510 
SAB 
Gaza, he met with a Jew called Nathan Levi, who was a man 
of no little weight with his countrymen, as he had married 
the daughter of a very rich merchant. This man entered 
thoroughly into Sabatei’s designs, announcing him to be the 
Messiah, and assuming to himself the character of the pro¬ 
phet Elias, who was to be his forerunner. In this character 
he assembled the Jews at Jerusalem, whom he persuaded to 
abolish the fast celebrated in the month of June, since sorrow 
was not suitable to the feast of the Messiah, who was raised 
up by God in the person of Sabatei-Sevi. In the mean time 
the latter was preaching repentance to the Jews at Gaza, 
whence his fame spread far and near, and attracted multitudes 
of that nation to attend on his ministry, of whom the great 
majority became proselytes to his cause. 
Having returned to Jerusalem, Sabatei was received by the 
infatuated Jewish populace with cries of joy; and they were 
so tumultuous in their expressions of their attachment to him, 
that they aroused the jealousy of the Turks, whom the Rabbis 
were compelled to appease by presents of large sums of 
money. Obliged to quit Jerusalem, Sabatei withdrew to 
Smyrna, where, by his pathetical sermons, he daily increased 
the number of his adherents. Soon afterwards, in consequence 
of a plan concerted between him and his prophet Nathan, 
the latter sent a solemn deputation of four persons in the cha¬ 
racter of ambassadors to Sabatei, who saluted him in the pub¬ 
lic synagogue as the Messiah. This embassy completed the 
infatuation of the populace, and even imposed upon some of 
the Jewish doctors, on account of the credit in which Nathan 
was held. It is true, that the more judicious of them endea¬ 
voured to oppose the popular frenzy, and condemned Sabatei 
as an impostor, who ought to be put to death; but the voice 
of the multitude was in his favour, and proclaimed him king 
of the Hebrews. In his character of prophet, Nathan went so 
far as to declare, that within twelve months, Sabatei should 
appear before the Sultan, take the crown from his head, lead 
him in chains as a captive, and be acknowledged monarch of 
the whole universe; and that the holy temple should descend 
from heaven, a complete and glorious edifice, in which the 
chosen people were to offer sacrifices till the end of the 
world. Sabatei now found his authority so predominant 
with his nation, that he ordered the name of the Ottoman 
Emperor to be omitted in their public prayers, and his own 
to be substituted in the room of it; and he assumed the title 
of King of Kings, .while he gave to his brother Joseph-Sevi, 
that of king of Judah. He also directed letters to be written 
to the Jews in all parts of Europe and Africa, announcing 
his pretensions, and calling upon them to unite in supporting 
the kingdom of their Messiah. Astonishing was the impres¬ 
sion which his claims made on the credulous Jews in all 
parts of the world; and astonishing were the sacrifices, mor¬ 
tifications, and other extravagances committed by them in 
his cause. Many abandoned all their occupations and em¬ 
ployments, flattering themselves that they should not stand 
in want of any thing under the triumphant government of 
the hope of Israel. They believed the most improbable 
stories concerning him. Some invented miracles in his 
favour, and others swore to the truth of them, while almost 
all believed them, and were ready to tear in pieces those who 
had not so much faith as themselves. At length, on the ap¬ 
proach of the time when Nathan’s prophecy was to he ac¬ 
complished, Sabatei took shipping for Constantinople, in the 
year 1666, that he might receive in that city the solemn ho¬ 
mage of his principal subjects. However, on the arrival of 
the vessel at the destined port, the grand vizier, by the Sul¬ 
tan’s orders, caused Sabatei to be arrested, and committed to 
prison, in one of the castles of the Dardanelles. Finding 
that no orders were issued for putting him to death, the 
Jews persuaded themselves that the Sultan had not power 
over his life; and, flocking to the place of his confinement, 
enriched the governor with the presents which they made 
for permission to visit their king and lay their wealth at his 
feet. As their frenzy daily increased, the Sultan Mahomet 
ordered him to be brought to Adrianople, where his court 
then was, that he might himself examine the man who had 
wrought up the enthusiasm of his nation to so high a pitch. 
SAB 
No pen can describe the confidence of the Jews on this octfa-* 
sion, in asserting the power of their pretended Messiah, and 
the wonders which he would perform; but the Sultan soon 
put his pretensions! to a test, which immediately detected 
their fallacy. For, after demanding a miracle from Sabatei, 
in proof of his mission, Mahomet put it to this issue, that he 
should be stripped naked for his archers to shoot at him, pro¬ 
mising, in case the arrows did not pierce his body, that he 
himself would acknowledge him to be the Messiah. This 
was a very fair proposal; but Sabatei chose rather to confess 
himself an impostor, and embrace the Mahometan religion, 
than stand the trial. Afterwards, information having been 
brought to the Sultan that he assisted secretly at the festivals 
of the Jews, an order was issued for his imprisonment in the 
castle of Dulcigno, on the confines of Albania, where he died 
in 1576, when about 50 years of age. As a striking proof 
of the extent to which enthusiasts can carry their credulity, 
it is related, that even his own confession of his being an 
impostor had no effect upon the minds of great numbers of 
his deluded followers ; and that when they saw him wear 
the Turkish habit after the change of his religion, they 
affirmed that it was only his shadow which appeared in that 
dress, but that his body was taken up into heaven, there to 
reside till the time appointed for the accomplishment of the 
wonders of the Messiah’s kingdom was come. Basnage's 
Hist . of the Jews, b. vii. ch. xxiii. Modern Univ. Hist, 
vol. x. ch. xxxviii. sect. xxi. Moreri. Nouv. Diet. 
Hist. 
SABATO, a river of Naples, in the Principato Ultra,, 
which falls into the larger stream of the Calore, near 
Benevento. 
SABAZIA [Sa^a^ia], among the Greeks, nocturnal 
mysteries in honour of Jupiter Sabazius, into which all that 
were initiated had a golden serpent put in at their breasts, 
and taken out at the lower part of their garments. 
There were also other feasts and sacrifices distinguished 
by this appellation, in honour of Mithras, the deity of the 
Persians, and of Bacchus, who was thus denominated by the 
Sabians, a people of Thrace. 
SABBATARIAN, s. A strict observer of the Sabbath. 
' SABBATARIAN, ad). Belonging to the Sabbath. 
SABBATARIANISM, s. An extraordinary attention to 
the observance of the Sabbath. 
SABBATH, s. The seventh day; set apart for the pur¬ 
poses of rest, innocent pleasures, and devotion. 
There is no religious institution which has received such 
universal assent as that of the Sabbath. We find it esta¬ 
blished in nearly every spot of earth, and in the remotest 
periods of antiquity. Its beneficial influence, whether 
viewed in a worldly sense as a respite from that infliction 
which doomed man to earn his bread by the sweat of his 
brow, or in the more important relation of a regular me¬ 
mento of our duties towards our Creator, is clearly apparent. 
It is much to be regretted, however, that some blind though 
benevolent enthusiasts, should endeavour to render this most 
grateful institution odious to the common people by force 
and violence. The strong arm of the law has been made 
use of to compel a remission from business, which, if not 
voluntary, must be mischievous. The barber has been 
mulcted for the very necessary act of shaving men on Sunday 
(of which crime they may themselves be guilty with impu¬ 
nity), and the butcher has been punished, for furnishing meat 
on the same day to Ihose who had not money to pro¬ 
cure it on Saturday. Hence, the day which every principle 
of nature renders one of delight and benevolence, becomes, 
to men so punished, a day irksome and hateful; and, what is 
far worse, religion is brought into contempt by the folly of 
her warmest admirers. 
I purpose, 
And by our holy sabbath have I sworn, 
To have the due and forfeit of my bond. Shakspeare 
Intermission of pain or sorrow; time of rest. 
Never any sabbath of release 
Could free his travels and afflictions deep. Daniel. 
Peaceful 
