Part 13

God hath promised to doe great things in these last days, as namely, to subdue all his Enemies, to releive his people, to destroy all Tyranny and Oppression both civil and ecclesiasticall, and to ampliate the Bounds of Christs Kingdom, by a plentifull pouring forth of his spirit, and by converting the multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles. Herein he doth what the Ruler of the Feast said to the Bridegroome in _John_ 2.10. _he keepes the best wine till the last_; he makes the last Act, the best part of the Comedy. Whereas the method of the Devill, and the World, is contrary; represented by _Nebuchadnezzars image_, whose head, or beginning, was of gold; but the feet, or ending, was of iron, and clay. And of these great good things (we being now upon the borders of the long-looked-for-_Canaan_) God hath given us some earnest (which is a small proportion, with the whole for kind) a bunch of grapes; _Og_, and the _Amorites_ subdued. For he hath in our days arrested the _Turks_ greatnesse; abated the formidablenesse of the _German-Austrian Beast_; revealed in good measure the hypocrisie and lies of the false Prophet, who hath his seat at _Rome_; and hath brought to light the subtilties of Satan, who had shifted himselfe into severall dresses of pretended Reformation. Hee is risen up like a mighty Gyant, against his enemies among us, and elsewhere, and hath pleaded his peoples cause so signally, that all but those whose judgement it is to be wilfully blind, will say, _The Lord is on our side_. He hath also scattered _Light_, and _Truth_ in an unwonted measure, among all sorts of people; he hath given forth his owne good Spirit more plentifully than formerly (except in those extraordinary primitive times of Christianism;) and hath instated us into liberty for our spirits; which though too many abuse, and turne into licentiousnesse, or a liberty to sinne, yet that is no dispraise, but a commendation to the thing; for it is a signe that liberty is exceeding good in itselfe, seeing the corruption or abuse of it, is a thing so bad, but so hedged in by severall Fences, as it hath pleased God in much mercy to direct the wisdome of our State to, it is a choyse mercy, and such as is suitable to our Principles both Humane, and Christian; Thus we have a Day-star to tell us that day is at hand; something prodromous concerning almost all the great things promised, and looked for, as might be more largely showne, if that were my proper work. But yet nothing concerning _the returning of the Shulamite_, in _Cant._ 6. _ult._ which Mr. _Brightman_ interprets to be the _Jewes_ turning Christian, the clock of their conversion hath not yet given warning; it is as midnight with them still, as it was a thousand yeares agone. Upon which, some ground the hopelesnesse of their repentance, but I dare not owne that Logick, but rather conclude thus; That therefore their Conversion shall be the work of God (of which more anon) with whom all difficulties are no hinderance; and though _Israel_ be bond-men in _Ægypt_, and sealed up to it by the darknesse of a midnight, yet let but God speake, and they are immediately at liberty, and sent away without waiting for the comming of the day.

Now we ought much to minde their Conversion, exercising thereupon our faith, our prayers, and also our enquiries, and that for these following reasons:

_First_, because they have the same Humane nature with us; from this ground we should wish well to all men, whether _Jew_, or _Gentile_; which is the precept of the Apostle, in _2 Pet._ 1.7. _To adde love to brotherly kindnesse_; that is, not only to love Saints, but to love Men (though the Saints with a choyse, and peculiar love.) Yea it is Gods owne practise, in _Mat._ 5.45. There is a φιλανθρωπία in God (as _Paul_ saith to _Titus_) a love to Man-kinde. _Plutarch_ could observe that God is not called φίλιππος, he beares another manner of love to men, than to horses; so ought we to doe, and even upon this generall account, to love the _Jewish_ Nation.

_Secondly_, because of their extraction; Their root is holy, though now the Branches be degenerate and wilde; so in _Rom._ 11. vers. 16, 17. Some good turnes are due to the bad children of good Parents for the Parents sake; and this _Paul_ expresly urgeth, in _Rom._ 11.28. _that they are beloved for the Fathers sake_; yea the chief root, or head of their Nation, _Abraham_ is mystically our substituted Father, as in _Gal._ 4 last; _If ye be Christs, then are ye_ Abrahams _seed, and heires according to the promise_. The _Jewes_ are children, and heires of the flesh of _Abraham_, but we of his faith; they by the Bond-woman, but we by the Free; but notwithstanding, _Abraham_ is our common Father, and therefore we should love as brethren.

_Thirdly_, because Gods covenant with the _Jewes_ is not nulled, or broken, but only suspended. It is with them as it was with _Nebuchadnezzars_ tree, the leaves, fruit, and boughes were all scattered and broken, yet there was a chaine of brasse upon the root, to reserve that for future hopes; so though all true fruitfulnesse, beauty, and symptoms of life are long since gone, yet there is a root, a seed, which shall bring forth in Gods time; and this seemes a maine scope of _Paul_ in _Rom._ 11. To this purpose may that be alledged of _Mat._ 24.22. _Except those dayes should be shortned, no flesh should be saved, but for the Elects sake those dayes shall be shortned_; that is, so great shall the slaughter of the _Jewes_ be, at the destruction of _Jerusalem_, that if those destroying dayes should last a little longer, their whole Nation would faile, and be cut off; which shall not be, because God hath elect ones to be borne of that People in future times. Hence you see, that in their lowest ebbe, that is, in the midst of their greatest guilt, and sorest punishments, God hath still an eye upon a number of elect ones of that Nation; and Gods Covenant was never so with them, or with any People, as to take the whole of them for his inheritance. In _Jer._ 31.36, 37. Gods Covenant with _Israel_ is surer than the Lawes of Nature (which we know, remaine unviolable to the Worlds end) and he saith, that must come to passe, before he will cast off the Seed of _Israel_, for all that they have done; yea in _Isa._ 54.9, 10. God confirmes it to _Israel_, not only by the firmenesse of the Lawes of Nature, but also by an Oath; now what God ratifies with an Oath, is his absolute and positive Wil, that which makes the conclusion immutable; as in _Heb._ 6.18. And in this case God is ever too strong for all hardnesse of heart, disobedience, unbeleefe, and any impediments that can be. See also that full place of _Levit._ 26.42. 44. and _ver._ 45. for I beleeve that place Propheticall, of times, and things not yet fulfilled.

_Fourthly_, We _Gentiles_ were gainers by their casting away, the whirlwind of Gods wrath that threw them downe, brought us much profit, even salvation itselfe, _Rom._ 11.12. _The fall of them becomes the riches of the World_, ver. 15. _The casting away of them is the reconciling of the World_; implying, that we _Gentiles_ were poore, and miserable, till made rich, and happy by the _Jewes_ spoyles, who by this meanes are as wretched as we formerly had been. Which consideration must needs move an ingenuous spirit, to pitty those so undone. Our Lord saith to a _Gentile_, in _Mark_, 7.27. _Let the Children first be filled, for it is not meet to take the Childrens bread and to cast it to the Doggs_: They were Children, and we were Doggs, and we Doggs have got the Childrens meat before their bellies were full; which, as it should make us not to be high-minded; so also to pitty them, whose bread being taken away, and given to us, are brought to a starving condition.

_Fifthly_, We shall be gainers by their receiving againe; it should be motive sufficient to us, that God shall be gainer by it, and that not only by the accession of a whole Nation to him, and also of that Nation, which is as the lost Sheep, the finding of which is a matter of great joy, _Luke_ 15. But also because as it is said in _Psal._ 102.16. _When the Lord shall build up_ Zion, _he shall appeare in his glory_. Now glory is a manifestation of excellency, and at that time Gods excellency shall shine forth, which is now much hid, and vailed; the excellency of his mercy, of his truth and faithfulnesse, to remember an ancient Covenant made about foure thousand yeares since, and his old friend _Abraham_, and the Patriarks; all which have seemed to be asleep for many Generations together. So also in _Isa._ chap. 12. compared with chap. 11. But not only God (which might have been a distinct reason) but we also shall receive great advantages thereby; for then there shall be not only an enlargement of good to us _Gentiles_, as a concomitant and synchronism with the _Jewes_ conversion (the mistake about which, hath, and doth cause black thoughts in some) as in _Apoc._ 7.9. after the sealing of the hundred, and forty, and foure thousand (which relates to the time of the forty two moneths) a great multitude, and innumerable, of all Nations, Kindred, Tongues, and people stood before the Lambe, and were cloathed with white Robes; now these numbers of all Gentile-Nations are to be converted at that time when the _Jewes_ are to be brought home; for it is to be at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet. But beside, the _Jewes_ conversion shall in some sort be the cause of it, else what meanes the Apostle in _Rom._ 11.12. _How much more shall their fulnesse be the riches of the Gentiles?_ and in vers. 15. _What shall the receiving of the_ Jewes _be_ (to the _Gentiles_) _but life from the dead_? The Apostle heightens the expression of the benefit by their receiving, to an higher degree than what we got by their fall. It is observable, that the Gospel did in some sense, first goe out of _Sion_, for the Spirit who enabled the Disciples to preach and propagate it was there given; and _Micah_ speaking of the times yet looked for, saith in _Mic._ 4.2. _The Law shall goe forth out of_ Sion, _and the Word of the Lord out of Jerusalem_; that is, the fulnesse of the Spirit, and knowledge of Christ shall streame through the _Jewes_ to the _Gentiles_. So that as it was in the first giving of the holy Spirit, he was first given to the _Jewes_, then to the _Gentiles_; yea by the _Jewes_ to the _Gentiles_; so shall it be in the last dayes, fulfilling what _Paul_ saith in _Rom._ 2. to the _Jew_ first, and also to the _Gentile_, When God shall be reconciled to _Israel_, their condition wil be greatly changed; for they who are now actually the most accursed people, then as in _Mic._ 5.7. _The remnant of_ Jacob _shall be in the midst of many people as dew from the Lord; as the showres upon the grasse, that tarry not for man, nor waite for the sons of men_. Dew, and Showers in those hot Countries are Heavens bounty, a _cornucopia_ of all good things; such shall the _Jewes_ be to the places where they shall be, when they shall owne the Lord Jesus.

_Sixthly_, They were Gods first Wife (as I may say); for a considerable time they were a faithfull people; and many of them have been Martyrs for God. And these things God will thinke on, though we may sleight them.

They were Gods first Wife. Did God ever assay to take any Nation before them, to be his owne people? Yea, did he take any beside them, for two thousand yeares together? In _Isa._ 54.6. _I have called thee as a woman forsaken, and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith the Lord_; and what follows, vers. 7. _For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee._ And in verse 8. _With everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy upon thee._ We see God forgets not, though men may, and doe.

They were a faithfull people. As great was their unfaithfulnesse; so there were times when great was their faithfulnesse. In _Jer._ 2.2. _I remember thee, the kindnesse of thy youth, the love of thy espousals, when thou wentest after me in the Wildernesse, in a Land that was not sowne._ It was something to follow God in such a Country forty years; and for so long a time to expose themselves, wives, and children daily to almost al sorts of deaths; and you see, God remembers it in after times; and if he did in _Jeremiahs_ time, when those who in person had been so faithfull, had been long dead; and that race of the _Jewes_ then were very provoking, and corrupt; why not also now, in this present succeeding generation of them:

They were Martyrs for God. To prove this, read the History of the _Maccabees_, and if we like not so farre to owne what is Apocryphall, turne to _Heb._ 11. which is a booke of the _Jewish_ Martyrs, a Catalogue of them that suffered under _Antiochus_, and those _Syrian_ Tyrants. And they were not few that suffered, but many; nor light punishments, but unspeakeable torments. Now God takes it so kindly that we give up our lives to torments, and to death for his Name, that commonly he owes that person a good turne in his posterity. And if upon these accounts God hath an eye upon them, we also should be like minded, and love them too.

_Seventhly_, It is a duty which we owe to Gods expresse command, for so I take that in the literall sence, in _Isa._ 62.6, 7. _Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make_ Jerusalem _a praise in the earth_. This duty the Prophet himselfe performed in vers. 1. _For_ Sions _sake I will not hold my peace, and for_ Jerusalems _sake I will not rest, till the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse, &c._ And also the Church in her affliction, _Psal._ 137.5, 6. And now that _Sion_ is in the dust, if we that beleeve among the _Gentiles_, did pitty her, and compassionate her in her ruines, it were an argument that God is about to arise, and have mercy upon her; as may be urged from Psalme 102.13, 14.

_Lastly_, They minded our conversion to God. This appeares in the writings of almost all their Prophets, especially in the Psalmes, _Isaiah_, _Jeremiah_, _Hoseah_, _Malachi_. Now then for us to love the notion, and in what we may, help forward their returne, what is it but an honest and just retaliation?

Having dispatched the Reasons, two things yet remaine about their Conversion, which I must speake somewhat to, and those are the _Time_, and the _Manner_; as for the _time when_, the determining of that is hard, though not impossible. I beleeve that it is punctually set downe in Scripture, and God wil be as criticall in looking after times as things; but all the difficulty of knowing it is from the darknesse, and defects of our understanding, and not from a supposed uncertainty in the thing. So that I am equally adverse as to the common practise of the _Jewes_, who because they are unwilling to owne Gods accomplishments, doe therefore dis-allow his computations, and expressly hold that man accursed who busieth himselfe in that study. So to the too common opinion of those who say, That oft in such computations God puts a certaine number for an uncertaine. No, there is an infallibility in the set times of Scripture; only the Well is deep, and the cord to our Bucket is but short! yet this difficulty should not cause despondency, but quicken our industry. All that I shall now say to it is this, I judge the time not farre off; this present age will see those things fulfilled which we have waited and prayed for. _R. Maimonides_ saith of Jesus Christ, That since _Moses_ his time none so like to the Messiah as the Christ of the Christians; so I say, since Christ, no period of time so like to be that, in which the _Jewes_ shall be called, as this in which we live. And perhaps it is nearer than we are aware of, being the more comfortably perswaded of it, by that excellent Treatise called, _The Revelation revealed_, newly published by a Gentleman of an indefatigable Spirit for God and publick good, Mr. S. _Hartlib_, in which Apocalypticall computations are explained the most harmoniously, and clearly, that I have read in any discourse of that nature. He saith positively, that at the ending of the last yeare of 1655. the seventh Trumpet shall sound; whose effect will be as much good to Gods elected ones, whether _Jewes_, or _Gentiles_, as our hearts can wish for. I shall adde this, The age in which we live, hath been eyed by many Generations past, for the time wherein the _Iewes_ shall be received to mercy; many of their owne Writers, and also of Christian Authors have pitched upon it; And I beleeve that God will be as gracious to them in this their last, and greatest restauration, as he was to them in that of their returne out of _Babylon_; now concerning that there were three computations and epochaes of the beginning (and consequently of the ending) of the seventy yeares of captivity; and observe, that those seventy yeares ended, and the _Iewes_ returned, not at the latest computation, but with the first, for there were but seventy yeares from _Jechoniahs_ carrying to _Babylon_, (which was the first Captivity) to the release by the Proclamation of _Cyrus_. And as God ended that Captivity with the soonest, so I hope that he will doe this; especially considering, that speaking of these mercies to them, in _Isa._ 60. in verse last, he saith, _I the Lord will hasten it in its time_; which he should not doe, if he should stay the longest calculation, and utmost period of time. O let us be Gods Remembrancers to put him in minde of this his promise.

For the _manner_ how, and _meanes_ whereby their conversion shall be compassed; this also is a depth equall to the former. And as it is in things Propheticall, the event will best determine it; yet I shall say something to it, according to what I have attained. That of the ordinary way of Christianizing a person, or people, seemes to me not of use here; which hath been by Discourses, written or printed Books, Preachers, or the will and command of a Conquerour; for all these have had their efficacy in (at least a seeming and out-side) conversion of many Nations. But after the application of these to the _Jewes_, for many ages together, yet we must say as _Gehazi_ did to _Elisha_, when he had laid his staffe on the _Shunamite_ her Son, thereby to bring him to life; _The childe is not awaked_. I then conclude, that their conversion shall be in an extraordinary way, it shall be the worke of our Lord Jesus, and of his good Spirit. As _Paul_ was turned by the appearing of Christ to him; so shall they. He will manifest himselfe to them eminently, powerfully, and graciously, to forme them to be a people to himselfe. Whether this his presence to them shall be personall, or only in the Spirit, I will not now say, but leave the Reader to make a judgement, as he sees most cause, out of the Scriptures which I bring. Consider that of _Mat._ 23.38, 39. _Behold your house is left unto you desolate, for I say unto you, ye shall not see me hence-forth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord._ Here you have their doome fore-told, _their house shall be desolate_, the Temple and _Jerusalem shall be destroyed_; also their conversion, in those words, their saying, _Blessed is he that comes, &c._ the _medium_ to compasse it, cf. _their seeing Iesus Christ; ye shall not see me_, &c. In the order of causes, Christs discovering himselfe to them shall be first, and shall produce their relenting towards him. And for a further proofe, let those two places be joyned together, as bearing the same sence; that of _Mat._ 24.30, 31. and of _Apoc._ 1.7. both which are taken out of _Zechar._ 12.10. And all three not to be understood of Christs appearing to Judgement; for here, saving repentance is the effect of his appearance; but repentance will be then too late when the Judge is come; that shall be a night to all sinners, in which no worke can be done. Againe, there are but three grand periods mentioned in _Mat._ 24. namely, the destruction of _Jerusalem_, Christs comming (when, and whereby the _Jewes_ shall be converted, who though they have resisted him, when he came in the flesh, yet they shall not, they cannot, when he comes in the Spirit) and the end of the World. Now the signes of the first of these are in vers. 14, 15.21, 22. Of the second in vers. 29, 30, 31, &c. And of the last, in vers. 36, &c. So that this of ver. 30, 31. must concerne some other thing than the end of the World. And that the three fore-named Scriptures are properly to be understood of the _Jews_, the texts doe show; for that of _Zechariah_, (from whence the other two places are taken) expresly saith, _I will poure upon the house of_ David, _and the inhabitants of_ Jerusalem, _&c._ and other passages to the same purpose in vers. 11, 12, 13. of _Zechar._ 12. And in the two places of _Mat._ 24. and _Apoc._ 1. it is expresly applyed to the _Jewes_; for in _Mat._ it is, _All the Tribes of the earth shall mourn, and see him_; that is, All the twelve Tribes scattered upon the face of the whole earth, and these shall be gathered by the Angels from the foure winds. And that of _Apoc._ 1.7. is clearly to be applyed also to them, for it is said, _They that pierced him, shall see him_; that is, the _Jewes_; and _All the Tribes_ (for so the word φυλαὶ ought to be rendred) _of the earth shall waile_; that is, the twelve Tribes scattered throughout all places. Now the _meane_ whereby these _Jewes_ shall be converted, is, _And they shall see him_; that is, Jesus Christ, for those words are in all the three Scriptures. It shall be such a sight, as the _Israelites_ had of the Brazen Serpent in the Wildernesse, it was healing to them. Such a sight as _Paul_ had of Christ in Heaven, upon which he saith, that he had seene the Lord. For particularities about this sight. I shall leave them, knowing that _secret things doe belong to God_.

And because after that I had published in _English_, about last Autumne, the Booke of _Menasseh Ben Israel_, called, _The Hope of Israel_, I received a Letter from an Honourable Person, concerning that Booke, to which I wrote an Answer, and both containe some further discourse about the Jewes, and their Conversion; therefore I thought good to give you them, and they are these which follow.

To the Translator of _Menasseh_; _Ben Israels spes Israelis_.

SIR: