543 once more, and thou shalt find it deeper than hell, I that by the word there is no restraint, no denial and a river that cannot be passed over. canst swim, here thou mayest roll up and down as thereof. If thou to or forbidding of any that will, from receiving the fishes do in the sea. 1 Nor needest thou fear drowning in this river, it will bear thee up, and carry thee over the highest hills, as Noah's waters did carry the ark. But, 6 Third. As this river of water of life is deep and large, so it is a river that is full of waters. river A may be deep and not full. broad and not deep. Aye, but here is a river deep A river may be and broad, and full too. Thou waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water.' Ps. lxv. 9. Full of grace and truth. Fill the water-pots, saith Christ, up to the brim. The waters of a full cup the wicked shall have; and a river full of the water of life is provided for those who indeed have a desire thereto. Fourth. As this river is deep, broad, and full, so it still aboundeth with water. says the prophet, 'were risen.' Eze. xlvii. 4. Hence, The waters, the Holy Ghost saith, God causeth the waters to flow. Ps. cxlvii. 18. And again, And it shall come to pass in that day (the day of the gospel) that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.' Joel iii. 18. When a river overflows it has more water than its banks can bound: it has water. · Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed.' Ps. Ixxviii. 20. This river of water of life, which is also signified by these waters, is a river that abounds and that overflows its banks in an infinite and unspeakable manner. the river, to wit, what a river of water of life it Thus much for is. It is a river deep, broad, full, and abounding with this water, with this Spirit and grace of the gospel. [Inferences to be drawn from this term RIVER.] SECOND. Now I shall come to draw some inferences from it, that is, from this term, a river. A river of water of life. First. Then, a river is water that is common, common in the streams, though otherwise in the head. This river proceeds out of the throne, and so, as to its rise, it is special; it is also called the water of life, and as it is such, it is special; but as it is a river it is common, and of common use, and for common good. God is called the common salvation, Jude 3, for Hence the grace of This water of life is as essential to the spiritual-mindedness of the soul, as natural water is to the life of a fish. The grace of God is the element in which only the renewed soul can live and enjoy a little of that heaven into which, as an ocean of bliss, this river carrics him.-(ED.) of life freely. Re. xxii. 17. And whosoever will, let him take the water declare the commonness of a thing? Yea, this What can more fully fountain,' a fountain opened to the house of David river is called, at the very head of it, an open and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Zec. xiii. 1. prehended every soul that would drink of the And by David or Judah and Jerusalem is comwater of life or living water. that this river is said to go down into the desert And hence it is and go into the sea,' where all kinds of fishes are. Eze. xlvii. 8. fish the people, and thither shall run this river of By sea is meant the world, and by water of life. But, common, yet a river, as it passes through a country Second. Though a river, in the streams of it, is the valleys, in the plains, not over steeples and or province, will choose its own way, it will run in hills. It will also fetch its compasses and circuits; it will go about and reach hither and thither, and according to its courses it will miss by its turnings what places and people it lists, yet it is common, for that it lies open, yet it is common for all the beasts of the field. There is, therefore, a difference to be put betwixt the commonness of a thing and its presence. The far enough off of thee. Epsom, Tunbridge waters, A thing may be common, yet and the Bath, may be common, but yet a great way off of some that have need thereof." same may be said of this river, it is common in the streams, but it runs its own circuit, and keeps its own water-courses. Indeed, he openeth his river in high places, in his into the valleys which run among the hills.' Ps. civ. 10. He sendeth the springs throne, and of the Lamb, but still they run in the midst of the valleys to water the humble and the lowly. Wherefore, they that thirst and would drink are bid to come down to the waters- Ho, every one hath no money, come ye, buy,' &c. Is. lv. 1. that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that again, If any man thirst, let him come unto me And but you must come to them, to them where they and drink.' Jn. vii. 37. The waters are common, are, or you will be nothing the better for them. Come ye to the waters.' timate to you by what store of the same it is supThird. This water of life is called a river, to inplied. All rivers have the sea for their original: full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not and seek not for happiness in the favour of God; those that thither they return again." Ec. i. 7. And so this river of water of life is said to proceed out of the throne, as out of a place where it breaketh out, but the original is the sea, the ocean of grace, which is an infinite Deity. Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea, into the depth of the sea of thy grace.' Mic. vii. 19. Rivers, when they are broken up, do with their gliding streams carry away a great deal of the filth, which from all parts of the countries through which they run, is conveyed into them; and they carry it away into the sea, where it is everlastingly swallowed up.2 And, O! the filth that is cast into this river of God! and, O! how many dirty sinners are washed white therein, for by its continual gliding away, it carrieth that filth into the midst of the sea. A river will take away the very stink of a dead dog: nor doth all the soil and draught that is cast into the rivers, cause that those that can should be afraid to make use thereof: all that have need do betake themselves to this river notwithstanding. But how much more virtue is there in this sweet river of grace that is designed, yea, opened on purpose, to wash away sin and uncleanness in, to carry away all our filth, and to remain as virtuous still! Fourth. It is called a river, to show that it yields a continual supply, as I may call it, of new and fresh grace. Rivers yield continually fresh and new water. For though the channel or watercourse in which the water runs is the same, yet the waters themselves are always new. That water that but one minute since stood in this place or that of the river, is now gone, and new and fresh is come in its place. And thus it is with the river of God, which is full of water; it yieldeth continually fresh supplies, fresh and new supplies of grace to those that have business in those waters. And this is the reason that when sin is pardoned, it seems as if it were carried away. Those waters havo, with their continual streams, carried away the filth of the sinner from before his face. It is not so with ponds, pools, and cisterns; they will be foul and stink, if they be not often emptied, and filled again with fresh water. We must then put a difference between the grace that dwelleth in us, and this river of water of life. We are but as ponds, pools, and cisterns, that can hold but little, and shall also soon stink, notwithstanding the grace of God is in us, if we be not often emptied from 1 The rain is taken from the sea by water-spouts or in va pour; it is wonderfully distilled, and descends upon the earth in fertilizing showers which supply the rivers. In proportion to the rain or melting of the snow, is the quantity of water in the rivers. Bunyan was taught all this phenomena of nature, by a single verse in the inspired volume which he quotes. How wonderful is that Book!-(ED.) 2 This is a most astonishing natural phenomenon: that such a river as the Thames, receiving constantly all the filth of a vast metropolis, containing more that two millions of inhabitants, buries it all, and yet purifieth itself.-(ED.) vessel to vessel, and filled with fresh grace from this river. Je. xlviii. 11. But the river is always sweet, nor can all the filth that is washed out of the world make it stink, or infect it: its water runs with a continual gliding stream, and so carries away all annoyance, as was said, into the depth of the sea. Fifth. The grace of God is called a river, to show that it is only suited to those who are capable of living therein. Water, though it is that which every creature desireth, yet it is not an element in which every creature can live. Who is it that would not have the benefit of grace, of a throne of grace? But who is it that can live by grace? Even none, but those whose temper and constitution is suited to grace. Hence, as the grace of God is compared to a RIVER, so those that live by grace are compared to FISH: for that as water is that element in which the fish liveth, so grace is that which is the life of the saint. 'And there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither; for they shall be healed, and everything shall live whither the river cometh.' Eze. xlvii. 9. Art thou a fish, O man, art thou a fish? Canst thou live in the water; canst thou live always, and nowhere else, but in the water? Is grace thy proper element? The fish dieth if she be taken out of the water, unless she be timely put in again; the saint dieth if he be not in this river. Take him from this river, and nothing can make him live; let him have water, water of life enough, and nothing can make him die. I know that there are some things besides fish, that can make a shift to live in the water; but the water is not their proper, their only proper element. The frog can live in the water, but not in the water only; the otter can live in the water, but not in the water only. Give some men grace and the world, grace and sin; admit them to make use of their lusts for pleasure, and of grace to remove their guilt, and they will make a pretty good shift, as we say; they will finally scrabble on in a profession; but hold them to grace only, confine their life to grace, put them into the river, and let them have nothing but river, and they die; the word, and way, and nature of grace, is to them as light bread, and their soul can do no other but loath it, for they are not suited and tempered for that element. They are fish, not frogs, that can live in the river, as in their only proper element. Wherefore, the grace of God, and Spirit of grace, is compared to a river, to show that none but those can live thereby whose souls and spirits are suited and fitted thereto. 3 called or compared to a river, to answer those un- | perhaps to show of what a low esteem it is with satiable desires, and to wash away those mountain- the rich and the full. The destitute indeed emous doubts that attend those that indeed do thirst brace the rock instead of a shelter, and the poor for that drink. The man that thirsteth with and needy, they seek water: but they that can spiritual thirst, fears nothing more than that there drink wine in bowls, that can solace themselves is not enough to quench his thirst. All the pro- with, as they think, better things, they come not mises and sayings of God's ministers to such a man to this river to drink; they never say they shall seem but as thimbles instead of bowls. Ps. lxiii. 1; die if they drink not of this water. It is, thereexliii. 6. I mean so long as his thirst and doubts fore, for the poor and needy, God will lead THEM walk hand in hand together. There is not enough to his 'living fountains of waters,' and will wipe in this promise; I find not enough in that promise away all tears from THEIR eyes.' Re. vii. 17. And to quench the drought of my thirsting soul. He that thus I pass the second and come to the third parthirsteth aright, nothing but God can quench his ticular, and that is, to show the head and spring thirst. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living from whence this river proceeds, or springs. God.' Ps. xlii. 2, lxii.. 1; cxliii. 6. Well, what shall be done for this man? Will his God humour him, and answer his desires? Mark what follows: When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none,' (and they can find none, when all the promises seem to be dry, and like clouds that return after the rain), 'and their tongue faileth for thirst, I, the Lord, will hear them.' Aye, but Lord, what wilt thou do to quench their thirst? I will open rivers,' saith he, in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Is. xli. 17, 18. Behold! here are rivers and fountains, a pool, and springs, and all to quench the thirst of them that thirst for God. 6 Wherefore, as I said, such provision for the thirsty intimates their fears of want and the craving appetite of their souls after God. Right spiritual thirst is not to be satisfied without abundance of grace. And they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.' Ps. xxxvi. 8. Seventh. The grace of God is compared to a river, to show the greatness of the family of God. He has a family, a great family, and, therefore, it is not a little that must be provided for them. When Israel went out of Egypt, and thirsted by the way, God provided for them a river; he made it gush out of the rock; for, alas! what less than a river could quench the thirst of more than six hundred thousand men, besides women and children? Ps. lxxviii. 20. I say, what less than a river could do it? When the people lusted for flesh, Moses said, 'Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them?' Nu. xi. 22. Even so could not less than a river sustain and suffice that great people. Now his people in gospel days are not to be diminished, but increased; and if then they had need of a river, surely now of a sea; but the river is deep and broad, full, and abounds, or rises with water, so it will suffice. [THE HEAD OR WELL-SPRING OF THE WATER OF LIFE.] [THIRD.] Rivers have their heads from whence they rise, out of which they spring, and so, accordingly, we read this river has; wherefore he saith, He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.' [GOD.] God is here to be taken for the whole Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit, for that grace proceeds from them all; the grace of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the grace of the Spirit is here included. Hence, as the Father is called the God of grace:' 1 Pe. v. 10; so the Son is said to be full of grace, grace to be communicated, Jn. i. 14-16, and the Holy Ghost is called the Spirit of grace.' He. x. 29. So then by this we perceive whence grace comes. Were all the world gracious, if God were not gracious, what was man the better? If the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Ghost, are gracious, if they were not all gracious, what would it profit? But now God is gracious, the three persons in the Godhead are gracious, and so long they that seek grace are provided for; for that, there proceeds from them a river, or grace like a flowing stream; indeed the original of grace to sinners is the good will of God; none can imagine how loving God is to sinful man. A little of it is seen, but they that see most, see but a little. [THE LAMB.] But there is added, and of the Lamb.' The Lamb is, Jesus as sacrificed, Jesus as man, and suffering. Hence you have the Lamb, at the first vision of the throne, set forth unto us, that is, as slain. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain.' Re. v. 6. Wherefore, by this word. Lamb, we are to understand who, or by what means, grace doth now run from the throne of God, like a river, to the world. It is because of, or through the Lamb. We are justified freely by Eighth. The grace of God is compared to a river, the grace of God through the redemption that VOL. III. 69 is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be | from under the threshold, it may be to intimate a propitiation, through faith in his blood.' Ro. iii. 24. And again, We have redemption through his blood,' even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace.' Ep. i. 7. that they ran but low formerly, if compared to what they do now. Which might also be signified by this, that they issued out,' that that issues out ordinarily comes forth but slowly. Also the prophet saith, the first time he went through the waters, they were but up to the ancles. Eze. followeth after? It is said also to come out from Jerusalem, where, I perceive, were no great rivers, to intimate, that as long as the first priesthood, first temple, and type, were in their splendour, only the shadow of heavenly things were in use, and that then grace ran but slowly, nor would run much faster, because Jesus was not yet glorified. For the Spirit and abundance of grace was to be given not before but after his ascension. Nor doth the Lamb of God, by becoming a means, through death, of the conveyance of grace to us, at all darken the nature or glory of grace, | xlvii. 3, 4. But what is ancle-deep to that which but rather doth set it off the more. For wherein can grace or love more appear than in his laying down his life for us? I speak now of the grace of the Son. And wherein could the nature and glory of grace of the Father more appear than in giving his Son to death for us, that grace might, in a way of justice as well as mercy, be bestowed upon the world? Wherefore, as he saith here, that the river of water of life proceedeth from God, so he adds that the Lamb, because he would have us while we are entangled and overcome with this river of God's pleasure, not forget what it cost the Lamb of God that this grace might come unto us. For the riches of grace and of wisdom are, that grace comes to us not only in a way of mercy and compassion, but in a way of justice and equity; but that could be by no other means but by redeeming blood. Which redeeming blood came not from us, nor yet through our contrivance or advice; wherefore, whatever it is to the Lamb, still all is of grace to us. Yea, the higher, the greater, the richer is grace, by how much the more it cost the Father and the Lamb, that we might enjoy it. When a man shall not only design me a purse of gold, but shall venture his life to bring it to me, this is grace indeed. But, alas! what are a thousand such short comparisons to the unsearchable love of Christ. The Lamb, then, is he from whom, by, or through whom the grace of God doth come to us. It proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And it proceeds from him now as a donator: from him, not only as a means of conveyance, but as one that has power to give grace; power, as he is the Son of Man. For as the Son of Man he is the Lamb, and as he is the Lamb it cometh from him. The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.' Mat. ix. 6. And that before he had actually paid to God the price of our redemption. But how much more now? Wherefore Paul, in his prayer for grace and peace for saints, supplicates both God and the Lamb-Grace be to you, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.' Ep. i. 2. 1 Co. i. 3. 2 Co. i. 2. Ga. i. 3. Proceeding out of the throne.' Formerly this river of water is said to come from under the threshold of the house of the Lord. Eze. xlvii. 1. And it is, said again, they shall go out from Jerusalem,' that is, the church or house of God still. Zec. xiv. 8. In that they are said to come out Wherefore, now Jesus is ascended, now he is glorified, now grace proceeds from the throne, not from the threshold of the house. He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.' THE THRONE. That of which the mercy-seat was a type, that which is called the throne of grace. Ex. xxv. 17. He. iv. 16. And it is called the throne of grace, even, therefore, because it is that from or out of which proceeds this river of water of life, this overflowing grace of God. Now, it may be asked what is the throne of grace? and I shall answer it is the humanity of Christ. He is the throne, he is the Jacob in which God sitteth. Is. xxii. 22, 23. And he shall be for a glorious throne to his Father's house. Re. iii. 7. The fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily; and God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, nor can grace come to men but by Christ, nor can God rest as to our salvation but in him. But because I have spoken of this thing more particularly upon that text, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,' &c., I shall, therefore, here say no more. Only, methinks, it is a glorious title that the Holy Ghost has given to the humanity of Christ, in that he calls it the throne of God; and methinks he gives it the highest preference in that he saith, out thence proceeds a pure river of water of life: we will a little, therefore, speak something to this word—the throne, the throne of God. First. A throne is the seat of majesty and greatness; it is not for things of an inferior quality to ascend or assume a throne. Now, then, since this river of water of life proceeds from the throne, it intimates, that in grace and mercy there is great majesty; for grace, as it proceeds, has a voice from the throne. And, indeed, there is nothing in heaven or earth that can so AWE the heart as the grace of God. Ho. iii. 5. It is that which makes a man fear, it is that which makes a man tremble, it is that which makes a man bow and bend, and break to pieces. Je. xxxii. 9. Nothing has that majesty and commanding greatness in and upon the hearts of the sons of men as has the grace of God. So that, I say, when he saith that this river of grace proceeds out of the throne of God, it is to show us what a majesty, what a commanding greatness, there is in grace. The love of Christ constraineth us. When Moses went up to the mount the first time to receive the law, he did exceedingly fear and quake. Why? because of the fire and smoke, thick darkness and thunder, &c. But when he went up the second time thither, he made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.' But why? because it was before proclaimed that the Lord was merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin,' &c. Ex. xxxiv. 6–9. There is nothing overmastereth the heart like grace, and so obligeth to sincere and unfeigned obedience as that. Examine me, O Lord,' said David, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.' Ps. xxvi. 2, 3. Therefore, he saith again, O Lord our God, how excellent is thy loving kindness' in all the earth! and that loving kindness is marvellous; for it has that majesty and that excellent glory in it as to command the heart and subdue sin. And, therefore, grace has given to it the title of sovereignty, or of one that reigns. The throne is called the throne of grace,' He. iv. 16, that on which it sits and reigns, as well as that from whence it proceeds: Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.' Ro. v. 21. of eternal damnation because thou wouldst not be saved by grace? Consider of this, I say, for grace is now in authority, it reigns and proceeds from the THRONE. Now, you know, it is dangerous opposing, rejecting, despising, or disowning of them in authority; better speak against twenty than against one that is in authority. If the wrath of a king is as messengers of death,' Pr. xvi. 14, if the wrath of the king is as the roaring of a lion,' what is the wrath of God? Pr. xix. 12. And you know, to despise grace, to refuse pardon, to be unwilling to be saved from the guilt and punishment due to treasons, the king's way, since that also is the best way, how will that provoke? how hot will that make wrath? But to accept of grace, especially when it is free grace, grace that reigns, grace from the throne, how sweet is it? His favour is as dew upon the grass.' This, therefore, calls for thy most grave and sedate thoughts. Thou art in a strait, wilt thou fly before Moses, or with David fall into the hands of the Lord? wilt thou go to hell for sin, or to life by grace? One of the two, as was said before, must be thy lot: for grace is king, is upon the throne, and will admit of no other way to glory. In and by it thou must stand, if thou hast any hope, or canst at all rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Ro. v. 2. Third. As the throne is the seat of majesty and authority, so it is the highest seat of authority. There is none above the throne, there is no appeal from the throne. There are inferior courts of judicature, there are under-governors, and they may sometimes, perhaps, be faulty; wherefore in some cases an appeal from such may be lawful or permitted; but from the throne none can appeal. Now grace is upon the throne, reigns upon the throne, proceeds from the throne. A man may appeal from the law to the throne, from Moses to Christ, from him that spake on earth to him that speaks from heaven; but from heaven to earth, from Christ to Moses, none can appeal, Moses himself has forbid it. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren like, unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.' Ac. iii. 22, 23. Second. As a throne is a seat of majesty and greatness, and so can awe, so it is the seat of authority and legislative power, and so will awe; this is confirmed from what was said but now, grace reigns.' Wherefore it is expected that they that hear the word of God's grace should submit thereto, and that at their peril. He that believes not shall be damned,' is a word of power, of law, and of authority, and the contemner shall find it so. Grace proceeds from the throne, from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Wherefore, sinner, here is laid a necessity upon thee, one of the two must be thy lot; either thou must accept of God's grace, and be content to be saved freely thereby, notwithstanding all thy undeservings and unworthiness, or else thou must be damned for thy rebellion and for thy rejecting of this grace. Wherefore, consider with thyself and think what is best to be done. Is it better that thou submit to the grace and mercy of God, and that thou acceptest of grace to reign for thee, in thee, and over thee, than that thou shouldst run the hazard | eth from heaven?' He. xii. 23, See here, this NEW prophet judges in the highest court; he is master of grace, the throne by which grace reigns; and even Moses admits that from himself an appeal may be made to this prophet; yea, he allows that men may flee from himself to this prophet for refuge; but there must be no appeal from him. Thou must hear him or die. How shall we escape, if we turn away from him that speak |