Commentary on Revelation, Title page – To the reader
A COMMENTARY UPON THE DIVINE REVELATION OF THE APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST IOHN.
BY DAVID PAREUS: Sometimes Profeſſour of Divinity in the Univerſitie of HEIDELBERG.
And ſpecially ſome things upon the 20th Chapter are obſerved by the ſame Authour againſt the MILLENARIES.
Tranſlated out of the Latine into English, By ELIAS ARNOLD.
AMSTERDAM. Printed by C. P. ANNO. MDCXLIV.
To the Chriſtian Reader:
IT is an uſuall ſaying, A good thing cannot bee too common: the worth and profitableneſſe of this Booke is well knowne of the learned every where: being (and indeed deſervedly) eſteemed one of the beſt and choiſeſt Commentaries, that is now extant upon the Revelation. And if we conſider the perillous times wherein wee are, I know no worke more ſeaſonable for our inſtruction and comfort touching the preſent Commotions and uproares in the world. For here we ſhall find, that it is neceſſary, that ſuch things come to paſſe, to the end the words of this Propheſie may be fulfilled: we have all need (as the Apoſtle ſaith) of patience: now what will more perſwade us to be quiet, contented, comforted, then to looke into the Revelation of Ieſus Chriſt, where we ſhall find all the conflicts and combats of the Godly, againſt the Dragon, Beaſt, and Falſe-prophet moſt clearly ſet forth, and none of our ſufferings in any way or kind to be otherwiſe, then what was fore-appointed in the unchangeable decree of God. Moreover here we have ſet downe with the finger of God, the certaine event and iſſue of the whole warre: namely Antichriſts deſtruction, and the glorious and happy victory of the Saints. A man of a weake and cowardly Spirit, will cheerfully fight, if he know before hand that he ſhall ſurely overcome. This aſſurance all true Beleevers have, that they ſhalbe more then Conquerors through him that loveth them, and therefore they have cauſe enough to ſtand faſt, hold their owne, fight the good fight of faith: ſeeing it is without queſtion, that they ſhall overcome in the blood of the Lambe: But of this I need not here ſpeake, conſidering how largely and ſweetly this matter is treated of in this Commentary.
It is not my purpoſe to ſpeake any thing in the behalfe of the Tranſlator, or in the praiſe of his worke: leaſt that in the Proverbs Chap. 27.14. ſhould be applied to me. Wherefore what is here done, I leave to the triall and judgement of all ſober and godly minded Readers. OnelyOnly I muſt needs ſay that it would be a ſingular benefit to our Nation, if there were more of Pareus his workes tranſlated into our Engliſh tongue. And for ought I do perceive, the Tranſlator of this hath ſome purpoſe ſo to do, if this (which is the firſt) doe finde a faire and friendly acceptance. And I have no reaſon to thinke otherwiſe: Conſidering how well Mr. Brightman on the Revelation is approved of: Now howſoever I will not ſpeake any thing in the leaſt to his diſparagement: notwithſtanding ſeeing Pareus was a later Writer, an Interpreter one among a thouſand, a man of an acute and deepe judgement, and one that had his thoughts and meditations on the worke 30. yeares: in theſe and other reſpects the Reader may well make account to meete here with many things, more for his ſatisfaction then hitherto he hath ever had: and that he may the ſooner ſee with his owne eyes the trueth of what I ſpeake, I ſhall adviſe him in the firſt place carefully to read Pareus his Preface: for it will much helpe him, to the better underſtanding of the following Commentary.
And thus committing the worke to the favourable acceptance of religious and judicious mindes, beſeeching the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt to bleſſe and proſper it for his glory, and for the conſolation and edification of all thoſe that ſeek his favour, and deſire to feare his Holy Name, I reſt
Thine in IESVS CHRIST. J. C.