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 ...

2 Effect.

Ruin.

Wherein we have,

1 A particular List of the things ruined, which are;

• 1 The Great City.
• 2 The Cities of the Nations.
• 3 Great Babylon.

Vers. 19. And the Great City was divided into three parts, and the Cities of the Nations fell; and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give un∣to her the cup of the Wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Setting aside the Dragon, who was the principal stickler in encouraging and gathering together that Rout and Mul∣titude, who from all parts of the world come up to the bat∣tel of the great day of God Almighty, whose punishment is passed over here, but particular mention is made there∣of, Chapter 20. there seems to be three sorts of enemies, who shall gather together at this day.

• 1 The Popish Crew.
• 2 Mahumetans.
• 3 Some Kings of the Earth, neither Pa∣pists, nor Mahumetans.

The first stand under the Banner of the Beast, The two last being one in this, that neither pretends to stand up for Christ, as doth the Beast (who shall at this day by the subtlety, Miracles and counterfeit holiness of the false Prophet, be marvellously blinded, being made to be∣leeve his cause to be quite contrary to what indeed it is) but coming forth upon the account of some carnal re∣spects, or worldly interests, yet mixed with malice (which is natural to all that are of the Serpentine seed) against the Saints, are both comprehended under that of the Kings of the earth, Rev. 19.19. I saw the Beast, and the Kings of the earth.

Daniel, Chap. 7. describes them otherwise (though not much differing) calling the first (as here) the Beast,

which I have shewed to be the Roman Monarchy, as governed by Antichrist, the little Horn; the other, the rest of the Beasts, vers 12. noting other worldly powers, who shall joyn hands at this day with Antichrist, or the fourth Beast.

Now that Antichrist, with other Kings of the earth, as his adherents, shall at this day make one Head, to op∣pose the Saints, is without question, but yet perhaps it may be thought sufficient proof hath not (from what hath been said) appeared to evidence that the great Turk, or the Mahumetan party shall joyn with the rest, or should be comprehended under that of the Kings of the earth.

Now although no less can be thought, when the Holy Ghost speaks in such general termes, vers. 14. The Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, then that the Turk, who possesseth a great part of the world, should be included, yet (that the sense of the words may be more clear) I shall from other Scriptures prove that the great Turk shall have a hand, yea a deep one too, in this despe∣rate ingagement.

Not much to insist upon (because I would not bee prolix) the gathering together of Gog and Magog, spoken of in Ezek. 38.39. which divers worthy men, and not without giving good reasons for it) interpret the Pope and the Turk which gathering together that it is the same with that at this day, the several circumstances of the place do evidence, as will appear to him who shall compare the battel of Gog and Magog, with this of Armageddon; and not (as some) that spoken of, Rev. 20.8, 9. which mentions no battel, as doth Ezekiel; nor will that agree to the time of the Jews delivery (which Ezekiel is clear in) but rather should be a thousand years after; neither can there (the General Judgement immediately insuing thereupon) be any allowance of time, either to bury Gog's

dead, or for a glorious state of the Church here on earth; both which Ezekiel speaks punctually unto; yet well may those, Rev. 20. being such of the seed of old Gog and Magog as shall survive the thousand years, and shall at the end thereof (upon the Devils letting loose) act against the Saints, as their Fore-fathers did, retain the names of their Ancestors Gog and Magog still. But to pass this, I take it, those places (which are not a few) in the Old Te∣stament, where mention is made of the rage of the Assy∣rian against Israel, have a special reference to the thing I am now in proving, for whereas the Turk doth at this day possess Chaldea, Mesopotamia, with such other Countries, as did anciently belong to the Assyrian Mo∣narchy; so do I conceive what the Prophets oft hint at, as touching the Assyrians invading Israel with his Ar∣mies, to be rather Typical of what should be in the last dayes, acted by his Successor the Turk, than a plenary fulfilling of those Prophesies by any Invasions of the Assyrian, in, or about those times, Isa. 30.31. For through the voyce of the Lord shall the Assyrian be bea∣ten down; Which Text, although I deny not, but it had a typical accomplishment in the dayes of Senacherib, yet doth not that answer the scope of the Chapter, which it is manifest looks to the last dayes, and how the 30, 31, 32, 33 verses agrees to what we have formerly spoken, as touching Christs coming at the battel of Armageddon, will be clear to him who shall but compare sundry places which upon that occasion I have opened before with this.

As for that of Micha, Chap. 5.5. This man shall bee the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land; It cannot be interpreted as having reference to any other but Gospel-times, long before which the ancient Assyrian Monarchy was ruined. And would you know what time of the Gospel it hath reference unto? why the last time of all, viz. The time of Christs coming, and second appearing, vers. 4, 5, 6.

The like we have, Isa. 7.8. Zach. 10.10, 11. with many other places, which would be too tedious to insist upon.

Having thus found the parties who shall at this day bee gather together to oppose the Saints which march under three distinct Banners. 1 The Banner of the Beast, or Roman power governed by Antichrist. 2 The Banner of the Turk, or those of the Mahumetan Religion. 3 The Banner of some earthly Kings and Potentates, Adherents to the other two, yet neither Papists, nor Ma∣humetans.

I come now to make application hereof to the words, which notably set forth, and that distinctly the ruine of either party.

1 The great City is divided into three parts. By Great City, we are not to understand the City Rome, which fell before under Vial 5. But the whole power of the Beast, or Antichrists Kingdome, for so is the word used, Rev. 11.13. The same hour there was a great Earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, i.e. One of the ten Horns, or the tenth part of Antichrists Kingdome fell upon the Witnesses rise. Now the divi∣ding of the Great City, notes the downfall and ruin of his whole Kingdome; for a City divided, or rent peece from peece, by some terrible shaking, or earthquake can∣not stand; And this division being into three parts, notes a full and perfect ruine, three being a number of perfection. Now is the Beast slain, his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame, Dan. 7. Now the Beast and false Prophet, both are cast into the Lake of fire burning with brimstone, Rev. 19. Now those who worship the Beast, and his Image, and receive his mark in their fore-heads, or in their hands, drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mix∣ture into the cup of his indignation, and are tormented

with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoak of their torment ascendeth up for ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the Beast and his Image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name, Rev. 14.

2 The Cities of the Nations fall, i.e. such Nations as come in to the help of the Pope and Turk at this day, their Royal Cities, Regal Seats, Fortresses and places of strength are overthrown. Now are the Thrones of Kingdoms overturned, and the strength of Kingdoms of the Heathen destroyed, Hag. 2.22. This is the day of Gods controversie with all Nations, when the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth, unto the other, Jer. 25.30, 31, 32, 33.

3 Great Babylon comes up in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierce∣ness of his wrath. Now by Great Babylon we may not understand the City Rome, which fell under the Fifth Vial; nor is it weight enough against our Reasons there laid down, to say that the City Rome is spiritually called by the name of Great Babylon, in this Book, unless it could be proved that the name in a spiritual sense is ap∣pliable to no other City, or thing, but Rome only.

Nor may we secondly, understand Antichrists King∣dome in general, for that is set forth by the Great City; and it is not a thing probable, having once expressed it, and being gone to another Head namely, The Cities of the Nations, that the Holy Ghost should yet afterwards come over with it again. Yea how improper would it be to say of the Kingdom of the Beast, that it came now in re∣membrance before God, which peece by peece had been pulling down, and destroying throughout all the Vials.

As therefore three sorts of Enemies combine together at this day, the doom and downfall of two of which, we

have seen already; so is the ruine of the third, namely, the Great Turk, with Constantinople his Royal City, or Seat of Residence here set forth by Great Babylons coming up in remembrance before God: And in this opinion I am not alone, (Brightman) a man of no little worth and esteem, having asserted it before me.

And truly the Turk, being, as hath been made ap∣pear, so considerable an Enemy in this last ingagement, it is not probable that his punishment should either be passed over in silence, or named in the general only, which if it be not contained in these words, is so.

Withall there will be the same reason at this day, when the Turkish Seat shall be as infamously famous for oppo∣sing, and oppressing the Jews, as Antichrists hath been, or now is, for persecuting the Christians, that in a figu∣rative sense the name of Babylon (the oppressing City of Gods people of old) should be applied to it, as now it is to the Seat of the Beast; yea if of the two one may claim a greater title to the name than the other, the claim of this day will fall to the Turk, who by possessing the cruel and persecuting qualities of Babylon of old, towards Gods people shall make his claim equal with Antichrist; and by how much he hath not the qualities only, but the Lands and Territories of the Babylonian Monarchy that was now in his clutches, his claim will be the grea∣ter.

And indeed to me it is evident that those things that concern the destruction of Babylon, mentioned so oft in the Prophets, which in the ruine of Babylon of old (the Type) neither had, nor could have their accomplish∣ment, though they have a respect to the Turk and Anti∣christ both, yet more especially to the Turk, as the princi∣pal Antitype of that Type, as is clear, Isa. 14. for the Baby∣lon there spoken of, is that Babylon which shall be an op∣pressing City to the Jews (for which reason they triumph

over it in its destruction, vers. 4, 5, &c. and this at the time of their last restauration, which is yet to come, as is ma∣nifest in the three first verses, which can be meant of none so properly, as the Great Turk sitting in Constanti∣nople.

And as a further Restauration seems to be promised, and foretold, Jer. 50.4 5. then meerly the coming out of Babylon of Old, when Judah only, and not (as here) Israel and Judah together, came up to seek the Lord; so by the same reason we are to look after the ruine of some other Babylon, then meerly Babylon in the Letter, which Babylo•• must be such too, as shall at this day stand in the way of the Jews return, and be an enemy to them; and this can be more fitly applied to none than to the Turk.

And notwithstanding the Turk received a notable blow under the former Vial, by means of which a door was set open to the Jews to recover their own land; yet because Constantinople, his chief City was not thereby destroyed, therefore in respect of the wrath of God, poured out up∣on that at this day, it is here said, Great Babylon came now in remembrance before God; which words very fitly agree to the ruine of Constantinople, but are not appli∣able either to the ruine of Rome, or the Kingdome of the Beast in general, both which came up into re∣membrance, and had been actually punished before this day.

2 The Inevitableness of this Ruine.

Vers. 20. And every Island fled away, and the Mountains were not found.

Islands and Mountains are places of refuge. Men in times of commotion, flye to these for shelter, as being safer in them than they can be elswhere. Now that which

tome is a notable confirmation that the words are in this sense to be understood; I find the Prophets in other places (which relating to this very time, serve as a Comment upon the Text) intimating that men should at this day either be secure by reason of such shelters, or flye to such places for shelter, Ezek. 39.6. speaking of the Effects of the Battel of Gog and Magog saith, I will send a fire in Magog, and among them that dwell carelesly in the Isles, as noting, that some should at this day think them∣selves secure by being in Isles, places of refuge and shelter. The Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 2.21. speaking of the day wherein God will arise to shake terribly the earth (the same with that shaking, Joel 3.16. Hag. 2.6, 7. 21, 22. tells us that some at that day for fear of the Lord, shall flye to the clefts of the Rocks, and to the tops of the ragged Rocks; noting men shall seek shelter from such places of refuge as the Rocks of Mountains are. But so inevitable shall their ruine be, that notwith∣standing men may flye for shelter to their outward Re∣fuges, thinking themselves secure by reason of them, yet shall all their refuges and shelters prove no shelter against this storm, for every Island shall flye away, and the Mountains shall not be found.

3 The Greatness of it.

Vers. 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a Ta∣lent.

The Hail from Heaven denotes the more imme∣diate judgements of God, which shall fall on his enemies at this day; and there may be an allusion to the de∣struction of the Canaanites by great Hailstones from Heaven, Josh. 10.11. The greatness of the Hailstones, each being about the weight of a Talent, notes the

judgements God will inflict at this day, to be the heaviest and most dreadful that can be, a Talent of all weights being the greatest.