A37035:951
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.
1. It may be asked, If there can be any particular Church, without some sincere persons in the same, seeing it is compared to a floor where both Wheat and Chaff are? Ans. If we consider the visible Church as Catholic and Universal; so, indeed she can neither be without hypocrites, nor without true Converts, as may be gathered from these similitudes whereby she is holden forth in Scripture: but if we consider the particular Societies or Congregations that meet together at Ordinances for Worship, we suppose that it cannot be so peremptorily determined in reference to each of these, as if there had never been a particular Church without hypocrites on the one hand, or sincere persons on the other: for, there is no such promise that can be extended to every particular Congregation; but these promises must be applied to the Catholic Church: in which only, faith cannot fail. Again, these properties and descriptions of the visible Church, do not agree to every particular Congregation, but to the Church-universal, which is called the Kingdom of Heaven, and likened to such and such similitudes. Beside, if we consider experience, it will be hard to say that never any company of hypocrites did combine together of themselves, or by providence were cast to meet at the same Ordinances in way of a particular Congregation. There can be little said of this Church of Laodicea to vindicate her from this. On the other side, it were hard to say that never any, though the most choice number, should meet together in a Church-way, and be without hypocrites: This indeed I grant is much more difficult, and cannot but be much more rare than the other; (which I suppose is but too frequent) yet considering what may be said for these hundred and twenty who did meet and continue together, Act. 1.15. we suppose it is hard simply to deny the same. From which, it will follow that the visible Church must be principally considered in the New Testament as Catholic, seeing these many properties and descriptions can only be applicable to it as such, and are not so to be applied to particular Congregations.
1. It may be asked, If there can be any particular Church, without some sincere persons in the same, seing it is compared to a floor where both Wheat and Chaff are? Ans. If we consider the visible Church as Catholick and Universal; so, indeed she can neither be without hypocrites, nor without true Converts, as may be gathered from these similitudes whereby she is holden forth in Scripture: but if we consider the particular Societies or Congregations that meet together at Ordinances for Worship, we suppose that it cannot be so peremptorily determined in reference to each of these, as if there had never been a particular Church without hypocrites on the one hand, or sincere persons on the other: for, there is no such promise that can be extended to every particular Congregation; but these promises must be applied to the Catholick Church: in which only, faith cannot fail. Again, these properties and descriptions of the visible Church, do not agree to every particular Congregation, but to the Church-universal, which is called the Kingdom of Heaven, and likened to such and such similitudes. Beside, if we consider experience, it will be hard to say that never any company of hypocrites did combine together of themselves, or by providence were casten to meet at the same Ordinances in way of a particular Congregation. There can be little said of this Church of Laodicea to vindicate her from this. On the other side, it were hard to say that never any, though the most choise number, should meet together in a Church-way, and be without hypocrites: This indeed I grant is much more difficult, and cannot but be much more rare than the other; (which I suppose is but too frequent) yet considering what may be said for these hundred and twenty who did meet and continue together,