
Bridges, Charles
An incomplete commentary by an ‘unknown’ author on a book which has already had so many expositors may seem a surprising addition to the Geneva Series. As publishers our prejudice against an incomplete commentary was overcome by the sheer worth of these pages.
Hodge writes ‘To a greater degree than any commentary within the writer’s knowledge, this volume is adapted to spiritual edification. The leading characteristic of these lectures is their spirituality…No believer can read it without finding himself a better Christian, nor can he fail to be made wiser.’
Table of Contents:
I. | INTRODUCTORY | |
LECTURE 1.-CHAPTER 1:3. | ||
The Promised Blessing. | 25 | |
LECTURE 2.-CHAPTER 1:4-7. | ||
The Gospel of the Kingdom. | 40 | |
LECTURE 3.-CHAPTER 1:17-18. | ||
The Consolations of the Kingdom. | 59 | |
II. | THE VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM. | |
LECTURE 4.-CHAPTER 1:20. | ||
The Golden Candlesticks. The Visible Church: its Mission. | 73 | |
LECTURE 5.-CHAPTER 1:20. | ||
The Seven Stars. The Authority of Christ in the Visible Church. | 95 | |
LECTURE 6.-CHAPTER 2:1-11. | ||
Imperfections and Varieties of the Visible Church. Ephesus and Smyrna. Declining Love. Persecution. | 121 | |
LECTURE 7.-CHAPTER 2:12-29. | ||
Imperfections and Varieties continued. Pergamos and Thyatira. Friendship of the World. Heresy. | 141 | |
LECTURE 8.-CHAPTER 3:1-22. | ||
Imperfections and Varieties continued. Sardis. Philadelphia and Laodicea. Spiritual Deadness. Spiritual Power. Lukewarmness. | 163 | |
LECTURE 9.-CHAPTERS 2 AND 3. | ||
Condition of the Promises. The Individual Conflict required. | 190 | |
LECTURE 10.-CHAPTERS 2 AND 3. | ||
The Promises. The Glory of the Triumphant Church. | 205 | |
III. | THE TRUE CONCEPTION OF THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM. | |
LECTURE 11.-CHAPTER 4:1-6. | ||
Its Divine and Spiritual Nature and Privileges. | 223 | |
LECTURE 12.-CHAPTER 4:6-8. | ||
Its Spiritual Life. | 238 | |
LECTURE VI.-CHAPTER 4:6-8. | ||
The Glory, Claims, and Privileges of this Life. | 252 | |
LECTURE 14.-CHAPTER 4:8-11. | ||
The Worship of the Kingdom. | 264 | |
IV. | ITS MEDIATOR KING, AND HIS REIGN. | |
LECTURE 15.-CHAPTER 5:1-7. | ||
The Administration of the Kingdom undertaken by the Slain Lamb. | 283 | |
LECTURE 16.-CHAPTER 5:8-14. | ||
The Investiture and Praises of the Slain Lamb. | 296 | |
LECTURE 17.-CHAPTER 6:1-8:1. | ||
The Reign of the Lamb, and its Results. | 311 | |
LECTURE 18.-CHAPTER 6:12-17. | ||
The Great Revolution Involved. | 330 | |
V. | ITS CONFLICTS AND TRIUMPH. | |
LECTURE 19.-CHAPTER 8:2-6. | ||
The Prayers of the Saints. | 353 | |
LECTURE 20.-CHAPTER 8:7-12. | ||
The Earthly Good Smitten. | 367 | |
LECTURE 21.-CHAPTER 9:1-12. | ||
The Soul Smitten. The Curse of Error. Spiritual Despotism. | 381 | |
LECTURE 22.-CHAPTER 9:13-21. | ||
The Reaction of the Worldly Power and Wisdom: completing the Course of Disciplinary Judgments. | 399 | |
LECTURE 23.-CHAPTER 10. | ||
The Divine and Gracious Agency, and the Human Instrumentality which it provides. | 419 | |
LECTURE 24.-CHAPTER 11:1, 2. | ||
The True Church, and the Subjects of her Testimony. | 435 | |
LECTURE 25.-CHAPTER 11:2. | ||
The Power of the World in and over the External Church. | 453 | |
LECTURE 26.-CHAPTER 11:3-10. | ||
The Power of a Witnessing Church during these Abounding Corruptions, in her Worship and Government. | 469 | |
LECTURE 27.-CHAPTER 11:10-13. | ||
The Vitality and Triumph of a Pure Spiritual Testimony. | 488 | |
LECTURE 28.-CHAPTER 11:14-18. | ||
The Final, Triumph. | 504 |
Author
James Beverlin Ramsey (1814-71) was a man of great spiritual stature. ‘There was about him’, wrote Charles Hodge, ‘such an elevation above the world, such constant evidence that he was a temple of the Holy Spirit, that he was sacred in the eyes of all who knew him.’