A37035:122
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.
To the third, Why writes •e to them as particular Churches, To the seven Churches in Asia, and not to the Church in Asia? Answ. For clearing of this, the Scripture speaks of the Church in a threefold sense, 1. As comprehending the whole number of visible Professors, scattered through the world; so the Gospel-Church is spoken of from the days of Christ to His coming again, as 1 Cor. 12.28. God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, &c. where, by Church, is not to be understood this or that particular Church, nor the Church in Corinth: for, the Church he is speaking of, is ⟨p. 21⟩such a Church, as God had set the Apostles in, and all Officers; and that was in no particular Church, but is the universal Church, spoken of in the Verse before, made up both of Jews and Gentiles: and so the word is often used elsewhere, as it is said, Paul made havoc of the Church, and that he persecuted the Church. It was not this or that particular Church, but all that called on the Name of Jesus Christ, to whatsoever particular Church they did belong. So, (1 Cor. 10.32.) the Church is contradistinguished from Jews and Gentiles, Give none offence to the Jews, nor Gentiles, nor to the Church of God, that is, to the Church visible, professing Faith in Christ. And this Church, R•vel. 12. is set out under the similitude of a woman in travel, in readiness to be delivered, and afterward doth flee: which is not this or that particular Church, but the Mother-Church, comprehending the whole visible number of Professors. 2. It is taken, as comprehending a number of Believers, meeting together in one place ordinarily for the Worship of God, the smallest associated part of this body of the universal visible Church, as 1 Cor. 14.34. a company of professing Believers met, or meeting together for Preaching, or Prayer: and in this sense, the Scripture speaks not so often of the Church. 3. It's taken neither for the whole body of visible Professors, nor yet for such a part of that Body, that is, a company met or meeting together; but, for a number associated and combined under one Government, meeting in their Church-Guides and Officers, though under this combination and Government there be many Congregation and Meetings: and so the Church at Corinth, Ephesus, and Jerusalem, is to be understood: not for the Universal Catholic Church, nor for a particular Congregation;