The Holy City, Commentary · Chapter 21 · Verse 11

The Holy City · Commentary · Chapter 21 · Verse 11

p. 29Vers. 11.

Having the Glory of God:

These last words do put the whole matter out of doubt, and do most clearly shew unto us, that the descending of this City is the perfect return of the Church out of Captivity: The Church, when she began at first to go into Captivity, her Glory began to depart from her; and p. 30now she is returning again, she receiveth therewith her former Glory, having the Glory of God. Thus it was in the Type, when Jerusalem went into Captivity under the King of Babylon (which was a figure of the Captivity of our New-Testament-Church under Antichrist) it is said that then the glory of God departed from them, and went by degrees, first out of the Temple to the Threshold of the House, and from thence with the Cherubims of Glory, for that time quite away from the City, Ezek. 10. 4, 18. & 11. 22, 23, &c.

Again, As the Glory of God departed from this City at her going into Captivity; so when▪ she returned again, she had also then returned to her the Glory of God; whereupon this very Prophet that saw the Glory of God go from her at her going into Captivity, did see it, the very same; and that according as it departed, so return at her deliverance▪ He brought me to the Gate, saith he, (that is, when by a Vision he saw all the Frame and Patterns of the City and Temple, in the state in which it was to be after the Captivity) he brought me to the Gate that looketh toward the East, and behold the Glory of the God of Israel came from the way p. 31the East (the very same way that it went, when it departed from the City, Ezek. 11. 23.) his Voice was like the Voice of many Waters, and the Earth shined with his Glory; It was according to the appearance of the Vision which I saw, even according to the Vision that I saw when I came to destroy the City, and the Vision was like the Vision that I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face, and the Glory of the Lord came into the House by the way of the Gate, whose prospect is towards the East: so the Spirit took me up, and brought▪ me into the inner Court, and behold, the Glory of the Lord filled the House, Ezek. 43. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Thus you see it was in the Destruction and Restoration of the Jews Jerusalem, by which God doth plainly shew us how things will be in our Gospel-Church; she was to decline and lose her glory, she was to be trampled (as she was a City)Rev. 11.Rev 11 for a long time under the feet of the unconverted and wicked World: Again, She was after this to be builded, and to be put into her former Glory; at which time she was to have her Glory, her former Glory, even the Glory of God returned to her again; He shewed me, saith John, p. 32that great City the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having … Glory of God: As he saith by the Prophet, I am Returned to Jerusalem with Mercies, and my House shall be built in it: and again, I am Returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, Zech. 1. 16. & 8. 3.

Having the Glory of God:

There is the Grace of God, and the Glory of that Grace; there is the Power of God, and the Glory of that Power; and there is the Majesty of God, and the Glory of that Majesty, Ephes. 1. 6. 2 Thess. 2. 9. Isa. 2. 19.

'Tis true, God doth not leave his People in some sence, even in the worst of times, and in their most forlorn condition;Joh. 14. 18.John 14:18 as he sheweth by his being with them in their sad state in Egypt and Babylon, Dan. 3. 25.Dan 3:25and other of their states of calamity: as he saith, Though I cast them far off among the Heathen, and although I have scattered them among the Countreys; yet will I be to them a little Sanctuary in the Countreys where they shall come, Ezek. 11 16. God is with his Church even i… p. 33her greatest adversity, both to limit, bound, measure and appoint out to herIsa. 27. 7, 8, 9.Isa 27:7Isa 27:8Isa 27:9 her quantity and quality, her beginningRev. 2. 10Rev 2:10 and duration of distress and temptation: but yet I say the Glory of God, in the notion of Ezekiel and John (when they speak of the Restoration of this City) that is not always upon his People, though always they are beloved, and counted for his peculiar Treasure. She may then have his Grace, but not at the same time the glory of his Grace; his Power, but not the glory of his Power; she may also have his Majesty, when not the glory thereof: God may be with his Church, even then when the Glory is departed from Israel.

The difference that is between her having his Grace, Power and Majesty, and the Glory of each, is manifest in these following particulars: Grace, Power, and Majesty, when they are in the Church in their own proper Acts, onelyonly as we are considered Saints before God, so they are invisible, and that not onelyonly altogether to the World, but often to the very Children of God themselves; but …ow when the glory of these do rest upon …he Church, according to Ezekiel and p. 34John, why then it will be visible and ap▪parant to all Beholders; When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall APPEAR in his glory, Psal. 102. 16. as he saith also in another place, The Lord shall ARISE upon thee, and his glory shall be SEEN upon thee, Isa. 60. 1, 2.

Now then to speak a word or two in particular, to the Glory of God that at this day will be found to settle upon this City.

First therefore at her returning, she shall not onelyonly have his Grace upon her, but the very Glory of his Grace shall be seen upon her; the glory of Pardoning Grace shall now shine in her own Soul; and Grace in the glory of it shall appear in all her doings: now shal both our inward and outward man be most famously adorned and beautified with Salvation; the golden Pipes that are on the Head of the golden Zech. 4. 2Zech 4:2Candlestick shall at this day convey with all freeness the golden Oyl thereout, into our golden Hearts and Lamps: Our Win… shall be mixt with Gall no longer, we shall now drink the pure blood of the Grape the glory of pardoning and forgivin… Mercy shall so shew it self at this day in this City, and shall so visibly abide the… p. 35in the Eyes of all Spectators, that all shall be inflamed with it: For Zions sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest, untill the Righteousness thereo… go forth as brightness, and the Salvation t…ereof as a Lamp that burneth: and the Gentiles shall see thy Righteousness, and all Kings thy Glory; and thou shalt be called by a new Name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name, Isa. 62. 1, 2. and again, The Lord shall make bare his holy Name in the eyes of all the Nations, and all the ends of the Earth shall see the Salvation of God, Isa. 52. 9, 10. Psal. 98. 2. At that day the Prophet tells us that there shall be HOLINESS upon the very Horses Bridles; and that the Pots in the Lords House shall be like the Bowls before the Altar; and every Pot in Jerusalem shall be Holiness unto the Lord, Zech. 14. 20, 21. The meaning of all these places is, That in the day that the Lord doth turn his Church and People into the frame and fashion of a City, and when he shall build them up to answer the first state of the Church, there will such Grace and plenty of Mercy be extended unto her, begetting such Faith and Holiness and Grace in her Soul, and all her Actions, p. 36that she shall convince all that are about her, that she is the City, the beloved City, the City that the Lord hath chosen; for after that he had said before, He would return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, Zech. 8. 3Zech 8:3he saith moreover, That Jerusalem shall be called, A City of Truth, and the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the holy Mountain: And all the People of the Earth shall see that thou art called by the Name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of thee, Deut. 28. 10.

Secondly, As the Glory of the Grace of God will at his day be wonderful manifest in and over his City; so also at that day will be seen the Glory of his Power: O my People, saith God, that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian; he shall smite thee with a Rod, and shall lift up his Staff against thee after the manner of Egypt (that is, shall persecute and afflict thee, as Pharaoh served thy Friends of old) but be not afraid: for yet a little while and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction: and the Lord of Host shall stir up a scourge for him, according to the slaughter of Midian at the Rock Oreb: and as his Rod was upon the Judg. 7.Judg 7Sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner p. 37of Egypt: the sum is, God will at the day of his rebuilding the New Jerusalem so visibly make bare his Arm, and be so exalted before all by his Power towards his People, that no People shall dare to oppose (or stand, if they do make the least attempt to hinder) the stability of this City, Isa. 10. 24, 25, 26, 27. I will surely (gather or) assemble, O Jacob, all of thee, saith God: I will surely gather the Remnant of Israel—as the Sheep of Bozrah, as the flocks in the midst of the fold; they shall make a noise by reason of the multitude Mich. 2. 12, 13.Mic 2:12Mic 2:13of men: The breaker up is come up before them, they have broken up (the Antichristian siege that hath been laid against them) they are gone thorow the gate, they are gone out of it, and their King shall pass before them, and the Lord in the head of them: Like as a Lion and a young Lion roaring on the prey, when a multitude of Shepherds are called forth against him, he will not be affraid of their Voice, nor abase Isa. 42. 13 14.Isa 42:13himself for the noise of them; so shall the Lord come down to fight for Mount Zion Isa. 31. 4, 5.Isa 31:4Isa 31:5and for the Hill thereof: The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man, and shall stir Zech. 12. 8.Zech 12:8up Jealousie like a man of War; he shall Zeph. 3. 8Zeph 3:8cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his p. 38Joel 3. 16Joel 3:16Enemies; but not by Might, nor yet by Power, that is, the Power and Arm ofZech. 4. 6Zech 4:6 Flesh, but by the power of the Word and Spirit of God, which will prevail, and must prevail, to quash and over-turn all opposition.

Thirdly, When God hath thus appeared in the Glory of his Grace, and the Glory of his Power, to deliver his Chosen; then shall the implacable Enemies of God shrink, and creep into holes like the Locusts and Frogs of the Hedges, at the appearance of the Glory of the Majesty of God: now the high ones, lofty ones, haughty ones, and the proud, shall see so evidently the hand of the Lord towards his Servants, and his indignation towards his Enemies, that they shall go into the Rocks and Holes of the Earth, and into the tops of the ragged Rocks, for the fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majesty, when he shall arise to shake terribly the Earth, Isa. 2.

Where the presence of the Lord doth so appear upon a People, that those that are Spectators perceive and understandJosh. 2. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.Josh 2:8Josh 2:9Josh 2:10Josh 2:11Josh 2:12Josh 2:13 it, it must needs work on those Spectators one of these two things; either first a trembling and astonishment, and quailing p. 39of Heart, as it doth among the implacableJosh. 9. 22, 23, 24, 25.Josh 9:22Josh 9:23Josh 9:24Josh 9:25 Enemies; or else a buckling and bending of Heart, and submission to his People and Ways; as saith the Prophet, The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee, all they that despised thee shall fall down at the soles of thy feet; they shall call thee, The City of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel: as Moses said to the Children of Israel, The Lord shall put the fear of you, and the dread of you upon all the Land that you shall tread upon, as he said unto you. Isa. 60. 14. Deut. 11. 25.

At this day the footsteps of the Lord will be so apparent and visible in all his actions and dispensations in and towards his People, this holy City, that all shall see, as I have said, how gratious, loving, kind and good the Lord is now towards his own Children: Such glory, I say, will be over them, and upon them, that they all will shine before the World; and such tender Bowels in GOD towards them, that no sooner can an Adversary peep, or lift up his Head against his Servants, but his hand will be in the Neck of them: so that in short time he will have brought his Church into that safety, and p. 40her Neighbours into that fear and submission, that they shall not again so much as dare to hold up a hand against her, no not for a thousand Years. Thus saith the Rev. 20. 3.Rev 20:3Lord, Behold, I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents, and have mercy upon his dwelling Places; and the City shall be builded upon her own heap, and the Palace shall remain after the manner thereof: and out of them shall proceed thanks-giving, and the Voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; and I will also glorifie them, and they shall not be small: Their Children also shall be as aforetime, and their Congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all that oppress them, Jer. 30. 18, 19, 20.

Having the Glory of God: And her Light was like unto a Stone most precious, even like a Jasper Stone, clear as Crystal.

Having thus told us of her Glory, even of the Glory of God, how it at this day will rest upon this City; he now comes to touch a second thing, to wit, her Light, and that in which she descends, and by which, as with the Light of the Sun, she seeth before her, and behind p. 41her, and on every side: This therefore is another Branch of her Beauty; She in her descending hath the Glory of God, and also the Light of a Stone most precious.

Ezekiel tells us, That in the Vision that he saw when he came to destroy the City, (which Vision was the very same that he saw again at the restoring of it) he saith, I say, that in this Vision among many other wonders, he saw a Fire infolding Ezek. 1. 4Ezek 1:4it self, and Brightness about it; and that the Fire also was bright, and that out Ver. 13, 14of it went forth Lightning; that the likeness of the Firmament upon the living Creatures, was the colour of the terribleVers. 22. Crystal; that the Throne also, upon which was placed the likeness of a Man, was like, or as the appearance of a Saphir-Stone:Vers. 26. all which words, with the nature of their Light and Colour, the holy Ghost doth in the Vision of John comprize, and placeth within the Colour of the Jasper, and the Crystal-stone. And indeed, though the Vision of John and Ezekiel, touching the end of the matter be but one and the same, yet they do very much vary and differ in terms and manner of Language: Ezekiel tells us, That the man that he saw come to measure p. 42the City and Temple, had in his hand a Line of††Ezek. 40. 3.Ezek 40:3 Flax, which Line John calls a Golden Reed: Ezekiel tells us that the River came out of, or from under the**Ezek. 47. 1.Ezek 47:1 Threshold of the House; but John saith it came out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb: Ezekiel tells us that on either side of this River grew All Trees Ver. 12.for food; John calls these ALL Trees, but ONE Tree, and tells us that it stood on both sides of this River: The like might also be shewed you in many other particulars, as here you see they differ as touching the terms of the Light and Brightness that appears upon this City at her rebuilding, which the holy Ghost represents to John under the Light and Glory of the Jasper and Crystal Stone: for indeed, the end of Ezekiel's Vision was to shew us, That as when the Glory of God departed from the City, it signified that he would take away from them the Light of his Word, and their clearness of Worship; suffering them to mourn for the loss of the one, and to grope for the want of the other: so at his return again, he would give them both their former Light of Truth, and also the clearness of Spirit to understand it; p. 43which also John doth shew us shall last for ever.

—And her Light was like unto a Stone most precious—

This Stone it is to represent unto us the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose light and clearness this City comes out of Babylon: for, as he saith, she hath the Glory of God, that is, his visible hand of Grace, Power, and Majesty, to bring her forth; so she comes in the light of this precious Stone: which terms, I say, both the Prophet Isaiah, and the Apostle Peter, do apply to the Lord Jesus, and none else; the one calling him, A precious Corner-Stone, the other calling him, The chief Corner-Stone, elect and precious, Isa. 28. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Now then, when he saith this City hath the light of this Stone to descend in, he means, That she comes in the shining Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Influences of Christ, out of her afflicted and captivated State: and observe it, she is rather said to descend in the Light of this Stone, then in the Light of God (though both be true) because it is the Man Christ, the Stone which the p. 44Builders rejected, in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, of whose fulness we do all receive, and Grace for Grace: for it hath pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell, Col. 2. 3. John 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. see also Act. 2. 33. and Ephes. 4. 10, 11, 12, 13.

This sheweth us then these two things: first, That the time of the return of the Saints to build the ruinous City, is near, yea, very near, when the Light of the Lord Jesus begins to shine unto perfect day in her: God will not bring forth his People out of Babylon, especially those that are to be the chief in the building of this City, without their own Judgments:The light of the Church shall be according to the purity of the Word. They shall see Eye to Eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion: as he saith also in another place, The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the Breach of his People, and healeth the Isa. 52. 8. & 30. 26Isa 52:8Isa 30:26stroke of their Wound. Now the Eyes of them that see, shall not be dim; & the Ears of them that hear, shall hearken: The Heart also of the rash shall understand Knowledge, and the Isa. 32. 3, 4.Isa 32:3Isa 32:4Tongue of the Stammerers shall be ready to Isa. 33. 5, 6.Isa 33:5Isa 33:6speak plainly: The Lord shall be now exalted, p. 45and be very high, for he will fill Zion with Judgement and Righteousness, and Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of thy times: When Israel went out of Egypt, they wanted much of this; they went out blindfolded as it were, they went they knew not whither; wherefore they went not in the glory of that which this City descendeth in; as Moses said, The Lord hath not given you an Heart to perceive, nor Eyes to see, nor Ears to hear, unto this day, Deut. 29. 4. But these shall see every step they take; they shall be like the Beasts that had Eyes both before and behind; they shall see how far they are come out of Antichrist, and shall see also how far yet they have to go, to the compleat rebuilding and finishing of this City.

Secondly, This sheweth us how sweetThe Way out of Babylon a pleasant Way and pleasant the way of this Church will be at this day before them: Light, Knowledge and Judgement in GOD's matters, doth not onelyonly give men to see and behold all the things with which they are concerned, but the things themselves being good, they do also by this means convey very great sweetness and pleasantness into the Hearts of those that p. 46have the knowledge of them: Every step, I say, that now they take, it shall be as it were in Honey and Butter: The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with Songs, and everlasting **See Verse 2.Joy shall be upon their Heads; they shall obtain Joy and Gladness, and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away, Isa. 35. 10. as he saith, Again, I will build thee, and thou shalt be built; O Virgin of Israel, thou shalt again be adorned with Tabrets, and shalt go forth in the Dances of them that make merry.—For thus saith the Lord, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the Nations; publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord save thy People, the Remnant of Israel: Behold, I will bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the coasts of the Earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with Child, and her that travelleth with Child together; a very great company shall return thither, Jer. 31. 4, 7, 8.

By these words, the Blind and the Lame, the Woman with Child, and her that travelleth, he would have us understand thus much:

First, That the way of God shall by the illuminating Grace of Christ be p. 47made so pleasant, so sweet, and so beautiful in the Souls of all at that day, that even the blindest shall not stumble there…n, neither shall the Lame refuse it for …ear of hurt; yea, the Blind, the Lame, …he Woman with Child, and her that travelleth, shall (though they be of all in most evil case to travel, and go the Journey, yet) at this day by reason of the glorious light and sweetness that now will possess them, even forget their impediments, and dance, as after musical Ta…rets.

Secondly, This City upon the time of her rebuilding, shall have her blind men see, her halt and lame made strong, she also that is with Child, and her that travelleth, shall joyntly see the City-work that at this day will be on foot, and put into form and order, yet before the end: Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee, saith the Lord to this People, and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every Land where they have been put to shame; at that time I will bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a Name and a Praise, among all People of the Earth, p. 48when I turn back your Captivity before your EYES, saith the Lord God, Zeph. 3. 19, 20.

And her Light was like unto a Stone most precious.

In that he saith, Her Light is like unto A STONE MOST PRECIOUS, he sheweth us how welcome, and with what eagerness of spirit this Light will at this day be imbraced by the Lords People: Truly the Light is good, saith Solomon, and a pleasant thing it is for the Eyes Eccles. 7. 11.Eccl 7:11to behold the Sun; and if so, then how beautiful, desirable, and precious willWelcome will be that Light that doth shew us the Way out of Babylon. that Light be, that is not onelyonly heavenly, and from Christ, but that will be universal among all Saints, to shew them the same thing, and to direct them to and in the same Work: The want of this, hath to this day been one great reason of that crossness of Judgement and Perswasion that hath been found among the Saints, and that hath caused that lingering and disputing about the glorious state of the Church in the latter days: Some being for its excellency to consist chiefly in outward glory; and others p. 49swerving on the other side, conclude she shall not have any of this; some conceiving that this City will not be built until the Lord comes from Heaven in Person; others again concluding that when he comes, then there shall be no longer tarrying here, but that all shall forthwith, even all the Godly, be taken up into Heaven; with divers other opinions in these matters: And thus many run to Dan. 12. 4.Dan 12:4and fro, but yet, God be thanked, Knowledge does increase, though the Vision will be sealed, Isa. 32. 15 Isa. 29. 24.Isa 32:15Isa 29:24even to the time of the end. But now, I say, at the time of the end, the Spirit shall be poured, down upon us from on high; now also they that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding; the City shall descend in the Light of a Stone most precious: the Sun will be risen upon the Earth, when Lot goeth from Sodom into Zoar, Gen. 19. 23.

Now there shall be an oneness of Judgment and Understanding in the Hearts of all Saints; they shall be nowEzek 37. 19, 20, 21Ezek 37:19Ezek 37:20Ezek 37:21 no more two, but one in the Lords hand: Alas, the Saints are yet but as an Army routed, and are apt sometimes through fear, and sometimes through forgetfulness, to mistake the word of their Captain General, the Son of God, and are p. 50also too too prone to shoot and kill eve… their very right-hand man; but at th… day all such doing shall be laid aside, for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the Earth, as the Waters cover the Isa. 11. 9. 13.Isa 11:9Isa 11:13Sea; which Knowledge shall then strike thorow the Heart and Liver of all swerving and unsound Opinions in Christs matters; for then shall every one of the Christians call upon the Name of the Lord, and that with one pure Lip, or Language, to serve him with one consent. 'TisZeph. 3. 8.Zeph 3:8 Darkness, and not Light, that keepeth Gods People from knowing one another both in their Faith and Language; and 'tis Darkness that makes them stand at so great a distance both in Judgement and Affections, as in these and other days they have done: But then, saith God, I will plant in the Wilderness (that is, in the Church that is now bewildered the Cedar, the Shittah Tree, the Myrtl… Tree, and the Oyl Tree; I will set in the Desart the Fir-Tree, the Pine, and the Box-Tree together; that they may see and know consider and understand together, that the Hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it: and again, The glory of Lebanon shall com… p. 51unto thee, the Fir-Tree and the Pine-Tree, and the Box-Tree together, to beautifie the House of my Glory, and to make the place of my Feet glorious, Isa. 41. 19, 20. & 60. 13.

Never was fair weather after foul, nor warm weather after cold, nor a sweet and beautiful Spring after a heavy and niping and terrible Winter, so comfortable, sweet, desirable and welcome to the poor Birds and Beasts of the field, as this day will be to the Church of God: Darkness! it was the Plague of Egypt; It is an empty, forlorn, desolate, solitary, and discomforting state; wherefore Light, even the illuminating Grace of God, especially in the measure that it shall be communicated unto us at this day, it must needs be precious: In Light there is warmth and pleasure; it is by the Light of the Sun that the whole Universe appears unto us distinctly, and it is by the heat thereof that every thing groweth and flourisheth; all which will now be gloriously and spiritually answered in this Holy and New Jerusalem: O how2 Thess. 2.2 Thess 2 clearly will all the Spiders, and Dragons,Rev. 18.Rev 18 and Owls, and fowl Spirits of Antichrist 1, 2, 3, 4.at that day be discovered by the Light p. 52hereof! Now also will all the prett… Robins, and little Birds in the Lords Field, most sweetly send forth their pleasant Notes, and all the Flowers and Herbs of his Garden spring: Then will it be said to the Church by her Husband and Saviour, Arise, my Love, my fair One, and come away; for l…, the Winter is past, the Rain is over and gone, the Flowers appear in the Earth, and the time of the singing of Birds is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land; the Fig-Tree putteth forth her green Figs, and the Vine with her tender Grapes give a good smell, Cant. 2. 10, 11, 12, 13. You know how pleasant this is, even to be fulfilled in the letter of it, not onelyonly to Birds and Beasts, but men; especially it is pleasant to such men that have for several years been held in the Chains of affliction: it must needs therefore be most pleasant and desirable to the afflicted Church of Christ, who hath lain now in the Dungeon of Antichrist for above a thousand years: But Lord, how will this Lady, when she gets her liberty, and when she is returned to her own City, how will she then take pleasure in the warm & spangling Beams of thy shining p. 53Grace! and solace her self with Thee in the Garden, among the Nuts and the Pomgranates, among the Lilies and Flowers, and all the chief Spices, Cant. 7. 11, 12, 13.

Even like a Jasper Stone, clear as Crystal.

These words are the Metaphor by which the Holy Ghost is pleased to illustrate the whole business. Indeed Similitudes, if fitly spoke and applyed, do much set off, and out, any point, that either in the Doctrines of Faith or Manners, is handled in the Churches. Wherefore, because he would illustrate, as well as affirm, the Glory of this Jerusalem to the life; therefore he concludes his general Description of this City with these Comparisons: I saw, saith he, the holy City, the Lambs Wife: I saw her in her Spangles, and in all her Adorning, but verily she was most excellent; She was shining as the Jasper, and as pure and clear as Crystal. The Jasper it seems is a very beautiful and costly Stone, in as much, as that above all the precious Stones, is made use of by the Holy Ghost to shew us the Glory and shining Vertues p. 54of the Lord Jesus in this New Jerusalem: and yet, behold! the Jasper is too short and slender to do the business; there must another Stone be added, Even like a Jasper Stone, clear as Crystal. Yea, saith the Lord Jesus, Her Cheeks are like rows of Jewels, and so are the Joynts of her Things: even like the Jewels that are the work of the hands of a cunning Workman, Cant. 1. 9, 10. & 7. 1.

The Crystal is a Stone so clear and spotless, that even her greatest Adversaries in the midst of all their rage, are not able, justly, to charge her with the least mote or spot imaginable: wherefore when he saith, that this City in her descending is even like the Jasper for light, and like the Crystal for clearness; he would have us further learn, that at the day of the descending of this Jerusalem, she shall be every way so accomplished with innocency, sincerity, and clearness in all her Actions, that none shall have from her, or her ways, any just occasion given unto them to slight, contemn, or oppose her. For

First, as she descends, she meddleth not with any mans matters but her own; She comes all along by the Kings high-way: p. 55that is, alone by the Rules that her Lord hath prescribed for her in his Testament. The Governours of this World need not at all to fear a disturbance from her, or a diminishing of ought they have: She will not meddle with their Fields, nor Vineyards, neither will she drink of the water of their Wells: onelyonly let her go by the Kings high-way, and she will not turn to the right Num. 20. 18, 19.Num 20:18Num 20:19hand or to the left, until she hath passed all their borders. It is a false report thenNum. 21. 22.Num 21:22 that the Governours of the Nations have received against the City, this New Jerusalem, if they believe, that according to the Tale that is told them, she is and hath been of old a Rebellious City, and destructive to Kings, and a Diminisher of their Revenues. I say, these things are lying words, and forged even in the heart of Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and Ezra 4. 7Ezra 4:7the rest of their Companions: For verily this City, in her descending, is clear from such things, even as clear as Crystal. She is not for meddling with any thing that is theirs, from a Thread, even to a Shooe-latchet. Her Glory is spiritual and heavenly, and she is satisfied with what is her own. 'Tis true, the Kings and Nations of this world shall (one p. 56day) bring their Glory and Honour to this City; but yet not by outward force or compulsion: none shall constrain them but the love of Christ, and the **See more of this hereafter. Isa. 60. 3.Isa 60:3beauty of this City. The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. The light and beauty of this City, that only shall engage their hearts, and overcome them. Indeed if any shall out of mistrust, or enmity against this City and her prosperity, bend themselves to disappoint the designs of the Eternal God concerning her Building and Glory, then they must take what followeth: Her God in the midst of her is Mighty, He will rest in his love, and rejoyce over her with singing, and will UNDO all that afflict her. Zeph. 3. 17.Zeph 3:17Wherefore, Associate your selves, O ye People, and ye shall be broken to pieces; and give ear, all ye of far Countries: Gird your selves, and ye shall be broken to pieces; gird your selves, and ye shall be broken to pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us, Isaiah 8. 9, 10.

What work did he make with Og the King of Bashan, and with Sihon King of the Amorites, for refusing to let his People p. 57go peaceably by them, when they wereNum. 21, 22, 23, 24 &c.Num 21:22Num 21:23Num 21:24 going to their own Inheritance? God is harmless, gentle, and pitiful; but wo be to that people that shall oppose or gainsay him. He is gentle; yet a Lyon: He is loath to hurt; yet He will not be crossed: Fury is not in me, saith he; yet if you set the Bryers and Thorns against him, He will go thorow them, and Isa. 27. 4.Isa 27:4burn them together. Jerusalem also, this beloved City, it will be beautiful and profitable to them that love her; but a Cup of Trembling, and a burdensome Stone to all that burden themselves with her: all that burthen themselves with it, shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against her, Zech. 12. 2, 3.

Again, She will be clear as Crystal in the Observation of all her turns and stops, in her journying from Egypt to Canaan, from Babylon to this Jerusalem-state. She will, I say, observe both time and order, and will go onelyonly as her God doth go before her; now one step in this Truth, and then another in that, according to the dispensation of God, and theRev. 14. 4Rev 14:4 light of the day she lives in: As theExod. 40. 36, 37, 38Exod 40:36Exod 40:37Exod 40:38 Cloud goes, so will she; and when the p. 58Cloud stays, so will she. She comes in perfect rank and file, terrible as an Army Cant. 6. 9, 10. & 3. 6. & 8. 5.Song 6:9Song 6:10Song 3:6Song 8:5with Banners. No Balaam can inchant her; She comes out of the Wilderness like Pillars of Smoke, perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankensence, with all Spices of the Merchants, still leaning upon her Beloved. The return of Zion from under the Tyranny of her Afflictors, and her recovery to her Primitive Purity, is no head-strong brain-sick rashness of her own, but the gracious and merciful hand and goodness of God unto her, therefrom to give her deliverance: For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, (thatJer. 29. 10.Jer 29:10 is the time of the Raign of Antichrist, and his Tyranny over his Church) I will visit you, and perform my good word towards Jer. 31. 12Jer 31:12you, in causing you to return to this place. Therefore they shall come and sing in the Isa. 58. 11Isa 58:11heighth of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for (Spiritual) Wheat, and for Wine, and for Oyl, and for the Young of the Flock, and of the Herd; and their Soul shall be as a watered Garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all.