CHAPTER XXII.

THE description of the city is continued in the fi verses of the chapter.

1. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side 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 shall be in it; and his servants shall serve

him:

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

5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.

This part of the prophet's description has reference to what we would call the pleasures of taste, such as gratify the appetite, while his preceding description was for the gratification of the eye.

The river of the water of life, represented as flowing through the street of the city, is a figure, the force and beauty of which can be appreciated only by the inhabitants of those climes where water is difficult to obtain, and where the earth is always parched and thirsty.

The river implies an abundance of all that is refreshing. Thy peace shall flow as a river, is one of David's poetic representations of the rich blessings enjoyed by the church.

The picture of the rich abundance and peace of that glorious state is completed by the river, clear as crystal, flowing through the street of the city, and the tree of life shading its entire banks on either side, and yielding its fruits constantly and in great variety-bearing twelve manner of fruits. Twelve is named as its variety; but that number, as it comprehends the whole Jewish Church from the twelve tribes, and the whole Christian Church from the twelve apostles, signifies that the joys and pleasures of that state will be suited to the infinite variety of mind which will be filled with its happi

ness.

The next peculiarity of this tree is the remarkable sanative qualities of its leaves. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

This has led some to suppose that the city was the symbol of the church in her present state, as in the future state there will be no disorders to be healed.

But I think a better view, and one more consistent, may be taken of the meaning of this reference to the extraordinary virtues of the leaves of the tree.

The prophet says the leaves of the tree were, not are, for the healing of the nations, as if the tree had been formerly known only as a leaf-bearing tree. Is not the tree in its leafbearing state emblematic of Christianity in the present state of the world? In this world the doctrines of the Christian religion, wherever they are faithfully preached amongst the nations, exert a wonderful influence in establishing peace and good-will amongst them. Even the forms of Christianity, its worship and its morality, are but its leaves. But these have had a most happy effect in mitigating the cruelty and the injustice which oppressed the nations, and in healing the disorders consequent upon sin and ignorance. What nation has the gospel reached that has not been healed of much of

its civil and moral disorders through its influence? In the present world we see but little more than these leaves of the tree of Christianity; but in the next world its delicious fruits, its glorious results, will appear. There we shall behold and forever enjoy its fruition on the banks of the river of life. There will be no more disorders there to be healed, for there shall be no more curse in that world.

But Christ settles this question as to whether this city, and its river, and its tree of life, are intended to represent the church in this world, when he says to his servant John, in the eleventh chapter and seventh verse of the Revelation, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

In the fifth verse there is a repetition of what was said in the twenty-third verse of the preceding chapter, to the effect, that the glory and happiness of that heavenly city will not be dependent upon any instrumentality or secondary causes, great or small; neither the light of the sun, the highest order of Christian institutions in this world, nor the light of a candle, the feeblest and least enlightened systems of religion, will be known or needed there, for the Lord God giveth them light. They will draw directly from the fountain of infinite knowledge those supplies which will ever fill and enlarge their capabilities of happiness; and they shall reign in the enjoyment of this light forever and ever.

This completes the description of the glorious city. And what a description it is!-what a picture of unspeakable beauty and grandeur! Everything which imagination can suggest or the heart of man can desire to perfect his bliss is seen in this city. Riches, beauty, and magnificence, fill the whole range of his vision; and whatever can be conceived of, calculated to afford the highest enjoyment to the taste, is presented in the waters of its river and the fruits of its trees.

Some have imagined that such will be in reality the habitation of the saints in their future state, that they will dwell, literally, in such a city as is here described. But it is obviVOL. II.-14*

ous that this is a mere representation of sensible objects, intended to produce a moral effect.

In our present life we are dependent so much upon our bodily senses, that we can hardly appreciate spiritual things unless they are presented to us through or by sensible objects. This was the manner of Christ's teaching while he was upon earth. He employed the occupations and pursuits, and the objects most desirable amongst men, to illustrate the doctrines and blessings of the gospel.

Pursuing the same method, his holy prophet illustrates the end, the consummation of Christianity by the glories of this heavenly city.

It is but right and altogether reasonable that we should judge of those systems devised by human wisdom by their results. And as by their fruits Christians are to be known amongst men, so by the fruit of Christianity, what it will ultimately work out, should it be judged.

Does Christianity present nothing to the worldly seekers of pleasure but a dull and joyless system of sacrifice and selfdenial? Look at her end in that city just described. Is there any delight which the mind of man can enjoy that is not provided there?

Here, Christianity is often seen in dark and trying circumstances. But look at her in the light and glory which give perpetual day and joy in that city. Here she is seen in hunger and thirst. But behold that ever-flowing river of the waters of life, and the tree of life, with its inexhaustible productions of fruit! She is seen here in sickness and pain, but there sorrow and sighing flee away, and health ever blooms on the cheek of immortality, and death never enters there. Here she is seen in distress and poverty, in lonely hovels, in damp, chilling cellars, or crowded and feverish garrets; like her Author, not having a place of her own where to repose her aching head. But look at her in that city, dwelling in palaces of gold, surrounded by walls whose masonry is of

brightest gems, and its gates of pearl, and the street of the city of pure gold, transparent as glass.

On earth, Christianity is proverbial for her want of worldly glory; and the scorn and contempt of the great, and the ridicule of the ignorant, are more commonly her portion. But the glory and honor of the nations and the crowns of earthly royalty are laid at her feet in that city.

These are the contrasts which it is the purpose of this city of grandeur and magnificence to present to the earthly state of Christianity; and by the contrast of these sensible objects, we are taught that the felicity of the righteous in the next world will surpass all the happiness which earth can produce, as far as the magnificence and glory of this city surpass the frail and perishing structures of man's pride and boast in this world.

The remaining portion of the chapter is not descriptive, but it contains matter suggestive of duties which it is important to Christians gravely to consider.

6. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true : and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7. Behold, I come quickly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8. 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 showed me these things.

9. 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 GOD.

10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.

11. He 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 still.

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