A37035:263
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.
5. Lay all these together, what needs John fear? If evil spirits act by Christs orders, and the most wicked in hell or earth cannot exceed their orders, what needs there be fears? seeing Christ keep the keys of the devils house, and hath orders given, and employment carved out to them, as accurately as He hath to men on earth, good or bad; for death and hell are His servants, and go not their own errands, but His; and therefore dare not exceed their Commission, yea, they must not, nor cannot, what ever malice they have in prosecuting His order: What ground then of fear is there? And so it may serve to comfort us against the evils of our outward and inward condition: there is nothing comes in Church, or Commonwealth, but as He orders it, who is faithful in all the house of God, as a son. It were good if our meeting together had this fruit to get the faith of His Sovereignty sealed up in our hearts. If folks would choose a good Friend, Patron, or Master, He is the Party: stick to Him, and fear nothing.
5. Lay all these together, what needs Iohn fear? If evil spirits act by Christs orders, and the most wicked in hell or earth cannot exceed their orders, what needs there be fears? seing Christ keep the keys of the devils house, and hath orders given, and imployment carved out to them, as acurately as He hath to men on earth, good or bad; for death and hell are His servants, and go not their own errands, but His; and therefore dare not exceed their Commission, yea, they must not, nor cannot, what ever malice they have in prosecuting His order: What ground then of fear is there? And so it may serve to comfort us against the evils of our outward and inward condition: there is nothing comes in Church, or Commonwealth, but as He orders it, who is faithfull in all the house of God, as a son. It were good if our meeting together had this fruit to get the faith of His Soveraignity sealed up in our hearts. If folks would choose a good Friend, Patron, or Master, He is the Party: stick to Him, and fear nothing.
Vers. 19. Followeth the third thing, and it is some circumstances, that make way for Johns writing what he saw, or, our Lords repeating and enlarging of Johns Commission. This Commission is so often repeated, to tell, 1. How punctual He would have John in keeping himself by his Commission, neither altering nor diminishing it, nor doing any thing less or more, but what he had Commission for. 2. To show on what ground this word depends, and the Authority of it: it's not to be accounted authentic, because John wrote it simply, or because the Church accounts it so; but because John at Christs command wrote it: Christ will have the Warrant and Authority of His Word discernible, and out of question, especially what is contained in this Revelation: We will not find the Warrant of any so often repeated, as the Warrant to write this. 4. It may be for this reason, Johns former fainting and fagging might have made him forget his errand: therefore, He will repeat it to him: to tell that discouraging and fainting must not mar folk in their duty; but they would always labour so to compose their spirits, as the duty they are called to may not be neglected: and though they may be surprised with fear and fainting; yet, they would up, and fall to work again. We may consider the reasons of this repetition more fully afterward.