Apocalypse ; and although, in the particular hypothesis,1 they were not then able to discern the times, yet in the general thesis they had a most real and present advantage from it, whilst their error was not injurious to them. Do others defend the general and fundamental truth set forth by Christ in the Gospel ? They do well. But they ought not so to conduct themselves, as though the Apocalypse had not the same Author, throughout all parts of the book ; and that too a glorified Author. No one of those who make a wholesome use of the rest of Scripture, pays respect to the Apocalypse without singu- lar advantage : if he does not find that of which he was in search, he finds that which he was not seeking. The things which must come to pass , are shewn in this book. If any one, in reading this book, shall weigh (it may be by the use of Concordances) the usage of the verb ympai (some tenses of which, for instance yevstdai in this passage, Sylburgius ad Clenard. p. 470, derives from the unused form ysvso^a/), he will retire from the consideration, not without delight. There come to pass sorrowful things, there come to pass joyful things, great and many. This book represents those things which come to pass , absolutely ; that is, the sums and series of events, through so many ages, to the very coming of J esus Christ. To that event Daniel, to that John, extends his view, each from his own age. — ev rd^si, quickly) A regard for Christianity bring*, with it a regard for the times also. — Paulus Antonins, in the Antithetical College, p. 930. Respecting quickness , I would have you by all means see the note on ch. vi. 11 : from which it will be evident, that the interpretation of the celebrated D. Lange, respecting the event of the seals, etc., as being about to be quick , after many ages have intervened [and not until then], is too weak. — Tom. i. Gl. Chr. Part i., or Comm. Apoc. fol. 22. The final time itself is at hand , ver. 3 : and that approach gives quickness even to the advent and rise of the things nearer at hand, and not merely to their event and progress. The whole book ought to be taken as one word, pro- nounced in one moment. With the exception of definite times, which are of sufficient extent, all things are most truly done ev rd^eij quickly. Such a quickness is signified, ch. xi. 14 ; 2 Pet. i. 14, and in many places. — signified) The Apocalypse
abounds with Hebraisms, in simple words, fid^oupa, comp. Gen. xlix. 5, where now are mentioned rvfDD, x.r.X., and in words entirely
1 Hypothesis denotes a proposition which refers to an individual person or object ; thesis , an indefinite position, without any mention of persons or things. See 1 Pet. ii. 10.— T.