time past to exhort and encourage one another to stick fast to the Promise for they shall be swallowed up of Life and open Vision Here shall be no need either of Prayer of Repentance of Faith or of good Works as afore And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it Now I say the holy Ghost is pleased to bring in here the shining Vertues of the Church under the notion of a shining Moon because as the Church her self is compared to the Moon so her Vertues are as naturally compared to a shining Light as Christ saith Let your light so shine and again Let your loins be girded and your lights burning for indeed while we are here that Church and Congregation of the Lord doth most shine and most send forth the golden Rayes and pleasant Beams of Christianity that is most in the exercise of the afore-mentioned Vertues take away the Moon and the night is doubtful or though the Moon be in the Firmament if she hath lost her light the night is not thereby made more comfortable And thus I say it is first with the World where here there is no Church to shine or where there is a Church that doth not so shine that others may see and be lighted for while the day of time doth last even the World it self hath need of the shining of the Church but at this day this time will be no longer because the Day of Eternity will break and by that means cause the World that now is even the World of the Ungodly to cease to have a being here any longer Therefore now no need of the Moon or of the light thereof to shine before that which is not Secondly Again as the Church is in her light before men as the Moon is in her light in the night to the world so as I said before this City which is called also Heaven she even she shall have no need of these things for she shall be taken up in open Vision and shall be compleatly delivered from all imperfection she shall not need now the light of her Children to provoke her and to stir her up to this or the other act of holiness all shall be done all shall be compleat the Lord himself is come Indeed while Christ is absent as touching his Person and while the work of God is not yet compleatly done in the Church there will be need both of the light of Sun and Moon but when the work is done and he come then these things will be out of use Thus The 〈…〉 of the Just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto perfect day For the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof This is rendered as the reason why at this day both the light of Sun and Moon are needless it is because the Glory of God did lighten it and because the Lamb is the light thereof Now the Glory of God must be understood in this place not of that Glory that doth attend the Church in this world for that Glory doth attend the Church upon the account of her Purity of Worship of Temple-Worship and doth either abide on her or withdraw it self according to her exact observing the Rule or declining from it as I have shewed you in the beginning of this discourse But the Glory that here you read of it is a Glory that supplieth this City without those Ordinances yea therefore those Ordinances as the Temple and the light of the Sun and Moon do cease because of the Glory of this Glory that now is come into this City The City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it mark for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof Wherefore I say this Glory that now he speaks of it is the Glory that shall possess this City at the end of her Glory in this world wherefore as saith the holy Ghost by Isaiah the Prophet from this day forward The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Isa. 60. 19. For the Glory of God did lighten it c. Thus it was at the finishing of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and of the Temple at Jerusalem both which were figures in their finishing of the finishing of the state of the Church in this world and it is said of them that in the day when they in all things were accomplished according to the fashion that was revealed before concerning their Order and accomplishment that then the Glory of God so appeared upon them that neither Moses nor Aaron was able to enter in or to stand therein because of the Cloud and of the Glory of the Lord that at that time filled the House Thus you see this City descends in one measure of Glory and is consumate in another measure of Glory The Glory of the Lord was upon the Mount Sinai while the pattern of the Tabernacle was giving but it rested on the Tabernacle when the work thereof was finished to signify I say that the Glory of God will rest in his Ordinances and in his Church by them so long as Ordinances are in use but when they are needless then it will rest in the Church without them and that more gloriously than ever it therein did rest by them For the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof Mark Though now there shall be no need of Temple Sun or Moon yet Christ the Lamb or the Man who was offered in sacrifice for our Redemption shall be of use and benefit for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof Wherefore all that we who are the saved shall enjoy of Glory and Sweetness in another world though we shall not enjoy it from God through Christ by and in the Ordinances yet we shall enjoy it through Christ the Lamb without them for the Lamb is the light of it By this word Lamb he would have us understand that when we are in Glory the blood death and bloody conquest that the man Christ did get over our infernal enemies will be of eternal use to us because that benefit of Christ shall not only for ever be the Foundation of our eternal felicity but the burden of our Song of Glory in all our raptures among the Angels It will be the Blood the Blood the redeeming Blood of the Lamb. Blessing glory honour and power be to him that sits upon the Throne and to the LAMB for ever and ever 'T is he in whom will be found the seven Eyes the seven Spirits of God in whose light we shall see the heights and depths of those Springs and everlasting Fountains and Depths of Glory for ever and indeed the conceit of
them as at the first Ezek 4. 1 2 3 4. Neh. 2. 8. 3. 18. Ezr. 7. 27 Neh. 4. 15. 6. 15 16. Jer. 33. 7. 32. 44. Ezek. 36. 33 34 35 36. 37. 11 12 13 14. Amos 9. 11. Lastly When he saith he saw her decend from God out of Heaven he may refer to her Glory which at her declining departed from hâ—â— and ascended to God as the Sap returns into the Root at the Fall of the Leâ—â— which Glory doth again at her return descend or come into the Church and Branches of the same as the Sap doth arise at the Spring of the Year for indeed the Churches Beauty is from Heaven and it either goeth up thither from her or else comes from thence to her according to the natures of both Fall and Spring Cant. 2. Thus you see what this HEAVEN is and what it is for this City to DESCEND out of it also what it is for this City to descend out of it FROM GOD. Vers. 11. Having the Glory of God These last words do put the whole matter out of doubt and do most clearly shew unto us that the descending of this City is the perfect return of the Church out of Captivity The Church when she began at first to go into Captivity her Glory began to depart from her and now she is returning again she receiveth therewith her former Glory having the Glory of God Thus it was in the Type when Jerusalem went into Captivity under the King of Babylon which was a figure of the Captivity of our New-Testament-Church under Antichrist it is said that then the glory of God departed from them and went by degrees first out of the Temple to the Threshold of the House and from thence with the Cherubims of Glory for that time quite away from the City Ezek. 10. 4 18. 11. 22 23 c. Again As the Glory of God departed from this City at her going into Captivity so when she returned again she had also then returned to her the Glory of God whereupon this very Prophet that saw the Glory of God go from her at her going into Captivity did see it the very same and that according as it departed so return at her deliverance He brought me to the Gate saith he that is when by a Vision he saw all the Frame and Patterns of the City and Temple in the state in which it was to be after the Captivity he brought me to the Gate that looketh toward the East and behold the Glory of the God of Israel came from the way the East the very same way that it went when it departed from the City Ezek. 11. 23. his Voice was like the Voice of many Waters and the Earth shined with his Glory It was according to the appearance of the Vision which I saw even according to the Vision that I saw when I came to destroy the City and the Vision was like the Vision that I saw by the River Chebar and I fell on my face and the Glory of the Lord came into the House by the way of the Gate whose prospect is towards the East so the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner Court and behold the Glory of the Lord filled the House Ezek. 43. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Thus you see it was in the Destruction and Restoration of the Jews Jerusalem by which God doth plainly shew us how things will be in our Gospel-Church she was to decline and lose her glory she was to be trampled as she was a City for a long time under the feet of the unconverted and wicked World Again She was after this to be builded and to be put into her former Glory at which time she was to have her Glory her former Glory even the Glory of God returned to her again He shewed me saith John that great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having 〈◊〉 Glory of God As he saith by the Prophet I am Returned to Jerusalem with Mercies and my House shall be built in it and again I am Returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem Zech. 1. 16. 8. 3. Having the Glory of God There is the Grace of God and the Glory of that Grace there is the Power of God and the Glory of that Power and there is the Majesty of God and the Glory of that Majesty Ephes. 1. 6. 2 Thess. 2. 9. Isa. 2. 19. 'T is true God doth not leave his People in some sence even in the worst of times and in their most forlorn condition as he sheweth by his being with them in their sad state in Egypt and Babylon and other of their states of calamity as he saith Though I cast them far off among the Heathen and although I have scattered them among the Countreys yet will I be to them a little Sanctuary in the Countreys where they shall come Ezek. 11 16. God is with his Church even iâ— her greatest adversity both to limit bound measure and appoint out to her her quantity and quality her beginning and duration of distress and temptation but yet I say the Glory of God in the notion of Ezekiel and John when they speak of the Restoration of this City that is not always upon his People though always they are beloved and counted for his peculiar Treasure She may then have his Grace but not at the same time the glory of his Grace his Power but not the glory of his Power she may also have his Majesty when not the glory thereof God may be with his Church even then when the Glory is departed from Israel The difference that is between her having his Grace Power and Majesty and the Glory of each is manifest in these following particulars Grace Power and Majesty when they are in the Church in their own proper Acts onely as we are considered Saints before God so they are invisible and that not onely altogether to the World but often to the very Children of God themselves but â—ow when the glory of these do rest upon â—he Church according to Ezekiel and John why then it will be visible and ap parant to all Beholders When the Lord shall build up Zion he shall APPEAR in his glory Psal. 102. 16. as he saith also in another place The Lord shall ARISE upon thee and his glory shall be SEEN upon thee Isa. 60. 1 2. Now then to speak a word or two in particular to the Glory of God that at this day will be found to settle upon this City First therefore at her returning she shall not onely have his Grace upon her but the very Glory of his Grace shall be seen upon her the glory of Pardoning Grace shall now shine in her own Soul and Grace in the glory of it shall appear in all her doings now shal both our inward and outward man be most famously adorned and beautified with Salvation the golden
The HOLY CITIE OR The New-Jerusalem WHEREIN It s Goodly Light Walls Gates Angels and the manner of their standing are EXPOUNDED ALSO Her Length and Breadth together with the Golden Measuring Reed EXPLAINED AND The Glory of all Unfolded As also The Numerousness of its Inhabitants And what the Tree and Water of Life are by which they are sustained By John Bunyan a Servant of Christ. Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Ps. 87. 3. And the Name of the City from that day shall be called THE LORD IS THERE Ezek. 38. 35. London Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Barr 1669. THE EPISTLE To Four Sorts of READERS I. To the Godly Reader Friend THough the Men of this World at the sight of this Book will not onely deride but laugh in conceit to consider that one so low contemptible and inconsiderable as I should busie my self in such sort as to meddle with the exposition of so hard and knotty a Scripture as here they find the subject matter of this little Book yet do thou remember that God hath chosen the foolish things of this World to confound the wise and things that are not to bring to nought things that are Consider also that even of old it hath been his pleasure to hide these things from the wise and prudent and to reveal them unto Babes I tell you that the operation of the Word and Spirit of God without depending upon that Idol so much adored is sufficient of it self to search out all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. The occasion of my first medling with this matter was as followeth Upon a certain First day I being together with my Brethren in our Prison-Chamber they expected that according to our Custom something should be spoken out of the Word for our mutual Edification but at that time I felt my self it being my turn to speak so empty spiritless and barren that I thought I should not have been able to speak among them so much as five words of Truth with Life and Evidence but at last it so fell out that providentially I cast mine Eye upon the eleventh Verse of the one and twentieth Chapter of this Prophecie upon which when I had considered a while methought I perceived something of that JASPER in whose Light you there finde this HOLY CITY is said to come or descend wherefore having got in my Eye some dim glimmerings thereof and finding also in my heart a desire to see further thereinto I with a few groans did arry my Meditatious to the Lord JESUS for a Blessing which he 〈…〉 forthwith grant according to his Grace and helping me to set before my Brethren we did all eat and were well refreshed and behold also that while I was in the distributing of it it so encreased in my hand that of the Fragments that we left after we had well dined I gathered up this Basket-full Methought the more I cast mine Eye upon the whole Discourse the more I saw lie in it Wherefore setting my self to a more narrow search through frequent Prayer to God what first with doing and then with undoing and after that with doing again I thus did finish it But yet notwithstanding all my labour and travel in this matter I do not neither can I expect that every Godly Heart should in every thing see the Truth Excellencie of what is here discoursed neither would I have them imagine that I have so thorowly viewed this Holy City but that much more then I do here crush out is yet left in the Cluster Alas I shall onely say thus I have crush'd out a little Juyce to sweeten their Lips withal not doubting but in little time more large measures of the Excellencie of this City and of its sweetness and glory will by others be opened and unfolded yea if not by the Servants of the Lord JESUS yet by the Lord Himself who will have this City builded and set in its own place But I say for this DISCOURSE if any of the Saints that read herein think they find nought at all but words as many times it falleth out even in their reading the Scriptures of God themselves I beg I say of such that they reade charitably judge modestly and also that they would take heed of concluding that because they for the present see nothing in this or that passage that therefore there is nothing in it Possibly from that which thou mayest cast away as an empty Bone others may pick both good and wholsom Bits yea and also out of that suck much nourishing Marrow You find by experience that that very bit that will not down with One may yet not onely down but be healthful and nourishing to another Babes are more for Milk than strong Meat though Meat will well digest with those that are of riper Years 1 Cor. 2. 1 2 3. Heb. 5. 12 13 14. Wherefore that which thy weakness will not suffer thee to feed on leave and go to the Milk and Nourishment that in other places thou shalt find II. To the Learned Reader MY second Word is to my wise and learned Reader Sir I suppose in your reading of this DISCOURSE you will be apt to blame me for two things first because I have not so beautified my Matter with acuteness of Language as you could wish or desire Secondly Because also I have not given you either in the Line or in the Margent a Cloud of Sentences from the Learned FATHERS that have according to their Wisdom possibly handled these Matters long before me To the first I say The Matter indeed is excellent and high but for my part I am weak and low it also deserveth a more full and profound Discourse than my small parts will help me to make upon the matter But yet seeing the Lord looketh not at the outward appearance but on the Heart neither regardeth high swelling words of vanity but pure and naked Truth and seeing also that a Widows Mite being all even Heart as well as substance is counted more and better then to cast in little out of much and that little too perhaps the worst I hope my little being all my Farthing seeing I have no more may be accepted and counted for a great deal in the LORD'S Treasury Besides Sir Words easie to be understood do often hit the Mark when high and learned ones do only pierce the Air He also that speaks to the weakest may make the Learned understand him when he that striveth to be high is not onely for the most part understood but of a sort but also many times is neither understood by them nor by himself Secondly The Reason why you find me empty of the Language of the Learned I mean their Sentences and Words which others use is because I have them not nor have not read them had it not been for the BIBLE I had not onely not thus done it but not at
all Lastly I do find in most such a Spirit of Whoredom and Idolatry concerning the Learning of this World and Wisdom of the Flesh and GOD'S Glory so much stained and diminished thereby that had I all their aid and assistance at command I durst not make use of ought thereof and that for fear lest that Grace and those Gifts that the LORD hath given me should be atâ—ributed to their Wits rather then â—he Light of the Word and Spirit of GOD Wherefore I will not take of them from a thread to a shoo-latchet lest they should say We have made Abraham rich Gen. 14. 23. Sir What you find suiting with Scriptures take though it should not suit with Authors but that which you find against the Scriptures slight though it should be confirmed by Multitudes of them Yea further Where you find the Scriptures and your Authors jump yet believe it for the sake of Scriptures Authority I honour the Godly as Christians but I prefeâ— the BIBLE before them and having that still with me I count my self far better furnished than if I haâ— without it all the Libraries of the two Universities Besides I am foâ— drinking Water out of my own Câ—stern what GOD makes mine by the evidence of his Word and Spirit that I dare make bold with Wherefore seeing though I am without their Learned Lines yet well furnished with the Words of GOD I mean the BIBLE I have contented my self with what I there have found And having set it before your Eyes I pray read and take Sir what you like best And that wch you like not leave for the rest III. To the Captious Reader MY third word is to the Captious and wrangling Reader Friend However thou camest by this Book I will assure thee thou wast least in my thoughts when I writ it I tell thee I intended this Book as little for thee as the Goldsmith intendeth his Jewels and Rings for the Snowt of a Sow Wherefore put on Reason and lay aside thy Frenzie Be sober or lay by the Book Mat. 7. 6. IV. To the Mother of Harlots c. MY fourth word is to the Lady of Kingdoms the Well-favoured Harlot the Mistris of Witchcrafts and the Abominations of the Earth Mistris I suppose I have nothing here that will either please your wanton Eye or go down with your voluptuous Palate here is Bread indeed as also Milk and Meat but here is neither paint to adorn thy wrinkled face nor Crutch to uphold or undershore thy shaking tottering staggering Kingdom of ROME but rather a certain presage of thy sudden and fearful final downfall and of the Exaltation of that holy Matron whose Chastity thou dost abhor because by it she reproveth and condemneth thy leud and stubborn Life Wherefore Lady smell thou may'st of this but taste thou wilt not I know that both thy wanton Eye with all thy mincing Brats that are intoxicated with thy Cup and inchanted with thy Fornications vvill at the sight of so homely and plain a Dish as this cry Foh snuff put the Branch to the Nose and say Contemptible But Wisdom is justified of all her Children The Virgin Daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn Jerusalem hath shaken her Head at thee yea her GOD hath smitten his Hands at thy dishonest Gain and Freaks Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad for her all ye that love her rejoyce for Joy with her all ye that mourn for her that ye may suck and be satisfied with 〈◊〉 Brests of her Consolations that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her Glory JOHN BUNYAN Reader By reason of the Authors distance from the Press some Faults have escaped notwithstanding the Printers care which thou art desired to correct thus ERRATA Page 7. line 10 11. for deserve read discern Pag. 78. lin 12. for tother read together Pag. 186. lin 22. for by Laws read by-Lanes Pag. 217. lin 2. for contiaually r. continually P. 234. l 22. for Sanctuar y the r. Sanctuary the. P. 270. l. 12. for he read the. P. 271. l. 2. for iver read River P. 277. l. 28. for wandering by read wonderingly The Holy City Or The New Jerusalem Revelations XXI Vers. 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and shewed me that great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God Vers. 11 Having the glory of God and her Light was like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Chrystal Vers. 12 And had a Wall great and high and had twelve Gates and at the Gates twelve Angels and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel Vers. 13 On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates and on the West three Gates Vers. 14 And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Vers. 15 And he that talked with me had a Golden Reed to measure the City and the Gates thereof and the Wall thereof Vers. 16 And the City lieth foursquare and the length is as large as the breadth and he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs the length and the breadth and the heighth of it are equal Vers. 17 And he measured the Wall thereof an hundred and forty and four Cubits according to the measure of a man that is of the Angel Vers. 18 And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was of pure Gold like unto clear Glass Vers. 19 And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were garnished with all manner of precious Stones The first Foundation was Jasper the second Saphire the third a Chalcedony the fourth an Emerald Vers. 20 The fifth Sardonyx the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth a Topaz the tenth a Chrysoprasus the eleventh a Jacinct the twelfth an Amethyst Vers. 21 And the twelve Gates were twelve Pearls every several Gate was of one Pearl and the street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent Glass Vers. 22 And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Vers. 23 And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof Vers. 24 And the Nations of them 〈◊〉 are saved shall walk in the Light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour unto it Vers. 25 And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there Vers. 26 And they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it Vers. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie
and shewed me that great City the holy Jerusalem Having thus told us how and with what he was qualified he next makes relation of what he saw which was that great City the holy Jerusalem Jerusalem in the Language of the Scripture is to be acknowledged for the Church and Spouse of the Lord Jesus and is to be considered either generally or more particularly Now as she is to be taken generally so she is to be understood as being the whole Family in Heaven and Earth and as she is thus looked upon so she is not considered with respect to this or that state and condition of the Church here in the world but simply as she is the Church therefore it is said when at any time any are converted from Satan to God That they are come to Mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable Company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born that are written in Heaven to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect to Jesus and to the Blood of sprinkling Heb. 12. 22 23 24. But again As Jerusalem is thus generally to be understood so also she is to be considered more particularly 1. Either as she relates to her first and purest state or 2. As she relates to her declined and captivated state or 3. With reference to her being recovered again from her apostatized and captivated condition Thus it was with Jerusalem in the Letter which threefold state of this City shall be most exactly answered by our Gospel-Jerusalem by out New-Testament-Church Her first state was in the days of Christ and his Apostles and answered to Jerusalem in the days of Solomon her second state is in the days of Antichrist and answereth to the carrying away of the Jews from their City into Babylon and her third state is this in the Text and answereth to their return from Captivity and rebuilding their City and Walls again All which will be fully manifest in this Discourse following Besides That this holy City that here you read of is the Church the Gospel-Church returning out of her long and Antichristian Captivity consider First She is here called a City the very name that our Primitive Church went under which name she loseth all the while of her Apostatizing and Captivity under Antichrist for observe I say all the while she is under the scourge of the Dragon Beast and the Woman in Scarlet c. she goeth under the name of a Woman a Woman in travel a Woman flying before the Dragon a Woman flying into the Wilderness there to continue in an afflicted and tempted condition and to be glad of Wilderness-Nourishment until the time of her Enemies were come to an end Rev. 12. Now the reason why she lost the title of City at her going into Captivity is Because then she lost her situation and strength she followed others then Christ wherefore he suffered her Enemies to scale her Walls to break down her Battlements he suffered as you see here the great Red Dragon and Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns to get into her Vineyard who made most fearful work both with her and all her Friends her Gates also was now either broken down or shut up so that none could according to her Laws and Statutes enter into her her Charter also even the Bible it self was most grosly abused and corrupted yea sometimes burned and destroyed almost utterly wherefore the Spirit of God doth take away from her the title of City and leaveth her to be termed a wandring Woman as aforesaid The Court that is without the Temple saith the Angel leave out and measure it not for it is given to the Gentiles and the Holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months Rev. 11. 2. The Holy City shall they tread under foot that is all the City-Constitutions her Forts and Strength her Laws and Priviledges for a long time shall be laid aside and slighted shall become a hissing a taunt and a by-word among the Nations And truly thus it was in the Letter in the destruction of Jerusalem by the King of Babylon and his wicked Instruments by whose hands the City was broken up the Walls pulled down the Gates burned the Houses riâ—â—ed the Virgins ravished and the Children laid dead in the top of every street 2 Chron. 36. 17 18 19 20 21. Jer. 52. Lam. Chap. 1 2 3 4. Now was Zion become a plowed Field and Jerusalem turned to heaps a place of Briers and Thorns and of wastness and desolation Mic. 3. 12. Isa. 7. 23 24. Secondly The phrase also that is joyned with this of City doth much concern the point she is here called The new and holy City which words are explained by these As a Bride adorned and prepared for her Husband the meaning is That she is now got into her Form Fashion Order and Priviledges again she is now ready adorned prepared and put into her Primitive state Mark though she was in her state of affliction called a Woman yet she was not then either called a City or a Woman ADORNED but rather a Woman robbed spoiled rent and torn among the briers and thorns of the Wilderness Isa. 5. 6. 42. 22. 32. 13 14. Wherefore this City is nothing else but the Church returned out of Captivity from under the reign of Antichrist As is yet further manifest because Thirdly We finde no City to answer that which was built after the Jews return from Captivity but this for this and onely this is the City that you finde in this Prophecie that is nominated as the Antitype of that Second of the Jews wherefore John hath no relation of her while towards the doom of Antichrist and no description of her in particular until Antichrist's utterly overthrown as all may see that wisely read the 17th 18th 19th 20th Chapters of this Prophecie And shewed me that great City The holy Ghost is pleased at this time to give the Church the name of a City rather than any other name rather than the name of Spouse Woman Temple and the like though he giveth us her under the name of a Woman also to help us to understand what he means but I say the name of a City is now the name in special under which the Church must go and that for special Reasons First To shew us how great and numerous a People will then be in the Church the Church may be a Woman a Temple a Spouse when she is but few but an handful but two or three but to be a City and that in her glory it bespeaks great store of Members Inhabitants and Citizens especially when she goeth under the name of a GREAT City as here she does He shewed me that GREAT City Secondly She goeth rather under the name of a City than Temple or Spouse to shew us also how plentifully the Nations and
Kingdoms of men shall at that day traffick with her and in her for her goodly Merchandize of Grace and Life to shew us I say what wonderful custom the Church of God at this day shall have among all sorts of People for her Heavenly Treasures It is said of Tyrus and Babylon That their Merchandize went into all the World and men from all quarters under Heaven came to trade and to deal with them for their Wares why thus it will be in the latter day with the Church of God the Nations shall come from far from Tarshish Pul Lud Tubal Javan and the Isles afar off They shall come saith God out of all Nations upon Horses and Mules and upon swift Beasts to my holy Mountain Jerusalem And it shall come to pass that from one new Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord Isa. 66. 19 20 21 22 23. Alas the Church at that day when she is a Woman onely or a Temple either may be without that Beauty Treasure Amiableness and affecting Glory that she will be endowed with when she is a prosperous City His marvelous kindness is seen in a strong City Psal. 31. 21. In Cities you know are the Treasures Beauty and Glory of Kingdoms and 't is thither men go that are desirous to solace themselves therewith Out of Zion the perfection of Beauty God hath shined Thirdly It is called a City rather than a Woman or Temple to shew us how strong and securely it will keep its Inhabitants at that day In that day shall this Song be sung We have a strong City Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks And verily if the Cities of the Gentiles and the strength of their Bars and Gates and Walls did so shake thâ— Hearts yea the very Faith of the Children of God themselves how securâ— and safe will the Inhabitants of this Citâ— be even the Inhabitants of that City whicâ— GOD Himself will build c. But lastly and more especially The Church is called here a City chiefly to shew us that now she shall be undermost no longer Babylon reigned and so shall Jerusalem at this day And thou O Tower of the Flock the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem Mic. 4. 8. Now shall she when she is built and compleat have a compleat Conquest and Victory over all her Enemies she shall reign over them the Law shall go forth of her that rules them and the Governours of all the World at that day shall be Jerusalem-Men And the Captivity of this Host of the Children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites even unto Zarephath and the captivity of Jerusalem which is in Sepharad shall possess the Cities of the South And Saviours shall come out of Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords Ob. 20 21. For the Law shall go forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem And â—e shall judge among many People and rebuke strong Nations afar off and they shall beat their Swords into Plowshares and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Mic. 4. 1 2 3. There brake he the Ships of Tarshish with an East winde As we have heard so have we seen in the City of the Lord of Hosts in the City of our God God will establish it for ever Psal. 48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. For observe it Christ hath not only obtained the Kingdom of Heaven for those that are his when this World is ended but hath also as a Reward for his Sufferings the whole World given into his hand wherefore as all the Kings and Princes and Powers of this World have had their time to reign and have Glory in this World in the Face of all so Christ will have his time at this day to shew who is the onely Potentate and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6. 15. At which day he will not onely set up his Kingdom in the midst of their Kingdoms as he doth now but will set it up even upon the top of their Kingdoms at which day there will not be a Nation in the World but must bend to Jerusalem or perish For the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7. 27. And his Dominion shall be from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the Earth Zech. 9. 10. O Holiness how shall it shine in Kings and Nations when God doth this He shewed me that great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God In these words we are to enquire into three things First What he here should mean by Heaven Secondly What it is for this City to descend out of it Thirdly And why she is said to descend out of it from God First For the word Heaven in Scripture it is variously to be understood but generally either materially or metaphorically Now not materially here but metaphorically and so is generally if not always taken in this Book Now that it is not to be taken for the material Heavens where Christ in Person is Consider That the descending of this City â— not the coming of glorified Saints with their Lord because that even after the descending yea and building of this City there shall be Sinners converted to God but at the coming of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with his Saints the door shall be shut that is the door of Grace against all Unbelievers Luk. 13. 25. Matth. 25. 10. Therefore Heaven here is to be taken metaphorically for the Church which as I said before is frequently so taken in this Prophecie as also in many others of the holy Scriptures Rev. 11. 15. 12. 1 2 3 7 8 10 13. 13. 6. 19. 1 14. Jer. 51. 48. Matth. 25. 1. c. And observe it though the Church of Christ under the tyranny of Antichrist loseth the title of a standing City yet in the worst of times she loseth not the title of Heaven She is Heaven when the great Red Dragon is in her and Heaven when the third part of her Stars are cast unto the Earth she is Heaven also when the Beast doth open his Throat against her to blaspheme her God his Tabernacle and those that dwell in her Secondly Now then to shew you what are to understand by this that she is said to DESCEND out of Heaven for indeed to speak properly Jerusalem is always in the Scriptures set in the highest ground and men are said to descend when they go down from her but to ascend or go up when they are
going thitherwards but yet though this be true there must also be something significant in this word descending wherefore when he saith he saw this City to DESCEND out of Heaven he would have us understand 1. That though the Church under Antichrist be never so low yet out of her Loins shall they come that yet shall be a reigning City Generation is a descending from the Loins of our Friends he therefore speaks of the generation of the Church Wherefore the meaning is That out of the Church that is now in Captivity there shall come a compleat City so exact in all things according to the Laws and Liberties Priviledges and Riches of a City that she shall lie level with the great Charter of Heaven Thus it was in the Type the City after the Captivity was builded even by those that once were in Captivity especially by their Seed and Off-spring and thus it shall be in our New Testament New Jerusalem They that shall be of thee saith the Prophet that is of the Church in affliction they shall build the old waste places thou shalt raise up the Foundations of many Generations and thou shalt be called The Repairer of Breaches and the Restorer of Paths to dwell in and again They that sometimes had Ashes for Gladness and the Spirit of Heaviness instead of the Garment of Praise They shall build the old Wastes they shall raise up the former Desolations and they shall repair the waste Cities the Desolations of many Generations for your shame you shall have double and for confusion they shall rejoyce in their Portion c. Isa. 58. 11 12. 61. 3 4 7. Thus therefore by descending we may understand that the Churches Generation shall be this Holy City and shall build up themselves the Tower of the Flock 2. When he saith This holy City descended out of Heaven he would have us understand also what a Blessing and Happiness this City at her rebuilding will be to the whole World Never was kind and seasonable showers more profitable to the tender new-mown-Grass than will this City at this day be to the Inhabitants of the World they will come as a Blessing from Heaven upon them As the Prophet saith The Remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many People as a dew from the Lord as the showers upon the Grass that tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for the Sons of men Mic. 5. 7. O the Grace the Light and Glory that will strike with spangling Beams from this City as from a Sun into the furthest parts of the World Thus saith the Lord As the new Wine is found in the Cluster and one saith Destroy it not for a Blessing is in it so will I do for my Servants sake that I may not destroy them all I will bring forth a Seed out of Jacob and out of Judah an Inheritor of my holy Mountain and my Elect shall inherit it and my Servants shall dwell there And Sharon where the sweet Roses grew Song 2. 1. shall be a fold for Flocks and the Valley of Achor a place for the Herds to lie down in for my People that have sought me Isa. 65. 8 9 10. In that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt and Assyria even a Blessing in the midst of the Land Isa. 19. 24. And it shall come to pass that as you were a curse among the Heathen O House of Judah and House of Israel so will I save you and you shall be a Blessing fear not but let your Hands be strong Zec. 8. 13. As the dew of Hermon that descended upon the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even life for evermore Psal. 133. 3. And now for the third particular namely What it is to descend out of Heaven FROM GOD. 1. To descend out of Heaven that is out of the Church in Captivity from God is this The Church is the place in which God doth beget all those that are the Children of him wherefore in that they are said to descend out of Heaven FROM GOD it is as as if he had said The Children of the Church are Heaven-born begotten of God and brought forth in the Church of Christ For Jerusalem which is above is the Mother of us all The Lord shall count when he writeth up the People that this man was born there Gal. 4. 26. Psal. 87. 5 6. 2. When he saith he saw this Jerusalem come out of Heaven from God he means That those of the Church in Captivity that shall build this City they shall be a People peculiarly fitted and qualified for this Work of God It was not all the Children of Israel that had their hand iâ— building Jerusalem after the Captivity of old their Nobles put not their hands to the Work of the Lord also there were many of Judah that were sworn to Tobiah the â—rch Opposet of the building of the City because of some Kindred and Relation that then was between them and him Neh. 6. 17 18 19. and as it was then so we do expect it will be now some will be even at the beginning of this Work in Babylon at that time also some will be cowardly and fearful yea and even men hired to â—inder the Work Nehem. 6. 10 11 12. Wherefore I say those of the Church that â—t that day builded the City they were men of a particular and peculiar Spirit which also will so be at the building of New Jerusalem They whose Light breaks forth as the Morning they that are mighty for a Spirit of Prayer they that take away the Yoke and speaking Vanity and that draw out their Soul to the Hungry they that the Lord shall guide continually that shall have fat Bones and that shall be as a watered Garden whose Waters fail not c. of THEM shall they be that build the old wastes and that raise up the Foundations of many Generations c. It was thus in all Ages in every Work of God SOME of his People SOME of his Saints in special in all Ages have been used to promote and advance and perfect the Work of their Generations 3. This City descends or comes out of Heaven from God that is by his special working and bringing to pass 't was God that gave them the Pattern even when they were in Babylon 't was God that put it into their Hearts while there to pray for deliverance 't was God that put it into the Hearts of the Kings of the Medes and Persians to give them Liberty to return and build and it was God that quailed the Hearts of those that by opposing did endeavour to hinder the bringing the Work to perfection yea it was God that did indeed bring the Work to perfection wherefore she may well be said to descend out of Heaven from GOD as he also saith himself by the Prophet I will cause the Captivity of Judah and the Captivity of Israel to return and I will build
Pipes that are on the Head of the golden Candlestick shall at this day convey with all freeness the golden Oyl thereout into our golden Hearts and Lamps Our Winâ— shall be mixt with Gall no longer we shall now drink the pure blood of the Grape the glory of pardoning and forgivinâ— Mercy shall so shew it self at this day in this City and shall so visibly abide theâ— in the Eyes of all Spectators that all shall be inflamed with it For Zions sake I will not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest untill the Righteousness thereoâ— go forth as brightness and the Salvation tâ—ereof as a Lamp that burneth and the Gentiles shall see thy Righteousness and all Kings thy Glory and thou shalt be called by a new Name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Isa. 62. 1 2. and again The Lord shall make bare his holy Name in the eyes of all the Nations and all the ends of the Earth shall see the Salvation of God Isa. 52. 9 10. Psal. 98. 2. At that day the Prophet tells us that there shall be HOLINESS upon the very Horses Bridles and that the Pots in the Lords House shall be like the Bowls before the Altar and every Pot in Jerusalem shall be Holiness unto the Lord Zech. 14. 20 21. The meaning of all these places is That in the day that the Lord doth turn his Church and People into the frame and fashion of a City and when he shall build them up to answer the first state of the Church there will such Grace and plenty of Mercy be extended unto her begetting such Faith and Holiness and Grace in her Soul and all her Actions that she shall convince all that are about her that she is the City the beloved City the City that the Lord hath chosen for after that he had said before He would return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem he saith moreover That Jerusalem shall be called A City of Truth and the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts the holy Mountain And all the People of the Earth shall see that thou art called by the Name of the Lord and they shall be afraid of thee Deut. 28. 10. Secondly As the Glory of the Grace of God will at his day be wonderful manifest in and over his City so also at that day will be seen the Glory of his Power O my People saith God that dwellest in Zion be not afraid of the Assyrian he shall smite thee with a Rod and shall lift up his Staff against thee after the manner of Egypt that is shall persecute and afflict thee as Pharaoh served thy Friends of old but be not afraid for yet a little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction and the Lord of Host shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the Rock Oreb and as his Rod was upon the Sea so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt the sum is God will at the day of his rebuilding the New Jerusalem so visibly make bare his Arm and be so exalted before all by his Power towards his People that no People shall dare to oppose or stand if they do make the least attempt to hinder the stability of this City Isa. 10. 24 25 26 27. I will surely gather or assemble O Jacob all of thee saith God I will surely gather the Remnant of Israel as the Sheep of Bozrah as the flocks in the midst of the fold they shall make a noise by reason of the multitude of men The breaker up is come up before them they have broken up the Antichristian siege that hath been laid against them they are gone thorow the gate they are gone out of it and their King shall pass before them and the Lord in the head of them Like as a Lion and a young Lion roaring on the prey when a multitude of Shepherds are called forth against him he will not be affraid of their Voice nor abase himself for the noise of them so shall the Lord come down to fight for Mount Zion and for the Hill thereof The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man and shall stir up Jealousie like a man of War he shall cry yea roar he shall prevail against his Enemies but not by Might nor yet by Power that is the Power and Arm of Flesh but by the power of the Word and Spirit of God which will prevail and must prevail to quash and over-turn all opposition Thirdly When God hath thus appeared in the Glory of his Grace and the Glory of his Power to deliver his Chosen then shall the implacable Enemies of God shrink and creep into holes like the Locusts and Frogs of the Hedges at the appearance of the Glory of the Majesty of God now the high ones lofty ones haughty ones and the proud shall see so evidently the hand of the Lord towards his Servants and his indignation towards his Enemies that they shall go into the Rocks and Holes of the Earth and into the tops of the ragged Rocks for the fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he shall arise to shake terribly the Earth Isa. 2. Where the presence of the Lord doth so appear upon a People that those that are Spectators perceive and understand it it must needs work on those Spectators one of these two things either first a trembling and astonishment and quailing of Heart as it doth among the implacable Enemies or else a buckling and bending of Heart and submission to his People and Ways as saith the Prophet The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee all they that despised thee shall fall down at the soles of thy feet they shall call thee The City of the Lord The Zion of the Holy One of Israel as Moses said to the Children of Israel The Lord shall put the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the Land that you shall tread upon as he said unto you Isa. 60. 14. Deut. 11. 25. At this day the footsteps of the Lord will be so apparent and visible in all his actions and dispensations in and towards his People this holy City that all shall see as I have said how gratious loving kind and good the Lord is now towards his own Children Such glory I say will be over them and upon them that they all will shine before the World and such tender Bowels in GOD towards them that no sooner can an Adversary peep or lift up his Head against his Servants but his hand will be in the Neck of them so that in short time he will have brought his Church into that safety and her Neighbours into that fear and submission that they shall not again so much as dare to hold up a hand against her no not for a thousand Years Thus saith the
Lord Behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy upon his dwelling Places and the City shall be builded upon her own heap and the Palace shall remain after the manner thereof and out of them shall proceed thanks-giving and the Voice of them that make merry and I will multiply them and they shall not be few and I will also glorifie them and they shall not be small Their Children also shall be as aforetime and their Congregation shall be established before me and I will punish all that oppress them Jer. 30. 18 19 20. Having the Glory of God And her Light was like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Crystal Having thus told us of her Glory even of the Glory of God how it at this day will rest upon this City he now comes to touch a second thing to wit her Light and that in which she descends and by which as with the Light of the Sun she seeth before her and behind her and on every side This therefore is another Branch of her Beauty She in her descending hath the Glory of God and also the Light of a Stone most precious Ezekiel tells us That in the Vision that he saw when he came to destroy the City which Vision was the very same that he saw again at the restoring of it he saith I say that in this Vision among many other wonders he saw a Fire infolding it self and Brightness about it and that the Fire also was bright and that out of it went forth Lightning that the likeness of the Firmament upon the living Creatures was the colour of the terrible Crystal that the Throne also upon which was placed the likeness of a Man was like or as the appearance of a Saphir-Stone all which words with the nature of their Light and Colour the holy Ghost doth in the Vision of John comprize and placeth within the Colour of the Jasper and the Crystal-stone And indeed though the Vision of John and Ezekiel touching the end of the matter be but one and the same yet they do very much vary and differ in terms and manner of Language Ezekiel tells us That the man that he saw come to measure the City and Temple had in his hand a Line of Flax which Line John calls a Golden Reed Ezekiel tells us that the River came out of or from under the Threshold of the House but John saith it came out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Ezekiel tells us that on either side of this River grew All Trees for food John calls these ALL Trees but ONE Tree and tells us that it stood on both sides of this River The like might also be shewed you in many other particulars as here you see they differ as touching the terms of the Light and Brightness that appears upon this City at her rebuilding which the holy Ghost represents to John under the Light and Glory of the Jasper and Crystal Stone for indeed the end of Ezekiel's Vision was to shew us That as when the Glory of God departed from the City it signified that he would take away from them the Light of his Word and their clearness of Worship suffering them to mourn for the loss of the one and to grope for the want of the other so at his return again he would give them both their former Light of Truth and also the clearness of Spirit to understand it which also John doth shew us shall last for ever And her Light was like unto a Stone most precious This Stone it is to represent unto us the Lord Jesus Christ in whose light and clearness this City comes out of Babylon for as he saith she hath the Glory of God that is his visible hand of Grace Power and Majesty to bring her forth so she comes in the light of this precious Stone which terms I say both the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle Peter do apply to the Lord Jesus and none else the one calling him A precious Corner-Stone the other calling him The chief Corner-Stone elect and precious Isa. 28. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Now then when he saith this City hath the light of this Stone to descend in he means That she comes in the shining Wisdom Knowledge Understanding and Influences of Christ out of her afflicted and captivated State and observe it she is rather said to descend in the Light of this Stone then in the Light of God though both be true because it is the Man Christ the Stone which the Builders rejected in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge of whose fulness we do all receive and Grace for Grace for it hath pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Col. 2. 3. John 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. see also Act. 2. 33. and Ephes. 4. 10 11 12 13. This sheweth us then these two things first That the time of the return of the Saints to build the ruinous City is near yea very near when the Light of the Lord Jesus begins to shine unto perfect day in her God will not bring forth his People out of Babylon especially those that are to be the chief in the building of this City without their own Judgments They shall see Eye to Eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion as he saith also in another place The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun sevenfold as the light of seven days in the day that the Lord bindeth up the Breach of his People and healeth the stroke of their Wound Now the Eyes of them that see shall not be dim the Ears of them that hear shall hearken The Heart also of the rash shall understand Knowledge and the Tongue of the Stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly The Lord shall be now exalted and be very high for he will fill Zion with Judgement and Righteousness and Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of thy times When Israel went out of Egypt they wanted much of this they went out blindfolded as it were they went they knew not whither wherefore they went not in the glory of that which this City descendeth in as Moses said The Lord hath not given you an Heart to perceive nor Eyes to see nor Ears to hear unto this day Deut. 29. 4. But these shall see every step they take they shall be like the Beasts that had Eyes both before and behind they shall see how far they are come out of Antichrist and shall see also how far yet they have to go to the compleat rebuilding and finishing of this City Secondly This sheweth us how sweet and pleasant the way of this Church will be at this day before them Light Knowledge and Judgement in GOD's matters doth not onely give men to see and behold all the things with which they are concerned
but the things themselves being good they do also by this means convey very great sweetness and pleasantness into the Hearts of those that have the knowledge of them Every step I say that now they take it shall be as it were in Honey and Butter The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting Joy shall be upon their Heads they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Isa. 35. 10. as he saith Again I will build thee and thou shalt be built O Virgin of Israel thou shalt again be adorned with Tabrets and shalt go forth in the Dances of them that make merry For thus saith the Lord Sing with gladness for Jacob and shout among the chief of the Nations publish ye praise ye and say O Lord save thy People the Remnant of Israel Behold I will bring them from the North Country and gather them from the coasts of the Earth and with them the blind and the lame the woman with Child and her that travelleth with Child together a very great company shall return thither Jer. 31. 4 7 8. By these words the Blind and the Lame the Woman with Child and her that travelleth he would have us understand thus much First That the way of God shall by the illuminating Grace of Christ be made so pleasant so sweet and so beautiful in the Souls of all at that day that even the blindest shall not stumble thereâ—n neither shall the Lame refuse it for â—ear of hurt yea the Blind the Lame â—he Woman with Child and her that travelleth shall though they be of all in most evil case to travel and go the Journey yet at this day by reason of the glorious light and sweetness that now will possess them even forget their impediments and dance as after musical Taâ—rets Secondly This City upon the time of her rebuilding shall have her blind men see her halt and lame made strong she also that is with Child and her that travelleth shall joyntly see the City-work that at this day will be on foot and put into form and order yet before the end Behold at that time I will undo all that afflict thee saith the Lord to this People and I will save her that halteth and gather her that was driven out and I will get them praise and fame in every Land where they have been put to shame at that time I will bring you again even in the time that I gather you for I will make you a Name and a Praise among all People of the Earth when I turn back your Captivity before your EYES saith the Lord God Zeph. 3. 19 20. And her Light was like unto a Stone most precious In that he saith Her Light is like unto A STONE MOST PRECIOUS he sheweth us how welcome and with what eagerness of spirit this Light will at this day be imbraced by the Lords People Truly the Light is good saith Solomon and a pleasant thing it is for the Eyes to behold the Sun and if so then how beautiful desirable and precious will that Light be that is not onely heavenly and from Christ but that will be universal among all Saints to shew them the same thing and to direct them to and in the same Work The want of this hath to this day been one great reason of that crossness of Judgement and Perswasion that hath been found among the Saints and that hath caused that lingering and disputing about the glorious state of the Church in the latter days Some being for its excellency to consist chiefly in outward glory and others swerving on the other side conclude she shall not have any of this some conceiving that this City will not be built until the Lord comes from Heaven in Person others again concluding that when he comes then there shall be no longer tarrying here but that all shall forthwith even all the Godly be taken up into Heaven with divers other opinions in these matters And thus many run to and fro but yet God be thanked Knowledge does increase though the Vision will be sealed even to the time of the end But now I say at the time of the end the Spirit shall be poured down upon us from on high now also they that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding the City shall descend in the Light of a Stone most precious the Sun will be risen upon the Earth when Lot goeth from Sodom into Zoar Gen. 19. 23. Now there shall be an oneness of Judgment and Understanding in the Hearts of all Saints they shall be now no more two but one in the Lords hand Alas the Saints are yet but as an Army routed and are apt sometimes through fear and sometimes through forgetfulness to mistake the word of their Captain General the Son of God and are also too too prone to shoot and kill eveâ— their very right-hand man but at thâ— day all such doing shall be laid aside for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea which Knowledge shall then strike thorow the Heart and Liver of all swerving and unsound Opinions in Christs matters for then shall every one of the Christians call upon the Name of the Lord and that with one pure Lip or Language to serve him with one consent 'T is Darkness and not Light that keepeth Gods People from knowing one another both in their Faith and Language and 't is Darkness that makes them stand at so great a distance both in Judgement and Affections as in these and other days they have done But then saith God I will plant in the Wilderness that is in the Church that is now bewildered the Cedar the Shittah Tree the Myrtlâ— Tree and the Oyl Tree I will set in the Desart the Fir-Tree the Pine and the Box-Tree together that they may see and know consider and understand together that the Hand of the Lord hath done this and the Holy One of Israel hath created it and again The glory of Lebanon shall comâ— unto thee the Fir-Tree and the Pine-Tree and the Box-Tree together to beautifie the House of my Glory and to make the place of my Feet glorious Isa. 41. 19 20. 60. 13. Never was fair weather after foul nor warm weather after cold nor a sweet and beautiful Spring after a heavy and niping and terrible Winter so comfortable sweet desirable and welcome to the poor Birds and Beasts of the field as this day will be to the Church of God Darkness it was the Plague of Egypt It is an empty forlorn desolate solitary and discomforting state wherefore Light even the illuminating Grace of God especially in the measure that it shall be communicated unto us at this day it must needs be precious In Light there is warmth and pleasure it is by the Light of the Sun that the whole Universe appears unto us
shall be so effectually joyned together that now they shall be no more two that is at a distance with a ditch between but one sound and inclosing-Wall to shew us That now the state of this Jerusalem even touching her outward Glory Peace and Tranquillity will be so stable invincible and lasting that unless that part of the Wall which is Eternal Salvation can be brokendown the Glory of this City shall never be vailed more Wherefore the Prophet when he speaks with reference to the happy state and condition of this City he saith Violence shall be heard no more within thy Land nor wasting and destruction within thy Borders but thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise as he saith also in another place Thine Eye shall see Jerusalem a quiet Habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down nor one of the Stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the Cords thereof be broken Isa. 60. 18. 33. 20. The Walls are now conjoyned both joyned into one the Father hath delivered up the great Red Dragon into the hand of Christ who hath shut him up and sealed him down even down for a thousand years Wherefore from the Lord shall there be upon every dwelling Place of Mount Zion and upon all her Assemblies a Cloud and Smoak by Day and the shining of a flaming Fire by Night for upon all her Glory shall be a Defence And in that day shall this Song be sung We have a strong City Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks Isa. 4. 5. 26. 1 2. The same in effect hath our Prophet John saying I saw the Holy City the New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband and I heard a great Voice out of Heaven saying The Tabernaele of God is with men and he shall dwell with them and God himself shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Rev. 21. 2 3 4. And had a Wall great and high These words Great and High are added for illustration to set out the matter to the height and indeed the glory of a Wall lyeth in this that it is great and high the Walls of the Canaanites were terrible upon this account and did even sink the Hearts of those that beheld them wherefore this City shall be most certainly in safety she hath a Wall about her a great Wall a Wall about her an high Wall It is great for compass it incloseth every Saint it is great for thickness it is compacted of all the Grace and Goodness of God both â—â—ritual and temporal and for height if you count from the utmost side to the utmost then it is higher then Heaven who can storm it and for depth it is lower then Hell who can undermine it Great Mercies high Mercies great Preservation and a high Arm to defend shall continually at this day incamp this City God himself will be a continual Life-Guard to this City I will incamp saith he about mine House because of the Army because of him that passeth by anâ— because of him that returneth and no Oppressor shall pass thorow them any more for now have I seen with mine Eyes Zech. 9. 8. And had twelve Gates Having thus shewed us her Wall he now comes to her Gates it had Gates it had twelve Gates By Gates in this place we are to understand the way of Entrance Gates you know are for coming in and for going out and do in this place signifie two things First An Entrance into communion with the God and Saviour of this City Secondly Entrance into communion with the Inhabitants and Priviledges of this City in both which the Gates do signifie Christ for as no man can come to the knowledge and enjoyment of the God and glorious Saviour but by and thorow the Lord Christ so no man can come into true and spiritual communion with these Inhabitants but by him also I AM THE WAY saith he the Truth and the Life and no man comes to the Father but BY ME and again I am the DOOR BY ME if any man ENTER he shall be saved and shall go in and out and finde pasture Joh. 10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 14. 6. And had twelve Gates In that he saith Twelve Gates he alludeth to the City Jerusalem that was of old which had just so many and are on purpose put into the number of Twelve â—o answer to the whole number of the Elect of God which are comprehended within the number of the Twelve Tribes whether they are natural Jews or Gentiles for as all the Godly Jews are the Seed of Abraham after the Flesh though â—ot Godly because they are the Children of the Flesh of Abraham so all the Godly Gentiles are the Children of Abraham after the Spirit though not by that means made the Children of the Flesh of Abraham they both meet then in the Spirit and Faith of the Gospel as God saith to the Jews When the Stranger shall sojourn with thee and will keep the Passover that is become godly and receive the Faith of Christ let all his Males be circumcised and then let them come near and keep it c. For they that are of Faith are the Children of faithful Abraham who is called The very Father of us all Thus you see all the godly come under the Title of the Children of Abraham and of the Jews and so under the denomination also of being Persons belonging to the Tribes the twelve Tribes who answer to those twelve Gates Wherefore the Psalmist minding this speaketh indifinitely of all the Godly under the name of The Tribes of Israel saying Our Feet shall stand within the Gates O Jerusalem Jerusalem is builded a City that is compact together whithâ— the Tribes go up the Tribes of the Lord unto the Testimony of Israel to give thaâ—â— to the Name of the Lord Psal. 122. 2 3 â— But again Though I am certain that all the Gentiles that are at any time converted are reckoned within the compass of some of the Tribes of Israel to which the Gates of this City may truly be said to answer Yet the Gates are here in a special manner called by the name of twelve to answer to the happy Return and Restoration of those poor distressed Creatures the twelve Tribes of the Jews that are scattered abroad that are and for a long time have been to our astonishment and their shame as Vagabonds and Straglers among the Nations there to continue many days without a King without a Prince and without a Sacrifice and without an Ephod that is without the true God the true Saviour and the true Word and Ordinances after which saith the same
Prophet They shall even in the latter days that is when this City is builded return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall then fear the Lord and his Goodness Hos. 3. 4 5. This the Apostle also affirmeth when he telleth the believing Gentiles That blindness in part â—s happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in which Israel in this place cannot by any means be taken for the Gentiles that are converted for thâ—â— Israel must be rejected until the bulk of the elect Gentiles be converted besides he calleth this Israel by the name of Israel even while unconverted but the converted Gentiles still Gentiles even when converted he calls this Israel the Natural Branches but the Gentiles Wilâ— Branches and tells us further Thaâ— when they are converted they shall be grafted into their own Olive Tree but when the Gentiles are converted they must be cut off of their own Stock and Tree read Rom. 11. throughout Wherefore I say the Gates are called twelve to answer these poor Creatures who at this day shall be awakened and enlightned and converted to the Faith of Jesus These Gates in another place are called A Way and these Jews The Kings of the East and it is there said also That at present this Way doth want preparing which is as much as to say This City wants setting up and the Gates want setting in their proper places Wherefore saith John The sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon the great River Euphrates that is destroyed the strength and force of the Roman-Antichrist for the River Euphrates was the fence of literal Babylon the Type of our spiritual one which force and fence when it is destroyed or dried up then the way of the Kings of the East will be prepared or made ready for their Journey to this Jerusalem Rev. 16. 12. Of this the Prophets are full crying Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling block out of the way of my People and again Go thorow go thorow the Gates prepare ye the way of my People cast ye up cast ye up the high-way gather out the stones lift up a Standard for the People Behold the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the World Say to the Daughter of Zion Thy Salvation cometh behold his Reward is with him and his Work before him and they shall call them The holy People the Redeemed of the Lord and thou shalt be called Sought out A City not forsaken Isa. 62. 10 11 12. All which doth most especially relate to the Conversion of the Jews in the latter day who in great abundance shall when all things are made ready come flocking in to the Son of God and finde favour as in the days of old And at the Gates twelve Angels By Angels in this place we are to understand the Messengers and Ministers of the Lord Jesus by whom the Mystery of Eternal Life and Felicity is held forth and discovered before the Sons of Men and thus this word Angel is frequently taken in this Prophecâ—â— Rev. 1. 20. 2. 1 8 12 18. 3. 1 7. 14. 6. And at the Gates twelve Angels In these words then there are two things to be considered First Why they should be called twelve And Secondly Why they are said to stand at the twelve Gates of this New and Holy City For the first They are called twelve to signifie two things 1. The Truth of their Doctrine and 2. The sufficiency of their Doctrine and Ministry for the converting of the twelve Tribes to the Faith of Christ and Priviledges of this City First For the Truth of their Doctrine For by twelve here he would have us to understand that he hath his Eye upon the twelve Apostles or upon the Doctrine of the twelve the Apostolical Doctrine as if he should say This City the New Jerusalem shall be every way accomplish 〈…〉 with Beauty and Glory she shall 〈◊〉 a Wall for her security and twelve â—ates to answer the twelve Tribes yea and also at these Gates the twelve Apostles in their own pure primitive and unspotted Doctrine The Romish Beasts have corrupted this Doctrine by treading it down with their Feet and have muddied this Water with their own dirt and filthiness but at this day this shall be recovered from under the Feet of these Beasts and cleansed also from their diâ—t an 〈…〉 again in the same Glory S 〈…〉 and Purity as in the Primitive â—â—mes It is said that when Israel was passed out of Egypt beyond the Sea they presently came to Elim where were twelve Wells of Water c. and that they â—ncamped by the Waters which twelve Wells did figure forth the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles out of which the Church at her return from Captivity shall draw and drink as out of the Wells of Salvation Now shall the Wells of our Father Abraham which the Philistines have for a great while stopped now I say shall they again be opened by our Isaac his Son and shall be also called after their own Names Gen. 26. 18. This is generally held forth by the Prophets That yet again the Church shall be fed upon the Mountains of Israel and that they shall lie down in a good fold and a fat pasture yea I will feed my Flock and I will cause them to lie down saith the Lord God Ezek. 34. 14 15. Secondly As by these twelve we are to understand the Truth and Purity of the Doctrine of the Twelve so again by this word twelve we are to understand the sufficiency of that Doctrine and Ministry to bring in the twelve Tribes to the Priviledges of this City Mark for the twelve Tribes there are twelve Gates for every Tribe a Gate and at the twelve Gates twelve Angels at every Gate an Angel O Judah saith God I have set an Harvest for thee when he shall turn again the Captivity of his People and so for the rest of the Tribes Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh he will stir up his strength to save them I will hiss for them saith God and gather them for I have reedeemed them and they shall increase as they have increased and I will sow them among the Nations and they shall remember me in far Countreys and they shall live with their Children and shall return and I will bring them again also out of the Land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria and I will bring them into the Land of Gilead and Lebanon and place shall not be found for them Zech. 10. 6 7 8 9 10. But to come to the second Question that is Why these twelve Angels are said to stand at the Gates which may be for divers Reasons First To shew us that the Doctrine of the Twelve is the Doctrine that letteth in at these Gates that also that shutteth out Whose sins ye remit they are remitted saith Christ
and whose sins ye retain they are retained And hence it is that the true Ministers in their right administration are called Porters because as Porters stand at the Gate and there open to or shut upon those that make an attempt to enter in so the Ministers of Christ by the Doctrine of the Twelve do both open to and shut the Gates against the Persons that will be attempting to enter in at the Gates of this City Secondly But again They are said to stand at the Gates for the incouraging and perswading of the tempted and doubting Jews who at the beginning of their return will be much afflicted under the sight and sence of their own wretchedness Alas were it not for some to stand at the Gates of this City for instruction and the incouragement of those that will at that day in earnest be looking after life they might labour as in other things for very very Vanity and might also be so grievously beat out of Heart and Spirit that they might die in despair But now to prevent this for those that are in the way to Zion with watry Eyes and wetted Cheeks here stands the Angels continually sounding with their Golden-Gospel-Trumpets Enter ye into his Gates with â—hanksgiving and into his Courts with praise be thankful unto him and bless his Name for the Lord is good and his Mercy 〈◊〉 everlasting and his Truth indureth for ever even to all Generations as he saith again And it shall come to pass in that day that the great Trumpet shall be blown and they shall come which were ready to perish in the Land of Assyria and the out-casts of the Land of Egypt and shall worship the Lord in the holy Mount at Jerusalem And at the Gates twelve Angels and Names written thereon which are the Names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel Thus it was in the Vision of the Prophet when he was taking a View of the Pattern of this City And the Gates of the City saith the Angel to him shall be after the Names of the Tribes of Israel which saying John doth here expound saying The Names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel were writ or set upon them This being thus it cleareth to you what I said but now to wit That the Gates are called twelve to answer the twelve Tribes for their Names are written thereon This must therefore without all doubt be a very great incouragement to this despised People I say great incouragement that notwithstanding all their Rebellion Blasphemy and contempt of the glorious Gospel their Names should yet be found recorded and ingraved upon the very Gates of New Jerusalem Thus then shall the Jews be comforted in the latter days and truly they will have but need hereof for doubtless at their return when they are throughly sensible of the Murder they have committed not onely upon the Bodies of the Prophets and Apostles but of the Son of God himself I say this must needs tother with the remembrance of the rest of their villanous actions exceedingly afflict and distress their bleeding Souls for the Children of Israel shall come they and the Children of Judah together going and weeping they shall go and seek the Lord their God and shall ask the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward Jer. 50. 4 5. Mark going and weeping there will not be a step that these poor People will take in the day of their returning but will be watered with the Tears of Repentance and Contrition under the consideration of the wickedness that in the days of their Rebellion they have committed against the Lord of Glory as he saith also by another Prophet I will pour upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as a Man mourns for his onely Son and they shall be in bitterness for him as him that is in bitterness for his first-born at that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon and the Land shall mourn Zech. 12. 10 11 12. Wherefore I say they both have and also will have need of twelve Gates and on them the Names of their twelve Tribes with an Angel at each to incourage them to enter this holy and goodly City and to tell them that yet he counts them his Friends in whose House he received the wounds in his Hands But again As by the Names of the twelve Tribes written on the Gates we may see what incouragement the Jews will have at their Return to enter in at them so we may also understand that by the Names of the twelve Tribes here written God would have us to perceive how all must be qualified that from among the Gentiles at this day do enter in at these Gates namely Those and those onely that be cut out of their own wild Olive-Tree and transplanted among the Children of Israel into their good Olive-Tree Such as are Jews inwardly the Israel of God according to the New Creature they shall enter for the holy Gentiles also by vertue of their conversion are stiled the Children of Abraham Jews the Chosen Generation the Peculiar People the Holy Nation and so are spiritually though not naturally by carnal generation of the twelve Tribes whose Names are written upon the Gates of this City And it shall come to pass saith the Prophet that in what Tribe the Stranger that is the Gentile sojourneth there shall ye give him his Inheritance saith the Lord God Ezek. 47. 22 23. Thus the Jews and Gentiles shall meet together in the Spirit of the Gospel and so both become a righteous Nation to both which the Gates of this City shall stand continually open at which also they may with boldness demand by the Faith of the Lord JESUS their entrance both for Communion with the God Grace and Priviledges of this City according to that which is written Open ye the Gates that the righteous Nation which keepeth the Truth may enter in Isa. 26. 2. Thus much of the Number of the Gates and now to proceed to the Order of them Vers. 13. On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on South three Gates and on the West three Gates I shall not speak any thing to the manner of his repeating of the Quarters towards which the Gates do look why he should begin at the East then to the North afterwards crossing to the South and last to the West though I do verily think that the holy Ghost hath something to shew us wherefore he doth thus set them forth and possibly he may set them thus and the West last not onely because the West part of the World is that which always closeth the day but to signifie that the West when Jerusalem is rebuilded will be the last part of
the World that will be converted or the Gate that will be last because longest occupied with the travels of the Passengers and wayfaring-Men in their Journy to this Jerusalem But I pass that From the order of their standing I shall enquire into two things First Why the Gates should look in this manner every way both East West North and South Secondly Why there should be three just three on every side of this City On the East three on the North three on the South three and on the West three For the First The Gates by looking every way into all Quarters may signifie to us thus much That God hath a People in every corner of the World and also That Grace is to be carried out at these Gates by the Angels in their Ministry into every place to gather them home to him as it is said of the living Creatures Whither the Head looked they followed it and turned not as they went so whithersoever the Gates look thither the Ministers go and carry the Word to gather together the Elect He sent them two and two before his Face into every City and Place whither he himself would come Again The Gates by their thus looking every way do signifie to us That from what Quarter or Part of the World soever men come for Life for those men there are the Gates of Life even right before their doors Come they from the East why thither look the Gates and so if they come from North or West or South No Man needs at all to go about to come at Life and Peace and Rest Let him come directly from Sin to Grace from Satan to Jesus Christ and from this World to New Jerusalem The twelve Brazen Oxen that Solomon made to bear the molten Sea they stood just as these Gates stand and signifie as I said before that the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles should be carried into all the World to convert as in the Primitive Times so now at the building of New Jerusalem and to bring in Gods Sheep to the Fold of his Church Now I say as the Word is carried every way so the Gates the open Gates look also into all corners after them to signifie that loving Reception that shall be given to every Soul that from any corner of the whole World shall unfainedly close in with Grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus therefore Men shall come from the East and from the West from the North and from the South and sit down in the Kingdom of God Luk. 13. 29. Psal. 107. 1 2 3. On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates and on the West three Gates Having thus shewed you in a word why they stand thus looking into every Corner or Quarter of the World I now come to shew you why there must be just three looking in this manner every way First then There may be three looking every way to signifie that it is both by the consent of the Three Persons in the Trinity that the Gospel should thus every way go forth to call men and also to shew you that both the Father Son and Spirit are willing to receive and embrace the Sinner from whatsoever part or corner of the Earth he cometh hither for Life and Safety Come they from whence they will the Father is willing to give them the Son and so is the Son to give them Himself and so is the Spirit to give them its help against whatever may labour to hinder them while they are here Joh. 3. 16. Rev. 21. 6. 22. 17. Secondly In that three of the Gates look every way it may be also to shew us that there is none can enter into this City but by the three Offices of the Lord Jesus Christ by his Priestly Office must wash away their Sins and by his Prophetical Office he must illuminate teach guide and refresh them and by his Kingly Office rule over them and govern them with his Word Heb. 7. 25. Joh. 13. 8. Act. 3. 22 23 24. Isa. 40. 10 11. 9. 6 7. Psal. 76. 1 2 3. Psal. 110. 3. Thirdly Or by three Gates may be signified the three states of the Saints in this Life an entrance into Childhood an entrance into a Manly state and an entrance into the state of a Father in the Church Or lastly The three Gates may signifie the threefold state we pass thorow from Nature to Glory The state of Grace in this Life the state of Felicity in Paradise and our state in Glory after the Resurrection Or thus The state of Grace that possesseth Body and Soul in this Life the state of Glory that posseseth the Soul at Death and the state of Glory that both Body and Soul shall be possessed with at the coming of the Lord and Saviour This was figured forth by the order of the Stairs in the Temple at Jerusalem which was first second and third by which Men ascended from the lowest to the uppermost Room in the House of God as he tells us They went up with winding Stairs from the first into the second story and from thence by them into the third 1 King 6. 8. Thus much for the Wall and Gates of New Jerusalem Vers. 14. And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. In these words we have two things considerable 1. That the City-Wall hath twelve Foundations 2. That in these twelve are the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. First It hath twelve Foundations This argueth invincible strength and support That Wall that hath but one Foundation how strongly doth it stand if it be but safely laid upon a Rock even so strongâ—y that neither Wind nor Weather in their greatest vehemency are able to shake or stir it to make it fall but I say how much more when a City hath Foundations twelve Foundations and those also laid by God himself as it is said concerning the Worthies of old They looked for a City that had Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11. 13 14. And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. The Wall you know I told you is the Wall of Salvation or the Safety of the Church by Jesus Christ to which is adjoyned as the effect of that the special Providence and Protection of God Now this Wall saith the Holy Ghost hath twelve Foundations to wit to bear it up for the continuation of the safety and security of those that are the Inhabitants of this City a Foundation is that which beareth up all and that upon which the stress of all must lie and abide Now to speak properly the Foundation of our Happiness is but one and that one none but the Lord Jesus for other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ
Souls into this City and that the same Doctrine is the Doctrine that keepeth up the Wall of their Salvation about them when they are entred in within the Gates Vers. 15. And he that talked with me had a Golden Reed to measure the City and the Gates thereof and the Wall thereof Now having passed the relation of the Wall Gates and Foundations he comes to the Measuring-Line to see how all things lie and agree with that Under the Law I find that all things pertaining to the Worship of God were to be by Number Rule and Measure even to the very Tacks and Loops of the Curtains of the Tabernacle Now the Rule or Line by which all things were then squared it was the Laws Statutes and Ordinances which was given to Moses by the Lord in the Mount Sinai for thither he went to receive his Orders and according to the Pattern there shewed him so he committed all things by writing to them that were to be imployed in the workmanship of the holy things pertaining to the rise and compleating of the Tabernacle and all its Instruments Exod. 10. 11. 24. 1. 25. 40. Deut. 30. 10. 31. 24 25 26. Now when this Rule was thus received then whosoever observed not to do it he was to fall under the Penalty that by the same Law also was prescribed against the Offenders and Transgressors Num. 15. 30 31. I find also that when the Temple was builded in the days of Solomon all things were then done according to the writing that David made when the hand of God was upon him when he made him understand all the work of this Pattern 2 Chron. 3. 1 2 3. Chap. 4. 1 Chron. 19. 3 4 5 6 7. 28. 19. Thus again When Josiah went about to bring to pass the Reformation of the Church of the Jews and their Instruments of Worship after their revolting he goeth to the Law of God and by that understanding what was out of order and how to put all things into order he so did reduce them to their former manner The same way also went Ezra and Nehemiah at the rebuilding of the Temple and City after the Captivity 2 Kings 22. 8 9 10 11 12 13. Ezra 7. 14. Ezra 8. 3 4. From all which I conclude That the Reed the Golden Reed that here you read of it is nothing else but the pure and unspotted Word of God by which both the City Gates and Wall of this Jerusalem is regulated Which Word by the holy Prophet is also compared to Gold and is said to be above much fine Gold Psal. 12. 6. and 19. 9 10. I find in the Vision of the Prophet Ezekiel that the Angel that there is said to measure the City which was a Type of our Jerusalem he appeared with a line of Flax in his hand to measure the pattern withal which very phrase doth shew us that his was but the Type and an Old-Testament-business but John hath his in a New-Testament-stile and that in the most excellent manner of Language to signifie that his City or the City that he hath the Vision of is to be the end of all Types and Shadows and the very perfection of them all Wherefore he tells us also that the Line or Reed by which this City is builded and squared it is not now a Line of Flax but a Reed of Gold a Golden Reed to signifie not a Word of the Law and Letter that had to do with Shadows but the New Testament and ministration of the Spirit which hath to do with Substance and the heavenly things themselves Heb. 9. 23. A Golden Reed to measure the City c. I told you at the first that this City was the Church of God that should be in the latter dayes but yet not the Church disorderly and confusedly scattered here and there without all visible order and discipline but the Church brought into exact Form and Order lying every way level and square with the Rule and Golden Reed of the New Testament of Christ wherefore he calleth it a City a City under Rule Thus it was in the Type for when Solomons Temple was to be builded and the City in after-times it was not enough that they had Stones and Timber but every one of them must be such Stones and such Timber and must also come under the Rule and Square of the Workman and so being fitted by Hewers Sawes Axes and Squares they were fitly put into the building 1 Kings 5. 17 18. and 7. 9 10 11 12. 1 Chron. 22. 2. By this then we may see with what a holy exact Line Rule and Order this Church and City at this day will be compact and builded the Members must be all such as shall be made fit for the City of God by the hewing words of the Prophets they must joyn in Christian-Communion also according to the Golden Reed of the New Testament and ministration of the Spirit Indeed all the time of the reign of Antichrist the Church as she was a holy Temple in the Lord so she was measured with reference to the truth of her Grace and invisible condition but as she is to be a City so she then is to be troden down and to lie without all Form and Order but when Antichrist is dead she shall again come into mind be considered reared builded by measure and inhabited and observe it as the Rule of the Carpenter is of use in the building from the first appearance of the laying of a Stone in order even till it be in every point and part compleat so the Golden Reed with which the Angel is here said to measure the City c. is to be of use from the first Foundation even to the laying of the last Stone thereof As was also fore-shewed by the man that is said to measure the pattern of this in Ezekiel Ezek. 40. to chapter 48. And he measured the City That is he measured the Church in her Constitution and Fellowship Now when God is said to measure he is said to measure sometimes in Judgment and sometimes in Mercy sometimes to throw down and sometimes to build up and establish Sometimes I say he is said to measure in Judgment with intention to throw down and destroy Thus he measured the City before she went into Captivity and the ten Tribes before they were carried away beyond Babylon because they lay cross to his Word and had perverted that which was right c. but when he is said to measure the City in this place it is that she might be builded and set up wherefore as I said the Line or Golden Reed that is now stretched forth to measure this City it is to the end that all things may be in right Form and Order fitly joyned and knit together by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working of the measure of every part making increase of the Body to the
edifying of it self in love Ephes. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. Again By measuring the City he would have us to understand that all her Limits and Bounds were now apparent that all things even the Church and all the World was made to see their own Compass for as God in the dayes when Temple-Worship only was on foot would not lose a Form or Ordinance of all the Forms and Ordinances of his Temple so when City-work comes up he will not lose an Inch of the Limits and Bounds and Compass of his City she shall be full as large and of as great a compass every way as is determined of her as he saith by the Prophet All the Land saith he shall be turned into a Plain that is there shall be a smooth Face upon the whole Earth all Snugs and Hubs and Hills and Holes shall now be took away even from Gebato Rimmon South of Jerusalem and it the City shall be lifted up and inhabited in her place from Benjamins Gate unto the place of the first Gate unto the Corner Gate and from the Tower of Hananiel unto the Kings Wine-Presses The four places here mentioned in this verse they do seem to be the four Corners of the City of old at which places the City bounds were set and in which very Circle the Prophet tells us but with Gospel Language she shall be setled again Zech. 14. 10. And he measured the City and the Gates thereof This was figured forth by the Vision in Ezekiel for in it he saw the Angel go from Gate to Gate and saw him take the exact and distinct measure of every one thereof nay not only of them in a general way but of the Thresholds the Porch the Posts and the Faces of their Enterances he measured also every little Chamber that was above upon the Gates with all the Spaces that were between Ezek. 40 chapter Now by Gates I told you we are to understand the Son of God as he is the Way to the Father and to the Priviledges of this City Wherefore when he saith He measured the Gates it is as if he had said he measured the Entrance Strength goodly Countenance of Him with the Mansions of Glory that are to be injoyed by every one that entereth in hereby for the Porch Posts Face Enterance and Chambers of the Gate in Ezekiel they signifie the Enterance Strength Shining Countenance and resting places that every one shall find in the Lord Jesus that entereth in by him and to measure all these it is in substance but this To set them forth and out in their full force glory largeness beauty profitableness in the view of all for I told you at the first the Golden Reed is the Word of God Now the City and the Gates thereof are said to be measured by this Golden Reed which I say can be nothing else but an opening of all the Excellencies of Christ as â—e is the Gate of the Sheep even by the â—ull Sway Power Majesty and Clearness of the Word The Lord help us Christ as he is the Door to God and to all Gospel-Priviledges is now strangely handled and so hath been of a long time among the Sons of men some of them making him the very In-let to all the vile and abominable crew in the world counting all that are pliant to their ungodly humours the Saints of the most high and Christ the Door and Gate through whom they have right to enter and to whom belongs the Delicates of the precious things of God even those which he hath most choicely layed up and reserveth for none but those that unfeignedly turn from iniquity and walk with him in the newness of the Spirit Others again do shut up the Gates against the Godly labouring with might main to hinder those that labour to enter that fain would do it unfeignedly Others again do labour all that in them lies to deface the Gates to take away their Beauty like him that took the Gold from off the Doors and Gates of the Temple rendering Christ a low and carnal business c. but at the measuring-day at the day when the Golden Reed shall be the alone Rule then you shall see this City and her Gates discovered in their own Glory Holiness and Beauty for though in our Affliction under Antichrist our Temple and Instruments of Worship with the City Wall Gates and the like have been much defaced even our Doctrine of Faith and Worship and have been much trod and trampled under the foot of the uncircumcised Yet all shall be recovered and brought into Order again by the Golden Reed of the Word of God which thing was figured forth to us by that good man Ezra the Scribe who at the restoring of Jerusalem took review of all the things pertaining to the City both touching its Breaches and Deformity and also how to set all things in Order and that by the Law of God which was in his Hand even according to the Writing thereof Ezra 7. 14. 8. 34. Neh. 8 9. And whosoever doth but read the History of Ezra and Nehemiah throughout they shall finde that by the Word of God they brought all things to pass all the Ordinances of the House and City of God into their right and holy Order And indeed the measuring of the City and of the Gates thereof which is Christ the Way it can be nothing else but a bringing of them by the right understanding and opening of the Word into their proper Places and Excellencies both for Comers in and Goers out according to the Commandment Ezek. 40. 4. 43. 7 8 9 10 11 12. for to speak properly Christ in his Love Grace Merits and Largeness of Heart to let Souls into Communion with God and all Happipiness is in all these things unsearchable and passing knowledge being filled with these things beyond thought and without measure Ephes. 3. 8. Col. 3. 9. Ephes. 3. 18. 19. Joh. 3. 34. And he measured the City the Gates thereof and the Wall thereof In that he saith he measured the Wall also it is to shew us that all things now are according to the Rule of the Word The Inhabitants are according to the Word the Entrance is according to the Word yea and so is the safety of it also even a Fence to fence them from their Enemies even a fence on every side that they may be at ease and rest and be no more a tossing to and fro O thou afflicted and â—ossed with Tempest saith he and not comforted I will do many good things for thee in righteousness shalt thou be established thou shalt be far from Oppression for thou shalt not fear and from Terror for it shall not come nigh unto thee Isa. 54. 11 14. Touching the Wall what it is I have spoken already therefore here I speak onely to the measure of it which measure is onely the fulfilling all those Promises and Engagements of God
that are made to New Jerusalem for her Safety and continual Defence and that not onely in her own Eyes but in the Eyes of all her Beholders Then shall that Saying be with gladness in the Mouths of all the Inhabitants of this Jerusalem We were bond-men and yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended Mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia to give us a reviving to set up the House of our God to repair the desolations thereof and to give us a Wall in Judah and in Jerusalem Ezra 9. 9. Which Wall I say shall be so conspicuous to all the Adversaries of this holy and beloved City that the greatest of them shall not once dare to peep or mutter against her any more God is known in her Palaces for a Refuge for lo the Kings were assembled they passed by they saw it and so they marwelled they were troubled and hasted away fear took hold upon them and pain as of a Woman in travel As it is said of the building of the Wall after the Captivity when the Enemies and all the Heathen saw it was finished they were much cast down in their own Eyes Psal. 48. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Neh. 6. 15 16. The regulating of this City by this Golden Reed and the measuring the Gates and VVall by this VVord when finished will then cause all that have skill in singing the Lords Songs and of lifting up the Praises of God in this City to gather themselves together to sing and to praise and to say Bless ye the Name of the Lord for his Mercies endure for ever for then will they purifie the People this City with the Gates and Wall thereof Neh. 12 28 29 30. VVherefore in the mean time between this and the building of this City let Jerusalem come into your mind and walk about her go â—e round about her enquire by the VVord what God hath said of her State Strength Safety Ease Peace and blessed Tranquillity in the latter days tell the Towers thereof mark ye well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generations following Psal. 48. 12 13. Vers. 16. And the City lieth four square and the length is as large as the breadth and he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs the length and the breadth and height of it are equal And the City lieth four square These words do open unto you the matter yet more to wit That now both the City Gates and VVall were exactly in their Visibility according to the VVord lying even every way with that Golden Reed for by four square you are to understand Perfection or an answering the figures that of old did figure to us the compleatness and perfection of the New-Testament-Order For if you search the Scriptures you will finde that especially the great and principal Instruments of Gods Worship in and under the Law their Perfection was what here you read to be the Perfection of this City even a four square As for instance The Brest-plate of Judgment on which were engraved the Names of the Children of Israel its exact point of Perfection was to be a right four square The ten Bases also that were to be for Bearers to the Lavers in the Temple they were to be four square The Altar of Burnt-Offerings likewise with the Altar of Incense their perfect Pattern was that they should be four square The inward Court and outward Court with the Posts of the Temple and Tables on which they were to slay the Sacrifices they were all four square Yea the City in the Type in the Vision of Ezekiel was seen to be of the same frame and fashion every way having just twelve Gates and of each of the four sides three Gates Exod. 28. 15 16. 39. 8 9. 1 King 7. 27 28 29 30 31. Exod. 27. 1. 38. 1. Ezek. 43. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Exod. 37. 1. Ezek. 40. 41. 21. 40. 40 41 42. 48. 30 31 32 33 34. Wherefore when he saith The City lieth four square it is as if he had said She lieth even with the Pattern or Golden-Reed of the Word even I say both in her Members Doctrine VVorship and Manners For the things afore-hinted unto you do hold forth all these Particulars And the length is as large as the breadth This explaineth the matter yet more fully and distinctly for as to the things that I made mention of before though they were to be made four-square and that their Perfection lay exactly in that form yet these Squares did not lie in their height and depth but in their length and breadth just as you read here of the Square of this City As to instance The Altars though they were five Cubits long and five Cubits broad yet but three high so the Bases they were a Cubit and an half broad and a Cubit and an half long yet but half a Cubit high the Tables also on which they slew the Sacrifices they were a Cubit and a half long and a Cubit and a half broad yet but one Cubit high VVhich things being thus you see the reason of his saying the length is as large as the breadth Now by length and breadth here we may yet observe another Mystery held forth unto us for by the breadth is held forth the perfection of the Rule or Law to which all Christians ought to yeild their hearty Obedience His Commandment is exceeding broad The breadth of which is signified I say by the breadth of those things that before you see to be the Instruments of the Worship of God Now as by breadth we are to understand the perfect latitude and compass of the Commandment so by length we are to understand the answerableness of the obedience of the Inhabitants of this City for indeed the perfection of Christian Obedience lieth in an answerableness to the Will of God as it is said of the Father and Mother of John the Baptist they walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless and of Anna that she continued without ceasing in the service of God in the Temple day and night This is to be as long in our Obedience as the Law is broad in commanding the Law commands right Obedience and the Christian giveth it the Law commands continual Obedience and the Christian giveth it the Law commands universal Obedience and the Christian giveth it He giveth it all these sorts of Obedience 1. By the Person of Christ for he is his Righteousness he giveth it all these 2. With the consent of the mind and 3. He giveth it all these Obediences in the love of the Spirit which the Apostle calleth the fulfilling of the Law that is an answering the breadth of its Command by the length of Obedience wherefore when he saith The length is as large as the breadth he would have us understand how perfect in Holiness these blessed
effect of that also And he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal Before he told us that the length was as large as the breadth which I then told you did signifie the nature of her Rule and the measure of her Obedience but now he adds and saith That both in length and breadth in height she is equal Wherefore in that he adds at last a squareness of height to her squareness of length and breadth and also in that he adds it not before he had told us of the measure of her Portions he would have us to understand that as the Rule in which this City shall walk shall be compleat and as her Obedience to that Rule shall be compleat so her enjoyment of God and his Grace at that day shall be proportionable also She is square in her Rule square in her Obedience and square in her Enjoyment of God and his Goodness the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal Indeed the Scripture saith That in keeping his Commandments there is great Reward and again This man shall be blessed in his Deed This sheweth unto us then what glorious days these will be to the House and City of God even days in which Saints shall see the Mind of God clearly have Hearts to do it compleatly and have continually the answerable Enjoyment of God and spiritual Happiness Now will his Paths drop Fatness with a witness and now will he meet him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness those that remember him in his Ways And the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal Wherefore the Prophet in the Vision of the measures of the Portions doth observe that there was a squareness in them as well as in their Ordinances and Obedience and hence it is that he tells us that every little Chamber was one Reed broad and one Reed long and again the Oblation that is the Portion for the Tribes shall be five twenty thousand By five and twenty thousand ye shall offer the holy Oblation FOUR SQUARE with the Portion of the City Ezek. 40. 7. and 48. 20. Again In that he saith The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal he sheweth us how fit this City at this day will be even for the Kingdom of Heaven and Glory for observe That as the Rule Obedience and Comforts of God do make this City a square City both in height and length and breadth so the Holiest of all which was a Type of Heaven was of the same fashion also It was twenty Cubits high and twenty Cubits long and twenty Cubits broad the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal 1 King 6. 20. 2 Chron. 3. 8. Ezek. 41. 4. Wherefore as now the Will of God will be done according to the Petition on Earth as it is in Heaven so will this City be at this day fit to enter into the Holiest Place even as fit as one four square is to shut into another Here is a four square City for a four square Heaven And the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal Wherefore it is upon this account that this City at her appearing is said to be adorned and prepared as a Bride is for her Husband which we all know is the most perfect and compleatest Attire that is possible to be got And therefore it is again that at the coming of the Lord those that go in with him to the Marriage are said to be ready beforehand Rev. 21. 2. Matth. 25. 10. Vers. 17. And he measured the Wall thereof an hundred and forty and four Cubits This measure of the Wall that here he maketh mention of is also distinct from the former measure where he is said to measure the City Gates and Wall and it refers to such a Wall or to such a part of the Wall in such a place for I find that though the Wall of this City in general is that which shall incompass the New Jerusalem round yet this Wall is in some place and for some reason of another manner and measure than the Wall is in general as it compasseth round the City which part of the Wall is called the broad Wall the Wall upon which even half of the People might walk compleat at once Neh. 3. 8. 12. 38. But to trace out the business in the Type and so to come to its answer in the Anti-Type I find that a little distance from Jerusalem there was a place called Tophet which place was counted prophane unholy or defiled I find also that this unclean unholy place was a figure of Hell it self Now mark I find by the Scripture that against this Tophet this unholy and prophane place was the broad Wall of the City for the defence of the Sanctuary erected and reared up He measured saith the Prophet by the four sides and it had a Wall rouud about five hundred Reeds long and five hundred Reeds broad TO MAKE A SEPARATION BETVVEEN THE SANCTUARY AND THE PROPHANE PLACE Ezek. 42. 20. Which VVall could not be that Wall which compassed the City because it was but five hundred Reeds long for take the measure of this Wall in its largest measure and it is if you count a Reed for that which we count a Pole but twelve Furlongs which compass will scarce go round many Market-Towns especially if together with this you consider the breadth of the Wall whose breadth is as large as its length wherefore now there is not room enough for a City so big as a Cotage to stand in the midst thereof I speak this to shew you that the Wall in this place is not the Wall that goeth round about the City but the Wall that is placed just between the Sanctuary and Tophet or Hell it self Now though Ezekiel and John do differ touching their count about the thickness of this Wall it is not so much to signifie the Walls are not one and the same as to shew us that the one to wit Ezekiel's Wall was to incompass a worldly Sanctuary but John's to incompass a spiritual and heavenly wherefore Ezekiel's must be of so many Reeds long to go round about the material Sanctuary as a Type but John comes more to the spirit of the matter and sheweth us what the Sanctuary Wall and the like should mean for by Sanctuary we are to understand even in the Old Testament a place of Safety and Security which was a Type of Christ Now in that Tophet did stand against the Sanctuary in the letter it signifies that Hell it self is bent against all those that take shelter in Christ but to no purpose for in the very face of Tophet even between it and our place of sanctuary is fixed an invincible and impregnable mighty Wall to keep in safety those that have fled to
City shall be left the Forts and Towers shall be for Dens for ever a Joy of wild Asses a Pasture of Flocks until the Spirit be poured on us from on high and the Wilderness be a fruitful Field c. And then the Lord shall defend the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the House of David shall be as God even as the Angel of the Lord before him The Inhabitants shall not say I am sick the People that dwell therein shall be forgiven their Iniquity And he measured the Wall thereof an hundred and forty and four Cubits according to the measure of a man that is of the Angel According to the measure of a Man The Man Christ Jesus For the measure of this City or the Golden Reed with which this City is thus measured it is His his Word and Law of the New-Testament All Judgment is committed into the hand of the Son and God hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of man According to the measure of a Man that is of the Angel This Angel is one of the Seven that had the seven last Plagues to execute upon the Man of Sin and yet he saith the measure is according to the measure of a man the meaning is That the City the New Jerusalem is to be builded according to the VVord of Christ but yet by his VVord as it is in the hand of his Angels that is his Messengers and Servants of which Servants the chief will be those that are his Instruments â—o pour forth the seven Vials full of 〈…〉 ven last Plagues upon the Antich 〈…〉 n Harlot For they with their Plagues will both destroy what standeth in impiacable opposition and will subject the rest and bring them into a correspondency with the Word and Will of God as I have shewed Whence note That they of his Servants that God shall use to pour forth his last and most dreadful Plagues upon the Whore they are they that God will use to shew us the Pattern of this holy City Or thus They that can tell how to plague the Whore they can tell how to measure this City The righteous men they shall judge them that is the Antichristian Harlot with her wicked and adulterous Daughters after the manner of Adulteresses and after the manner of Women that shed blood because they are adultrous and blood is in their hands Ezek. 23. 45. Thus much touching the frame of this City its Wall Gates and Foundations with the measure of each And now it remains that I speak of the Glory of them Vers. 18. And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass IN these words you have a discovery of the Glory both of the Wall and City it self and that as you see under the notion of two choice Metaphors the Wall is Jasper the chief of Stones and the City is Gold the chief of Metals And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure Gold This Jasper is that Stone in the light of which this City is said to descend as in the light of a Stone most precious Now as there he saith she descended in the light of this Stone so here he saith this Stone is the Wall thereof And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper This therefore confirmeth unto you what I said of the Wall before to wit That it was the Salvation of God through Christ Wherefore learn this by the way That this City shall not be at this day in her own keeping but in the keeping of Jesus Christ He with his Benefits doth compass her round and by him alone she lieth down in safety Wherefore it is from this Consideration that God doth say by the Mouth of the Prophet I will give them within my House and within my Walls a place and a name better then that of Sons and of Daughters I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off Isa. 56. 5. And the building of the Wall c. By this word building we are to understand both the Materials of the Wall the manner of their placing and the Instruments that God will use for the setting up thereof Now to speak properly this Wall being the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in his precious Merits Benefits and Offices the Builder hereof must needs be God Himself for he it is that hath made this Christ for us a Safeguard and Defence by making of him our Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption by which he doth incompass us round on every side and that at every moment to deliver us from the Power and Destruction both of Sin Death the Devil and Hell But again The building here spoken of is a building of this Wall after the destruction of Antichrist and so long after Christ was sent and made these things in his own Person to his beloved and blessed Church Wherefore the building of this Wall that is here spoken of it must be understood of the recovering again the purity of those Doctrines in which the Lord Jesus with all his Benefits is found and made ours for our everlasting Defence and Safety For we find that the King of Babylon who was a Type of our Antichrist when he came up against Jerusalem the Type of our Primitive Church he brake down their City destroyed their Walls rifled their Houses and killed their Children whose steps I say our Antichrist follows to a hair in treading down the Primitive Church corrupting her Doctrines which are her Safeguard and VVall also robbing and spoiling the Houses of God and killing his Children with a thousand Calamities turning all the heavenly Frame and Order of Church-Government into an heap of Rubbish and a confused Dunghil Wherefore the building again of this Wall is to be understood of the recovering and setling and fastening the Doctrines of Christ as afore in which Doctrines he in all his Benefits is wrapped and held fast forever I say a recovering of them and setting him up again in his primitive and pure Glory of being our Priest Prophet and King in his Church and a giving unto these Offices their own proper length breadth height and depth letting them rule in all their Force Glory and Majesty and Authority for then will be golden Days and not till then then I say when the several Offices of the Lord Jesus do rule in their own nature and largeness of Authority both in the Church and in the VVorld Alas This VVall is yet unbuilt the Offices of the Lord Jesus do not yet shine in that purity nor so stand in their proper places as they shall do at the coming in of New Jerusalem the VVall lies yet but as an heap of Rubbish the Offices of the Lord Christ are to this day by many
Preachers confounded and removed to and fro even like loose and roulingstones these Offices also are by others attributed to Antichrist and his Children of Iniquity but at this day the Nations shall know themseves to be but men and the Doctrines of Christ shall be set again in their own places Now shall every going into this City and every going out thereof stand where it ought and now shall every Tower and Fortress on this VVall be placed as in the days of old which Towers and Fortresses are the glorious Names and Attributes of the Father and Christ for the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous flee into it and are safe and again Thou hast been a shelter to me and a strong Tower from the Enemy Wherefore now I say shall the Name of God as Lord of all and Father of his Church with the Names of the Son as Head Saviour and King of kings be as the Bulwarks to this City to which shall be added all the Promises Consolations Encouragements c. in the blessed Book of God out of which this City continually shall suck the Milk and Nourishment of the unsearchable Grace of God to them to all which shall be added many new pieces of Timber in the Wall for so it was in the Type at the rebuilding of the City by which new pieces I gather that the special Providence of God and his Protection shall be at this day so fastened in this Wall for the compleat delivering of this City both from Hell and Earth that she shall stand in full force safety and peace even till the Heavens and the Earth shall be no more Now when this Wall is thus set up even every Truth and Office of Christ in is own true natural force about this City and when God in his special and most indeared affections shall engage himself even everlastingly to keep this City safe from all storms and tempests and trouble and sorrow then shall these Citizens as a sign of their Conquest both of Hell and the World even set up their Banners on the several Towers of this Wall and the Standards that belong to the Tribes thereof then I say We shall rejoyce in thy Salvation O Lord and in thy Name will we set up our Banners And then shall the Inhabitants of the World both wondering and tremblingly say Who is this that looketh forth as the Morning fair as the Sun clear as the Moon and terrible as an Army with Banners O the Names of God of Christ of his Offices and the power of his Grace and Promises How will they shine In what Glory will they appear They will be even as a Wall of fire round about Jerusalem and will not be as now in the mind and thought of the People as the White of an Egg in the Mouth without taste but shall be and appear in their own Brightness Sweetness and Grace For how great is his Goodness and how great is his Beauty Corn shall make the young Men chearful new Wine the Maids In that day shalt thou say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord JEHOVAH is my Strength and my Song he also is become my Salvation Isa. 12. 1 2. For the Workmen I am sure God is the principal as I said before but yet he will do it by instruments thorow the guidance of his Spirit The building of the Wall of old was of God but so as that he did it by the hand of Nehemiah and his Companions I do observe in the compleating of the City Jerusalem of old that there was first Altar-work then Temple-work and after that the building the Wall and compleating the City Altar-work I say was the first which was reared and on which there was offered according to the Law and holy custom the Sacrifices and Offerings both morning and evening as every day required but the foundation of the Temple was not yet laid Ezra 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6. These Altar-men were those also that afterward built the Temple but yet by them was first of all repaired the Altar to signifie that the first work that will be on foot at the beginning of the return of the Christians from out of Antichristian Babylon it will be to finde out Altar-work that is the Priestly Office of Christ and to offer 〈◊〉 Him the Prayers and Supplications of the Church continually Wherefore these Altar-men or these men in their Altar-work did figure-out for us our famous and holy Worthies that before us have risen up in their place and shook off those Reliques of Antichrist that intrenched upon the Priestly Office of our Lord and Saviour even worthy Wickliff Hus Luther Melancton Calvin and the blessed Martyrs in Q. Maries dayes c. with the rest of their companions these in their day were stout valiant Champions for God according to their light and did upon the Altar of God which is Christ our Lord offer up many strong cries with groans and tears as every day required for the compleat recovering of the Church of God the benefit of whose Offering we have felt and enjoyed to this day but by this the Foundation of the Temple was not yet laid Now after these arise another People not another with respect to Christianity but with respect to further light These men though they keep the continual Offerings upon the Altar as the other did yet they are men also that are for Temple-work wherefore these begin to search out the Foundations of the Temple of God that they may rear up the House as well as build up the Altar These be they that are for having the Church a select company of visible Believers walking in the Faith and Holiness of the Gospel which Believers are for separating from the unconverted and open prophane and for building up one another an holy Temple in the Lord through the Spirit I say a Temple or House or Church separate and distinct from that confused heap of rubbish and carnal Gospelers that every where like Locusts and Maggots craul up and down the Nations These were figured forth by Zerubbabel Joshua and all the people of the Land that are for working and labouring in this service of Temple-work Hag. 1. 12. Hag. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. Again As there is thus Altar-work and Temple-work to be done by the Saints when they are coming out of spiritual Sodom and Egypt So at the end of these there will be City-work on foot also Which City-work will chiefly consist in setting up the Wall and Gates for defence and of building themselves Houses or Mansions of rest and refreshment after all their hard usage under the tyranny of the Man of sin that Son of Perdition which City-work wil be then compleated when the
a crushed bunch of Herbs in which is no Vertue or like a Furnace full of Dross out of which the Gold is taken or like an old crazy and ruinous House from which is departed all Health and Happiness and indeed much like to this is that saying of the Prophet to wit That at this day the whole circumference of the World that is without the Walls and Priviledges of this City it shall be but like an old ruinous House in which dwells nothing but Cormorants Bitterns Owls Ravens Dragons Satyrs the Screech-Owl the great Owl the Vulture and the like most doleful Birds All their Princes shall be nothing saith the Prophet and when they call their Nobles to the Kingdom none shall be there In their very Pallaces shall be Thorns and Nettles and Brambles for all among them that are Princes and Nobles indeed will have pack'd up and be gon for Jerusalem So that the World I say will be left empty void and stript both of Treasure Beauty and Health at the day of Jerusalems building again But O how melancholy a forlorn beautiless World will this be at this day It will be onely the place of Dogs Sorcereâ—s Whoremongers and Murderers and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie it will now be the very Emblem of Hell as the Church at this day will be the Emblem of Heaven wherefore as the Church as I shewed you before will be most fit for her puting on of Immortality and Incorruption so the World will at this day be most fit to be swallowed up of the Lake and bottomless Gulf. All things that are good and worth any thing shall at this day be found onely in the City of God The Gold will be in Jerusalem Again In that this City is here called by the name of Gold it is to shew us how great pains and travel and charge the Lord Christ hath been at to get so great a Treasure together Gold is fetched from a far Countrey and that with great pains charge and difficulty The Gold wherewith King Solomon made his drinking Vessels it cost a three years Journey to obtain it so the Saints also those Golden Vessels wherewith is made this Golden City they cost Christ a three days travel in the heart of the Earth even sweatingly under the wrath of God to obtain them and thus to build this City with them Further In that he saith this City is Gold he would have us to consider what the state of the Church was before she came into this happy condition to wit an afflicted tempted and tried condition Gold as it comes from the Mine it cometh commixed with its Dust and Ore wherefore the Goldsmith hath a burning Furnace wherein he having put it doth with the fire purge and take away the Dross and Dust from among the Metal it self into which Furnace he puts it once twice thrice and again to the end it may at length be thorowly cleansed and purified from its Dross Now all this befalleth the People of God they are thrown into the burning fiery Furnace of Affliction and Temptation and there they are tried purged and purified as the Lord also saith by the Prophet I will try them as Gold is tryed and will refine them as Silver is refined yea I will melt them and try them for how shall I do for the Daughter of my People Isa. 31. 9. Jer. 9. 7. Zech. 13. 9. Lastly When he saith this City is Gold he also thereby insinuates how invincible and unconquerable a Spirit the People of God are possessed with Gold is a Metal so invincible and unconquerable that no fire can consume it it may burn it indeed and melt it the Dross indeed doth consume and give way to the power of the fire but the Gold remains and holds its ground yea it gets ground even of the Furnace and Fire it self for the more it is burned and melted the more it recovers its colour and the more it shakes off its Dross and Dishonour Just thus it is with the People of God and hath been so even from the beginning The more they oppressed them the more they grew Exod. 1. 12. the truth of which will be proved with a witness when God comes to set up this City Jerusalem his Church hath been now for many hundred years in the King of Babylon's Furnace all which time she hath most gloriously endured and withstood the heat and at last when the fire hath done its worst against her Behold there comes out a City of Gold A Type of which was the state of the three Children who though they were cast into the Fire bound and in disgrace yet came out in the Liberty and Grace of the Son of God Dan. 3. 23 24 25 26. Wherefore let her be bold to say even before she comes out of the Fire When I am tried I shall come forth as Gold Job 23. 10. And the City was pure Gold These words PURE Gold clear up what I said already Pure Gold or Gold upon which the fire hath done its work The Church in the fire of Persecution is like Esther in the perfuming Chamber but making fit for the presence of the King which fire when it hath done its work then she comes into his presence in cloathing all of Gold The Kings Daughter is all glorious within her cloathing is of wrought Gold and again At thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir Psal. 45. 9 13. Wherefore he means by pure Gold Gold out of the Fire Gold on which the fire of Persecution and Temptation hath done its full and compleat work And the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass By Glass in this place we are to understand the Word of God as both James and Paul do testifie Jam. 1. 23 24 25. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 13. 12. By clear glass then we are to understand the Word in its own nature and purity without the corruptions and traditions of men Wherefore when he saith this Golden City was like unto clear Glass it is as if he had said she is even with the Word and Law of her Goldsmith in all her matters The Word is a Golden Reed this City a Golden City and that a Golden City taken out of the furnace of affliction and therefore like to the Golden Reed And the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass Vers. 19 20. And the Foundations of the Wall were garnished with all manner of precious stones The first Foundation was a Jasper the second a Saphir the third a Chalcedony the fourth an Emerald the fifth a Sardonix the sixth a Sardius the seventh a Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth Topaz the tenth Chrysoprasus the eleventh a Jacinct the twelfth an Amethyst Thus having shewed us the Glory of the Wall and of the City he now comes to shew us the glory of the Foundations The Foundations you know I told you before they are
themselves but now they shall shew themselves again even these Foundation-stones Stones that are great Stones Stones of ten Cubits and Stones of eight Cubits 1 Kings 7. 10. Thus much of the glory of the Foundations Ver. 21. And the twelve Gates are twelve Pearls every several Gate was of one Pearl and the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent Glass Having thus shewed us the glory of this City Wall and Foundations he now comes to shew us the glory of the Gates and of the Street of the City And the twelve Gates are twelve Pearls The Gates I told you before they signify Christ both as he is the way to communion with the God of this City and with the Inhabitants thereof that so they may have a share in the Priviledges of the same I told you also then that though he tels us exactly of the measure both of City and Wall yet he tells us nothing of the measure of these twelve Gates and goings in thereat and the reason is because Christ as he is the way to Grace He is beyond all measure both as to fulness and freeness Ephes. 3. 8. And now again he puts us to the same plunge with the unsearchable riches of the Lord Christ for who can count the worth of a Pearl as big as the Gates of a City as indeed when Christ himself doth speak of the Parable of the Pearl in the Field he only telleth us that there is such a one but never valueth the worth thereof only he saith a Pearl of great price and so leaveth it Mat. 13. 35 36. Now when he saith that the Gates are Pearls he thereby insinuates several things As First To shew us how rich a Treasure Christ Jesus our Lord is and will be to all those that by him shall enter in through the Gates into this City Riches and Honour are with me saith he even durable Riches and Righteousness My fruit or the fruit of entering in by me it is better than Gold and my revenues thâ—â— choice Silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Judgment That I may cause them that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their treasures Pro. 8. 18 19 20 21. Ephes. 3. 8. Christ is rich indeed both in his Blood Resurrection Intercession and all his Offices together with his Relations and all his Benefits all which he bestoweth upon every one that receiveth him and maketh them unspeakably wealthy Secondly The Pearl as it is rich and so worth much so again it is beautiful and amiable even to take the eyes of all beholders it hath I say a very sweet and sparkling Light and Glory in it enough to take the eye and affect the heart of all those that look upon it And thus is Christ to all that come to him and by him to the Father c. My Beloved saith she is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand his mouth is most sweet he is altogether lovely The Mother of Harlots had some knowledge of the Beauty and Glory of this Stone and knew that it had a very taking and drawing Glory in it and therefore she gets it for some time to adorn her self withal She was decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls and was therefore called the well-favoured Harlot by which means she hath drawn into her lewdness the Kings and Kingdoms of the world who have in such sort been entangled with her Beauty and with her Fornication that they have been adulterated from God and their own Salvation For indeed she used this Pearl but for to get them to drink of her Fornication that they might drink and spue and fall and never rise more But now when he saith the Gates are Pearl it is as if he had said This Woman is stript of her beauty and delicate ornaments the Pearl is taken from her and is set in his right place even to be for the Gates of Jerusalem Wherefore it is to be expected that many should be taken with the way of entrance into this beloved City in the day that she shall be set up and appear in her heavenly beauty The glory of that City must needs be great whose Wall is Jasper and Gates are Pearl And the twelve Gates are twelve Pearls Not Pearls and other Precious stones commixed but Pearl only To signifie that Christ only can let in souls into this City that they may partake of the goodness and priviledges thereof 'T is not he and Saints together neither is it all the Saints and Angels in Heaven without him He alone hath the Key of David and that openeth and no man shutteth and that shutteth and no man openeth Rev. 22. 22. 3. 7. Secondly As he saith The several Gates are each of them Pearls So he saith that every several Gate was of One Pearl of one entire Pear By which he would have us understand also that as none can enter in but by Christ so none can enter in but by whole Christ. Christ must be helpful to thee every way or he will be helpful to thee no way thou must enter in by every whit of Christ or thou shalt enter in by never a whit of him Wherefore look not to have him thy Saviour if thou take him not for King and Prophet nay thou shalt not have him in any one if thou dost not take him in every one of these Wherefore the Prophet saith He shall build the Temple of the Lord that is by his Prophetical Office and he shall sit and rule upon his Throne and he shall be a Priest upon his Throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both Zech. 6. 12 13. And the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent Glass In these words there are four things to be enquired into First What this Street is Secondly Why he saith not Streets but Street as of one Thirdly Why this Street is called by the term of pure Gold Fourthly And why it should look like transparent Glass For the First A Street ordinarily is the place of common concourse and the place of continual open salutation and taking acquaintance one of another and as touching this Street we are also to understand it of the open and common place or way of Gods Worship in which Saints salute each other and acquaint themselves together also here the World are converted Saints built up and edified c. Wisdom cryeth without she uttereth her voice in the Streets saith Solomon she cryeth in the chief places of concourse in the opening of the Gates in the City she uttereth her words that is in the publick and righteous Ordinances of the Lord Jesus which he hath ordained in his Church for men to travel and trade in for the good and wholsome merchandize of Heaven as the men of this world do for the things thereof in
Lord that saves you You know I say what a flame of love and bowels and compassion and self-denial and endeared affection to God and all Saints it will beget in the soul. O! it is good to be here saith the gracious heart Well and so thou shalt be alwayes if thou live to see New Jerusalem setled in her own place Isa. 65. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. And the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparant Glass Mark a Street of Gold like Glass a Street of Gold as it were transparant Glass By Glass here as also in the eighteenth verse we are to understand the word Jam. 1. 23 24 25. Wherefore when he saith the Street the Golden Street was like unto Glass he means that the walking and carriage of the Saints at this day shall be like unto or according to the Word the Life of the Saints answering the Life of the Word and Rule of the Lord Christ. Again in that he doth add to Glass the word Transparent he would have us to understand thereby these two things First That the walking and ways of Holiness of the Saints shall be more in the Power and Spirit of the Word than all along in the reign of Antichrist they have been For transparent Glass it is the most cleer and excellent Glass and goeth as far beyond other sorts of Glass as he that walks in the Spirit and Power of the Commandment goes beyond him that only walks in the Letter and outward Word thereof Alas the Churches of Christ at their first assembling will be like the coming together of Ezekiels bones cloathed much with flesh and sinews but greatly void of spirit and life Ezek. 37. 7 8. Wherefore the Spirit Power Holiness and Majesty that now will appear in the Church it will greatly transcend and go beyond the Spirit Power and Holiness that hath accompanied her in former days Then shall the Sun be ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord shall reign in Mount Zion c. Then shall the Sun be ashamed that is then shall that little light and understanding of the Word that hath been in the Church in the days when a third part of the glory of the Gospel was hid by the smoak of the Pit be as it were laid aside and be useless every Saint shall be under the light of a Sun that shines seven-fold brighter even as the light of seven days We see it is so in some measure at this day What Light and with what clearness do the Saints in this day see the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God beyond what the holy and goodly Martyrs and Saints did in the days that were before us Hus Bilny Ridly Hooper Cranmer with their Brethren if they were now in the world would cry out say Our light and knowledge of the Word of the Testament of Christ was much inferior to the Light that at this day is broken forth and that will yet daily in despite of Men and Devils display its Rayes and Beams amongst the sons of men When the Children of Israel were to depart the Land of Egypt the Lord made known himself to them otherwise than ever he made known himself either to Abraham Isaac or Jacob their fathers The Book also at the recovering the Church from under Antichrist is to be unlocked and unsealed gradually first one Seal and afterwards another and last of all the seventh before which time the Book will never quite be opened according to that of the Angel Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end in which time which is the time of New Jerusalem they shall be opened and men shall consider it perfectly Wherefore Secondly It must needs be that the Church return to her old and primitive love for what is the cause of the want of love to Christ and one another now but our want of light in the Things Mysteries and Priviledges of the glorious Gospel of the Son of God Wherefore this being come then Love will reign and have her perfect work among the Godly Love is the very quintescence of all the Graces of the Gospel and is as transparent to them the greatest of these is Charity it is the fulfilling of the Law the Bond of Perfectness and the most excellent Way Wherefore the holy Ghost doth mean by this word TRANSPARENT Glass that the height of Light and the height of Love will be found in this City all their things shall be done without confused smoak and darkness and also without spiritual priâ—â— and desire of vain glory then shall they indeed do all their things in Charity and in the feeling Bowels and Fellowship of the Gospel Then shall the Offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former times Mal. 3. 4. Alas Though now through Grace the Saints of God have attained to more Light and Knowledge in the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God than heretofore they had yet their Light is far inferior to that which will be when this City is builded Our spiritual Union and Fellowship in the very Bowels of the Grace and Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ also is yet greatly defective It is said that no man was able to enter into the Temple of God until the seven plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled but when the seven last Plagues are spent and when all the Adversaries of the Church which caused terror in the Land of the Living shall be laid with the uncircumcised in the Pit then look for Golden days and not till then then shall this Golden Street be finished that is then shall the Light Faith Love and Holiness of the Gospel be walked in and embraced in a transparent and transcending way He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take Root Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the World with Fruit. Isa. 27. 6. Vers. 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it These words do in my present Light point at the end of the days of this Jerusalem here in this World and in so doing they signifie to us that when she is builded she shall stand and continue in â—his her glorious state afore-mentioned â—ven until that Glory be swallowed up of â—hat which doth excel That they do point at the end of her â—ay in this world I do gather from these particulars First Because they are the last words â—f the description of her Glory that is â—ese and the words ensuing which is â—t one and the same continued speech â—d it is easie to conclude that John in â—is description of this City doth from â—st to last even from the first appearing of her as she cometh out of Babylon till she be perfect in Glory give us the
relation of it first I say shewing us her descending then her building and afterward the Glory of that building at the end of which also he sheweth to us with what Glory he will crown this Glory even by swallowing of her up with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Secondly Because in these words he doth absolutely cut off all and every whi 〈…〉 of her outward and external Glory tha◠is as to outward Ordinances and Temple-Worship which yet was to be most famous for a long time in this new and goodly City which he verifies in the eleventh Chapter of this Prophecie◠which Chapter is a summary collectin◠of the Church in her Fall and Rise under Antichrist which Church there in he◠Rise is this City here in her Glory in th 〈…〉 World he tells us there I say that whe◠the Kingdoms of this World were become th◠Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chris 〈…〉 that THEN THE TEMPLE OF GOD WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN tha◠is Temple-Worship under the Gosp 〈…〉 recovered into its former and Primitiv◠state and Purity in which it was before the coming in of the Man of Sin Rev. 11. 15 16 17 18 19. compared with Rev. 15. 8. which Temple he here utterly shutteth out saying I saw no Temple therein in the room of which he setteth the presence of the Lord Jesus and God his Father making them to stand and be in the room of Temple and Gospel-Worship in that manner as it is used while we here live in the Flesh For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it 'T is true the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of this Church in her lowest condition therefore much more when she is brought into the condition that she is in at her rebuilding but yet neither in her low estate nor yet in her highest is it proper to say that so long as she is in this World God will be a Temple to her in opposition to her Temple and Gospel-Worship in outward and New-Testament-Administrations Wherefore when he saith He saw no Temple therein and that from this reason Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it he must needs aim at a state to which the Church cannot attain until her Lord comes For then will that which is perfect be come and that which is in part be done away Now that the Temple in this place excluded can signifie nothing else but the outward orderly way of Gods Worship which the Saints ought with Conscience in Faith to be found in till their Lord comes Consider First That our New Testament doth use the word Temple three general ways 1. For the outward Order and Worship or Discipline of the Gospel 2. For the Body of Christ which is his Church c. 3. And lastly For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb which here are said to be the Temple of this City Now then when he saith He saw NO Temple therein he cannot exclude the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb for they are here said to be the Temple of it Neither can he shut out the Church which is the Body of Christ for that is the City it self yea and the Church shall be Gods Temple and God and Christ the Temple of the Church for ever and ever He must therefore by this word no Temple exclude onely the outward Way of Gospel-Worship in which the Saints in the times of the New Testament both meet and edifie each other and also meet their God and are blessed and refreshed by him Again That this outward Gospel-Worship should be laid aside while the Church is in this World before her Lord doth come to be enjoyed by her as touching his Personal Presence it looks too like Ranting Opinions and contradiction to Scripture for me to believe 1 Cor. 11. 26. for when He comes but not till then shall these things be laid aside Besides That which yet confirms me more fully in this Opinion is Because herein this New Jerusalem doth most exactly answer the City and Temple which was builded after the Captivity which City and Temple being once built it stood till Christ our Lord did visit them in his own Personal coming the first time as the Prophets also said it should The Lord whom ye seek saith one shall suddenly come to his Temple even the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts And again I will shake all Nations and the Desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this House with glory saith the Lord of Host Wherefore the glory of this latter House shall be greater than that of the former saith the Lord of Hosts And I will give Peace in this place saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 3. 1. Hag. 2. 6 7 8 9. Now observe That from the time of the building of the second Temple to the coming of Christ the Worship of the Temple-Order was to be by all most devoutly and continually observed but when the Lord Jesus was come and had established his own more honourable and New-Testament-Dispensation then all the former Temple-Worship fell to the ground and became with all the Instruments of Worship that thereunto belonged null and void yea and it was a derogation to his Gospel to offer to uphold that former way of Worship after he had by his own Personal Presence and Spirit brought in that other Dispensation All which I say will be answered by our second and New-Testament New Jerusalem For as the old Jerusalem was builded after the Jews were come out of literal Babylon so is our New Jerusalem builded after our coming out of the Antichristian Oppression of spiritual Babylon again As that City did after she was builded continue and retain her Temple-Worship until the Personal appearing of Christ the first time so New Jerusalem shall retain and hold her outward New-Testament-Worship till He comes in Person the second time After all which as the second Temple was swallowed up of a more heavenly and spiritual Dispensation by the Personal Presence of Christ so shall also the New Jerusalem Temple-Worship be swallowed up by the glory of the appearing of the Person of Christ the second time as Paul saith for he speaks in the Person of Christ Till I come give attendance to reading to exhortation to Doctrine c. 1 Tim. 4. 13. Thus then when this holy City doth once again appear upon the stage and in her own situation and when she hath bin shewed in the Attire of a Queen before the face of all Nations and their Kings and when she hath by the Glory of the Light of her New-Testament-Temple gathered as with a Net the number of Gods Elect then she is taken into her Husbands Privy-Chamber where she and he alone shall be in that blessed Fellowship and Communion that shall not again be once eclipsed or in the least interrupted
to Eternity Thus have I shewed you my present Light into this portion of the holy Scripture if any can give me further I hope I shall not refuse it but as yet methinks this should be the genuine sence of this place and is the very track of John himself For after he had seen the Wall for present Safety the Foundations for Continuation the Gates for Entrance and the like then he comes to tell us of the Glory of all and of the Street it self at last which indeed is the last and end of all the Order of God and to continue till an end be put to it by Mortality's being swallowed up of Life As is yet more fully shewed you in the next Verse of this description Vers. 23. And the City had no need of the Sun nor of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof And the City had no need of the Sun That is after Temple-Worship is over this Verse is added therefore for further clearing up and illustrating of that which he said before there he tells us this City had no Temple and here he tells us she needed neither the light of the Sun or Moon there he said The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the Temple of it and here he saith They are the Light thereof The substance of which in the language of the Holy Ghost is this The reason why Temple-Worship is now gon and over it is because there is now no need in this City of the Light of the Sun and the Moon and the reason why she hath now no need of them is because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are to it instead of both Temple and Light For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it For the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof Whereby we may note That though the Light in which she descended being the purity of Temple-Worship was glorious yet this City shall when she is once builded so advance from Glory to Glory that at the last she shall be more happy without the help of that Light without which she had been for ever unbuilded then she was by it in the midst of the Fulness of it And the City had no need of the Sun c. The word Sun is in Scripture taken divers ways sometimes for the true and natural Sun in the Firmament sometimes again for Persecution and the rage of the Enemy c. but I take Sun here not to be any of these but for the good and pure Word of the Gospel of Christ unfolded opened and explained by the Servants of Christ which Sun is the same that before you find to be darkened by the Antichristian Fog and Mist which was darkened I say even to a third part of it This Sun or Word of the Gospel Paul saith it is shadowed forth even by that which shineth in the Firmament of Heaven because as that by its light and shining giveth to those that have Eyes to see the Glory and Excellency of this World so by the shining and light of the Gospel is given the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and a view of the Excellency of the things of the World to come Now I say though while the Church is in this World and on this side the state of Glory she cannot live and flourish without the shining of this Sun but would be lifeless and lightless and without all heat and comfort For it is the entrance of the Law that giveth light here and that lightneth the Eyes making wise the simple yet at the day of the coming of her Lord in Person she shall see far more clearly without the thus shining of this Sun than ever she did or could see with and by it And the City had no need of the Sun For when by the light of it the whole Body of the Elect have found out the way to this City and when they have also by this light accomplished and fulfilled all their Work yea when the Lord himself is come and doth immediately communicate far more glorious light to this City without it than ever he did by it What need is there then of the light of this Sun for that is to be of use but for the time present even until the whole of the Body of the Lord Jesus is come to the perfect measure even to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ So then when the Body of Christ is in every sence compleated in this life by the light of the Sunshine of his holy Gospel what need of this Sun And hence it is that the Word of the Gospel is called The Word of Reconciliation the Word of Faith and the Words of this Life Wherefore I say it ceaseth when there is no more to be reconciled and when Faith in all is perfected and when this Life is put an end unto by the coming in of another For when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 8 9 10. The Ministers of the Gospel are of use so long as there is either Elect to be converted or any converted Soul to be perfected by that measure of Perfection that God hath appointed on this side Glory but when this Work is done their Ministry ceaseth Wherefore though like the Widows Sons they are busie to borrow Vessels for the Oyl so long as it is running and emptying it self out of the great and principal Barrel yet when it ceaseth as it will do when there is no more Vessels to be found then let them sit down as they and receive of the Fruits of their labour for the Reward of their Work is then onely to be enjoyed by them And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it This word Moon also as well as that of the Sun is to be taken divers ways in the Scriptures of Truth sometimes for the natural one sometimes for the World and Persecutors c. but Moon here is to be taken for the Church of God with reference to her Life Conversation Duties and exemplary Behaviour in which she is conversant on this side Glory according to that of the Song Who is this that looketh forth as the Morning fair as the Sun clear as the Moon and terrible as an Army with Banners When he saith then that at this day there shall be here no need of the shining light of the Moon he means that this City at this day in the state she is in when she hath the Person of the Lamb in her then she shall have no need of the growth of Christianity for they shall be all perfect nor no need of Mortification for there shall be no Sin they shall not need now as in
the contrary is foolish Is not Christ the Head and we the Members and do not the Members receive their whole light guidance and wisdom from it Is not he also the price the ground and bottom of our Happiness both in this world and that which is to come And is it possible it should be forgotten or that by it our Joy Light and Heaven should not be made the sweeter to all eternity Our soul is now bound up in him as in a bundle of life and when we come thither he is still the Christ our life and it is by our being where he is that we shall behold his Glory and our Glory because he is glorified For the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof As he said John 16. 22. Ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your Joy no man taketh from you Thus much of this City her descending her fashion her glory and of her wading thorow glory from glory to glory Vers. 24. And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour to it After this long and pleasant Description of this Holy and New Jerusalem the Holy Ghost now falleth upon a Relation of the People that shall be the Inhabitants of this City and of their numerousness and quality And the Nations c. The Nations of the world both of the Jews and Gentiles Every one knoweth what the Nations are wherefore I need not stay upon the explication of that for it doth in general include the multitude of the sinners of the world Therefore when he saith the Nations shall walk in the light of this City it is as if he had said that at this day when she is here in her tranquility the sinners and disobedient among the sons of men shall by multitudes and whole Kingdoms come in and close with the Church and House of God These Spiders shall take hold with their hands and be in Kings Palaces Prov. 30. 28. And the Nations c. For this word the Nations is a great word and it comprehendeth much mark it doth not say a Nation or some Nations neither doth it say few or small Nations but indefinitely the Nations Many Nations Strong Nations All Nations the Nations in general only he ties them up with this limit the Nations of them that are saved which yet is not so much spoken to clip off the multitude that we suppose may then be converted as to shew us their qualifications and happiness as he saith by the Prophet in another place Thy Children shall be all holy or righteous and great shall be the peace of thy Children And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it Surely the holy Ghost would never have spoken at such a rate as this if he had not intended to shew us that at the day of the setting up of this Jerusalem a great harvest of sinners shall be gathered by the Grace of the Gospel But the truth is the Scriptures go with open arms towards the latter end of the world even as if they would grasp and compass about almost all People then upon the face of the whole Earth with the Grace and Mercy of God The Earth saith God shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea As he saith also for the comfort of the Church in another place Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands thy Walls are contiaually before me Thy Children shall make haste thy Destroyers and those that made thee waste shall go forth of thee Lift up thine eyes round about behold all these gather themselves together to come unto thee as I live saith the Lord thou shalt surely cloath thee with them all as with an Ornament and bind them on thee as a Bride doth For thy waste and desolate places and the land of thy destruction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away The Children which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other shall say again in thine ears The place is too strait for me give place that I may dwell Then shalt thou say in thy heart Who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my Children and am desolate a captive and removing to and fro Who hath brought up these Behold I was left alone these where have they been Thus the multitudes of the Nations shall at this day be converted to the Lord and be made the Inhabitants of this Jerusalem as he saith again The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ. And again The Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the Most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him Rev. 11. 15. Dan. 7. 26 27. And observe it these Promises are to be fulfilled in the last days at the time of the pouring forth of the last Vial which is the time of the sounding of the last of the seven Trumpets for then this City shall be builded and Lucifer fallen from Heaven then the Prisoners shall be set at liberty and the People be gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord. Rejoyce O ye Nations with his People for he will avenge the blood of his Servants and will render vengeance to his adversaries and will be merciful to his Land and to his People Alas it is now towards the end of the world and therefore now all is going if the Lord steps not in with the riches of his Grace Wherefore now at last before all be turned into fire and ashes behold the Lord casts the net among the multitude of Fish and the aboundance of the Sea shall without fail be converted to Jerusalem Though Satan and Antichrist have had their day in the world by their outrage have made fearful havock of the souls of sinners from time to time yet now at length God will strike in for a share with them and his Son shall divide the spoyl with the Strong Wherefore he now sets up this City puts the Glory of Heaven upon her provides a New Heaven and a New Earth for her situation drives prophaness into the holes and dens of the Earth giveth Righteousness authority to reign in the world and takes off the vail from all faces that none may hereafter be for ever beguiled by blindness and ignorance Now shall they make merry with the things of God now shall all eat the fat and drink the sweet For in this Mountain shall the Lord make a feast of fat things to all People a feast of
Wine on the lees of fat things full of marrow of Wine on the lees well refined Isa. 25. 6. And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it They shall walk in the light of it That is in the Light that is in it while it is in its purity in this world and in the Glory of it when it is in its perfection and immortality in another Whence note by the way that in the midst of all this Glory or while the glorious light of the Gospel shall thus shine in the world yet even then there will be some also that will not see and rejoyce in the Glory hereof But as for those whoever they are they are excluded from a share in the blessed and goodly Priviledges of this City The Nations of them that are SAVED shall walk in the light of it And the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour to it By these words are great things held forth He told us before that the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it and here he tells us that even their Kings also the Kings of the Earth do bring their Honour and Glory to it The people of the Nations they are but like to single-pence and half-pence but their Kings like Gold Angels and Twenty-shilling-pieces Wherefore when he saith that the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour unto it It argueth that the Gospel and the Grace of God when it is displayed in its own nature and seen in its own complexion even then they that have most of the Honour and Glory of the World will yet stoop their Top-gallant unto it Because of thy Temple which is at Jerusalem shall Kings bring Presents to thee The Kings of Tarshish of the Isles shall bring Presents to thee The Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shal fall down before him and all Nations shall serve him The Kings shall see and arise and Princes shall worship because of the Lord c. The Kings shall come to thy light and Princes to the brightness of thy rising The Kings shall see thy righteousness and all Kings thy Glory Yea that which hath not been told them shall they see and that which they have not heard shall they consider All the Kings of the Earth shall praise thee O Lord when they hear the words of thy mouth Yea they shall sing in the ways of the Lord for great is the Glory of the Lord. Thus we see that though in the first day of the Gospel the poor the halt the lame and the blind are chief in the embracing of the tenders of Grace yet in the latter day thereof God will take hold of Kings And the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour to it To it That is to Jerusalem Wherefore this City must be built before they all of them will fall in love with her Indeed I do conceive that some of them will lay their hand to help forward the work of this City as did Hiram with Solomon and Darius Cyrus Artaxerxes with Ezra and Nehemiah at the buliding and repairing the City in the letter in the days of old But yet I say the great conquest of the Kings will be by the beauty and glory of this City when she is builded Thou shalt arise O Lord and have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come for thy Servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof So the Heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord and all Kings thy Glory And indeed before this City is set up and established in her own place most of the Kings and great ones of the Earth wil be found imployed and taken up in another work than to fall in love with Mount Zion and with the Hill thereof They will be found in love with Mistris Babylon the Mother of Harlots the Mistris of Witchcrafts and Abominations of the Earth They will I say be committing Fornication with her and will be as the horns upon the heads of the Beast to defend the riding Lady from the Gunshot that the Saints continually will be making at her by the force of the Word and Spirit of God They will be shaking the sharp end of their weapons against the Son of God continually labouring to keep him out of his Throne and from having that rule in the Church and in the World as becomes him who is the head of the body and over all principality and power These shall make war with the Lamb but I say it shall so come about at the last by the illuminating Grace of God and by the faithful and patient enduring of the Saints together with the glory that every-where shall now be abiding on the Church and Congregation of Jesus that they shal begin to receive a mans heart and shall consider things that have not been told them wherefore at last they shall withdraw themselves from the love of this Mistris and shall leave her to scrape for her self in the world and shall come with repentance and rejoycing to Zion nay not onely so but to avenge the Quarrel of God and the Vengeance of his Temple and to recompence her also for the delusion and inchantments wherewith she hath entangled them They shall hate her they shall make her desolate and naked they shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17. 16. Now Madam what sayest thou the Kings must come to Jerusalem Jezebel thy Chamber-companions will shortly notwithstanding thy paintedface cast thee down headlong out at the windows Yea they shall tread thee in pieces by the feet of their prancing-Horses and with the wheels of their jumping Chariots They shall shut up all bowels of compassion towards thee and shall roar upon thee like the Sea and upon thy fat ones like the waves thereof Yea when they begin they will also make an end and will leave thee so harborless and comfortless that now there will be found for thee no gladness at all no not so much as one Piper to play thee one Fig. The delicates that thy soul lusted after thou shalt find them no more at all Babylon the glory of Kingdoms and the beauty of the Caldees excellency shall be as when God overthew Sodom and Gomorrah It shall never be inhabited neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation neither shall the Arabian pitch Tent there nor Shepherds make their folds there but wild Beasts of the Desart shall lie there and their houses shall be full of doleful Creatures And the Satyrs shall dance there and the wild Beasts of the Islands shall cry in their desolate places and Dragons in their pleasant Palaces and her time is near to come and her dayes shall not be prolonged Isa. 13. 19 20 21 22 23. Thus wilt thou come down
Gates shall not be shut at all Thy Gates shall be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles and that their Kings may be brought But again This day of Grace and of conversion of sinners it must be looked upon either as the Church is in captivity and persecution or as she is out now as she is in Captivity so her longest day is usually accompanied with a black and doubtful night of Temptation and Affliction Wherefore this Day here being spoken of it is the Day of Grace that she shall have even when she is absolutely delivered from the rage of the Beast False Prophet and Whore Wherefore he is not content to say the Gates shall not be shut at all by day but adds withal for there shall be no night there as who should say I know that commonly in the day of the Churches affliction she is accompanied with nights aswel as days but it shall not be so here Thy Sun shall go no more down neither shall thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the days of thy mourning shall be ended Wherefore John considering this doth quite exclude the night saying There shall be no night there Indeed after this New Jerusalem hath had her Golden day in this world I say just towards the ending thereof she will yet once again be beset with raging Gog and Magog which enemies will after the long safety and tranquility of this City through the instigation of the Devil come upon the breadth of the Earth and encamp about this holy City But behold in the midst of of this intention to swallow her up The Lord rains fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroys them all So that Gog I say though he may bring one only evening upon this Holy City after her long peace and rest among the sons of men yet he shall not bring one night upon her nor cause a Gate thereof to be shut for ever The Sun shall now stand still in the midst of Heaven and this night shall be thus prevented by this marvellous Judgment of God as another Prophet saith At evening-time it shall be light that is though her enemies will at last still make thorow their enmity one only attempt to swallow up all in everlasting oblivion yet they themselves shall fall down dead upon the Mountains of Israel and be a prey to this Jerusalem Thus there will be only day accompanying the Inhabitants of this City For there shall be no night there Vers. 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations to it This as I said before is to shew us how heartily and how unfeignedly both the Nations and their Kings shall now come over to New-Jerusalem They come hand in hand not the People without their Prince nor the Prince without his People though it will and must be so in the times of Persecution But now together THEY shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations to it Again I told you before that the Jews shall at this day be converted to the Christian Faith and shal have a great Name much of Heaven upon them in this City For indeed they are the first-born the natural branches and the like Now when he saith They shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations to it I cannot think that by this should be understood only or yet principally the outward pomp and treasure of the world but that rather by honour and glory we are here to understand the Heavenly Treasure and Glory that the Saints shall continually pour forth into one anothers bosoms in this City in this City I say for at this day as I have formerly shewed you there will be found no Treasure any where but at Jerusalem every Saint shall be here every Grace shall be here the precious Stones of the Sanctuar ythe precious Sons of Sion shall not then as now lie scattered some in the World and some in Mistris Babylons lap neither shall any thing pertaining to the Churches priviledges be found in her at all for ever There shall be heard no more at all in her any Harpers Trumpeters Pipers or any other heavenly Musick in her neither shall there be any more the sound of a Milstone to grind us bread nor the light of a Candle to guide us in the house nor yet the Voice of the Bridegroom Christ nor of the Bride his Wife to tempt or allure any that are seeking the Way of Life to stay with her all these things shall be brought to Jerusalem Christians you must understand that there is a time when all the Treasures of the Church are to be found in Babylon as in the dayes of old but at this day when this City is built not any of them shall be found there but all shall be brought and delivered up to Jerusalem again as was also foreshewn in the Type and all places shall be void of the Treasure of Heaven but Jerusalem Wherefore by the Glory and Honour of the Nations in this place I understand That all the Treasures of the Church and all the Graces that at this day lie scattered here and there some in one place and some in another they shall be found no where at that day but in this City in the Church that walks according to rule Now the Reasons why I take this honour and glory to be meant of these things are First Because thus it was in the time of the building of Jerusalem after the Captivity the Treasure of the Jews which was become the Treasures of the Provinces of Babylon was again restored and brought to Jerusalem as you may see by the Scriptures now cited Secondly Because I find indeed that the milk and honey 〈…〉 the Land of Canaan which is in our Gospel-language the Gifts Graces and Treasures of the Church it is called The Glory of all Lands Now I say seeing the milk and honey which is the Comforts of the Church and her Treasure is called the Glory of all Lands I take Glory and Honour in this place to signify the same thing also Thirdly Because also I find by comparing the Prophets that the Christians Glory and Honour lieth mostly even principally in Heavenly and Spiritual things as in Faith Love Experience of God of Grace of Christ and Spiritual Life I reade that at the building of of this City the Jews and Gentiles shall meet together and that at that day they shal mutually be partakers of each others glory The Gentiles shall milk out and be delighted in the abundance of the Glory of the Jews and the Glory of the Gentiles shall be again extended unto the Jews like a mighty flowing stream But I say that this Glory and Honour should consist in outward things or that the Glory that is meerly carnal should be principally here intended I confess it
Bounds of visible Church-Communion and so all those that thorow the Gifts and Operations of special or common Grace do fall within the compass of those Rules and Bounds Thus it was in the Type at the return out of Captivity none were to be admitted entrance into the Church but those that could shew their Priviledges by Genealogy and the Records of the Church and to others it was said That they had neither Portion nor Lot nor Memorial in Jerusalem Now that by Book of Life in this place we are to understand that Book that hath in it the Bounds and Liberties of this City and so every one that falleth within the compass of these Bounds and Priviledges visibly Consider First They that are visible matter for visible Church-Communion they shall be found within this City and yet there shall not enter any but those that are written in the Lambs Book of Life Secondly Now visible Church-Communion doth not absolutely call for onely invisible Saints neither can it for if the Church was to joyn with none but those whom they knew to be the very Elect of God as all invisible Saints are then she must joyn with none at all for it is not possible that any Church should be so infallible to judge in that manner of the Elect as to discern them always and altogether from the non-Elect which cannot be an invisible Saint Thirdly By Book of Life therefore in this place we are to understand I say that Book that hath written in it every visible Saint whether they be Elect or not and so such a Book that is capable of receiving in a man at one time and of blotting of him out again as occasion doth require at another which thing is onely applicable to that Book that binds and looses on the account of a mans being a visible Saint or a visible Apostate which thing is onely applicable to the visible Rules of receiving or shutting out of visible Church-Communion which Rules being the Rules of Christs New-Testament it is proper to call it the Book of Life and is about the matter of going in or going out of this very City so called If any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things that are written in this Book O how happy is he who is not onely a visible but also an invisible Saint He he shall not be blotted out of the Book of Gods eternal Grace and Mercy when others are liable to lose a share not onely in Heaven but to be for ever blotted out of the Book that approveth of visible Believers also Fourthly But again to explain the matter yet more In the visible Church there is not onely Sons but Servants that is not onely those that are truly Elect but such as have received a Gift for the perfecting the Church under Christ in his Service here in this World Now I say the Servant for the time present hath his place in the Church as well as the Son though not the place of a Son but of a Servant even a place of Service as of Preaching Prophesying administring the Ordinances that are given to the Church and the like all which a man that hath not Grace may do and that by the appointment of Christ thus was Judas Demas Hymeneus Phyletus and others who sometimes were the Servants of Christ in the Church and did minister for him to them yet themselves notwithstanding such as were all that time strangers and aliens to the life and power and saving operations of the justifying and preserving Grace of the Gospel as he saith also by the Prophet Isaiah Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks and the sons of aliens shall be your Plough men and your Vine-dressers For verily Christ will give to those that have not his saving-grace yet great knowledge and understanding in the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God and will also make them for profit and advantage in his Church to feed their flocks to plow up the fallow ground of their hearts and to dress their tender Vines Yet I say they themselves shall not be everlastingly saved for they want his saving-grace As Christ saith The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth for ever As he saith again in another Prophet If the Prince give a gift to any of his sons the inheritance thereof shall be his sons it shall be their possession by inheritance but if he give a gift of inheritance to one of his servants then it shall be his to the year of Liberty after it shall return to the Prince but his inheritance shall be his sons for them Some indeed have grace aswel as gifts now they that are such the profit of their gifts shall be rewarded by vertue of their grace but as for them that have only a gift when the work of a gift is done then they cease to be any longer of use in the Church and therefore are forthwith shut out of the same but the Son abideth for ever Thus you see that as visible Church-communion doth not absolutely call for the Elect only but admits and that by the Book of Rules all that are visible and open Saints by calling so also the Lord Jesus himself doth and will use some in his Church as his Officers and Servants that yet in a a strict sence are neither his Sons nor Members Who yet are within the bounds of that Book of Life that here he speaks of as is evident because with Christ's allowance they are admitted into commnnion with his Church and by him also furnished with Gifts and Abilities to profit and edifie withal Now observe such a one is admitted though but a Servant yet not by the Church because but such a one The Church receiveth no man upon the account of gifts alone but upon the account of the appearance of Grace as of Gospel-Repentance of the Confession of Faith and of a Conversation suitable to the same All which a man that is not elect may have the notion of yea the power though not the saving Power 5. Further this which I have said about the visible Church-Communion and so consequently about the Book of Life it must needs be a Gospel-Truth yea a thing for Truth in this New-Jerusalem because besides what hath been said there will be found in this City even at the coming of the Lord Jesus which coming of his will not be for some time after the building and setting of it up I say there will be then sound among them foolish Virgins and such who have not the saving-grace of God in their souls But yet 1. these very souls shall be counted by the Church yea by Christ himself for Virgins that is such as had not defiled their Profession 2. And will be such Virgins as have and hold every
of man trouble them any more nor the hoofs of Beasts trouble them Then will I make their Waters deep and cause their Rivers to run like Oyl saith the Lord God Ezek. 32. 13 14. And he shewed me a pure River of Water of Life clear as Crystal c. In that he saith he saw this River he giveth us in a Mystery also to understand how openly and plainly this River shall in all its Crystal Streams and Cur-rents be apprehended and seen by the Children of this City for in this Vision he doth as it were represent in his Person the Children of New Jerusalem as God said to Ezekiel in another case Thou shalt be their sign and they shall do as thou hast done So here I SAW saith John a pure River of Water of Life I am in this a signe to the House of the Israel of God and to the Inhabitants of this City they shall do as I have done and shall also see as I have seen As saith the Church and People of this City As we have heard so have we SEEN in the City of the Lord of Hosts And hence it is called an OPEN Fountain because it shall be no more shut up or kept close for ever And he shewed me a pure River of Water of Life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God This word proceeding hath also in it two things First An implicit declaration whither it goes And Secondly A discovery of its gradual extention to those to whom it goes First Touching to whom or whither it goes it is let out both to the Jews and Gentiles indifferently and so it never yet was since the Foundations of the Jewish Church for in the time of the old Testament it did run to the Jews in special and in the times of the New-Testament hitherto unto us the Gentiles in special â— but now it shall in this manner be extended to sinners no longer not now to the Jews without the Gentiles nor again to them without the Jews but equally and alike to both and on them both it shall work alike effectually It shall be at that day saith the Prophet that Living Waters shall go out from Jersusalem half of them towards the former Sea and half of them towards the hinder Sea By Living Waters here you are to understand the same with this in the Text by the former Sea the People of the Jews for they were Gods former People and by hinder Sea the People of the Gentiles for they are the younger Son And because the whole World consisteth of these two People therefore Ezekiel in his Vision â—uts them both together calling them â—he Fish of one great Sea to which this Water of Life shall run and upon whose Fish it shall have alike operation even â—o heal them and make them live without respect either to this or that party It shall come to pass that the Fishers that â—s the Gospel Ministers shall stand upon â—he River from En-gedi even to Eneglaim they shall be a place to spread Nets their Fish shall be according to their kinds as the Fish of the great Sea Exceeding many as another Prophet saith The abundance of the Sea shall be converted to thee Thus much touching whither this Water goes And now to come to the manner of the extention of it in the way of its proceeding A thing that proceeds it doth what it doth gradually that is by degrees First it comes or goes so far and then further and afterwards further than that till at last it ascends to the height and uppermost degree that is alotted for its perfection All which the Holy Ghost would have us gather out of this word it proceedeth or that John saw this Holy-Water proceeding The which the Prophet Ezekiel in a mystery unfoldeth to us saying the first time he passed over this Water it was up but to his ancles the second time he passed through it proceeded to his knees the third time to his loyns and last of all became a River to swim in First It is but up to the ancles that is but shallow and signifies that first the soul is but a little child in Gods things such as the Apostle calls Babes Children little Children Secondly Then from the ancles it proceeds to the knees that is somewhat higher then the ancles and signifieth that the Christian groweth from a Child to a Young and Strong-man one that is now gotten deeper into the things of God and that is able to tug with and overcome the wicked ones Thirdly After this it proceeds higher even up to the loins this signifies that as Grace makes men Children of God and his Young-men so also it maketh them Fathers and Ancients in his Church it makes them grave knowing solid Guides and Unfolders of the Mysteries of the Kingdom these are such as are instructed into the Kingdom of God and that can bring out of their treasury things new and old Fourthly It yet proceeds higher even to be above the head a River to swim in and that such a River as can by no means be passed over This signifieth our launching into Eternity our being beyond all heights depths lengths and breadths in the open Visions and Enjoyments of Grace For there the Glorious Lord shall be unto us a place of BROAD Rivers and Streams wherein shall go no Gallie with Oars neither shall gallant Ships passe thereby Isa. 33. 21. Thus we begin Children and wade up to the ancles in the things of God and being once in it riseth and proceeds to come up to our knees then to our loins and last of all to be a River to swim in a River so wide so deep and every way so large that can in no wise be passed over And he shewed me a pure River of Water of Life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Having thus spoken to the Water what it is as also to whom it extends it self and how it proceeds He now comes to shew us from whence and from whom it doth come It proceeds saith he from the Throne of God and of the Lamb Out of the Throne of God this Throne of God it is in another place called the Mercy-Seat and Throne of Grace from which as always so now in a special manner he will issue forth of himself in the glory of the Gospel of the Grace of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the Inhabitants of this City When he saith therefore that it doth proceed out of the Throne of God it is as if he had said I saw that from the yearning bowels of the great God did flow continually the Living Streams of the everlasting Fountains of Grace and that not only to but in the midst of this City wherewith her Inhabitants are continually watered and their Pastures kept always green and flourishing Ho every one that thirsteth Come ye to the Waters Proceeding
out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. In that this Water of Life is said to proceed not only out of the Throne of God but also of the Lamb. It signifieth and holdeth forth unto us two speciall things First That the Throne of God is also made the Throne of the Lord Jesus Christ upon which he as a reward of his Sufferings and Victory over Sin Satan and all Evils is set down and upon which he sits and rules as Lord and Chief of all Worlds He is set down on the right hand of Power on the right hand of the Majesty on high as he saith To him that overcometh will I grant to sit down with me on my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father upon his Throne This being thus it signifieth that this City shall have her enjoyments of Life Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost by vertue of the Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ aswel as by the vertue of his Priestly and Prophetical Office The Church doth in our dayes know a little what Joy Peace and Life is to be enjoyed from Christ even through that dark and glimmering sight that she hath of the Offices of Christ in a mist but she feels not yet what Joy she shall have and what Peace she shall enjoy when her Lord in all his Offices is manifest before her and when he in the glory of them doth reign in the midst of this Jerusalem There are none of the Offices of the Lord Jesus yet upon the Throne in his Church on Earth though they be all upon the Throne in Heaven O! but the day is coming that they shall be all upon the Throne in the Church on Earth when they shal each of them in its full length breadth heighth and depth bear sway among his People and before all men Then shall the Moon be confounded and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shalâ— reign in Mount-Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Antients gloriously Isa. 24 23. O that thou wouldest rend the Heavens that thou wouldest come down that the Mountains might flow down at thy presence O that the day were come that the smoak should go forth of the Temple of God that men might enter into it and there meet with God upon the Throne and with Jesus in him upon the Throne in all his Offices It will be thus thou Zion shortly and great shall be the Peace of thy Children The second thing observable is That as all Grace comes from out of the Throne of God so it also proceeds or comes out of the Throne of the Lamb that is No Grace comes to any but thorow the Victory and Conquest of the Lord Christ We are justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus and again We have Redemption thorow his Blood even the forgiveness of our Sins according to the riches of his Grace By which we may gather that when these things come to be in their own Purity among us that is when Grace runs clear without the dirt and mud of the Traditions of men commixed therewith then will all that hold up false and erronious Opinions be washed away for this River will not onely wash away the sins and filthiness of those that are truly gracious but it will also destroy the Heretick and erronious Person it will be to them at that day as the red Sea was to the Egyptians of old which Sea though it was a Wall on this hand and on that to the Children of Israel yet it destroyed the Egyptians that assayed to go thorow it as Israel did The reason also why we are at this day in such confusion in matters of Religion it is for want of the clear and pure streams of this River of Water of Life all which will be mended when there is but one River to water this City and that too the pure River of the Water of Life in all its streams as clear as Crystal then shall all drink-in all things into one Spirit and be watered with the same Dews of Heaven Thus much of the Water of Life that belongeth to this Jerusalem Vers. 2. And in the midst of the Street of it and on either side of the River was there the Tree of Life which bare twelve manner of Fruits and yeilded her Fruit every month and the Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations This Tree of Life is the Lord Jesus Christ and that he is here called a Tree rather then by other of his Names it is to shew us how fruitful and exceeding advantagious he in all his Benefits will be to the Inhabitants of this City this is that Tree under whose Branches the Fowls of Heaven shall now most safely lodge and finde relief from the hot and fainting Beams of the persecuting Sun of this world as the Word doth there inform us Now before I come to speak to this Tree touching the manner of its Fruit and it s often bearing with the efficatiousness of its Leaves which here he saith doth heal the Nations I will take notice of one or two general things that lie before me from the standing of the Tree in the midst of the street of this City First then In that he saith this City hath a Tree of Life in it He alludes to the Garden of Eden the pleasant Paradise that God began the World withal whereby he signifieth that as the World began with a Paradise so also it shall end with a Paradise when Sin and Satan have done their worst This New Jerusalem shall be the wind-up of the world and in it shall stand the Tree of Life as well as there stood one in the goodly Garden which was the beginning thereof In which Paradise there shall be no Tree of Knowledge or the Law of Works to bear sway and to cause that the Sons of God shall be thrust out thence for their eating of its forbidden Fruits no the Tree of Life alone shall here bear sway and rule whose Fruit is only healthful and the Leaves thereof for Medicine Now this Tree of Life being in the midst of this City it signifieth that the Inhabitants of it shall be sweetly shadowed refreshed and defended with its coolness and also sweetly nourished and comforted with its dainties And hence it is that the Scriptures do hold him forth in his benefits to his Church under these very notions As the Apple-tree is among the Trees of the Wood so is my Beloved among the Sons I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste Indeed the shadow of this Tree of Life as always it is refreshing to the tempted and weary so now it will be far more They that dwell under his shadow shall return they shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine and the scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon
Mark 1. His shadow will make us return that is to our first Love to the dayes of our youth to our young fresh tender and flourishing Faith Love and Self-denial that we received in the dayes of our Espousals 2. As it will make us return to these so it will make us revive in these they shall return and revive they shall revive as the Corn as the Corn doth when in the heat of Summer after long scorching it it covered with cool Clouds and watered with the bottles of Heaven 3. As is shall make them return and revive so it shall make them grow they shall grow as the Vine that is speedily fruitfully and spreadingly 4. This is not all but the smell of Saints in those dayes shall be excellent They shall revive as the Corn they shall grow as the Vine and shall send forth their scent as the Wine of Lebanon This Tree is a Perfuming-Tree and makes them also that abide under the shadow thereof to smell as sweet-smelling Myrrh it makes them smell as the Wine of thy Grace O Lord and as the fragrant Oyntments of Heaven When the Spouse did but touch where her Lord had touched afore her it made her hands drop with Myrrh and her fingers with sweet-smelling Myrrh O they will be green savoury reviving flourishing growing Christians that shall walk the street of New-Jerusalem I am saith he a green Fir-Tree from me is thy Fruit found But again As he shall be thus profitable to his People for shadow and reviving so he will be in the midst of the Street of it for food for refreshing and replenishing that way I sate down under his shadow with great delight said she and his fruit was sweet to my taste Ezekiel tels us that this Tree is all Trees And on the bank of the River on this side and on that were all Trees for meat Indeed Christ is all Trees yea there is more to be found in him for the food of the Soul than there can be on all Trees for the food of the Body He is a Fir-tree for tallness greenness and strength He is an Olive for fatness a Vine for sweetness and goodness for therewith is refreshed the heart both of God and man What shal I say he is the Almond-tree the Fig-tree the Apple-tree all Trees The Tree of Life also in the midst of the Paradise of God To conclude Seeing Christ is said to be in the midst of the Street of this City it sheweth unto us with what at all occasions the actions of the Saints of this City shall be seasoned The Street you know I told you is the Way of Holiness in this City the place of Spiritual recreation and solace Now in the very midst of this Street there stands this Tree which being thus it sheweth us how wonderfully Christ as a Tree of Life will be in all the words and deeds of the Inhabitants of this Jerusalem they will walk in Christ they will talk in Christ they will do all they do in Christ or rather Christ will be found in all their wayes even as the Tree of Life is found in the midst of the Street of this City they shall walk up and down in my Name saith the Lord. Again In that this Tree is said to stand in the midst of the Street it sheweth unto us how common and free his benefits will now be also The Plumbs and Figs and Grapes and Apples of this Tree will be open to every Passenger not a Boy nor a Girl that now shall play in thy Street O Jerusalem but shall eat of the Fruits of the Tree that stands in he midst of thee as of common things And in the midst of the Street of it and and on either side of the River was there the Tree of Life As this Tree doth stand in the midst of the Street of this City so it also standeth one each side of the River of the Water of Life of which you have heard before Now when he saith the Tree is on either side of the River whence by the way note yet again That both the Water of Life and also the Tree of Life they are both to be enjoyed by the Inhabitants of this City in the way of Holiness the Tree is in the midst of the Street and the River runs thorow or between the very tables of the heart of this Tree of Life on either side of the iver was there the Tree of Life Again In that it is said that this Tree of Life is on either side of the River it argueth that they who come at any time at this River for water to quench their thirst and to make them live they must come to it by the Tree of Life which is Christ. In more easie terms read it thus There is none can partake of the Grace of God but by the man Christ Jesus which is this Tree of Life for this Tree this Christ doth stand on either side of the River to signifie that all Grace to us comes thorow his bloody Wounds Death and Victory I am the Way saith Christ the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by me And on either side of the River was there the Tree of Life Mark But one Tree and yet such a Tree whose body reached as far as the River reached indeed Ezekiel saith this Tree is all Trees for meat yet not to shew that there is more Trees of Life than one but to shew that all that can be thought of that is good for soul-nourishment is to be found in this one that is in Christ Jesus and it is further evident that though he saith all Trees as if he meant many yet he spake but metaphorically to shew thereby the fulness of Christ because John doth understand him so calling it one Tree to wit the Tree of Life But mark again so far as the River goes so far the Tree goes so that where you cannot find the Tree of Life be sure there is none of the Water of Life No Christ no Grace He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides upon him For on either side of the River was there the Tree of Life Which bare twelve manner of Fruits This word Fruits it may be taken two ways either as it relates to God or as it relates to man for as I said before the Fruits of this Tree refresheth the heart both of God and man Now if it be taken with reference to God then it signifieth the compleat satisfaction that by the worthiness of the Fruits of the Passion of Christ is given to God for the salvation of the Church this City of God He suffered to finish transgression to make an end of sin and to bring in everlasting Righteousness by this I say is the heart of God refreshed and in this doth it rest
his People of old but here he will abide rest and dwell I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and my House shall be built in it saith the Lord and again I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem for ever wherefore John considering this he saith there shall be here no more any Cnrse but the Throne of God God will now when he returneth to Jerusalem bring his Seat with him to signify his sitting down in the midst his People to be their company-keeper for ever But the Throne of God shall be in it By this word Throne we are to understand yet further these particular things First How blessed a state this City will be in at all times for the answer of of prayer the Throne of God will be in the midst of them the Throne of Grace the Mercy-Seat they will be open now to all the Inhabitants of this City yea the fame thereof shall so spread that it shall be rumored among all Nations that in Jerusalem God will be found speedily that in Jerusalem the God of Heaven and eternal Mercy is found at all times by them that seek his face My House saith he shall be called a House of Prayer for all Nations Yea many People and strong Nations shall at that day come to seek the Lord at Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord. And at that day the very Fasts of the House of God shall be to the House of Judah Joy and gladness and cheerful Feasts therefore Love Truth and Peace Secondly The Throne of God being now established in this City what a government what rule what a life of holiness godliness what dread and majesty will now be in the hearts of all the Sons oâ— this City How to an hairs breadth wil he command and guide them with his eye at all times when they should either turn to to the right hand or to the left What Wisdom I say what Holiness what Grace and Life will be found in all their words and actions The Throne of God is among them from which there will come continual influence light and splendor into all their hearts Hear the Word of the Lord O ye Nations and declare it in the Isles afar off He that scattered Jacob will gather him and keep him as a Shepherd doth his Sheep for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that is stronger than he Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for Wheat and for Wine and for Oyl and for the young of the Flock and of the Herd and their soul shall be as a watered Garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all Thirdly The Throne of God being in this City there is also thereby discovered what sway and commanding an Authority this City will have at this day as I have already shewed you over all the Earth The Lord shall roar out of Zion and shall utter his voice from Jerusalem and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake but the Lord shall be the Hope of his People and the Strength of the Children of Israel This was figured forth by the Throne of Solomon in the days when that City was in its prosperity which Throne to shew the majesty and commanding awe that then that City had over all both far and near it had for the bearers of the steps twelve Lions six on this side and six on that side of the Throne This City shall then be the Head and Chief but the Tail and Reproach no more Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God And his Servants shall serve him That is him only Indeed his Servants serve him always but yet withal they do too too often serve with the wills and lusts of men even in their Service and worshipping God that is they serve him in much Affliction Temptation Fear and Persecution but then they shall serve him without any of these Yea they shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their Oppressors And it shall come to pass in that day O City that the Lord shall give thee REST from thy Sorrow and from the hard Bondage wherein thou wast made to serve and thou shalt serve the Lord thy God without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of thy life And they shall see his face This also argueth a very great dispensation of Grace and Mercy to this Jerusalem When God did deliver up his People into the hand of the King of Babylon he said it should be done in fury and in anger and that for their wickedness he would hide his face from his City Wherefore by the sight of his face here we are to understand that glorious visible appearance of God that then will be for this City and People in the face of all the world For by the Face of God we are to understand the discovery of his Severity Providences and wonderful Out-goings among the sons of men as also the glorions breaking forth of Grace Mercy and Forgiveness thorow Christ Jesus all which the People of God shall then most marvellously see and behold First They shall see his Severity and Judgments upon the Whore Secondly They shall see how God by his strange Judgments and works of Wonder hath brought this about Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorify thy Name for thou only art holy for all Nations shall come and worship before theeâ— for thy Judgments are made manifest They that are delivered from the noise of Archers in the places of drawing water there shall they rehearse the righteous Acts of the Lord even the righteous Acts towards the Inhabitants of his Villages in Israel Thirdly And as for his Mercy they shall see that their Horn is exalted and that they are neer to him Praise ye the Lord. And his Name shall be in their foreheads And his Name That is his Fear and Image it shall appear in all their doings Sometimes he saith he will write his Fear and Law in their hearts and minds Which Fear and Law is all one with that which in this place he calleth his Name in their foreheads The forehead of a man is the place above all parts of the body that is most naked and plain to be beheld of all that pasâ— by wherefore when he saith their Fathers Name shall be in their foreheads it is as if he had said The Profession of my People shall now be open and the beauty of it apparent to all beholders I will make them saith God a Name and a Praise among all the People of the Earth when I turn back your Captivity before your eyes Every Face shall then shine with Oyl as well as every heart be replenished with Milk and Wine This was held forth by the Memorial that the Israelites were to
wear at God's command between their eyes Which Memorial was the Doctrine of Unleavened-Bread and of the Paschal-Lamb the Doctrine of Faith and Holiness Wherefore by Name here he means the Faith and Holiness of the Gospel which in those days shall walk openly with Honour with Reverence and Esteem before all men At this day the World will as I have said be so far off from opposing and persecuting that they shall wonder and tremble and fear before this People yea be taken affected and pleased with the welfare of this Beloved The Mountains and the Hills shall break forth before her into singing and all the Trees of the Field shall clap their hands All Nations shall call them blessed for they shall be a delight some Land saith the Lord of Hosts Malac. 3. 12. The Waters of Noah shall now be no more the tumultuous Multitudes shall now be gone and there will be no more Sea Now therefore the Doves may be gathering their Olive-branches and also find rest for the soals of their feet while the Ark shall rest upon the Mountains of Ararat The Wolf shall now dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatling together and a little Child shall lead them The Lion shall eat straw like an Oxe And the little Childe shall play at the hole of the Asp and the weaned Childe shall put his hand into the Cockatrices den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain saith the Lord. Blessed is he whose lot it will be to see this holy City descending and lighting upon the place that shall be prepared for her situation and rest Then will be a Golden World Wickedness shall then be ashamed especially that which persecutes the Church Holiness Goodness and Truth shall then with great boldness countenance and reverence walk upon the face of all the Earth From the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense shall be offered to my Name and a pure Offering for my Name shall be Great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts 'T will be then alwayes Summer alwayes Sunshine alwayes pleasant green fruitfull and beautiful to the Sons of God And it shall come to pass in that day that the Mountains shall drop down new Wine and the Hills shall flow with Milk and all the Rivers of Judah shall flow with Water and a Fountain shall come forth of the House of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittem and Judah shall dwell for ever even from Generation to Generation And the name of the City shall be from that day THE LORD IS THERE Oh Blessedness And he said unto me These sayings are faithful and true And the Lord God of the holy Prophets sent his Angel to shew unto his Servants things that MUST SHORTLY be done I conclude therefore with that earnest Groan of Moses the Man of God O satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our dayes Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evil Let thy Work appear unto thy Servants and thy Glory to their Children and let the Beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands yea the work of our hands establish thou it Amen THE END 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. Mat. 11. 25. 21 15 16. Mal. 1. 12 13. Ezek. 8. 17. Mat. 11. 19 Isa. 37. 22. Ezek. 22. 7 8 9 10 11 c. Isa. 66. 10 11. John qualified for this Vision When God calls to Work he fits for Work Mark 4. 34. †Luk. 2. 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38. Exod. 19. 3. Deut. 32. 49. 2 Cor. 10. ◠6. Jerusalem considered in general †Eph. 3. 15. Jerusalem is to be considered more particularly †Ephes. 3. 19. Rev. 13. Why the Church at this day is called by the name of a City rather than a Woman Temple House or the like Ezek. 27 Rev. 18. 2 3. * Psa. 50. 2. Deut. 9. 1 2. Num. 13. 28. Isa. 60. 12 Ezr. 3. 1. Neh. 12. 1 Mat. 20. 17 18. Luk. 19. 28. 10. 30. Hebr. 7. 6 13 14. Isa. 45. Neh. 3. 5. Isa. 58. 8. to 14. Rev. 11. Joh. 14. 18. Dan. 3. 25. Isa. 27. 7 8 9. Rev. 2. 10 Zech. 4. 2 Zech. 8. 3 Judg. 7. Mich. 2. 12 13. Isa. 42. 13 14. Isa. 31. 4 5. Zech. 12. 8. Zeph. 3. 8 Joel 3. 16 Zech. 4. 6 Josh. 2. 8 9 10 11 12 13. Josh. 9. 22 23 24 25. Rev. 20. 3. Ezek. 1. 4 Ver. 13 14 Vers. 22. Vers. 26. †Ezek. 40. 3. * Ezek. 47. 1. Ver. 12. The light of the Church shall be according to the purity of the Word Isa. 52. 8. 30. 26 Isa. 32. 3 4. Isa. 33. 5 6. The Way out of Babylon a pleasant Way * See Verse 2. Eccles. 7. 11. Welcome will be that Light that doth shew us the Way out of Babylon Dan. 12. 4. Isa. 32. 15 Isa. 29. 24. Ezek 37. 19 20 21 Isa. 11. 9. 13. Zeph. 3. 8. 2 Thess. 2. Rev. 18. 1 2 3 4. Num. 20. 18 19. Num. 21. 22. Ezra 4. 7 * See more of this hereafter Isa. 60. 3. Zeph. 3. 17. Num. 21 22 23 24 c. Isa. 27. 4. Rev. 14. 4 Exod. 40. 36 37 38 Cant. 6. 9 10. 3. 6. 8. 5. Jer. 29. 10. Jer. 31. 12 Isa. 58. 11 Of her Defence Gen. 3. Ezek. 37. 1 2. Jer. 39. ◠52. 7. Isa. 26. 1. Act. 4. 12. Zech. 2. 5 2 King 6. 17. The Reason of two Walls Isa. 22. 10 11 12. Amos. 9. 9 Two Walls made one The reason why they both are made one Rev. 20. 1 2 3. The Wall is great and high Deut. 1. 28. Heb. 7. 26 Job 11. 8 The height of the Wall The Gates of the City Jer. 17. 19 20. What the Gates sig nifie Twelve Gates Neh. 3. 13 28 29 31. 12. 37 39. Why Twelve Gates Exod. 12. 48. Gal. 3. 7. Rom. 4. 16 The twelve Gates do answer the twelve Tribes Hos. 9. 17 Isa. 57. 14 The Angels and what they are Why the Angels are said to be Twelve Ezek. 34. 17 18. Exod. 15. 27. Isa. 12. 3. Hos. 6. 11 Psal. 80. 2. Why the twelve Angels stand at the twelve Gates Mat. 18. 18. Joh. 20. 23. Mark 13. 34. 2 Chron. 23. 19. Psal. 100. 4 5. Isa. 27. 13 Ezek. 48. 31. Zech. 13. 6. Gal. 3. 7. Rom. 2. 28. 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. Why the Gates look every Way Ezek. 10. 11. Mat. 28. 19. Joh. 11. 12. Luk. 10. 1 1 Kin. 7. 23 24 25 Why there is three Gates looking every Way 1 Joh. 2. 12 13 14. The foundations of the Wall Mat. 7. 24 25. It is the Doctrine of the