A37035:1003
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.
A fourth consideration which we propose, is, that this denial of Preaching-presbyters, is contrary to reason, and is founded upon false suppositions. For, it supposeth, 1. the number of Christians to have been few. 2. That an office may be afterward instituted in the Church, which was not instituted in the Apostles days. Now, let it be considered in reason, 1. If the Christians who were so numerous in many places, as in Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, Antioch, &c. can be supposed to have been fed sufficiently by one Bishop? it being clear that there were many thousands, as hath been abundantly made out by that rich Piece, Learned Mr. Rutherfurd his Due Right of Presbytery, and that acute Piece Ju•divinum regiminis Ecclesiastici; where also the plurality of Officers is abundantly evinced: wherefore there needeth no more of this. Only we may observe from Acts 13.1. that in Antioch, beside extraordinary Officers, there was a plurality of ordinary Teachers, which by no means can be understood of Bishops. 2. It may be considered what the case of these ⟨p. 233⟩Churches would have been, when one Pastor was absent from them, as oftentimes it was by being sent in messages to the Apostles and otherwayes: can it be said that these Churches were without Preaching-officers and Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments all that time? yet that must be said, except we say there were other Preaching-officers labouring amongst them. 3. Is it agreeable to reason, to think that all Churches were of one measure so as to be served with one man? or, that where some few number of Christians were converted and did combine amongst themselves, they behoved either to be a Diocesan Church, which is impossible, or to be none at all, which is contrary to the way of the Gospel? 4. I ask, If the case of the Christian Church was more perfect with Presbyters than without them? If it be more perfect with them, then it must be said the Primitive Apostolic Church was not in the most perfect form, which will be against reason. If it be more perfect without them, then they were unreasonably brought and kept into the Church: both which are absurd.
A fourth consideration which we propose, is, that this denial of Preaching-presbyters, is contrary to reason, and is founded upon false suppositions. For, it supponeth, 1. the number of Christians to have been few. 2. That an office may be afterward instituted in the Church, which was not instituted in the Apostles dayes. Now, let it be considered in reason, 1. If the Christians who were so numerous in many places, as in Ierusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, Antioch, &c. can be supposed to have been fed sufficiently by one Bishop? it being clear that there were many thousands, as hath been abundantly made out by that rich Piece, Learned Mr. Rutherfurd his Dueright of Presbytery, and that acute Piece Iudivinum regiminis Ecclesiastici; where also the plurality of Officers is abundantly evinced: wherefore there needeth no more of this. Only we may observe from