A37035:1453
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.
The meaning then of this type, as a prophecy, in short, is, to foretell that that Church which should at first shine by the spreading light of the Gospel, and should be captivated unto Jesus Christ by His triumphing in His Ordinances throughout the world, that Church should be suddenly set upon by persecutors, and a bloody and a terrible-like dispensation should immediately follow the conquest of the Gospel, so that in no part of the world the Professors thereof should have external peace; but being hated of all men, should be betrayed, killed, massacred, and cruelly and universally put to death, in so far that the former dispensations to the Church should seem quite to be altered in their outward face, and she changed from her former whiteness to a bloody colour, in respect of her many sufferings.
The meaning then of this type, as a prophesie, in short, is, to foretell that that Church which should at first shine by the spreading light of the Gospel, and should be captivated unto Jesus Christ by His triumphing in His Ordinances throughout the world, that Church should be suddenly set upon by persecuters, and a bloudy and a terrible-like dispensation should immediatly follow the conquest of the Gospel, so that in no part of the world the Professors thereof should have externall peace; but being hated of all men, should be betrayed, killed, massacred, and cruelly and universally put to death, in so far that the former dispensations to the Church should seem quite to be altered in their outward face, and she changed from her former whitenesse to a bloudy colour, in respect of her many sufferings.
The preparation here to this type, is the same as under the former, to wit, a voice, saying, Come, and see: whereby, all are again and again stirred up by all the Ministers of Christ, whatever be their qualifications, to consider the opened seals. Only it differeth in these two, 1. That this is the second beast formerly described, Chap. 4.7. 2. That though he speaketh the same thing, yet doth he it in a different manner, as a Calf or Ox differeth in ⟨p. 345⟩their sound from a Lion. The reason why the second beast so qualified as a Calf, is made use of to invite to come and see the events of this seal, is, because, that beast, being most famous for patient enduring and hard labouring, suiteth best with such a suffering condition of the Church and so sad news as were to be revealed by this type; and also, because it representeth best the qualifications of a Ministry fit for such a dispensation, and so also setteth forth Gods wisdom most, in fitting men for, and trysting them with, such a sad condition of His Church. It is therefore to good purpose observed at the opening of each seal, whether it be the first, second or third beast that calleth; for, they are not ranked by guess, but purposely, to point out a suitableness and conformity between such an event or condition of the Church, and the persons made use of in reference thereunto, according as they are represented by the said beasts; and as this exposition agreeth with the scope of the prophecy, so with the type, and with the word of explication that is added.