A37035:807
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 3
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.
We come now to the second thing in the Body of the Epistle, which is the directions that the Lord giveth both to Minister and people, for the recovering of them out of that condition, vers. 2, 3. And because the reasons whereby he presseth these directions, are intermixed, we shall speak to both in order as they lie. The directions are of two sorts. The first respecteth their present duty, and their carriage for the time to come, in reference to what might occur; the other respecteth what was past, and their carriage in reference to that. The first is in the 2. vers. comprehended in two directions: both which imply their former guiltiness. The first is, be Watchful: which looketh both to watchfulness in the private duties of Christianity, and also to a more watchful sympathizing manner of going about the duties of the Ministry: which implieth, that what ever name they had before others, that yet really there was much deadness and security, unwatchfulness, and untendernesse in both these respects before God. The second direction is, and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die: By things that remain and are ready to die, may be understood, 1. some remainders of the work of God in some that were honest, which being through carelessness and security exceedingly weakened and brought very low, were in hazard to die out, if not prevented: this respecteth especially these members who had declined from somewhat which once they had been at. And although, no question, there were many in that Church who never had any thing; yet it is no marvel that the Lord mould His directions with a special reference to such as had some honesty in them. 2. These words may be understood as peculiarly spoken to the Minister; And so the things that remain, &c. are some little stirrings amongst the People, as the fruits of his Ministry, which now are like to die out, because of his formal way of carrying of himself in his duty: or, it may look to the few honest ones, which were among them, who were not fed and nourished by him in their spiritual conditions, and so were like to starve, even when he was flourishing in the exercise of his gifts to the admiration of others. The direction, and strengthen the things that remain, must be expounded with respect to both these:
We come now to the second thing in the Body of the Epistle, which is the directions that the Lord giveth both to Minister and people, for the recovering of them out of that condition, vers. 2, 3. And because the reasons whereby he presseth these directions, are intermixed, we shall speak to both in order as they ly. The directions are of two sorts. The first respecteth their present duty, and their carriage for the time to come, in reference to what might occur; the other respecteth what was past, and their carriage in reference to that. The first is in the 2. vers. comprehended in two directions: both which implie their former guiltinesse. The first is, be Watchful: which looketh both to watchfulnesse in the private duties of Christianity, and also to a more watchful sympathizing manner of going about the duties of the Ministrie: which implieth, that what ever name they had before others, that yet really there was much deadnesse and security, unwatchfulnesse, and untendernesse in both these respects before God. The second direction is, and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die: By things that remain and are ready to die, may be understood, 1. some remainders of the work of God in some that were honest, which being through carelesnesse and security exceedingly weakned and brought very low, were in hazard to die out, if not prevented: this respecteth especially these members who had declined from somewhat which once they had been at. And although, no question, there were many in that Church who never had any thing; yet it is no marvell that the Lord mould His directions with a speciall reference to such as had some honesty in them. 2. These words may be understood as peculiarly spoken to the Minister; And so the things that remain, &c. are some little stirrings amongst the People, as the fruits of his Ministery, which now are like to die out, because of his formall way of carrying of himself in his duty: or, it may look to the few honest ones, which were among them, who were not fed and nourished by him in their spiritual conditions, and so were like to starve, even when he was flourishing in the exercise of his gifts to the admiration of others. The direction, and strengthen the things that remain, must be expounded with respect to both these: