A37035:974
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.
Our second consideration, is, That this confounding both of the titles and offices of Bishop and Presbyter, will be found agreeable to the most pure Primitive times. It is true, within some few ages, difference was made between Bishops and Presbyters in the Church; yet was never that distinction counted by them to be jure divino, or by the Law of God; but as a thing belonging to order in the Church, and brought in by custom: which was, that he who was of greatest age and respect, and did preside in the meetings, was particularly called Bishop, which afterward was established by some Councils. If we might take the testimony of some Papists here, they will confirm this; Michael Medina (as he is cited by Bellarmin, lib. 1. de Clericis, cap. 15.) doth affirm, that not only Jerome was of that mind with Aerius; (whose opinion was, that the Bishop and the Presbyter were equal and the same) but also, that Ambrosius, Augustinus, Sedulius, Primasius, Chrysostomus, Theoderetus, Oecumenius, and Theophilactus were of that same mind. Atque ita (inquit Medina) isti viri, alioqui sanctissimi, & Sanctarum Scripturarum consultissimi: quorum tamen sententiam prius in Aerio, deinde in Waldensibus, postremo in Joanne Wicclifo, damnavit Eclesia, &c. Note here, that this hath been always accounted the common judgement of the Waldenses and of Wycliffe, with his followers, whose judgement certainly is of great weight, seeing they were eminent witnesses against the Beast, whereof more may be spoken, Chap. 11. and he doth at large make out the Agreement of these Fathers with Aerius in this point, to wit, that by Divine right there is no difference between Bishop and Presbyter. This testimony will be more clear, if we consider many of these testimonies themselves, as they are set down by Sixtus Senensis, Bibliothecae sancta, lib. 6. annotation, 319, & 324. where he hath the words of many of these Authors, as agreeing with Jerome, whose testimony is most largely set down, and beside what was already cited from Ambrose, these words are added out of his Comments on 1 Tim. cap. 4. Episcopi & Presbyteri una est ordinatio: (uterque enim Sacerdos est) sed Episcopus primus est, ut omnis Episcopus Presbyter sit, non tamen omnis Presbyter Episcopus. Ille enim Episcop•s est, qui inter Presbyteros primus est.
Our second consideration, is, That this confounding both of the titles and offices of Bishop and Presbyter, will be found agreeable to the most pure Primitive times. It is true, within some few ages, difference was made between Bishops and Presbyters in the Church; yet was never that distinction counted by them to be jure divino, or by the Law of God; but as a thing belonging to order in the Church, and brought in by custome: which was, that he who was of greatest age and respect, and did preside in the meetings, was particularly called Bishop, which afterward was established by some Councels. If we might take the testimony of some Papists here, they will confirm this; Michael Medina (as he is cited by Bellarmin, lib. 1. de Clericis, cap. 15.) doth affirm, that not only Ierom was of that mind with Aerius; (whose opinion was, that the Bishop and the Presbyter were equal and the same) but also, that Ambrosius, Augustinus, Sedulius, Primasius, Chrysostomus, Theoderetus, Oecumenius, and Theophilactus were of that same mind. Atque ita (inquit Medina) isti viri, alioqui sanctissimi, & Sanctarum Scripturarum consultissimi: quorum tamen sententiam prius in Aerio, deinde in Waldensibus, postremo in Ioanne Wicclifo, damnavit Eclesia, &c. Note here, that this hath been alwayes accounted the common judgement of the Waldenses and of Wicklife, with his followers, whose judgement certainly is of great weight, seing they were eminent witnesses against the Beast, whereof more may be spoken, Chap. 11. and he doth at large make out the Agreement of these Fathers with Aerius in this point, to wit, that by Divine right there is no difference between Bishop and Presbyter. This testimonie will be more clear, if we consider many of these testimonies themselves, as they are set down by Sixtus Senensis, Bibliothecae sancta, lib. 6. annotatione, 319, & 324. where he hath the words of many of these Authors, as agreeing with Ierom, whose testimonie is most largely set down, and beside what was already cited from Ambrose, these words are added out of his Comments on