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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

in Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and likely ist he same with the Candis in Ptolomy upon the River Cyrus which Amimus affirms to have its name from Cyrus the Great the old name being abolisht which with other Cities he places in terris Syromedorum in the Country of the Syrians of Media This may insinnuate that the estimated Fable of Ezra concerning the Israelites travelling from their first seat to some remoter places as Arsareth is nothing but a small remove to some more distant Cities North of Armenia and near the Caspian Sea where Ptolomy places the City Arsarata in Lat. 43. 30. on the River Araxis and possibly is the ancient name of the Modern City Arzerum or near it mentioned by Golius out of Abulfeda and very likely is no other then Ariarsathea in the Authentical Collations From all the foresaid disquisition we may collect 1. That I hope with submission to the Learned that the true place is discovered where these 10 Tribes were first seated and from whence they did further Colonize and spread and scatter about in various dispersions by the Caspian Sea and at length grew so numerous that part of the Regions of Media received the denomination of Syro-Media partly from the Tribes of Israel and partly from the Syrians of Damascus who were captivated into the Country of Kir not Cyrene as some have imagined but by the banks of the River Cyrus To confirm this assertion Ptolomy that great Astronomer and Geographer of Pelusium in Aegypt says that this Syro-Media did extend it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the South of Media all along the Borders of Persia Nay Amimanus expresly determines Ecbatana the true Achmetha in Ezra in the very Country of the Syro-Medians 2. We may infer that these ten Tribes were at first placed in the Northern Frontires of the Assyrian Empire towards part of Armenia and Media which were then under the Kings of the Medes ever since the starting up of that Kingdom at the fall of Sardanapalus and the rising of Arbaces But let thus much serve in answer to the first Query whither the 10 Tribes were carried The 2d Question moved was where these ten Tribes may probably yet seem to reside at this day In answer to this Query I shall endeavour to shew from their first deportation by a chain or link of times from age to age how we may discern as by a lamp of successive Writers where to scituate their present residence As to the first place of their fixation by the Conquering Assyrian where should they be found but where God himself says they were so far forth as we have light from the Holy Scriptures of truth But the Sacred Scripture directly asserts that at the time of the penning of that portion in the book of Kings that they were in those Cities of the Medes to this day and that the Samaritans were placed in theit room to this day where also mention is made of their continuation to the 4th Generation The Author also of the book of Chronicles declares the Israelites to reside in those seats of their Captivity to the day of his writing Now whoever wrote that book or annexed the additions to it for it seems to be composed by parcels at the dictate of the Spirit of God plainly recites the tenth Generation after the time of the Captivity of Judah and yet had asserted the duration of Israel in the state of Captivity so that they returned not when Judah came back again but were still in their captivated station at the additionals to that book yea even to the tenth Generation The Series whereof stands thus Zorobabel 1 Hananiah v. 21. 2 Pelathiah and Jesaiah 3 Rephaiah v. 21. 4 Arnan 5 Obadiah 6 Shecaniah 7 Shemajah 8 Neariah 9 Elioenaj 10 Hodajah c. v. 25. The Septuagint the vulgar translation the Syriak and Arabick v. 21 read Et filius ejus and his Son as if they had found it in the Hebrew text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that if we place Zorobabel at the building of the 2d Temple according to the learned Vsher A. M. 3485. and give to each Generation but 30 year apeice that is in the whole 300 and add them to the year 3485 they produce the year of the world 3785. Untill which time at the least by the testimony of Scripture the Israelites were still in a state of Captivity and dispersion Though Lavater be of Opinion that these 10 Generations contain the progression of a linage to the very time of our blessed Lords Incarnation which at present I shall leave in bivio and undiscussed But I may not pass over an Objection made to that expression there to this day which arises from the same phrase applied to the Ark although it were taken away at the Captivity of Judah To which it may be answered that the text about the Ark must be considered with analogy to other places Now the History of the Kings and Chronicles does by clear consequence assert the Ark to be carried away in that it affirms that all the Vessels of the House of God great and small and the Treasures of the House of God were taken away and that all the Vessels of Gold in the Temple which Solomon had made called the goodly Vessels of the House of the Lord were carried away together with Jeconiah at his Captivity wherefore Lavater sticks not to expound those general and comprehensive expressions of the Ark Tables and Candlesticks as well as of all the inferiour Vtensils and implements So that though the Ark may be said to have bin in the Temple to the day when the former part of that book was written yet the last Chapter determines its removal among the other costly and glorious Ornaments of the first Temple But as to the ten Tribes the sacred Author of that History having declared them to have continued in Media at the time of his writing of that Chapter neither Ezra or whoever might finish up that Chronicle does in least measure intimate the alteration of their estates but leaves them there without any notice of their reversion but having asserted them to be carried thither and to have persisted in their tragical state to the day of the exaration or penning of those books even to the tenth Generation which whether it concern a Genealogie of persons reaching to the Incarnation of our Lord though we cannot certainly determine yet however ever for some hundreds of years after their deportacion In the next place we read of their remaining still in Captivity in the days of Josephus who wrote under the Reign of Vespasian and his testimony if worthy of any credit ought to pass for currant as to matters of his own Nation Historically considered in his own time In his books then of the Wars of the Jews which were written before his antiquities we read a speech made by King Agrippa to

hence discern to what Genealogy they are to be referred who wipe off the Apostolical Characters from this Man of Sin and expunge the ancient and modern Expositions of Daniel and the Revelations unless conformable to Alcasar and Grotius by whose leave the Glory of the Church must coextend with the horrible darkness of Popery and the rising of the light of the Gospel in Luther's days must tend to a coincidency with the rise of Antichrist in their supposed latter times Apage ineptias quis quilias away with those trifles since the Church of Christ hath already past far the greater time of her exile-estate in the Wilderness under Antichristian Tyranny and is very near the time of her glorious return to the splendor and Dignity prophecied by the Holy Penmen as might be evident by several Scripture-Characters were it the present business which is to treat of the Return of the ten Tribes and the glorious estate of whole Israel shortly to be introduced upon the Stage of the World which leads me to a sober and submissive inquiry into the fourth and last particular Question 4. Concerning the time of the Return of Israel As to this point I shall desire to proceed with all tenderness modesty and sobriety both in respect unto the Judicious in preceding Ages as likewise to the obscurity of Prophetical Scriptures and also as to carnal Mockers that cry out like them in Peter Where is the Poomise of his Coming This is certain these glorious times shall come the Prophesy will not lye and likewise that upon the long duration of Antichrist and his waining withering State ever since the days of Luther and likewise to the stop that seems to be put by Providence to the furious progress of the Ottoman Power who seems not likely to pass much beyond the bounds of the Eastern Empire but rather of late years is declining and because of the years of the Gentile World drawing on toward their consummation that these blessed times are not far off Let it suffice to give in some general notes and reflections on what Scripture hath hinted for exercise of industry and meditation 1. The first more general note of the time may be gathered from the destruction of the Turk who by some learned Expositors is thought to be signified by the second Wo-Trumpet But this 2d Trumpet expires as to its Warlike Alarums by and by upon the resurrection of the Witnesses Now the Turkish Empire is one great remora or stop to the Jews and all Israels inhabitation in their ancient Territorys and seems upon good and probable grounds to be the Gog and Magog in Ezekiel who is to be destroyed upon the Mountains of Israel If then we can but moderately state the finishing of the 2d Trumpet we may in some latitude attain the times of Israels Return whereof in the third Note 2. The second general note may be taken from the time of the pouring out of the 6th Vial upon Euphrates i. e. upon the Turkish Assyrian whose frontire Cities ly upon that River that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared i. e. the ten Tartarian Princes who are the race of the ten Tribes of Israel near the Caspian Sea as the learned Dr. Fletcher in his preceding Treatise hath endeavoured to clear Now could we evidently state the time of the commencement of the Vials the duration of each as to the time of their pouring out we might arrive to some evidence in this point Thus far I humbly conceive that none of the Vials are yet poured out nor will be till the Resurrection of the Witnesses is past and seem to be contained under the 3d Wo-Trumpet For the 7 Angels with the 7 last Plagues come not out of the Temple till it be opened and the Ark of the Testimony seen in the manifestation of pure Worship in Europe But the Temple is not opened till after the resurrection of the Witnesses and the third Wo sounding in the World when the Witnesses shall be risen and the Kingdoms of the World begin more visibly to become the Kingdoms of Christ and the Nations begin to fume with anger at he approach of the Wrath of God then may we expect the effusion of the Vials in their distinct order The third note is more precise and express and may be collected from the time of the duration of the second Wo in its greatest terror and splendor For the 200000 Euphratean Horse men are prepared for an hour a day a month and a year which if it be calculated from the grandeur of the Ottoman Family forcing their inroads upon the Grecian Empire Anno 1300 and so forwards this computation hands us to the year 1691 or there abouts Or if we should calculate the 2300 years of the Palmoni from the taking away the daily Sacrifice by Nebuchadnezzar at the destruction of the first Temple unto the renovation of pure Worship in the latter days this consideration will lead us to the year of our Lord 1712 or thereabouts as I have mentioned in a little Tract of the Vision of the Myrtle Grove in Zechary 4. But the most apposite and proper time which concerns Israel more especially when Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days is that computation of the beloved Prophet who lays the radix the root or Epocha of the numeration of his 1290 years from the taking away the daily Sacrifice and that at the end of those times his People shall be delivered But if you take it from Nebuchadnezzar's or Antiochus or Titus or Julian the times as to all those roots will be expired and no deliverance accomplished and therefore we must take another more auspicious and genuine foundation for the decurrency of this number and moreover since the same Prophet mentions the time times and the half in the seventh verse which is frequently affixed both by Daniel and John for the duration of the last head of the fourth Monarchy I humbly conceive that his 1290 years do conjointly initiate with John's 1260 insomuch that they seem to point at this that 30 years after the consummation of the power of the Papal Empire for he may prolong his life some time after his power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to do any great Exploits shall be finisht I say 30 years after we may expect the dry bones in Ezekiel to begin to come together and by degrees through many straits and distresses in the deflux of several years at length attain their promised glory and happiness for at first they may come up from the several Corners of the Earth toward their own Land cum animo sacrificandi with thoughts of building the Temple and restoring their Old Worship which never will be for God hath abolished all that pedagogy in the suffering of Christ but they may come with great expectation of a temporal glory under the Messiah and when they are at