And I am the rather inclined unto this conjecture, because I find that they are some of them not utter strangers unto the book of the Revelation, as those of them who are cabbalistical have a great desire to be inquiring into things mystical, which they under-
244 FAITH OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE JEWS [EXERC XL
stand not, which they wrest and corrupt unto their own imagina- tions. Besides, it may be they are pleased with that description that is in it of the New Jerusalem ; which some Judaizing Christians of old wrested unto a restoration of the earthly city of Jerusalem, and the renewed observation of the law of Moses. Thus the author of the Questions and Answers published by Brenius, quest. 26, in- quires how Christians interpret these words of the Revelation, chap. xiii. 18, “ Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six:” to which he adds, “I have heard of none who hath clearly interpreted this place; but I can give a good interpretation of it.” It is very likely he had con- sidered it; though possibly his interpretation, which he was not pleased to declare, was little worth, And the visions of Rabbi Joshua about the heavenly paradise, with the gates of it made of precious stones, wherein are mixed many fables, not unlike those about Mohammed’s entrance into heaven, in the Koran, were origi- nally taken from the allegorical description given us of the NewJeru- salem in that book, and abused to their superstitions, And from the same fountain it is that they have got a great tradition among them that they shall not be delivered until Rome be destroyed; for under- standing Rome by Babylon in that prophecy, they apply that unto themselves which is foretold upon its destruction concerning the church of Christ. So Rabbi in 297 Wy, or “ Bundle of Myrrh,” a commentary on the law, says more than once, 7 ND jAINI ynbdis3 mnn;—“ Upon the destruction of Rome, our redemption shall ensue out of hand.” And it is by many observed that an alteration is made in the later editions of the commentary of David Kimchi on Obad. i, in these words, O%D'R NAN OS 72902 ON ONY 7D} ann won sans’ wows op Nem|l Ayer “Aw yD NN worn by bsw ndwwa;— That which the prophets spake concerning the de- struction of Edom in the latter days, they spake it of Rome, as I have expounded it on that of Isaiah, ‘ Draw nigh, ye nations, to hear’ (chap. xxxiv. 1); for when Rome shall be destroyed, then shall be the redemption of Israel;” but the name of Rome is left out in the later editions, though it abide in that of Robert Stephens, which he published on the minor Prophets. Sayings also unto the same purpose are cited out of Rabbi Bechai in Cad Hakkemach, Rabbi Solomon on Lev. vi., and sundry others.
14, And this will yet further appear, if we consider the account they give concerning the original and first building of Rome itself. Mention is made of it in the Talmud. Tract. Sanhed., and more largely declared in Midrash Rabba Cantic. Canticor., cap. i. 6, as it is from thence reported by Buxtorf in his Lexicon Talmud, Rad. on. And their words are to this purpose: ‘“ Rabbi Levi said, that on
SECT. 14.] CONCERNING THE MESSIAH. 245
the day that Solomon was married unto the daughter of Pharaoh, Michael the great prince descended from heaven, and fixed a reed in the sea, so as that mud and dirt might on all sides be gathered unto it; and this place afterwards becoming a wood, was that place where Rome was afterwards built. For at the time that Jeroboam the son of Nebat made the two golden calves, there were two small houses built at Rome, which presently fell down; and being again set up, immediately they fell down again. But there was then pre- sent an old man, whose name was pop xax, Abba Kolon, who said unto them, ‘ Unless you bring water hither out of the river of Kuphrates, and mix it with this clay, and build the houses there- with, they will never stand.” They said therefore unto him, ‘And who shall bring it unto us?’ He answered that he would. He went, therefore, and took on him the habit of one that carries wine to sell, and so went from one city unto another, from one country unto an- other, until he came at length unto Euphrates. When he came thither, he took water out of the river; which when he had brought unto them, they mixed it with their clay, and therewith built up the houses, which stood firm and stable. From that time it was a pro- verb amongst men, ‘ Every city or province where there is not Abba Kolon deserves not the name of a city or provigce, or of a metropoli- tical city.’ And they called that place Rome, Babylon.” And the gloss adds, ‘This is the place where Rome, that afflicteth Israel, was built.” Cartwright, in his Mellifictum Hebraicum, lib. 1. cap. ix., re- porting this story out of Buxtorf, adds, “ Haud dubitandum videtur, eos sub isto verborum involucro Romam tanquam alteram Babylonem perstringere voluisse, quod nimirum que prius a Babyloniis, eadem atque etiam graviora postea a Romanis passi fuerint. Quin et Romanam idololatriam in eo perstringi arbitror, quod eodem die quo Jeroboamus filius Nebat vitulos aureos constituit, Romee (e., in loco ubi postea condita est Roma) duo tuguria eedificata esse dicunt.” So he, who alone hath conjectured at the intendment of this enigmatical story, and that to good purpose; I shall therefore make it more fully to appear. Rome they have learned to call Babylon out of the Revelation, as was declared; and thence conclude that upon the _ destruction of Rome they shall be delivered. Two things were emi- nent in Babylon ;—first, that it was itself the beginning of all false worship and idolatry in the world, and therein the “ mother of har- lots;” the other, that God made use of it to punish the idolatries of the Jews. Hence they say that Rome, this new Babylon, had its foundation when Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter, and that it began to be built when Jeroboam set up his calves; which they look upon as the first two fatal instances of the declension of Israel into false worship and idolatry. And hereby they intimate, partly that Rome should set up idolatry, as Solomon and Jeroboam did;