The History of Sabatai Sevi, the Suppos'd Messiah of the Jews — John Shaqi
The History of Sabatai Sevi, the Suppos'd Messiah of the JewsEvelyn, John
History
The History of Sabatai Sevi, the Suppos'd Messiah of the Jews
Evelyn, John
Impostors and imposture -- Early works to 1800; Shabbethai Tzevi, 1626-1676
During the time of his Exile, he Travelled to _Thessalonica_, now called
_Salonica_, where he Marryed a very handsome Woman; but either not
having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife, or being Impotent
towards Women, as was pretended, or that she found not favour in his
Eyes, she was divorced from him: Again, he took a second Wife, more
beautiful then the former, but the same causes of discontent raising a
difference between them, he obtained another Divorce from this Wife
also. And being now free from the Incumbrances of a Family, his wandring
Head mov'd him to Travel through the _Morea_, thence to _Tripoli_ in
_Syria_, _Gaza_, and _Jerusalem_; and by the way picked up a _Ligornese_
Lady, whom he made his third Wife, the Daughter of some _Polonian_ or
_German_, her Original and Parentage not being very well known. And
being now at _Jerusalem_ he began to Reforme the _Law_ of the _Jewes_,
and Abolish the _Fast_ of _Tamuz_ (which they keep in the Moneth of
_June_) and there meeting with a certain _Jew_ called _Nathan_, a proper
Instrument to promote his Design; he communicated to him his Condition,
his Course of Life, and Intentions, to Proclaime himself _Messiah_ of
the World, so long expected and desired by the _Jewes_. This Design took
wonderfully with _Nathan_; and because it was thought necessary
according to _Scripture_, and Antient _Prophesies_, that _Elias_ was to
precede the _Messiah_, as St. _John Baptist_ was the fore-runner of
_Christ_: _Nathan_ thought no man so proper to Act the Part of the
_Prophet_ as himself; and so no sooner had _Sabatai_ declared himself
the _Messiah_, but _Nathan_ discovers himself to be his Prophet,
forbiding all the Fasts of the _Jewes_ in _Jerusalem_; and declaring,
that the Bridegroom being come, nothing but Joy, and Triumph ought to
dwell in their Habitations; Writing to all the Assemblies of the
_Jewes_, to perswade them to the same beliefe.
And now the Schisme being begun, and many _Jewes_ really believing what
they so much desired, _Nathan_ took the courage and boldness to
Prophesie, That one Year from the 27th of _Kislev_, (which is the moneth
of _June_) the _Messiah_ shall appear before the _Grand Signor_, & take
from him his Crown and lead him in Chaines like a Captive.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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