.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apoftles of the Lamb.

15 And he that talked with me, had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16 And the city lieth four-fquare, 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 highth of it are equal.

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.

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jafper; and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glafs.

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious ftones. The firft foundation was jafper; the fecond, faphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20 The fifth, fardonyx; the fixth, fardius; the feventh, chryfolyth; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chryfoprafus; the eleventh, a jacinct; the twelfth, an amethyft.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls every feveral gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were tranfparent glafs.

22 And I faw no temple therein for the Lord God almighty, and the Lamb are the temple of

it.

23 And the city had no need of the fun, neither of the moon to fhine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are faved, fhall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

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

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

27 And there fhall in no wife 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.

A more particular defcription is afterwards given of the new Jerufalem. One of the feven angels who had the feven vials, (ver. 9.) and moft probably the fame angel, who before had fhowed to St. John (XVII. 1, &c.). the mystic Babylon and her deftruction, now thoweth by way of contraft the new Jerufalem and her glory. For this purpofe (ver. 10.) he carrieth him away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain; in the fame manner as Ezekiel (XL. 2.) was brought in the visions of God, and Set upon a very high mountain, to fee the frame of the city and temple: and this defcription of the new Jerufalem is an affemblage of the fublimeft richeft imagery of Ezekiel and other ancient prophets. The glory of God, or the divine Shechinah, (ver. 11.) illuminates the city. It hath (ver. 12, 13, 14.) a wall great and high, to show its ftrength and fecurity; and twelve gates with angels for guards, three on the east, three on the north, three on the fouth, and three on the west, to fhow that people of all climates and nations may have access to it. twelve gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Ifrael, as on the twelve foundations are infcribed the names of the twelve apoftles of the Lamb, to fignify that the Jewish and the Chriftian church are now united, and (Eph. II. 20.) built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner-flone. The angel hath (ver. 15, 16, 17.) a meafuring reed, as the angel had likewife in Ezekiel; (XL. 3.) and the meafures of the city and of the walls are formed by the multiplication of twelve, the number of the apoftles. The city lieth four-fquare, the length as large as the breadth, according to the pattern of Jerufalem in Ezekiel, (XLVIII. 16.) and the length and breadth and highth of the walls and buildings are every

On the

where

where of the fame beauty, ftrength, and proportion. It is built and garnished with gold and all manner of precious ftones, (ver. 18-21.) as the richeft emblems of eaftern wealth and magnificence; the ftones refembling those on Aaron's breaft-plate, to denote that the Urim and Thummin, the light and perfection of God's oracle are there. It hath one remarkable peculiarity (ver. 22.) that there is no temple therein; for the whole is the temple of God and of the Lamb. The glory of God and the Lamb (ver. 23.) fhine in it with a luftre fuperior to the fun and moon. All they who are faved (ver. 24— 27.) walk continually in the light of it; for the gates are never shut, and no night is there. It is the center of glory and honor; all the wicked are excluded, and only good Chriftians are admitted, they who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1

A

CHAP. XXII.

ND he fhewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.

2 In the midft of the ftreet of it, and of either fide 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 trees were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there fhall be no more curfe: but the throne of God and of the Lamb fhall be in it; and his fervants fhall ferve him.

4 And they fhall fee his face; and his name fhall be in their foreheads.

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

The five firft verfes of this chapter are a continuation of the defcription of the new Jerufalem. It is further defcribed with the river of life and the tree of life, as it

8

paradife

paradife was restored and improved. A river flowing through the midst of the streets, and trees growing on either fide of the river, are wonderfully pleafing and agreeable objects, especially in the hot eastern countries. Of the fruits there is fuch plenty and abundance, that all may freely partake of them at all feafons; and the very leaves are for the healing of the nations; by all which is fignified the bleffedness of immortality without any infirmities. Then too there fhall be no more curfe, as there is in this prefent world ever fince the fall of man: but the bleffed inhabitants fhall enjoy the fo much talked of beatific vifon, fhall live in the light of God's countenance, and ferve him, and reign for ever and ever.

6 And he faid unto me, Thefe fayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets fent his angel to fhow unto his fervants the things which muft fhortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly bleffed is he that keepeth the fayings of the prophecy of this book.

In the conclufion the angel (ver. 6, 7.) ratifies and confirms all these particulars by a repetition of the fame folemn affurance which he had before given, (XIX. 9. XX. 5.) that these sayings are faithful and true: and he was commiffioned by the fame God, who had infpired the ancient prophets, to show the things which must shortly be done, which would very foon begin in part to be fulfilled, and in procefs of time would all be completed. Behold, I come quickly, faith he; for we may obferve that the angel fpcaketh fometimes in his own perfon, and fometimes in the perfon and character of Chrift, whofe embaffador and reprefentative he was. Chrift is faid to come upon any notable and illuftrious manifeftation of his providence; and all thefe are but fo many steps to prepare the way for his laft coming to judgment. A bleffing too is pronounced, as in the beginning, (I. 3.) upon thofe who keep the fayings of the prophecy of this book: and as good Vitringa (6) devoutly witheth, May

(6) Præftet nobis hanc gratiam qua etiam nobis hujus beatitatis pars Dominus, qui operam aliquam in il- obtingat. Vitring. p. 909. lius meditatione collocavimus, et ali

VOL. II.

Bb

the

the Lord beftow this grace and favor on us, who have employed fome time and pains in the ftudy and explication of this book, that fome part of this blessing alfo may defcend to us!

8 And I John faw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and feen, I fell down to worfhip before the feet of the angel, which fhewed me thefe things.

9 Then faith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-fervant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the fayings of this book: worship God.

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

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

12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work fhall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the firft and the laft.

14 Bleffed 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.

15 For without are dogs, and forcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whofoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jefus have fent mine angel to teftify unto you thefe things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning ftar.

17 And the spirit and the bride fay, Come. And let him that heareth fay, Come. And let him that is athirst, come: And whofoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I teftify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man fhall add unto thefe things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: