whole is the temple of God and of the Lamb. The glory of God and the Lamb (ver. 23.) Shine in it with a luftre fuperior to the fun and moon. All they who are faved (ver. 24—27.) walk continually in the light of it; for the gates are never fhut, and no night is there. It is the center of glory and honor; all the wicked are excluded, and only good Chriftians are admitted, they who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

CHA P. XXII.

I

ΑΝ ND he fhewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as cryftal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and of either fide of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb fhall be in it; and his fervants fhall ferve him.

4 And they shall fee his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there fhall be no night there,

and

and they need no candle, neither light of the fun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

The five first verses of this chapter are a continuation of the defcription of the new Jerufalem. It is farther defcribed with the river of life and the tree of life, as if paradise was restored and improved. A river flowing through the midst of the streets, and trees growing on either fide of the river are wonderfully pleafing and agreeable, objects, especially in the hot eaftern countries. Of the fruits there is fuch plenty and abundance, that all may freely partake of them at all feafons; and the very leaves are for the healing of the nations; by all which is fignified the bleffedness of immortality without any infirmities. Then too there shall be no more curse, as there is in this prefent world ever fince the fall of man: but the bleffed inhabitants fhall enjoy the fo much talked of beatific vifion, fhall live in the light of God's countenance, and ferve him, and reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets fent his angel to fhew unto his fervants the things which muft fhortly be done.

7 Behold,

7 Behold, I come quickly: bleffed is he that keepeth the fayings of the prophecy

of this book.

In the conclufion the angel (ver. 6, 7.) ratifies and confirms all thefe particulars by a repetition of the fame folemn affurance which he had given before, (XIX. 9. XX. 5.) that these fayings are faithful and true: and he was commiffioned by the fame God, who had infpired the ancient prophets, to show the things which muft fhortly be done, which would very foon begin in part to be fulfilled, and in process of time would all be completed. Behold, I come quickly, faith he; for we may observe that the angel fpeaketh fometimes in his own perfon, and fometimes in the person and character of Chrift, whofe embaffador and reprefentative he was. Chrift is faid to come upon any notable and illuftrious manifeftation of his providence; and all these are but fo many steps to prepare the way for his laft coming to judgment. A bleffing too is pronounced, as in the beginning, (I. 3.) upon those who keep the Sayings of the prophecy of this book: and as good Vitringa (6) devoutly wifheth, May the Lord bestow this

蔬

grace (6) Præftet nobis hanc gratiam in illius meditatione collocaDominus, qui operam aliquam vimus, ut aliqua etiam nobis hujus

"

grace and favor on us, who have employed fome time and pains in the ftudy and explication of this book, that fome part of this bleffing also may defcend to us!

John faw these things, and And when I had heard and feen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, which fhewed me these

things.

8 And I heard them.

9

Then faith he unto me, See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-fervant and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the fayings of this book: worship God.

T

10 And he faith unto me, Seal not the fayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

II He that is unjuft, let him be unjust. still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy ftill: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous ftill: and he that is holy, let him be holy ftill.

12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

hujus beatitatis pars obtingat. Vitring, p. 909.

DR 13

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the firft and the last.

Y

14 Bleffed 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 city.

15 For without are dogs, and forcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whofoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 Jefus have fent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the spirit and the bride fay, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirft, come: And whofoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I teftify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man fhall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this

pro

phecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and

out of the holy