Scriptures opened and sundry cases of conscience resolved, in plain and practical answers to several questions, upon the proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel / by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, William Thomas ...

Jer. 50. 4.

In those days, and at that time, &c.

Q What are those days, and what is that time whereof Jeremy here speaks?

A. This his Prophesie may have refe∣rence to three periods of time.

First, To the time of the Jews return out of Captivity: For which purpose we may consider,

1. That in the first rent of the King∣dom, the Priests and Levites that were in all Israel (being cast off by Jeroboam) came into Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11. 13, 14. And after them out of all the Tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to

seek the Lord came also to Jerusalem, v. 16. which it seems were no small number, be∣cause of the strength that the Kingdom of Rehoboam received by them, v. 17.

2. We find that in Asa his time they fell to him out of Israel in abundance; as al∣so, that Hezekiah afterward sent his Let∣ters throughout all Israel, 2 Chron. 30. 1, 5, 6. and divers of Israel came in, and made up a great Congregation, v. 11, 13, 18.

3. Albeit many might come to the Passover and return to their own Coun∣try and habitations again; yet it is very probable that when Tiglath pileser had carried away so many of the Ten Tribes captives, 2 King. 15. 29. I say, between that time and the taking of them away ge∣nerally by Salmanasar, divers of them fled for refuge to Judah, and setled themselves there; and that seems to be meant by strangers, 2 Chron. 30. 25. that is, such of the Ten Tribes, who (besides the Congre∣gation that came out of Israel by the pre∣sent call to the Passover) did by reason of Religion settle themselves in Judah, which they might do also in latter times for their safety, being liker to fare better in Judah, than with the Assyrian. All this makes it out that there was a mixture of Judah and Israel before the Captivity.

Now, to apply this to the present pur∣pose, the first remarkable time of their coming more closely together, was, at their return out of the Captivity where∣in they had been scattered. The Israel-it's that mixed themselves with Judah came (it's very like) out of the Cap∣tivity when they did, partaking therein of the priviledg of the better party to whom they had joined themselves; which appeareth also in the genealogy of those that returned out of Babylon, among whom not only Judah and Ben∣jamin, but divers of other Tribes of Israel, are expresly reckoned, 1 Chron. 9. 3. Ezra 2. 2. & v. 70. albeit they dwelt for present, not in the cities of Samaria, but of Judah.

Secondly, (to come to the second peri∣od) Although the ten Tribes (if we speak of the generality and the Body of them) returned not out of Captivity (as Judah did) to their own country; yet under Christ, (to whom this Com∣ing, and Covenanting is to be extended, as Jer. 50. 20.) they came together, when the Gospel was preached, as un∣der one Head, Hos. 1. 11. Hence we read, Act. 2. 5. of Jews, out of every Nation under Heaven, they being scattered by

the Assyrian Babylonian, and other suc∣ceeding Kings into far distant places. There also we find the Apostle speaking to the whole House of Israel, v. 36. and that at the same time, three thousand were converted, that is, united together in Christ, v. 41. That of St. James is clearer, who writes expresly to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad, that is, scattered by the Assyrians and Babylonians or An∣tiochus: So as that they returned not with others to their own Land; yet, to the Faith of Christ they were converted, and therefore James writes to them as to those who had received the Faith, though they did not, as they ought, shew it in the fruits. St. Peter also points to the same Persons when he writes to the Strangers, 1 Pet. 1. 1. that is, to those of Judah and Israel, dispersed here and there where they lived as Strangers, but yet he writes to them as Persons come into Jesus Christ, and conjoined on that corner-stone, 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5, 6.

Thirdly, there is another period of time that we expect, and that is, when the Jews shall be called and come toge∣ther in a considerable Body, Rom. 11. 25, 26. unto and under Christ the Head of the whole Church; unto which time

divers Learned men refer those prophe¦cies Ezek. 37. 10, 12. Hos. 1. 11. Amos. 9. 14. 15. And, howsoever this Prophecy may be said to be fulfilled truly already, yet ther's cause to say that it shall be most remarkably compleated then.

Notes

• Dioda••. Jun. Trem. in 1 Chro. 9. 1, 2.