A collection of the works of that holy man and profound divine, Thomas Iackson ... containing his comments upon the Apostles Creed, &c. : with the life of the author and an index annexed.

CAP. XXVII.

The Persecutions of the Jews by Trajan: and the Desolation of their Country by Adrian: their Scattering through other Nations, Fore-told by Moses.

1 THough the Greatnesse of the Jews Former Plagues under Vespasian had made their number lesse in their own land; yet Egypt, Cyrene, and Cyprus, had too many of those Snakes within their Bowels, until their deadly Stings, procuring others, did provoke their own Destruction. In the later end of Trajans Reign, the Manner of their Outragious Massacres, practised upon both * 1.1 Greeks and Romans in the forementioned Countries, was as Hainous, as the Facts themselves; though these Hainous beyond all Credence, if not related by most credible and most unpartial Writers. Besides the particular But∣cheries which they comitted throughout Egypt; About Cyrene these Jews did slay two hundred thousand; and in Cyprus two hundred and fifty thousand. The Lord (no doubt) had smitten them, as he had threatned Deut. 28. 28. with this Madness and Blindness of heart, that they might hereby provoke this Puissant Emperors Indignation; which otherwise would have slept, but now pursues them throughout his Dominions, not as Enemies, or Rebels of the Empire, but as Noxious Creatures to Humane Society, with Revenge suting to their former Outrages. † 1.2 Partly for the Cyprians better Security in time to come, partly in Memory of their former Misery, and these Jews Infamy; It is publickly inacted, that no Jew, though driven by Tempest thither, should pre∣sume to set foot within their Coast, upon pain of present execution, as already con∣demned by his very Appearance on that Soil, which had been tainted with the deadly Venom of his Country-men.

2 But lest Posterity, little respective of Jewish Affairs (through negli∣gence of the Roman Writers) should forget, or, from the inconsiderate frailty of Humane Nature, lesse observe these two most grievous Persecuti∣ons of the Jews then was behoveful for Testification of Moses, or Christs Prophecies, and Confirmation of Christian Faith: In Adrians time, (like Traitors that had fainted upon the rack before their full Confession taken) they are recovered to greater Torture. And lest the Nations in that, or Ages following, should not acknowledge them to have been such a Mighty People, as the sacred Story makes them: they are made a Spectacle to the world again, to shew their Natural Strength by their grievous lingring pains in dying. This was that which Moses had said Deut. 28. 59. The Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, great plagues and of long continuance, sore diseases, and of long durance. Yet their Destruction now, a•• at both times (alwayes) before, was from their own Procurement. For Adrian, causing new Aelia built by him where Hierusalem stood, to be inha∣bited by others, Christians as well as Jews, and permitting the use of their Country-religion to all: the Jews began first to Repine while Adrian was near, afterwards to Mutiny upon his departure out of these Eastern Pro∣vinces.

3 The Fresh memory of their former Desolation, made their strength

seem little, and the Apprehension of their weaknesse made the Romans Care for preventing new dangers, lesse then otherwise it might, and in reason should have been. But as men Environed with Darknesse, have great ad∣vantage of such as stand in the Light; and presumption of good-casting in the beginning bring such, as intend the after-game well, to better possibility of winning the stake: so these Jews, partly through the Romans Confidence of their strength, partly by their own Secrecy in meeting, security of harbour in Caves and Dens purposely digged in the earth, and diligent providing ne∣cessaries for war; from little and contemptible beginnings gather such strength and resolution, that they can be content to set the Whole Stock upon it, offering Battel unto the choicest Warriours of the Empire, to * 1.3 Julius Seve∣rus that noble General himself, called to this Service (such was the danger) out of this Island of Britain. And albeit the Romans in the end had the Vi∣ctory without Controversie, † 1.4 yet would they not have wished many Tri∣umphs at the same price. This peoples last conflict with death and destructi∣on now seizing upon them, may witnesse to the world, that they had been a principal part of it, now so generally and deeply affected with their last pangs. For as this judicious and unpartial writer saith; The whole world, in a manner, was shaken with this commotion of the Jews. Dion. 69. Book.

4 But as the Preacher observeth, that riches are oftentimes reserved to the owners for their evil: So these Jews Extraordinary strength was given them for like Destruction. The greater danger their Mutiny had occasioned to the Empire, the greater was the Emperours Severity in punishing their Rebel∣lion past the greater, his care to prevent the like in time to come. In battels and skirmishes were slain of this people 580000. besides an infinite number, consumed with famin and diseases, during the time of this lingring war, pro∣tracted of purpose by the Romans, not willing to trie it out in open field with such a forlorn desperate multitude. Now as ‖ 1.5 Moses had expresly foretold, and a 1.6 Dion (living not long after this time) Emphatically notes, They were left Few in number, their land laid waste, fifty of their strongest Munitions utterly razed, 985 of their chief and most populous Towns sackt and consumed by fire.

5 This Mighty Destruction of these Jews, and general Desolation of their Country by Romans, and their Tributaries of these Western Countries, b 1.7 a people strange and perhaps unheard of to their Ancestors: are Everlasting Monuments of the truth of Moses his Prophecy, Deut. 28. 49. The Lord shall bring a nation upon thee from far, even from the end of the world, flying swift as an Eagle; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand: a nation of a fierce counte∣nance, which will not regard the person of the old, nor have compassion of the young. The same shall eat the fruit of thy cattel, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be de∣stroyed; and he shall leave thee neither wheat, wine, or oyl, neither the increase of thy kine, nor the flocks of thy sheep, until he have brought thee to naught. And he shall besiege thee in all thy Cities, until thy high and strong wals fall down, wherein thou trustest, in all the land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy cities throughout thy land, which the Lord thy God, hath given thee. Thus at length Judah as well as Israel, hath ceased to be a Nation not without Manifest Signs c 1.8 foreshewing their Fatal

Expiration. Solomons Sepulchre, which they held in greatest Honor, a little before this War, did fall asunder of its own accord; as if it would have signified unto them, that Gods covenant, made with Solomon for Judah's peace and restauration, was now utterly void, and finally Cancelled by its Rupture and Fall. Wolves and Hyena's did howl throughout their Streets, and devour this People in the Fields: these are the Lords Messengers of Woe and vengeance to this ungratious seed, whose Fathers had kild and stoned his Prophets, sent unto them for their good. Yet is not the wrath of the Lord ceased, but his hand is stretched out against them still. For * 1.9 Adrian, after this strange De∣solation, by publick Decree ratified with the Senates consent, prohibits any Jew to come within the view of Jury. This he did onely in a Politick respect, lest the sight of their native Soyl might inspire this People with some fresh desperate Resolutions, but herein made, though unwittingly, Gods Angel to keep, by his powerful sword, this wicked Progeny of those rebellious and Ungratious Husband-men, that had kild their Lords First-born, out of that Par∣dise, which he had set them to dresse and keep. The same mighty Lord, ha∣ving now (as it were) Disparked the place which he had walled and fenced about, and graced with many Charters of greatest Priviledges, doth by his Arm, stretched out against them still, scatter the Reliques of this Rascal Herd throughout all the Nations under heaven. So as this Remnant (left by Adrian) and their race, have been as the Game, which Gods judgements have held in perpetual Chace for this Fifteen hundred years.

6 Thus are Gods Judgements executed upon this People; according to the order and course of Moses his Sentence, pronounced against them almost two thousand years before. For after he had foretold that Paucity, where∣unto this last War had brought them, Deut. 28. 62. he addes immediately, vers. 63. As the Lord hath rejoyced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so he will rejoyce over you to destroy, and bring you to naught: and ye shall be root∣ed out of the land, whither thou goest to possesse it: and the Lord shall scatter thee amongst all people, from the one end of the world to the other. † 1.10 Such as were Captivate in this War, were transplanted by Adrian into Spain, his native Country: where they had their Synagogues since his, until Ferdinando and Isabels time. Of their ill rest there, and in other of these Western Nations, (foretold by Moses in the very next words) we are now to treat: but first to advertise the Reader. ‖ 1.11 That the state of these Jews, from this time until the Expiration of the Roman Empire, cannot easily be gathered from any Ro∣man Writers; who seldom vouchsafe the Jews or Christians any mention, unless en∣forced thereunto by some such Famous War or Mutiny, as fell out in Vespasians, Tra∣jans, or Adrians time; or by some other event redounding to the Romans glo∣ry; whereas Jury after this time, was not famous for any tumult, till Romes Ca∣ptivity; the Jews wanted strength, and Christians willing mindes, to erect any Emperours praise by their Seditions. So that, whatsoever Calamity, Either of Them suffered by the Romans, was past over by Roman Writers, as private wrongs not worthy of Registring in their Annals.

7 a 1.12 No marvail then, if they took no notice of our Saviour, or his acts, all tending to Peace and Loyalty. For as Tacitus notes, b 1.13 Judaea was most

quiet in Tiberius time; which was the best news the Romans cared to hea•…•… thence: only Tacitus spleen to Christians (it seems) had made him inquisi∣tive of their first Original, whose Author he acknowledgeth to have been one Christ, put to death by Pontius Pilate, in the raign of Tiberius.

8 The estate of these Jews in general, between Adrians and Honorius time may be gathered out of the Reverend Fathers of the Primitive Church; who usually stopt the Heathens or Blasphemous Athiests mouthes, by proposing their condition, then known unto all the world, for such as our Saviour had foretold. But these Reverend Fathers observations, and such scattered te∣stimonies of their estate and quality, as can be gathered out of Roman Wri∣ters, during that flourishing age of Fathers, and continuance of the Roman Empire, will come in more fitly in the Article of our Saviours Passion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Jews did eat their Flesh▪ Besmeared Themselves with their Bloud Wore their skins. Sawed them asunder. Cast them to Beasts. Made them Kill one ano∣ther, &c. Dion. l. 68. in Fine.
• † 1.2

  Dion. ibid.
• * 1.3

  Hadrianus optimo quos ••••duces adver su eos mittit, quorum pri∣n••••s ••uit Juli∣us ••eve••us q••i ex 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉, con 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ju••••∣o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. Dion. Hist. Rom. ••i 69.
• † 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••uo qu•• ex ••oma∣•…•… complu••es in ••o ••••llo. Q•…•…m Hadrianus, cum ••••ribere•• ad ••e••••tum, non est 〈◊〉〈◊〉 illo •…•…dio, quo uti ••••pe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 con••u eve••••nt: Si Vo•• Liberique 〈◊〉〈◊〉 valet••••, ••ene est▪ ••go qu••dem & Ex 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vale∣mus. Dion. Ib dem.
• ‖ 1.5

  Deut. 28. 62.
• a 1.6

  Julius Seve∣rus nulla ex parte ausus est apertè cū hostibus con∣gredi, •…•…i∣tudine ipsorū at{que} despera∣tione cognita, sed eos singu▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 militum legato••um{que} numero ali∣quo adoriens, •…•…ns at∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••s, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quidem, sed minore cum periculo, & ad••erere & exhaurire, & exscindere potuit, ut pauci adm••dum evaserint, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•… arces muni•…•…, vici{que} celeberri••i at{que} nobilissimi nongenti octoginta quinq••e funditus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sunt in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…{que} hominum quingenta octoginta ••illia: •…•…um autem qui ••ame, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & igni •…•… no•• potuit, it•• ut omni•• pen•• Judae•• deserta relicta ••ueri••. Dion. Hist. R••m. lib. 69.
• b 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••th Sp•…•…ds by B••••th, Julius Seve••us was called to their destruction out of this Island, wherein Vespasian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•… Services. Their ••nsigns (being Eagles) were as Emblems of their S••••f••nesse to execute Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•… in this place by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Inspira••ion, alludes unto the Roman Eagles.
• c 1.8

  Signs foreshewing Juries 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, recorded by Dion. l. ••9. and others.
• * 1.9

  Jornandes. de Regn. suc∣cess. (in 8^o) p. 103. Euseb. l. 4. c. 6. ex Aristone Pellaeo.
• † 1.10

  Quos verò Hadrianus in eo bello Ju∣daeos cepit, in Hispaniā ex∣ulatum ••isit, (haec fuit de∣cima ••orum Captivitas;) porrò ex eo ••empore, ad soelicissima us{que} tempor•• Catholicorum regum Ferdi∣nandi & Isa∣bellae, at{que} eti•• Emanu••lis in∣victi Portugal▪ liae regis pub∣licae in Hispa∣nia Judaeorū Synagogae ••u▪ ere. Jo. Vasae∣us, Chron. Hi∣span. An••. Chri∣••••i. 137. vide Pe••. Ant. Beu∣ter. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10. c. 19.
• ‖ 1.11

  S•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 C•…•…er of th•• History of the sacred War complains. N••lli mirum erat, nos rerum per Judaeam gestarum no••itia desti∣〈◊〉〈◊〉, ob Ro••••norum tum in Judaeos tu•• in Christianos invidia••, quorum quidem tempore, & devotionem & pietatem, •…•…am quandam persuasionem credebant. Nulla igi••ur eorum ratione habita, nec mentionem de his ha••ere digna•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Adde qu••d qui Syr••ae praefectus erat, hanc qu••que viribus, opibus, armis, militibus exutam, regebat. Cum{que} Chri∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pace quam bello magis accresceret, tumultu nunquam inclaruit Judaea, neminem Imperatorum seditione nobili∣〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…l. Joh••n. Herold. lib. 1. cap. 15. de Contin. Bell. Sacr••.
• a 1.12

  Why Roman Writers make no mention of our Saviour Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Acts.
• b 1.13

  Tacit. Lib. 5. Histor. Ergo abolendo rumori Nero subdidit reos, & quaesitiss••mis poen••s affecit, quos per 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••visos, v••lgus Christianos appellabat. Auctor nominis ejus Christus, qui, Tiberio imperante, per procuratorem •…•…tium Pilatum supplicio affectus erat. Tacit. Annal. Li▪ 1.