A37035:819
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.
The reason subjoined, is in these words, for they are worthy: we may take up worthiness under several considerations, as, first, when there is supposed to be in proper justice a condignity between the deserving of the person, and the thing that is bestowed upon him▪ as when a workman is said to be worthy of his wages, speaking as amongst men: in this ⟨p. 185⟩respect, Scotus, and many of the Schoolmen that follow him, deny that men can merit any thing before God: because there is such a distance between God and creatures, that no creature can make God his debtor, without respect to His own free engagement and promise: and also, because there is no due proportionableness between the great happiness of Eternal life, and what men can do to procure the same. This Doctrine is much opposed by the generality of the Schoolmen, and later Jesuits, as having these absurdities with it, 1. That it destroyeth all proper merit. 2. That it saith there is no condignity in good works themselves, without respect to Gods promise, whereas they say, such and such works had been condignly meritorious, although there had never been such a promise. 3. They say, it is all one with the Heretics opinion, and such like: of which, possibly, we may say a word some-otherwhere (if the Lord will) Yet, this first acception of worthiness or merit, cannot be admitted here: because, 1. it contraries the end of Christs giving this promise, which is to express the freeness of His Grace in taking notice of such, and bestowing such an excellent privilege on them beyond their deserving. 2. It is contrary to what is implied in the promise: for, if they had absolute perfection for the time, so as to merit to be thus de••t with, Then it would suppose that they did already walk in white, and were simply free of all blots; whereas Christ doth difference their future happy condition from what they had for the time in this respect, that although then they wanted not their own infirmities, albeit they were sincere, and free of the faults that others were lying under; yet wanted they not all spots: but at that time, when this promise should be fulfilled, these spots should be wiped away, and they should walk fully in white. Secondly, Worth, or merit, is sometimes taken as it respecteth Gods gracious acceptation of a sinner through Christ Jesus:
The reason subjoyned, is in these words, for they are worthy: we may take up worthinesse under several considerations, as, first, when there is supposed to be in proper justice a condignity between the deserving of the person, and the thing that is bestowed upon him as when a workman is said to be worthy of his wages, speaking as mongst men: in this