Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	david_n	king_n	saul_n	12,106	5	9.9774	5	false

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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

those that did sigh and cry for the abominations thereof which was the work God in such an age did call unto as Isay 22.12 13. Yea though Noah Daniel and Job active men living in a perverse backsliding generation cannot ward off Gods blow from the generation yet they shall deliver their own souls Ezek. 14.13 to 22. Personal deliverances shall attend such men in common calamities and National desolations 5 God will reveal his secrets to such Noah in his time had the secret of drowning the old world revealed to him Abraham in his time the secret of Sodoms destruction the secret of Isiaels bondage in Egypt the secret of the Messiah's coming forth of his loyns discovered to him David in his time had that secret where the Temple should be built to him 1 Chron. 22.1 2. compared with 2 Chron. 3.1 Daniel in his time the secret of Nebuchadnezzars dream the secret of the time of Christs coming in the flesh chap. 9.24 25 26. and of the Jews conversion chap. 12.11 12. to him And Peter and Paul in their time the secret of the Gentiles conversion to them Act. 10.9 to 17. Gal. 1.16 17. God having in all generations still made those keepers of his Cabinet who have been faithful in the work of their generations 6 God hath peculiar honor wherewith he will crown those persons that follow him in the work of their generation Moses was eminent in his generation and what peculiar honour had God for Moses Num. 12.6 7 8. If there be a Prophet among you I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him in a dream My servant Moses is not so who is faithful in all my house With him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold In the day of Christs humiliation the Disciples of all other were most eminent in following and owning of Christ and what beculiar honor hath Christ for them above others Mat. 19. ●8 Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed ●e in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in ●he Throne of his glory yee also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel 5 Neglect of Generation-work exposeth a man to a ●orld of dangers as 1 Danger of losing gifts and Talents The sloathful ●ervant mentioned in the Parable Mat. 25. not impro●ng the Talent given him to his Lords advantage in his ●eneration hath his Talent taken from him v. 28. Saul though a wicked man had two great Talents ●mmitted to him by God a Talent of a Kingdom and a ●alent of common gifts of the Spirit fitting him for ●vernment and the discharge of his Office as a King which last is called the Spirit of the Lord yet but a common Talent of Government as is clear because David is no sooner anointed King and the right of Government his but this Talent is taken from Saul as one who now had no longer to do with it 1 Sam. 16.13 14. Both these he loseth by faultring in the work of his Generation as compare 1 Sam. 15.26 28. with Chap. 16 14. 2 Danger of losing communion with God Whilst David was abroad in the field hewing down Gods enemies round about him which was the Master-piece of work God allotted him in his Generation what sweet triumphant communion had he with God a clear testimony whereof is Psal 108. a Psalm most probably composed in the day of his glorious Exploits chronicled 2 Sam. 8. But afterwards when David sending forth his servants about that work which was his work in his Generation betakes himself to his ease in his Palace at the time of the Kings going forth to battel 2 Sam. 11.1 which circumstance of time is therefore I take it with such exactness noted to give us to understand that David ought now to have been abroad in person the work being Gods and not to have sent his Servants without him though we may do our own work by a Proxie yet Gods work calls for our persons how sadly doth he lose his commumon with God falling into that foul sin in the matter of Vriah which was a blemish upon this holy man all his life time afterwards and which although it is sad to consider yet is observable concerning him that notwithstanding God by his Prerogative Royal gave David not only the pardon of his sin but also his life which now by blood-shed though a King was by vertue of that positive command which admits of no exception Gen. 9.6 forfeited as 2 Sam. 12.13 The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye Yet do we not read of any thing remarkable save only defending himself against some domestick insurrections and forreign invasions done by him afterwards as before So also Solomon his son whilst his thoughts ran upon the work of his Generation what communion had he with God God appearing to him once and again and enduing him with wisdome the thing he desired above all that ever were before or since him But when afterward his heart was more taken up with Women than the work of his Generation how did his former communion with God dye and he that before built a house for the worship of the true God now builds high places for Idolatry 1 King 11.7 8. Which sad example ought to be had in perpetual remembrance by such as are imployed in Temple-work the business of this age that it fare not with them as with the builder of the material Temple who first building gold to the true God did afterwards build stubble to a false 3 Danger of being laid aside by God It hath been the ordinary way of Gods dispensations as well in later as former times to make use of some particular instrument for some time in his work whom afterwards before the work hath been brought unto perfection he hath laid aside by which although as not unlikely Gods design may be to remove his peoples eyes from instruments to himself yet it is observable God hath seldome or never cashired a man by him imployed till first by some means or other he hath cashiered himself and which is more to be noted the very thing which hath occasioned the laying of such instruments aside hath mostly if not ever been some miscarriage or other in the work of their Generation that being the fatal Rock such men split upon Once more here let us review that of Saul whom God was pleased for some time to imploy as a scourge to the Ammonites and Philistines and yet afterwards by one error committed in the work of his Generation he is for ever cashiered by God and put out of his work But more strange and worthy observation is that of Moses and Aaron two eminent instruments and both godly which God made singular use of in Aegypt and at the Red Sea in the Wilderness and upon Mount Sinai so appearing to them

But when shall this be Then when the Mountain of the Lords house shall be exalted above the hills and all Nations shall flow unto it vers 2. the time as even now was proved of the Jews conversion So Isa 24.21 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth When shall this be See vers 23. When the Lord of Host shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jer●salem and before his Ancients the people of ancient times chosen and in Covenant with him gloriously So Chap. 30. last Tophet the pit of destruction is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared The meaning is not only an eternal as some carry it but temporal ruine shall attend great ones But when shall this be To that I answer Although in the type it was fulfilled upon Senacherib King of Assyria and his Armies yet the whole Chapter especially from vers 18. hath relation to another time which is that we are speaking of of the Jews conversion as is evident vers 19. For the people shall dwell in Sion at Jerusalem thou shalt weep no more But more clear vers 26. The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun In the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroke of their wound 5 The establishment of Justice and Righteousness in the world as Isa 1.26 27. And I will restore thy Judges as at first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called the City of righteousness the faithful City Zion shall be redeemed with judgement and her Converts with righteousness Chap. 54.14 In righteousness shalt thou be established thou shalt be far from oppression So Chap. 60 18. I will make thine Officers peace and thine Exactors righteousness Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt cal thy walls Salvation and thy gates Praise These places as already hath been shewn looking all to the time of the Jews redemption 6 The pouring out of more abundance of the Spirit Joel 2.28 And it shall come to pass afterwards that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh When shall this be Even then when in Mount Sion and Jerusalem shall be deliverance as vers 32. or more clearly then when God shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem as Chap. 3.1 For although Peter Acts 2. speaks of these words as fulfilled in his time yet was that only in the beginning the powring down of the Spirit then being not so general as that here promised and that which shall be upon the coming in of the Jews So Zach. 12.10 And I will poure upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication So Isa 32.15 Vntil the Spirit be poured upon us from on high It is observable that the giving forth of the Spirit at this time is set forth by this word of pouring noting abundance that shall then be given forth more than in former ages 7 As an effect of the former Increase of light and grace as Isa 30.26 Moreover the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven dayes in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroke of their wound Chap. 52.8 They shall see eye to eye i.e. clearly when the Lord shall bring again Sion See both Zach. 12.8 He that is fecble in that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them Which that it relates to the time of the Iews call the whole Chap. is proof 8 The exaltation of the Lord Christ alone as King Isa 2 11. The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Chap. 24.23 The Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Sion and in Ierusalem and before his Ancients gloriously Chap. 2 3 4. Out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem and he shall judge among the Nations Zach. 14.9 The Lord shall be King over all the Earth All which places I have already proved to speak this time So Isa 33.22 The Lord is our King he will save us When is this Ans● then when Ierusalem shall be a quiet habitation vers 20● Look unto Sion the City of your solemnities Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation Ezek. 37.24 And David my Servant Christ of whom David was a type shall be King over them And to what time doth this look to that time in which Israel and Judah shall be gathered together and brought to their own Land and be made again one Nation upon the mountains of Israel as vers 21 22. Thus have I done with the second thing viz. the things foretold to be done in this age 3 The third is to observe the visible dispensations of God towards the age we live in and in case upon inquiry these be found to answer to what God hath foretold they shall be in that age in which the Jews shall be converted then this will not onely serve for discovery of the thing in hand wherein the work of this Generation lyes but also adde a beam of light unto the former viz. That we are fallen into that age in which the Jews shall be converted Onely here I would carry this along with me that in regard as yet things are but coming on therefore many things before this Generation is over may be transacted which yet we see little of But in case it appear that transactions begin already to agree with the things foretold and promised have we not ground then to hope things coming on apace every day that before this Generation expires wee shall see most if not all fully accomplished Let us then compare what God hath promised to the age we speak of with present dispensations and see what way Gods dispensations are making or have already made towards the performance of them 1 For the bringing in of the Jews is not a fair way made to that already by that general expectation they have of their Messiah's comming in this age as Manasseth Ben. Israel before quoted is witness sect 29.35 as also by that light that at present is amongst them which the aforesaid Author in several of his Sections declares into many of those Prophecies of the Old Testament which directly point at their call 2 For the Conversion of the Gentiles Not to speak of the great conversions of late near home in poor Wales and some parts of Ireland and the hopeful way we are in by the going out daily of poor despised Labourers into the Lords Vineyard of a large Harvest is it not admirable that in this age and that within a few years each of

see the day of Israels redemption which therefore they shall wait upon God for Both these are expressed Isa 60.9 Surely the Isles shall wait for me Thirdly They shall be such who shall be very considerable and strong in shipping having multitudes of ships at their command as this in the following words and the ships of Tarshish first Tarshish was a place very considerable for Navigation and Shipping in time of old for which reason the Scripture never speaks of great ships strong ships or multitude of ships but they are called by the name of the Ships of Tarshish 2 Chron. 9.21 Psal 48.7 Isa 2.16 Ezek. 27.25 Now this people dwelling in the Isles and so strong in shipping shall be the first that shall put their hands to this work The Isles shall wait for me and the ships of Tarshish first to bring thy Sons from far and thy Daughters from the ends of the earth Fourthly What if I say they shall be a people under a State Government for such a kind of Government of old had the Philistims the power of Government among them residing not in one man but in many which in Scripture are called the Lords of the Philistims Now this people who shall assist the Jews at this day are Isa 11.14 likened to the Philistims of old they shall flye upon the shoulders of the Philistims how not in qualities or conditions for the Philistims were ever enemies to Israel and these are friends but rather in the form of their Government the Philistims were governed by a State so shall these These are the characters let the Reader refuse or apply them as he pleaseth Now because the thing aimed at in pouring forth this Vial concerns the Jews more especially and their Restauration as hath appeared in our Discourse hitherto and because the thoughts of good men are various and their notions and conceptions very different in the point of the Jews first stirring some conceiving the same to be upon a Civil account only to recover their Country and their conversion to be some years after Others judging that they shall at the first be converted to the faith of the Gospel and their stirring to arise from that the right understanding of which mystery is a thing of such importance either opinion having seemingly much footing in the Prophecies of the Old Testament as that without some further light then as yet I have seen the Prophecies relating to this people and the time of their return cannot be brought to a joynt concurrence and harmony one with another I shall therefore not boasting of any light that I have above others having reason enough to be otherwise minded but as one willing with others to seek after and if it may be to find the truth offer here in the close of this Discourse and that in as few words as I can my own present thoughts concerning the thing which are That the first stirring or moving of this people shall be as I conceive from some notable work of God upon the hearts of some who shall at this day be Principal ones or Leaders amongst them working in them a sincere earnest and longing desire to find the Lord their God Hereupon arising themselves and stirring up others to arise with them now to go unto Sion unto the Lord their God which we have Jer. 31.6 For there shall be a day that the Watchmen upon the Mount of Ephraim who was head of the ten Tribes for which reason the Restauration here spoken of must be their last which is yet to come shall say Arise yee and let us go up to Sion unto the Lord our God and vers 9. wee have the manner of their coming They shall come with weeping and with supplication will I lead them Qualifications not proper to such persons who move only upon a Civil account and for worldly ends So Chap. 50.4 5. speaking of the frame they shall be in whilst as yet they are but upon the way In those dayes and at that time saith the Lord if the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Judah together going and weeping They shall go and seek the Lord their God They shall ask the way to Sion with their faces thitherward saying Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten Which Text was not fulfilled in the return from Babylon when Judah only not Israel and Judah together did return but manifestly looks to their last Restauration so Isa 51.11 we have a contrary affection arguing the inward joy and delight they shall have in this journey from considering whither and about what they are going viz. to Sion to seek their Lord The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Sion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads So Hos 3.5 they go seeking the Lord Afterwards shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and they shall fear the Lord and his goodness When in the latter dayes Chap. 1.10 11. at their beginning to stir before yet they are come forth the place of their captivity shall be called the children of the living God It shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them ye are not my people there shall it be said unto them ye are the Sons of the living God Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves one head and they shall come up out of the land for great shall be the day of Jezreel Now those amongst them who from such an inward desire and principle shall move themselves and put others upon it shall be as I conceive persons under a state of true conversion to God being now delivered from the curse before they lay under and that hardness which before was upon them though the particular Revelation of Christ as come in the fiesh shall not as yet be manifested to them but with a strong breathing after the Lord and a general faith in the Messiah whom they shall truly beleeve in look for but as to come they shall now go seeking after the Lord and David or Christ their King and this faith of theirs though for want of New-Testament light it be not a New-Testament faith i.e. a faith in Christ as come already yet shall the same be true faith though running in the Old Testament way they having yet no higher light for such was the faith of Gods people of old before Christ came a looking to the Messiah which was to come acknowledging their salvation to be only from him and earnestly breathing and longing after the day of his appearance And these persons who shall have already this true saving work begun in them shall by converse with and beholding the holiness grace and love of those Gentile Christians who shall be instruments to help them in their land have a farther work wrought in

clear Prophesie of the glory riches duration vast extent of this Kingdome agreeing in many things with that glorious Prophesie Isa 60. is intituled A Psalm for Solomon yet in respect of Christ the King or Monarch in this Kingdome David in Scripture is ever the Type and not Solomon because Solomon after he was sate upon the Throne did foulely back-slide to Idolatry but David did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. This voyce coming from the Throne intimates what I have been speaking that now Christs Throne shall be set up and himself sit upon it as Chap. 21.5 which also we have Chap. 3.21 To him that overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne The Throne Christ here speaks of is a distinct Throne from his Fathers Throne such a Throne as he was not to sit on till he should come from his Fathers Throne for saith he the Throne I am upon at present is my Fathers Throne which I overcoming am priviledged to sit upon but I have a Throne of my own which I shall one day sit upon when he that overcometh shall sit down with me on this my Throne as I now by overcoming am set down with my Father on his Throne which as it proves Christ shall have a Throne distinct from that on which he now sits so also it confirms what I said even now that the Dominion or the Throne is not to be given to the Saints untill such time as Christ himself comes and sits him down upon his Throne according to that Matth. 19.28 Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel and it is for this reason because the Apostles shall be advanced as chief in this New Jerusalem that Chap. 21.14 tells us that the foundations of this City shall have in it the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And this Throne because not onely Christ himself sits upon it but also his Saints with him is therefore called Thrones in the plural number Rev. 20.4 And I saw Thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them which words exactly agree for time as before I have shewed with this of the seventh Vial. Now whereas this Throne upon which Christ sits and utters his voyce is said to be in the Temple of Heaven it clearly denotes Heaven in the Revelation being always understood of the Church on Earth the erecting of this Throne here below And indeed if we compare with Chap. 21. where we have the same Throne spoken of together with the voyce from it It is done Verse 5 6. it will evidently appear that the New Jerusalem there described is to be understood of a glorious state of the Church here on earth and not as some of Heaven hereafter First Because John sees a New Earth as well as a New Heaven Secondly Because the New Jerusalem is said to come down from God out of Heaven Verse 2. therefore not a description of the Church in Heaven which coming down out of Heaven left we should imagine it as some to be Visional onely namely that John in way of Vision saw it come down but really it is above we have therefore to free us from such a mistake a great voyce added Verse 3. Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men i.e. on earth the place of mens habitation whereas were the New Jerusalem to be understood of Heavenly glory the contrary should be viz. The Tabernacle of men with God Thirdly Because the glory of the Kings of the Earth which glory is outward and of the Nations shall be brought into it Verse 24. The Kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it Verse 26. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the Nations into it Neither of which can agree to Heaven hereafter but do most excellently agree to what is spoken at large in the Prophets of the glorious state of the Church on Earth in the last daies To say as is commonly such of the Kings of the Earth and those of the Nations who shall be converted here shall be there glorified and this to be the bringing of the glory of the Kings and Nations thither To that I answer 1. How can this be said to be their glory which is rather Gods put upon them than theirs 2 How is this brought thither is the glory of Heaven fetched thither from Earth 3 How can they be said to bring it thither who never receive this glory till they come there Fourthly Because it is evident from the 12. and 14. Verses that the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel and the twelve Apostles of the Lamb shall be first or chief in this New Jerusalem but let it be proved from any other Scripture that they shall be so in Heaven hereafter Fifthly Because Chap. 22. which to Verse 6. is a continued description of the New Jerusalem tells us ver 2. of a Tree in this New Jerusalem whose leaves are for the healing of the Nations Now let it be shewn how the Nations shall bee healed in Heaven hereafter Sixthly Because in this New Jerusalem we have express mention made as of the Throne of God so also of the Lamb Chap. 22.1 proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Verse 3. There shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it But now in Heaven hereafter though Christ as God coequal and coeternal with the Father shall reign for ever yet not as the Lamb which is clear 1 Cor. 15.28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all i.e. the humane nature of Christ which dyed for our sins rose again as the Apostle in the foregoing verses speaketh was 〈◊〉 above all the Creatures all the time of the thousand years and the General Judgement according to which nature Christ is said to be the Lamb slain shall now be subjected after the end to the Godhead or Divine nature which in Heaven shall be all in all so that Christ as the Lamb shall not have a Throne there And this Interpretation is not so much mine as Augustines long ago and Calvins since who both speak the same thing confessing a subjection of the humanity of Christ to be here intimated whom I think good here to name not that their Authority nor my saying so proves the thing to be truth but that I might hereby stop the mouths of such who otherwise possibly would be ready to condemn the truth it self for error Yet let none hence conclude as some now adays fancy a cessation of the Humane Nature by being turned

Lord curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the mighty Whereas contrariwise Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite having no other call but this very call Meroz had for though it were prophecied a woman should slay Sisera yet was not that revealed to her or in case it were yet no particular woman named that was no warrant for her in obedience hereto slaying Sisera is doubly blest and that above women as the other is doubly and bitterly cursed Vers 24 25. Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Keni●e be Blessed shall she be above women in the Tent 2 Generation-work is of all others the greatest work and a neglect herein the greatest sin My meaning is that that obligation wherein I stand bound unto the work of my Generation is a greater obligation than that whereby I stand bound to any other duty and my fault or error herein is a greater and more provoking error than any other of my errors which Assertion although it may seem strange yet it appears thus in that God himself doth more delight in and account of that duty performed which is the work of our Generation than he doth of the performance of any other duty although it be a thing especially commanded by himself and on the other side God is more displeased with and provoked by those errors that men commit in the work of their Generation than with any other of their errors whatsoever The first is evident in those words of Samuel to Saul 1 Sam. 15.22 Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offering as in obeying the voyce of the Lord Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams The offering sacrifice was Gods command and a principal part of his worship in those dayes yet when Saul out of pretence of obeying this command of God disobeyed God in that other special command of utterly destroying Amalek which was the great work God had to do and Saul was imployed in in that Generation the Prophet from the mouth of the Lord doth not only reprehend him and condemn his fact but pronounceth these two things upon this occasion now compared together that God did more abundantly delight in and account of the obeying of his voyce in that work which was the work of Sauls Generation than either he did or would do in Burnt-offerings Sacrifices or the fat of Rams though things of his own appointment In a word the meaning is this that obedience to God in that thing which is the work of our Generation is more acceptable to God than the performance of the most special acts of his worship as Sacrifice and Burnt-offerings in those dayes were Hence we find in Scripture which serves further to evidence this that when special Ordinances or acts of worship have come in competition with the work of the Generation Ordinances and acts of worship have yeelded and given place to that Circumcision was a special Ordinance given to Abrahams seed with that severity that the uncircumcised was to be cut off from amongst his people yet forty years together whilst Israel walked in the wilderness the work of that Generation being such as could not with safety to their persons admit of Circumcision which required some fixed abode at least for some time as Josh 5.8 which they were ever uncertain of being to follow the motion of the cloud as Num. 9.17 18 19 20 21 22. Circumcision though Gods Ordinance rather then God will alter the way of his dispensations which he could easily have done for forty years together till Israel was entred Canaan and so from under that dispensation of the cloud must and doth yeeld and give place unto the work of the Generation And which i● yet more not only special Ordinances but also common duties have given place to the work of the Generation To keep inviolate Articles and conditions of peace when made though with a Turk is a duty which the rule of common equity and justice betwixt man and man requires Yet Jael when the work of her generation called for all the help she could lend it though a league were betwixt Jabin King of Hazor and her Husband yet in the time of peace which peace too as far as we can understand betwixt her Husband and this King was kept inviolate as on Jabins part she taking her advantage murders Sisera the chief Captain of Jabin King of Hazor in his Tent and is so far from being blamed as she is commended and blessed by the Holy Ghost for it And as this first is clear so the other viz. That neglect of Generation-work is the greatest sin is as evident not only from the foregoing words of God to Saul 1 Sam. 15.23 paralelling his disobedience herein with sins of the highest and of a scarlet dye as Rebellion Witch-craft and Idolatry but also if we consider how that of all the sins we read of in Scripture we find not any more provoking to the Lord and falling so heavy upon the head of the sinner as offences and neglects in the work of their Generation The Spies who were sent by Moses to view the Land of Canaan because they sinned against the work of their Generation they presently dye of the plague before the Lord. The whole Congregation of Israel not Moses and Aaron excepted because they distrusted the power and goodness of God whereas the great work of that Generation was to trust God and beleeve in his power and goodness which Lesson they were taught by the daily dispensations of God towards them wherein his power and goodness were manifested before them have that heavy and dismal sentence passed upon them That they should never enter into the rest of Canaan but their Carkasses should fall in the Wilderness Num. 14.29 which afterwards God in the way of his providence fulfilled upon them causing them to wander in the Wildemess forty years untill all that Generation was consumed And which is very observable they befides this were guilty of many other grievous sins being Idolaters Fornicators Lusters c. as the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 10. beginning and yet for none of these is the sentence passed upon them but only for their miscarriage in that which was the work of their Generation Heb 3.19 They could not enter in because of their unbeleef Yea wherefore was the unbeleef of the Jews in our Saviours and the Apostles time punished so severely with a breaking off and a rejection for now 1600 years together but because therein they sinned against the work of their Generation which was to beleeve in Christ and imbrace him as the Messiah who they had long expected and God in this age had sent amongst them their crucifying of Christ was a grievous sin but because not a sin against the work of their Generation therefore they are not for that act rejected but contrariwise

door was set open to the Jews to recover their own land yet because Constantinople his chief City was not thereby destroyed therefore in respect of the wrath of God poured out upon that at this day it is here said Great Babylon came now in remembrance before God which words very fitly agree to the ruine of Constantinople but are not appliable either to the ruine of Rome or the Kingdome of the Beast in general both which came up into remembrance and had been actually punished before this day 2 The Inevitableness of this Ruine Vers 20. And every Island fled away and the Mountains were not found Islands and Mountains are places of refuge Men in times of commotion flye to these for shelter as being safer in them than they can be elswhere Now that which tome is a notable confirmation that the words are in this sense to be understood I find the Prophets in other places which relating to this very time serve as a Comment upon the Text intimating that men should at this day either be secure by reason of such shelters or flye to such places for shelter Ezek. 39.6 speaking of the Effects of the Battel of Gog and Magog saith I will send a fire in Magog and among them that dwell carelesly in the Isles as noting that some should at this day think themselves secure by being in Isles places of refuge and shelter The Prophet Isaiah Chap. 2.21 speaking of the day wherein God will arise to shake terribly the earth the same with that shaking Joel 3.16 Hag. 2.6 7. 21 22. tells us that some at that day for fear of the Lord shall flye to the clefts of the Rocks and to the tops of the ragged Rocks noting men shall seek shelter from such places of refuge as the Rocks of Mountains are But so inevitable shall their ruine be that notwithstanding men may flye for shelter to their outward Refuges thinking themselves secure by reason of them yet shall all their refuges and shelters prove no shelter against this storm for every Island shall flye away and the Mountains shall not be found 3 The Greatness of it Vers 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven every stone about the weight of a Talent The Hail from Heaven denotes the more immediate judgements of God which shall fall on his enemies at this day and there may be an allusion to the destruction of the Canaanites by great Hailstones from Heaven Josh 10.11 The greatness of the Hailstones each being about the weight of a Talent notes the judgements God will inflict at this day to be the heaviest and most dreadful that can be a Talent of all weights being the greatest 3 Effect Blaspheming of God And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the Hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great The Eeast lived a Blasphemer now he dyes a Blasphemer and goes blaspheming to the Lake of fire burning with brimstone whither the just judgements of God which when they cannot reform sinners on earth cast them to Hell have now brought him And this is the conclusion of this great day as it respects Gods Enemies which to their woe they shall find and feel to be a black dismal and fatal day though but the beginning of it as it respects the Saints and people of God to whom it shall be the most glorious joyful and lightsome day that ever they beheld When God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and the Lamb and his Servants shall serve him And they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads And this is that New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven the hope of which let it purifie our hearts even as he is pure Let us alwayes have our loyns girded about our lamps burning and we our selves like unto men that wait for the Lord looking earnestly unto and breathing after that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who once was offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him will he appear the second time without sin to salvation When be that now overcometh shall be made a Pillar in the Temple of his God and he shall go no more out And Christ will write upon him the Name of his God and the Name of the City of his God which is New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from his God and he will write upon him his new name And those that do his Commandements shall have right to the Tree of Life and enter in through the Gates into the City when without shall be Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie Which things he hath sent his Angel to testifie in the Churches who is the Root and Off-spring of David and the bright and morning Star Who also himself saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Jesus The Reason of the Order observed in pouring forth the VIALS THe Beast having now for a long time trampled under foot the holy City blasphemed God his Name and Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and exercised his utmost rage and cruelties against all those who holding the testimony of Jesus could not be brought to worship him his Image or receive his Mark in their fore-heads or in their hands and being in all these his insolent and outragious practces animated yea assisted by the Kings of the earth subjecting themselves to him and giving their strength power and Kingdome to the Beast Christ as able no longer to hear the Blasphemies and behold the rage and cruelties of the Beast with all the determined time of redeeming Sion avenging the blood of his Elect on those that dwell on the earth judging the Beast casting down his Thrones and taking the Kingdome to himself being come without delay now rouseth up himself and in his wondrous zeal his power and greatness marcheth forth to judge the great Whore destroy the Thrones of Kingdoms take possession of the Kingdoms of this world and subject them to his own righteous Scepter But finding upon his first Rise that two of his ancient and principal Rights had been long invaded and laid waste by the Enemy namely The glory of his Priesthood upon earth and the exercise of his Kingly Power and Prerogative in his Churches the first by the putrified and filthy stinking puddle of Romish Doctrine which instead of exalting that Righteousness alone in Justification which is pure perfect heavenly did establish a righteousness which was earthly impure full of filthy dregs out of which one poysonous root were grown up innumerable Idolatries viz. the Mass Purgatory Indulgences Invocation of Saints Penance Pilgrimages Monkish life c. by which the glory of Christs Priestly Office was veyled the precious truth of the Gospel perverted and Souls instead of bread of