shall be joyned together under one Prince, that is under _Messiah_ the
Son of _David_; and that they shall never be driven out of their Land.
_SECT. 38._
I returne to the relation of our _Montezinus_, which I prefer before the
opinions of all others as most true for that _Peru_ should be derived
from the name _Ophir_, as _Gulielmus Postellus_, _Goropius in Ortelius_,
_Bozius de signis Eccles._ _lib._ 2. _c._ 3. _Marinus in arca Noah_, _P.
Sa. in 3. Reg. Pomarius_ in his _Lexicon_, and _Possevinus_ _lib._ 2.
_Biblith._ _c._ 8. do think, cannot be proved; as _Pineda_ hath wel
observed, in _Job_, _c._ 28. _p._ 500. for we have said out of
_Garcilasso de la Vega_, that that name was unknown to them of _Peru_.
_Ophir_ then is _East-India_, if we beleeve _Josephus_, _lib._ 8.
_Antiquit. Judaic._ _c._ 6. & _Acosta in lib. 1. Histor. Ind._ from
whence _Solomon_ fetched gold, and precious stones. But what _Gomara in
part 1. hist. Ind._ _fol._ 120. and _Zarate in proæm. hist. Peru_, would
have, that ours did passe over that famous, and much praised Island (by
_Plato_ in _Critia_, and _Timæus_) of _Atlantis_, and so went into the
neighbour Islands of _Barlovent_, and from thence to the firm land, and
at last to the Kingdom of _Peru_, and _New-Spain_; it is deservedly
exploded as fabulous; and _Acosta_ laughs at it, _in lib. 1. hist. Ind.
c._ 22. But _Marcilius Ficinus in comment. in Timeum, c._ 4. & _Critia_,
that he might defend _Plato_, thinkes (and his Disciples, _Porphiry_,
_Origen_, and _Proclus_ doe follow him) that all that which is in
_Critia_, and in _Timæus_, is to be understood allegorically. And who
will beleeve _Lescarbotus_, who saith that they are the _Canaanites_,
who fled thither for feare of _Joshua_? For I cannot be perswaded that
they sought out Countries so far remote. They who will have them of
_Peru_ to have come out of _Norwey_, or _Spain_, may be confuted by
their very form, manners and the unlikenesse of their Languages. But
that is more false, that they are _Israelites_, who have forgot
circumcision, and their rites. For they are of a comly body, and of a
good wit, as saith Doct. _Johannes Huarte_, in his book which is called,
_Examen ingenior._ _c._ 14. But contrarily all men know that the
_Indians_ are deformed, dul, and altogether rude. And we have abundantly
shown, with how great study, and zeal, the _Israelites_ have kept their
Language, and Religion, out of their Country.
_SECT. 39._
_Montezinus_ then speaks most likely; that as other people forced the
_Israelites_ to betake them to the mountains: so _America_ being first
of all inhabited by the persecuting _Tartars_, they were driven to the
mountains of _Cordillere_, where at last they were hid, as God would
have it. Truly, comparing the _Israelites_ themselves, or their Laws,
with other people, I see not anything that comes nearer truth. Perhaps
also _America_ was not of old contiguous to _Asia_ on the North side. It
doth not seeme to me such an absurdity, to say, that the Israelites went
out of _Tartary_ into _America_ by land; and afterward, that God, to
preserve his, among other miracles, also wrought this, to make that a
Sea, where now is the streight of _Anian_. Yea that might be don without
a miracle, by accident, as we know that more than once, the Sea by a
violent storm hath carryed away the Land, and made Islands. _Xenophon in
suis æquivoc._ mentions the inundations of _Ægypt_, which happened in
the days of _Prometheus_, and _Hercules_. Also _Berosus in lib._ 5. and
_Diodorus li._ 6. mentions the inundation of _Attica_, in which _Athens_
stands. _Pliny in lib._ 2. _c._ 85. & _lib._ 13. _c._ 11. _Strabo in l._
1. & _l._ 12. and _Plutarch in Alexandr._ relate the drowning of the
Isle _Pharaonica_; of which _Luther_ speaks so elegantly in _lib.
ultimo._ Besides, who knows not how many, and how great Cities have at
divers times been almost wholly ruined by several earthquakes? _Sueton,
in Tiberio, c._ 48. writes, that under _Tiberius_, twelve Cities in
_Asia_ have been by this means ruined. _Orosius lib._ 7. _c._ 4. and
_Dion Cassius lib._ 57. do affirm the same, though they differ about the
time. _Tacitus in lib._ 14, and _Eusebius in Chron._ relate the
destruction of that famous and rich City of _Laodicea. Origen tom._ 28.
_in Joan_ and _Baronius tom._ 2. _Annal. Ecclesiast, Ann._ 340: do speak
of other earthquakes, which have destroyed divers, and very many men,
and Cities. And _P. Alonsus in suo manual. tempor._ relates, that the
same hath happened in our dayes; saith he, In the year 1638. _A great
Earthquake happened in the Islands of the Terceræ, but especially in St.
Michael, where the Governour dwells; for that unheard of shaking of the
earth, and houses, struck so great terror into the Inhabitants, that al
fled out of their houses & lived in the fields, a little after, two
miles from thence, they saw the Sea vomit up abundance of fiery matter,
which made a very thicke smoake, which covered the very clouds; and it
cast up many great stones which seemed like rocks; part whereof falling
downe againe, made an Island in the Sea which was halfe a mile over, and
sixty fathom high, & an hundred & fifty fathom deep. That hot exhalation
which that fiery mountain sent forth, pierced the very waters, and
stifled so many fishes, that two Indian ships could not carry them._ The
same Island two years after, was swallowed up again of the Sea.
_SECT. 40._
Hee that doth seriously weigh those things, may (I think) well gather,
that the Sea of the Streight of _Anian_ was an inundation. By affirming
which, this doubt may be answered, _sc._ That after the universall
Flood, man-kinde encreased againe, and all beasts, which had been
preserved in the Arke. But how could so many kinds of beasts, (which
come by propagation, and are not bred out of the earth) be found in
those Countries? Some did swim thither, some were brought thither by
some huntsmen, some were bred out of the earth, as _Austin_ thinks it
happened in the first Creation. But what Land-beast can swim over so
great a Sea? And would Huntsmen carry Lyons thither, and other such kind
of beasts, oftentimes to the great hazzard of their lives? And if God
would have created those beasts out of the earth, he would not have
commanded _Noah_ to have kept them in the Ark. I am fully perswaded,
that the beasts which are found there passed that way into _America_;
unlesse any thinks that this new world is joyned to the old, on some
other side, as _Herrera_ beleeves _Dec._ 3. _lib._ 11. _c._ 10.
_SECT. 41._
As for the other things in the relation of our _Montezinus_, they say
nothing which savours of falshood. For their saying that the _Semah_,
truly it is the custom of our people, in what part soever of the world
they live; and it is the abridgement of the confession and religion of
the Jewes. That revelation of the Magicians whom they call _Mohanes_, it
agrees with those things which in 2 _Esdras_ you may see, concerning the
Miracles which God wrought for the Israelites, as they passed over
_Euphrates_, concerning those conditions of not revealing secrets to
any, but such an one who hath seen three hundred Moons, (which make
twenty five years) it appeares to be true, by what the famous _De Laet_
tells in many parts of _America_, that the _Indians_ do compute their
years by Moones. That a secret must be told in the Field, doth not that
argue a _Jewish_ custome, which the ancients have observed in _Jacob_?
who being about to depart from _Laban_, he called his Wives into the
field.
I now conclude this discourse, in which this only was in my intention,
that I might briefly, and compendiously declare mine, and the Rabbies
opinion, concerning those things which I have handled. I hope that this
my indeavor will not be unacceptable, being desired by many men famous
both for Birth, and for Learning; not unprofitable, having therein
explained the relation of _Montezinus_, with what brevity I could. The
Name of God be blessed for ever. _Amen._
[Illustration]
CONSIDERATIONS
Upon the Point of the
_CONVERSION_
OF THE
JEWES:
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?