A37035:831
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.
To the fourth, we say, That although such a Minister may not be altogether always without fruit; yet often great Gifts with an unsound frame of heart have but little fruit and few converts: he hath here names, but a few names, though he himself had a great name: and certainly in part it is imputed to his unsoundness, whose works were not perfect before God; so that although men could not censure him; yet before God he was not kindly and natively driving the design of that peoples edification, whereof this, of having a few names, is a consequent, as the real honesty, though with a little measure of Gifts, of the Angel of Philadelphia, did not want its own influence up•• the success of his Ministry: This therefore showeth the danger of an unsound lifeless Ministri•, that often the fruits are exceeding few, where there are any at all. Hence these Scribes and Pharisees are, in Christs account, as to fruit and to saving of souls, Matth. 9. as almost none at all, although he gave not people way at their own hand to cast at them. And considering, that turning of men from their evil way, and standing in Gods counsel, Jer. 23. vers. 22. and walking with God in equity, and turning many from their iniquity, Mal. 2. vers. 6. go together. It is no marvel that the•e who are negligent in the one, be also less blessed with the other. These, we conceive, God hath wisely linked together, that the more a man have of Him, the more fruit his Commission in his mouth should have. And although this be not peremptory in all cases, especially in the comparative degree amongst honest men; Yet, 1. this connection is more suitable in it self, vers. 12. that one who tenderly and singly aimeth at fruit, should attain more than one who indeed intendeth but the feeding of himself. 2. The one hath a promise and may claim it, 1 Tim. 4.16. the other is judicially smitten in this: for, as fruits are in part some reward of Grace to a faithful Minister; so fruitlessness is a just stroke upon the other. 3. There is a connection also in respect of means: tenderness in a Minister disposeth to faithfulness, sympathy, &c. and the want of it, unfitteth a Minister to conceive experimentally of many things; and so he is indisposed to speak them seasonably: and it marreth that holy boldness, which immediate eyeing of God giveth;