A37035:1263
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.
We may see the inconsequencie of this, by considering what is said of Him that sitteth upon the Throne, Chap. 4. vers. 11. and we may acquiesce in the interpretation thereof that is given.
In the last place, when all the creatures have done, the redeemed again come in, vers. 14. and they close this song: because their interest is most, and their engagements deepest. 1. The four beasts say Amen: thus the Ministers begin. What they say, is in this word Amen, which is a word that usually closeth Prayer, and doth import some clearness of Faith and confidence in the thing asserted, and some vehement desire of attaining the thing prayed-for. Here it is set down as the expression of hearts, who are indeed passionately desirous to have the Lords praise glorious, and yet convinced to be utterly insufficient for ⟨p. 295⟩the same, and therefore they close in a manner when they begin, and they are beginning when they close. And all is but rather an assenting to the glory that is given, and an acknowledging that all is due to Him, than a real performing of any thing in their own estimation. In the last place, the four and twenty Elders follow, and they have nothing to say, but fall down and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever; The beasts say not much, they express nothing, but fall down silent, as being overcome and infinitely outreached by the glorious and incomprehensible excellency of the blessed Object; yet, is their praise no less acceptable to God than if there were many expressions: because, silence, both in Prayer and Praise, doth often speak more and louder than great noise of words. And here we see, that where the heart is inwardly weighted with the convictions of Gods goodness and ones own need, and bended with love, or overwhelmed in a manner with holy fear and reverence that it can express nothing; yet, even then there may be an acceptable worshipping of God. Yea, this silence is marked as the yond-most step, or greatest length of praise that they did, or could attain unto.
In the last place, when all the creatures have done, the redeemed again come in, vers. 14. and they close this song: because their interest is most, and their engagements deepest. 1. The four beasts say Amen: thus the Ministers begin. What they say, is in this word Amen, which is a word that usually closeth Prayer, and doth import some clearnesse of Faith and confidence in the thing asserted, and some vehement desire of attaining the thing prayed-for. Here it is set down as the expression of hearts, who are indeed passionatly desirous to have the Lords praise glorious, and yet convinced to be uttterly insufficient for