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her after she had run through Germany and Italyi and he had sufficient authority to have her respected as the queen of the empire he was to conquer . Tins woman ' s brother , who was a tobacconist at Frank * fort , left his shop to find out his
brotherin-law , with the hopes of sharing the dignities of the crown , hut he returned after he bad been cheated like the rest . Tzevi who traversed the world , met with a Jew of
reputation at Gazay called Nathan JLevi or Benjamin ^ to whom he communicated his design . The conjunction was the more favourable , as it was construed from some passages of Scripture , that the time for the coming of the Messiah was near at hand . Levi embarked
in his design , and set up for the prophet JEliasy who was to be the Messiah ' s forerunner . He assembled the Jews at Jerusalem 9 and abolished the fast that was there celebrated in June or Ab because sorrow was not suitable to the feast of the Messiah :
be declared Tzevi to be the person expected . Part of the nation were misled , and tbey flattered themselves with the hopes of seeing Jerusalem delivered by a man , who specified the month of September for the period decreed for the conquest and ruin of the Grand Seignior . Wise men , instead of being imposed upon , were aware that this insurrection would be the cause
of their destruction \ wherefore they opposed this new Messiah and anathematized him . He was oblig'ed to quit Jerusalem and return to Smyrna , and from thence to Constantinople ^ where he hoped to gain followers ; but twenty-five Rabbias had prevented him by letters to their Smyrna brethren , signifying that he was an atheist , and that the man who would rid him from
them would do as acceptable a work to God , as if he bad won many souls . He parted from Constantinople to return to Smyrna , where his presence was necessary : he knew that four ambassadors , sent by Levij were to wait upon him there , and acknowledge him for the Messiah . This
embassy imposed upon the people , and even on part of the doctors , because Levi who sent it , was an eminent man amon ° r them . All the multitude , deceived by his humility , and his diligence to wash himself every morning , and to be the first at synagogue , and especially by his
pathetical sermons , owned him for a king , and every one brought him presents , that he might be able to support his dignity . JLevi did not forget himself ; he persuaded all that were willing to hear fcim , that Tzevi was the prince of the nation ; that the
Ottoman empire was to fall under his government ; that they were only to wait nine months , for which time he was to be concealed , and cause great afflictions to the people , but that afterwards he should appear with glory , mounted upon a lion , con ** ducting the people to their country , and
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that a stately temple , wherein they should make continual sacrifice , should at this same time descend from heaven . " The Smyrna doctors met to consult a second time about an affair which daily grew more important . The more judicious of them did not find the character of the
Messiah in Tssevi nor those of J ? lias in the person of the forerunner ; for which reason they condemned him to death : but as their party was not the most numerous , they were forced to yield to the multitude *
Tzevi summoned the people to the synagogue , celebrated a . new feast , profaned the name of God several times , changed some words of the liturgy : they acknowledged his authority , and thought they saw something divine in bis person .
"A third decree of death pronounced by the Rabbins , did not daunt him , as knowing nobody durst execute it . His friend had gained the Cadi of Smyrna , upon whom he waited in his palace , and obtained his protection . The people published that fire proceeded from TzevVs mouth ; when he spoke to the Cadi ; that a
pillar of fire had frightened the Turkish governor , which bad obliged him to send him away instead of putting him to death * They brought him back in triumph , singing these words of the Psalms , The right hand of the Lord is exalted . Nothing was wanting but a throne for this new king ; wherefore he caused one to be erected for
him , and another for bis royal consort , and be spoke from thence to his subject * . He drew up a new form of faith , which every body was obliged to receive , as coming from the hand of the Messiah , They artfully applied the prophecies of the Old Testament to this impostor , and shewed
them accomplished in bis person . A famous Jew , called La Peigne continuing- to oppose his empire , he sent to , and demanded of the synagogue to punish him : upon their refusal , he went himself at the head
of five hundred men , and JLaPeigne avoided death only by a hasty flight . His own daughter , meaning jzevfs , rose against him , and staggered her father's faith . Many others who had been incredulous , ran along with the stream , or honestly believed they were mistaken . " When he saw nimself exalted to so high a pitch of power , he ordered the name of the Ottoman emperor to be erased from the prayers , to substitute his own ; and before be undertook the conquest of his empire , be divided the dignities and employs of it amongst his favourites . Hfo
called himself the king of the kings of Israel , and Joseph Tzevi his brother , the king of the kings of Judah . At last he departed for Constantinople in a little vessel , whilst most of the Jews made their inarch by land . The passage lasted thirty- * nine days , in which tim * the Grand Seig-
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578 Review . —Sailmans Researches -in the East .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1818, page 578, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2480/page/42/
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