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 ...

1 The SUBJECT

The Rivers and Fountains of waters.

Vers. 4. AND the third Angel poured out his Vial upon the Rivers and Fountains of waters.

By Rivers and Fountains of waters, we are not here (as most) to understand the Bishops and Doctors of the Romish Synagogue, because (as hath been proved) the foregoing Vial fell upon them.

And also secondly, because though they have been causers and promoters of shedding the blood of Saints, yet the act of blood-shedding hath ever been by another power, to whom being condemned, they were turned over to be executed; and as the blood of Christ, though caused by the Priests, is yet said to be shed by Pontius Pilate, because by his power the thing was acted; So the continual blood-shed of Saints in the Kingdome of Anti∣christ, though caused by the Bishops, may yet be said to have been done by the Civil power, because by that power the thing hath been acted.

That by Rivers and Fountains of waters, the Jesuits should be here meant (as a late godly Writer judgeth) seems not probable to me; 1 Because they are no where in all this Book set forth by any such name. 2 Because had this Vial been poured out, and that (as is judged) some

yeers past upon these, most surely this generation of men had not been so rise and active, and that in all places, as at this day they are. 3 The Jesuits (setting aside what they have done in a secret way by Treachery, and that of some few only) have not been actors any whit more in shedding the blood of the Saints, than their Fellow-companions the Bishops and Doctors of the Romish Synagogue. 4 And lastly, The time assigned for the doing of this, was many yeers before the second Vial was poured forth, and therefore a thing most unlikely that this should be the meaning.

A late worthy Writer upon the Vials, in this (as in many things else) varies from the common-road of Expositors, understanding by Rivers, States, and Kingdomes, by Fountains of waters, the Heads of these, namely, Kings, Parliaments, Statsmen, &c. upon whom this Vial is poured forth.

To this I do the more readily assent.

1 Because the former Expositions cannot stand, for the reasons aforenamed.

2 Because the ordinary use of the words give this to be the meaning; For Rivers and Waters in Scripture-phrase signifie People and Nations, Ezek. 32.2. Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh King of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young Lion of the Nations, thou camest forth with thy Rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their Rivers. Isa. 8.7. Now therefore behold, the Lord bringeth upon them the waters of the River strong and many, even the King of Assyria. Rev. 17.15. The waters which thou sawest, where the Whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues. The Fountain in common lan∣guage is as much as the Head of a River, whence it ari∣seth, and by which it is nourished.

3 Because the reason of the Vial, vers. 6. For they

have shed the blood of thy Saints, doth (as but now was shewed) more fitly agree to those who have hitherto been the Actors in shedding the blood of Saints, than to any other.

4 Because this Interpretation doth make a glorious concurrence and harmony, betwixt the order of Gods workings hitherto (since the Vials began to be poured out) and the order of the Vials: For the first remarkable thing wherein the hand of God appeared against the Beast, was in the detection of, and destroying his dam∣nable doctrine, and abominable Idolatries. Next pouring contempt upon, and pulling down the Antichristian Hierarchy. And the very next thing remarkable since that, hath been the shaking of some Nations, and removing from their seats their Kings and great ones, who were secret friends unto, and supporters of this Throne of ini∣quity; accordingly, the first came under the first Vial, the next the second; And why may not the third, being a thing remarkable, and distinct from the other, come under this third Vial, we are now speaking of?