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
declar'd, amongst which this one is not far from our purpose, that at
the Circumcision there is alwayes a Chair set for _Elias_: And _Sabatai
Sevi_ being once Invited at _Smyrna_ to the Circumcision of the
First-borne Son of one _Abraham Gutiere_, a Kinsman of _Sabatai_, and
all things ready for the Ceremony, _Sabatai Sevi_ exhorted the Parents
of the Child to expect a while until his farther Order: After a good
halfe hour, _Sabatai_ order'd them to proceed and cut the _Prepuce_ of
the Child, which was instantly perform'd with all joy and satisfaction
to the Parents: and being afterwards demanded the reason why he retarded
the performance of that Function, his answer was, That _Elias_ had not
as yet taken his Seat, whom, as soon as he saw placed, he ordered them
to proceed; and that now shortly _Elias_ would discover himself openly,
and proclaime the newes of the general Redemption.
This being the common Opinion amongst the _Jewes_, and that _Sabatai
Sevi_ was the _Messiah_, being become an Article of Faith, it was not
hard to perswade them, that _Elias_ was come already, that they met him
in their Dishes, in the darke, in their Bed chambers, or any where else
invisible, in the same manner as our common People in _England_ believe
of _Hobgoblins_, and _Fairies_. For so it was, when _Solomon Cremona_,
an Inhabitant of _Smyrna_, making a great Feast, to which the Principal
_Jewes_ of the _City_ were Invited, after they had eaten and drank
freely, one starts from his Seat, and avouches, that he saw _Elias_ upon
the Wall, and with that bowes to him, and Complements him with all
Reverence and humility: Some others having in like manner their Fancies
prepossessed, and their Eyes with the Fume of Wine ill prepared to
distinguish shadowes, immediately agreed upon the Object, and then there
was not one in the Company who would say he did not see him: at which
surprize every one was struck with reverence and awe; and the most
Eloquent amongst them, having their Tongues loosed with Joy, and Wine,
directed _Orations_, _Encomiums_, and acts of Thankfulness to _Elias_,
courting and complementing him, as distracted Lovers doe the supposed
presence of their Mistresses. Another _Jew_ at _Constantinople_
reported, that he met _Elias_ in the Streets, habited like a _Turke_,
with whom he had a long Communication; and that he enjoyn'd the
Observation of many neglected Ceremonies, and particularly the _Zezit_,
_Numb._ 15. _v._ 38. _Speak unto the children of_ Israel, _and bid them
that they make_ Fringes _in the Borders of their Garments, throughout
their Generations, and that they put upon the Fringe of the Border a_
Ribbon _of blue_. Also the _Peos_, Levit. 19. v. 27. _Ye shall not round
the corners of your Head, nor marr the corners of your Beard_: This
Apparition of _Elias_ being believed as soon as Published, every one
began to obey the Vision, by Fringing their Garments; and for their
Heads, though alwayes shaved, according to the _Turkish_ and Eastern
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account