A37035:992
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.
The same Learned Author also, coming to consider this place of the Revelation, after other answers, doth assert, that under this title Angel, a plurality of Ministers, may be understood, (as we formerly did expound the place) whom Christ writeth to in the singular number, 1. That He might show that there was an unity amongst the Ministers, as well as amongst the members: and so He keepeth the number of them, proportionably to the number of the Churches. And, 2. Because, by naming them so, the Lord would have them minded that some way they did constitute but one, and are, in respect of their oversight, so to concur in caring for the one Flock, as being each of them Ministers thereof, in whole; and in particular, written unto by Jesus Christ, for that end. And so this naming of Angel, in the singular number, will rather remove all supposed difference amongst them, than establish the same: because so what is written to one, is written to every Angel, or Minister, in these Churches: which is the thing that at first we asserted.
The same Learned Author also, coming to consider this place of the Revelation, after other answers, doth assert, that under this title Angel, a plurality of Ministers, may be understood, (as we formerly did expound the place) whom Christ writeth to in the singular number, 1. That He might shew that there was an unity amongst the Ministers, as well as amongst the members: and so He keepeth the number of them, proportionably to the number of the Churches. And, 2. Because, by naming them so, the Lord would have them minded that some way they did constitute but one, and are, in respect of their oversight, so to concur in caring for the one Flock, as being each of them Ministers thereof, in whole; and in particular, written unto by Jesus Christ, for that end. And so this naming of Angel, in the singular number, will rather remove all supposed difference amongst them, than establish the same: because so what is written to one, is written to every Angel, or Minister, in these Churches: which is the thing that at first we asserted.
An Author of late (to wit, Doctor Hamond) among many other strange things which he hath, doth take an unheard-of way to evite the former Arguments: and because he cannot deny but the Scripture doth take Bishops and Presbyters for one and the same, he doth therefore, first, acknowledge this to be truth: But, 2. asserteth that both are to be understood of Diocesan Bishops, and not of Presbyters, as they are understood now. And therefore, 3. doth deny that in the Apostles times there was any middle sort of Presbyters, as he calleth them, betwixt Diocesan Bishops and Deacons. 4. That many mentioned in the Scripture, and these seven Angels in particular, were Metropolitan Bishops, having power over Diocesan Bishops. All which he asserteth with a great deal of confidence, and doth illustrate the then Government of the Church from the fourth Chapter of this Book: which, to him holdeth forth, 1. The Metropolitan of Jerusalem, as signified by the person that sitteth upon the Throne. 2. Four and twenty Diocesan Bishops sitting on Thrones by him, which (saith he) no doubt was exactly the number of the inferior Bishops of Judea, although the same cannot be made out by History. These are represented by the four and twenty Elders. 3. Seven spirits, signify the seven Deacons which were in that Church: thus (saith he) was the estate of the Church in Johns time, and no other Officer was as yet instituted.