farre as we may gather out of the Prophets. That at that time the ten
Tribes shall come to _Jerusalem_ under the leading of a Prince, whom
some Rabbins in the _Talmud_, and in some places of the Chaldy
Paraphrase, doe call _Messiah_ the Son of _Joseph_; and elsewhere
_Messiah_ the Son of _Ephraim_; who being slaine in the last War of
_Gog_ and _Magog_, shall shew himselfe to be _Messiah_ the sonne of
_David_, who shall be, as _Ezekiel_, and _Hosea_ say, _The everlasting
Prince of all the twelve Tribes_. Our wise men doe, in many places,
especially in the _Babilonian_ Talmud, _in tract. suca_: _c._ 5. make
mention of that _Messiah_ the sonne of _Ephraim_; where they say, that
he shall dye in the last war of _Gog_, and _Magog_; and they so expound
that of _Zach._ 12.10. _And they shall looke upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourne for him, as one mourneth for his only
sonne._ They adde also, that the foure Captaines, of whom the same
Prophet speakes in chap. 11. are, _Messiah_ the son of _David_,
_Messiah_ the son of _Joseph_, the Prophet _Elias_, and the high Priest;
which foure are those dignities, which shall shew their power in that
blessed age. Observe, that sometime they call _Messiah_ the son of
_Ephraim_, sometime of _Joseph_; for he shall come out of the Tribe of
_Ephraim_, and shall be Captaine of all the ten Tribes, who gave their
name to _Ephraim_, because that their first King _Jeroboam_ was of that
Tribe. Not without cause doe they call him the son of _Joseph_, for he
was the true type of the house of _Israel_, in his imprisonment, and
future happinesse. Adde to this, that he was so long hid from his
brethren, that they did not know him: as in like manner the ten Tribes
are at this day, who are led captive, but hereafter shall come to the
top of felicity, in the same manner as _Joseph_ did. That _Messiah_ of
_Joseph_ shall dye in the battel of _Gog_, and _Magog_, and afterward
shall rise againe, that he may enjoy the dignity, not of a Kingly
Scepter, but the office only of a Vice-roy, as _Joseph_ in _Ægypt_; for
that the Empire of the house of _Israel_ fell under the reigne of
_Hosea_ the son of _Elah_; as the Prophet _Amos_ saith in chap. 5.2.
Therefore the Kingdome of the ten Tribes shall not be restored, as
_Ezekiel_ saith in Chap. 37. under the reigne of _Messiah_ the son of
_David_, who shall be everlasting; and by the death of _Messiah_ the son
of _Joseph_, the ten Tribes shall see, that God will not that they
should have more Kings then one. As its already spoken.
_SECT._ 27.
Those Tribes then shall be gathered from all quarters of the earth, into
Countries neare to the Holy Land; namely, into _Assyria_, and _Ægypt_;
and from thence they shall goe into their Country; of which _Isaiah_
speakes, in chap. 27.13. _And it shall be in that day, that the great
trumpet shall be blown, and they who were lost, shall come into the Land
of_ Assyria; _and they who were cast out, into_ Egypt; _and shall
worship the Lord in the holy mount at_ Jerusalem. As if he should say,
as trumpets sound, to call any army together: so they shall come
together, who were dead (that is, dispersed through all _Asia_) into
_Assyria_; and the out-casts (that is, which are in _America_) shall
come by the _Mediterranean_ Sea to _Alexandria_ of _Ægypt_; and in the
like manner those who are in _Africa_, when _Nilus_ shall be dried up,
and _Euphrates_ shall be divided; as we have already said. And because
the gathering together of the captivity, shall begin at those who are in
_America_, therefore _Isaiah_ saith, _The Islands shall trust in me, and
the ships of_ Tarsis (that is of the Ocean) _first of all, that they may
bring thy sons from farre, and with them, their silver, and gold_. They
shall then come with speed from those Countries, prostrating themselves
at the mountaine of the Lord in _Jerusalem_, as the Prophet _Hosea_
saith of that redemption in chap. 11.11. _They shall come as birds out
of_ Egypt, and as _Doves out of_ Assyria; so saith _Isaiah_ in Chap.
60.8. _Who are those that fly as a cloud, and as Doves to their nests?_
They which come first, shall also partake of this joy, to see others to
come to them every moment; for which cause the same Prophet saith, _Lift
up thine eyes round about, and behold them who gather themselves to
thee_. And because the two Countrys of _Assyria_ and _Egypt_, shall
first of all kindly receive the people of _Israel_, and shall know the
truth, first of all imbracing the Religion of the Jewes, sacrificing and
praying to God, therefore the prophet _Isaiah_ saith, in c. 19.25.
_Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the worke of my hands; but
Israel is my inheritance._ For so those words are to be understood.
_SECT._ 28.
All those are the sayings of the holy Prophets, from whence doth appeare
the returne of Israel into their Country. It is given to none to know
the time thereof, neither is it revealed to _Rabby Simeon ben Johay_,
the Author of the Zoar; because that God hath reserved that mystery to
himself, as _Moses_ saith. _It is hid with me._ And _Isaiah_ in ch.
63.4. _For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year in which
the redemption shall come._ Which the Rabbins thus interpret, _I have
reveiled it to my heart and not to Angells_: and elsewhere, _If any man
tell you when Messiah shall come, beleeve him not_. So also the Angel
saith to _Daniel_ ch. 12.9. _All things are closed up and sealed to the
time of the end._ Therefore all those, who search after that time, as
_Rabbi Seadiah_, _Moses_ _Egyptius_, _Moses Gerundensis_, _Selomoh
Jarchi_, _Abraham bar Ribi Hijah_, _Abraham Zacculo_, _Mordehai Reato_,
_and Isaac Abarbanel_, have been mistaken; for that they would go beyond
humane capacity, and reveale that, which God concealed. And even to
_Daniel_ himselfe (to whom was made knowne the secret of the change of
the four Monarchies) it was so revealed to him, that hee confessed he
did not understand it. Our Ancients did point at this from the Letter
(m) in _Isa._ 9.7. where he saith, _Of the increase of his government_:
which (m) in the Hebrew, being such an (m) which they write onely in the
end of words, and a close letter, yet is put in the middle of the word,
against common practise: because that the time of the fifth Monarchy
shall be hid, till the time when it shall begin.
_SECT. 29._
_Yet this I can affirm, that it shall be about the end of this age_; and
so the Prophet speaks of that age _about the end of dayes_: and that
after many labours, and a long captivity. So _Balaam_ prophesies,
_Numb._ 24.17. _I see, but not now; I behold, but not near; a Star shall
come out of Jacob._ Isa. 24.22. _They shall be cast into prison, and
they shall be visited after many daies._ And Isa. 49.14. _And Sion said,
The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me._ Hos. 3.4, 5.
_The children of Israel shall be many days without a King, and without a
Prince: And after that they shall seek the Lord their God, and David
their King._ The King and Prophet complains of that delay, in _Psa._ 44.
_Psa._ 69. _Psa._ 74. _Psa._ 77. _Psal._ 83. And after that in _Psal._
89.50.51. he thus concludes, _Remember, O God, the reproach of thy
servants, who suffer so many injuries of so many people: wherewith they
have reproached the steps of thy Messiah_. As yet at this day it is
said, that ALTHOUGH THE MESSIAH WERE LAME, HE MIGHT HAVE COME BY THIS
TIME. Though we cannot exactly shew the time of our redemption, yet we
judge it to be near. For,
1 We see many prophesies fulfilled, and others also which are
subservient to a preparation for the same redemption; and it appears by
this, that during that long and sore captivity, many calamities are
fore-told us under the four Monarchies. _David_ saith in _Psal._ 120.7.
_Lord when I speake of peace, they speake of war._ And elsewhere, _We
are slaine all the day for thy name, and are accounted for sheep which
are slain_. In Isa. 53.7. _He shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before his shearers: he shall be dumb, and shall not open
his mouth._ O how have we seen these things in the banishments of
_England_, _France_ and _Spaine_! and how have they proved those crimes,
which most false men have said that ours did commit! Behold they have
slaine them, not for wickednesses, which they did not commit, but for
their riches which they had. O how have we seen all those things done by
divine providence, for that those misfortunes for the most part happened
on the ninth day of the month _Ab_, an ominous, and unhappy day, on
which the first, and second Temple were burnt, and the spies wept
without a cause.
_SECT. 30._
What shall we say of that horrible monster, the Spanish Inquisition,
what cruelty hath not daily been used against a company of miserable
ones, innocents, old men, and children, of every sex and age, who were
slaine, because they could not divine who was their secret accuser? But
let us see, why in al those places (in which that Spanish tyrannicall
Empire rules,) they were slain, who would observe the law of _Moses_;
and by how many, and how great miracles hath that law been confirmed;
and what unrighteousnesse is there in it? We daily see examples of
constancy in ours, worthy of all praise, who for the sanctifying of Gods
name, have been burnt alive. Truly many who are still living, can
witnesse all those things. In the year 1603. At _Lisbone_, _Diogo
d’Assumean_, a Monk of 24. years, was burnt alive, who defended himselfe
in the Inquisition against some, who would have reduced him to
Christianity, who was born a Christian, and made a Jew; which all wonder
at; the Inquisitors being grieved that they had published the reasons
which he had alledged, would have recalled their sentence; but it was
then too late; for it was divulged through the world, which I my selfe
have by me. Also the Lord _Lope de Veray Alacron_ deserves the praise of
Martyrdome, who being born of a noble, and eminent Family, and very
learned in the Hebrew, and Latine tongues, did imbrace our Religion;
neither thought it sufficient to be such himselfe, but discovered
himselfe to many others; thereupon in _Ann._ 1644 in the twentieth of
this age, he being imprisoned at _Valladolid_, though he lived in the
darke, yet he discovered light to many; neither could the great number
of Doctors, nor the greater affliction of his parents, move him from his
enterprise, either by tears or by promises. He circumcised himself in
prison (O strange act, and worthy of all praise!) and named himselfe
_beleeving Judas_; and at last, as a second _Isaac_, offered himselfe to
the flames, contemning life, goods, and honours, that hee might obtain
immortall life, and good things that cannot perish; in the 25^{th} yeer
of his age. Now though those were not of the family of Israel, yet they
obtained an immortall glory, which is better then this life.
Also we have many examples of our own, which did equalize them, of which
that is one, which is done in our time, and is worthy to be remembred;
_Isaac Castrensis Tartas_ (whom I knew, and spoke with) a learned young
man, and versed in the Greek, and Latine; he being but newly come to
_Fernambuc_, was taken by the _Portugese_, and carryed to _Lisbone_, and
burnt alive; he was a young man of 24. years old; scorning riches, and
honours, which were offered to him, if he would turne Christian. They
who say he was a traytor, do lye egregiously; for he did defend that
place where he was Governour, most valiantly; as ours do deport
themselves in those fortified places which are committed to their
charge. The same Martyrdom was undergone at _Lima_, by _Eli Nazarenus_,
in _Ann. 1639. Janu. 23._ who after he had lived 14 whole years in
prison, all which time hee eat no flesh, lest he should defile his
mouth; he called himselfe by that name, after he had circumcised
himselfe. Such a Martyr also, this year, was _Thomas Terbinon_ in the
City of _Mexico_.
_SECT. 31._
If the Lord fulfilled his word in calamities, he will fulfill it also in
felicities. Therefore _Rabbi Aquibah_ laughed, when hee saw a Fox run
out of the Temple being destroyed, though his companions wept; he
saying, Now is fulfilled that prophecy of _Jeremiah_, _Lament._ 5.18.
_And the foxes shall run therein_; and he added, and those blessings
also shall follow, which the Lord hath promised. We see all the curses
of God come to passe, which are mentioned in _Leviticus_ and
_Deuteronomy_; as well as those, which concerne our being scattered to
the ends of the earth (which is _Portugall_) and those concerning the
calamities of the Inquisition; and those of our banishments, as I have
opened in my booke, _De termino vitæ_; from whence it appears, that all
the happy prophesies shall be fulfilled. And as we have perished, so
also shall _Bozra_ (that is, _Rome_) perish. See _Isa._ 34.6.
_SECT. 32._
Secondly; The argument which we bring from our Constancy under so many
evills, cannot be eluded, that therefore God doth reserve us for better
things. _Moses_ in _Levit._ 26.44. saith, _Though they be in the land of
their enemies, yet I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them
to destroy them utterly, and to breake my covenant with them, for I am
the Lord their God_. And truly these things are now fulfilled, for that
in this captivity, and among the many reproaches which we Jewes suffer,
yet many of ours are honourably entertained by Princes, with a singular
affection. So _D. Ishac Abarbanel_, who comes of _Davids_ line, is
Counsellor to the King of _Spaine_, and _Portugall_. By this also he
hath got a great name, for that he composed the differences, which arose
beene the King of _Portugall_, and the Republique of _Venice_. And from
that Family of _Äbarbanel_ (which I note by the by) doe proceed my
Children, by my wives side. And in the house of his sonne, _D. Samuel
Abarbanel_, and of his wife _Benuenida_, the Lady _Leonora de Toledo_,
was brought up at _Naples_, who is the Daughter of _D. Peter de Toledo_,
the Vice-roy of _Naples_; who afterwards was married to the most eminent
Duke _Cosmus de Medicis_, and having obtained the Dukedome of _Toscani_,
she honoured _Benuenida_ with as much honour, as if she were her mother.
That peace, which the _Venetians_ made with the Emperour _Sultan Selim_,
75. yeares agone, was made, and ratified by a certaine Jew _Don Selomo
Rophe_, who was sent Ambassadour to _Venice_, and received with great
pomp, by the _Venetians_. At _Constantinople_ D. _Ben Jaese_, _Anaucas_,
and _Sonsinos_ are of great authority with the _Turk_. In _Ægypt_ the
_Jewes_ were alwayes _Saraph baxas_, and also at this day is _D. Abraham
Alholn_. Who knowes not that _D. Josephus Nassi_, otherwise called
_Joannes Michesius_, about the 66. yeare of the former age, was Duke of
_Naccia_, Lord of _Milum_, and of the seven Islands, of whom see
_Famian_. _Strada_ in _Histor. Belgic. part._ 1. _lib._ 5. He was raised
to these honours by _Sultan Selim_. As also by _Sultan Amurat_, _Jacob
Aben Jaes_, otherwise called _Alvoro Mendez_, was made Governour of
_Tyberias_; witnesse _Boterus_ in _Relation, part._ 3. _lib._ 2. in
_Barbary_, the Lords _Rutes_ were always Governours of _Sekes_, _Phes_,
and _Taradanta_. In _Ann._ 1609. _D. Samuel Palaxe_ was sent Ambassadour
to the States, by _Mulai Zidan_ the King of _Maracco_. But he dyed at
the _Haghe_ in _Anno._ 1616. And the most eminent Prince _Maurice_, and
the Nobles, were at his Funerall. In _Persia_ who knowes not of what
account they are? There, thirty years since, _Elhazar_ was second to the
King, and as it were Governour. Now _David Jan_ succeeds him, to whom
others also being joyned, they live in the Court. And that must not be
forgot, that when the most eminent Duke of _Holstein_ sent _Otto
Burchmannus_ Ambassadour to _Persia_, in _Ann._ 1635. he desired
commendatory letters from our _Jewes_ at _Hamburgh_, to them, who (as we
have already told you) doe live there in the Court, that they would make
way there, for him that was a stranger: that he might dispatch his
affaires: Which was also performed. By which means ours, who are in
_Persia_, dismissed _Burchmannus_, with rich gifts, and with Letters to
the most eminent Duke of _Holstein_, which the twelve Chuzæ, or Princes,
had subsigned. A copy of which Letters the most excellent _D. Benjamin
Mussapha_, one familiar with the Prince helped me to. Also _Claudius
Duretu en son thresor des langues_, _fol._ 302. saith, that there are
almost an infinite number of _Jewes_ in _Asia_, especially in _India_,
and that King _Cochini_ is their great favourer. Yea _Linschotes_ saith
(where he treats of _Cochini_) that they have Synagogues there, and that
some of them are of the Kings Counsell. At _Prague_, _Mordocheas Maisel_
had Armes given him by the Emperour _Matthias_, who also knighted him.
Which honour _Iacob Bathsebah_ also had, under the Reigne of
_Ferdinand_; and many other Families are graced with other honours. And
in this very captivity (who could thinke it) they are so wealthy, that
(Gods providence favouring them) they may challenge to themselves a
place among the most Noble.
_SECT. 33._
Who can enumerate the number of ours, who are renowned by fame, and
learning? The learned _R. Moses bar Maimon_ was Phisician to _Saladin_
the King of _Ægypt_. _Moses Amon_ to the Emperour _Sultan Bajaseth_.
_Elias Montalto_ to the most eminent Queen of France, _Loysia de
Medicis_; and was also her Counsellor. _At_ Padua _Elias Cretensis_ read
Philosophy; and _R. Abraham de Balmas_, the Hebrew Grammer. And how much
honour had _Elias Grammaticus_ at _Rome_? And almost all the Princes of
_Italy_ honoured him with all kinde of honour, _Abraham Kolorni_; as
appeares by a Letter writ to him by _Thomas Garzoni nella sua piazza
universale del mundo_. _Picus Mirandula_ (who useth to say, _That he had
but small understanding, who only looked after his owne things, and not
after other mens_) and others, had Hebrew teachers. _David de Pomis_
dedicated his Book to Pope _Sextus_ the fifth, who lovingly, and
courteously received both the Author, and work. So at this day we see
many desirous to learne the Hebrew tongue of our men. Hence may be seene
that God hath not left us; for if one persecute us, another receives us
civilly, and courteously; and if this Prince treats us ill, another
treats us well; if one banisheth us out of his country, another invites
us by a thousand priviledges; as divers Princes of _Italy_ have done,
the most eminent King of _Denmarke_, and the mighty Duke of _Savoy_ in
_Nissa_. _And doe we not see, that those Republiques doe flourish, and
much increase in Trade, which admit the Israelites?_
_SECT. 34._
_Moses_ saith in his last song, that God would revenge the bloud of his
people who are scattered. And _Ieremiah_ saith, in chap. 2.3. _Israel is
the Lords holy thing, the first fruits of his increase; all who devoure
him shall be found guilty; evill shall come upon them, saith the Lord._
And that the Histories of divers times, even from _Nebuchadnezzar_ to
these very times, doe testifie. Have not the Monarchies of great Princes
been destroyed? Consider with me the miserable ends of _Antiochus_, of
_Pompey_, of _Sisibuthus_, of _Philip_ the King of _France_, of
A_lonsus_ the sonne of _Iohn_ the second. And we may remember, how King
_Sebastian_ with his fourth Generation, and with all his Nobles, was
slaine in a battell of A_frica_, in that same place, in which he had
caused the _Iews_ to be banished. _Ferdinand_, and _Isabel_ were the
great Persecutors of our Nation, but how did both he, and she dye? as
for him his Son-in-law, and his owne Subjects did persecute him; and his
only sonne dyed (leaving no issue) on his Wedding-day, being seventeen
yeares old. His daughter being Heire of the Kingdome, and of her Fathers
hatred, would not marry to _Emanuel_ King of _Portugal_, unlesse he
would compell us to be banished, and change our Religion. But she dyed
in Child-birth of her Sonne _Saragoci_, and also her Son, before he was
halfe a yeare old; and the succession was devolved upon the Kingdome of
_Spaine_. It is not long since, that the _Spaniards_ exercised upon us
at _Mantua_, what ever cruelties they could invent; what shall we say of
that at _Madrid_ in the yeare 1632, was done by the Inquisition, the
King, and Princes of the Kingdome concurring; but in the very same month
dyed the Infant _Charles_, and their Kingdome declined. What wonder is
it if God hath chastised divers Kingdomes by sundry wayes: but of this I
treat farther in my History of the _Iewes_. Let us conclude therefore,
that that good, which God hath promised, will shortly come, since we see
that we have suffered those evils, which he hath threatned us with, by
the Prophets.
_SECT. 35._
[Sidenote: 3ly,]
The shortnesse of time (when we beleeve our redemption shall appeare) is
confirmed by this, that the Lord hath promised that he will gather the
two Tribes, _Iudah_, and _Benjamin_, out of the foure quarters of the
World, calling them _Nephussim_. From whence you may gather, that for
the fulfilling of that, they must be scattered through all the corners
of the World; as _Daniel_ saith, _Dan._ 12.7. _And when the scattering
of the holy people shall have an end, all those things shall be
fulfilled._ And this appeares now to be done, when as our Synagogues are
found in _America_.
_SECT. 36._
[Sidenote: 4ly,]
To these, let us adde that, which the same Prophet speakes, in ch. 12.
ver. 4. _That knowledge shall be encreased_; for then the prophecies
shall better be understood, the meaning of which we can scarce attaine
to, till they be fulfilled. So after the _Otteman_ race began to
flourish, we understood the prophesie of the two leggs of the Image of
_Nebuchadnezzar_, which is to be overthrowne by the fifth Monarchy,
which shall be in the World. So _Jeremiah_ after he had handled in Chap.
30. the redemption of _Israel_, and _Judah_, and of the war of _Gog_,
and _Magog_ (of which _Daniel_ also speakes in ch. 12.) when he treats
of the Scepter of the Messiah the son of _David_, of the ruine of the
Nations, of the restoration of _Judah_, of holy _Jerusalem_, and of the
third Temple, he adds in ver. 24. _The fierce anger of the Lord shall
not returne, till he hath executed it, and till he hath performed the
intents of his heart; in the latter dayes ye shall understand it._ From
whence followes what we have said, that the time of redemption is at
hand. And because _Jeremiah_ in that Chapter makes an abridgement of all
things that shall be, therefore it is said in ver. 2. _Write thee all
the words which I have spoken to thee in a book._ By this meane making
the Prophecie clearer, by relating in a cleare style, whatever the
Prophets had fore-told; imitating _Moses_, the last words of whose song
are, _Sing, O ye Nations, with his people_, in _Deut._ 32.43. Also the
last words which he spake, after that he had blessed the Tribes, are
these, _Happy art thou, O_ Israel: _who is like to thee, O people? saved
by the Lord, who is the sheild of thy help, and the sword of thy
excellency; and thine enemies shall be found lyars to thee, and thou
shalt tread upon their high places_, in _Deut._ 33.29. From whence it
appeares, that God will revenge the bloud of _Israel_, which had been
shed. _Joel_ confirmes the same in ch. 3.19. _Ægypt shall be a
desolation_, and _Edom shall be a filthy desert, for the violence, and
injury offered to the_ Jewes, _and because they have shed innocent bloud
in their Land_. And as they shall be punished by the just judgement of
God, who wish us evill: so also God will give blessings upon them who
favour us. And those are the trees of the field which then shall
rejoyce. So God saith to _Abraham_, in _Gen._ 12.3. _I will blesse them
who blesse thee, and curse them that curse thee._
_SECT. 37._
These are the things which I could gather concerning this matter, which
hath not been heretofore handled; from whence these consequences may be
deduced.
1. That the _West-Indies_, were anciently inhabited by a part of the ten
Tribes, which passed thither out of _Tartary_, by the Streight of
_Anian_.
2. That the Tribes are not in any one place, but in many; because the
Prophets have fore-told their return shall be into their Country, out of
divers places; _Isaiah_ especially saith it shall be out of eight.
3. That they did not returne to the second Temple.
4. That at this day they keep the _Jewish_ Religion.
5. That the prophecies concerning their returne to their Country, are of
necessity to be fulfilled.
6. That from all coasts of the World they shall meet in those two
places, _sc._ _Assyria_, and _Ægypt_; God preparing an easie, pleasant
way, and abounding with all things, as _Isaiah_ saith, ch. 49. and from
thence they shall flie to _Jerusalem_, as birds to their nests.