until seventy years should be accomplished God did not give any such positive commands unto other Generations After this in Ezra's Nehemiah's and Daniels time these Worthies and the Saints of that age had the proper work of their Generation which was to go forth of Babylon and rebuild the Temple of God at Jerusalem which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Thus all along in the times of the Old Testament Gods Church and people in their several Generations have had their several works Let us look to the New Testament which dawned in John the Baptist had not John the proper work of his Generation which was to be the Fore-runner and Harbinger of the Messiah to declare to the Nation of the Jews that the Messiah whom they expected and waited for was now approaching and that the glorious Kingdom of God in the pure administration of the Gospel was at hand and that therefore it did behove every one now to have their eyes and hearts turned from Moses towards him and his administration which was now approaching After him the Apostles in their time had the proper work of their Generation which was to go forth and publish the glad tydings of salvation which before were cooped up within the narrow compass of Judea to all the world beginning at Jerusalem to gather Saints together so fast as they were converted into Churches and to appoint over these Pastors and Teachers and also to give Rules and Directions for the right ordering and governing of the Churches unto the end of the world Let us come to the Saints of following Generations had not they likewise their proper works which was in some to bear witness before the wicked world and the Heathen Tyrants and Infidels of those ages wherein they lived to the truth of that Doctrine they had received from the Apostles before them by sealing the same with their blood and willingly giving themselves up as sheep to the slaughter to the cruelties tortures massacres of the Paganish world in bearing testimony to the truth of Jesus Afterwards the work of the next Generation was to bear witness by writing preaching and all sound Doctrine against the damnable Heresies of Arrius and his complices and others which through that little tranquility which the Church injoyed under Constantine crept in and overspread the Christian world In after ages for some hundreds of years together the work of Saints in their Generation was to bear witness by speaking and suffering unto the truth and worship of Jesus against the pernicious errors and false worship of Antichrist and the boundless and swelling pride and pomp of that man of sin In Generations since the work hath been to recover the truth and worship of Christ which was well nigh buried under Antichrists reign to its ancient purity lustre and beauty And so Luther and the Saints and Worthies of his Generation as their principal work did recover out of the jaws of the Beast the precious truths of Christs Priestly Office the glorious Doctrine of our justification by Christ alone which was well nigh swallowed up by the Antichristian innovations of Masses Crosses Pardons Pennance Purgatory Vowes Pilgrimages solitary and single life with other inventions of humane wisdom for the procuring a righteousness of our own And since him the great work of Saints in their Generations hath been to recover the Kingly Office of Christ which the Lordly pomp and tyranny of the man of sin and his followers had cast a mist upon to set up Christ as sole King and Governor in his Churches as well as the onely and alone High Priest of his Saints Thus Saints all along from the beginning of the world in their several Generations have had their several works proper and peculiar to the Generations they have lived in so as that what hath been the work of one Generation hath not been the work of another and what hath been the work of that other hath not been the work of that unless at such time as it fell out in the Generations of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and also the several Generations of the Saints under the Roman and Antichristian persecutions wherein the dispensations of God towards his people hath continued the same and for substance alike for divers Generations together there the work hath been the same for no substantial change in dispensation there is none in the work of out Generation it being variation of dispensation that causeth the work of our Generation for to vary Third General Head That it is a thing of very great concernment for a Saint to attend unto and be active in the work of his Generation Generation-work is the most neglected work of all others with the generality of Professors who either consider not that such a work there is or if they do yet they think that it belongs to others not to them to mind it but in case they be industrious in those common duties which lye upon them as Saints and those special duties which attend their Callings Stations Relations or present condition it is enough for them and matters not whether they be active in the business of their Generation yea or no. Yea many that are imployed therein do not sufficiently weigh the greatness of the work they have in hand I shall therefore here endeavour to shew of how great concernment it is for a Saint to attend unto and be active in this work which I shall lay before you in some particulars 1 God by his dispensations calls aloud for it The dispensations of God have a voyce and God oft by these bespeaks a duty or duties of his people Mic. 6.9 The Lords voyce cryeth unto the City What voyce is this why meerly the voyce of a dispensation Gods dispensations being commands Hear the Rod and who hath appointed it To disobey then the visible call of a dispensation is to disobey a command of God The hazarding our lives is a weighty matter and if done carelesly a great sin yet Hester upon the visible call of a dispensation viz. Gods cause and people of God lying at the stake ready to suffer runs this sore hazard to which though she was stirred up by Mordecai as one Christian friend now may stir up another in such a capacity as Hester was to befriend Gods cause were it now dying as then it was yet were not Mordecayes words her warrant he being not indued with a Prophetical Spirit norspeaking as such as his doubtful speech she weth Who knows whether thou art come to the Kingdome for such a time as this but the call of the dispensation Meroz was called by Gods dispensations to help the Lord against the mighty We read not of any particular command Merez had to do it only the call of a dispensation Gods people were under oppressors and God was up to deliver them which call Meroz neglecting Meroz is doubly and bitterly cursed by the Angel of the Lord for it Judg. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz said the Angel of the
them and also to the Great Turk to encourage and heart him on to engage with them in a quarrel that is his as well as theirs together with all others of whom they have either hope that they will or may be drawn to joyn with them that by one general Randezvouze of all their force together they may venture the whole sink or swim upon the event of one battel Which battel is here called for the remarkableness of it both in regard of the multitude of enemies and the glorious appearance of Christ with his Saints who will fight this battel for them in such a way as never before the battel of that great day of God Almighty which is I conceive the same battel with what is spoken Psal 110. Isa 63.1 to 7 chap. 6.15 to the end Ezek. 38.39 Dan. 12.1 Joel 3. Zech. 14.1 2 3 4 5. Mal. 4.1 2 3. Of which terrible yet glorious day to mention all that in the foregoing Texts and elsewhere is recorded of it would call for a Treatise of it self and therefore I think it meet rather to leave the same to the sober and pious meditations of the Reader than here to add any thing further upon so large a Subject Concerning the Agents and Ambassadors of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet who are said to be three though possibly they may be multitudes because a threefold number denotes perfection and said to come out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet not as if one came out of the mouth of the one another out of the mouth of the other and another out of the mouth of the third but because their sending is by the common consent of the aforesaid three parties who or what they shall be I look upon it as a part of curiosity to enquire any further into then what is here by the Holy Ghost determined of them 1 That they shall be Spirits viz. for their subtilty nimbleness and activity 2 Unclean Spirits for the filthiness and impurity of their principles and conversation 3 Like Frogs for their bold impudency and continual croaking in the ears of those they are sent to giving them no rest till they have drawn them forth to battel withall creeping into every hole and corner of the world to carry on their design 4 Spirits of Devils for their dissembling lying and cunning craft in deceiving above all that ever were imployed before them 5 Working Miracles and that as it were in way of imitation of the great and wonderful things God either hath done or is then doing for his people by this not onely to gain credit to their Ambassage making the Kings of the Earth the more ready to receive it but also to blind the eyes of those they are sent unto and harden their hearts against the apparent works of God at this day when they shall see things somewhat like to what God is doing in the world done by these as the Magicians of Egypt did blind Pharoah's eyes harden his heart by doing like things before him by Diabolical art as Moses did by the finger of God And here I cannot but in the way take notice of that which is the spiritual Engine of the old Serpent and one of his most politick Stratagems and Devises to blind others to the truths and dispensations of God in the world making them very odious and to be loathed of many which is when he perceiveth that God hath any great Truth to make known or any great Design to drive on in the World which he cannot hinder he will now become an Angel of light and be of the foremost by setting his own instruments about it either in discovering this truth or putting forward this design that so from a just cause of suspition being laid a prejudice being begotten in peoples hearts against these things the things though discovered ever so clearly might find no acceptation but rather a general dislike from those that should receive them as at the time of Christs coming he raised up false Christs as a blind that the true might not be received At the first preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles he vaised up false Apostles that the true might not be beleeved which is a thing hath been worthily observed by a godly man of late and I here mention it onely by way of remembrance that none of us may be taken in this crafty and hidden snare Thus much of the first thing preparative to the pouring forth of the seventh VIAL 2 The Personal coming and appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ Verse 15. BEhold I come as a Theef That Christ shall personally appear before the last and General Judgement is a thing that seems to me to have much footing both throughout the Old and New-Testament without granting of which I my self cannot as yet possibly others may reconcile one Scripture with another And truly to take notice of this Opinion here I am necessarily put upon it unless I should either wholly pass over these words or be false to my own perswasions and that which as yet I cannot think otherwise is the main thing intended by the Holy Ghost in them Though yet as the Argument it self in this place doth more concern the time of his coming viz. that his coming shall be betwixt the sixt and seventh Vials than the coming it selfe So that I may keep to the Argument I must here let go several Reasons I might make use of to prove this personal coming and confine my self to such onely as will clear up this viz. That the time of his personal coming is here spoken of to be between the sixt and seventh Vials Now that Christs Personal coming and not a coming by his Power and Spirit onely is the thing here intended which will fall out in this Interval or space of time betwixt these two Vials though yet at the end of it so as that it may indifferently be referred either to the conclusion of this time or the beginning of the seventh Vial is clear to me for these Reasons 1 ARGUMENT Christ shall personally appear at the time in which the remarkable battel of Armageddon shall be fought But that shall be about this time That the battel of Armageddon shall be about this time is clear in the words That Christ shall then appear I prove Isa 66.16 For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many That this is the same with the battel of Armageddon hinted in the Text and more fully described Rev. 19. vers 17. to the end of the Chapter appears 1 Because the battel of Armageddon shall bee about the time of the Jews coming in This our Discourse at large under the sixth Vial proves So shall this For vers 7.8 we have their conversion spoken of Before shee travelled shee brought forth before her pain came shee was
act according to that will Not to grasp together all that lies in these words my aim being only at this viz. Doct. That it is an especial duty lying upon the Saints to attend unto and be active in the work or works of their Generation Gods famous Worthies who have gone before us whereof David here is instance have done thus whose examples though not in every thing yet in these things are rules to us and therefore we should do it yea it s the will of God this David here grounds his obedience upon which Will makes it as well our duty as his and therefore we ought to do it In the carrying on of this I shall shew 1 What Generation-work is and how the same differs from other works 2 That Saints in the several Generations they have lived in have ever had the proper and peculiar works of their Generations 3 That it is a thing of very great concernment for a Saint to attend to and be industrious in the work of his Generation 4 Wherin doth the work of the present Generation lye 5 How each one in particular may find out that part or parcel of it that is properly his work in his Generation 6 And lastly How Generation-work may be carried on so as that God may be served in the Generation First What Generation-work is and how different from other works Ans Generation-work is that work or those works which the way or manner of Gods dispensations in the age a Saint lives in calls him unto When either the condition of the Church or people of God or the transactions of God in the Age we live in or the light of that Age calls us to some special imployment we may look upon that Work to be the Work of the Generation So that in the Work of our Generation although the matter of the work be no other then what the word hath laid down and is commanded in the general yet the call to the Work takes its principal rise from the way or manner of Gods dispensations in or unto that Age. Hence the Work of the Generation differs from that Work which lyes upon a Saint to perform as he is a Saint for those Works are not limited to any one Generation but are common to all what I stand bound to do as I am a Saint I am alike obliged to do in that respect in whatsoever Age or Generation I live but now the work of my Generation I stand bound to that by vertue of Gods dispensations towards the Age I live in in such manner as that thing which now is my work living in this Age did I live in another Age wherein the dispensations of God were after another manner would not be my work but another thing would be my work Hence likewise the work out Generation is different from the works of our Callings Staetion relation or present condition for every of these bring their several works but these properly as they are such i.e. Works or Duties flowing from my Calling Station in the world Relation or present condition are not the work of my Generation Though here I grant it that the work of a Saints Generation may fall in with the works forementioned either those which lye upon him as a Saint or those which are the proper works of his Calling Station Relation or present condition i.e. the work of a Saints Generation and these may be one and the same in Substance though two in diverse respects as I shall make out to you 1 For common Duties which lye upon a Saint as a Saint A Saint may have some duties lying upon him as he is such a one binding all Saints in all Ages all the world over which yet in some times may be the very work of the Generation As for example Beleeving is a work which lyes upon a Saint as a Saint A man as he is a Saint is alwayes in whatsoever Age or Generation he lives in bound to beleeve and have confidence in the promise and power of God but it may so fall out that the dispensations of God towards his people may be such as that beleeving which is an especial duty lying upon Saints in all Generations may be the great work God calls unto in that Age or Generation a Saint lives in So it was in the time of Moses and therefore as I conceive did God so severely punish the unbeleef of that Age because this their fin was not only a neglect of a great and common duty but a neglecting the very work of their Generation Again Prayer is a duty which lyes upon a Saint as a Saint no praying man no Saint for Saints have their denomination from calling upon the Name of the Lord 1 Cor. 1.2 But now Prayer a duty so general and common to all Generations may be as the case may fall out one special work of that Age or Generation a Saint lives in And so I take it it was in Daniels time when Israels feturn from Babylon was approaching and therefore Daniel is so stirred up to pray and his Prayer made so well-pleasing unto God because he did not the thing only as a common duty but as the work of his Generation And on the contrary upon the same ground wee are now speaking of God doth as I conceive forbid Jeremy to pray for the people of that time because Prayer though as a common duty it remained yet did it then cease as any part of the work of the Generation 2 A Saint may have some duty lying upon him by vertue of his Calling which may also be the very work of his Generation As for example Suppose a godly man be constituted a General or an Vnder-Officer in an Army raised against some great and professed enemies of Jesus Christ at such a time as by Gods appointment the ruine of these his enemies draws neer for him to fight for and under those in their defence who have given this power and command to him is the very work of his Calling that which his place injoyns him unto but now considering the cause he is ingaged in which is the pulling down of some potent enemies of Jesus Christ which God in or about that Age be lives in hath determined to ruine So his fighting is not only the work of his Calling but the very work of his Generation also Again put case a man is a Minister the making known the truths of God to others is the work of his Calling in doing whereof he doth no more then what his Calling requires of him but now as such a one studies and concrives making it his design scope and aim not only to speak truths which another man by being conscientious in his Calling may do but to speak truths and truths in such a manner as is most suitable unto and may through the blessing of God most conduce to the good and benefit of souls in those times and places he lives in so he doth the work of
his Generation And as a Souldier in the field may do the work of his calling by being faithful unto and valiant for those who intrust him and yet the work of his calling and Generation being mixed not eye all this while the work of his Genâ—ration So may a Minister in the Pulpit do the work of his calling by preaching truth soundly and powerfully and yet not having respect to what truths the present Age and the necessity of his hearers do in a more especial manner rather than others call for the opening and applying of he may miss the work of his Generation 3 A Saint by vertue of his station and relation may have some duty lying upon him which may be the work of his generation and yet the work of his station and relation As for instance A godly man is a Minister of a Family for him now according to his ability to teach instruct and prinâ—iple his Wife Children and Servants and to govern in his Family is the duty of his station or the place God hath set him in and the duty of his relation also as he is a Husband Father Master and when he doth this hee doth no other thing than what the station God hath set him in and the bond of relation binds him to perform Buâ— now when he doth so govern in his Family and so instruct and principle those under him and in relation to him as that both himself and his may acknowledge and in some measure answer the call of Gods present dispensations towards the age he lives in whether to suffer if the dispensation call for that or to be serviceable in any active way to some special cause of God on foot in that age he doth the work of his Generation though his activity lye within the bounds of his family yet so long as what he acts tends to bring himself and his as much as may be to answer the present dispensations of God he doth the work of his Generation 4 A Saint by vertue of the present condition he may be in may stand obliged to some duty which yet may be the work of his Generation as well as of his condition As to exercise faith and patience under sufferings for Christ is the work of a suffering condition but now if my sufferings fall out in such an age wherein the Church of God in general lies under persecution then the exercise of faith and patience under the Cross is not onely the work of my condition but the very work of my Generation that which the dispensations of God in the age I live in cals for at my hands By what hath been said we see that such a case may be that in the substance of the work that work which lies upon a Saint as a Saint and which is the work of his calling station relation and condition may be the same with the work of his Generation and yet in divers respects there may be such a vast difference that one man doing the same work shall do more then that which lies upon him and every one else as Saints or which his calling station relation or condition calls for and another in doing the very same work shall do all this as well and better than he and the work of his Generation also From what hath been spoken as touching this the final conclusion is that the work of our generation is not any work distinct in substance from all other works for were it sout would be a thing more easie to find it out than indeed it is but the difference lies in considering the same work in divers respects 't is not diversity of work so much as diversity of respect in working that makes the difference Secondly The next thing to be opened is That the Saints in their several Generations have had and still have their proper and peculiar works My meaning is That there is some work which is more properly the work of Saints living in one generation than it is of Saints living in another Saints of this Generation have some works which Saints of former Generations had not and Saints of former Generations had some works which Saints of this Generation have not For the making out of this I shall draw a line through the severall Generations that Saints from the beginning have lived in and take a view of Saints and of their work or works each of them in their several Generations To begin with Noah for I cannot point out all Generations from Adam downwards but such onely upon which some remarkable actions of eminent Saints dwelling in those Generations are fixed thereby making them memorable to after times he besides all his other works had the proper work of his Generation which was to build an Ark for the preservation of his house and the creatures from the flood and universal deluge by which he preached a real Sermon for one hundred and twenty years to the Old World all the while the Arke was a preparing and by which the Apostle saith Heb. 11.7 He condemned the world i.e. the persons of that Generation and this work it was a work distinct from the work of all other Generations Next to him Abraham had the proper work of his Generation which was to go forth of his Country and from his Fathers house unto a Land which God should shew him and there to follow God from one place to another beleeving that one day his seed should enâ—oy that Land that now he was a stranger in but in the mean time to dwell in Tents with Isaac and Jacob heirs with him of the same promise This was not the work of after Generations yet was it the work of his and their Generations After him Mose and Aaron and other faithful ones in their dayes had the proper work of their Generation which was to look up to God and trust him for meat and drink and rayment and preservation in a barren wilderness where none of these things were to be had and where they lay open to cruel enemies on every side to the malice of cruel imbittered enemies To trust God in such an extraordinary way was not the work of after Generations which yet was the special work of this Generation Come to Davids time he also had the proper work of his Generation wherein as our Text witnesseth he served God which was to cut down Gods enemies round about and thereby to make room and provision for the house of God which was to be built at Jerusalem here was his distinctive work Next after him comes Solomon whose distinct work was to build the Temple of God which his Father David had made room and provision for To pass over the works of many following Generations let us come to Jeremiah's time had not Gods people in that age the proper work of their Genenation which was willingly to put their necks under and quietly submit unto the yoke of the King of Babylon giving themselves up unto captivity
after this the Gospel is by special command to be preached to them as Luke 24.47 but for not beleeving in Christ and receiving him for the true Messiah which was the work of their Generation they are rejected as Rom. 11.20 because of unbeleef they are broken off and so remain unto this day To all which let me further add that not in these only but many examples more it seems to be Gods usual way in the execution of his wrath against sinners to write the sentence of their condemnation upon the forehead of this sin rather than any other Saul sinned in offering sacrifice and was then threatned with the loss of the Kingdome 1 Sam. 13.13 14. But the execution of this threatning and the unkinging of him comes in upon his miscarriage in that of Amalek a sin against the work of his Generation Aaron sinned most foulâ—ly in the business of the Golden Calf and at another time in murmuring against Moses but the sentence passed upon him that he should dye in the Wilderness is for his not beleeving at the waters of Meribah a sin against the work of his Generation Num. 20.12 13. God usually writing the sentence of his displeasure upon the forehead of the most provoking sin From what hath been spoken my Assertion stands firm viz. That the obligation whereby 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 error than any other of my errors From which principle before I leave it I shal draw another which naturally flows out of it viz. That it is the duty of a Christian man imployed in Generation-work when other works and this do stand in competition to choose neglect in any duty rather than in that wherein the work of his Generation lyes yeatâ— break through all that he may follow this his obligation hereto being the greatest obligation his neglect herein the most provoking sin Which thing though for the truth thereof it need not blush carrying its evidence with its self yet in receiving of it use Christian wisdom and much more in the practice And here as a Conclusion to all the rest let me take the boldness for to add what hath been sometimes the issue of retired thoughts that for this reason hath God so gloriously and eminently owned beyond belief and to admiration the never to be forgotten proceedings of the Army of England because though they have seemed at least been charged by slanderous Tongues and Pens with violating the bonds of relation they yet have in all pressed on and followed after though through a cloud of dismaid difficulties and dangers the work of their Generation 3 In doing the work of our Generation we are most serviceable to the design of God that is on foot in the age we live in As there never yet was an age in the world wherein God was not driving on one great design or other although the manifestation of his most glorious designs and works of wonder have ever been limited to some particular Generations so hath God in all ages declared himself exceedingly well pleased with such of his children whose obedience hath more directly fallen in with his design on foot in their age Daniel whilst he is praying and mourning hath the Angel Gabriel sent unto him with this redoubled testimony from Heaven concerning him that he was a man greatly beloved Chap. 9.21 22 23. Chap. 10.11 19. Isay Jeremy and other godly men prayed yet do not we read of any such testimony given concerning them praying as here is concerning Daniel Why so the reason may be this Daniels prayer fell in with Gods design God was upon a great design to deliver his people out of Babylon this Daniel prays for Gods design and Daniels obedience meet together and therefore doth God set a special stamp upon Daniels prayer Now in doing the work of our Generation we are more serviceable to Gods design than we can be any other way for there being onely a respective difference betwixt these two the same work which respecting God is his design respecting us is the work of our Generation Israels deliverance from Babylon was in respect of Gods design but in respect of Daniel the praying for this was the work of his Generation we cannot be active in the one but in so doing we become serviceable to the other as Daniel by prayer became instrumentally serviceable to Israels delivery Which by plentiful ordinary instance might be illustrated but enough having been said for the understanding of the Reader in these few words I shall not multiply 4 God hath choyce distinguishing mercy for that man that follows him in the work of his Generation as 1 God will overlook many failings in that man Caleb and Joshua were men and therefore had their failings as other men yet because Caleb and Joshua did cleave to God in that special work they were imployed in Num 14.6 7 c. which was the work of their Generation therefore God overlooking all their other failings as though they had none at all pronounceth of them that they wholly followed the Lord Numb 32.12 2 God will stand by that man and never leave him that sticks close to him in the work of his Generation Abraham left his Country to attend to the work of his Generation and how did God in all perils stand by Abraham Abraham was put to it in Egypt and like to loose his wife God stood by him there Gen. 12. Abraham was ingaged with four Kings Gen. 14. God stood by him there Abraham was in a great strait at Gerar Gen. 20. God stood by him there Abraham stood to the work of his Generation and God for ever stood by Abraham 3 God will own that man in case he live thereto in the work of the next Generation that abides faithful in the work of the present Generation he lives in It is said of Noah Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God teaching us thus much by speaking in the plurall number that Noah was just walking with God in the generations he lived in before the flood came and when the flood was coming this Noah was the onely man that God did own in the work of that Generation So Joshua was faithful in the work of that Generation whilst Israel journeyed in the wilderness and how eminently did God own Joshua in the work of the next Generation when Israel entered into Canaan 4 God will provide a hiding place for that man against those storms which may fall upon the Generation he lives in that is active in the work of his generation Noah had an Arke provided for him when a flood came upon the world of ungodly men In Ezekiels time chap. 9. when the destroying Angels were to pass through Jerusalem a mark of deliverance was first to be set upon the foreheads of all
talking with them especially to Moses as never man befides him enjoyed the like yet these two so choise and worthy instruments because they failed a little in the work of that Generation which was as before was shewn to beleeve in God and trust his power and goodness although their failing was at such a time which one would judge might render them excusable at least less guilty wherein the whole Congregation erred with them and as it were did hurry them into it yea and for Moses he never fayled but this time so that this once excepted he all along had followed God fully Yet I say because they failed God in that work which was the work of the Generation they for that and no other reason are laid by as to the perfecting of that work viz. bringing of Israel into Canaan which most happily and prosperoufly was begun and carried on a great way under them as instruments as Numb 20.12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron because ye believe me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel therfore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the land which I have given them So exceedingly displeasing to God are errors in the work of our generation that he will not let such things pass no not in his dearest children without some signal manifestation of his displeasure And which I cannot let pass without a further mark yet set upon it as a thing most worthy the serious thoughts of every one and such in especial whom God above others hath used and honoured in the work of the Generation is how that one single failing in the work of the Generation may cause a Moses to be laid aside 4 Danger of stumbling at the work of the Generation and all the dispensations of God about it The Jews in Christs time neglected the work of their Generation which was to beleeve in Christ receive him as the true Messiah whose coming their Nation was in expectation of and the very work it self through this neglect became a stumbling stone to them they stumble at it to think they should receive this man for their Messiah and stumbling at the work they likewise stumble at the several dispensations of God about it Christ comes of mean Parentage they stumble at that appears first from Galilee they stumble at that works miracles they stumble at that is followed by Publicans and sinners they stumble at that commits the Gospel to poor Fishermen they stumble at that Neglect the work of thy Generation and stumble at it Stumble at the work of thy Generation and stumble at all the dispensations of God about it 5 Danger of being blinded in or shut out of the work of the next Generation in case thou live to see it For God in his just judgement when men have shut their eyes against and withdrawn their hands from the work of the present Generation doth blind these persons to and will not honor them in the work of the following Generation though yet they may live to see it The Scribes and Pharisees wilfully shut their eyes to the work of Johns Generation and what followed they see afterwards the work of Christ in his Generation and of the Apostles in theirs and through the just judgement of God upon them their eyes are shut and they are blinded thereto A most pregnant place to our purpose we have Ezek. 44. vers 9. to 17. where under legal phrases and allusive termes the Holy Ghost setting forth Gospel-worship speaks very pathetically of two sorts of Priests belonging to that Gospel-state One were such as had defiled themselves with the pollutions of the former Generation by going astray to Idols when Israel went astray vers 10 12. who by way of punishment are to bear their iniquity which is not wholly to be turned out of the work of God who will still use them in the general and more common acts of his worship as vers 11 14. but to be set by as to the more special and peculiar acts of his worship in the Generation because they polluted themselves with the Idolatries and Superstitions of the former Generations as vers 12 13. Another sort of Priests there were who when Israel and their fellow-labourers went astray and defiled themselves by Idolatry did notwithstanding walk closely with God keeping their Garments pure from the defilements of that Generation these are privileged to draw neer to God in the more special acts of his worship to come into his Sanctuary and perform the service not of the outward Court only but of his Table as vers 15 16. The difference betwixt these is worthy yet a more narrow search The one have the charge of the gates of the house vers 11. the other Gods charge in his house vers 16. the one shall only kill the burnt offering and sacrifice for the people vers 11. the other shall stand before God to offer the fat and the blood vers 15. The one shall stand before the people to minister to them vers 11. the other shall come neer to Gods Table to minister to him vers 16. The one shall bear all this as their shame for their former abominations vers 13. the other shall receive all this honor as a reward for their not partaking in the abominations of the former age vers 15 16. The result of all is clearly this That such persons who have plaid loose with God in the former Generation though live they may to see the next Generation and be imployed in some common works yet will not God use them in the special works of that Generation except such of them that shall renounce their former pollutions of which more hereafter 6 Danger of becoming an Apostate and an open enemy to the truths of God Demas forsakes Paul and the work of his Generation and what follows he becomes an Apostate and exchangeth Heaven for Earth imbracing this present world In the Apostles dayes the great work of that Generation was the constituting of Churches and Saints assembling themselves together for mutual edification in Christian societies and if you mind it the Apostle lays the rise of that Soul-damning sin of wilful Apostacy in a neglect of this Heb. 10.25 26. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is For if we sin wilfully And which I cannot here pass over that unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit which our Saviour himself chargeth the Scribes and Pharisees with took as is apparent its rise hence For first they neglect the work of their Generation viz. of receiving Christ this neglect draws on an opposition this opposition malice against Christ this malice brings forth blasphemy against those very works of Christ calling them Diabolical which their consciences now and then convinced them were wrought by the power of God this malicious and deliberate blaspheming of what their Consciences I say now and then for they had apparent stumbling-blocks before them with which undoubtedly
they did sometimes blind Conscience convinced them was wrought by the finger of God is that very sin which Christ himself calls the Sin against the Spirit that hath neither forgiveness in this world nor that which is to come Matth. 12.24 compared with vers 31 32. Let all hence tremble to oppose or reproach the apparent works of God in their Generation lest Now to conclude Whose ears hearing these things would not tingle Whose hearts considering these things would not quake to be found guilty of the sin and exposed to the dangers that attend neglect of Generation-work Thus much concerning our third general Head I now come unto our fourth which is 4 Wherein doth the work of this present Generation lye Answ As the question is very weighty and of great concernment being the Butt aimed at in my whole discourse so that in the discussion hereof I may in the fear of God walk evenly and without winding or turning to any interest save that of truth pitch if possible upon that which is the proper and direct work of the generation we live in It will be necessary in order thereunto to â—ay down some few general Rules as way-marks to guide â—he Reader to the discovery of that which is the proper work of his generation whatsoever generation he may be supposed to live in which when particularly applied to the present generation will give us light into what is or may be the proper work or works thereof as 1 Be inquisitive to find out according to Scripture account the particular age or generation it self that it is fallen to thy lot to live in which though it be hard to do yet in regard the wisdom of God in Scripture hath set some distinct and notifying mark upon every age the same by industry and waiting upon the Father of lights for light may be attained 2 The former being done add thereunto a narrow and impartial search for discovery of those glorious and remarkable things the accomplishment of which God in his word hath promised and foretold in and about this age In this way the holy man Daniel came to understand the work of his Generation First he considered the time he lived in to be about the end of the 70 years captivity foretold by Jeremy 2 He observes that there was a special promise of deliverance from this captivity made to those times Chap. 9.2 whereupon having discovered the work he addresseth himself to God by prayer for the doing of it vers 3 4. 3 Observe Gods visible dispensations towards that age and the various transactions of things therein how they correspond with the things foretold and promised for as hath been already observed in Generation-work it is dispensation gives the Call 4 Observe what work that is which is most opposed and raged against by Satan and wicked men in the generation For it is most certain that the work of the generation Gods cause and glory which above all things Satan hates being there imbarqued hath ever been the most opposed work by the Devil and his Instruments Was it not so in Moses his time Nehemiah's time John Baptists time the Apostles time and since that in Luthers time I spare to say and in our times too 5 Observe what not men of worldly wisdom and principles but the most spiritual enlightned Saints have upon their hearts as the work of their generation For from the beginning it hath been Gods way to make choyce of such for the discovery of Generation-work unto before all others The Old world had its wise men and men of rare inventions Gen. 4.20 21 22. Yet not these but righteous Noah saw the work of the generation Egypt in the time of Moses was famous for its wise men as also Babylon in Nehemiah's yet neither the one nor the other saw the work of those generations but onely a poor handful of despised people that God had in either Judea in Christs time was plentifully stored with learned Scribes Doctors and Rabbies yet not these but a company of poor disregarded Fishermen had the work of that generation revealed to them This though alone it be not sufficient to conclude the work yet when joyned with the rest credit undoubtedly ought to be given to it 6 And lastly Be much in prayer to God for light herein The great work of the Apostles generation viz. The bringing in of the Gentites was revealed to Peter and Paul both even whilst they were in prayer as Act. 10.9 10. with chap. 22.17 21. Having thus by this general light paved out a way to walk in My next work is to see what particular light by applying these things unto the present age may from hence be gained unto the work thereof And here according unto the method before prescribed our first inquiry must be after the age it self What age is that most likely to be that we are fallen into In answer to which my Assertion is that it is most probable that we are fallen into that very age in which the Jews are to be converted Now although here I must nakedly acknowledge that I could heartily wish for their sakes whose this little Book is yet clearer and more unquestionable grounds for the proof of this my Assertion than those that this opinion commonly stands upon Yet in regard I know no clearer principle to demonstrate for bare conjectures are no proofs the work of the Generation from then this taken for granted that we are fallen into that age in which the Jews shall be converted and also in regard it is received for a truth and so in case of mistake I shall not be the first by many late Christian Writers of worthy memory yea with much confidence asserted by the Jews themselves though under another notion than what we truely call it of conversion to Christ as Manasseth Ben. Israel in his Book entituled The hope of Israel Sect. 29 32 35 36. is proof I shall therefore endeavor to give you with as much clearness and brevity as I may the substance of that light which by the labors of godly judicious men as Brightman Archer hath been let into that Scripture which is the main bottom to this opinion leaving the Reader to judge and a little time to manifest the verity or falsity of what is written the which we have Dan. 12.1 compared with 11 12. where Daniel hath a promise made to him of his peoples deliverance and that at a certain time when Michael should stand up at that time shall thy people be delivered which words as I conceive comprehend both the beginning and consummation of their deliverance to which two distinct times are assigned as afterwards Now because this thing was a great secret and Daniels affection to Gods glory and the good of his own people transported him with desire to know the particular time he therefore moves the Question When shall this be How long shall it be to the end of these wonders v. 6. Answer hereto is
other the West and East Indies both should be enlightned with the Gospell which never heard it before verifying that Mal. 1.11 For from the rising of the Sun even unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pure offering for my Name shall be great among the heathen saith the Lord of Hosts 3 As for the uniting of Saints that differ although here with grief we must confess the breach is yet too wide yet with joy and comfort we may also truly say it is not so wide as lately it was many closing and loving one another in most parts of the Nation who five nay two years ago could not do it and if so little time have made such a blessed beginning what may we expect from more 4 And as for the pulling down of high and lofty things if our age bear not witness of this it doth of nothing for doth not the whole world ring again with the noyse that hath been made through the late fall of Regal and Episcoral powers in England 5 For the establishment of Justice and righteousness tho we want in respect of what we would have yet all unprejudiced persons must nakedly confess a good foundation to be already laid in order to the same and as some hopeful beginnings thereupon so our selves to be in a fairer way by far for more than we were sixteen or twenty years ago which a little time we hope will ripen to perfection 6 And for the powring out of the Spirit though it ought to be our grief wee have so little of it yet cannot Gods people in this age without great ingratitude to the Father of mercies but acknowledge that he hath herein also been more bountiful unto them than unto others of his dear Children and their fellow-servants in the foregoing age thought these then with that little they had better and more obedient to their Father than we now and as we have ground for hope so is it our duty to beleeve for yet more 7 And as for increase of light without transgressing the rules of modesty or exalting our selves in this present age in testification of our thankfulness to him from whom our light is we may truly and humbly say that this present age hath brought forth some truths especially those which concern Christs Kingdom which till now have not with that clearness been revealed in any since the Apostles times 8 And lastly For the exaltation of Christ as King when ever was there a time since the Apostles that could shew half so many Churches as at this day are to be seen in England and elsewhere yea when since the beginning was Christ ever in so fair a way to be King over the world and when so much worldly power in the hands of godly men as at this day So that in Gods dispensations to this age we may already begin to read those very things he hath foretold shall be in that age in which the Jews shall be converted which as hath been before proved is this age wee live in And the more is this to be considered because dispensation being that which giveth call to the work of the Generation it is enough supposing we had no other proof in case we behold present dispensations pointing to such and such things to know there lyes the work of this age Yet in regard light burdens no man and the lovers of truth are never offended with truth for its clearness therefore this Rule which alone gives so much light into the work as that it will be as hath been before cleared sin in that man who wilfully shutting his eyes to the same neglects the work is here brought in hand in hand with others of no less evidence and demonstration than it self 4 Our fourth Rule formerly laid down is to observe what work that is which is most raged against by the Devil and wicked men for ordinarily there as was then proved doth lye the work of the Generation Now here consider what are those things the Devil rageth against and the World would fain hinder in this age To omit the first because the work not appearing as yet though we hope God is making a way thereto the Devil doth not as yet appear openly in this age more than formerly for to oppose the same But to come to the next Is not the Conversion of Sinners one thing raged against witness the many obstructions in the way of propagating the Gospel The opposition to the Doctrine of glad tydings to Sinners therein revealed and also to godly men because Mechanicks whom God in many places with happy success is pleased in this day to make use of for declaring of them Is not the prevention of union among Saints another by fomenting divisions through Jesuitical practices and thereby drawing them into parties and then setting one party against the other And is not this another the pulling down of high and lofty ones doth not the world generally storm to see Kings and Bishops plucked from their seats As one of their party saith Had he had a hand in the pulling down of Regal or Episcopal Power he should think himselfe to have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost And who knows not the opposition that the establishment of Justice and Righteousness meets with at this day in the world Yea farther is not the Spirit a thing mocked at you have the Spirit these are men of the Spirit c. And the very term of new Light is not onely distasteful but reproachful To conclude What ways have been of late years to prevent and root out if possible Christs Kingly Government in his Churches and are at this day to obstruct the same which is hoped to be now rising over the world is apparent to all men Thus we see that the very things Satan rageth against are the same that the Prophecies of old have foretold and the dispensations of God call for in this age 5 We have but one Rule of discovery more prayer excepted which is Closet-work and that is to observe what spiritual inlightned Saints have upon their hearts as the work of their Generation And although here I cannot enter into mens hearts yet this I may say so far as my own acquaintance leads me I have ever observed the pulses of the most spiritual enlightned Saints beating this way And the publique desires of many for things of this nature shews how others stand inclined towards the doing of them Thus you may easily perceive whitherto all these Rules tend each of which standing upon firm ground as hath been before declared The conclusion then putting all together is this That the work of the present Generation which Saints are bound to attend unto and to be active in lies principally in these things The conversion of the Jews propagation of the Gospel in order to a greater Harvest of Gentiles Joynting Saints Christ
Generations nor matter of exaltation to our selves who have nothing but free Grace to boast of nor any other reason to give why it should thus be but this onely so it pleased him Yet as then when truth came forth in being the new light of the Generation did oftentimes offend persons living in those Generations so as they could not see the work of the Cerations as the persecutions that many of the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New did suffer from the men of those Generations for the same doth witness So now when truth is coming forth in regard of discovery the new discoveries of truth have been and are a continual offence to the men of these last Generations even to the opposing the very work of the Generation they have lived in as the sufferings of those Witnesses of Jesus who stood up for the Priestly Office of Christ about Luthers daies by the Papacy and the persecutions of those Worthies since who have maintained the Kingly Office of Christ by the Prelacy and the several Nick-names of truth in this our age and new light the common by-word of the Country doth clearly and fully evidence Secondly At those stumbling blocks which usually are laid in the work of the Generation It is a thing to be noted that almost in every age God hath laid some eminent stumbling-blocks in the work of that age both for the trial of the faith of his own people in getting over them and for his Enemies to stumble and fall upon which stumbling-blocks as they have exercised the faith of the one so have they been continual Rocks of offence unto the other In Noahs time when the work of that age was to expect and prepare for a universal deluge what a stumbling-block in reason may we think was it to the Old World to hear of such a thing one hundred and twenty years before it comes to look for it year after year one hundred and twenty years together and yet no appearance of such a thing might they not well conclude before half that time was expired that Noah's preaching was a fable and his building the Ark a fancy for no such thing as he expected would ever be When Moses was sent of God into Egypt to deliver Gods people thence which was the work of that age what a palpable stumbling-block was it to Pharoah and the Egyptians to behold the very same miracles which were wrought by Moses to evidence his being sent of God done by their Magicians might they not well say is this man sent of God then are our Magicians for they do the same things as he Afterwards in the wilderness did not this lie as an apparent stumbling-block before that Generation that Israel should there wander to and fro forty years till the whole Generation of men that came out of Egypt were consumed before they must enter that Land they were brought out to possess At the time of the building the second Temple upon Israels coming out of Babylon which being in the latter times of the Jewish State was I take it the Type of Christs building his Church in the last days upon the coming out of Antichristian Babylon what a stumbling-block was it that the great work of that time the which they were come from Babylon about should receive such a nip at the very beginning as to be at a stand forty years together before it could go on might not Gods people fear and Enemies conclude this work would now surely come to nothing who will wonder that Temple-building hath been at a stand for many years since the comming out of Babylon mystical that considers thus it was upon the coming out of literal Babylon and their Temple was the type of ours Christs coming into the world was accompanied with two notable stumbling-blocks First He was born of mean Parentage when as he was looked for amongst the Royal or Priestly seed Secondly He first appears out of Galilee and by vulgar esteem is a Nazarene whereas all knew the Messiah was to come out of Bethlehem These two so visible rocks of offence as they drew the generality to oppose him pleading against him and for themselves Shall Christ come out of Galilee Hath not the Scripture said That Christ commeth of the seed of David and out of the Town of Bethlehem where David was Joh. 7.41 42. So were they sore tryals to the faith of the godly who not strictly inquiring into Christs descent and the place of his birth but taking things upon trust from report of the vulgar a weakness too incident to many true meaning souls made that their stumbling-block which rightly understood would have been a confirmation of their faith as appears in that good plain-hearted Nathaniel who was without guile could not tell how a while to get over this Joh. 1.46 Can any good thing come out of Nazareth And to say no more When Christ sent forth Apostles into the world about the great work of that Generation did not this lye as a sore stumbling-block before many to see the learned ones the Doctors and Rabbies of the times set by and in this glorious work a company of poor illiterate Fisher-men imployed And as it is most evident that in Generations formerly God for wise ends hath ever laid stumbling-blocks in the work of the Generations So he that shall but narrowly observe Gods dispensations towards his people of late in these our times shall find this verified nothing more there having hardly been any great Victory obtained or any thing remarkable performed which hath not had his stumbling going along with it and happy is he whosoever is not offended thereby 3 At the declared dissents or the private discontents or murmurings of a religious party against the work of the Generation God in his secret providence unsearchable wisdom hath so thought it good that Generation-work should meet with its affronts not only from the tumultuous confused rabble of the world but also from a religious party who should either repine at dissent from or make opposition against the same It was a religious party the whole Congregation of Israel being a professing people amongst which undoubtedly very many that came out of Egypt were truly godly who yet sinned with the Congregation and fell in the wilderness that in the days of Moses did so heap up their murmurings murmuring upon murmuring against the visible dispensations of that age It was a religious party yea and that too upon a religious ground as well as a politick Joh. 11.49 50 51 52. that gave wicked counfel for the putting of Christ to death It was a religious party the Jews and the devoute women that raised persecution at Antioch against the work of the Gospel expelling Paul and Barnabas the faithful Preachers thereof out of their coasts Act. 13.50 A religious party have always had a finger in opposing Generation-work And observe when a religious party hath opposed this their
to forsake any man so far as he appears to me to go with that And in this resolution as to the present work I am confirmed by considering that the knowledge of those Prophecies which relate to the last times is to be attained not so much by settling upon old received Principles as by running to and fro to seek new Light and further Discoveries If any inquire of me as touching the reasons why I have forborn to mention the names of such Authors as I have had occasion in this Discourse to deal with my answer is because I would not appear as an opposer of men though for the love of truth I am an opposer of false Principles which may be in the best man and also because I would not give just cause by bringing the names of good men upon the stage to any who yet are living or the friends or lovers of such as are deceased to be offended I might adde another reason with wishes it were otherwise because many Professors in our dayes are grown so wanten that the very naming a good man and shewing him to be in a mistake is enough to make his name of little esteem if not odious with some of them And yet although I have suppressed names have I alwayes laid the weight of their Reasons in the ballance not willingly concealing nor extenuating by my laying it down the strength of any one Argument that whilst I was composing this Discourse I could meet with making against me which for any to do I have alwayes judged a manifest sign of one who rather seeks to make others think him a Victor than to finde the truth Having given thee Christian Reader this brief account of the rise of this enterprise and my progress in it I have only two or three things to adde First In case thou art one who art a young beginner whose face is but newly set towards Truth to seek it let me commend to thee this one rule amongst many which those who wait for the Spirit shall learn it being that which the Author being such a one as thy self finding himself wearied and quite tired out in seeking after truth whilst he hath addicted himself to follow now the opinion of this man now of that being able all this while to settle upon nothing hath in the end been forced as in other things so in this to have recourse unto which is to take the naked Scripture and read it over and by some distinguishing mark made in the Bible to sever those Scriptures which in the Prophets and elsewhere treat of the last times from other Scriptures whose subjects are different which done thou shalt then be able by the help of thy mark to turn thy Bible over and in a few hours to consider all that from one end of the Scripture to another hath special relation to the last times or by making a different mark to any subject into which thou desirest light whence having first by comparing the whole together founded thy self upon such Principles as are contradictory to no part thou shalt then be able to pass a right judgement upon the different minds and sayings of Writers knowing when and where to chuse and refuse as they agree with or differ from the substance of that truth which in Scripture hath special relation either to such a Time or such a Subject and as where this is carefully and understandingly done there will be little need of the multitude of Authors so where it is omitted there will be little else save confusion to him that shall turn them over And this let me say further in doing of it thou mayest promise thy self through the help of the good Spirit more full sat is faction then I will promise thee from what I have written or from any Book extant that ever I met with besides the Bible and willingly I would have been here at the pains to have pointed out to thee those Scriptures whose subject is the last times but that I judge that to read over thy Bible diligently thy self and mark them out will do thee much more good Secondly In case thou art one whose delight and study runs this way to pry into the mysteries of the last times if he might teach who indeed hath more need to learn I would say make stops sometimes and look round about thee lest while thou art running on supposing thou seest thy way before thee thou dost unawares out run thy Leader which if thou dost thou wilt streightway be woodded and wildred and go to work with thy reason only which will never make good work to hew the way thou shouldst go in And further never fear to make a turn out of the common road though standers by cry you are out of the way if so be thou perceivest truth to have taken that path before thee Thirdly If thou art one who art offended at the visible dispensations of this age and upon that account no friend to studies of this nature I only say perhaps thy readiness to be offended at what is done and doing at this day in the world ariseth hence from a not observing the signs of the times study therefore these things a little and more take a wise mans counsel Act. 5.36 Refrain from censuring and opposing for if the work now doing in the world be of men it will assuredly come to nought but if of God happily whilst ye oppose ye shall be found to fight against God Fourthly and lastly Whatsoever thou art receive not what is written without triall nor throw it away upon a loose triall with a Tush the one is an enemy to thy comfort for he that swallows meat whole tastes not the sweetness of it the other may be to thy light for he that 's resolved to open his eyes but half way must expect to see men like trees And as things are not written with a spirit of infallibility so as that all must be received so neither I hope is any thing put in with so much levity as deserves to be cast out with a Tush but rather lay Scriptures together wâ—igh things well and then judge Thus the Bereans did and are called noble for so doing whereas those who take things upon meer trust and those who throw them away without any triall are neither of them noble Only in case of trial do not for one single Scripture which may seem to thee to contradict any part reject the whole but rather lay Scripture to Scripture till the whole of Scriptures is brought to some harmony by which time possibly thou mayest see reason to be of my mind if not a better harmony being found I shall I so hope at least with thanks for light willingly relinquish my own and come to thine And further In case some things upon diligent fearch do evidently appear to be mistakes do not therefore because of some weeds throw away all the corn he that will eat no corn but what grew up without weeds
work is of all others the greatest work and a neglect herein the greatest sin p. 15. to 20 3 In doing the work of our Generation we are most serviceable to the design of God that is on foot in the age we live in p. 20 4 God hath choyce distinguishing mercy for that man that follows him in the work of his Generation as 1. God will overlook many failings in that man p. 21 2. God will stand by that man and never leave him ibid. 3. God will own that man in case he live thereto in the work of the next Generation ib. 4. God will provide a hiding place for that man against those storms which may fall upon the Generation he lives in that is active in the work of his Generation p. 22 5. God will reveal his secrets to such ib. 6. God hath peculiar honor wherewith he will crown such p. 23 5. Neglect of Generation work exposeth a man to many danger as 1. Danger of losing Gifts and Talents ib. 2. Danger of losing communion with God p. 24 3. Of being laid aside by God p. 25 4. Of stumbling at the work of the Generation and all the dispensations of God about it p. 27 5. Of being blinded in or shut out of the work of the next generation in case he should live to see it ib. 6. Of becoming an Apostate and an open enemy to the truths of God p. 29 4 Wherein lies the work of the present Generation which is resolved 1 By laying down of some general Rule serving to discover what the work of the Generation is in whatsoever age or generation a Saint may be supposed to live in which Rules are these 1. Be inquisitive to find out according to Scripture account the particular age or generation it self that it is fallen to thy lot to live in p. 30 2. Add to this a narrow and impartial search for discovery of those glorious and remarkable things the accomplishment of which God in his word hath promised and foretold in and about this age ibid 3. observe Gods visible dispensations towards the age and the various transactions of things therein how they answer to what is foretold and promised p. 31 4. Observe what work that is which is most opposed and raged against by Satan and wicked men in the Generation ib. 5. Observe what the most spiritual enlightned Saints have upon their hearts as the work of the Generation ib. 6. And lastly Be much in prayer to God for light herein p. 32 2 By application of these general Rules unto the present age p. ib. to 48 5 How may each one find out that part of the work which is properly his work and God calls upon him to be active in 1 Observe what part of Generation-work that is that thou art in a capacity to do p. 51 2. Observe what work that is amongst those things thou art in a capacity to do in thy Generation which the dispensations of God without and the bent or inclination of thy spirit within at such time as the same is most spiritual or thou hast most intimate communion with God calls for the present doing thereof p. 52 3. Observe what peece of Generation-work that is which when thou hast ventured on it thou hast found God most eminently appearing to thee for thy encouragement and also with thee for assistance in doing of it p. 53 4. Observe what peece of Generation-work that is which thou being in a capacity to do in doing of art likely to meet with greatest opposition and that from all hands p. 54 5. Observe what peece of Generation-work that is which when thou hast had a Call an opportunity and an inclination to do it and hast not set about the same God hath presently withdrawn himself ib. 6. Observe what peece of Generation-work that is which put case thou wert to die would make most for thy comfort if done and most for thy discomfort if neglected p. 55 6 And lastly How may Generation-work be so carried on so as that God may be served in the Generation 1. Labor to find out what the work of thy Generation is and in what things chiefly it consists ib. 2. Be humbled for it in case thou hast failed in the work of the former Generation p. 56 3. Convert private cares which onely concern thine own particular condition into cares for the publick and the cause of Christ on foot p. 57 4. Stand loose and disingaged from private interests p. 58 5. Favour and own the Saints of the Generation p. 59 6. Keep Justice alive against wilfull offenders in the work p. 60 7. Commit the managing of publique Affairs into the hands of faithful and holy men ib. 8. Take heed of such things as will obstruct and hinder the work of the Generation as 1. Take heed of being offended p. 61 1. At the new light of the Generation p 62 2. At those stumbling blocks which are usually laid in the work of the Generation p. 63 3. At the declared dissents the private discontents or murmurings of a religious party against the work of the Generation p. 65 4. At the after miscarriages and errors of those who have been the onely active Instruments and lights at first in the work of the Generation p. 66 5 At the gastly looks and untrodden footsteps of some particular dispensations actings attending the work of the Generation p 67 2 Take heed of being discouraged 1. At the littleness and lowness of beginnings p. 68 2. At the powerfulness and successfulness of opposition against the work p. 70 3. At great ones holding off and withdrawing their hands from the work p. 71 4. At the perfidious and treacherous dealing of some particular person imployed in the work p 72 5. At the meeting with disappointments ib. 6. At unkindnesses received from those whose good and welfare we have ever closely pursued in the work ib. 7. At multiplied sentences of death put upon the work p. 73 3 Take heed of envy against such whom God imployeth in the work p. 74 4 Take heed of procrastinating that work which is the business of the present Generation under a pretence that the time of doing it is not yet come neither are things ripe for it p. 75 5. Take heed of limiting God to Ordinaries ibid. 6. Take heed of neglecting the nick of opportunity that God puts into thy hands to do the work of thy Generation in p. 76 7 Take heed of forecasting events ib. 8 Take heed of setling thy self upon seeming godly and righteous principles when these clash with the work of the Generation ib. 9 Take heed of lending an ear unto such friendly respectful offers which carry in the bowels of them though gilded over with outward respect and friendship a crafty design against the work of the Generation p. 77 10 Take heed of making reason of State the rule of publick actings p. 79 11 Take heed of setting up humane Laws above the work of the
flee p. 105 The signification of the one thousand six hundred furlongs ib. The Conclusion of all Generation-work OR ANEXPOSITION Of the Prophecies of the Two Witnesses From the 11 12 and 14 Chapters of the Revelations Shewing yet farther what the designs of God abroad in the world may in all likelihood be at this present day and in the dayes near approaching To which is added A Key to unlock the Mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations tending to resolve this Great Question How long shall it be to the end of Wonders The Third and last Part. By John Tillinghast Minister of the Gospel Isa 26.20 Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be over-past 21. For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity the earth also shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain LONDON Printed for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popeâ—-head-Alley 1655. To his Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland MY LORD IT is an Apocryphal saying but yet a true one Truth is greatest of all those who have others in Subjection unto them are themselves to become Subject to it We yeeld up our outward man to men and they can command no more but Truth commands our inwards This glorious Truth dwels not in the wisdom of the wise nor in the godliness of the godly nor in any creature-impulsions though ever so forcâ—ble which have no rule but their own but in the blessed word alone where truth hath pitched its Tabernacle and the way to be acquainted with it is through the help of the Spirit of Truth unsealing the Book opening our understandings to understand the Scriptures The knowledge of this Truth The great Revealer of secrets hath thought good to impart to his people not all at once but by degrees and so the several ages of the Church have had their several manifestations of truth a peece of truth coming forth in one age a peece more in the age following a peece more in the age following that God thus by degrees enlightning his people as they are able to bear it who should the Sun rise upon them all at once would be dazled not enlightned As the workings of the mystery of iniquity on the one hand or Gods dispensations of providence on the other have risen higher in any age so have also Gods dispensations of truth to the end his in every age might from principles of truth be led up to renounce the one and own and imbrace the other Hence those things which later ages look upon as low and poor things not worth contending for were great things in former ages because the Truths of that age And contrariwise those things which former ages could not have born with had they been revealed may be the necessary discoveries of ages since because the Truths of these times Hence likewise it is a marifest with holding the truth in unrighteousness and a declaration to the world of a compliance with Antichrist to confine either by penal Laws threats or practices the people of God in this age to the Truth or Truths of the former age Yea those that love the Truth ought not to suffer themselves fâ—r love or fear of men in this case to be confined Had the people of God in the age before us contented themselves to have preached the precious truths of Christs Priestly Office and out of obedience to the Wills and Commands of the then Ruling Powers surceased any farther enquiry how had the blessed Truths of Christ as King in his Churches been discovered If Christ hath yet farther and higher Truths to make known and the dispensers of truth shall suffer Bonds to be laid upon them how shall the will of God at this day in the revelation of truth be performed The wisdom of a Christian man who would serve God in his Generation is to enquire into the particular Truth of the age he lives in for it is a thing much more acceptable to a Friend when he haâ—h some great design in hand to serve him in that than to serve him in another thing but he that neither knows his friends mind nor his design cannot serve him in it The Truth of the age although the matter of it is to be looked for in the Word and no new thing contrary thereunto to be admitted the word without any additions being compleat in all knowledge able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished unto all good works and if there appear to us to be a defect in this thing or that the defect is in our understandings not in the word yet in regard the word hath no where told us that the revelation of this truth belongs to this age the revelation of that to that We are therefore by some other Rules to make up a judgement which amongst the manifold truths of the word is the Truth of the age we live in Now among many I could name those which I judge the safest are 1 An observation of the time and a comparing therewith the Prophecies relating to that time 2 The dispensations of the age Gods truth and his workings going together 3 The general opposition that is made by men of the world carnal Professors yea Saints themselves so far as they have espoused a sinful or worldly interest against this or that truth for it is a thing of universal observation that the most opposed truth in any age hath ever been the truth of that age Neglect of looking into this Truth of the Generation is that fatal Rock upon which many worthy Instruments in all ages have split themselves and should search be made after instances of this kind the names of not a few might be produced who did run well at first and were lights and helps to others yet after all have concluded like the bright Sun setting in a cloud That the great truth of Christs Kingdom over the world judging the Beast c. is the truth of this Generation is so manifestly clear the former Rules with others of a like nature being seriously considered as that it would be but an adding light to the Sun here to give demonstration of it It being so I shall take the boldness craving leave a while not to know your power or greatness nor any private or personal engagements which yet I remember with thankfulness having begged it of the Lord and it is still my request that neither fear nor favor might make me unfaithful in the dispensation of truth according to my talent to be plain with your Highness not in mine own behalf nor in the behalf of any party at this day in England whom to gratifie in a case of this nature is a thing my soul desires to abhor for he that pleaseth men cannot be the servant of Christ but in the
hardned his heart How did the Lord accomplish this Pharaoh settles himself upon as righteous principles as ever any of the Sons of men could do One is that it belongs to the chief Ruler of a Nation to see to the profit and glory of that Nation What more righteous principle is there in the world Hence he concludes that if iâ— be incumbent on him to see that the Realm receive no detriment he must not let the people go by whom they received so many great advantages God confirms his heart in these principles which are good in themselves but saith the Doctor abominable when taken up against the mind and providence of God Hence he and his perished in their principles acting against the appearance of God Secondly It is also said of Sihon the King of the Amorites that his heart was hardned that he would not let the people go through his Land How I pray even by adhering to that wise principle That it is not meet to let a potent Enemy into the bowels of a people and this made way for his ruine Thus saith he it is with many they fix on principles good in general and in their season Old bounds must not be broken up Order must not be disturbed Let God appear never so eminently so mightily they will keep to their principle what is this but judicial hardness And this is one reason why the actings of God in such a day as this are so unsuited to the expectations of men they square his works to the interests and principles which it will not answer Hitherto Dr. Owen 4 Take heed of that ungodly principle sprung up of late the contrary to which some call a State-Herene though I am sure the principle is a Scripture-Herefie viz. That godliness in a Magistrate or Civil Officer is but a secondary qualification natural accomplishments and endowments being the primary for which therefore a man is to be intrusted with this power rather than the other I cannot but wonder how any who profess the Name of Christ much more who profess themselves to have been faithful to his cause should together therewith profess such an unchrist an yea Machiavilian principle which First Lies point-blank against the promises made to the last dayes which assure 1 That God will restore his peoples Judges as at the first Isa 1.26 But were Judges at the first Moses Joshua c. such 2 That their Governors should be of themselves Jer. 30.21 But may we call such of themselves Secondly Leaves out as of little worth comparatively the main qualifications of that divine pattern by which the first Rulers that ever were so made by men amongsh Gods own people were made Exod. 18.21 Thirdly Makes null that Divine Maxime 2 Sam. 23.3 He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God for how can such rule in the fear of God who have no fear of God before their eyes which is one character of every natural man Rom. 3.18 Fourthly Layes an unavoidable necessity of a continued judgement upon a people For if it be a judgement to have Rulers that know not God because such make the people to erre Isa 3.12 chap. 9.16 then if such for their natural endowments are to be chosen of necessity must a judgement lye upon that people over or amongst whom they are set Fifthly Opens a door to all persecution by putting the Civil Sword into the hands of the Seed of the Serpent for better cannot be said of a meer moral man which from the beginning hath had a natural enmity to the Seed of the Woman My Lord Bear with the boldness of it if I say That in case your Highness be found steering your course and laying out your power by this crooked rule know assuredly that Christ will suddenly take though how I know not your power from you and give it to one that shall lay it out otherwise I shall not multiply many more words save to add that in case any expression either in this or the following Discourse savour of the spirit of man which my self allows not have kept a watch against yet may be guilty of I do in that humbly crave your Highness pardon but as for the matter and substance of those things I have written I ask none my Conscience bearing me witness that I have afferted nothing but what according to my present perswasions not grounded upon this or that particular Text which is a deceiving way but by comparing the whole of Prophecies together is the truth of Christ yea the truth of the time though yet through mercy I have drunk in no such conceit of my own knowledge as though it were more than in part not do I impose upon your Highness conscience or the consciences of any a belief of my principles any farther then Scripture and right reason doth approve them yet would have none on the other side condemn them as this age is apt to do upon the account of this or that single Text till he hath compared the whole of Prophecies together in doing which he may perhaps see my reason of stating things as I have done which upon every occasion I could not bring forth and therewith a full answer to his own doubt And farther I have not in this work knowingly stretched any one Text beyond what I have judged its due bounds or forced an interpretation to reach any Party a blow Nor have I on the other side with-held any peece of the truth so judged by me lying in any Text nor minced any Interpretation to spare any party a blow As I would be loath to strike any my self for my blows can do me no good and them little hurt so would I not have a hand in keeping off that blow that truth will strike whosoever it fall upon And although a Discourse of this nature would better have become a graver Pen than mine and possibly from such a one been sooner hearkned to pride rashness and headiness having been the coutinual accusation laid against young men and not alwayes groundless yet seeing the Aged silent and perceiving through the light the Lord of his grace hath larely given me to see by a cleer opening sundry Prophecies which not long since were mysteries to me the cause of Christ in sore travel either through an ignorance of what Gods Designs are at this day or somewhat worse in those that should manage it I conceived my self though others might better do it yet at this time called to speak and to speak plainly Elihu though a young man went and that with success over the head of such a temptation in a less case That a like success and blessing from above may accompany this is his Prayer who is Your Highness humble Servant Mournful for You hold with You for Sions sake JOHN TILLINGHAST To the several Churches of Christ within this Commonwealth Together with all those that have fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ The Church