dispossesse divers of lazie ignorant and scandalous Monks and Fryars and Nunnes and was this a time to expect the conversion of the Jews or were these fat Buls of Basan fit to manage the work of the Gospel for the conversion of a people nor was it their intent to endeavour it in this people whom they so hated Quis talia fando Temperet a Lachrimis But to proceed It having pleased God to purge this Land of such Popish trumperies and the Clergy at present able and industrious in preaching and godly in conversation Idolatry and Images removed leaving the success both of our prayers and preaching to Gods mercifull and wise disposing the preaching of Gods word being the power of God unto Salvation who can say but it may please God that this work the great work of the Iews conversion may at this time by this powerfull Engine and our prayers for the same end be effected and accomplished that it may these things are to prove it 1. Gods arm is not shortned his will and power to bring this to pass is the same 2. His spirit and word are as powerful and readie as in former time 3. Who can shut when God opens 4. God hath and can remove the vail and take away the heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh to tremble at his word he hath brought light out of darkness and converted as great and obstinate sinners as they are 5. Many of them have been converted and the rest shall and oh that the Lord would think upon Sion for it pitieth thy servants to see her in the dust That 's to the first 2. To be upright and just in our Contracts and bargains with them The waies to joyn and cement one Nation to another are sundrie as unitie in Religion publick marriages of Princes leagues and confederacies assistance in troubles scarce any one more prevalent then publick and common intercourse of merchandize and traffick by this course the stock of one people or a great part of it is transmitted to another whereupon there is a great trust credit given by each Nation to another and usually the breach of bargains and trust is followed with a war and therefore we should have speciall care to be faithfull to perform to our utmost though it be to our loss what we bargain for so the Prophet David Psal 15. He that maketh a bargain with his neighbour and disappoints him not though it were to his own hinderance and the Apostle Paul Brethren defraud not one another in bargains Contracts and Covenants are not to be violated some mischief and miseries usually ensue upon the violaters as in that contract of the Sichemites and that also made by Ioshua and all Israel with the Gibeonites broken by Saul severely revenged upon Saul and upon his bloody house It was the disgrace of the Carthaginians that they were Foedi fragi Truce-breakers it s branded also by Paul Rom. ch 1. that amongst many other things the Heathens were Covenant-breakers Now when in trading one Nation perceives a principle of fidelitie and junate honestie it 's a great motive and a secret inward inforcing argument of the fearing of God in the heart hereupon Moses tels the Israelites that the Nations about them when they heard shall say surely this is a wise understanding people the credit and reputation of a Nation is Righteousness righteousness sayes Solomon exalteth or establisheth a Nation and Gods Scepter is by David termed a Scepter of Righteousness and it sets out Christs glory Thou hast loved Righteousness Psal 45. and it is that which Abraham attributes to God Shal not the Judge of all the world do Right I say then positively that to forward and help on the long desired and prayed for conversion of the Jews by admission into England we should be carefull to be upright in all our doings and dealings with them they are a people of themselves sublime and strenuously ingenuous and naturally addicted to trade and traffick and truly 't is a wonder how they should and how they do yet subsist and grow rich for my part I say that considering their severe exiles from one Country to Country their taxes impositions confiscations pillages strippings rifellings by publick commands by insurrections severall times in severall places as also their wandrings from City to City their deep payments for a new place little or no pity shewed to them at their coming in or abode in a place but most accounting it lawfull to wrong or rob a Iew besides the severall praemunires they have run into and their mulcts alwaies exceeding great and exacted with severity and rigor by intrusted inferiour Officers I say 't is a wonder to think how they should have any thing left them to sustain them their incombes not visibly much no Crown Lands scarce a foot of Land in a Country their own no ships of publike traffick built or sent out by them no Collections of Charity made for them in any City or Country by Christians no beggars amongst them surly for certain God makes them to encrease and abound in wealth as the Prophet David saies Notwithstanding their Oppressors and he suffered not their substance to decrease and it may be said of them as it was at their first travelling out of Egypt He brought them out also with Silver and Gold for 't is known they do yet abound with it being able upon a sudden to furnish a Prince with treasure upon any occasion and some of the Kings of Christendome have made too much use of them though they never repayed them nay the former Kings of England have had supplies many times out of the Jews Coffers and in requitall for true payment banished them the Land upon some false suggestions or other made by the Popish Priests in those times against them whereas indeed 't was because they being not able to repay them they thought it a disparagement to have such Creditors live neer the Court. How they have been dealt withal by our Kings and Princes and Clergy Nobles and Commons by oppressions frauds confiscations deep payments of vast and severall sums our Chronicles largely declare 't is strange they venture again here knowing how unjustly unrighteously unmercifully they have been used for certain t is they have heard of the uprightness of our present Governors or else they would never desire shelter under them nor bring in such a mass of treasure and trust them with it had they not a great confidence of their integrity and that the fear of God was grounded in their hearts or else they believe that a people so much professing Godliness must needs be civilly and religiously just and upright O therefore good people of England let them see your good works that they may glorifie God on your behalfs To proceed 3. By our civil and gentle comportment and love towards them in our markets shops and meetings Religion heightens civility a gentle affable carriage graces and
adorns our profession we should show our peaceable and meek disposition upon all occasions the Apostle Paul is excellent in his instructions and practice in this particular To the Greek I became as a Greek to the Jew I am become as a Iew I became all things to all men that by all means I might win some the Apostle had such speciall regard to win both Jews and Gentiles that he framed his carriage so that it might win not only his preaching but his comportment his life and outward demeanor towards the Jews should be such and acted with that sweetness and complacency of behaviour that by it he might win the Iews were they to be won by this means then and why not now does the Apostle practise it as a sure way to effect his end to win them to Christ sure the same carriage would if used towards them be as powerfull in our dayes It 's said of Moses that there was not such another meek man upon the face of the Earth 't was for certain his meekness gained love and authority and made him so admired and beloved of the people If ye bite and devour one another saies the Apostle Paul ye shall be bitten and devoured one of another what the carriage of other Nations is towards the Jews is known and histories make mention sufficiently even to the disgrace of Christianity but t is under the Papal jurisdiction yea none so barbarous and insolent and scornfull over them as the Spaniards not being content with fleecing but delighting to flay them so in some Towns of Germany as Vlmes and Wormbs the people doe daily infest them with ribaldry language and opprobrious Carriage esteeming them worse then their dogs setting dogs upon them as they pass the streets cursing and railing upon them when they meet them casting dirt and filthy nastie dung upon their cloaths and upon any seeming offence nay any false forged accusation shall be enough to convene them with threats to turn them all out of their gates and it must be accounted a favour if the Governors will be pleased to remit this punishment and accept of some great sum of mony for satisfaction Most places being Popish are cruel and unjust in their carriage to the poor Jews abiding within their several jurisdictions and can there be much or any hopes of their Conversion from such who aim at nothing less nor intend them so much good nay indeed who are a means to hinder their Conversion And to speak truth to this particular our Nation was in former time highly instigated with fury and malice against these poor people but 't was for certain the cunning and subtile practises of the Popish Priests that incited the Kings and Nobles and Commons by raising some lies or misdemeanors committed by them and this was practised usually when the Kings were necessitated for monies and to ease themselves of the deep taxes and Impositions the Jews should be accused and so forc'd to pay great sums to obtain a good esteem and to purchase their quiet and peace with the King and to escape the violence and rage of the people but if it please our Governors to admit them into this Land surely a meek peaceable carriage will greatly grace our profession of the Gospel and by Gods mercy in his due time work much yea very much upon their hearts and affection To conclude the third branch of our first argu I read in Gods word that in that night the Children of Israel came out of Egypt 't is observed in the Text that amongst all the noise and tumult for they came out in hast yet there was not a Dog that moved his tongue throughout all the Land of Egypt Certain it was a special commanding power of God that not a Dog 2. Though by nature fierce though watchfull 3. Not to bite not to bark yea not to move his tongue against this people I could wish that at their entrance here the tongues and biting pens of all vijulent and turbulent spirits might be silent if not of their own accord yet by publique authority and that Gamaliels advice may take place take heed what you do to these men for if this work be of God it will surely stand but if it be of men it will fall c. take heed lest ye seem to fight against God Let then our Shops and Shambles our Exchange and Custom-houses our Market-places high-waies be civilly soberly free the Apostle saies plainly What ye buy in the shambles c. Let no scruple be made of it no nor any affront or disgrace by any uncivill gesture or unjust Actions be offered to the buyer buying or selling being as necessary for a Iew as for a Christian and Christians should have a care that they make not their good be evil spoken off but to do as the Apostle admonishes to give no offence to the Gentile nor to the Jew nor to lay a stumbling block in their way but by their just and upright dealing and civil and gentle behaviour towards them endeavour their love and affection which both with the preaching of Gods Word purely and solidly may in Gods time win them to the faith however if our aimes come short of our intendments yet we are clear in the sight of God and if Christians must take heed that they do not by meats drinks offend their weaker brother much more must they be wary not by idolatry and superstitious sacrifices to destroy these their Brethren for whom saies the Apostle Christ dyed Though they be little yet seeing they may belong to Gods love offend them not saies our Saviour To proceed to our second Argument for their Admission 2. In Civill respects and that proved by two things 1. Their Relation to us in Nature 2. Jure Gentium by the Law of Nations Relations are of deep concernment true essentiall Relatives stand or fall together none of neerer being then those that are naturall therefore the infringers and violators of the Laws of Nature have in all ages and Nations been execrable and odious according to Nature every thing strives to preserve and love and to cherish his own kinde and shall man of all things and creatures hate or destroy it and hath not God saies the Apostle of one blood made all mankinde there 's an Identity of Nature not onely a strict Relation and now then where as the same Apostle saies is the difference of the Jew or of the Gentile are we not all one not only in Christ Jesus but also in Nature we are all saies Saint Paul his off-spring we are all cut out of the same Rock and God who is rich in mercy is the father of us all saies the Apostle observe how the Jews did wittily and lovingly acknowledge this Relation in that of the Canticles We have a little Sister who hath no breasts what shall we do for her when she shall be spoken of who was meant by their little sister 't is
fights the Lords battels England which is so famous for Piety where we have received faith to believe and imbrace the Son of God Oh blessed be God who now of late hath thus mercifully visited and brought us out of thick darkness into marvellous light by the power of the Gospel of his dear Son our precious Saviour and Eternall and Mercifull Redeemer so plentifully and so powerfully preached in England O what a Comfort and Credit will this be to our Nation that our Righteousness our Mercy and Meekness our zeal for Gods Glory our Care for the Gospel our holiness of Conversation have been provokers and stirrers up of the Jews as Saint Paul said in the same Case that by these I might provoke the Jews to the like and so we to be the Gracious Instruments under God for their happy deliverance from that blindness and hardness of heart under which at present they do so heavily groan and sigh 4. By the Practice of many other Countries Provinces and free Cities This fourth Argument is drawn from Practice a good way of Argumentation for though Gods word saies that we must not follow a Multitude to do Evill yet it s a shame on the other side if that having such a Cloud of Witnesses before us we should not at all be moved and is it not a shame that the very Heathens and Infidels do yet shew mercy and some love to these people of the Jews who yet do it at best either by the all-ruling wisdome and power of God forceably working their hearts to this end they not knowing the Word of God what these people are or how or when they shall be converted nay not truly knowing that ever they shall be called or yet what the Kingdome of Christ is unto which they shall be joyned or else secondly because they finde profit and gains by suffering the Iews amongst them or upon any pretended injurious Act done by them both their lives and estates are liable the One to death the other to Confiscation as is to be seen in that bloody intended Act of Haman in King Ashuerus time to have been put in Execution had not God in his Infinite wisdome and mercy to that people then prevented it Yet any one that knows that Historie cannot but read that the Jews did live with and amongst those Persians in a 127. Provinces without Let or Contradiction and had free trading in all places nay even at Court too for Mordecai is said to sit at the Court Gate untill Haman moved with pridâ— and malice intended not only Confiscation of Estates but their lives to boot and indeed the politique and Cruell Counsellors of Covetous and ambitious Emperors and Kings knowing and perceiving the great wealth of the Jeâ—s by Gods blessing have perswaded their masters and any argument will serve a Covetous minde to take and rake the Jews wealth into their treasuries when as they suppose a Crime committed against their Religion and Lawes so that to speak truth it hath been the Riches and Monies of the Iews that have rendred them to punishments and death it self in those Heathen Countries not their violation of their Laws or Religion and yet the Persians then did and to this day admit them not only into their Countries but also into their Councels and Commissions and have and do yet finde of them admirable judicious discreet and valorous persons for the management of publike affairs either for way or peace nay let me speak and I will speak but the truth those great and populous Nations of the East and South though yet not brought to Christianity yet they who afford the Jews I say the Jews the freest habitation largest priviledges impoâ—e the least burthens and taxes the fewest vexations who deal the mâ—st justly and favourably to them who trust them most and torment them least those Nations flourish most abound in wealth in strength in largeness of Empire and Dominion to this very day above others their Neighbour Princes about them as though one may say that which God promised to Abraham is really fulfilled to this very day I will bless them that bless thee and I will Curse them that Curse thee that is those people that shew kindness to them that shall come out of thy loynes I will bless but those that shall be Cruel and uncharitable and oppressors of them I will Curse 't is not the meaning nor doth any Expositor or Commentator upon that Text restrain the Blessing or Cursing to Abrahams person onely but to all the Nation of the Iews whose father Abraham was as they told our Saviour in St. Iohns Gospel We have Abraham to our father The next Nation that we will mention is that of the Turks populous and Potent for Arms and Arts yet enemies to Jesus Christ a people apt to gain wealth and augment their vast Empire sowre and melancholick of disposition yet even these have from their first Rise to their height in which they now are suffered the Jews amongst them and in some places with large Immunities not debarring them their richest Kingdomes to Inhabit nor their wealthiest Cities to trade and traffick in witness all Egypt and therein Grand Cairo all Greece and therein Constantinople it self the Metropolis nay all Asia and not one City in all that largest fruitfull most spacious and opulentest part of the world but the Jews have liberty to dwell exercise their trade nay not debar'd one particular Town by any publike Edict of the Turkish Emperor and all this done without any murmuring or repining of the naturall born Turks nay without any mutinies plots treasons or treacheries practised by the Iews in all the Turkish Dominions I do not say but that the Iews in many places and at sundry times have been but it was by the false information of Clandestine Enemies as they are very Common to some Bashaw Vizier or Viceroy addicted to Covetousness Ambition or Malice I say the Iews have been many of them strangled and deeply punished by severe mulcts of their purse but this done Commonly without the Consent or Command of the Grand Seigneur and when the Jews have complained they have had sure and just and speedy remedie against the fals Informer if known and against the Chief Officer who did the injurie but such exorbitances fall seldome and when acted Punished But the truth is the Jews have liberty to dwell where they please to trade in what Country they please to travell whither they please to return in peace when they please have freedome of Markets Fairs Merchandize of all sorts without any controule or trouble and yet this Nation of the Turks thrives grows Potent and rich every where Victuals of all sorts plentifull no scarcity of any thing usefull for mankinde the Turks complain not that the Iews eat up their provision hinder their trade or are any way troublesome to them which evill amongst such a Confluence of mankind of such sublimated and quick Natures would easily be