The Holy City, Commentary · Chapter 21 · Verse 21
Ver. 21.
And the twelve Gates are twelve Pearls, every several Gate was of one Pearl; and the Street of the City was pure Gold, as it were transparent Glass.
Having thus shewed us the glory of this City, Wall, and Foundations, he now comes to shew us the glory of the Gates, and of the Street of the City.
And the twelve Gates are twelve Pearls.—
The Gates, I told you before, theyThe glory of the Gates. signify Christ, both as he is the way to communion with the God of this City, and with the Inhabitants thereof, that so they may have a share in the Priviledges of the same. I told you also then, that though he tels us exactly of the measure both of City and Wall, yet he tells us nothing of the measure of these twelve Gates, and goings in thereat; and the reason is, because, Christ as he is the way to Grace, He is beyond all measure, both as to fulness and freeness, Ephes. 3. 8. And now again he puts us to the same plunge with the unsearchable riches of the Lord Christ; for who can count the worth of a Pearl as big as the Gates of a City? as indeed, when Christ himself doth speak of the Parable of the Pearl in the Field, he only telleth us that there is such a one, but never valueth the worth thereof, only he saith, a Pearl of great price, and so leaveth it, Mat. 13. 35, 36. Now when he saith that the Gates are Pearls, he thereby insinuates several things. As
First, To shew us how rich a TreasureChrist a rich Christ to all that enter here Christ Jesus our Lord is, and will be to all those that by him shall enter in through the Gates into this City; Riches and Honour are with me, saith he, even durable Riches and Righteousness. My fruit (or the fruit of entering in by me) it is better than Gold, and my revenues th… choice Silver. I lead in the way of Righteousness, in the midst of the Paths of Judgment; That I may cause them that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures, Pro. 8. 18, 19, 20, 21. Ephes. 3. 8.
Christ is rich indeed, both in his Blood, Resurrection, Intercession, and all his Offices, together with his Relations, and all his Benefits; all which he bestoweth upon every one that receiveth him, and maketh them unspeakably wealthy.
Secondly, The Pearl, as it is rich,Christ is beautifull to al that here do enter. and so worth much, so again it is beautiful and amiable, even to take the eyes of all beholders; it hath, I say, a very sweet and sparkling Light and Glory in it, enough to take the eye, and affect the heart of all those that look upon it: And thus is Christ to all that come to him, and by him to the Father, &c. My Beloved, Cant. 5. 10. 16.saith she, is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand; his mouth is most sweet, he is altogether lovely.
The Mother of Harlots had some knowledge of the Beauty and Glory of this Stone, and knew that it had a very taking and drawing Glory in it; and therefore she gets it for some time to adorn her self withal, She was decked with Gold Rev. 18. 4 Ezek. 16 17.and precious Stones, and Pearls, and was therefore called the well-favoured Harlot, Nah. 3. 4.by which means she hath drawn into her lewdness the Kings and Kingdoms of the world; who have in such sort been entangled with her Beauty, and with her Fornication, that they have been adulterated from God and their own Salvation: For indeed, she used this Pearl but for to get them to drink of her Fornication, that they might drink, and spue, and fall and never rise more. But now when he saith, the Gates are Pearl, it is as if he had said, This Woman is stript of her beauty and delicate ornaments, the†Rev. 18. 12, 22, 23 Pearl is taken from her, and is set in his right place, even to be for the Gates of Jerusalem. Wherefore it is to be expected, that many should be taken with the way of entrance into this beloved City, in the day that she shall be set up, and appear in her heavenlyPro. 8. 35 & 3. 35. 1 Cor. 2. 8 Joh. 17. 24. beauty. The glory of that City must needs be great, whose Wall is Jasper, and Gates are Pearl.
And the twelve Gates are twelve Pearls.
Not Pearls and other Precious stonesChrist only can let in souls to the priviledges of his Church. commixed, but Pearl, only: To signifie that Christ only can let in souls into this City, that they may partake of the goodness and priviledges thereof. 'Tis not he and Saints together, neither is it all the Saints and Angels in Heaven without him, He alone hath the Key of David; and that openeth, and no man shutteth; and that shutteth, and no man openeth. Rev. 22. 22. & 3. 7.
Secondly, As he saith, The several Gates are each of them Pearls: So he saith, that every several Gate was of One Pearl; of one entire Pear. By which he would have us understand also, that asAs none can enter in but by Christ, so none can enter-in but by WHOLE CHRIST. none can enter in but by Christ, so none can enter in but by whole Christ. Christ must be helpful to thee every way, or he will be helpful to thee no way; thou must enter in by every whit of Christ, or thou shalt enter in by never a whit of him. Wherefore look not to have him thy Saviour, if thou take him not for King and Prophet; nay thou shalt not have him in any one, if thou dost not take him in every one of these. Wherefore the Prophet saith, He shall build the Temple of the Lord (that is, by his Prophetical Office) and he shall sit and rule upon his Throne, and he shall be a Priest upon his Throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both, Zech. 6. 12, 13.
And the Street of the City was pure Gold, as it were transparent Glass.
In these words there are four things to be enquired into.
First, What this Street is?Of the Glory of the street
Secondly, Why he saith not [Streets] but [Street] as of one?
Thirdly, Why this Street is called by the term of pure Gold?
Fourthly, And why it should look like transparent Glass?
For the First, A Street ordinarily is the place of common concourse, and the place of continual open salutation, and taking acquaintance one of another; and as touching this Street, we are also to understand it of the open and common place, or way of Gods Worship in which Saints salute each other, and acquaint themselves together; also here the World are converted, Saints built up and edified, &c. Wisdom cryeth without, she uttereth Prov. 1. 20, 21.her voice in the Streets, saith Solomon, she cryeth in the chief places of concourse, in the opening of the Gates: in the City she uttereth her words; that is, in the publickWhat is meant by street. and righteous Ordinances of the Lord Jesus, which he hath ordained in his Church, for men to travel and trade in, for the good and wholsome merchandizePro. 8. 1, 23. and 9. 1, 2, 3. … of Heaven, as the men of this world do for the things thereof, in 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, Neh. 8.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 treadingThe Gate. in the way and paths of Holiness. Wherefore it is usual in the holy Scripture to call the transformatian of the sinnerPsal. 86. 11. & 143. 8. from Satan to God, a holy way, and also to admonish him that is so transformedEzra 11. 20. to walk in that way, saying, Walk in the Faith, Love, Spirit, and newness of Life, Ezek. 37 24.and walk in the Truth, Wayes, Statutes and Gal. 5. 25.Judgments of God.
He that entereth not by these GatesRom. 4. 12. into the City, he cannot walk in newness of life; but he that hath entered in byEphes. 5. 1, 2. 2 Joh. 4. Rom. 6. 4. 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 ofWhy this street is called not many, but one. 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 CityDan. 9. 25. 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, Eph. 4. 5, 6.ONE Spirit, ONE Faith, ONE Baptism, Act. 2. 24 & 32. 33.even as we are also called in ONE hope of our Calling: Now therfore when SaintsPhilip. 1. 27. have the rubbish of Antichristian darknessRom. 15. 6. 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, †2 Chro. 5. 13. 1 King. 6. 30. Cant. 3. 10. Why the Street is called Gold.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, theyPsal. 119. 130. & 119. 9. Prov. 2. Isa. 64. 5. 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 Prov. 3. 17.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 thatCant. 7. 1 walk in it, they must be [golden men]1 Pet. 1. 7. with [golden hearts] and with Graces that are much more precious than Gold that Rev. 3. 18perisheth.
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 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. What is meant by 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 first Reason why transparant 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, Isa. 24. 23.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 wereRev. 8. 12. & 9. 2. 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 †Exod. 6. 3.either to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob their fathers. The Book also, at the recovering the Church from underRev. 5th and 6th chapters. 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 Dan. 12 9 Jer. 30. 24. Jer. 23. 20.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 theThe second reason why Transparent Glass 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 1 Cor. 13. 13.these is Charity; it is the fulfilling of the 1 Cor. 12. 31.Law, the Bond of Perfectness, and the most excellent Way: Wherefore the holyRom. 13. 10. Ghost doth mean by this word TRANSPARENT Glass, that the height of1 Cor. 16. 14. Light, and the height of Love will beCol. 3. 14 found in this City; all their things shall be done without confused smoak and darkness, and also without spiritual pri… 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 Rev. 15. 8Angels were fulfilled: but when the seven last Plagues are spent, and when all the Adversaries of the Church, which Ezek. 32. 18, &c.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.