A37035:972
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.
I know that even by some of the Fathers these two places, to wit, Ephes. 4.11, 12. and, 1 Tim. 3.2. with 8. are adduced for the same end: because, in the first place, the Apostle reckoneth out both extraordinary and ordinary Preaching-officers, without making any mention of Bishops: which could not be, if they were not the same with Pastors that are named, as Ambrose on the place asserteth. And although it seemeth that in somethings he mis-representeth the Primitive order of the Church; yet is he forced to add, ideo non per omnia conveniunt scripta Apostoli ordinationi quae nunc in Ecclesia est: quia haec inter ipsa primordia scripta sunt. And though that last reason hath no weight in it to infer any change upon the Church now, in respect of its Office-bearers, from what it was then in the Apostles days, and ordained to be by them; yet this is clear, that he granteth a clear difference between the state of the Church in these days, wherein this distinction of Bishops from Pastors was come to some height, from what it was in the time of the Apostles, which certainly must be the most pure times of the Church. In the other place, to wit, 1 Tim. 3.1, &c. The Apostle proposeth certain rules for the trying and ordaining of one to be a Bishop, and after, in vers. 8. he doth immediately pass to the office of a Deacon, without mentioning of a Presbyter or Minister: which showeth, that in speaking of Bishops, he did understand Presbyters, and did acknowledge no distinct Teaching-officer between them and Deacons. And indeed the rules and qualifications are the same which he maketh common to Bishops and Presbyters, Titus 1. Chrysostom moveth the same Question on the words, vers. 8. Homilia 11. to wit, Why doth Paul pass immediately from Bishops to Deacons, omitting Presbyters? because (saith he) between a Bishop and a Presbyter there is almost no difference: for, the care of the Church is committed to Presbyters: and what he spoke of Bishops, doth agree to Presbyters. Only he subjoineth, in the matter of Ordination, doth the Bishop differ from the Minister? And this difference is not to be understood to be such as was in the Apostles days: for, the former Scriptures will confute that. Therefore even this same Father with others, do assert that then Presbyters did ordain Bishops, as in the instance of Timothy,