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 ...

THE CONTENTS OF The Third Part.

CHAP. I. WHerein is set forth the state or condition of the two Witnesses within their Prophecying time, and the time of their being killed, from Rev. 11.

• ...Divided into ten Sections.
• SECT. 1. That the two Witnesses are the Magistracy and the Ministry. Where is shewed why Zachery sees two Olive∣trees, and but one Candlestick, John two Olive-trees, and two Candlesticks, Page 1, 2
• SECT. 2.
  • Why they are called Witnesses, p. 3
  • A distinction made betwixt that general witness bearing, common to Saints in all ages; and that spe∣cial witness-bearing peculiar to these two Witnesses, and this time of 1260 years.
  • ...Here is also shewed that the peculiar work of these

• ...
  • two Witnesses is to bear witness against the Beast: in clearing whereof, the 42 months of the Beast, and the 1260 days of the Witnesses, are proved to be one and the same, p. 3, 4, 5, 6
• SECT. 3. Why these Witnesses are said to be two? why clothed in s••ckcloth? what is meant by their destroying their enemies by fire, shutting Heaven that it rain not, turning waters into blood, smitting the earth with plagues p. 6, 7
• SECT. 4. That the three daies and a half of the Witnesses ly∣ing ••ead are to be understood, not of 1260 years, but of three years and a half onely: and these to be the last three years and a half, of the 1260, p. 8, 9, 10, 11
• SECT. 5.
  • ...The time of the Witnesses slaughter discussed in the general onely.
  • ...Three Conclusions concerning it laid down.
  • 1 Concl. That the killing of the Witnesses shall be within that very three years and a half, which shall pre∣cede the Jews first stirring, proved, p. 12
  • 2 Concl: That the killing of the Witnesses shall be but a little before the downfal of Rome, proved, p. 13
  • 3 Concl: That the killing of the Witnesses shall be at the latter end of the third Vial. In order to the prov∣ing whereof is shewed,
  • That some Vials are poured forth before the slaugh∣ter of the Witnesses, p. 15, 16
  • Here is shewed that the Angel, Chap. 17 1. that shews John the judgement of the great Whore, was the Angel of the third Vial, Also, why the Holy Ghost

• ...
  • ... in the explication of the Vials, begins with the thirds leaving out the two first. A ground to expect great discoveries under the third Vial; and a reason given why God makes such discoveries under that Vial.
  • The thing it self, that the killing of the Witnesses is to be under the third Vial, at the latter and thereof, pro∣ved by three Arguments, p. 16 to 20. Here is opened the war between the Lamb and the Kings of the earth, Rev. 17.14. which is proved to be a Civil War, or a war by a civil sword: and for the time of it to fall within the Vials, and in particular under the third Vial, at the be∣ginning of it, immediately before the slaughter of the Witnesses.
  • Object. All the Vials come under the seventh Trum∣pet, answered, p. 20, 21. where is shewed that the seventh Trumpet is contemporary with the seventh Vial onely.
  • A Conclusion from the whole, That the day of the Witnesses killing is in all likelihood already begun, and not much more than begun, ib.
• SECT. 6. The Beast killing the Witnesses, is the Antichristian Magistracy and Ministry, p. 32. Why the Antichri∣stian Magistracy and Ministery are spoken of as but one Beast, when the Witnesses, viz. Christs Magistracy and Ministry, are ever spoken of as two, p. 23
• SECT. 7.
  • ...The nature of the witnesses death proved,
  • 1 Not to be a corporal death, ib.
  • But a death partly civil, partly spiritual, p. 24 25
  • ...Here is shewed wherein the blackness of this day will lye.

• SECT. 8.
  • ...The place in which the witnesses lye dead.
  • 1 Not the whole Papal Kingdom, but onely one of the ten Horns. p. 25
  • 2 Particularly, to be Germany, p. 26, 27, 28
  • Yet Christs Witnesses in other places must expect a cloud in some measure upon them, and Gods work with∣in this day, ibid.
• SECT. 9.
  • ...How things shall be agitated in the world in the time the Witnesses lye dead,
  • 1 They of the People, Kindreds, Nations and Tongues shall see their dead bodies, and not suffer them to be put into graves. Here is shewed,
  • 1 What this putting their dead bodies into graves, notes, p. 29
  • 2 Who are meant by those of the People, and Kindreds and Nations and Tongues, ib.
  • 2 The dwellers on earth shall rejoyce, make merry. Here is shewed also who these are p. 31
  • 3 There shall be in all likelihood within this time a general peace, betwixt those Nations which are the horns of the Beast, yet so, as that this peace shall not be wholly effected till towards the end of this time, p. 34
• SECT. 10.
  • ...The Witnesses rise after three dayes and a half; The thing setting them upon their feet, is a spirit of bold∣ness, courage, and noble resolution put into them by God.
  • Quest. VVhether this spirit shall be mediate, or im∣mediate? p. 34

• ...
  • Ans. Partly mediate, partly immediate; The me∣diate cause of this work shall be a loud Call given to the dead Witnesses from Saints out of another place, p. 35
  • This noted in the voyce from Heaven, Come up hi∣ther. Two Reasons given why this voyce is mentioned after their standing upon their feet, not before, p ib.
  • Who shall give them this Call, p. 36

CHAP. II. VVHerein is farther set forth the state of the two Witnesses, within their Prophesying time, and the time of their being killed, from Rev. 12.

• Divided into seven Sections.
• SECT. 1. Examining the common Opinion, which makes ap∣plication of the things foretold, Chap. 12. to the first Period, or the time of the Dragons Rule, before yet the Beast arose; which upon examination is found too light. Here the general method of the 11, 12, 13, 14 Chapters of the Revelations is laid down, page 37, to 43
• SECT. 2. Confirming the truth of the former, by proving that the time, times, and a half, cannot signifie 1260 years, but three yeers and a half only, p. 43, to 45
• SECT. 3.
  • An Objection answered, viz. That the War made by the Dragon, Chap. 12. is different from that made by the Beast, Chap. 11.7. p. 45

• ...
  • Here inquiry is made into the War of Michael and the Dragon, and its proved to be the late German War, p. 46, to 49
  • Object. It may be the English War, answered, and the Reasons given of the contrary, p. ib.
  • Here also is shewed that a two-fold visible Dragon is spoken of in this 12. Chap.
    • 1 The Old Dragon, viz. the ancient Roman Em∣pire.
    • 2 The New Dragon, viz. the present German Em∣pire, p. ib.
  • Two Reasons given why the Dragon who governs the whole Papal Kingdome, doth at this day choose Germany as his seat, p. 50
  • A Reason also given why the Holy Ghost, Chap. 12. glides so quick over all the 1260 dayes, descending presently to the latter end of them, p. ib.
  • What of the Prophesie of this 12 Chap. is yet to be fulfilled, p. ib.
• SECT. 4. Another Objection, That our opinion necessarily sup∣poseth the Woman to be come out of the Wilderness, and yet afterwards to go in again, answered, p. 52
• SECT. 5: A third Objection, That this opinion is repugnant to Daniels time, times, and a half, answered, p 53, to 55. Here Daniels time, times, and a half, are opened at large, and proved from the Texts themselves in Da∣niel, Chap. 7.25. Chap. 12.7. to signifie only three years and a half.

• SECT. 6. What useful truths arise from this method; and what a harmony of truth (following it) we have in the 11 and 12 Chapters, p. 62
• SECT. 7.
  • ...Making inquiry after that remnant of the Wo∣mans Seed, that the Dragon within the time, times, and a half (the term of the Witnesses lying dead) makes War upon.
  • Quest. 1. What people are meant by this Remnant? Answer is given in opening two notable Characters of them lying in the words, p. 63
  • Quest. 2. What War that is, which is, or shall be raised against them?
  • Five things propounded in order to an Answer, p. 64, 65
  • Ans. A two-fold War, 1 A War raised against them by the invisible Dragon. How that shall be, and why such a War must be, p. 66
  • 2 A War raised against them by the visible Dra∣gon; How, and why such a War shall be, p. ib.
  • Yet notwithstanding this two-fold War, the rem∣nant of the Womans Seed shall not suffer much, p. 67

CHAP. III. VVHerein is shewed the state of the Witnesses about, and in the time of their Rise, from Rev. 14. opened.

• Divided into six Sections.

• SECT. 1. The common Opinion which applies the Prophesie of the 144000 to the time of the Beasts reign disproved, and the time stated, where this Prophesie takes begin∣ning, p. 68, to 73
• SECT. 2.
  • Proving two things.
  • 1 That the Head of this Prophesie is to be placed lower than the Head of the Vials, p. 73, to 76
  • ...Here is shewed why the Head of the Vials is placed somewhat upwards in the Beasts Kingdome, and the Head of this Chapter about the end of it.
  • 2 That this 144000 differ from the sealed 144000, Chap. 7. p. ib.
  • The scaled company scaled before any of the Trum∣pets sounded. ib.
  • To say, because the one are scaled in their foreheads. the other bear the Fathers name in the forehead, there∣fore they are one, can be no Argument, p. 78
  • Two Reasons given why these are set frth by the same number with the Scaled ones. ib.
  • No Mystery in the number it self, ib.
• SECT. 3. Proving, This 144000 to be the Gentile Saints, p. 79, to 83
• SECT. 4.
  • ...Handling three things.
  • 1 The Cause of this glorious Rendezvouz, p. 83
  • 2 The manner of it, p. 84
  • 3 The state and condition they shall be in hereupon, set forth in two things.
  • 1 They shall be owned by some eminent Head raised

• ...
  • up by Christ, p. ib.
  • 2 They shall set forth with praises, p. 85
  • Here is also shewed where the beginning of this blessed company will be, p. 86
  • Occasionally also here is discoursed of Daniels stone, and it is shewed, 1 What time we are to pitch upon for the first Rise of that stone. 2 What shall befal the stone suddenly after it begins to smite, ib. 87
• SECT. 5. The Characters of this 144000. Eight choice Characters of this blessed company observed from the text, p. 89, to 92
• SECT. 6.
  • ...How the work shall go from the time of their stand∣ing up, until the beginning of the thousand years?
  • What Prophesies those are in the Revelations that afford us light to this Question, p. 92
  • For answer, 1 More generally, the work shall go on with a more swift and irresistible hand than ever for∣merly, p. ib.
  • 2 More particularly,
  • 1 The Everlasting Gospel is preached, p. 93
  • Five things very observable concerning the preaching of the Gospel at this day, p. 93, 94, 95
  • 2 Romes ruin comes unavoidably upon her, p. ib.
  • 3 A serious warning to the Papals. Why are they warned at this day, p. ib. 96
  • Here the Angel standing in the Sun, Rev. 19.17, 18. is interpreted, p. 139, 140
  • 4 A sweet word from Christ of Heavenly Conso∣lation to his people, the day of their Redemption being now come, p. 97
  • 5 Christs Personal coming, this the thing noted, v. 14. proved by four Reasons, p. 98, 99, 100

• ...
  • The Resurrection of the dead intimated in those words, Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord, vers 13. p 99
  • Why the Resurrection of the dead is mentioned be∣fore Christs coming, p. ib.
  • Not Martyrs only, but all Saints shall come with Christ, p. 102
  • What the Harvest and Vintage signifie, p. ib.
  • Christ himself the Angel of the Vintage, p. 103
  • A Conjecture as touching the two Angels that cry with a loud voyce to have the work of the Harvest and Vintage performed, p 104
  • Why one of these two is said to come out of the Tem∣ple the other from the Altar, p. ib.
  • VVhy the Angel coming from the Altar is said to have power over flee, p. 105
  • The signification of the one thousand six hundred furlongs, ib.
  • ...The Conclusion of all.