A37035:1131
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.
7. In his striking at errors, we find, 1. That he doth not insist on questions of more remote concernment, such as many were in these times; but on these that are in their nature more gross, and in their consequence more hurtful. 2. The errors that he toucheth, were such as were presently troubling the Church, and these Churches in particular to whom be writteth. Old buried errors are not sit matter for ordinary Preaching. 3. He pursueth these errors as most gross and abominable things, to make them odious and abominable unto his people; and for that end, compareth the promoters thereof to Balaam and Jezebel. It was regretted by holy Mr. Greenham, That some by their trifling way of confuting error, made it but ridiculous, whereas they ought by earnestness and gravity, to have made it hateful.
7. In his striking at errours, we find, 1. That he doth not insist on questions of more remote concernment, such as many were in these times; but on these that are in their nature more grosse, and in their consequence more hurtfull. 2. The errours that he toucheth, were such as were presently troubling the Church, and these Churches in particular to whom be writteth. Old buried errours are not sit matter for ordinary Preaching. 3. He pursueth these errours as most grosse and abominable things, to make them od•ous and abominable unto his people; and for that end, compareth the promoters thereof to Balaam and Iezebel. It was regrated by holy Mr. Greenham, That some by their trifling way of confuting errour, made it but ridicolus, whereas they ought by earnestnesse and gravity, to have made it hatefull.
8. His practical matter is near the power of Godliness, to wit, marking the Spiritual declining of the sincere, pressing the exercise of Repentance, and the performing of holy duties upon all; and, with all, most searchingly and convincingly striking at hypocrisy, presumption and self-confidence, as in the Epistles to Sardis and Laodicea: thereby showing what Doctrine especially Ministers should insist on in Congregations: and if we look to our Lords practice while in the flesh, we will not find Him more frequent on any subject than this, to wit, that the way to heaven is narrow, that many were first that shall be last, that hypocrisy should be guarded against, &c. as His parables of the sower, foolish Virgins, Marriage-feast, and many other instances, do demonstrate.