A37035:925
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.
If it be asked how hypocrisy or luke-warmness may be said to be more dishonourable to the Name of God, than the want of a profession altogether? It may be answered in these three respects, 1. Where no profession is at all, the Name of Christ is not so concerned, as where it is: and therefore by any miscarriage of such, it is not so reflected upon, and made obnoxious to reproach, as it is in respect of these who have some way given up their names to Religion. It is on this account that in Ezek. 20.39. the Lord doth discharge the people of Israel to pollute His holy Name with their gifts, and biddeth them, go serve ye every one his Idols, &c. which is not to give them allowance to run to Idolatry; but it is to show them, that if they would not wholly cleave to Him, His Name would be less polluted and dishonoured by their direct betaking of themselves to Idolatry, than it was by mixing His Worship, and the worship of Idols together. 2. The nature of the sin it self, hath also some aggravations in it, which maketh it exceedingly loathsome to Jesus Christ, and dishonourable to Him beyond the condition of such as have no profession at all: for, such a person indeed is really cold, and without any Religion, as others are; And hath these two things beside, 1. He is a counterfeiter of Religion, and that before God: therefore, Act. 5.3, &c. such are said to tempt God, and lie to the holy Ghost; because they presumptuously intrude themselves in a profession, as if they were something, being yet indeed nothing; and so tempteth the Majesty of God singularly to take notice of them, and discover them, or otherwayes some way to lie under the imputation either of no discerning, or of approving such unsoundness, as if it were Religion. Secondly, Ordinarily such, though they be poor, yet are they proud, presumptuous and haughty, in respect of their form; for, they say they are rich and increased with goods, &c. vers. 17. which no person without all form can be so readily tempted unto: Now the Lord abhorreth this empty pride above any thing. A third respect in which hypocrisy is hateful beyond the want of all form, is, that it maketh such a persons conviction, conversion and salvation more difficult than if they had had no profession at all:
If it be asked how hypocrisie or luke-warmnesse may be said to be more dishonourable to the Name of God, than the want of a profession altogether? It may be answered in these three respects, 1. Where no profession is at all, the Name of Christ is not so concerned, as where it is: and therefore by any miscarriage of such, it is not so reflected upon, and made obnoxious to reproach, as it is in respect of these who have some way given up their names to Religion. It is on this account that in