A37035:1477
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.
This type then holdeth forth a hard condition the Church should be under, and a sad dispensation she should meet with, which, though moderated in a more orderly way than the former, yet should exceedingly mar the beauty of the Church, and bring her low, so that she who before was white and lively, and afterward red and wounded, should now, (as it were) drawing near expiring, fainting and swooning, as one who hath shed much blood, turn black and pale: which, in general, holdeth forth a growing strait of the Church, drawing nearer unto death than the former.
This type then holdeth forth a hard condition the Church should be under, and a sad dispensation she should meet with, which, though moderated in a more orderly way than the former, yet should exceedingly mar the beauty of the Church, and bring her low, so that she who before was white and lively, and afterward red and wounded, should now, (as it were) drawing near expiring, fainting and swouning, as one who hath shed much bloud, turn black and pale: which, in generall, holdeth forth a growing strait of the Church, drawing nearer unto death than the former.
That we may consider the meaning of this type more particularly, we would lay down these conclusions touching it, 1. We conceive it doth not hold forth an abounding or reigning of justice in the world simply; for, that is of it self no plague, but a great good, and so doth not agree with the scope, which is to set forth the trials of the Church, though we think it may point at a sort of seeming justice in the way, and persons of these who should be instrumental in these afflictions; in which respect, this rider differeth from the former, as is said. 2. Neither can it only literally be understood of bodily famine, but figuratively; for, the plague of famine, is no peculiar exercise of the Church, but is common to the rest of the world. Again, this famine here, is such a cross as maketh them in the fifth seal to cry for vengeance on these who were instruments of it; which cannot agree to famine properly, which ordinarily floweth from Gods immediate hand. Beside that, there is little in story to evidence the fulfilling of it in that sense, save what is mentioned by Tertullian and Cyprian to have been in Afric. Neither is it likely that any famine hath been or could be, (in the ordinary way that famines come) and wine and oil be spared, which yet necessarily according to the letter must be. Add, that there is alway some suitableness between the qualifications of the beast inviting to come and see, and the event foretold by the type; but there can be none between the third beast, and famine literally understood; which yet may well consist, if figuratively it be considered. Conclusion 3. The event here foretold, must fall within the first period laid down, to wit, after the first persecution, and before the vengeance executed upon Heathen persecutors; yea, it must be (as it were) a middle sort of persecution between the rise thereof under the second seal, and its height under the seals following.