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even three or four thousand persons. When the Prophets had for a while been under agitations of body, they began to prophecy. The burden of their prophecies, was, "Amend your lives; repent ye; the end of all things draws nigh!"

In the year 1706, three or four of these Prophets went over into England, and carried their prophetic spirit with them, which discovered itself in the same way and manner, by ecstacies, agitations, and inspirations under them, as it had done in France; and they propagated the like spirit to others, so that before the year was out, there were two or three hundred of these prophets in and about London, consisting of men, women, and children; who delivered four or five hundred warnings. The great things pretended by their spirit, was, to give warning of the near approach of the kingdom of God, and the accomplishment of the Scriptures, concerning the new heaven and new earth, the kingdom of the Messiah, the first resurrection, the new Jerusalem descending from above, which they said was now even at the door; that this great operation was to be wrought on the part of man by spiritual arms only, proceeding from the mouths of those, who

should by inspiration, or the mighty gift of the Spirit, be sent forth in great numbers to labour in the vineyard; that this mission of his servants, should be witnessed to by signs and wonders from heaven, by a deluge of judgments on the wicked, universally throughout the world, as famine, pestilence, earthquakes, &c. They declared that all the great things they spoke of, would be manifest over the whole earth within the term of three years.

These prophets also pretended to have the gift of languages, of discerning the secrets of the heart, the gift of ministration of the same spirit to others by the laying on of the hands, and the gift of healing.

28.

SABATAI SEVI, THE FALSE MESSIAH.

SINCE the coming of our Saviour, according to his prediction there has arisen among the Jews (who still look for the Messiah to come) many false Messiahs. The most distinguished of these impostors in modern times, was one Sabatai Sevi, who was born at Aleppo, and set himself up as the Messias in the year 1666.

Having visited various places in the Turkish empire, Sabatai began in Jerusalem to reform the Jewish constitution. He had one Nathan for his Elias, or forerunner, who prophesied that the Messiah should appear before the Grand Seignior in less than two years, and take from him his crown, and lead him in chains.

At Gaza, Sabatai preached repentance, together with faith in himself, so effectually, that the people gave themselves up to their devotions and alms. The noise of this Messias now began to fill all places. Sabatai now resolved to go to Smyrna, and then to Constantinople. The Jews now throughout Turkey were in great expectation of glorious times. They were now devout and penitent, that they might not obstruct the good they hoped for. Some fasted so long that they were famished to death; others buried themselves in the earth till their limbs grew stiff; with many other painful penances. Sabatai now came to Smyrna, where he styled himself the only and first born Son of God, the Messias, the Saviour of Israel. Here he met with some opposition, but prevailed at last to that degree, that some of his followers prophesied, and fell into strange extasies · and four

hundred men and women prophesied of his growing kingdom. The people were for a time possessed, and voices were heard from their bowels: some fell into trances, foamed at the mouth, recounted their future prosperity, their visions of the Lion of Judah, and the triumphs of Sabatai. All which, says the relator, were certainly true, being the effects of diabolical delusions, as the Jews themselves have since confessed.

From Smyrna, the impostor embarked for Constantinople, where he said God had called him, and where he had much to do. He had a long and troublesome voyage, and upon his arrival, the Grand Vizer sent for him, and confined him in a loathsome dungeon. The Jews in this city paid him their visits, and appeared to be as infatuated as those of Smyrna. Sabatai after remaining two months a prisoner in Constantinople, was sent by the Grand Vizer to the Dardanelli. The Jews here flocked in great numbers to the castle where he was confined, and treated him with great respect. They decked their synagogues with S. S. in letters of gold, and made for him in the wall a crown; they attribu

ted the same titles and prophecies to him, which we apply to our Saviour.

He was also, during this imprisonment visited by pilgrims from all parts, that heard his story. Among these was Nehemiah Cohen, from Poland, a man of great learning, who desired a conference with Sabatai, the result of which, convinced him that he was an impostor.

Nehemiah accordingly informs the Turkish officers of State, that Sabatai was a lewd and dangerous person, and that it was necessary to take him out of their way. The Grand Seignior being informed of this, sent for Sabatai, who, much dejected, appears before him.

The Grand Seignior required a miracle, and chooses one himself; and it was this: that Sabatai should be stripped naked, and set for a mark for his archers to shoot at; and if the arrow should not pierce his flesh, he would own him to be the Messiah. Sabatai had not faith enough to bear up under so great a trial. The Grand Seignior let him know that he would forthwith impale him, and that the stake was prepared for him, unless he would turn Turk. Upon this he consented to turn Mahometan, to the great confusion of the Jews.

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