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,