The Sabbatean Prophets

Opponents and Observers Respond 155
tical or inimical. Some scholars have claimed that the response in Christian
Europe was mainly negative and hostile, but this reading often comes from a
failure to differentiate between reactions at the first arrival of the news,
those at the height of the movement, and those from after Shabbatai’s apostasy.
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A believing Christian could hardly be a fully believing Sabbatean, because
there is no place in any contemporary Christian theology for a second fullfledged
messiah who is not Jesus. The understanding of what it might mean
for a Christian to be a believer must be evaluated according to the temper
of the period. Just as there was a spectrum of belief and disbelief among
Jews, the same was true among Christians. The continuation of the pamphlet
quoted above contains a singularly enlightening discussion between
the Flemish author of the letter summarized, and his informant, Peter Serrarius.
This dialogue is particularly valuable because it shows how two European
Christian views about the news developed in relationship to each
other, and how the whole Sabbatean episode was understood to fit into the
prophetically imbued apocalyptic future.
The objections raised by the letter-writer imply that because the scenario
described does not fit Protestant expectations in all its particulars, it must be
untrue, or at least improperly reported. The first section seems to suggest
that Serrarius, in communicating the news, had embellished it with his own
chiliastic interpretation. Serrarius responds with a beautifully explicit exposition
on why and how one should think positively of these developments.
In dispute with my informer, I raised many objections concerning the places
from whence they came, as also the manner of their coming, viz. Being in
spirit of Judaism, in great power, led by a holy man, doing great miracles,
and all things answering the description of the Messias, they may expect
that it would be a testimony that the Christians and other people and Nations
should be gathered in to the Jews, and not the Jews into Christ.
To the first he said, Those in Arabia are of the same company with them
that appear south of Morocco, and all of them seem to lye hid in the Inland
Countrey of Africa, extending themselves over the vast Tract of Land comprehending
all between the two Tropicks, almost as far as the cape of Good
Hope.
He thinketh them to be the white people of whom the Inhabitants of
Guiny use to speak, who will not mix themselves with their neighbours,
nor have any other commerce with them; they in the night bring Merchan-