but they which are written in the Lambs Book of Life CHAP. XXII Vers. 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. Vers. 2 In the midst of the street of it and of 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 Vers. 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 Vers. 4 And they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their Foreheads IN my dealing with this Mystery I shall not meddle where I see nothing neither shall I hide from you that which at present I conceive to be wrapt up therein onely you must not from me look for much inlargement though I shall endeavour to speak as much in few words as my Understanding and Capacity will enable me through the help of Christ. In this Description of this Holy City you have these five general Heads First The Vision of this City in general Secondly A discovery of its Defence Entrances and Fashion in particular Thirdly A relation of the Glory of each Fourthly A discovery of its Inhabitants their quality and numerousness Fifthly A relation of its Maintenance by which it continueth in Life Ease Peace Tranquillity and Sweetness for ever To all which I shall speak something in their proper places and shall open them before you But before I begin with any of them I must speak a word or two concerning John's qualification whereby he was enabled to behold and take a view of this City which qualification he relateth in these words following 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 The Angel being to shew this holy man this great and glorious Vision he first by qualifying of him puts him into a suitable Capacity to behold and take the view thereof He carried me away in the Spirit When he saith He carried me away in the Spirit he means he was taken up into the Spirit his Soul was greatly spiritualized Whence take notice That an ordinary frame of Spirit is not able to comprehend nor yet to apprehend extraordinary things Much of the Spirit deserveth much of Gods matters but little of the Spirit deserveth but little of them I could not speak to you as unto Spiritual but as unto Carnal even as unto Babes in Christ I have fed you with Milk and not with Meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it nor yet are ye able 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. And he carried me away in the Spirit c. Thus it was with the Saints of old when God had either special Work for them to do or great things for them to see Ezekiel when he had the vision of this City in the old Law in the Captivity at Babylon he must be first fore-fitted with a competent measure of the Spirit Ezek. 40. 2. John also when he had the whole matter of this Prophecie revealed unto him he must be in the Spirit I was saith he in the Spirit on the Lords day and heard behinde me a great Voice as of a Trumpet talking with me c. Rev. 1. 10 11. Whence note again That when God calls a man to this or that Work for him he first fits him with a suitable Spirit Ezekiel saith when God bid him stand upon his Feet That the Spirit entered into him and set him upon his Feet Ezek. 2. 1 2. And he carried me away c. Mark And he carried me away c. As a man must have much of the Spirit that sees much of God and his goodly matters so he must be also carried AWAY with it he must by it be taken off from things carnal and earthly and taken up into the glory of things that are spiritual and heavenly the Spirit loveth to do what it doth in private that man to whom God intendeth to reveal great things he takes him aside from the lumber and cumber of this World and carrieth him away in the solace and contemplation of the things of another World And when they were alone he expounded all things to his Disciples mark And when they were ALONE according to that of the Prophet Whom shall he teach Wisdom and whom shall he make to understand Doctrine they that are WEANED from the Milk and DRAWN from the Brests Isa. 28. 9. Whence observe also He is the man that is like to know most of God that is oftenest in private with him He that obeyeth when God saith Come up hither he shall see the Bride the Lambs Wife For a man through desire having SEPARATED himself seeketh and intermedleth with all Wisdom Prov. 18. 1. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain Thus having shewed his frame and inward disposition of Spirit he now comes to tell us also of the Place or Stage on which he was set to the end that now being fitted by illumination he might not be hindered of his Vision by ought that might intercept He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain Thus did God of old also for when he shewed to Moses the Patterns of the heavenly things he must ascend into the Mount Sinai he must into the Mount also when he hath the view of the holy Land and of that goodly Mountain Lebanon Whence we may learn That the things of God are far from man as he is natural and also that there are very great things between us and the sight of them none can see them but such as are carried away in the Spirit and set on high To a great and high Mountain This Mountain therefore signifieth the Lord Christ on which the Soul must be placed as on a mighty Hill whereby he may be able his Eyes being anointed with spiritual Eye-salve to see over the tops of those mighty Corruptions Temptations and spiritual Enemies that like high and mighty Towers are built by the wicked one to keep the view of Gods things from the sight of our Souls wherefore Christ is called The Mountain of the Lords House or that on which the House of God is placed he is also called The Rock of Ages and The Rock that is higher than we The Hill of God is an high Hill as Bashan an high Hill as the Hill of Bashan Psal. 68. 15. This is the Hill from whence the Prophet Ezekiel had the Vision of this City And upon this Rock saith Christ will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Ezek. 40. 2. Mat. 16. 18. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain
the Streets and Open places of their Cities and places of priviledge Thus it was in the figure when the City Jerusalem was builded after the Captivity as ours shall be at and after the overthrow and downfal of Antichrist for then it is said that the People to hear the Law were gathered together in the Street even in the Water-Street there they heard the sence given and there they were convinced of their wickedness also there they received the knowledge of God's goodness to them and there they received power to eate the fat and drink the sweet to eat and drink and be merry and to cast away sadness and fear Nehem. chap. 8. This by way of allegory is called the way for the wayfaring men even the way of holiness over which the unclean shall not in any wise pass The way in which they learn to know God and themselves and the way of newness of life in which every one walks that entereth in by the Gates of New Jerusalem And it is most sutable to the matter that went before To understand the Street to be the way of God the way of Holiness and Newness of life because as it is natural for the Stranger so soon as ever he is entered the Gates of a City to have his feet in the Streets of the City so it is natural for the sinner so soon as ever he is entered into the Church by Christ to have his feet treading in the way and paths of Holiness Wherefore it is usual in the holy Scripture to call the transformatian of the sinner from Satan to God a holy way and also to admonish him that is so transformed to walk in that way saying Walk in the Faith Love Spirit and newness of Life and walk in the Truth Wayes Statutes and Judgments of God He that entereth not by these Gates into the City he cannot walk in newness of life but he that hath entered in by them he cannot but walk in newness of life The next thing then that a man passeth into when he is entered in to the New Jerusalem is to walk in the STREET thereof the way of Holiness even the way in which men learn to fear God and to believe in and love the Lord Jesus c. Secondly Now this Street or way of Holiness it is on purpose called not many but one to shew us the perfection of Light Grace Faith and spiritual Comfort that the Inhabitants of this City shall then enjoy Daniel also calleth it ONE Street to signifie the same thing Wherefore from hence I gather that then all Saints shall walk as before I have made appear even in one Street in one Way and in one Light It is Antichrist that hath brought in all those Crossings By-Laws and odd Nooks that to this day many an honest heart doth greatly lose it self in but at this day they shall be otherwise minded that is made all to savour one thing and to walk one way not biting and devouring each other as now And indeed there is all reason it should be thus for the Street it self is but one There is but ONE God ONE Lord Jesus ONE Spirit ONE Faith ONE Baptism even as we are also called in ONE hope of our Calling Now therfore when Saints have the rubbish of Antichristian darkness and trumpery removed then they shall have as they also had of old but one Heart one Soul one Judgment one Mind and shall with one heart and mouth glorifie God The which also shall be prayed for of all the Saints even of all that have received the pure language before these things come to pass They shall call upon the Name of the Lord with ONE Lip to serve him with ONE Consent Zeph. 3. 9. Oh! the heavenly spiritual harmony that will be in the City of God in those days when the Trumpeters and Singers shall be as One to make One Sound then the House shall be filled with a Cloud Thirdly When he saith that the Street of the City was pure Gold he alludes to the Floor in Solomoms Temple which was overlaid with Gold he alludes to Solomons Chariot also whose bottom was paved with Love and overlaid with Gold By the Floor of the Temple we are to understand the way of Holiness and by the Chariot of Solomon the tryumphant Glory of that way Again in that he saith this Street is Gold he would have us to understand the worth and treasure that is laid up in the ways of God and of a truly gracious heart First for the worth and treasure that is laid up in the ways of God They beget Light they change the heart they lead from Death the Devil and Hell to Life God and the Kingdom of Heaven in them God walks and those that walk there also are sure to meet with him O this way It is the way which no Fowl knoweth and which the Vultures eye hath not seen it cannot be gotten for Gold neither shall Silver be weighed for it the Gold and the Crystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine Gold No mention shall be made of Coral or of Pearls for the price of Wisdom is above Rubies Job 28. 7 15 16 17 18 28. All the ways of God they are pleasantness and all his paths are Peace and ought to be preferred before our necessary food Again As the Ways of God are thus rich and so far above the Gold and Rubies of the world so also is that sanctified and gracious heart without which no man can walk in this Golden Street It is not every Clown with his clumping dirty shoes that is admitted into Kings Privy-Chambers and private Palaces Neither doth or will God at the day of New Jerusalem suffer any to trace about this Golden Street but such as have Golden feet and that beautified with goodly shoes For as for this Street all that walk in it they must be golden men with golden hearts and with Graces that are much more precious than Gold that perisheth Further In that he saith this Street is Gold pure Gold he giveth us to understand also what great delight and pleasure the Lord's People will take in his Ways and Ordinances in that day There will not then be that backwardness to do good and to receive God as there is in these more dry empty days of the Gospel As Gold is pleasing to the covetous man and worldling so shall the Ways of God be to the Saints and Godly at that day Now we have strong Corruptions and weak Grace but then we shall have strong Grace and weak withered Corruptions You that are spiritual you know what an high and goodly lifting up of heart one small gale of the good Spirit of God will make in your souls how it will make your lusts to languish and your souls to love and take pleasure in the
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
1 Cor. 3. 11. So then when he saith the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and that in them also are written the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb he doth not mean that this Wall had twelve Christs for its support but That the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles is that Doctrine upon which both Christ and Grace and all Happiness standeth firm and sure for ever and to signifie also that neither Christ nor any of his Benefits can be profitable unto thee unless thou receive him alone upon the terms that they do hold him forth and offer him to Sinners in their Word and Doctrine If we or an Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel saith Paul than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As I said before so I say now again If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. And in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And in them their Names This makes it manifest that by the Foundations of this Wall we are to understand the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles of the Lord Christ for their Names are to it or found ingraved in the Foundations Thus it was with the Doctrine which was the Foundation of the Jewish Church the first Pattern being delivered by the man Moses his Name was always so entailed to that Doctrine that at last it became common and that by Divine Allowance to call that Doctrine by the name of Moses himself There is one that accuseth you saith Christ even Moses in whom you trust and again For Moses of old hath in every City them that preach him John 5. 45. Act. 15. 21. The same liberty of speech doth the Holy Ghost here use in speaking of the Foundations of this Wall which is the Doctrine of the Twelve And in that he calleth the Doctrine by the Name of Foundations and leaveth it onely with telling us the Names of the twelve Apostles are engraven in it he expects that men should be wise that read him and that they should be skilful in the Word of Righteousness if they come up clearly to the understanding of him And in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Thus you see that the twelve Apostles above all the Servants of Christ are here owned to be the foundations of this Wall and good reason for they above all other are most clear and full in the Doctrine of Grace and all Doctrines pertaining to Life and Holiness In other Ages saith Paul it was not made known to the Sons of men as it is now revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit Ephes. 3. 5. Moses was not fit for this for his was a more dark and vailed Administration While Moses is read the Vail is over the Heart saith Paul Neither was any of the Prophets fit for this for they were all inferiour to Moses and were as it were his Scholars Nay John the Baptist is here shut out for the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater then he The Apostles above all other were the men that were with the Lord Jesus all the time from the Baptism of John even until the time he was taken up into Heaven they saw him heard him and discoursed with him and were Beholders of all the wondrous Works that he did they did eat and drink with him after his Passion and saw after he was risen the print of the Nails and the Spear with which he was peirced when he died for our Sins And because they had seen felt and at such a rate experienced all things from the very first both touching his Doctrine Miracles and Life therefore he said unto them in chief Ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and all Judea and in Samaria and unto the utmost parts of the Earth Act. 1. 21. 13. 31. 10. 39. 2. 31. 1 Joh. 1. 2 3. Act. 1. 8. Further The Apostles were in that marvellous manner indued with the holy Ghost that they out-stript all the Prophets that ever went before them neither can I believe that in the best of times there should be any beyond them yet if it should so fall out that a Dispensation should come in which they should have as to the pouring forth of the Spirit their Equals yet it could not follow that therefore the Gospel should be offered in other terms than they at first have offered it especially besides what hath been said of them if you consider to them 't was said Whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven Matth. 18. 18. they as to their Doctrine were infallible 't was impossible they should err he that despised their Doctrine despised God himself Besides they have given in commandment that all should write after their Coppy and that we should judge both Men and Angels that did or would do otherwise Timothy must have his Rule from Paul and so must holy Titus All which if we consider it the holy Ghost speaks to the purpose in saying That in the twelve Foundations are found the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb they are called the chief and such as have laid the Foundation and others build thereon and that as no men have laid the Foundation but they so none can lay even that Foundation otherwise then they afore have laid it 1 Cor. 12. 28. Ephes. 4. 8. 1 Cor. 3. 6 10. Heb. 6. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 3. 11. And in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. These words then teach us two things worthy of our Christian Consideraration First That God hath given to every man a certain and visible mark to aim at for his Salvation or to build his Soul upon namely The Doctrine of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb for in that he saith their Names are in the Foundations it is better for us all things considered then if he had said In them was the Name of God himself that is it is more easie to see this way through the mist of our Carnality what the Mystery of his Will should be which is that we receive Christ according to their Doctrine Words Writings Epistles Letters c. their Names I say being there God counts it as the Broad Seal of Heaven which giveth Authority to all that Doctrine whereunto by themselves they are prefixed and subscribed not where they are writ by others but by themselves I say as the Token of every Epistle and of their Doctrine for Truth the which Paul insinuates when he saith that his hand is the Token of every Epistle as he saith again Am not I an Apostle And again Behold I Paul have written unto you I Paul I an Apostle I a wise Master-Builder I who am
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
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
Souls will be at this day and indeed this is it that is by God expected to be in this City at this day As the Angel with his Measuring-Line said to Zechariah I am going to measure Jerusalem and to see what is the breadth thereof and what is the length thereof To see whether their Doctrine be pure and whether their Obedience be answerable And he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs These latter words do refer us to a distinct measure from that which went before the former measure pointing at the breadth of her Commandment and the length of her Obedience but this at the Glory and Fulness of her Mansions and Portions For after he had said The City lieth four square and that the length is as large as the breadth which is the full and compleat effect of that first measure he comes over again with an other measuring saying And he measured the City twelve thousand furlongs as who should say He measured the City Gates and Wall first and sound them all exact and according to the Golden Reed and after he had so done he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs He measured the City with the Reed That is He measured out to the City he measured for the City for its Lot and Portion twelve thousand Furlongs Which very thing you find in the Vision of the Prophet Ezekiel for after he had measured the City the Vessels with the Instruments of Worship I say when he had done this he comes again with an afterwards to measure the City her Portions and Mansions Ezek. 47. 1 c. Wherefore I say these words do refer to her Portion that she is to enjoy of her God as the former referreth to her Duty and Obedience Now that which maketh me conclude that this latter measure is a measure distinct from the former and that it relateth neither to the exactness of Rule nor the compleatness of Obedience but only to the largeness of the Portions that God will allot for thy Sons and Daughters thou City of God it is First Because this is the biggest measure For I find by considering the Scripture that as the Persons and Things pertaining to the Worship of God were to go according to the Rule of this Golden Reed so also the Portions that pertained to the Persons worshiping was to go by Rule and Measure also as here he saith he measured also the City or to it with the Reed twelve thousand furlongs And hence it is that our Grace is called the measure of Grace and that our Glory is called a weight of Glory Now I say I find that our Portions do go always under the biggest measure the Spoons Cups Flaggons Snuffers Basons Candlesticks and Pans which were the Instruments of Worship were not so large as the Chambers in the Temple and the compass of the holy Land which were the Mansions and Portions of the Church Secondly I take the twelve thousand furlongs to signifie Portions rather than Worship or Worshippers because as to the nature of it it most exactly agrees with the Portions that are measured out to this City by the Angel before Ezekiel which is a measuring forth so much Land for the Portion of the Prince so much for the Portion of the Priest and so much for the Portion of the twelve Tribes Yea the very phrase twelve thousand furlongs also implieth such a compass of Ground by which we find the holy Land hath been measured Lastly I take it to be thus also because I find not in all this description of this holy City that any place doth give us that ground to speak to her measure of Portion as this and it would seem strange to me that the description of this City given by Ezekiel should be more compleat then this that is given by our Prophet John for Ezekiel doth most amply set forth her Portions even distinctly for Prince Priest and the Tribes in particular This therefore is to be understood of the Portions of the City which John did see was measured out unto her immediately after he saw the breadth of her Rule and the length of her Obedience Onely consider that Ezekiel measureth by Reeds not counting by Furlongs but John though he measureth by Reeds yet counteth by Furlongs But now though the holy Ghost is thus pleased to speak of the Portions of the Saints in the New Jerusalem as if he intended chiefly that their Portion should consist in outward Happiness and in the enjoyment of such and such a Portion or compass of ground Yet consider that these are but metaphorical and borrowed Expressions spoken to our Capacities under which is indeed included the nature of our blessed and spiritual Food and Nourishment You know it is usual for the holy Ghost in Scripture to call the Saints Sheep Lambs Heifers Cows Rams Doves Swallows Pâ—licans and the like and also to call their Food their spiritual and heavenly Food Grass Provender Wheat Wine Oyl Grapes Apples Figs Nuts and the like also all which are but shadowish and figurative expressions even as this of the measure of the twelve thousand furlongs and observe it that which John saith here is twelve thousand furlongs Ezekiel tells us it lieth on this side and on that side of the bank of the River of the Water of Life Now I think there is none so much void of understanding as to think this Water of Life is any thing else but the precious Grace of God in and thorow the Lord Jesus Wherefore the ground or measure for Portions it is nothing else but our spiritual and heavenly Food even spiritual Grace and Gifts and Comforts that the holy Ones of this City shall most plentifully partake of and enjoy And so indeed the Prophet also saith speaking of the Portions of the holy Land for this City The increase thereof saith he shall be for Food unto them that serve the City and they that serve it shall serve it out of the twelve Tribes of Israel Out of the twelve Tribes that is out of the twelve thousand Furlongs which is the the Portion of the Tribes This is according to the Saying of the Prophet David He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me besides the still Waters and again For the Lamb that is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them into living Fountains of Water for their shame they shall have double and for confusion they shall rejoyce in their Portion Therefore in their Land they shall possess the double Everlasting Joy shall be upon them Psal. 23. 2. Rev. 7. 17. Isa. 61. 7. Thus you see the measure of the City Gates and Wall and the effect of that and thus you see also the measure of the Portion for the City with what it is Wherefore it remaineth that we see what is to be the