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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	let_v	lord_n	soul_n	2,937	5	5.5712	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71105	Generation-work, or, A brief and seasonable word offered to the view and consideration of the saints and people of God in this generation, relating to the work of the present age, or generation we live in wherein is shewed, I. What generation-work is, and how it differs from other works, II. That saints in the several generations they have lived in, have had the proper and peculiar works of their generations, III. That it is a thing of very great concernment for a saint to attend to and be industrious in, the work of his generation, IV. Wherein doth the work of the present generation lye, V. How each one in particular may find out that part or parcel of it, that is properly his work in his generation, VI. How generation-work may be so carried on, as that God may be served in the generation / by John Tillinghast ...	Tillinghast, John, 1604-1655.	1655 (1655)	Wing T1175; Wing T1177; Wing T1178; ESTC R17254	317,518	510

people have their li●erty and in that respect as to their particulars are well yet if they see the work of the time at a stand let it not be grievous or be imputed to discontent in case they mourn as did Daniel look sad as did Nehemiah groan and complain they are sick And sometimes I have thought that when Daniel did mourn and afflict himself before God the second time three full weeks Chap. 10.2 upon the account that the work of God in that age was put to a stand by the power as is by good men judged of Cambyses Cyrus Son reigning while his Father was abroad in the wars that had Cambyses been a good man or a man likely to have been prevailed with Daniel undoubtedty would as did the Prophets before him frequently to the good Kings of Israel have made other applications in that case and accounted the doing thereof his duty than barely to the Lord alone Nay it is a mercy to Governours themselves to have applications in things of this nature made unto them for Woe be to those Governors to whom Gods people fearing or being without hopes in making address when they so●esee sufferings coming upon his cause retire themselves and spread the affliction of their souls before the Lord alone Yet let me also say it is a thing most certain and that which is a prejudice to the very cause in the hearts of many and ought to be matter of grief to all that Saints in most places at this day whilst they are crying that their Fathers work might go on do act too much like men and shew too much of their own spirits yea are very consused as to the making out the things themselves would have and moreover have many falling into their party that injure the very cause they stand up in But I earnestly wish it might be considered that although the child when it cries cannot alwayes give a rational account of the cause of its so doing yea possibly may oftentimes discover much peevishness and passion in crying yet doth it not ever cry without a cause and the wisdome of the Father is not so intent upon the weaknesses of the child in crying as to find out the cause why it cries And farther should not many and great weaknesses appear in those who stand up for Christs Kingdome how should his Kingdome come without observation no greater observation than of holiness if so be the appearance of that in them were to be eminently visible John came with much outward Holinesse and hee came with great observation Yea whether when the strife rose first betwixt the Brethren of the Presbyterian and Congregational way in England did not many who yet had truth and Christ did afterwards own before the world strive in many things like foolish peevish Children and whether in the times of the Apostles throughout the Primitive ages and almost ever since have not the croud of errors alwayes run into that side where truth hath been the reason is because the grand enemies design is to sow his tares in his enemies filed his own where as yet his title is not questioned nor shaken he will not meddle with These things therefore with others of a like nature are not to be made definitive Conclusions as to a cause which oftentimes God permits for the trial of Rulers patience his peoples faith and the carrying on of his own cause in a cloud which is the way he goes in in most of his works of wonder Governors because of these miscarriages may inflict civil penalties if they will yet let it bee considered that the great King is now coming to his Throne and there is not a Ruler in the world but hath his standing only protempore to whom as all must give an account so must they shortly surrender their Crowns or they shall be taken from them and if any of the subjects of this mighty King whilst they see their King upon his march and are followed with hourly intelligence that he is neer and such and such things must be done in order to his entertainment by speaking some words for their King that things may be in a readiness and by giving abroad what intelligence they have to that end shall offend and suffer any thing for it let it be remembred that when the righteous King is sate upon his Throne these things will not be husht up but it shall then be known whether such as shall so do exceeded their Commission or not did their own or the Lord Christs will My Lord That through multitude of words I may neither tire your patience nor incur the censure of being one that loves to hear himself speak I shall wave some things which otherwise I would yet have added and draw to a Conclusion only leaving with your Highness three or four plain sober and in my opinion necessary words 1 Let your Highness oft remember and set before you the example of that good man Asa who though he were a man of much zeal for God and his Worship destroying the Altars of the strange gods and the High places breaking down the Images cutting down the Groves c. a man of a tender conscience therefore removed his Mother from being Queen because she made an Idol in a Grove a man of much faith in the field by which faith of his he vanquished the huge host of Zerah the Ethiopian yet having made one eminent turn from God as one turn from God makes way for another he is afterwards in a rage at reproof and casts the Prophet into prison that reproved him and at the very same time oppresseth the people of the LAND and after all what will Sin bring even a good man to When Gods hand is upon him for this he seems as a man stubborn and seeks not to the Lord but to the Physicians which that it may never be your Highness case is my prayer 2 Let your hand be no way lifted up against any of the Saints in this Nation It was a good Position laid down by Dr. Goodwin in a Sermon preached upon Psal 105 14 15. before the Parliament that was at the time when the Brethren of the Presbyterian way had the turning of the Wheel and as well proved viz. That the dealing well or ill with the Saints is and hath ever been the great interest of States and Kingdoms that on which their welfare or ruine depends All Sodome made not the hands of those four Kings Abraham routed Gen. 14. so weak as their fingring one Lot 3 Pursue not too hotly every righteous principle It is an Observation of Dr. Owens worthy never to be forgotten preached when time was in a Sermon of his upon Ezek. 17.24 to the aforesaid powers concerning principles that men take up his words are these page 21.22 The most tremendous judgement of God in this world is the hardning the hearts of men Now saith he first Look on Pharaoh of whom it is most signally spoken that God

be ensnared and polluted by any through the least compliance with or liking of the great Whore that hath deceived and defiled so many with her abeminations We are afraid because we have neglected it so much and so long lest you should forget to study and enquire into the great and marvellous things that God is doing for exaltation of his own name and Son And what the Saints ought to do for God at such a time as this Vnlike to the Children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do We are afraid because we are so carnal and walk so much by sense our selves that there should not be such a living by faith amongst you as the word and dispensations of God require especially when we hear so many of those who formerly hoped and quietly waited for the Redemption of Gods chosen now being fearful and unbeleeving speak like Mary How shall this thing be seeing we know not how it should be brought to pass We are afraid likewise because our own hands are so heavy and we unable of our selves to keep them steady lest your hands of prayer should be let down at this time and Amaleck should prevail against Israel And if these things should be found amongst you of which we must confess our selves to be very guilty how ought you and we to fear and tremble and lye low before the Lord being very unworthy of and unthankful for all those great and terrible things which his hand hath wrought for us And if we have not had nor yet have hearts holy and heavenly and spiritual enough to walk before him with under his former and present dispensations towards us how shall we be able to stand before the Son of Man when he shall appear in far greater power and glory And to follow him in those strange and untrodden Paths that he hath yet to lead his people in and thorow Surely it is now time for us having been hitherto so much wanting in it to consider our hearts and ways and those wayes that the Lord calls us to wait upon him in Surely it is now time for us who have left our first Iove to the Lord Jesus for which we have cause to be ashamed before the Lord not onely to remember from whence we are fallen and to do our first works to love him as much we have done formerly but having tasted more of his goodness and seen more of his glory and hoping to behold much more of it to love him more than ever we did and oh that we had hearts to do it at this time Surely it is now time for those Saints that have had and have their hearts espoused to carnal and worldly interests as outward glory honor riches c. to look up to the Lord and to get their hearts dis-ingaged and set loose from the world and the things of the world and to be for ever hereafter without so much as a thought of seeking great things for themselves as becommeth Saints Surely it is now time for the Spouse and all the professed friends of Christ to cast off and abandon all acquaintance and compliance with Antichrist and to keep themselves so pure and to approve themselves so true to Christ that if the Devil should tempt them as he did their Lord by profering them all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory of them yet never to fall down and any way worship that Beast It argued a very chaste and faithful heart in that worthy Man Master John Knox unto Jesus Christ that when Edward the Sixth King of England offered him a Bishopricke he refused it as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo something of Antichristianism in it Surely it is now time for us not onely to beleeve in Christ which many think is all they need to do but also to own him in this hour of his patience wherein he looks to beowned by his Saints lest he frown upon us in the day of his great power and glory which draweth near And Brethren let us make it our chief even our onely Design and count it our greatest Priviledge though we shall be men wondered at for it to follow and serve the Lord Christ in faithfulness and like Luther in the cause of Christ be content though our low and carnal hearts may tremble at the very thoughts of it to undergo the hatred and violence of the whole world Neither let us be too much troubled nor offended at those changes alterations and desolations which do and may and as Christ hath said will attend the going on and advancement of his Kingdom in the world which was that which some may be wel-meaning people objected to Luther That that doctrin could not be of God that was attended with such troubles and desolations who replyed thus Ego nisrtumultus istos viderem Christum in mundo esse non crederem Vnless I should see those troubles and tumults I should not beleeve Christ to be in the world So Brethren if we should hear of Wars and Commotions and upon the earth distress of Nations with perplexity mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth let us not be terrified nor offended but as our Savior hath bidden us look up and lift up our heads for our redemption draweth nigh And because it is high time awake Awake oh Saints lift up your hearts and cry mightily unto the Lord and never hold your peace day nor night and give him no rest for it will not be long till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the Earth Stand therefore with your loyns girded about and your lights burning And ye your selves like men that wait for their Lord who cometh as he hath said as a Thief in the night who may be upon you before you are aware in an hour that you think not of And however you may be hardly used and beaten of your Fellow-servants and Brethren too who say their Lord delayeth his coming Yet be not wearied nor faint in your minds because of these things but be ye patient Brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the Husband-man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain Be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh Grudge not one against another Brethren lest ye be condemned behold the Judge standeth before the door For he cometh he cometh to judge the earth He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with his truth And you that are of a fearful heart be strong and fear not behold your God will come with vengeance even God with a recompence he will come and save you and will perform all his good word towards you and give you an expected end Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward For

is my present work without delay to do For that which I find will further my joy in death I may conclude is my duty in my life and if a duty in my life and onely lifes present time is certain to me then may I assure my self it is my present work the neglect whereof as no pretence how specious soever can excuse it so the doing thereof will admit of no delays though there may seem never so great cause in reason for the same O have not then that work to doe at death the neglect whereof though thou mayst go to Heaven will lessen thy joy in thy journey 6 And lastly But how may Generation-work be carryed on so as that God may be served in the Generation In answer hereunto I shall lay done some Rules for direction and so conclude 1 Labor to find out what the work of thy Generation is and in what things chiefly it consists A right Principle and a rectified Judgement must ever goe before practice or otherwise practice would be irregular Now for our help herein some light already hath been given in discussing the two former Questions which by observing times and dispensations searching the Scriptures converse with Saints and seeking God that Christian who desires to be found in this work may for his own satisfaction add unto which work as very needful in this point to the end he may go by his own eyes and not by others I here commend to him and leave him to 2 Be humbled for it in case thou hast failed in the work of the former Generation It is as hath been observed Gods way to punish the errors of men in one Generation by blinding them to and laying them by in the work of another Generation which punishment in it self most sad hath yet a particular dispensation going along with it exempting all such from the penalty who for their failings in the former Generation have taken shame to themselves publishing their former errors and humbling themselves for it in the next Generation which you may read Ezek 43.10 11. Son of man show the house of Israel that they may be ashamed of their iniquities and let them measure the pattern And if they be ashamed of all that they have done shew them the form of the house and the fashion thereof and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and all the forms thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and all the laws thereof and write it in their sight that they may keep the whole form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and do them The Law of Reprieval exempting the offendor from this heavy penalty of being blinded to and cast out of the present work of God in the Generation he lives in ●is conditional if they be ashamed then show them but in case they be not ashamed but still justifie themselves in and own their former errors then of necessity the contrary follows shew them not the present work but rather let them be blinded to it hide from them the form of the house and the fashion thereof and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and the Ordinances thereof and the Laws thereof Let all be hidden from them and they laid by as to the whole and every part of it in case they be not ashamed 3 Convert private cares which onely concern thine own particular condition into cares for the publick and the Cause of Christ on foot Most of Gods people spend their time wholly in caring about their condition whether it shall go well or ill with them as to their particulars making it no part or at most but a little part of their care how it fares with the cause of God in the world Now as this care is too low for a Saint to be ever poring about so is it one main reason why after many years of care a dissatisfaction still remains in their spirits about the thing because they have not learnt to leave this care with God and to care more for the work of God and the glory of God Thus did Moses Num. 14. The people are in a hurly-burly and talk of a new Captain vers 4. and stoning such as would disswade them vers 10. Moses now in this tumult lays aside the care of his own particular safety and makes it his utmost care to divert the wrath of God that he now saw coming upon the people as vers 13 14 c. And hath not Christ himself left us a sweet example of this who when he was entring upon his great work of dying seems to neglect his own particular and makes it his great business to fortifie his Disciples against the storm approaching by giving them a seal of his love in his last Supper preaching a Sermon of Soul-consolation to them and also praying to his Father with much faith and fervency in their behalf and which is observable in his Sermon and Prayer both for one word spoken to himself and in his own behalf he speaks hundreds to them and to his Father in theirs Admirable is that of Paul 2 Tim. 1.11 who seems to forget his own salvation that he might mind his work whereunto he was appointed for he takes no more thought about that but onely to leave it with God I know whom I have beleeved and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day As to say I have trusted God with that I le venture that upon his care but in his work and for the cause of Christ he suffers all things and runs all hazzards that he might be found faithful thereunto I am appointed a Preacher and an Apostle and a Teacher of the Gentiles For the which cause I also suffer these things 4 Stand loose and dis-engaged from private interests Private interest of honor profit friends c. hath oft times been a snare to men and slurred them in yea sometimes drawn them to oppose the work of their Generation A private interest of profit though coloured over with a pretence of sacrifice led Saul to the sparing of Agag and the best of the flock contrary to the work of his Generation which was to have destroyed all as 1 Sam. 15.2 3. This proved a snare to him and for this as before he is cashiered by God It was a private interest of honor that made the Pharisees oppose Christ because the multitude which before adored them as Gods did now withdraw from them and follow him and so miscarry in the work of their Generation It was a private interest of relations that made Solomon faulter so foulely in the work of God in his days his wives drawing him to idolatry It was a private interest of friendship with wicked men because great men viz. joyning with Ahab and Ahaziah that brought the greatest blur and scourge too that wee read of upon good Jehosaphat in his days What shall I say more It was private interest made the

King with acclamations which is all that such poor creatures as we are can do for him Nay if it be a duty to expect from God returns of our prayers then it is also a duty to have inspection even into publick affairs so far as the managing of these may have a tendency to the furtherance or hinderance of those good things which we hope we have been graciously holpen by the Lord and also had some favorable smiles of his acceptance in seeking his face for Nay if it be a duty to observe and follow God in the way of his visible dispensations or on the contrary a sin to be of a sluggish temper not regarding the works of the Lord nor considering the operation of his hands then of necessity must there be a reflection upon the publick actings of instruments either in a way of owning or disowning without which no observation can be made of Gods dispensations or our duty in this respect Nay lastly If it be a duty to mourn for the sins of Rulers to mourn when Christs cause lies bleeding then certainly it cannot be evill to have inspection into the one and the other And notwithstanding it is a more precious thing in a Christian to be found watching in his own heart and ways than to be prying into the waies and actings of others for which cause so far as this is neglected the common accusation laid to the charge of those who contend for the Kingdom of Christ without as if they did neglect the Kingdom of Christ within is a thing most just Yet let it withall be considered that the doing of the one layes no necessity upon a man of a neglect of the other for if there be but any thing of truth in that opinion it will be hard to say God hath laid a necessity upon us to neglect our hearts whilst which yet is a thing he wills us to do we are seeking after his truth And if through that corruption that is within any man should so do doth not this evill attend him as well in other studies as this by consequence therefore from this principle no truth must be inquired into But I have observed in this day a close design of the Devil driven on under this vizard and no wonder for Satan himself is now transformed into an Angel of light and I can the better speak it having felt when time was this temptation and thereby learned these who Lessons 1 To discern somewhat of the depths of Satan viz. That he perceiving the work that God is about to do in the world and knowing full well how acceptable a thing i● is to God as well as advantagious to the work it self to have his Children following him in his great designs and how provoking the thing will be if by any sleight he can but make them like Peter cross the Lord in his way and thwart God in his work God as a man in like case would do resenting one error of this nature worse than forty of another kind and knowing also that to say to them in plain language neglect this or oppose that without some very specious and glorious pretence would be no boot he therefore now comes forth as the most glorious Saint that ever came into the world and tels them that they must look to their own hearts for this is a blessed thing and therefore they must beware of such and such things for if they once meddle with them then farewel their hearts and to set a better face upon the business whilst he disswades these he sets on work some that are marked in their fore-heads for his children giddily and furiously to broach and set on foot those very things and designs he disswades the other from and then saith he now see whether this generation of men go and where you had been had you followed them 2 I have learned likewise to discern somewhat of the depths of the heart which would exercise the highest pride under a pretext of great holiness and humility for it being indeed a most blessed thing to attend to inward purity and mortification wherein lies the glory of a Christian now saith the heart how strangely do such and such contend for this outward thing and the other well I will follow none of them but I will attend to the mortification of the inward man I am sure in that I shall be right Now with this conceit the man goeth on secretly blessing and lifting up himself and he turns him and looks him round and loe all are out of the way but he Pride as it quickly grows upon such a root so is it more abominable to God by how much it is more spiritual then that which may yee discover it self more outwardly Yet let me say thus doth the Devil and mans heart at this day marvellously deceive many precious Saints in this thing who are apt to think that they cannot mind these things and as they should study and look to their hearts too Whereas indeed it argues a Childish temper in a man to think that he cannot learn the things of his heart or keep the same up for God any longer then it is exercised in those truths which more immediately concern the heart and life and have their foundation in Christian experience as if those truths which lie out of the reach of my experience as a Christian and more imediately concern Gods Cause and Glory without had not in them as natural a tendency to give a soul a sight of God and as great an efficacy to cause the heart to cleave to God and walk humbly with him as truths that lye within the r●ach of my experience Nay I will here be bold to say that that soul who faithfully followeth God in those things wherein his glory is more immediately concerned shall learn more of his heart as it were by the by and have the same better ordered then shall that man who neglecting this makes that his continual study for it is not by our poring that we come to know our hearts nor by our struggling to mend them so much as indeed by laying them in that path where Christ in this or that day more commonly goes and waiting there to receive life and strength from him And farther My Lord as for contenting themselves with their own liberty which is the great thing objected to us our injoyment whereof as yet is indeed a mercy beyond what the people of God far more deserving in former ages have had the people of God could at this day do it were it not but that the sufferings of Christs cause their prayers having been long going forth and their hopes raised are now more unto them than any sufferings of their own And as Daniel first and Nehemiah afterwards though they for their own particulars were well in the Court of the King of Persia yet could not be well because it went not well with Gods cause at that day so notwithstanding Gods

the substance hereof there is more in it than barely my private conjecture And although this bui●ding may have in it much Wood Hay and Stubble which shall be burnt up yet is there also in it some Mines of Gold and precious Stones not hitherto found out which will abide the fire and the day is not far off which will make experiment of both And if in that day it shall appear that to a pound of dross but a grain of truth which before lay hid and buryed is here dug up and brought to light I shall judge Truth is of so great worth the Lord in this Dispensation to have been gracious to me and my labour notwithstanding many mis-apprehensions to be well bestowed Gold at first digging never comes forth without its dross And truly since I composed the same and saw that a very little time waiting would either prove the things asserted to be false Or if true bring them forth with a more general acceptation and conviction of the Truth thereof than I either now do or can expect it should meet with I judged it a point of prudence to forbear a while this enterprize But two considerations at present are upon me which over-ballance my resolutions the contrary way First A perswasion some part of my grounds for which are offered in the Discourse it self that a very cloudy day is to befall the Church of Christ under the Vial we at this day stand under some shadowings of which cloud though not the dismal storm it sends forth will even reach us here in England either in one way or another to which perswasion I have likewise and that from some ground this consideration added That God hath a special design to the end the faith of his people might not wholly fail them in this day upon the brink or beginning of it to let out such a light as to the great things he is doing in the world as shall wonderfully support the hearts of a remnant of his people and that quite through it Secondly That the very thing which shall set on foot that glorious work of Christ against Antichrist which is the principal part or the subject of this discourse shall be a letting out of light into the world a little before the time comes that the work is to be set on foot Hence Revel 18.1 immediately before the ruin of Rome as the principal leading cause thereto the Earth which before was covered with darkness as to the glorious designs of God as touching his work in the world is upon the sudden enlightned and what is the issue hereof why a speedy and irresistable judgement upon Babylon as the whole Chapter shews us These Considerations have made me think that as the people of God cannot in any way perform a more acceptable peece of service to the Lord Jesus in this day than by giving forth that light the Lord either doth or shall give them so likewise can they not in any work they shall put their hand unto do Antichrist a greater mischief next to his destruction it self than they may in this The Author acknowledgeth himself altogether unworthy of the first unfit and unable every way in himself to the second yet willingly would to the measure of his Talent be found in both He confesseth that neither in this nor any thing else that he doth hath he or can he attain thereto to have his heart and aimes so pure and spiritual a● it is fit they should and as he would they were yet resolveth that through grace assisting him neither the Devil no no● his sin shall make him throw aside that work in which he may do Christs cause or people any service Antichrist any mischief Which that it may be the fruit of this little peece is and shall be his prayer CHAP. I. Wherein is set forth the state or condition of the Two Witnesses within their Prophecying time and the time of their being killed and that from Rev. 11. ver 3. to 13. SECT 1. HAving in the fore-going Preface delivered so much as I judged meet by way of Preamble unto this our Discourse I shall here without spinning out the time or tiring the Readers patience whilst I detain him upon the way about things of lesser concernment enter strait way upon the thing it self That the Two Witnesses are the Magistracy and the Ministry appears to me a thing without dispute the allusion is so clear to Zerubbabel and Joshua compare Rev. 11 4. with Zech. 4 11 14. of which two one was chief Magistrate the other chief Priest and both these Prince and Priest were Sons of Oyl i.e. anointed in times of old therefore by Zechary and John both called two Olive trees Onely there is as Mr. Woodcock in his Treatise of the Two Witnesses hath observed this twofold difference betwixt the Type and the Antitipe 1 Ze●hary sees two Olive Trees but no Temple But John sees first a Temple ver 1. and then two Olive trees The reason is they in Zecharies time had as yet no Temple built but were to begin the world anew But now the work of Johns two Witnesses is not to build a Temple anew so much as to preserve and keep that they had 2 Zechary seeth two Olive trees and but one Candlestick John two Olive Trees and two Candlesticks the reason is this Zechary wrote in the time of the Law whilst the Church was National and so the two did belong to one Church John in Gospel-times when Churches were Congregational and so the two might be of several Churches Now the thing which doth yet further perswade me to hold to this Exposition is That excellent Analogie it carries with it to that of the two Beasts Chap. 13. which two Beasts as I have made appear upon the Vials p. 101 to 108. are no other but Antichrist in his Civil and Ecclesiastical State or the Magistracy and Ministry of Antichrist Now observe it as Antichrist by a twofold power a power Magisterial and Ministerial doth all the time of the Two and forty moneths oppress the Woman drive her into the Wilderness tread under foot the Holy City i.e. the People Truths and Worship of Christ so doth Christ all this time by the very same twofold power comfort and nourish the woman bear witness unto and maintain his own truth and worship alive in the world So that in short Christ raiseth up his Two Witnesses in opposition to Antichrists two Beasts Antichrist for Forty two moneths or One thousand two hundred and sixty days stands up with two Beasts to blaspheme God persecute the Saints tread under foot the Holy City Christ against him stands up with Two Witnesses to maintain his name and honor cherish his people uphold his cause and worship in the world And as Antichrists two Beasts are no other but the false Magistracy and Ministry so contrariwise Christs two Witnesses are his true Magistracy and Ministry SECT II. THey are called Witnesses their name being

given them from their work because their work is to bear witness for Christ against the Beast and that each in his place all the Forty two months that the Beast doth Tyrannize and the Holy City is trodden underfoot The Magistrate as a Magistrate bearing publick witness against the unjust oppressions of the Beast and his lawless Tyranny over the Estates and bodies of men yea and consciences too The Minister as a Minister against the cursed institutions of Antichrist either in Doctrine or Discipline Here its necessary we distinguish betwixt that general witness-bearing that is common to all ages and that special witness-bearing which is peculiar to these Witnesses and to this time viz. of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days There is a general Testimony which the people of God in all ages give for Christ against the World Sin Satan Oppression Error c. But that testimony barely doth not bring him who bears it within the number of these two Witnesses A Magistrate in his place may oppose Tyranny Oppression c. a Minister in his error and false Doctrine and yet neither of them Christs two Witnesses if there be not in both an opposing themselves to that special evill whether it be in things Civill or Ecclesiastical that was at first brought in or being brought in is upheld by the Beast for the peculiar work of these witnesses and the thing wherein lies the specifical difference betwixt these witnesses and others is That these bear witness for Christ against the Beast Which is most evident 1 Because Christ hath paired his Witnesses in the same manner as the Beast hath his The Beast as but now I observed stands up with two witnesses viz an Antichristian Magistracy and Ministry to maintain his cause On the contrary Christ stands up with two witnesse or a pair of Witnesses viz. a true Magistracy and Ministry to oppose the Beast and maintain his cause 2 Because It s for this Reason Christ entitles them my Witnesses because in Christs behalf they shall stand up against Antichrist as those are said to be such a mans witnesses that bear witness for him against his Adversary All that time the Beast stands up and would perswade the world that he is in the truth and his cause the right these two Witnesses on the contrary stand up and profess before the world that he is the Beast and his cause the cause of Antichrist and not of Christ 3 Which is the principal Reason because the time that these Witnesses bear their witness is the very time of the Beasts reign The time of the Beasts reign and treading under foot the Holy City is Forty two months Rev. 13.5 Chap. 11.2 The time of these two Witnesses is One thousand two hundred and sixty days Vers 3. And I will give power to my two Witnesses and they shall Prophecy one thousand two hundred and sixty days Now that the Forty two months and the One thousand two hundred and sixty days are one and the same I prove not onely from the general consent of Expositors who acknowledge the thing giving this reason for it Because say they forty two mouths reduced into days and reckoning thirty days to each month which is the Grecian account which John writing to the Church of GOD then resident among the Greeks did observe make up the full sum of One thousand two hundred and sixty days not a day over or under But I prove it hence that indeed this thing must needs be so for let it be considered what is the very cause that these two Witnesses wear sackcloth this long term of one thousand two hundred and sixty years the cause is not the sufferings of the Saints thoughout this time for had that been the cause then should these Witnesses have put on their sackeloth more early viz. with the time of the ten first Persecutions which was a day of as sore sufferings as ever any hath been since but then these two Witnesses here mentioned were not in their sackcloth but contrariwise the Woman all that time was cloathed with the Sun Chap. 12.1 the two Witnesses in Sackcloth therefore were not then up But the cause yea the very cause why the Witnesses wear mourning attire is because they hear the continual Blasphemies of the Beast against God his name and Tabernacle and them that dwel in Heaven They see the Holy City the Truths and Worship of Christ trodden under foot by the Beast and they not able to rescue them out of his hands this makes them put on sackcloth and mourn before the Lord. Now consider the term of time that is given to the Beast to continue to do these things is forty two months this being so it will follow that in case this forty two months were a time either longer or shorter than the one thousand two hundred and sixty days then must also the witnesses wearing sackcloth be by so much longer or shorter then 1260 days for continue the cause and we continue the effect also and contrariwise take away the cause and the effect ceaseth Upon this Principle it being a thing manifestly clear that the 42 months the 1260 days make up but one and the same number of years which also must of necessity begin and end together Hence it is evident that that very act which I may call the constitutive act i. e. the act which makes these Witnesses to be such is bearing witness against the Beast take this away though they may stand up against all the evill that is in the world besides yet are they not Christs Witnesses if they do not in particular appear against the evil of the Beast for if this be not the meaning what reason is or can be given why their witness-Bearing should be thus restrained onely to the time of the Beast seeing in the other sense it s a duty in all ages to bear witness and those Instruments the Lord hath raised up in all ages have done it 1 Hence a man may be a godly man and in a more general way bear witness for Christ and yet none of Christs Two Witnesses 2 Hence it s of more concernment than many are aware of to be inquiring into and publickly appearing against whatsoever is of the Beast though the thing be never so small A man in publick place may cease to be a witness of Christ if publickly he do not bear witness against these things 3 Hence such Laws Principles and Practices as tend to suppress this witness-bearing against the Beast are themselves expressely Antichristian and of the Beast SECT III. THese Witnesses are called two because of the fewness of them say some Because two is a number sufficient to bear a witness and without two a witness is invalid say others I no way disapprove these conjectures but I must confess I judge it most agreeable to the Text to say they are therefore called two because they consist of two sorts or two ranks of men viz. Christs