A37035:1172
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
AN EXPOSITION Of the BOOK of the REVELATION. › Lecture 1 › Chapter 4
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 second thing whereby this Glory is set forth, is, And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an Emerald. In Ezek. 1. (where the same description is almost in the same terms) there is a Firmament, a Throne, one sitting on it, and a rainbow; as the appearance of the bow that is in the clouds in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about: the scope in both places, is, to show the glorious Majesty of God, who, as He hath a Throne attributed to Him improperly, to express His Sovereignty, so hath He this as a cloth of State over His Throne, thereby to show how far His Sovereignty and Majesty is beyond the greatest Monarchs on Earth: for, He only hath immortality, and dwelleth in a light that no man can approach unto, whom no eye hath seen, nor can see, 1 Tim. 6.16. Therefore is justly called the only Potentate, vers. 15. all others being but slaves and worms in comparison with Him. And that this bow is compared to an Emerald, is to show that it was a more glorious thing than that rainbow in the clouds, which is visible to us. This rainbow, Chap. 10. vers. 1. is said to be upon his head; whereby it would seem, that ⟨p. 271⟩it is something which He doth (as it were) account His Crown and Diadem of Glory: It is like, that respect is here had to that Covenant, which the Lord made with Noah, that the waters should not overflow the earth, whereof this rainbow was given as a sign and seal for the confirmation thereof, Gen. 9.13. and the mentioning of it here, and Chap. 10. is not to relate to that particular promise, that the earth should not be drowned, but is to relate unto the Covenant of Gods Grace through Christ Jesus with His true Church: for, when it is called a bow, in sight like unto an Emerald, it pointeth out an excellency beyond the ordinary rainbows: and so may be thought to relate to a more excellent Covenant. And indeed, considering that this is an eminent piece of the Lords Glory, and, as it were, a Crown, we can apply it to no other thing. In reference to the scope in these places, it doth hold forth, 1. That this glorious God, who is the Creator of all, is a God who hath condescended to Covenant with His People. 2. It holdeth forth, that this gracious condescending of His to enter in Covenant with them, is a main part of His Glory and Majesty, which He accounteth to be as a Crown unto Him. 3.