A37035:1232
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 5
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.
The fourth step, is, vers. 5. Where the consolation beginneth: for, the Lord suffereth not John to weep long, even though his infirmity had occasioned his own heaviness. The consolation hath two parts: The first is, by sending good news, or glad tidings unto John, vers. 5. The second is, by making him a beholder of a comfortable sight, vers. 6. and 7. wherein he seeth that to be performed, which was told unto him.
The fourth step, is, vers. 5. Where the consolation beginneth: for, the Lord suffereth not Iohn to weep long, even though his infirmity had occasioned his own heavinesse. The consolation hath two parts: The first is, by sending good news, or glad tidings unto Iohn, vers. 5. The second is, by making him a beholder of a comfortable sight, vers. 6. and 7. wherein he seeth that to be performed, which was told unto him.
In these glad tidings, we may consider, First, the carrier; Secondly, the comfort; Thirdly, the ground thereof. The carrier, is one of the Elders, that is, as was expounded in the former Chapter, some private Professor or member of the Church, whom, in way of vision, God maketh use of to help and comfort John in this his heaviness and infirmity: and what is here in vision, may be often really performed in the Church. From which we may gather, 1. That the strongest of Gods Servants may have their great fits of heaviness and weeping, and their mistakes of His dispensations, and be ready to count things much more desperate than they are. 2. The Lord is tender of His Peoples heaviness, even when it is out of infirmity. 3. His comforts are seasonably trysted, and often then are they most near and refreshful, when men think things most desperate. 4. He may make use of any instrument for the comforting of another; and when the strong are overmastered with heaviness, He can stir up weak Professors to prove comfortable to them. And in the last place, more particularly, we may see, That weak Professors may sometimes be more comforted in the use-making of Christs Offices, and in exercising faith on Him, than great Teachers: who, by seeking to exercise their light, invention, and reason to satisfy themselves in things that are dark, may have many disappointments therein, and heaviness following thereon, so long as the Mediator is not employed; whereas the simple tender Believer, that at first looketh to Him for answering of all difficulties, may have much peace and cheerfulness.