A37035:846
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.
Beside this general, I know thy works: which, though common to all the rest of the Epistles in some respect, yet may be taken here as holding forth His particular approbation of this Church, because there is nothing quarrelled in her. This will not indeed prove that she was altogether free; but that, being honest and free of gross faults, the Lord doth not rigidly reckon with her. Besides this, I say, in the 8. vers. this Churches good condition is set forth in these four, 1. Behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: this is the fountain of all that is commendable in her, and from which it doth flow, to wit, Christs conferring such a mercy upon her: and this is a main encouragement premitted for the strengthening of the honest Angel of this Church. For understanding of it, we must consider, 1. What is meant by an open door. 2. What by Christs setting of it before the Angel, so as no man can shut it. By an open door usually is understood in the Scripture the Lords making way for profitable preaching of the Gospel, which standeth not mainly in having access and liberty, without any external restraint, to preach the Gospel; but especially it stands in Gods giving inward liberty to the Preacher, and in His countenancing of the Word, and making it effectual and successful upon the hearts of Hearers. This is called, Colos. 4.3. A door of utterance, when a Minister is not straitened in preaching the Gospel, but, as it were, the door is cast open to him. And, 2 Cor. 2, 12. When I came to Troas to preach Christs Gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord: which is some special signification of Gods sending him and removing of difficulties out of the way, and making his Ministry successful there, And, 1 Cor. 16.9. it is said, a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries, So, that there may be an effectual door opened, even where there is much opposition. In sum, it imports these two or three, 1. That there is a straitnednesse in Ministers who cannot bring forth the Gospel as it ought to be brought forth, and will when the Lord sendeth forth the Spirit ⟨p. 192⟩and enlargeth a man with boldness to speak the same: in this respect, a door of utterance is opened unto him, as in that place,