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a name of a tribe of Israel*; and the foundation is raised (as in Eph. ii. 20. and 1 Pet. ii. 5,) "on the "Apostles and Prophets; Jesus Christ himself being the "chief corner-stone." Every thing unclean and faulty, is excluded from this city; whence we may deduce an additional proof that this prophecy is not to have its final completion in this world; where the good and the bad, the wheat and the tares, are to grow together until the "end t." Some commentators have been led to a different interpretation, by observing that the new city descends from heaven; and is therefore, say they, upon earth: but this objection will be completely removed, by remarking that the earth, to which the Heavenly Jerusalem descends, is not the earth we now inhabit. A new Heaven and a new earth are produced; -"Behold," says the Creator, the Creator, "I make all things new." This vision therefore appears to exhibit the future mansions of the blessed. It succeeds the general judgment of the dead; and to no other mansion can in any wise be applied the glorious representation which describes the favoured inhabitants admitted to see "the "face of God §," and reigning for ever and ever. Such is the city alluded to by the Apostle to the Hebrews, who, speaking of this world, says, "here we "have no continuing city, but seek one to come ¶. Agreeably to which, in this prophecy it is declared that there is "here no temple." In this world, as now constituted, Religion cannot subsist without her temples; without some external mode of bringing men to God. But when "just men, made perfect, see face to face" the glories of their God, Faith and Hope, on which

*See note, ch. vii. 4.
↑ Ch. xx. 11. xxi. 1. 4, 5.
Ch. xxii. 4, 5,

Matt. xiii. 40.

Compare 1 Cor. xiii. 12. ¶ Heb. xi. 10. 16. xii. 22.

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the worship is founded, being absorbed in Reality, the nearer Presence of the Deity will supersede the use of a Temple. The superior Light and Knowledge, emanating from his glorious Presence, will remove darkness and error, and the necessity of that stated worship, which is the ordinary means of preventing man from being estranged from his Maker. Here "we know in "part, and prophesy in part;" that is, imperfectly: "but when that which is perfect is come, that which " is in part shall be done away."

Chap. xxii. Ver. 1. And he shewed me a river of water of Life; &c.] In a thirsty soil and hot climate, like that of Palestine, where most of the prophecies were delivered, water is a necessary means of fructification; and the practice of irrigation is much used in agricul ture. But, as water is to the soil, supplying health and vigour to its languid plants; so is the influence of God's Holy Spirit to the human soul, when sinking in its spiritual progress. Thus refreshed, the soul brings forth fruits unto holiness, and the end everlasting "life t." Water is therefore used, in Scripture, as the symbol of such supplies of Divine Grace ‡. The waters of the River of Life proceed from the throne of God, and of the Lamb; from the Fountain of all mercy: and the salutary streams support the tree of Life, which

1 Cor. xiii. 9, 10. Many passages of the ancient prophets, some of which may have been typically or partially fulfilled, seem to belong to these times, and still to await their final completion. Isaiah iv. 3—6 ; xxv. 6-9; lx; Ixi. 10; lxvi. 20—24. Ezek. xl; xliii. 7; xlvii. 1—5 -12; xlviii. 20. 35.

Rom. vi. 22.

Isaiah viii. 6; xxx. 25; xxxii. 20; xxxv., 7; xli. 17; xlix. 9; xlii. 20; lv. 1; liv. 13; lvii. 11. Jer. ii. 18; xvii. 13. Ezek. xlvii. 2. Joel iii. 18. Zech. xiii. 1; xiv. 8. John iv. 13, 14; vii. 33. 39.

§ See note, ch. iii. 1.

is to be seen in this Paradise regained, a never-failing source of immortality. The fruit, continually renewing, supports the body to eternal life; whilst the leaves (that no part may be unserviceable) are a balm or healing application for the wounds of sin, to those of the nations who had lived in ignorance of the Divine laws, but now partake the benefits of Redemption.

The remaining expressions describing this blissful state, will be found explained under note, ch. i. 16. ii. 10. iii. 22.

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Ver. 2.] Some MSS. says Dr. Jortin, "instead of σε εντευθεν και εντευθεν, read εντευθεν και εκειθεν sed nil opus. And he quotes ενθεν και ενθεν as used by Aristotle, Herodotus, Sophocles, and in Const. Apost. ; and observes; "Nothing is more common than eve naι Eve: and hinc "et hinc, in the Latin poets." And he remarks, that the very same expression is used by St. John, in his Gospel, chap. xix. 18*.

Discourses on the Christian Religion, p. 210. 2d edit.

PART

PART VIII.

SECTION II,

The Conclusion.

CHAP. XX, VER. 6-to the end.

6. Καὶ εἶπό μοι· Οὗτοι | 6 And he said unto me, "These words are wor"thy of belief and true, "And the Lord God "of the prophets hath "sent his angel to "shew unto his ser"vants things which "must come to pass 7" in a short time. And "behold, I come soon. "Blessed is he who "keepeth the words of "the Prophecy of this 8" book." And it was I John who heard and saw these things: and when I had heard and

οἱ λόγοι τοις οὶ καὶ ἀληθινοί· καὶ Κυρίω ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτ των των τροφή των ἀπέσειλε τὸν ἀγια λον αὐτὸ δεῖξαι τοῖς δήλοις αὑτε, ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει. 7 Kzi idè, iexopa ταχύ μακάρια ὁ τηρῶν τὰς λόγες τῆς προφητείας το βι 8 βλία τέτω. Καὶ ἐγὼ Ἰωάννης, ὁ ἀ κέων καὶ βλέπων ταῦτα καὶ ὅτε ήκεσα καὶ ἔβλεψα, ἔπεσα προσκυνῆσαι ἔμ προσθεν τῶν ποδῶν τῇ ἀγέλε τα δεικα νύοντές μοι ταῦτα. "Oga

9 Kai Aige
μής σύνδαλός

08

εἰμι, καὶ τῶν ἀδελ φῶν σε τῶν προφη τῶν, καὶ τῶν τηγάν των τες λόγες τα βιβλία τότε το Θεῷ προσκύνησον

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6 And he said unto me; These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which

must shortly be done. 7 Behold, I come quick

ly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this 8 book. And I John saw

these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me 9 these things. Then saith he unto me; See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship 10 God. And he saith unto me; Seal not the sayings of the prophe

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δικαιοσύνην ποιησά

τῷ ἔτι καὶ ὁ ἅγιο 12ἁγιασθήτω ἔτι. Ιδε, ἔρχομαι ταχύ, καὶ ὁ μισθός με μελ ἐμᾶς ἀποδέναι ἑκάτ σῳ ὡς τὸ ἔργον αὐ

13 τῷ ἔςαι. Εγώ είμι

τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω, ἀξ-
χὴ καὶ τέλος, ὁ
πρῶτα καὶ ὁ ἔστ

14 χατα. Μακάριοι di waredes Tas ivτολὰς αὐτῷ, ἵνα ἔται ἡ ἐξεσία αυτ τῶν ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ τοῖς πυλῶσιν εἰσέλθωσιν 15 εἰς τὴν πολιν. Εξω οι κύνες, και οι φαρ μακοὶ, καὶ οἱ πόνοι, nai oi poveïs, nai oi εἰδωλολάτραι, καὶ was [6] prawn xj 16 ποιῶν ψεῦδο. Εγώ Ἰησᾶς ἔπεμψα τὸν αγελών με μαρτυξ σαι ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἐπὶ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις· ływ siμı ń jíla xì | τὸ γένος Δαβίδ, ὁ αγὴς ὁ λαμπρὸς ὁ

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66

my reward is with

me, to requite every "one according as his 13" work shall be. I am "the Alpha and the "Omega, Beginning "and End, the First 14" and the Last. Blessed "are they who do his "commandments, that "their power may be "over the tree of Life, "and that they may "enter by the gates 15" into the city. With

"out are dogs, and "the sorcerers, and "the whoremongers, "and the murderers, "and the idolaters, and

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cy of this book: for, the time is at hand. 11He that is unjust, let

him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still and he that is holy, let him be holy 12 still. And behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall 13 be. I am Alpha and

Omega, the beginning and the end, the first 14 and the last. Blessed

are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the 15city. For without, are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers,and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a 16 lie. I Jesus have sent

mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morn17 ing star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him

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