For by a mutation of things this world will pass away, not by an utter extinction. Whence also the apostle says (1 Cor. VII. 31.) that the fashion of this world passeth away.' And indeed why should the new heaven and the new earth be destroyed, when there fhall be no more fin, when there fhall be no more curfe, when there Shall be no more death? The heaven and the earth of old (2 Pet. III. 5.) for the wickedness of man perished by water: The heaven and the earth which are now, are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men; but why should not the new heaven and the new earth be preserved, wherein dwelleth righteousness?

9 And there came unto me one of the feven angels, which had the feven vials full of the feven last plagues, and talked with me, faying, Come hither, I will fhew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

10 And he carried me away in the fpirit to a great and high mountain, and fhewed me that great city, the holy Jerufalem, defcending out of heaven from God, 11 Having

tunc effe definet hoc cælum et
hæc terra, quando incipiet effe
cælum novum et terra nova.
Mutatione namque rerum, non
omni modo interitu tranfibit hic

mundus. Unde et Apoftolus ait; Præterit enim figura bujus mundi. S. Auguft. de Civitate Dei. Lib. 19. Cap. 14. P. 447. Tom. 7. Edit. Benedict. Antverp.

(6) Præftet

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11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a ftone most precious, even like a jafper-ftone, clear as cryftal;

12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Ifrael.

13 On the east, three gates; on the north, three gates; on the fouth, three gates; and on the weft, three gates.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And he that talked with me, had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16 And the city lieth four-fquare, and the length is as large as the breadth and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length, and the breadth, and the highth of it are equal.

17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jafper; and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

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19 And

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious ftones. The firft foundation was jafper; the fecond, faphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald

;

20 The fifth, fardonyx; the fixth, fardius; the feventh, chryfolyth; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chryfoprafus; the eleventh, a jacin&t; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every feveral gate was of one pearl and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were tranfparent glafs.

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God almighty, and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23 And the city had no need of the fun, neither of the moon to fhine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are faved, fhall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25 And the gates of it fhall not be shut at all by day for there fhall be no night

there.

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26 And

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

27 And there fhall in no wife enter inta it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

A more particular defcription is afterwards given of the new Jerufalem. One of the Seven angels who had the feven vials, (ver. 9.) and most probably the fame angel, who before had fhowed to St. John (XVII. 1, &c.) the mystic Babylon and her deftruction, now showeth by way of contraft the new Jerufalem and her glory. For this purpose (ver. 10.) he carrieth bim away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain; in the fame manner as Ezekiel (XL. 2.) was brought in the vifions of God, and fet upon a very high mountain, to fee the frame of the city and temple: and this defcription of the new Jerufalem is an affemblage of the sublimest richest imagery of Ezekiel and other ancient prophets. The glory of God, or the divine Shechinah, (ver. 11.) illuminates the city. It hath (ver. 12, 13, 14.) a wall great and high, to show its ftrength and fecurity; and twelve gates with angels for guards, three on the east, three on the

the north, three on the fouth, and three on the west, to show that people of all climates and nations may have accefs to it. On the twelve gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Ifrael, as on the twelve foundations are infcribed the names of the twelve apofiles of the Lamb, to fignify that the Jewish and the Chriftian church are now united, and (Eph. II. 20.) built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief cornerStone. The angel hath (ver. 15, 16, 17.) a measuring reed, as the angel had likewife in Ezekiel; (XL. 3.) and the measures of the city and of the walls are formed by the multiplication of twelve, the number of the apoftles. The city lieth four-fquare, the length as large as the breadth, according to the pattern of Jerufalem in Ezekiel ; (XLVIII. 16.) and the length and breadth and highth of the walls and buildings are every where of the fame beauty, ftrength, and proportion. It is built and garnished with gold and all manner of precious ftones, (ver. 18-21.) as the richest emblems of eaftern wealth and magnificence; the ftones resembling those on Aaron's breaft-plate, to denote that the Urim and Thummim, the light and perfection of God's oracle are there. It hath one remarkable peculiarity (ver. 22.) that there is no temple therein; for the A a 4 whole