[¹] The Rev. Walter Begley, in his issue of Nova Solyma, 1902, vol. i. p. 350, refers to the Commonwealth of Israel, 1650, as one of Dury’s works. The catalogues of the British Museum and the Bodleian Libraries do not record a copy. The D.N.B. does not include it in its list of his works, but mentions 20. Epistolary Discourse [on Israelitish origin], 1649, and 27. Epistolary Discourse [on Americans being Israelites], 1650, both equally unknown. The latter, however, may be “An Epistolicall Discourse Of Mr. Iohn Dury ... that the Americans are descended from the Israelites,” printed in the preliminary leaves of Iewes in America ... Tho: Thorowgood ... 1650.
Another great friend of the Jews was Henry Jessey, or Jacie (1601–1663), a Baptist divine. He began his studies in 1618 at Cambridge, where at St. John’s College in [♦]1622 he was admitted Constable’s scholar. Hebrew and Rabbinical literatures were his favourite studies. He projected a revised translation of the Bible and made some progress in it. He collected £300 for the poor Jews of Jerusalem, who in consequence of the war between the Swedes and Poles in 1657 were reduced to great extremity, as the main source of income derived from their charitable coreligionists in European countries was thereby cut off. This is, as far as is known, the earliest instance of English Christians helping the Jews of Palestine (Appendix xxxiii).
[♦] “1662” replaced with “1622”
In 1653 he wrote a treatise for the purpose of reconciling the various religious opinions of Jews and Gentiles, entitled, The Glory of Jehudah and Israel (Appendix xxxiv).
His liberality to Jews was memorable on other occasions. He claimed for them the rights of citizenship and admission to this country which was then under consideration.
He was one of the members of the Assembly convened by Cromwell to consider Manasseh Ben Israel’s proposals for the return of his coreligionists to England. He is supposed to be the author of an anonymous tract, entitled A Narrative of the late Proceeds at White-Hall, concerning the Jews (Appendix xxxv).
Thomas Fuller (1608–1661),[¹] Prebendary of Salisbury, delivered several sermons, in which he argued that the Jewish nation was fulfilling an important office in the world and was, under the order of Providence, an instrument in giving the victory to good over evil. This nation ought not, therefore, to content itself with mere existence, but should throw its elements, or the best of them, into another mould and constitute out of them a new society which would become a blessing to the world.
[¹] Author of “A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine” ... London ... MDCL. He was the elder brother of Francis Fuller (1637–1701), at whose obsequies the Rev. Jeremiah White (1629–1707) said: “... But I will add no more concerning his Learning, because it was not only a Personal, but hereditary Accomplishment: For I think it did belong to his Family to be learned....” [p. 112: “A Funeral Sermon Preached upon the Death Of the Reverend Mr. Francis Fuller ... By Jeremiah White, ... London ... 1702.”]
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Sir Oliver St. John Thos. Brightman