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 ...

THESIS XX.

The 1290 days are to be begun Anno Dom. 366, with that noted act of Julian, of setting the Jews about re∣edifying the Temple, and furnishing them out of the pub∣lick Treasury with all necessaries for this work, when by a terrible Earth quake all they built was thrown up, yea, the very foundation-stones of the Temple, which never till that day were moved, thrown out of their places, and by ter∣rible Thunder and Lightning, and Fire falling from Hea∣ven, all their tools and instruments were burnt up. So that as Socrates (in his third Book, cap. 20. according to

the Greek, the 17. according to the Translation) saith, That there a man might have beheld Hammers, Graving-Irons, Saws, Axes, Hatchets, &c. consumed with fire; which fire (saith he) ceased not to burn the space of a whole day, and the Jews themselves being amazed hereat, confessed Christ to be the omnipotent God.

Yea farther (saith the aforesaid Author) Cyril, then Bishop of Jerusalem when they began the work, remem∣bred this Prophecy of Daniel, and urging Christs words with it, Matth. 24.2. did prophecy unto many, that now the time was come that our Saviours words should be fulfilled, which he spake of the Temple, that not one stone should be left upon another. Thus much out of the very words of Socrates, who wrote above 1200 years ago.

The truth of this act is also testified by many other an∣cient Writers; as

Ammianus Marcellinus, who lived in the very time of Julian, and was a Souldier under him, lib. 23.

Theodoret (who wrote his Ecclesiastical History, Anno Dom. 430.) Lib. 3. cap. 17.

Sozomene (who was contemporary with Socrates) lib. 5. cap. 21, yea by most Chronologers and Historians, both Ancient and Modern, that have written any thing of this time.

Yea, which is also a thing very observable, and noted by Socrates, and most of the aforesaid Authors, viz. That as wicked Julian did set the Jews upon re-edifying the Tem∣ple, so did he also about the same time send his Legates to offer Sacrifice in the chief Heathen Temple of the Gentiles in Delphos, and there to consult with the Oracle of Apollo; and as God by Earth-quake, Thunder and Lightning did over-turn the one, so did he also in the same manner, and about that very time, the other; thereby overwhel∣ming at once both the cheif Temples, the one of the Jews

he other of the Gentiles, putting an end to the Jewish daily Sacrifice, and the Gentile Superstitions, at one and the same time; and therefore no time may so fitly be called a time of Desolation, and that because of abominati∣on, as this.

Now the Reasons why we are to fix the Head of our Account upon this act, rather than any other before it, or since it, are.

1 Because if we begin with any act before it, the time is expired, and the Jews not yet delivered, experience therefore proves such beginnings false.

2 Because we may not begin lower for these Rea∣sons;

First, Because if we begin lower, the 1290 days cannot be made concurrent in their end with Johns 1260. which for the fore-going grounds must be.

Secondly, Because Daniel being a Prophet of the Jews, and the things he fore-told having a more especial respect to that Nation, there cannot in any History of any time since Christ be found an act so famous, and that with a relation to that Nation, as was this act of Julians, with which therefore we must begin, or none.

Thirdly, Because no beginning lower (that will agree to Daniels words) either can be found, or is stated by any that ever yet I have met with; and it is a thing that I have much observed, how that all those, who because the time is near, and so little likelihood of any such thing ap∣pears as yet, have not faith enough to beleeve this begin∣ning, have also not light enough to make out another, but are silent, laying down no Head to begin this account up∣on, which yet the Holy Ghost hath marked out, by as eminent and noted Characters, to shew us where we are to begin it, as any account in all the Scripture, vers. 11. From the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken a∣way, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, shall be 1290 days.

And these Characters do most exactly agree to the act of Julian, as I have proved in my first part, pag. 52, 53. and indeed are not so fitly appliable to any act that ever was before or since it; I judge my self therefore to have much reason still to hold to that opinion, I then more doubtfully laid down, viz. That we are with Julians act of setting the Jews about re-edifying of the Temple, to begin the 1290 days.

The reason why I pitch upon the year three hundred six∣ty fix, to be the year in which this was done (when as there is amongst Historians three or four years variance in stating the year) is not this onely, because Historians of best ac∣count report this to be the year, and Authors of no little esteem adhere rather to this report than any of the other; but my reason is, because the one thousand three hundred thirty five days, vers. 12. (whose Head is the same with the one thousand two hundred and ninety) cannot be made, as they must (as shall straight-way appear) concurrent in their end with the two thousand three hundred days, in case we fix this act of Julian upon any other year than the aforesaid year three hundred sixty six; that therefore I conclude (as formerly) to be the year; To three hun∣dred sixty six, add one thousand two hundred and ninety, the whole is one thousand six hundred fitly six.