A37035:1886
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 9
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.
Vers. 3, The third effect following upon these two, v. 3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth, a vermin, (as it were,) engendered by the former corruptions; these, as being of special concernment in the Antichristian Kingdom, are largely and particularly described. That these locusts were men; yea, that they were pretended Churchmen, promovers of error and superstition, appeareth from this, that they stand in subordination to Antichrist, and in a Monarchic way are governed by Abaddon, vers. 11. and must therefore be servants suitable to such a master, and members conform to such a head. They are said to come out of the smoke, because oftentimes corruption of Doctrine begetteth corrupt Teachers to promove the same, as we see in Jeroboam, 2 Chron. 11.14, 15. and 2 Tim. 4.3. the rejecting of sound Doctrine and heaping up Teachers after mens own lusts, are put together: for, a spirit of error loveth to innovate in respect of Officers, as well as Doctrine, and by it people are some way disposed to strange Teachers; and also for promoving new tenets, they are necessitated to make use of them. However the scope and sum of the prophecy is thus, that the beginning of Antichrists kingdom shall be by an eminent Church-officer, who, falling from the right exercise of Ministerial Authority in subordination to Christ, to be a promover of the devils designs, and subservient to him, be shall bring in such abundance of ceremonies, superstitions and errors upon the Church which shall obscure the clear Doctrine and simplicity of the Gospel, whereby numbers of false Teachers, and orders shall be established, which our Lord Jesus hath never warranted. They are compared to locusts, 1. Because of their number, as Antichrist shall bring in many errors, so shall he multiply Teachers, who shall live and converse together in the world like swarms of locusts. 2. To set forth their nature, and that both in respect of their worthlessness, and also of their hurtfulness unto the Church, this being the nature of locusts to consume and destroy where they come, so that a land pleasant like Eden before them, is brought by them to a desolate wilderness, Joel 2.3, &c. compared with Chap. 1.4. These orders and teachers shall even do so with the Church:
Vers. 3, The third effect following upon these two, v. 3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth, a vermine, (as it were,) engendered by the former corruptions; these, as being of speciall concernment in the Antichristian Kingdom, are largely and particularly described. That these locusts were men; yea, that they were pretended Churchmen, promovers of error and superstition, appeareth from this, that they stand in subordination to Antichrist, and in a Monarchick way are governed by Abaddon, vers. 11. and must therefore be servants suitable to such a master, and members conform to such a head. They are said to come out of the smoke, because oftentimes corruption of Doctrine begetteth corrupt Teachers to promove the same, as we see in Ieroboam,