"in like manner he ufed many others of the Jews." And when they were banished in the reign of Edward I. their eftates were confifcated, and immenfe fums thereby accrued to the crown.

13. Their fons and their daughters fhould be given unto another people, ver. 32. And in feveral countries, in Spain and Portugal particularly, their children have been taken from them by order of the government to be edu cated in the popish religion. The (4) fourth council of Toledo ordered, that all their children fhould be taken from them for fear they fhould partake of their errors, and that they fhould be fhut up in monafteries, to be inftructed in the chriftian truths. And when they were banished from Portugal, "the king," fays (5) Mariana, "ordered all their children, under 14 years of age, to "be taken from them, and baptized: a practice not at "all juftifiable," adds the hiftorian, "becaufe none "ought to be forced to become Chriftians, nor children "to to be taken from their parents."

14. They should be mad for the fight of their eyes which they should fee, ver. 34. And into what madness, fury, and defperation have they been pushed by the cruel ufage, extortions, and oppreffions which they have undergone? We will allege only two fimilar inftances, one from ancient, and one from modern hiftory. After the deftruction of Jerufalem by Titus, (6) fome of the worst of the Jews took refuge in the caftle or Mafada, where being closely befieged by the Romans, they at the perfuafion of Eleazer their leader, firft murdered their wives and children; then ten men were chofen by lot to flay the reft; this being done, one of the ten was chofen in like manner to kill the other nine, which having executed he fet fire to the place, and then ftabbed himfelf. There were nine hundred and fixty who perished in this miferable manner; and only two women, and five boys efcaped by hiding themfelves in the aqueducts under ground.. Such another inftance we have in our English

(4) See Bafnage, B. 7. C. 13. Sect. 14.

(5) Mariana, B. 26. C. 6.

(6) Jofephus de Bell. Jud. Lib. 7. C. 8 et 9. Edit. Hudfon.

history.

hiftory. For (7) in the reign of Richard the firft, when the people were in arms to make a general maffacre of them, fifteen hundred of them feifed on the city of York to defend themselves; but being befieged they offered to capitulate, and to ranfom their lives with money. The offer being refufed, one of them cryed in defpair, that it was better to die courageoufly for the law, than to fall into the hands of the Chriftians. Every one immediately took his knife, and stabbed his wife and children. The men afterwards retired into the king's palace, which they fet on fire, in which they confumed themselves with the palace and furniture.

15. They fhould ferve other gods, wood and ftone, ver. 36; and again ver. 64. they should ferve other gods, which neither they nor their fathers had known, even wood and Stone. And is it not too common for the Jews in popish countries to comply with the idolatrous worship of the church of Rome, and to bow down to stocks and stones rather than their effects fhould be feised and confifcated? Here again we must cite the author, who hath most ftudied, and hath best written their modern hiftory, and whom we have had occafion to quote feveral times in this difcourfe. "The Spanish and Portugal Inquifi"fitions, (8) faith he, reduce them to the dilemma of being either hypocrites or burnt. The number of "thefe diffemblers is very confiderable; and it ought "not to be concluded, that there are no Jews in Spain or Portugal, because they are not known: They are "fo much the inore dangerous, for not only being very numerous, but confounded with the ecclefiaftics, and "entring into all ecclefiaftical dignities." In another (9) place he faith, "The moft furprifing thing is, that

this religion fpreads from generation to generation, " and still fubfifts in the perfons of diffemblers in a re "mote pofterity. In vain the great lords of Spain (1) "make alliances, change their names, and take ancient

fcutcheons; they are still known to be of Jewish race, "and Jews themselves. The convents of monks and nuns "are full of them. Most of the canons, inquifitors, and "bishops proceed from this nation. This is enough to "make the people and clergy of this country tremble, "fince fuch fort of churchmen can only profane the ❝ facraments, and want intention in confecrating the hoft they adorę. In the mean time Orobio, who "relates the fact, knew thefe diffemblers. He was “one of them himself, and bent the knee before the "facrament. Moreover he brings proofs of his affer"tion, in maintaining, that there are in the fynagogue "of Amfterdam, brothers and fifters and near relations "to good families of Spain and Portugal; and even

Francifcan monks, Dominicans, and Jefuits, who come to do penance, and make amends for the crime. "they have committed in diffembling."

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16. They should become an aftonishment, a proverb, and a by-word among all nations, ver. 37. And do we not hear and fee this prophecy fulfilled almoft every day? is not the avarice, ufury, and hard-heartedness of a Jew grown proverbial? and are not their perfons generally odious among all forts of people? Mohammedans, Heathens, and Chriftians, however they may difagree in other points, yet generally agree in vilifying, abufing, and perfecuting the Jews. In moft places where they are tolerated, they are obliged to live in a feparate quarter by themselves, (as they did here in the Old Jewry) and to wear fome badge of diftinction. Their very countenances commonly diftinguish them from the reft of mankind. They are in all refpects treated, as if they were of another fpecies. And when a great master of nature would draw the portrait of a Jew, how detestable a character hath he reprefented in the perfon of his Jew of Venice!

17. Finally their plagues fhall be wonderful, even great plagues, and of long continuance, ver. 59. And have not their plagues continued now thefe 1700 years? Their former captivities were very fhort in comparifon and (2) Ezekiel and Daniel prophefied in the land of the (2) See Bainage, B. 6. Chap. 1. Sect. 2. Chaldæans:

Chaldæans: but now they have no true prophet to foretel an end of their calamities, they have only falfe Meffiahs to delude them, and aggravate their misfortunes. In their former captivities they had the comfort of being conveyed to the fame place; they dwelt together in the land of Gothen, they were carried together to Babylon: but now they are difperfed all over the face of the earth. What nation hath fuffered fo much, and yet indured fo long? what nation hath fubfifted as a diftinct people in their own country, fo long as these have done in their difperfion into all countries? and what a standing miracle is this exhibited to the view and observation of the whole world?

Here are inftances of prophecies, prophecies delivered above three thoufand years ago, and yet as we fee ful filling in the world at this very time: and what ftronger proofs can we defire of the divine legation of Mofes ? How thefe inftances may affect others, I know not; but for myself I must acknowledge, they not only convince, but amaze and aftonith me beyond expreffion. They are truly, as Mofes foretold they would be, a fign and a wonder for ever, ver. 45, 46. Moreover all these curses fhall come upon thee, and fhall pursue thee and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments, and his ftatutes which he commanded thee: and they shall be upon thee for a fign and for a wonder, and upon thy feed for ever..

VIII.

PROPHECIES OF OTHER PROPHETS CONCERNING THE JEWS.

BESIDE

ESIDES the prophecies of Mofes, there are others of other prophets, relative to the present state and condition of the Jews. Such are thofe particularly concerning the restoration of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin from captivity, and the diffolution of the ten tribes of Ifrael; and thofe concerning the prefervation

of the Jews, and the destruction of their enemies; and thofe concerning the defolation of Judea; and those concerning the infidelity and reprobation of the Jews; and thofe concerning the calling and obedience of the Gentiles. And it may be proper to fay fomething upon each of these topics.

I. It was foretold, that the ten tribes of Ifraei fhould be carried captive by the kings of Affyria, and that the two remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin fhould be carried captive by the king of Babylon: but with this difference, that the two tribes fhould be restored and return from their captivity, but the ten tribes fhould be diffolved and loft in theirs. Nay not only the captivity and restoration of the two tribes were foretold, but the precife time of their captivity and restoration was also prefixed and determined by the prophet Jeremiah : (XXV. 11.) This whole land fhall be a defolation, and an aftonishment; and these nations fhail ferve the king of Babylon feventy years: and again (XXIX. 10.) Thus faith the Lord, that after feventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word towards you, in caufing you to return to this place. This prophecy was firft delivered (Jer. XXV. 1.) in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the fon of Jofiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And this (1) fame year it began to be put in execution; for Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judea, befieged and took Jeru falem, made Jehoiakim his fubject and tributary, tranfported the finest children of the royal family and of the nobility to Babylon to be bred up there for eunuchs and flaves in his palace, and alfo carried away the veffels of the house of the Lord, and put them in the temple of his god at Babylon. Seventy years from this time will bring us down to the firft year of Cyrus, (2 Chron. XXXVI. 22. Ezra I. 1.) when he made his proclamation for the restoration of the Jews, and for the rebuilding of the temple at Jerufalem. This computation of the feventy years captivity appears to be the trueft, and

(1) See Ufher, Prideaux, and the Commentators on 2 Kings XXIV. 2 Chron. XXXVI, and Dan, I.

moft