it It Y It r lt 154. The Promi¡ed Mefiah long fnce come. Eaftern parts of the world in a difguifition Of his Countrey-men, and their Rate and condition whereof he hath given an accourt in his Itinerary, after the manner of vul ar Travellers.. Among other things which he relates, fide Habbinica, he tells us of a em that bath, or then had, a principality at Bagdat, whom his Countrcymeri called the Son ofDavid , there being a thoufand of them living there all in fubjeCtion unto him. This honour was allowed him-by the Caliph, who in thofe dayes ruled there; fo that whenhe paffeth in the Resets they cry before him, make way for the Son of David. Fagins long fnte returned a proper Anfwerto this Story in a Proverb of their own ; 1'1y p'mt "I7IDt? x111, He that loath a mind to lye, let himplace his Witnefs at diffance enough. When Benjamin paffed over thofe Eaficrn parts ofthe world, they were greatly unknown to Europeans, and hehad thence advantage to feign what Fe pleafed for the reputation of his Nation, -whichhe was not wanting to the improvement of. Time bathnow brought truth to light. The people ofEurope, efpecially the Engli¡h and Hollanders have fome while fnce difcovered the Rate of things in thofe parts, and canhear no tidings of Benjamins principality, nor his Son of David ; nor' could the Jews ever fence get anyone to confirm his relation. Betide's, if all that he averrs fhould begranted tobe true, as in themain, it is undoubtedly falfe, what would it amount unto as to, the matter in,hand : Is this theScepter and Law-giver promifedunto Judah as the great priviledgeabove his Brethren ? It teems an obfcure unknown perfon hi Bagdat inCaptivity, by the permitfionofa Tyrant whofe Slaveand Vaffal hé is, batha pre-eminence among a thoufand Jews, all Raves to the fame Tyrant. And thisis all they pretend unto in mini caw, in the forty fecond fry, where they giveus an account of this hit0 or Mir; t tan, Prince, or Head of the Captivity, as they wouldhave him efteemed. A rich Jew they would make him to be, chofen unto a Prefdentfhip by the Heads orRectors ofthe Schools ofBagdat, Sara, and Pombeditba; And they confefs, that for many Ages they have chofen no fuch Prefident, becaufe the Saracens killed the fail that was fo chofen. Is this I fay the continuance of the Tribe andScepter ofJudab i' Judah muff be aNation, a People in a Political Senfe and State, dwelling in his own Land, and have Rule and Dominion exercifed thereinaccording to its own Law,or the Scepter and Lawgiveraredepartedfrom it; and this they evidently are fixteen hundred years ago, and therefore eheShilo, the promifedMeah is long fine come ; which is the Truth whole Confirmation from this Teftimony was intended. ÌI Exercitatio
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