Part 11

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._