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the firm and invincible doctrine of the Twelve Apostles; and thereupon arising up to twelve times twelve cubits, according to the measure, not of an ordinary man, but of the angel, which appeared in a larger shape.

XXI. 18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

As for the matter, both of the wall and of the city, it is so pure, and rich, and precious, as no earthly substance can possibly express it: but, if ought be more excellent and of higher estimation than other, as gold, pearls, and precious stones of all exquisite varieties, let these serve to resemble the beauty and unconceivable glory of this heavenly city. So also verses 19, 20, 21.

XXI. 22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And, whereas in the Old Jerusalem, Solomon's goodly Temple was the glory of that city; now here, in this Heavenly Jerusalem, there is no one room set apart for the Temple, but the whole city is the consecrated Temple to God and to his Christ neither shall there need any signs or sacraments of God's presence and grace; but the Lord God shall be there really and essentially exhibited to all his Saints; and God, the Father, shall there clearly manifest himself in his Son, Christ Jesus, to his elect.

XXI. 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.

And this glorious city had no need of any outward and adventitious light, from the sun or moon or stars, which are but the conveyances of this created light to the inferior world: for the glory of God, the Creator, doth perfectly enlighten it, more than many thousand suns can do; and the Lamb, Christ Jesus, is the full and bright Luminary, which sendeth forth perfect beams of heavenly knowledge and blessedness to all his.

XXI. 24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

And, whereas the earthly Jerusalem was the receptacle of none but her own people, abhorring the communion of the Gentiles; now here, all the elect of all the nations of the world shall be received into one blessed society, and shall enjoy the glorious light of God's presence: and the kings of the earth shall be admitted into it; and shall here so lay down their glory, as that they shall see and confess all their earthly pomp and magnificence to be nothing in comparison of this.

XXI. 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

And in this city there shall be such safety and such free

dom, as that the gates thereof shall not be shut at all; but ever stand open for the receipt and admittance of the blessed Saints of God: even the material and earthly cities are wont to be open by day, but shut by night; but here, there shall be no night at all, but a perpetual day of continuing and constant blessedness.

XXI. 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

And, if there be any one amongst the Gentiles more excellent than other, it shall be his happiness to be admitted hither; and here shall he be glad to lay down all his former glory.

XXI. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

And yet, though the gates shall be always open, shall there be no entrance here, for any impure and polluted soul; nor for any, that liveth in abominable wickedness, and practiseth lying and falsehood: but only the elect Saints of God, which are ordained to this blessedness, and sanctified by the blood of Christ their Saviour.

XXII. 1. 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.

And, to shew that there can be no pleasure wanting in this city of God, the angel shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal; free from those muddy impurities, which we meet with here below; proceeding, not out of the Temple, as that which Ezekiel saw, but out of the throne of God and of the Lamb: the Lord himself being that inexhaust fountain, from which these everlasting refreshments do proceed.

XXII. 2. 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 yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Whereas in the Earthly Paradise there was one only Tree of Life, which grew in the midst of the garden, as a sacrament and pledge of that eternal life, which man should upon his obedience enjoy, of the taste whereof man was deprived upon his sin; now, in the midst of the streets of this New Jerusalem, and on either side of this clear river, there is growing this Tree of Life in a free and plentiful manner, so as there is open access thereunto for all comers. And, that there may be no danger of either cloying or fading, this Tree of Life shall yield all pleasing variety of fruits; and shall perpetually flourish, without all interchange of winter and summer: every month shall be an autumn, to yield her ripe increase: and this ever-flourishing Tree of Life, Christ Jesus, by the sovereign leaves of

his merits shall be effectual, to heal all the maladies of the believing Gentiles.

XXII. 3. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

And whereas, after man's first placing in Paradise, there soon followed a curse; now, in this Heavenly City, there is no danger or fear of a curse; but the glorious throne of God and of his Son Christ shall be erected in it for ever, and his servants shall celebrate his name with perpetual songs of praise and thanksgiving:

XXII. 4. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

And they shall have the blessed vision of him; and shall be owned for his before all Saints and Angels.

XXII. 5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever.

And, in that presence of God, there shall be no shadowing of that bright glory and resplendence, no changeable course of day and night; but the Sun of Righteousness ever shineth there, so as there can be no need of candle or material sun to enlighten them: for in God's light they shall see light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

XXII. 7. Behold, I come quickly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Christ himself spake in my hearing, saying, Behold, I come quickly; neither will delay my return: but, in the mean time, blessed is he, that carefully thinks upon and duly observes that, which is contained in the prophecy of this book.

XXII. 9. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not : for I am thy fellowservant, &c. See chap. xix. verse 10.

XXII. 10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Do not seal up this book; but let the words of the prophecy thereof be open, for all men to read and know: for there is present use of them; and the time is at hand, wherein some part of them shall be fulfilled.

XXII. 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Now, he, that deals unjustly, let him, if he think good, dare to do unjustly still; and he, which is filthy, let him, if he list, be filthy still: and, contrarily, let the righteous man hold on the course of his righteousness; and let the holy man continue in his holiness.

XXII. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward

is with me, to give every man according as his work shall

be.

For, behold, I am now shortly coming; and will not come empty handed, but will bring with me due retributions to every man, according to his work, whether it be good or evil.

XXII. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. See chap. xxi. verse 6. and chap. i.

verse 8.

XXII. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Blessed are they, which walk holily and conscionably, according to his will; that they may have their part and portion in Christ, who is the Tree of Life; and may enter in through him, which is the Way and the Door, into the possession of the Heavenly Jerusalem.

XXII. 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, &c.

Out of the precincts whereof are justly excluded all filthy and wicked persons, all currish and spiteful snarlers at goodness, and contemners of holy counsel, whoremongers, &c.

XXII. 16. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

I am both the Root of David, whence he had his being, according to my Deity; and the Branch, that issued from David, according to my Human nature and I am that clear Light of the World, which enlighteneth it with the beams of knowledge and grace; and all true light, both of understanding and comfort, is derived from me alone.

XXII. 17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

And the Spirit of God moveth the hearts of his faithful ones': and they, which are his Spiritual Bride, being therewith moved, are ready to second his holy motions; and say in a fervent desire, Come, Lord: and let him, that heareth or readeth this prophecy, break forth into the same holy desire, and say, Come, Lord and, in the mean time, let him, that hungereth and thirsteth after grace, come to him; and whosoever is by this Spirit moved and enabled to desire grace from him, let him abundantly receive of that plentiful grace and mercy, comfortably and freely.

XXII. 18. For I testify unto every man that heareth_the words of the prophecy of this book, If any shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

And now, that I may seal up this prophecy with a just and vehement ratification; forasmuch as I know the Devil will be

apt to raise questions, and stir up endeavours for the disparag ing of the authority of this book, I do protest and testify to every man, that heareth or readeth the words of this Holy Revelation, If any man shall, upon pretence of defect and imperfection, add any thing unto these things which are here written, God shall plague him with an addition of all those fearful plagues, of death and hell, which are contained in this book:

XXII. 19. And 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 which are written in this book.

And, if any man, upon pretence of the superfluity and needlessness or improbability of any passage thereof, shall diminish any part of the words of this prophecy, God shall so wipe his name out of the book of life, and so thrust him out of the holy city, his New Jerusalem, as that he will make it manifest to the world, that the same man neither hath been nor shall ever be recorded amongst the elect ones, nor had nor shall have any portion in heaven.

XXII. 20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

And, lo, that Son of God, which makes this powerful ratification saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesu.

Soli Trinuni Deo, Laus, Honor, Gloria.

THE END OF VOLUME IV.

OXFORD: PRINTED BY D. A. TALBOYS,

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