The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 21 · Part 3 – Part 4
Of the Bride the Lambs Wife. And talked with me, ſaying, Come up hither I will ſhew the Bride the Lambs Wife, verſe 9.
THus Bride the Lambs Wife one of the Emblematical Characters here given the Church in this State and Condition, and not unproperly ſince the Scripture ſaith ſhe it eſpouſed to Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.2. Betrothed to him, Hoſea 2.20. yea married to him, Jer. 3.14. Rom. 7.4 and therefore ſaid, Her Maker is her Husband, Iſa. 54.5. And that by this Miſtical Union, ſhe is become fleſh of his fleſh and bone of his bone, Eph. 5.30, 31. alluding to the firſt Marriage union when the wo… that was taken out of the man was given to him, Gen. 2.3.
Called the Lambs Wife, as one well ſaith, becauſe when he was ſlain as a Lamb, he eſpouſed her, giving himſelf for her, Eph. 5.25. And that as the firſt Adam in his ſleep had his ſide opened for his wife, ſo the ſecond Adam in his death had his ſide pierced for his.
Who having by perſecution and affliction been a long time in a forlorn ſtate, as a poor barren diſconſolate woman, Iſa. 54.1. And as a deſolate forlorn Widow, Lam. 11. In an oppreſſed, afflicted and bewildred Wilderneſs condition, Rev. 12.14. Wherein her Beauty is turned into Aſhes, her joy into Mourning, her Garment of Praiſe into a spirit of Heavineſs, Iſa: 61.3. Her Gold is become dim, and her moſt fine Gold changed, Lam. 4.1.
Is now repreſented as returned into an excellent Condition, the Sceane being quite changed, having here her beauty again, for Aſhes the Oyl of joy for mourning; and the Garments of Praiſe for the ſpirit of heavineſs now in a beautifull dreſs and in a moſt lovely poſture, viz. trimmed, prepared and adorned like a Bride for her Husband, Rev. 19.7.21.2. Arrayed in fine clean white linnen (which is the Righteouſneſs of the Saints, Rev. 19.8.) And like the Kings Daughter is all glorious within, her clothing being of wrought Gold, and in Raiment of Needle-work, Pſal. 45.13, 14. Clothed with the Garments of Salvation, and covered with the robe of Righteouſneſs, as a Bridegroom decketh himſelf with Ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her ſelf with Jewels, Iſa. 61.10. Being one that is now, no more to be tearmed forſaken, but to be called Hephzibah and Bulah, Iſa. 62.4.
Which excellent dreſs leaſt any ſhould ſenſually miſtake or abuſe the ſpirit explains himſelf to hold out thereby the excellency, vertue and grace that is found in the true Church: And therefore is her fine linnen, white and clean, expounded to be the righteouſneſs of the Saints, viz her juſtification and ſanctification, her Gold, Jewels and rich Attire, to hold out the Ornament of her inward and outward man, in the ſhining Graces of the Spirit, viz love, meekneſs, patience, humility, long-ſuffering; and that ſo having Oyl in her Veſſel and Lamp, viz. ſpiritual Grace in her Heart and Life, is ſaid to be prepared as a wiſe Virgin fitted for the Bridegroom.
And which the better to explain (as well as further to ſet off her beauty and excellency) the falſe Church is alſo repreſented and pourtraied in her dreſs and Colours▪ in her Beauty, Ornaments and Attire, viz. her Scarlet and Purple Robe. and fine linnen to hold on her violence, cruelty and oppreſſion, her Golden Cup and Jewels, her drunkenneſs, Pride and Idolatry, her beauty and rich attire, her Witch-crafts, wantonneſs and Whoredom.
Being indeed repreſented under all the Characters of a vild Strumpet, viz. a cruel, bloody, drunken, proud, wanton, common, filthy, rotten and abominable Whore, that corrupts the Earth with her Fornications.
By which Bride-like beautiful ſtate, as well as the new Jeruſalem, illuſtrious Glory following is figuratively repreſented one and the ſame thing, viz. the Churches happy condition, and as both pointing out one thing, are alſo repreſented as Synonimous; for the Angel calling up John here to ſhew him the Bride the Lambs wife, doth when he comes up to him (as in the next verſe) ſhew to him the new Jeruſalem the holy City.
Of the Mountain on which the City ſtands. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high Mountain,
John having ſeen the City Babylon upon her ſeven Hills, Rev. 17.9. Sees here the City Jeruſalem (heretofore deſolate and troden under foot, Rev. 11.2.) Now reſtored and as moſt perſpicuous raiſed upon a great high Mountain. And as Moſes in the Mount ſaw the pattern of the Tabernacle, Exod. 2… 40. Heb. 8.5. and Ezekiel upon a high mountain the City and Temple, Ezek. 40.2 The City and Temple of old being built upon a high Hill, The Hill of God being a high Hill as the Hill of Baſhan, Pſ. 68.15. So John here in the Spirit is he…pt to ſee Mount Z…on the Antitype in her glorious exaltation to fulfill the Prophecy of Iſaiah and Michah, who foretell the Mountain of the Lords Houſe to be eſ…abliſhed in the laſt days in the top of the mountains, and to be exalted above the Hills, Iſa. 2.2. Mich 4.1. The underſtanding of which Myſtery calleth for no leſs then the carrying away in the Spirit as the Prophet of old, Ezek. 2.1, 2.40.2. And John before, Rev. 1.10.17.3. Intimating thereby that theſe were diſcoveries of myſtical and ſpiritual rather then of material and litteral things.
And what can this great high mountain be but that rock of Ages, the rock of Iſrael, 2 Sam. 23.3. The Rock of Salvation, Deut. 32.15. The Rock that begat, Ver. 18. And that is higher then we, Pſ 61.2. Even the Rock Chriſt 1 Cor. 10.4. upon whom the Church is built, ſo that the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt her, Matth. 16.18 That muſt in the latter days be exalted above all the Hills.
And which Mountain the ſeat of the true Church (and upon which ſhe is founded) ſtands, you ſee in direct oppoſition to the ſeat upon which the falſe Church is placed, and which for failing we find to be threefold, viz. Ʋpon ſeven mountains, Rev. 17.9. Ʋpon a Beaſt with ſeven Heads and ten Horns, 17.3. And upon many waters, 17.15. And therefore called by one wittily her Topical, Typical, and Tropical Seat, which Triple Seat, as well as Triple Crown will ſhortly fail her, and leave her honour in the duſt; while the City that is built upon the Hill, even upon mount Zion will ſtand unmoveable.