastly, the difference in judgments, distance in affections, dissoluteness in lives among the Christians themselves. In vain do we hollow to the Iews to come over to us, whilest our voyces are hoarse with railing one at another; and becken with our hands to them, to be on our side, whilest our hands are imbrued in the bloud of those of our own religion.

§ 5.Internall obstacle, blindnes. But far greater then all these, is that internall obstacle, that foreign, that blindness which is happened unto them, inflicted on their ancestours, continued, and increasing on their posterity. How Bedlam-like was their behaviour at Saint Pauls but mentioning of preaching to the Gentiles, ffAct. 22. 23.Acts 22:23They cryed out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the aire, as endevouring to thicken, and condensate the same, that no audible sound might penetrate unto them. And, as then they threw the dust into the aire: God hath since thrown their land after it; so that no Iew can take up one crum of dust, from any intire Countrey, upon the face of the earth, that he can call his own. Great is Gods providence in ordering it, that a fog, and a tempest never can be together at sea, the fog vanishing so soon as the tempest ariseth, otherwise smaller vessels would be cast away, which want the direction of the Compass to guide them: but woefull is the present condition of the Iews, having a fog of ignorance, and a tempest of violence, both together in them in the highest degree, most bold, when most blind; stumbling at what should stay them; slighting the Chirurgeon, when sorest; scorning the Physician, when sickest; miserable, if they knew their condition; and more miserable, because ignorant thereof.

§ 6.Obstacles easily banished by an Infinite power. But though these obstacles, and obstructions were moe, and mightier then they are, should God but give the word, they are instantly removed. Long was the service of the true God disused in Iudah (during the idolatrous reign of Ahaz) so that great was the difficulty, to bring the whole nation to the solemn observation thereof. Yet, Hezekiah quickly effected it, because (as the text observes)gg2 Chr. 29. 36.2 Chr 29:36 God had prepared the people, and the thing was done suddenly. So, when He shall be pleased to set his hand to the Iews conversion, all impediments notwithstanding, in the twinckling of an eye, their eies shall be opened; and their hearts turned, in the turning of an hand.

p. 201Chap. VI. How Christians ought to behave themselves, in order to the Jews conversion.

§ 1.Motives for our prayer for the Iews conversion. MEan time it is the bounden duty of Christians, to their utmost to endevour, both by their pious examples, and faithfull prayers, the conversion of the Iews, having many motives to invite them thereunto. First, because the more knowing, and pious in the Iew…sh Church, did anciently desire the vocation of the Gentiles, witness the solicitous care she took, and the great cost she would expend for the wel…a…e thereof.aaCant. 8. 8, 9.Song 8:8Song 8:9 We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts, what shall we do for our sister, in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver &c. For, although the common I…s accounted the calling of the Gentiles, blasphemy against their own nation, (having some carnall reason thereof, as not without cause suspicious, that the Gentiles admission would prove their expulsion, as indeed it came to pass) yet the intelligent Prophets (no doubt) were earnest petitioners for the same.

§ 2.Motive from the Iews joy for us. Secondly, because such was the transcendent joy of the godly Iews, managed with silence (their hearts thereat being too big for their mouths) at the conversion of Cornelius, and his family;bbAct. 11. 18.Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

§ 3.Clearing of the Sc…iptures. Lastly, because so great glory shall, by the conversion of the Iews, redound to God, and clearing to the Scriptures. Many places in the old Testamen… (the meaning whereof, the Iews hitherto were too envious to teach us, or we too proud to learn of them) will then most plainly be expounded. Oh! what a feast of knowledge will it make, when both Iew and Gentile shall jointly bring in their dis…es thereunto! The former furnishing forth the first course with many Hebrew Criticismes, and Rabbinicall Traditions (some of them gold amongst more dross) on the old Testament: the latter supplying the second course on the whole Scripture, with solid▪ interpretations, out of Fathers, School…men, and Modern Divines. Oh happy day for such as shall behold it, and we all ought to pray for the speedy dawning thereof!

§ 4.Objection against praying for the … Iews conversion. It will be objected, many men cannot heartily pray for the future conversion of the Iews; being unsatisfied in their judgments, of the certainty thereof▪ ccRom. 14 23.Rom 14:23For whatsoever is not of faith is sin; and because they cannot aske according to the Apostles preceptddJames 1. 6.Jas 1:6 … prayers are better omitted, as which may prove prejudiciall to themselves, and nothing effectuall for others.

§ 5.Answer. It is safest for such to insert conditionall clauses in their prayers, If it may stand with Gods good will and pleasure, used by the best men (not to say the besteeMat. 26. 39.Matt 26:39 in bests) in their petitions:ffMar. 8. 2.Mark 8:2 Lord if thou wilt▪ thou canst make p. 202me clean. Such wary reservations will not be interpreted in the Court of Heaven, want of faith, but store of humility, in such particulars where such persons have no plenary assurance of Gods pleasure. Yea, grant the worst, that God never intended the future conversion of the Iews, yet whilst he hath not revealed the contrary (as in the case of Samuels gg1 Sam. 16. 1.1 Sam 16:1mourning for Saul) all mens charitable desires herein, cannot but be acceptable to the God of heaven.

O Lord who arthhPsal. 145. 17.Ps 145:17 righteous in all thy ways,A Prayer. and holy in all thy works, we acknowledge, and admire the justice of thy proceedings, in blinding, and hardening the Jews; as for their manifold impieties; so especially for stoning thy Prophets, despising thy Word, and crucifying the Lord of life. For which thou hast caused them, according to the prediction of thy iiHosea 3. 4.Hos 3:4Prophet, to abide many days without a King, and without a Prince, and without a Sacrifice, and without an Image, and without an Ephod, and without Teraphim. But thou ô Lord howkkPs…l. 6. 6. 3.Ps 50:6Ps 50:3 long? HowllRevel. 6. 10.Rev 6:10 ô Lord holy and true? HowmmPsal. 79. 5.Ps 79:5 long Lord, with thou be angry for ever? Thine anger is said to endure but annPsal. 30. 5.Ps 30:5 Moment, but Lord how many Millions of Millions of Moments, are contained in sixteen hundred years, since thou hast first cast off thy first and ancient people the Jews? Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not for any merit in their persons, which was none, but for the mercy in thy promises, which is infinite, so frequently made, and so solemnly confirmed unto them. But oh! remember the Oratour on thy right hand, Christ Jesus our Lord,ooRom. 1. 3.Rom 1:3 which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and the Oratour in thine own bosome, thine essentiall and innate Clemency, and let these prevaile, if it may stand with thy good will, and pleasure, that thy people the Jews may be received into the armes of thy mercy. As once by a wilfull, and wofull imprecation they drew the guilt of his bloud onppMat. 27. 25.Matt 27:25 them and on their children: so by thy free imputation drop the merit of his bloud on them, and on their children. For the speedying of whose conversion, be pleased to compose the many different judgments of Christians into one truth, to unite their disagreeing affections in one love, that our examples may no longer discourage, but invite them to the embracing of the true Religion. Oh mollifie the hearts, rectifie the wills, unvaile the eyes, unstop the ears of those thy people whom hitherto thou hast justly hardened. Reveale to their understanding those qqRom. 3. 2.Rom 3:2Oracles which thou hast committed to their keeping. That so our Saviour, who long since hath been a light to lighten the Gentiles,Luk. 2. 32.Luke 2:32 may in thy time be the glory of thy people Israel, that so there may be onessJohn 10. 16.John 10:16 shepheard and one sheepfold. Grant this ô Lord for Christ Jesus his sake, to whom, with Thee, and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now, and forever, Amen.

FINIS.

Here followes the draught of Fragmenta Sacra.