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 ...

A Table of the chief things contained in this TREATISE.

The First Part.

• THe Coherence of the words, with the explication of the Text, P. 1. to 4
• Doct. It is an especial duty lying upon the Saints to attend unto, and be ac∣tive in the work or works of their Generation. Page 4
• ...Shewed,
• 1 What Generation-work is, and how the same is different from those com∣mon duties which lye upon Saints as Saints, and the special duties of a Saints calling, station relati∣on, or present condition, p. 5, 6, 7, 8
• 2 That Saints in their several Generations have e∣ver had their peculiar works, as is proved by a line drawn through the several generations from the begin∣ning downwards unto our times, p. 9, to 14
• 3 That it is a matter of great concernment for a Saint to attend to the work of his Generation, as ap∣pears.
• 1 God by his dispensati∣ons calls aloud for it, p. 14
• 2 Generation 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 de∣sign of God that is on foot in the age we live in, p. 20
• 4 God hath choyce di∣stinguishing mercy for that man that follows him in the work of his Generation, as,
• 1. God will overlook ma∣ny 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 Generati∣on, ib.
• 4. God will provide a hi∣ding place for that man a∣gainst those storms which may fall upon the Genera∣tion he lives in, that is ac∣tive in the work of his Ge∣neration, p. 22
• 5. God will reveal his se∣crets to such, ib.
• 6. God hath peculiar ho∣nor wherewith he will crown such, p. 23
• 5. Neglect of Generation work exposeth a man to ma∣ny danger, as,
• 1. Danger of losing Gifts and Talents, ib.
• 2. Danger of losing com∣munion 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 Apo∣state, 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 what∣soever 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 pro∣mised and foretold, in and about this age. ibid,
• 3. observe Gods visible dispensations towards the age, and the various trans∣actions of things therein, how they answer to what is foretold and promised, p. 31

• 4. Observe what work that is which is most oppo∣sed 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 here∣in, p. 32
• 2 By application of these general Rules unto the pre∣sent 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 in∣clination of thy spirit with∣in, at such time as the same is most spiritual, or thou hast most intimate commu∣nion with God, calls for the present doing thereof, p. 52
• 3. Observe what peece of Generation-work that is, which when thou hast ven∣tured on it, thou hast found God most eminently appea∣ring to thee for thy encou∣ragement; 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 capa∣city 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 with∣drawn 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 car∣ried

• ... on, so as that God may be served in the Generati∣on?
• 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 Genera∣tion, 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 dis∣ingaged from private inte∣rests, 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 Ge∣neration. as,
• 1. Take heed of being offen∣ded, 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 Ge∣neration, 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 miscar∣riages 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 dispensati∣ons & 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 oppo∣sition against the work, p. 70
• 3. At great ones hold∣ing off, and withdrawing their hands from the work, p. 71
• 4. At the perfidious and

• treacherous dealing of some particular person im∣ployed 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 close∣ly pursued in the work, ib.
• 7. At multiplied sen∣tences of death put upon the work, p. 73
• 3 Take heed of envy a∣gainst such whom God im∣ployeth in the work, p. 74
• 4 Take heed of procrasti∣nating that work which is the business of the present Generation, under a pre∣tence that the time of do∣ing it, is not yet come, nei∣ther are things ripe for it, p. 75
• 5. Take heed of limiting God to Ordinaries, ibid.
• 6. Take heed of neglect∣ing the nick of opportunity that God puts into thy hands to do the work of thy Gene∣ration in, p. 76
• 7 Take heed of fore∣casting events, ib.
• 8 Take heed of setling thy self upon seeming god∣ly 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 car∣ry in the bowels of them (though gilded over with outward respect and friend∣ship) 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 generation, ib.
• 12 And lastly, Take heed of conjunction with such who are not real-hearted to the cause of God, and the work of the generation, p. 89