The Holy City, Commentary · Chapter 21 · Verse 20
Vers. 20.
The first Foundation was a Jasper, the second a Saphir, the third a Chalcedony, the fourth an Emerald, the fifth Sardonyx, the sixth Sardius, the seventh Chrysolite, &c.
Thus having shewed you the garnishing and beautifying of the twelve Foundations, he now comes to discover the Foundations themselves, with reference to their order of placing and lying.
Touching which order, he saith the first and bottom Foundation is a Jasper.
I have hitherto said that this Jasper inThe Jasper does represent the Lord Christ up on several accounts. both the two afore-mentioned places, both as to the Light of this City, and also of the Wall, it was Jesus Christ; Christ illuminating, and Christ defending: But here the Jasper is said to be one of the twelve Foundations, even one of those Foundations in which are writ the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb, which one would think did put this Jasper now into another state, even to be a representation of one of the twelve Apostles, and not of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ himself: To which I shall yet say, That the Jasper here in the order of the Foundations, is to be understood of Christ, as well as in the other two places in this Discourse; I say it is yet to be understood of representing the Lord Jesus, though it also doth bear the name of one of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb: And in this very thing there is an infolding Mystery wrapped up, and inclosed.
For first, In that the Name of an ApostleThe first account. is writ in this Stone, and yet that this Jasper should represent Christ, it sheweth unto us the agreement that is between the Doctrine of the Apostles, and Christ himself, to wit, That they are one and the very same; and hence it is that the Apostle saith, We preach Christ crucified: 1 Cor. 1. 23, 24.Christ in all his Benefits is the very Marrow, Life and Sum of all their Teaching; Other Foundation can no man 1 Cor. 3. 11.lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Wherefore the Doctrine of the Apostles being Christ it self, no marvel though the Name of an Apostle be writ upon this Jasper; and again, no marvel though this Jasper go yet under that Name that represents him.
Secondly, In that it is said the NamesThe 2d. account. of the Twelve are in these twelve Foundations, and yet that the first of them should be the Jasper, Christ; It argueth also that whosoever receiveth the Doctrine of the Twelve, they must needs with that receive the Lord Christ himself: Receive the Doctrine of the Gospel, as it is held forth by the Twelve in the Word, and thou canst not miss of the Lord Jesus Christ himself; he will be found in the bottom of their Doctrine: Ye are builded upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone, Ephes. 2. 19, 20.
Thirdly, In that he saith in theseThe third account. twelve Stones are the Names of the twelve Apostles, and yet that the first should be the Jasper, Christ; It argueth also that where-ever the Doctrine of the Twelve is preached, there is therewith the presence of Christ: the presence of his Spirit to teach and enlighten the ignorant and blind Hearts of the Unconverted; the presence also of his Power, to overcome them, and to make them fall under the Glory and Truth of his heavenly Word: Lo, saith he, I am with you always, even to the end of the World: And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following, Mat. 28. 19, 20. Mark 16. 20.
Fourthly, In that he saith the NamesThe 4th account. of the Twelve are in the Foundations, and yet that Christ should be one of the twelve himself; It sheweth to us the Union that is between Christ and his holy People: Mark, In the twelve Foundations are placed all, even all manner of precious Stones: again, In the Twelve is placed the Jasper, Christ; by which we may see the nearness that is between Christ and his whole Body: I in them, and thou in me, saith Christ, that they may be made perfect in one, John 17. 23. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Christ and his Saints make but one Temple, one Man; being but one Flesh, one Nature, &c.
Fifthly, In that this Jasper is said toThe fifth account. be one of the Foundations, and that too the first and undermost; He sheweth farther, that Christ is the Foundation of them before God, that are the Foundation of him before men: The Twelve do bear up Christ before the World, as the twelve brazen Oxen did hold up the1 Kin. 7. 25. Molten Sea in the Temple; and Christ doth bear up the Twelve before his Father, as the high Priests did carry the twelve Stones on their Brest-plate of Judgment, when they went to make an Atonement for the Sins of the PeopleExod. 28. 29. into the Holiest.
Sixthly, It sheweth us further, ThatThe sixth account. though the Apostles shall be adorned with the Conversion of those that they shall win to the Lord Christ; yet they will never be able to stand under that Glory and Honour, unless they are supported and upheld by Christ, as their Foundation. Sirs, As Christ is the Strength of his People in their Work for him in this World, so he must be their Strength by which they must stand under the Reward they shall have for their labour, when this World is ended: And hence it is, that the Prophet saith, They shall hang upon him all the Glory of his Fathers House, the Off-spring and the Issue; all Vessels of small quantity, from the Vessels of Cups, even to the Vessels of Flagons; and again, He shall build the Temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the Glory, Isa. 22. 24. Zech. 6. 13. He shall bear the Glory of our Salvation from Sin, Preservation in the midst of all Temptations, and of our going to Glory; also he shall bear the Glory of our labour in the Gospel, of our Gifts and Abilities, of making our Labour and Work effectual to the saving of Sinners, that in all things he might have the preheminence, Col. 1. 18.
Seventhly, In that the FoundationsThe 7th account. are twelve, and Christ the undermost of them; It signifieth that all that are converted by the Twelve, as they shall be for the garnishing of the Twelve, so also both the Twelve, with all that they are garnished with, shall be for garnishing of Christ; we shall stick like Pearls in the Crowns of the twelve Apostles, and they again with all their Glory shall stick in the Crown of Christ. And hence it is that you finde the four and twenty Elders, which four and twenty do (as I conceive) hold forth the Twelve both in the first and second Jerusalem; I say, hence it is that you finde them take their Crowns from off their Heads, and cast them down before the Throne of God,Rev. 4. 9, 10, 11. and of the Lamb, crying, Blessing, and Honour, and Glory, and Power be unto Him Rev. 5. 11 12, 13, 14.that sits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.
Lastly, One thing more of this goodly The 8th account.Jasper, and then to the rest; which thing is this, That Jasper that here you find to be the first in the twelve Foundations, even that Jasper you find to be last of all among the Stones in the *Exod. 28. 20.Brest-Plate of Judgment: from whence you may note, 1. That Christ as he is to be the †Heb. 12. 12.Author or first of our Faith, so also he is to be the Finisher or last of our Faith. 2. That as he is to be the *Heb. 2. 10. Isa. 52. 12 & 58. 8. Exod. 14. 19.Captain and Leader of his People, so he is to be the Rere-ward and Bringer-up of his People, he is to go before them to lead them the way; and to come behind them to bring them all up. 3. Again, for asmuch as he is said to be last before he is first; that is, last in Exodus, and after that, first in the Revelations; it may be to shew us, that Christ was first to be least, lowest and last, and then to be Greatest, Highest, and First. He first humbled himself to the death, even to the shamefull death of the Cross; and then was by God his Father exalted and placed above every name: As he alsoPhil. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. himself doth witness, saying, Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to have entered into his Glory? Luke 24, 26.
The first Foundation was a Jasper, the second a Saphir, the third a Chalcedony, the fourth an Emerald, the fifth Sardonyx, the sixth Sardius, the seventh Crysolite, the eighth Beryl, the ninth Topaz, &c.
Touching the Jasper, you see what ITouching the rest of the Foundations. have said. Now all I have to say to the rest of them, it is in general these three things.
First, In that the Foundations are all and every one of them Precious Stones, it signifieth that all the Doctrines of the New Jerusalem, will be only the precious Doctrine of the twelve Apostles; not common stuff, not raked out of the dunghils and muck-heaps of this world, and from among the toyes of Antichrist, but spiritual, heavenly and glorious. He that hath his Word shall then speak it faithfully, For what is the chaff to the Wheat, saith the Lord? Jer. 23. 32.
Secondly in that they are called after the names of Precious Stones, it signifieth also, that at that day none shall be used or put into the Ministry but those that have received spiritual and heavenly Gifts from above. 'Tis not every babling fellow, not those that look for their abilities from the rudiments of the world, that then shall be of any value or account: He must be a costly Stone, a stone about which the Lord Jesus hath bestowed the cost of his heavenly Abilities, even he whom the Lord Jesus shall appear unto for that very purpose, to make him a Minister: He shall be a Minister, and none else at that day. The other shall be ashamed every one of his vision; yea, and shall in those dayes be so contemptible, that their Father and their Mother shall reprove them, and count them liars;Zech. 13. 3, 4, 5. yea, and shall be ready to run them through, while they are prophesying in their rough garments to deceive.
Thirdly, In that these precious Stones are not all of one and the same nature, but every one of them several, and diverse one from another: It argueth that the Gifts of the Apostles, and so of the Ministers of the New Jerusalem, shall be†The differing nature and operations of these stones, do hold forth the differences of administrations and operations that was and will ever be among the true and holy Ministers of the Lord Jesus. differing one from another in Glory and operation; yet mark, as in these Stones, so in every one of them shall be perfect Glory, according to the nature of God's working by his Spirit; as the nature of the Jasper is perfect in his kind, and the nature of the Saphir is perfect in his. These Stones, some of them are of greater light and cleerness than others; and so some of the Apostles are cheifest. Some of these Stones, again, they are of a more fiery & burning colour than others, they being bright also, but of a more mild brightness. Therefore some of the Ministry are called the Sons of Thunder, when others are stiled by the name of the Sons of Consolation. The gifts are differing being diverse, their administrations are differing, and the operations of them also are differing, though all these things are from that one and the self same spirit, working in every one severally as he pleases, 2 Cor. 11. 5. Rom. 12. 6. Mark 3. 17. Act. 4. 36. 1 Cor. 12. 4, 5, 6. All these things will spangle in the New Jerusalem, and carry their full breadth and sway as in the dayes of old.
To conclude this, In that he here saith, That the Foundations of the Wall are these twelve Stones; he doth it to shew that now also the former ministration that was in the Apostles days will … the same, and in full force again: For their gifts of Knowledge, Judgment and Authority, they are such as have to this day lain buried, as it were, with the Apostles themselves; but now they shall shew themselves again, even these Foundation-stones, Stones that are great Stones, Stones of ten Cubits, and Stones of eight Cubits, 1 Kings 7. 10. Thus much of the glory of the Foundations.