A37035:1980
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.
2. It will appear from reason, if we consider that they placed their gods in Heaven. 2. That they had many Images of one God. 3. That they often changed their Images, but not their gods. 4. That many whom they worshipped by Images, were once such as had been living in the world, unto whose honour they erected such Images, but could never nor did never suppose them to be the persons themselves.
3. It will appear from the Heathens own disputings and assertions, whereby they shifted that absurdity of worshipping the works of their hands; yet is it by the Fathers, on this ground, born in upon them. See August. in Psal. 113. (nobis 115.) where, having asked the Question, why the Scripture insisteth so much to clear that the Images of the Gentiles can neither speak nor hear, &c. which could not but be known to a child? the reason is, saith he, Because by erecting such Images, people are ready to conceive some Godhead to be in them. Hence when they were pressed with this absurdity of worshipping the work of their hands, they did deny it, saying, that they worshipped not the Image, but the numen or God which dwelt in it, and was represented by it, and that after its dedication. If some of them were pressed further, that that numen or god was but a devil, they would answer, nec simulachrum nec daemonium colo, sed per effigiem corporalem ejus rei signum intueor quam colere debeo; I neither worship an Idol nor a devil, but by a bodily Image I behold the sign of that thing which I should worship. If Christians pressed yet further, that the things represented were but creatures as Tellus, Neptune, Vulcan, Lucifer, &c. or some Star, or this or that creature which was a body, yet, saith he, they durst answer, non se ipsa corpora colere, sed quae illis regendis praesident numina; that they worshipped not the creatures, but the gods that ruled in them. In consideration whereof, he citeth that place, Rom. 1. of changing the truth of God into a lie, and serving the creature more than the Creator, as if by the first part, the Apostle did condemn Images of God, and by the second their interpretations of the worship given to them, because it is there counted a serving of the creature whatever their pretext was; for (saith he) who, praying or worshipping, beholding an Image, is not so affected as if he thought to be heard by it, and hoping to have what he desireth performed by it? Therefore (saith he) men involved in such superstitions, turn themselves to pray to that Image which they call the Sun, or Neptune, &c. as if they could affect them with their sighings, and give that same respect to them as to the thing signified by them, and pray to the Image before they pray to the thing it self.