A37035:1847
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.
To come to the application of this, We, 1. take it for granted, that some Church-defection is signified by this, rather than the overturning of the civil state of the Roman Empire; for, the falling of the Roman State is not actively the cause of its own bitterness, that State being passive in its being overturned; and the bitterness floweth not from it as an agent, yet it is clear here, that this falling Star is the active agent, or instrument of embittering these waters, as the hail and the burning mountain was in the two trumpets before: also the title Star, and the effects (as they are used in this prophecy) will agree best to Church-men and affairs, beside the scope whereof we have spoken.
To come to the application of this, We, 1. take it for granted, that some Church-defection is signified by this, rather than the overtturning of the civil state of the Roman Empire; for, the falling of the Roman State is not actively the cause of its own bitternesse, that State being passive in its being overturned; and the bitternesse floweth not from it as an agent, yet it is clear here, that this falling Star is the active agent, or instrument of imbittering these waters, as the hail and the burning mountain was in the two trumpets before: also the title Star, and the effects (as they are used in this prophesie) will agree best to Church-men and affairs, beside the scope whereof we have spoken.
2. This judgement differeth from the former two, 1. In its object; more immediately it striketh at the way of the Gospels manifesting grace. 2. In its rise; it is from some eminent preacher carrying it on with more rational eloquence, seeming reason, and pretext of holiness, or, by moe preachers together. 3. In the manner of it: not by blood, no• mixing in persecution, as the former two had waiting on them, but by making the waters bitter, turning them into wormwood, which was by the infecting of them with the error it self. 4. That it falleth not on the earth, as Chap. 9.1. because yet it was but working, and that Star not fully discovered as yet by this fall: and so here its a great Star; but (Chap. 9.1.) a Star, only because he lost much of his splendour by the first fall, though we think it is the same fall begun here, and perfected there.