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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

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

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

the Scythians who are commonly called the Tartarians very probable because they differ very little in tongue or manners that the Tartar People have sundry times invaded Asia at what time the Parthians held the Monarchy of the East first the upper and then the lower as Phrygia Lydia and Cappadocia it is well known to the inhabitants of those Countries and truly even at this day you may see a number of such people dispersed abroad here and there throughout all Asia who in their diet and whole behaviour resemble the Scythian or Tartar People And a little after It is very manifest that the Tartars who now inhabit a part of Europe towards the East whereby he means the Chrime-Tartars have a resemblance every way with the Turkish Nation which are of Asia daily bartering and commercing with them in diet habit and whole behaviour like the Turk and no marvel is it because the Scythians or Tartar People were sometimes Lords both of higher and lower Asia The name of Turk whereby is signified a Herd-man or one who liveth a wild life among Beasts and Cattel doth likewise argue the very same that the Turkish Nation have their beginning from the Tartars or Scythian Shepherds Thus far Leonicus Chalcocondilos in his story written in Greek where he begins with the Oguzians the Turkish Emperors afterwards called the Othomanides about the year of Christ 1294. But to return These Scythian Shepherds now called Tartars as by all Stories both Greek and Latine doth appear have contained themselves in those Countrys betwixt the Caspian and Northern Seas since Cyrus's time when for their Victory against so great and mighty a Monarch they began to be first known and famous with other Nations How long before it is not recorded by any Story but they inhabited not that Country which is now possessed by the Tartar till after the Israelites deportation into Media which was 240 years or thereabouts before Cyrus his time as may be collected from the best and ancientest stories Fifthly They affirm as they receive it by Tradition from their Ancestors that they had their Origine from the Israelites who were transplanted near the Caspian or Hircan Sea by which tradition as by the stories of those times it is reported that the great Tamerlain would boast himself that he was descended from the Tribe of Dan. Sixthly Though the Tartar language be yet unknown because they live as a savage people without society or commerce with other Nations suffering none to come within them yet it is reported and conjectured by some words of the Tartar language which I have heard repeated by the Russes that they have many Hebrew and Chaldee words whereof also this may be an argument that the Turkish is a dialect little dissering from the Scythian or Tartar tongue but the Turkish language though it be mingled with much Arabick and some Greek hath great consonance with the Hebrew as by leared Travellers is observed Seventhly They are circumcised as were the Israelitish and Jewish people The last reason which I alledge to give occasion to our Divines to consider better of that place is taken out of the 16th Chapter of the Apocalypse where the Angel of the sixth Vial is commanded to prepare the passage for the Kings of the East by drying up the River Euphrates which by all Interpreters of that place is understood of the Jews calling from their dispersion among the Gentiles to their ancient dwelling-place and Native Country there to profess the true knowledge of God in Christ Which as I take it cannot be meant of the Tribe of Judah for the exceptions which may be forced from the very place and text it self 1. Because the Tribe of Judah and the remainder of that of Benjamin which were dispeopled and carried Captive by the Romans have their being and are dispersed not in the East or North-East Country from whence the passage towards Syria and Palaestine lyes over the River Euphrates but in these Western and Southern parts of Asia Africa and Europe where ever since they have continued in that exiled and servile state from whence the passage towards Syria or Palaestina lyes not over the River Euphrates but is far wide and distant from it towards the East and North East 2. Because the persons there mentioned who are to pass over Euphrates are called Kings which being taken for spiritual Kings as they intend it is but a forced Exposition the whole number of faithful Christians in this sence being Kings alike neither is it agreable with the meaning of that place which speaks plainly of such Kings as are to lead some great Army over the River Euphrates but being literally understood of Kings indeed can no way suit with the Jewish Tribes which have no Kings but are all a poor and servile people to the Towns and Countrys where they dwell The place therefore is literally understood of these Israelitish 10 Tribes which we affirm to be the Tartars 1. Because these 10 Tribes or Hoords of Tartars from the Isle of Patmos where John wrote are an Oriental or Eastern people on the East and North-East of the Caspian which cannot be said of the Jewish Tribe or that of Benjamin as now they dwell in the higher parts of Asia Africa and Europe which lye South and South-West towards Euphrates 2. From the scituation of the place for that the Tartars whom we suppose to be the Israelites can no way pass out of the Countrys where they now dwell towards Judea and Palaestina which lyes South ward from the Caspian or Hircan Sea but over the River Euphrates which lyes a cross and intermiddle betwixt these 2 Countrys 3. Because the title and name of Kings in the plural number agrees properly with the Tartars who have many Kings to wit as many as they have Tribes 10 in all every Morsoy or Divoi-Morsoy beside their Emperor the great Cham whom they esteem above the dignity of a King being a Prince or Sovereign Lord over all his Tribes To which purpose the famed Esdras whom I alledge not as authentick to confirm matters of faith and doctrine but to illustrate as a story this holy prophecy which is here more obscurely set down by the Apostle inferreth the Angel thus expounding his Night-vision of things to come in the latter time That which thou sawest to wit the man who is there called the Son of God togather to him another multitude of more peaceable and quiet people are the ten Tribes who were carried Captives out of their Land in the time of Oseas King of Israel whom Salmanasser King of Assur carried beyond the River Euphrates so were they brought to another Land But they took this counsel among themselves that they would leave the multitude of the Heathen and go into a farther Country where never man had dwelt before whereby it seems that he means the Country which lyes betwixt the Bacualensky and Northern Seas which is possessed by the

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

the Jews wherein he exhorts them to obey the Romans and expostulates thus What do you stretch your hopes beyond the River Euphrates Do any of you think that your fellow Tribes will come to your aid out of Adiabene Besides neither will they upon so unreasonable account engage themselves in this so great a war neither if they would assent to so evil an enterprise will the Parthian permit it c. Whence we learn that in the account of Josephus in an Oration to the Jews themselves the Israelites or 10 Tribes were still resident in Adiabene the Country so called beyond Mesopotamia from the River Ahava or Adiaba or Lycus as we have before recited again in his book of Antiquities which he testifies to have written in the 13th year of Domitian and the 56th of his own age reciting the return of Esdras he asserts that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those of the same Nation in Media having received a Copy of the Letter of the King of Persia were overjoyed and that many of them came to Babylon with a desire to return to Jerusalem and then adds further 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the whole body of the People remained still in that Country that is of Media so that onely 2 Tribes residing in Asia and Europe are obedient to the Romans But the ten Tribes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are yet still beyond Euphrates many ten thousands not to be reckoned or their numbers to be known which concords with the Prophecy of Ezechiel that there are some of Israel mixt with Judah but all the House of Israel that is far the greater part and therefore more genuinely to be called the House of Israel were the Companions of Ephraim and both are to be united into one body in the latter day and brought into their own Land and become one Kingdome under David the second the Messiah and anointed Prince of the Covenant for ever But as to the testimony of Josephus what can be more plainly exprest then that the ten Tribes were yet still in the Land of Media under the Parthian Princes and that even to innmerable multitudes in his days and this by the King of the Jews in the hearing both of Jews and Romans and though some of them had formerly come up with Judah yet the main body of the ten Tribes remained still to that day in their old habitations To proceed the Author of the Book of Esdras writes a Story of the travel of the 10 Tribes into Regions far distant from their first settlement under the name of Arsareth let the merit of that Story be what it will I improve it for no other scope then a testimony among the Jews that their fellow Tribes were then in his days in a state of irreduction The Author of that Tract lived and wrote about the year of our Lord 100 and about 30 years after the ruine of Jerusalem as the Learned Dr. John Rainolds hath exhibited in his prelections upon the Apochryphal Books The next testimony shall be out of Origen who speaking of Israel distinct from Judah that he sinned against God under Jeroboam so greatly that he was delivered into the hands of Assyria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Scripture saith to this very day wherein he seems to continue that Scripture expression to his own time there being no token or tidings of their return Now Origen dyed in the year of our Lord 254. Let the good Anchorite at Bethtem succeed who in his Comment upon Joel on these words of the holy Prophet Chap. 3. 6. The Children of Judah and Jerusalem c. ye have sold to the Graecians Thus Jerome Filii Juda Jerusalem néquaquam Israel decem tribuum quae usque hodie in Medorum Vrbibus Montibus habitant The ten Tribes dwell in the Cities and Mountains of Media to this very day And treating again about the same Tribes in his notes upon Hoseah hath these words usque hodie Persarum regibus serviunt nunquam est earum soluta Captivitatis They serve the Persian Princes to this very day and their Captivity hath never yet bin released Now Jerome dyed in the year of our Lord 421. With this age likewise concurs Sulpitius Soverns who wrote 45 years after the Consulship of Arbitio and Lollianus A. C. 355. and that fell in with the year 400. These are his words decem vero i. e. tribus per Parthos Medos Indos atque Aeihiopas dispersae nunquam in solum patrium sunt regressae bodieque barbararum gentium imperiis continentur But the ten Tribes dispersed among the Parthians Medes Indians and Aethiopians never returned to their ancient inheritance but are subject to the Seepter of Barbarous Princes This Author flourished about the year of our Lord 420 as Trithemius and Bellarmine witness in their Tracts of Ecclesiastical writers I might insert a story out of Orosius l. 3. c. 7. about the Jews in Hircania and Eusebius Chron. p. 136. but I shall not inlarge The next witness may be taken from Benjamin the Jew of Tudela in Spain who travelled and wrote under the Pontificate of Alexander the third and finisht his ramblings A. 1173. as L'Empereur observes in his notes upon that itinerary he acquaints us that in the City of Samarcand the Seat of Tamerlane that great Tartarian Conqueror there were near 50000 Israelites under the Presidency of Rabbi Obadiah and that in the Mountains and Cities of Nisbor there be 4 Tribes of Israel resident sc of Dan Zabulon Asher and Napthali perhaps the Ephthalitae of Theophanes p. 79. and the Euthalitae of Procopius p. 67. in Photius his Bibliotheca which Salmanasser had carried Captive Now although several passages in that Treatise seem incongruous and beyond credit yer so far he may be admitted as to joyn issue with the harmonious Opinion still current among the Jews that their Brethren of Israel or ten Tribes still remain in the North and North-East parts of Persia Mathew Paris may follow as a further witness about the Jews in his time attempting to convey Armes in Barrels to the Tartars for their aid against the Christians in the East believing that the Commons of Tartary were of the Race of those Israelites whom Alexander of old had shut within the Caspian Mountains The Story is too long for recital which he mentions in the year 1241. and is rehearsed onely to our purpose that it was then a current Opinion that the Tartars and Cumans near the Castle Cumania in the Straights of Caucasus Plin. l. 6. c. 11. were of the Posterity of Israel and as yet in his time in their state of dispersion by the Caspian Sea To this purpose I would not let slip what I met with in Bradwardin that famous Champion of free grace who treating about Miracles writes from the Scholastical History of Petrus Comestor as I suppose that when Alexander the

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