453 He. xi. 29. forth of himself in the glory of the gospel of the offices! It will be thus, thou Zion, shortly, and When [Second.] The second thing observable is, that he saith, therefore, that it doth proceed out of the as all grace comes from out of the throne of God, throne of God, it is as if he had said, I saw that so it also proceeds or comes out of the throne of from the yearning bowels of the great God did the Lamb; that is, no grace comes to any but flow continually the living streams of the everlasting through the victory and conquest of the Lord Christ. fountains of grace, and that not only to, but in the We are justified freely by his grace, through the unidst of this city, wherewith her inhabitants are redemption that is in Christ Jesus.'Ro. iii. 24. And continually watered, and their pastures kept always again, “We have redemption through his blood,' green and flourishing. 'Ho, everyone that thirsteth, even the forgiveness of' our sins, according to come ye to the waters.' 18. Iv. 1. the riches of his grace.' Ep. i. 7. By which we may Proceeding out of the throne of God and of gather that when these things come to be in their the Lamb.' In that this water of life is said to own purity among us—that is, when grace runs proceed not only out of the throne of God, but also clear without the dirt and mud of the traditions of of the Lamb, it signifieth and holdeth forth unto us men commixed therewiththen will all that hold two special things: up false and erroneous opinions be washed away. First. That the throne of God is also made the For this river will not only wash away the sins throne of the Lord Jesus Christ, upon which he, and filthiness of those that are truly gracious; but as a reward of his sufferings and victory over sin, it will also destroy the heretic and erroneous perSatan, and all evils, is set down, and upon which son;? it will be to them at that day as the Red he sits and rules as Lord and Chief of all worlds. Sea was to the Egyptians of old; which sea, He is set down on the right hand of power, on the though it was a wall on this hand and on that to right hand of the Majesty on high; as he saith, the children of Israel, yet it destroyed the Egyp To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with tians that assayed to go through it as Israel did. me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am The reason also why we are at this day set down with my Father in his throne.' Re. iii. 21. in such confusion in matters of religion, it is for This being thus, it signifieth that this city shall want of the clear and pure streams of this river of have her enjoyments of life, peace, and joy in the water of life; all which will be mended when there Holy Ghost, by virtue of the kingship of the Lord is but one river to water this city, and that too Jesus Christ, as well as by the virtue of his priestly the pure river of the water of life, in all its streams and prophetical office. The church doth in our as clear as crystal; then shall all drink in all days know a little what joy, peace, and life is to things into one Spirit, and be watered with the be enjoyed from Christ, even through that dark same dews of heaven. and glimmering sight that she hath of the offices Thus much of the water of life that belongeth of Christ in a mist; but she feels not yet what to this Jerusalem. joy she shall have, and what peace she shall enjoy when her Lord, in all his offices, is manifest before [Its food the tree of life.] her, and when he in the glory of them doth reign Verse 2. And • in the midst of the street of it, in the midst of this Jerusalem. There are none and on either side of the river, was there the tree of the offices of the Lord Jesus yet upon the throne of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits, and in his church on earth, though they be all upon the yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of throne in heaven. 0! but the day is coming that the tree were for the healing of the nations.' This they shall be all upon the throne in the church on tree of life is the Lord Jesus Christ; and that he earth; when they shall, each of them in its full is here called a tree, rather than by other of his length, breadth, height, and depth, bear sway names, it is to show us how fruitful and exceeding among his people, and before all men. * Then advantageous he in all his benefits will be to the the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, inhabitants of this city. This is that tree under when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, whose branches the fowls of heaven shall now most and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.' safely lodge, and find relief from the hot and fainting beams of the persecuting sun of this world, • 0 that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that as the Word doth there inform us. Mat. xiii. 31, 32. thou wouldest come down, that the mountains [The situation of this tree in the midst of the city.] might flow down at thy presence!' Is. lxiv. 1. ( Now before I come to speak to this tree, touching that the day were come that the smoke should go the manner of its fruit, and its often bearing, with forth of the temple of God, that men might enter into it, and there meet with God upon the throne, 1 'To the one, the savour of death unto death; and to the and with Jesus in him upon the throne in all his other, the savoar of life unto life.' 2 Cor. ii. 16.—(Ed.) a Ls. xxiv, 23. this city. the efficaciousness of its leaves, which here he saith | as the fragrant ointments of heaven. When tho doth heal the nations; I will take notice of one or sponse did but touch where her Lord had touchel two general things that lie before me, from the afore her, it made her hands drop with myrrl, standing of the tree in the midst of the street of and her fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh.' ca v. 5. O they will be green, savoury, reviving, flourishing, First then, In that he saith this city hath a tree growing Christians, that shall walk the street of of life in it, he alludes to the garden of Eden, the New Jerusalem! 'I am,' saith he, like a green pleasant paradise that God began the world withal; fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.' Ho. xiv. 8. whereby he signifieth that as the world began with [2.] But again, As he shall be thus profitable to a paradise, so also it shall end with a paradise, his people for shadow and reviving, so he will be when sin and Satan have done their worst. This in the midst of the street of it for food, for refreshNew Jerusalem shall be the wind up of the world, ing and replenishing that way. •I sat down under and in it shall stand the tree of life, as well as there his shadow with great delight,' said she, and his stood one in the goodly garden, which was the fruit was sweet to my taste.' Ezekiel tells us beginning thereof. In which paradise there shall that this tree is all trees; and on the bank of the be no tree of knowledge, or the law of works, to river, on this side, and on that, were all trees for bear sway, and to cause that the sons of God shall meat. Eze. xlvii. 12. Indeed Christ is all trees; yea, be thrust out thence for their eating of its for- there is noore to be found in him for the food of bidden fruits; no, the tree of life alone shall here the soul, than there can be on all trees for the food bear sway and rule, whose fruit is only healthful, of the body. He is a fir-tree for tallness, greenand the leaves thereof for medicine. ness and strength; he is an olive for fatness, a [1.] Now this tree of life being in the midst of vine for sweetness and goodness, for therewith is this city, it signifieth that the inhabitants of it refreshed the heart both of God and man. Ho. xiv. 8. shall be sweetly shadowed, refreshed, and defended No. xi. 17. Jn. XV. 1, 2. What shall I say, He is the with its coolness, and also sweetly nourished and almond-tree, the fig-tree, the apple-tree, all trees; comforted with its dainties. And hence it is that The tree of life also in the midst of the paradise of the Scriptures do hold him forth in his benefits to God. Ca. ii. 18. his church under these very notions. •As the To conclude.-Seeing Christ is said to be in the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my midst of the street of this city, it showeth unto us beloved among the sons. I sat down under his with what, at all occasions, the actions of the shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet saints of this city shall be seasoned. The street, to my taste.' Ca. li. 3. Indeed the shadow of this you know I told you, is the way of holiness in this tree of life, as always it is refreshing to the tempted city, the place of spiritual recreation and solace. and weary, so now it will be far more. They Now in the very midst of this street there stands that dwell under his shadow shall return; they this tree, which being thus, it showeth us how shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; wonderfully Christ, as a tree of life, will be in all the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.' the words and deeds of the inhabitants of this Jeru-, Ilab. xiv. 7. Mark, (1.) His shadow will make us salem; they will walk in Christ, they will talk in return, that is, to our first love; to the days of Christ, they will do all they do in Christ, or rather our youth, to our young, fresh, tender, and flour-Christ will be found in all their ways; even as the ishing faith, love, and self-denial, that we received tree of life is found in the midst of the street of in the days of our espousals. (2.) As it will make this city: they shall walk up and down in his us return to these, so it will make us revive in name, saith the Lord.' Zec. a. 12. these; they shall return and revive, they shall Again, In that this tree is said to stand in the revive as the coru; as the corn doth when, in the midst of the street, it showeth unto us how comheat of summer, after long scorching, it is covered mon and free his benefits will now be also. The with cool clouds, and watered with the bottles of plumbs, and figs, and grapes, and apples of this heaven. (3.) As it shall make them return and tree, will be open to every passenger: not a boy nor revive, so it shall make them grow; they shall a girl, that now shall play in thy street, 0 Jerugrow as the vine, that is, speedily, fruitfully, and salem, but shall eat of the fruits of the tree that spreadingly. (4.) This is not all, but the smell of stands in the midst of thee, as of common things. saints in those days shall be excellent: They Je. xxxi. 4, 5. shall revive as the corn,' they shall' [Second. And in the midst of the street of it, vine,' and shall send forth their scent ‘as the wine and ON EITHER SIDE of the river was there the tree of Lebanon.' This tree is a perfuming tree, and of life. As this tree doth stand in the midst of makes them also that abide under the shadow the street of this city, so it also standeth on each thereof to smell as sweet-smelling myrrh; it makes side of the river of the water of life, of which you them smell as the wine of thy grace, O Lord, and have heard before. Now when he saith, the tree 6 'grow as the is on either side of the river; whence by the way [2.] If fruit here be taken with reference to men, note yet again, that both the water of life, and also then it signifieth tlie happiness and glory that those the tree of life, they are both to be enjoyed by the for whom he died and rose again should receivo inhabitants of this city in the way of holiness; the by this means. IIis fruit, I havo showed you, is tree is in the midst of the street, and the river runs sweet to the taste of his church, which fruit is the through or between the very tables of the heart effect of his undertaking for sinners and the comof this tree of life; on either side of the river was fortable savour of it in the soul. there the tree of life. [The variety of the fruits. Which bare twelve Again, In that it is said that this tree of life is manner of fruits.' In that he saith the fruits aro on either side of the river; it argueth that they twelve, he herein alludeth, who come at any time at this river for water to 1. To the twelve tribes of the Israel of God; for quench their thirst, and to make them live, they which twelve tribes here will be found a suitable must come to it by the tree of life, which is Christ. measure of food, healing food: ‘I will multiply the In more easy terms, read it thus: There is none fruit of the tree,' saith God, and also the increaso can partake of the grace of God but by the man of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach Christ Jesus, which is this tree of life. Col ii. 3, 9. of famine among the heathen.' Eze. xxxvi. 30. For this tree, this Christ, doth stand on either sido Again, These that John calleth ‘twelve manner of the river, to signify that all grace to us comes of fruits,' the prophet Ezekiel calleth “all mauner through his bloody wounds, death and victory of fruit for meat.' For indeed, as I showed before, In. i. 16. *I am the way,' saith Christ, and the there is that to be found in Christ, both for fulness truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father and variety, that is not to be found in heaven and but by me.' Jn. xiv. 6. earth beside. Here is fruit for body, fruit for soul, • And on either side of the river was there the fruit for babes, fruit for strong men, fruit for fathers, tree of life.' Mark, but one tree, and yet such a yea, for glorified saints and angels. Fruits, variety tree whose body reached as far as the river reached: of fruits, even twelve manner of fruits. indeed Ezekiel saith this tree is all trees for meat, 2. By twelve manner of fruits, he doth also al. yet not to show that there are more trees of life lude to the apostles, who are called twelve, and are than one, but to show that all that can be thought those who have made provision for the house of of that is good for soul-nourishment, is to be found God, according to the twelve-fold manner of the in this one, that is, in Christ Jesus. And it is dispensation of God unto them, and of the twelvefurther evident that though he saith all trees, as fold manner of operation of that holy Spirit which if he meant many, yet he spake but metaphorically, wrought in every one of them severally as he to show thereby the fulness of Christ; because pleased. Which twelve were before figured unto John doth understand him so, calling it one tree, us by the twelve officers of king Solomon, the type to wit, the tree of life.' But mark again, so far of Christ, which twelve were to make provision for as the river goes, so far the tree goes, so that the house of the king, according to the season of where you cannot find the tree of life, be sure there the year, and each man his month in the year. is none of the water of life. No Christ, no grace. 1 Ki. iv. 7. Which very thing the Holy Ghost also • Ile that hath the Son hath life, but he that hath doth here cast his eye upon, and that makes him not the Son of God, shall not see life, but the bring in the words of every month,' saying, it yields wrath of God abideth on him.' Jn. iii, 36. 1 Ja v. 12. For its fruit. every month.' For indeed, whatever you . on either side of the river was there the tree of read of concerning this city, in this description of life. John, you find something or other in the writings [The fruits of this tree. ] •Which bare twelve man- of the prophets that giveth ground for such expresner of FRUITS. This word fruits, it may be taken sions. Wherefore seeing the officers of Solomon two ways--either as it relates to God, or as it re- were twelve, and the apostles of Christ twelve also; lates to man, for, as I said before, the fruit of this and seeing the officers of Solomon made provision tree refreshes the heart both of God and man. Ja. for his house, each man his month in a year, and ix. 9, 14. the fruits of this tree of life are called twelve man[1.] Now if it be taken with reference to God, ner of fruits, I do take the twelve manner of fruits then it signifieth the complete satisfaction that by here to be signified by the provision of Solomon's the worthiness of the fruits of the passion of Christ officers, according to the twelve seasons of the year, is given to God for the salvation of the church; and they a type of the twelve-fold doctrine of the this city of God. Da, ix. 24, 26. He suffered to finish twelve apostles of the Lord Clirist, for it is their transgression, to make an end of sin, and to bring doctrine that is the bread of the church, yea, the in everlasting righteousness; by this, I say, is the milk for the babe, and the strong meat for men. heart of God refreshed, and in this doth it rest. 1 Th. ii. 7. 1 Co. ii. 2. He. v. 11–14. Mat ü. 17. [The abundance of the fruits.) And yielded lier fruit every month.' As this confirmneth what I west, and those from the land of Sinim.' Ls. xlix. have said before, so it further showeth us these 11, 12. three things. l'irst, That the effectual fruits of Third, In that she is said to yield not only fruit, Christ for the saving of the world, they are to be but all manner of fruit; and that not only one had especially at certain seasons. It ‘yielded her manner of fruit now, and another then, but all fruit every month.' Second, It showeth also that manner of fruit, and that every month; it argueth at the building of this Jerusalem, these seasons also that at this day Jerusalem shall have abunwill be very thick and quick; slie yielded her fruit dance of heavenly and spiritual provision, and of • every month.' Third, It showeth us also the variety of dainties for her solace and refreshment; abundance of provision that this holy city shall then always new, I say, and immediately from the tree. cnjoy from the tree of life, even all manner of fruit The fruits of the vine shall at that day be upon the every month. mountains of Samaria, and shall be eaten ‘as comFirst, For the first, that the gospel hath and mon things,' saith the prophet. Je. xxxi. 5. • Fear will be especially effectual at certain seasons for not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for the Lord will the saving of the sons of men ; it is showed us by do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the the descending of the angels into the pool of field, for the pastures of the wilderness do spring; Bethesda to trouble the water, which as it was at for the tree beareth her fruit; the fig-tree and the certain seasons, so he that in those seasons first vine do yield their strength. Be glad, then, ye stepped in, he only was made whole of whatsoever children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; disease he had. Jn.v.4. It is showed us also in that for he hath given you the former' and the latter parable of the Lord's hiring men to work in his “rain moderately, and he will cause to come down vineyard; which time of hiring, though it lasteth for you the rain, the former rain and the latter in general from the first hour to the eleventh, yet rain in the first month ; and the floors shall be full so as that there were vacant seasons between hir-of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and ing-times and hiring-times, quite through the whole oil. And I will restore to you the years that the day; he went out at the first, third, sixth, ninth locust hath eaten, the canker-worm and the caterand eleventh hour, and not at every hour, to hire pillar, and the palmer-worm' hath eaten. * And labourers. Mat. x. 1-6. For as God hath appointed ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise out beforehand the number of his elect, so also he the name of the Lord.' Joel ii. 21–25. And then hath determined in his good pleasure the day of shall every one not only sit under his own vine, their bringing in, and will then have them as cer- and under his own fig-tree, but froin thence they tainly as the wild ass is found in her month. Ga, i. 15, shall call each to other, to give to each other 16. Ho. vi. 11. Je. ii. 24. Of which times and seasons, be their dainties, and none shall make th afraid, cause men are ignorant, therefore they should with Zec. iii. 10. all faithfulness wait upon God in all the seasons [The virtue of the Icaves. And the leaves of of his grace for their souls, even as he did for his the tree were for the healing of the nations.' By body; who because he would be there at all seasons, leaves here, we may understand the blessed and brought thither his bed and couch to rest there. precious promises, consolations, and encourage. Jn. v. 8. ments, that by virtue of Christ's undertaking for Second, As by the fruit of this tree being yielded us, we have everywhere growing upon the new at certain seasons, we may gather that there are covenant; which promises and encouragements certain seasons in which the word in an especial they are and will be most freely handed to the manner shall be blessed and made successful to wounded conscience that will be tossed upon the the salvation of many souls. So again, in that restless waves of doubt and uubelief, as was the he saith this fruit is yielded every month, it signi- olive leaf by the dove brought home to Noah, when fieth that in the days of the building of the city, he was tossed upon the waves of that outrageons the New Jerusalem, these seasons will be very flood that then did drown the world. Go. viii. thick and quick. “Lift up thine eyes,' saith God But again, by this word, the leaves, you may to this city, all they gather themselves together, conceive that still he hath his eye to the paradise they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, in which at first God placed Adam and his comand thy daughters' from the ends of the earth. panion, for it was to leaves they fled for covering All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together after they had transgressed against their Maker. * unto thee' so that thou wonderingly shalt say, Ge. iii. 7. Now then, in his saying the leaves are for • Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the healing; it is as if he had said, the paradise that doves to their windows !' Is. Ix. 4, 7, 8. For "I will will be towards the latter end of the world will far make all my mountains a way, and my highways outstrip the paradise that first was planted in the shall be exalted. Behold these shall come from beginning thereof; for as the tree of life, which is far; and lo these from the north, and from the the Christ and Saviour, shall stand where did the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which is they are only applicable to this state of the church. the old covenant and law of works: so the leaves For there hath no state of the church been yet in of this tree shall be for healing, and for covering the world but that state hath been liable to a curse; the nakedness of poor transgressors, though the but this state, to wit, the state she will be in at leaves that Adam found in the first paradise, do her building again, will be a state without parallel, what he could, did leave him naked. a state properly her own. Christ's leaves are better than Adam's aprons. * And there shail be no more curse.' By curse Ezekiel saith that these leaves are for medicine, in this place we are chiefly to understand, not the xlvii. 12, that is, they are for healing, saith John; taking away of the curse, the eternal curse which the which may most fitly be applied to the blessed separates between God and the soul for ever-for promise of grace. For as a leaf for medicine, when so the curse in this sense hath always been taken applied to a sore in the body, doth supple, mollify, away by virtue of the terms, the general terms of and heal the wound; so the word of promise, when the new covenant, and that in common for every rightly applied to the soul, it doth supple, mollify, saint in all ages. Ga. iii. 18.—but by curse here we and heal the wounded conscience. •He sent his are to understand that, or those curses that do, word and healed them, and delivered them from and have frequently befallen the church for her sin their destructions. O that men would praise the and apostasy; as namely, the giving up his people Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to their own darkness and ignorance; his suffering to the children of men !' Ps. cvii. 20, 21. them to swerve from his true worship and ordin. And the leaves,' &c. There is yet another ances: his giving them up into the hand of those mystery lieth in these words. that hate them, to become among them a hissing, Ile doth not say, and the fruits thereof are for a taunt, a reproach, and a by-word, as it is at this the healing of the nations, but the leaves, by which day. Zep. i. 12–17. Ps. xliii. 28. Je. xxix. 18; xliv. 8, 12. His he would have us to understand that all the bene- taking away from then the means, to wit, the outfits and privileges that we do receive from Christ, ward word of the gospel, and suffering them to be they are as inferior to the glory we shall have from even at the point to famish for the want thereof. him when we come to heaven, as inferior, I say, Amos viii. 9-13. These and other things are the curses as the leaves are to the fruit. Again, the comfort that he here saith shall be no more among his and sweetness that at any time we receive from the people ; for indeed they shall not, because the Lord, it is not before but after a promise is suitably gospel-pattern shall never be removed more, nor applied, even as the fruit of the tree with which their light to see, nor their love to practise, never the body is comforted is not before but after the be diminished more. Their defence, also, “shall be leaves have put forth themselves. Wherefore the munition of rocks; bread shall be given them, Christ might well say to Nathaniel, and that after and their waters shall be sure.' Is. xxxiii. 16. As here, he had received some refreshments from a leaf, you find the tree and river of the water of life are “Thou shalt see greater things than these,' Jn. i. 50; fixed now in the midst of this city. Wherefore and Paul, that yet 'a far more exceeding and now the church, as I bave all along showed you, eternal weight of glory' is laid up for all believers. shall have her sun at the height, her light as the light 2 Cor. iv, 17. For indeed, indeed, the glory that God of seven days, and shall go no inore down for ever. hath prepared for us against the day of God, it Also she shall never be pulled down. She shall doth and will more outstrip the most high enjoy- be a tabernacle that shall never be pulled down, ment of the highest saint in New Jerusalem, not- neither shall one of the cords thereof be loosed, withstanding their enjoyment will be so eminent, or one of her stakes again removed. Is. xxxiii. 20. than doth the sweetest fruit outstrip the leaf that There shall be no more curse : but the throne hangeth on that tree. And the leaves of the tree of God shall be in it.' Indeed, here lieth the were for the healing of the nations. If the leaves reason of all blessedness to any people, even the be so good, O Lord, let us enjoy the fruit; and not presence of God. Now the presence of God is a little, or earnest, but the whole harvest thereof with his people, either at times or seasons, or all in thy kingdom. Thus much touching this water together. He will not be to this city a God of and tree of life. times and seasons, even like a way-faring man that tarries but for a night, as he used to be to liis [The ease, peace, and tranquillity of the city.] people of old, but here lie will abide, rest, and Ver. 3. “And there shall be no more curse: but dwell. Zep. iii. 17. Je. xiv. 8, 9. Zcc. ii. 10, 11. I will dwell the throne of God - shall be in it; and his servants in the midst of Jerusalem, and my house shall be shall serve him.' This is the conclusion of the built in it, saith the Lord. And, again, ‘I will whole discourse, and it showeth unto us the blessed dwell in the midst of Jerusalem for ever.' Eze. xlür. 9. effect of the blessed recovering of this city to her Wherefore John considering this, he saith, there first and primitive state. These words, therefore, shall be here no more any curse, but the thro::e of 58 6 VOL. III. |