Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 22 · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Verſe 1. And I ſaw a new heaven]
NEw for form and ſtate, but the ſame as afore for matter and ſubſtance: as an old garment tranſlated is called a new one: and as who ſo is in Chriſt is a new creature.
Paſſed away] i. e, Where purged from their vanity and defilements.
And there was no more ſea] i. e. Trouble and tumult. The ſea is of it ſelf reſtleſſe, and oft toſſed with ſtorms and tempeſts, Iſa. 57.20. As for the element of water it ſhall remain, probably, as earth, air, and fire doc. Andreas thinks there ſhall be no more ſea.
Verſe 2. The holy City] The Church in glory, ſaith Diodate. The Church wayfaring and warfaring, ſaith Brightman, whoſe interpretation of this text, Nititur conjecturâ optabili magis quâm opinabili, ſaith Pareus.
As a bride adorned, &c.] Biſhop Ridley, the night before he ſuffered, invited his hoſteſſe, and the reſt at Table, to his marriage: for, ſaid he, to morrow I muſt be married. Some other Martyrs went as merrily to die, as ever they did to dine.
Verſe 3. And I heard a great voice] To confirm the viſion, left it ſhould be thought a deluſion.
Behold the tabernacle] His ſpecially preſence both of grace and glory is with his elect. See Ezek. 37.27, 28.
He will dwell with them] He will ind well in them, 2 Cor. 6.16. See the Note there. The enjoyment of God is heaven it ſelf, therefore God is called heaven, I have ſinned against heaven.
Verſe 4. And God ſhall wipe away] As mothers do their childrens tears. Sorrow and ſighing ſhall flee away. Ba…a ſhall be turned into Berachah, ſighing into ſinging, miſery into majeſty: as Qu. Elizabeth was exalted from a priſoner to a Princeſſe; and as our Henry 4. was crowned the very ſame day that, the year before,Daniel. he had been baniſhed the Realm.
No more death] For mortality ſhall be ſwallowed up of life.
Neither ſorrow]foreign. Properly for loſſe of friends; for we ſhall inſeparably and everlaſtingly enjoy them. We ſhall ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, have communion with them, not only as godly men, but as ſuch and ſuch godly men. And if with them, why not with others whom we have known and loved in the body?
Nor crying]foreign Qualis eſt in tragaedijs, ſaith Aretius.
Nor any more pain] Or, Hard labour for a livelyhood to be gotten with the ſweat either of brow or brain.
For the former things, &c.] The Latins call proſperous things, Res ſecundas, becauſe they are to be had hereafter: they are not the firſt things.
Verſe 5. Write: for theſe words are faithfull] Though few men will believe them: for if they did, what would they not doe or ſorgo to get heaven? Cleombrotus reading Plato's book of the immortality of the ſoul, was ſo raviſhed with the conceit thereof, that he caſt himſelf headlong into the ſea. But how many reading this better book of heavens happineſſe, are no whit wrought upon thereby, or in the leaſt meaſure moved to affect thoſe things above, that run parallel with the life of God and line of eternity?
Verſe 6. It is done] As the puniſhment of the wicked, Chap. 16.17. (See the Note there.) So the reward of the righteous is performed and accompliſhed.
I will give unto him] Whereas ſome good ſoul might ſay: I would it were once done. Have patience (ſaith God) I will ſhortly give unto him that is athirſt to drink of that torrent of pleaſure, that runs at my right hand, without any either let or loathing.
Clitorio quicun que ſitim de fonte levarit,
Vina fugit gaudet que meris abſtemius undis.Ovid▪ Metam…
Of the water of life, freely] But merit-mongers will not have it freely: therefore they ſhall go without it. Coelum gratis non accipiam, ſaith Viega.
Verſe 7. He that overcometh] Gr. He that is overcoming, foreign, quaſi foreign.or not yeelding, though he hath not yet overcome. If he but doing at it, and do not yeeld up the bucklers.
Shall inherit all things] Tanquam haeres ex aſſe. All Gods ſervants are ſons, and every ſon an heir.
Verſe 8. But the fearfull] Cowardly recreants, white-livered milk-ſops, that pull in their horns for every pile of graſſe that toucheth them, that are afraid of every new ſtep, ſaying as Caeſar at Rubicon, Yet we may go back: that follow Chriſt afar off, as Peter: that tremble after him, as the people did after Saul, 1 Sam. 13 7. and the next news is, They were ſcattered from him, verſ. 11. Theſe lead the ring-dance of this rout of reprobates: and are ſo hated of Chriſt, that he will not imploy them ſo farre, as to break a pitcher, or to bear a torch, Judg. 7.
And unbelieving] Therefore fearfull, becauſe unbelieving: for faith fears no fray-bugs: but why do ye fear, ye ſmall-faiths? ſaith our Saviour.
Verſe 9. One of the ſeven Angels] The ſame, likely, that Chap. 17.1. had ſhewed him the damnation of the Whore. So ſtudious and officious are the Angels to ſerve the Saints, Heb. 1.14.
The Bride, the lambs wife] Ʋxor fulget radijs mariti, ſaith the Civilian: ſo is it here.
Verſe 10. To a great and high mountain] As Moſes was carried up into mount Nebo, that from thence he might view the promiſed land. He that would contemplate heaven, muſt ſoar aloft, flie an high pitch, &c. Take a turn with Chriſt in mount Tabor, and be transfigured.
Verſe 11. Having the glory of God] Who putteth upon her his own comelines, Ezek 16. as Rachel was decked with Iſaac's jewels.
Even like a Jasper] And ſo, like God himſelf, who is ſet out by a Jaſper, Chap. 4.3.
Clear as Crystall] There is no ſuch jaſper in nature as is thus clear: but ſuch an one muſt here be imagined. Nec Christus, nec coelum patitur hyperbolen.
Verſe 12. And had a wall] Far better then that of Babylon. Indeed this celeſtiall China needs no wall to divide it from the Tartars: this is Arabia Foelix, the people whereof live in ſecurity, and fear no enemy.
And had twelve gates] Thebes had an hundred gates, and was therefore called foreign, but nothing ſo well ſet, and ſo commodious for paſſengers, as this City with twelve gates.
Twelve Angels] As porters to let in, not as ſwordmen to keep out, as the Angel that ſtood Centinel at the porch of Paradiſe, Gen. 3.
Verſe 13. On the East three gates] The Church is collected, and heaven filled from all quarters of the earth. Hence it is by one compared to the Samaritans Inne (foreign) becauſe it receiveth and lodgeth all ſtrangers that come. In the Synagogue there was not lodging for all: the Ammonites and the Moabites were excluded the Congregation of Iſrael. But Chriſt was born in an Inne, to ſignifie that in his Kingdom all may be entertained. He is called the ſecond Adam: the Greek letters of which name (as Cyprian noteth) do ſeverally ſignifie all the quarters of the earth. His garments were divided into four parts, becauſe out of what coaſt or part ſoever we come (ſaith a Divine) Chriſt hath garments to cloath us,foreign and room to receive us. There are that have obſerved that the name of God in all the chief languages conſiſteth of four letters (as foreign, De…, Dien, Gott, &c.) to intimate that he hath his people in all the four quarters of the earth, out of all countries, nations and languages.
Verſe 24. And the wall] A wall the Church hath about it, and a well within it, verſ. 6. A garden encloſed is my ſister, my ſpouſe, a ſpring ſhut up, a fountain ſealed, Cant. 4.12. This wall of the Church hath twelve foundations, that is, Chriſt the only foundation, 1 Cor. 3.11. firſt laid by the twelve Apoſtles: In whoſe names alſo the ſumme of Chriſtian faith is made up in thoſe twelve Articles of the Creed, Diſceſſuri ab invicem Apostoli normam praedication is in commune conſtituunt, ſaith Cyprian. Cyp de ſymb…l. Apoſt l.The Apoſtles being to be ſevered into ſeverall Countries to preach the Goſpel, agreed upon this as the ſumme and ſubſtance of their Sermons. It was called Symbolum, a ſign or badge to diſtinguiſh Chriſtians from unbelievers.
Had twelve foundations] Foundation is taken either for Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3.11. Mat. 16.16. or for the doctrine of the Apoſtles teaching ſalvation only by Jeſus Chriſt, as Epheſ. 2.20. and here. The Papiſts have lately added twelve new Articles, raiſed out of the Councel of Trent, to be believed by as many as ſhall be ſaved: as above hath been noted.
Verſe 15. Had a golden reed] Not thoſe twelve Trent-Articles, or any humane invention, but the word, as Chap. 1….1. wherewith is meaſured not the Temple only as there, but the City, gates and wall, as Ezek. 4.
Verſe 16. And the City lieth fourſquare] So was Babylon of old (as Herodotus deſcribeth it) which yet was taken by Cyrus, Alexander, Herod ….and ſundry other enemies. Heaven alſo is taken, but by another kinde of violence, then by force of arms. The ſolid ſquare whereby it is here ſet forth, commends it to us: 1.Heb. 12.28. For ſtable and unſhaken, Immota manet, as it is ſaid of Venice, which yet ſtands in the ſea, and hath but one ſtreet that is not daily overflowed (the Venetian Motto is, Nec fluctu, nec flatu movetur) 2.Turk. hiſt 1153. For ſuch as looketh every way, to the four corners of the earth, as Conſtantinople did: which is therefore ſaid to be a City fatally founded to command.
Twelve thouſand furlongs] About 300. Dutch miles. Nine-veh was nothing to this City for bigneſſe: no more is Alcair, Scanderoon or Cambalu, which yet is ſaid to be 28. miles in circuit, being the imperiall ſeat of the great Cham of Tartary. Quinſay in the ſame Kingdom,Ibid. 75. is ſaid to be of all Cities in the world the greateſt: in circuit a hundred miles about, as Paulus Venetus writeth, who himſelf dwelt therein about the year 1260. But our new Jeruſalem is far larger: 12000 furlongs (according to ſome) make 1500 miles; and yet he that ſhall imagine heaven no larger then ſo, ſhall be more worthy to be blamed, then the work-men were that built Weſtminster- hall; which King William the ſecond the founder, found great fault with, for being built too little: ſaying, It was fitter for a Chamber,Dan Chron. then for a Hall for a King of England: and therefore took a plot for one farre more ſpacious to be added unto it.
Verſe 17. An hundred twenty four Cubits] A Cubit is ſix handfuls.
That is of the Angel] That appeared as a man, but bigger and higher then ordinary: Now becauſe this holy City is thus meaſured, and that with the meaſure of a man. Some think it to be meant of the Church militant. But ſome other paſſages in this and the following Chapters cannot be otherwiſe taken according to the letter, then of the ſtate of full perfection. They do beſt in my opinion, that take in both.
Verſe 18. Was of Jaſper] A ſtone of great worth and glory, the beauty whereof, ſaith one, it is eaſier to admire then to declare. It hath a variety of ſweetneſſe in it: ſuch as none of the moſt cunning wits and ſharpeſt eyes are able to diſtinguiſh. Heaven (we are ſure) is ſuch as eye hath not ſeen, ear hath not heard, &c. Sermo non valet exprimere, experimento opus eſt. Words are to weak to utter its happineſſe: get to it once,Chryſoſt. and you will ſay ſo.
Pure gold] A mettall that ſhineth in the fire, waſteth not in the uſe, ruſteth not with long lying, rotteth not though caſt into brine or vinegar (as Pliny noteth) to ſhew that this City is incorruptible, invincible.
Like unto clear glaſſe] Gliſtering gold, ſuch as this world affords not.
Verſe 19.foreign. And the foundations] The Apoſtles and their faithfull ſucc…ſſours, who were puriores coelo, ſaith Chryſoſtome, clearer then the sky, the very ſtars of the world, and flowers of the Churches, as Baſil calleth them.
Verſe 20. The fift Sardonyx] Search is here made thorow all the bowels of the earth for ſomething of worth to ſhadow out the Saints happineſſe: which if it could be fully known (as it cannot) it would be no ſtrange thing or thank-worthy for the moſt horrible Belial to become preſently the holieſt Saint, or the worlds greateſt minion the moſt mortified man. He that deſires to know the nature and vertues of theſe precious ſtones may read Epiphanius, Philo, Franciſous, Rurus, and others Degemm…. Joſephus alſo in the third book of his Jewiſh Antiquities. That was an odd conceit, and ſcarce worth relating, held by Anaxagoras, Coelum ex lapidibus constare, & aliquando collapſurum, La…rt.That heaven was made up of ſtones, and would one day fall upon mens heads. That other ſaying of his is much more memorable: when being asked, Wherefore he was born? He anſwered, Ʋt coelum contempler, that I might buſie my thoughts about heaven.
Verſe 21. And the twelve gates] i. e. Gate-keepers, Preachers of the righteouſnes that is by faith.
Were twelve pearls] All which doe receive their luſtre and worth from Chriſt that pearl of price, Matth. 13. like as the pearl by beating oft upon the Sun-beams, becometh radiant as the Sun.
Was pure gold] Which no dirty dog may ever trample upon.
Verſe 22. No temple] No need of externall worſhips and ordinances, for they are all taught of God: they ſee his face, and hear his voice. Now we ſee but in part, becauſe we prophecy but in part, 1 Cor. 13.
Verſe 23. And the City had no need] He ſaith not there ſhall be no Sun or Moon, but there ſhall be no ſuch need of them, as is now, for the Lamb ſhall outſhine them; ſhine they never ſo gloriouſly, as they ſhall in that new heaven, Iſa. 30.26.
Verſe 24. And the Nations] See Iſa. 60 3. and that he ſpeaketh of the life to come, See ver. 11, 18, 19.21.
Do bring their glory] Deſpiſe and caſt away all for heaven. Canutus ſet his crown upon the crucifix: which, according to the courſe of thoſe times, was held greateſt devotion. K Edw. 6.Act. and Monfol. 1185. aſſured the Popiſh rebels of Devonſhire, That he would rather loſe his Crown, then not maintain the Cauſe of God he had taken in hand to defend. Nazianzen rejoyced that he had ſomething of value, (viz. his Athenian learning) to part with for Chriſt, &c.
Verſe 25. For there ſhall be no night there] And ſo no need to fear a ſudden ſurprize by the enemy watching his opportunity.foreign. Their day above is a nightleſſe day, as a Father cals it.
Verſe 26. And they] i. e. The Kings, as ver. 24.
Verſe 27. And there ſhall in no wiſe] Though the ſerpent could wind himſelf into paradiſe, yet no unclean perſon can come into this holy City. Tertullian called Pompeys theatre (which was the greateſt ornament of old Rome) arcem omnium turpitudinum, the ſtie of all uncleannes. Heaven is none ſuch.