Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	call_v	country_n	part_n	5,598	4	4.1644	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39795	Israel redux, or, The restauration of Israel, exhibited in two short treatises the first contains an essay upon some probable grounds, that the present Tartars near the Caspian Sea, are the posterity of the ten tribes of Israel / by Giles Fletcher ; the second, a dissertation concerning their ancient and successive state, with some Scripture evidences of their future conversion, and establishment in their own land / by S.L.	Fletcher, Giles, 1549?-1611. Tartars, or, Ten tribes.; Lee, Samuel, 1625-1691.	1677 (1677)	Wing F1333; Wing L898; ESTC R2002	48,660	138

commixt with other people and partly forced by the violence of the Medians who expelled them thence being but strangers and thrust upon them by the Assyrians shall appear plainly by that which followeth A Second Reason is From the names and appellations of their Cities and greater Towns which are scituated upon the East and North-East side of the Bachualensky or Caspian Sea These Tartar Cities which yet are extant have many of them the same names as had those ancient Towns and Cities which were inhabited by the Israelites while they enjoyed their own Country Their Metropolis or chief City though now deformed with many Ruins is Samarchian which hath many Monuments of that Nation as they report who have been there where the great Tamerlain who led about in a Golden Chain the Turkish Emperor called Bajazet had his Seat and place of residence And how little differing is Samarchian from Samaria the chief City of these Israelites and their Seat and Chamber of their Kings onely differing in termination a thing usual in proper names of Men or Citys when they are pronounced in divers languages For what differs the name of Londres as it is termined by the French from this of London or the Town of Antwerp from that of Anverse or Edenborough from Edenburgum The same difference may be observed in the proper names of men and women both in the front and first sylable and termination of the name For what consonance hath Maria or Mariamne with that Miriam of the Hebrews or the English James with the Scottish Jamy with the French Jaimes or the Latine Jacob and yet these names are all one They have besides the Mount Tabor a great Town and well fenced with a strong Fort scituate upon a high Hill nothing differing in sorm or name from the Mount Tabor of the Israelites so often mentioned in the Scriptures They have a City called Jericho seated upon the River Ardoce near the Caspian upon the North and North-East They have Corazen the great and the less whereof the less was surprised not long agoe and taken from them upon whose Country the Tartar People sometimes encroach and he on theirs This univocation of Tartar Cities with those of Israel concurring with the former reason from the Place or Country whither they were sometime transplanted by the Assyrians syrians doth plainly shew that the Israelitish People have been there and given the names unto these Cities as the manner is in all places for the remembrance of their Countrys and dwelling places from whence they came or of the Planters or first Founders of the Colonies as of Galatia by the Gaules and the Tyre of Africk from that of Phanice the like is used in New Colonies as Nova Francia Nova Hispanica Nova Britannica St. Domingo Carthagena and other like These Tartar Cities are inhabited by so many as are sufficient to defend them from the Hostility of the Persians and other Borderers But the greater part which are commonly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Scythian Shepherds do seldome come within any City or standing houses unless it be in Winter-time but abde in Tents or walking houses which the Latine writers call Veij which are built and carried upon wheels like Carts and Waggons Their manner is in Summer-time when grass is grown and fit for Pasturage with their herds and flocks to march Northward and North-West from the South-East parts where they continue all the Winter not all together but in their Hoords and several Armies under the conduct and directions of their Morsoyes and Divoi-Morsoyes which are their Princes and Vicegerents under the great Cham their Emperor and graze along by the way as they go until they come to the next stage or resting place where they plant their Veij or Waggon-houses and so make a form of a great City with many Streets there continuing till their Cattle have grazed up all Thus they proceed by small Stages till they arrive at the farthest point towards the North and then return towards the South and South-East parts another way where their Cattel have fresh Pasturage And so retiring by short Journeys by the end of Summer they arrive again into the South-East Countrys near the Caspian in a more mild and temperate Climate where they continue all the Winter within their Cities or Cart-houses set together in form and fashion of a Town as before was said My Third Reason is from the distinction of their Tribes which by the Tartar are called Hoords which being united in one Government and communicable in all things else yet may not unite nor mixe together by inter-marriage but keep apart and avoid confusion of Kinreds except it be for defence or publick benefit of the whole they unite themselves and joyn together as one People And this division of the Nation into Tribes and without commixtion of their Kinreds which was no where else used by any Nation save the Israelites is still observed and continued among the Tartars most religiously A Fourth Reason is from the number of their Tribes which are 10 in all neither more nor less as were the Israelites Their names are these 1. The Chrime-Tartars which most infesteth the Russe Borders for which respect the chief leaders of this Tribe whom they call Morsoyes or Divoi-Morsoyes receive their pension from the Russe not to invade or hurt their Country 2. The Second is the Cheremissim 3. The Third is the Morduit-Tartar 4. The Fourth is the Nagay whereof the one is the warlikest People the other is the cruellest and most laborious of all the rest The Fifth is the Sebair whence the Siberes or Siberians who dwell by the River Obba derive their Pedigree and are therefore reckoned and annumbred to this Tribe 6. The sixth is the Mecrite-Hoord 7. The seventh is the Shalcan 8. The eighth is the Chercassey the most civil Tartar of all the rest of a comely person and much affected to be like the Lachish or Polonian in his habit gesture and whole behaviour by means whereof some number of them have of late received the Christian faith 9. The ninth is the Cassach 10. The tenth and last is crlled Turkestan which imports as muck as Herdman Tartar by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because this Hoord is the greatest Herd-master and Cattlebreeder above all the rest from whom the Turks had their begining as saith the Russe And that this is true besides the report of the Russe People and other Borderers who have best cause to know their Pedigree it is the opinion of all the Historians who lived about the time when the Turkish Nation invaded the upper Asia and began to grow a great and mighty Monarchy Among the rest it shall not be idle nor impertinent to report here what Leanicus Chalcocondilos the Athenian briefly writes in the beginning of his Story touching the Origine of the Turks It is thought said he that the Turkish Nation derive their Pedigree from

West of Hemedan I deem to be the ancient Lycus The City Calicala in North Lat. 41. in Alfraganus is called Hisan or Hisan Cala at this day and the same with Asan by Tigris in Ortelius and the inhabitant Kalaeus or as some Calichla Pliny treating of these Countrys mentions the people Classitae per quos Lycus ex Armenia fertur whom Bochart in his Phaleg corrects by Chalachitae and cites the Talmud explaining Halak by Helvan or Hulvan lying South of Hemedan The River Lycus is at this time called Zab and is mentioned by the Nubian Geographer and of old Zaba and Diava by Amianus which signifies a Wolf whence this portion of Assyria was called Adiabene Thus much for the first place called Halah into which Israel was carried by the command nf the Assyrian Conqueror The Second place is styled Habor Chabor in Hebrew we may observe in Ptolomy a Mountain a River and a City all of this name The Mountain Chaboras called Choatras in the Palatine Copy is that which divides Assyria from Media toward the North-West The River Chabor rises out of the Mountain Massius or Mash in the North of Mesopotamia and is the same which in our Translation of Ezechiel is turned Chebar by the Nubian Alchabur by Strabo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by Amiamus Aboras At this day Giulap The City Chabura is set by Ptolemy near the influxe of that River into Euphrates so that stands in a triangle between both Rivers which Amiamus an Eye-witness calls munimentum tutissimum fabre politum cujus maenia Abora Euphrates ambiunt flumina velut spatium insulare fingentes Quod Diocletianus exiguum adhuc suspectum muris turribusque circumdedit celsis c. A very strong Fortress and well built whose Walls are washt by the Rivers Aboras and Euphrates making as it were an Island which being of old but little and dangerous Dioclesian compassed with high Walls and Towers The Romans called it Corcusium in the notices of the Easterne Empire Circaesium and is the same with the City Charchemish in Scripture whither Pharaoh-Necoh King of Aegypt went up to Battel By the Nubian Cquerquisia and now commonly Karkasa and had its name saith Golius from setting forth Horses to a race So that here we evidently discover another place with the Territories adjoyning whither the Tribes of Israel were carried Captive The Third place is Hara which the learned Bochart would have to be Aria but let 's not mistake him for I find this Aria to be the same with Algebal Har signifies a Mountainous Tract as well as Gebal and lyes on the North of Assyria near Media which is evident by some of the Cities of Algebal to wit Hamedan and Dainur lying near the places in Halah before mentioned But the Aria of Ptolomy lies East of Parthia far hence to the South-East of the Caspian Sea which appears plainly by Amianus wherefore I judge this Aria or Gobal to be the true place and not that of Ptolomy on the North whereof runs the River Araxes now called Aras rising out of the Mountain Paryardes or Ararat of Armenia with which agrees that Judicious Traveller Olearius describing the rise of Aras from the Mountains of Ararat in the South of which River lies the little Province Arsea now likely Arzerum and Arsareth in the Apochryphal Book of Esdras Vleg-Beg in the Region of Aran places the three Cities of Mochan Bardach and Sencarah which seem to be Mekar Berdah and Tzenkan of Olearius though a little North of Vleg-Beggs Mokan and is joyned to Media Atropatia or Aderbeitzan whence it appears that our Aria here enquired is no other then the Province of Iran scituate between the Rivers Araxes and Cyrus now called Aras and Kur from which the City Ervan lies not far off and this Country of Iran I take to be the true Hara under our present inquisition whither the Israelites were carried Captive and extends it self upon the North of Assyria and was part of ancient Media and near the Caspian Sea Fourthly Our next search must be after Gozan and the River of Gozan Although as yet I observe no River of that name yet find both a City and a Territory called Gauzanites The Region Gauzanites Ptolomy places in the North-East of Mesopotamia with the City Gizana near the Springs of the River Chaboras at the foot of the Mountain Masius and not far West from Calacine in the Lat. 37. 15. and besides that he places another City called Gauzanea in Media Antropatea or Tropatene in the Latitude of 40 d. 15 min near the River Cyrus or Kir in Scripture whither the inhabitants of Damascus were carried Captive The Learned Bochart asserts the City Ganzania to lye in the midway between the Mountain Chaboras and the Caspian Sea and between the 2 streams of the River Cyrus and conceives that probably it gave the ancient name of Gozan both to the River and Country before the days of Cyrus and this I take to be the Scripture place as being a City of the Medes and near to the forementioned places whither these Tribes were carried though I shall not need to contend about that other in the North of Mesopotamia the latter it may be having been a Colony from the former By what name it s called at this day I cannot determine unless it be the City of Zenken on the River Cyrus not far from the Caspian Sea and not much West of Schamaky a noble and great City of Modern Persia This same place seems to be mentioned by Strabo by the name of Gaza and placed in Media Atropatia It s true I find in Ptolomy a Gauzania and a Gazaca two distinct Cities in Media but that hinders not our acquiescing in the former knowing that Ptolomy is somewhat confused in the delineation of the Rivers Araxes and Cyrus and the Cities adjacent Pliny puts Guza the City of Media Atropatene at 450 miles distance from Artaxata and very probable is the same with Gazaca an eminent City of Media in Amianus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Constantin Porphyrogenneta who makes it a City of Chaldia so termed from the Chaldeans of whom they fetcht their Origine which may be no other then Colthene with its City Gisma upon Araxes in Ptolomy To travel any further with the Ancient or Moderns would but tire us since we have found out the Gozan of Scripture to lye in Media and near the Caspian Sea But before we unharness it were not amiss to mention the Sabbatical River too much laught at by some If they did but compare the Sambathiah in Seder Olam with the River Sabbatius in Ortelius the River Zabatus in Xenophon l. 2. Cyri. Zaba of Cedrenus and Niceph callist which is the Lycus of Ptol. and Zab. major and minor above said The City Zombis in Amian and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

into one Polity or Community amongst themselves but diffused though not confused and dispersed in small numbers here and there deprived of all save their name which they retain and that rather for a reproach than for an honor and estimation in those places where they live that they may be known by other Nations to be that People whom God hath punisht and rejected for that sin in so rejecting the Son of God but will receive and call again for his own mercy and promise sake A thing exemplary to the World as well of the rigour and severity of Gods Justice which he would have observed and marked by all but especially by the Christian States wherein they live least for the like infidelity and contempt they procure unto themselves the like Judgment and also of that his infinite mercy in preserving that People from commixture and confusion with other Natious that the truth and certainty of his Word may so be known when they shall be called to the publick knowledge and profession of Jesus Christ as by his Apostle he hath foretold and will perform in due time But these other Tribes whereof we speak which were not massacred nor extirped but transplanted by the Assyrians where now they are and how they have lived ever since and whether they be a several People or else commixed with other Nations is no where mentioned either in Heathen or Sacred Story for ought I know yet is it not hard to find them out if we enquire and seek for them where it is likely that they are to be found and truly the likeliest place to find them in is it not in or near those Colonies where they were planted at the first And what I pray you if we should seek them among the Tartars who are esteemed to be the most vile and barbarous Nation of all the World you will say perhaps a thing unworthy and unbeseeming that great mercy of God which he vouchsafed to that People when they were yet his own peculiar an holy Nation elected by God out of all the Nations in the World as if it could not stand with that most holy and perfect Justice so to abase a wicked People and so rebellious against their God as were these Israelites though he cast them down from the highest Heaven to the lowest Center of dishonour even ad Tartaros whereby you know in the Poets phrase is meant the place of the damned souls and Hell it self in resemblance as may be thought of like disorder and confusion of both the places As for the conjecture of some Divines that they are the People called Alani it is not only an improbable but a very absurd and gross Opinion These Alani as all men know being a People not of Asia but of Europe by their other name called Triballi and this passage and expedition through one Country into another which was to be made through so many great Nations both of the upper and lower Asia being impossible at least unlikely to be passed over by all Stories which since have written in every Age. Onely I hear the same affirmed by that Learned French-man Philip Morney Lord of Plessey whom I name for honour's sake as for his Learning and Nobilitie thrice Renowned but not confirmed by any reason save that which he draws from the Notation of the word for that Tartar in the Syrian Tongue signifies Remnants or Remainders But that the Tartars are the Israelites who were transported into Media and the other 2 adjoyning Countries you shall hear such reasons as I observed when I remained among the Russes their next Neighbours some years ago which if they be not demonstrative yet to me seem so probable as that I my self am now perswaded and fully settled in that Opinion that they are the natural and true Off-spring and Posterity of those Israelites My First Reason is From the Place the place whither they were transported by the Assyrians and there planted as is the manner of great Conquerors when they aspire unto a great Monarchy to abate the spirits of such a People as may be dangerous to their States and likely otherwise to make revolt as were the Israelites who could not endure a firm Prince to break their strength by dividing them into many parts The Place I say where they were transplanted were the Cities and Parts of Media then a Province and in subjection to the Assyrians where they placed the greatest number as by the Story may be gathered the rest in Harak and by the River Haborus whereof the one is part of Chaldaran The other a River of Mesopotamia with a Town adjoyning of the same name The Country of Media as it is described by Cosmographers but more especially by our Merchants and other Travellers who have been there lyeth about the Caspian Seas which the Russe calls the Bachualensky and by taking away the first syllable for shortness sake wherewith the Sclavone and the Russe tongues are much delighted Chualensky-More All which Country lying upon the North-east or Northern fide of the Caspian and Chualensky to the Hibernian and Northern Sea which contains in it a large Territory by the description of Cosmographers and the report of such as have been there is now possessed and inhabited by the Tartars and by the consent of all Stories which since have written of the Assyrian and Persian Monarchy have so continued since Cyrus's time who after he had obtained the Monarchy did first invade those Schythian Shepherds or Tartar people 200 years or thereabouts ter the Israeelites deportation who were grown by that time into a great and mighty people For we may not think neither is it likely that the Assyrians who were the Monarchs of all the East would place a conquered and captive People in the fairest Cities of all Media and pleasantest places of that Country which lye on the South and South-west part of the Bachualensky or Caspian Sea which by the report of all stories and Travellers who have been there is one of the sweetest and fertilest Countrys of all the World and best replenished with all things necessary and delightful but in the remote and barren places of that Country which were beyond the Caspian Sea upon the North and North-East Parts where these Tartar People have had their dwelling and habitations ever since As for those other 2 Colonies of the Israelites which were placed in Harak and Habore they bordered both upon the Medians So that all these Tribes might easily meet and joyn together when opportunity serves their turns which happened unto them not long after when all these Provinces of Media Chaldaran and Mesopotamia with their Governous Merodack Baladan and Dejoces by a desertion fell away from the Assyrians in the 10th year of Esar-haddon And that these Tribes did not long after reunite themselves and joyn together in one Nation as they were before being induced partly by their own desires as disdaining ever to live

Tartars And a little after v. 26. Then dwelt they there till the latter time but when they shall come forth again the most High shall hold fast the springs of the River to wit Euphrates that they may pass through therefore sawest thou the multitude peaceably Where he tells that this return of the holy people over Euphrates towards their Country in the latter times is meant of the Israelitish 10 Tribes who were carried Captive by the Assyrians who after the manner of that people would live alone not commixed with other Nations and therefore brake out of the Colonies where they were placed by the Assyrians and went from thence to a remote and inward try as is Tartaria from the society of other men which cannot be said of the Jewish Tribes who notwithstanding by the example of those other Tribes shall be encouraged to joyn together and to march likewise out of the places where now they are towards the Country of Judea without any impeachment or resistance of other Nations As for the manner of their passing over the said River whether it shall be actual drying of the River or a removing of all impediments which may stop or hinder their speedy passage in this their expedition towards their Country I will not argue it at this time That it shall be an actual exiccation of the River with no less miracle then the drying up of the Red Sea or River Jordan when they passed towards the Land of Canaan that so this work of God which shall be famous in all the World even the restoring of this people may be observed by other Nations with great reason and probability is affirmed by Th. Brightman the last interpreter of that Book whom God endued with special gifts and great brightness after his name for the full clearing and exposition of that Prophecy above all that hitherto have written of it FINIS A DISSERTATION concerning the Place and State OF THE dispersed Tribes OF ISRAEL By S. L. THIS Discourse may be divided into 4 partitions 1. Whether the Israelites the ancient and true proprietors of the Land of Canaan by Gods immediate promise donation and their own actual possession were driv'n 2. Where probably they reside at this day 3. Whether they shall return to their ancient propriety in that Land which is now become part of the Turkish Dominions 4. When shall be the time of their restitution As to this disquisition I shall first consider the state of the ten Tribes and then glance upon the two Tribes remaining in the Land for a while after the dispersion of the former The Ten Tribes Here I shall not be anxious about the numbring of the 10 Tribes Whither after their first secession from the house of David part of them did remain with Judah that is whether Simeon and Dan whose Lands were parcelled out of the great territory of Judah and lay West of that Tribe towards the midland Sea did continue within the bounds of the Kingdom of Judah As to that we must herein acquiesce that holy Scripture tells us that 10 Tribes did revolt from Rehoboam the Son of Solomon though its certain that several out of all the Tribes of Israel came up after the Priests to sacrifice to the Lord God of their Fathers at Jerusalem and 't is very probable from their religious inclination to pure worship and the hazard of returning that many might sit down and live under the dominion of Judah We shall then take in the whole Kingdom of Samaria or as commonly called the Kingdom of Israel under the name and title of the 10 Tribes in this disquisition because made up of far the greater part of both the Tribes and people and also the quantity of Land and possessions This Kingdom first raised to that distinct state and dignity by Jeroboam Son of Nebat was scituate in the North of Judah and had at first Shechem for the Royal City Then Tirzah and lastly Samaria In the first place let 's enquire whither these 10 Tribes were carried Captive For answer to this query we find in sacred Page that the Land of Israel was thrice assaulted by the Assyrian Emperors The 1st impress made upon that Country was by Pul possibly Sardanapalus as might be spoken to in reference to Nineve and Scripture Chronology This was acted in the Reign of Menahem who payd to him a 1000 Talents of Silver and diverted him from any further attempts only that the rod of Gods anger was shaken over the Land The Second inrode was performed by Tiglath-Peleser who seems to be the same with Belesis the 1st King of the Assyrians after the revolt of the Medes This Prince took many of their Cities and conquered Gilead and Galilee and all the Land of Napthali and carried the People Captive to Assyria He transported the Reubenites Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasses on the East of Jordan unto Halak and Habor and Hara and to the River Gozan So that in the Book of Kings we find the Country mentioned at large and in Chronicles the particular places to which they were conveyed The 3d. and last aggress was managed by Salmanasser mentioned by Eusebius in his Greek Canon p. 46. who in the 9th of Hoshea sweeped the Land of its inhabitants and carried them to Halak and Habor by the River Gozan and into the Cities of the Medes Hence we may observe in general that the ten Tribes were carried into Assyria and Media as to Media no particular places are mentioned but in Assyria Halah Habor Hara and Gozan the scituation whereof I shall a little examine 1. Halah written in the Hebrew with Cheth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chalach which letter is sometimes turned into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sometimes into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Greeks The 70. such as we have read the text thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if Hala and Habor were the names of 2 Rivers along whose banks the Israelites were placed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some think to be the Original of the name and people of Cholchis between the Euxine and Caspian Seas but they came from Cashuhim in Aegypt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we must seek it in Assyria and accordingly we find a Country called Calacine by Ptolomy placed above Adiabene belonging to Assyria It s termed Chalachena by Strabo and seated in the North part of Assyria between the River Tigris and Lycus and separated from Armenia by the Mountain Niphates The inhabitants it may be are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Dionysius if not the Calneh in Genesis and Isaiah The Province at this day is called Chalcal by Olearius The chief Cities of old were Marde Dithaba perhaps Bithlis now Savara Bessara c. At this day those places are near unto and South west of the Mountains Sehend and Etwend and the Cities are Hemadan Sultanie and Senkan for the River which runs a little

great had prayed the God of Israel to shut up the ten Tribes within the Caspian Mountains they met together among the Streights and precipices and made the place unpassable This Learned and Pious Author died Anno. 1349. The last to be now mentioned is Dr. Giles Fletcher who being Agent for Q. Elizabeth in Moschovy which borders upon the North-West of Media endeavoured in an enquiry after the ten Tribes of Israel and upon search into that point wrote that little Tract preceding this dissertation wherein he gives in a fairer and more probable account that the Tartarians about Samarchand on the East side of the Caspian Sea may be in part the Progeny of the Israelites carried away by Salmanasser out of the Land of Canaan I leave it to the judgment of the candid and pious reader I shall mention but a few things and so come to an end The first is to reconcile that worthy Author to the Opinion of some that the ten Tribes might be found out partly among the Alani as well other barbarous Nations near the Caspian For if Amimanus Marcellinus be consulted who was in the Army of Julian he tells us that the Albani and Massagetae so called of old were the same people which were in his time called the Alans near the Caspian Lakes But I insist not upon that were we to make a strict and compleat enquiry we might follow the counsel of Eustathius upon Dionysius determining the Cholchi to be a Colony of the Aegyptians possibly from Casluchim he argues from the same hair Crisp and Woolly the same customes as Circumcision and Linnen-garments and the same Language It were expedient to use the method of Caesar Tacitus and others to consider not only the Towns of the same denomination but their Religion in some depraved reliques their Language in its primitive words their habits and customes and the general Tradition among themselves and neighbours if we would determine any thing clearly and satisfactorily about the Origine of Nations I know that Isidorus Characenus in his Greek Geography when he comes to Bactriana mentions 3 Cities there sc Gadar and Sephri and Phra which may seem to be like to some names of Israels Land as Gedor and Sephor and Ophra But this without other circumstances is to indulge fancy I know Ortelius in his Charts is very liberal in this point and paints out to us the Hoord of the Danites and Napthalites and some Cities as Corason and Tabor and Sherachiek for Jericho and the like but I fear this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to serve a conceit by allusions of names or else to speak softly I could wish he had enlarged upon some attending reasons of more weight Our forecited Benjamin asserts that there were in his time almost 50000 Israelites in the City Hemdan in North Persia and that Mordecai and Ester lye buried near a Synagogue in that City but I leave him for better instruction to the ruler of that Synagogue But as to the City that many Jews might be scatterd up and down thereabouts it s not utterly incredible it was of old a principal City in Media and is called Vrbs Medena by Trogus and by Isidor of Sevil. It s often mentioned by the Nubian Author in the 6. part of the fourteenth Climate c. It s termed Medino in the plats of Ortelius Hamedan in Vleg-Beg and set in the 35 gr and 10. min. of North Latitude It s put down by Alfergamus and Golius upon him 5 days jorney West of Kom in Parthia I have little more to observe at present in this subject but what the ingenious Olearius acquainrs us about the Circassian Tartars whom the worthy Dr. Fleteher makes one of the ten Hoords of the Israelitish Tribes that they live in and about Terki whence the Turks name is probably deduced by the Caspian Sea 1. That the Brother raises up seed to the deceased Brother 2. That they are circumcised 3. That they offer sacrifice on the day of Elias 4. That they offer a He-goat in Sacrifice at the death of friends 5. Marcus Paulus the Venetian in his first Book of his oriental travels acquaints us that the Tartarians give liberty to the surviving Brother to marry the Wife of the deceased Brother and that they receive no portions of their Wives but assign a dowry both to them and their Mothers And further 6. It s mentioned by Olearius that there is a City called Samara North of Astracan near those Coasts Which things do in some measure savour of the forementioned Opinion about the Israelites that some confused and intermixed remains are lodged upon the West as well as the East side of the Caspian But thus much as to the dissipation of the ten Tribes in Media and among the Mountainous tracts of Caucasus leaving the fuller certainty to further discoveries of Merchants and Travellers and the labours of such who please to wade amidst the conjectures of the learned Pro and Con as Breerwood in his enquiries Nicolas Fuller in his Miscellanies Shickard in his Tarich or Kings of Persia Morney in his discourse of the truth of the Christian Religion Hornbeck against the Jews The Author of the Turkish History Lazius and other writers of the Persian and Moschovy Nations composed into 2 Volumnes who have inlarged about plantations and deductions of Colonies As for the 2 Tribes which were scattered by Titus Hadrian and others of the Romans being not my design I shall onely remember that they are well known in most parts of the World scarce a territory in Europe but affords many In some parts of Africa very plenteously In Asia there are great multitudes yea and in America they are trading up and down in several quarters but that the ten Tribes by the Streights of Anian or any other imagined passage should have conveyed themselves as to their maine body into America is a far-fetcht Notion embraced by Manasseh Ben Israel c. rejected by Acosta de Laet Hornius c. But leaving that to conflict I proceed to the third Question 3. Question whether the ten Tribes shall return out of their dispersion To which I reply that I am fully perswaded that the reduction of the ten Tribes from their great and ancient dispersion to their own Land is a Scripture truth though not yet accomplished in evidence whereto I shall give in several arguments from the sacred records 1. Arg. 1 They are prophecied to return out of their dispersion after the manifestation of the Messiah The Psalmist having sung the ascension of Christ then treats of his wounding the head of his enemies and bringing his people again from Bashan and again from the depths of the Sea i. e. as in the days of old The Prophet Isaiah having spoken of Christs coming forth of the Stem of Jesse declares that when the Gentiles shall have been converted then the Lord

the height of their expectation they shall be most miserably torn Jerusalem taken the Houses rifled the Women ravisht and half carried out for a new Captivity then will the Lord set his feet upon the Mount of Olives for their deliverance Then a Saviour shall come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau i. e. the opposite enemy and the Kingdom shall be the Lords But to repair to the connexed Epocha of 1290 to initiate and begin 1260 we must infer that since all the forenamed roots of numeration are past without deliverance either to Gentile Churches in Europe or to Israel that we are to spring another rise and that is from the taking away of the Gospel-Sacrifice of pure Worship by a new Babilonian Monarch by a second Antiochus by the grand Antichrist who setting in the Temple of God as God hath introduced most horrible pollutions and defilements in the Evangelical Worship Now this Prince of Sin arose gradually together with the ten Kings from the year 410 when Rome was taken by Alaricus and continued increasing and waxing in his grandeur and power till that was taken away which hindred his revelation in the World which was the Roman Empire But the Roman Empire drew its last gasp and was finally and totally extirpated in the year 476 Thus divine Providence doth usually perform its mighty works gradually by distinct intervals of progress which leads us to a consideration of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or compass of years contained within the latitude of 66 from the year 410 to 476 in which year Augustulus was deposed So then if ye add the 1260 years we arise to 1736. About which I am verily persuaded that the great Mystery of the ruine of Antichrist will be amply manifest and visible upon the face of the earth and forasmuch as the ten last Caesars were rather Caesarculi some appointed from the East and some rising out of their mutual combustions and that the Roman Territory was exceedingly diminisht cut short in Italy by the Goths We may indeed look upon the Roman Empire as good as ruined at the death of Valentinian the third in the year 455 which by connection of the 1260 brings us to 1715 about which times the pre-consideration of the ruine of the Roman Empire conducts to the expectation of great devastations and confusions in the Papal The fuller indagation of these periods belonging to another paper I return to Israel and Daniel's computation of their times by adding 30 years more to these 1260 there with making up his 1290. So that if the 1260 do finish about 1700 or 1715 or at utmost in 1736 then 30 years after their expiration and the great conflicts with the Papal powers in the West will begin the stirs and commotiabout the Jews aud Israel in the East if then to 1736 we add 30 more they reach to 1766 the times of Israels gatherings from their dispersions and conflicts for their Country with the Nations and powers that may detain and obstruct them which times of distress and perplexity are determined to last 45 years longer which answers in some measure to the Typical remembrance of the time from their ancient coming out of Egypt till they were almost quietly settled in most parts of the Land of Canaan If then we conjoyne these 45 years more to 1766 it produces 1811 for those times of happiness to Israel for blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to 1335 days to the consumption and destruction of their enemies But how far further the finishing of the remainders of that Assyrian War when 7 Shepherds and eight principal men alluding to the King of Persia and his 7 great Princes or Counsellers of State shall be raised up for the defence of Israel how far I say those times may extend and how long it shall be to utter abolition of the Papal remnants after the 1260 days of his power are expired that is how long the Vials shall be pouring out upon him his Throne and all his Adherents in the West and upon the jurisdiction of his City when the three parts only shall remain of his 10 Principalities or how long it shall be to the utter ruine of the Turk in the East and the deliverance of the Graecian Churches and the subduing of all other powers that shall assemble and withstand the design of God in erecting the Kingdom of the Stone cut out from the Mountains of Gods Decrees without hands of humane aid or power I say how far those times of the victorious success of the Church may be amplified and extended is beyond man to dictate and determine Neither do I yet clearly see by what texts of Scripture we can distinctly proceed to chain or connex the 1000 years glory of the Church in a compleat golden link with any former expiring currents of Prophecy unless it be to the end of Daniel's 1335 or the end of the Vials and some other latent numbers not yet apparent to us in the surface of Scripture neither may we be so bold as to build upon that notion of the house of Elias mentioned by that Learned Earl of Mirandula and others for the continuation of the World in its state of misery and bondage for 6000 years according to the six days of Creation It was a current Notion in the Primitive times among the Christians applying that of Peter One day with the Lord is as a thousand years as if so be it did pre-signifie the duration of the World as I have before touched out of Justin Martyr and that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the resurrection of the World to a Sabbath of rest and glory and felicity doth reflect upon the seventh day wherein the Lord rested from his labours and was refreshed and then the eigth day from the Creation for the resurrection of our Lord should presignify the Saints rising to glory and being for ever with the Lord in Heaven Let these hints suffice at present not willing to expatiate in gratifying our curiosity with conjectures that perhaps may not prove clearly scriptural Let 's study with the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be wise to sobriety and not surmise beyond what 's written Leaving the punctual particularitys of the timeing of Prophecies with the issues of Providence unto the Father in whose holy hands the signatures of all times are written Let 's be very thankful that our blessed Saviour hath so far indulged his Church as to signify by his servant John the duration of Antichrist their last and principal enemy to be 1260 years and that we may collect from evident Scripture proof that these years are well nigh expired 'T is a wonderful mercy let 's be highly thankful for this discovery and rejoice in Zion's approaching glory The Conclusion It s now high time to fix a period to this inquisition and conclude with a serious reply to such as may demand Cui bono