N01184:38
A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of…
A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of the Reverend and learned Mr. Baxter, Dr. Lightfoot, and others. : With an enquiry into the first resurrection. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard-College, at Cambridge, in New-England. ; [Three lines from Jeremiah]A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of the Reverend and learned Mr. Baxter, Dr. Lightfoot, and others. : With an enquiry into the first resurrection. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard-Colledge, at Cambridge, in New-England. ; [Three lines from Jeremiah]
London: printed by R. Tookey for Nath. Hillier, 1709
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Baxter's following that excellent Man in this Mistake, caused him to think that Babylon in the Apocalypse was to be expounded of Rome Heathen, and not Apostate and Antichristian, which is a Fundamental Error in Apocalyptical Interpretations. I remember likewise, that Mr. Baxter did to me (as he does in his Printed Book) very much commend Mr. I. Calvert's Book before mentioned. I confess, that as I saw the Title of it in the Catalogue when first published, hoping that some Light might be given to the Mysteries treated on, I sent Three Thousand Miles to obtain it: When it came to my Hand, casting my Eye on the Frontispiece, and seeing Imprim•••r Sam. Parker, I was afraid I should find my self disappointed in what I expected, and so it happened.
This Author calls that Truth which the greatest Worthies in this Age have believed, a Thing incredible, a golden Mountain, the Vision of one asleep, &c. He pretends that Ezekiel's Distribution of the Tribes is not Mystical, but Historical, and that Ezekiel's City was that Jerusalem which the Romans destroyed, and that whereas the Name whereby that City shall be called is, The Lord is there, that was fulfilled (he says Page 184, 221.) in that Zerubbabel who was a Type of Christ, and afterwards Christ himself was personally present in that Jerusalem. He thinks the Second Temple did answer that described by Ezekiel. Most certainly when the Jews read such Things written by Christians, they laugh them to Scorn, and are hardened in their Infidelity. Ezekiel's Temple shall never be profaned, Ezek. 47.7, 8. But the Second Temple was profaned by Antiochus, Pompey, Titus, &c. Another pretty Conceit he has (p. 62, 63.) concerning the New Jerusalem, viz. That after the Old Jerusalem was destroyed, the City was built again in the Days of Adrian the Emperor, and then inhabited by Christians, but there was no Temple in it, so was Rev. 21, 22. fulfilled. This is somewhat like Eusebius's Interpretation, who because Constantine turned the Heathen Temples which he found in Jerusalem, into Christian, supposeth that to be the New-Jerusalem. I mention not these Things to confute them, for the very Recitation is Confutation sufficient; yet out of this Author has Mr. Baxter taken (in a Manner all) his Objections against a future Conversion of the Jewish Nation. But whence had Mr. Calvert his Notions? Not out of his own Head; for he says in his Preface, Ducibus Grotio & Hammondo in hunc Trancitem de vulgari Viâ dstexi. I shall not wonder to see a Man going out of the common Path, nor yet d flecting into very great Errors, who will follow such Guides as […] and