A37035:1235
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.
And because simple directions will not prevail to comfort these that are heavy, In the third place, He giveth the ground of this, Behold (saith he) the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the Book, and to loose the seals thereof: which is in sum, thou mayst be comforted and stay thy weeping; for, though no creature be able to open the Book, yet the Mediator can and will fully do that business. He beginneth this with a Behold, thereby to rouse up John with the glad tidings that He was to tell him, and also to make what was said the more to be observed, and the party spoken of, the more to be admired. This party who openeth the Book, must be no mean person, seeing he doth what no creature in Heaven, nor Earth could do; and so is contradistinguished from them. He is here expressed by two titles: the first is, He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah: this ⟨p. 286⟩seemeth to be taken from Gen. 49.9. where Judah is said to couch down as a Lion, and as an old lion: who shall rouse him up? And this is attributed to Him, 1. To show that He is of the stock and linage of Judah, and the very Messiah, or Shiloh, spoken of there. 2. To point out the excellent qualifications where with our Lord Jesus is furnished for the undertaking and prosecuting of the most dangerous exploits, if so His Peoples need call for the same. He is indeed such a bold Lion as never drew back for a strait: and, as none can rouse Him up but to their own prejudice. So none can expect otherwise to be dealt with, that rise up against Him. The second word, is, He is the root of David: this is taken, as would seem from Isa. 11. vers. 1. where He is called a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots; so that if we look upon Christ as Man and come of David, He is a rod out of the stem of Jesse, &c. or, if we look upon Him in a more Spiritual and mystical sense, as He is God-Man, Mediator and head of His Church, in this respect He is the root of David, because so, David, as a member, hath his being from Him: in which respect, Chap. 22. vers. 16. the Lord doth stile Himself both the root and off-spring of David. And this twofold consideration of Christ, is the only way to loose that Question which puzzled the Pharisees, Matth. 22. vers. 42, &c. to wit, How the Messiah could be both Davids Son, and Davids Lord. It is said, He hath prevailed to open the Book, &c.