And here I leave you to consider, how strangely this Deceived People was Amused, when these Confident, and vain Reports, and Dreams of Power, and Kingdomes, had wholly transported them from the ordinary course of their Trade, and Interest.
This noise and rumour of the Messiah, having begun to fill all places, Sabatai Sevi resolved to Travel towards Smyrna, the Country of his Nativity; and thence to Constantinople the Capital City, where the principal Work of Preaching was to have been performed: Nathan thought it not fit to be long after him, and therefore Travels by the way of Damascus, where resolving to continue some time for better Propagation of this New Doctrine; in the meane while Writes this Letter to Sabatai Sevi, as followeth.
22. Kesvan of this YEAR.
To the King, our King, Lord of our Lords, who gathers the Dispersed of Israel, who Redeems our Captivity, the Man elevated to the height of all sublimity, the Messiah of the God of Jacob, the true Messiah, the Cœlestial Lyon, Sabatai Sevi, whose Honour be exalted, and his Dominion raised in a short time, and for ever, Amen. After having kissed your hands, and swept the Dust from your Feet, as my Duty is to the King of Kings, whose Majesty be exalted, and his Empire enlarged. These are to make known to the Supreme Excellency of that Place, which is adorned with the Beauty of your Sanctity, that the Word of the King, and of his Law, hath enlightned our Faces: that day hath been a solemn day unto Israel, and a day of light unto our Rulers, for immediately we applyed our selves to performe your Commands, as our duty is. And though we have heard of many strange things, yet we are couragious, and our heart is as the heart of a Lyon; nor ought we to enquire a reason of your Doings, for your Workes are Marvellous, and past finding out: And we are Confirmed in our Fidelity without all exception, resigning up our very Souls for the holiness of your Name: And now we are come as far as Damascus, intending shortly to proceed in our Journey to Scanderone, according as you have commanded us; that so we may ascend, and see the Face of God in light, as the light of the Face of the King of Life: And we, servants of your servants shall cleanse the dust from your Feet, beseeching the Majesty of your Excellency and Glory to vouchsafe from your habitation to have a care of us, and help us with the Force of your Right Hand of Strength, and shorten our way which is before us: And we have our Eyes towards Jah, Jah, who will make hast to help us, and save us, that the Children of Iniquity shall not hurt us; and towards whom our hearts pant, and are consumed within us: who shall give us Tallons of Iron to be worthy to stand under the shadow of your Asse. These are the Words of the Servant of your servants, who prostrates himself to be trod on by the soles of your feet,
Nathan Benjamine.
And that he might Publish this Doctrine of himself, and the Messiah more plainly, he Wrote from Damascus this following Letter, to the Jewes at Aleppo, and parts thereabouts.
To the Residue or Remnant of the Israelites, Peace without end.
Sabatai Wrote a Letter to Elect one Man out of every Tribe.
These my words are, to give you notice, how that I am Arrived in Peace at Damascus, and behold I go to meet the Face of our Lord, whose Majesty be exalted, for he is the Soveraign of the King of Kings, whose Empire be enlarged. According as he hath Commanded us and the 12 Tribes to elect unto Him 12 Men, so have we done: And we now go to Scanderone by his command, to shew our faces together, with part of the principal of those particular Friends to whom he hath given Licence to assemble in that same place. And now I come to make known unto you, that though you have heard strange things of our Lord, yet let not your hearts faint, or fear, but rather fortifie your selves in your Faith, because all his Actions are Miraculous, and Secret, which Humane understanding cannot comprehend, and who can penetrate into the depth of them. In a short time all things shall be Manifested to you clearly in their Purity: and you shall know, and consider, and be instructed by the Inventor himself; Blessed is he who can expect, and arrive to the Salvation of the true Messiah, who will speedily publish his Authority and Empire over us now, and for ever.
Nathan.