A37035:1000
A commentary upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…
A commentary upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependence on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principal purposes and words contained in this treatise.A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependance on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principall purposes and words contained in this treatise.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I know that Author will repel this easily, by asserting that all these were Metropolitan ⟨p. 232⟩Churches, and that these other Presbyters were inferior Bishops, and that these Epistles, are not to be understood to be directed to these particular Towns, which are mentioned only, but to all the Country, whereof these were Metropolitan Cities and Churches. But to this we oppose, 1. How can that be made to appear from any ground in Scripture, where neither the word Metropolitan, nor the thing is hard of? 2. This maketh two sorts of Prelatical Bishops, when yet, whatever be understood by Bishops, in the Word it is clear they are but of one degree: and therefore the same rules for ordination, for qualifications, trial and ever other thing, are indifferently given for all. 3. This contrarieth the very letter of the Text, to say that when he writeth to Philippi, or Thessalonica, he writeth to all Macedonia, &c. For the Apostle in his Inscriptions putteth great difference between his writing to a particular Church or City, and his writing to several Churches in a Country, as by his directions to Corinth, Philippi, Coloss, &c. in the one case, and his directions not to any Church in a particular Town, but to the Churches in Galatia and to all the Hebrews, in the other case, is clear: which is done, to show that the one respecteth a particular Town and the Christians in it, and the other the Christians in a whole Country. And certainly, if we will mark how he distinguisheth Thessalonica from Macedonia and Achaia, 1 Thes. 1.7. and how (Coloss. 4.16.) he commandeth to read that Epistle in the Church of the Laodiceans, which yet was not far from this Town, it will appear that he understood the particular Churches which were named. Yet it is clear that there were moe Bishops in Philippi, and moe Ministers in Thessalonica, as, 1 Epist. chap. 5. vers. 12. Now to put his gloss upon the words, in that place (saith he) Thessalonica was a Metropolis, and all the Christian Churches and Bishops in Macedonia were written unto, when Thessalonica was written unto; How then shall vers. 7, and 8. of the first Chapter be paraphrased, so that ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia? This would be the meaning, ye Christians of Macedonia, are examples to all the Christians of Macedonia: which were absurd.