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twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west 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 foursquare, 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 height 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 jasper and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 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 sun, neither of the moon, to shine 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 saved, shall 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 shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, nor maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

And he shewed 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

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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 for ever and ever. 6 And he saith unto me, The sayings are faithful and true; and the Lord God of the holy prophet 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 shewed 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 știll: 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. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 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 city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 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 morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

These chapters contain first a gorgeous and impos

ing description of the "new heaven and the new earth," which succeeded, when the first heaven and earth passed away, (ch. xx. 11.) at the general judgement. It is drawn in the richest and sublimest imagery of Ezekiel, and other ancient prophets; the glory of God and the Lamb shine in it with a lustre superior to the sun and moon; the names of the twelve Tribes are written on the gates of this celestial city, and those of the twelve Apostles on its foundation stones, to show the union of the Jewish and Christian Church in one blessed community: it is all pure and glorious; and no night is there, and no sin; the wicked are excluded, and none are admitted, but they who are written in the "Lamb's book of life," who shall drink of the water of life, and eat of the tree of life; who shall live in the beatific light of God's countenance, and serve Him for ever and ever.

Here (at chap. xxii. 5.) the prophetic part of the Vision terminates.

The remainder contains (verses 6 and 7) a solemn ratification, by the angel, of all these particulars, by an assurance that these were the "faithful and true sayings" of the Lord God, who had sent him to show them unto His servants: an intimation (given in the direction "not to seal" the prophecy) that some of the particulars should soon be accomplished; as indeed all would be in due season :—a general exhortation,

to observe these sayings well, and neither to alter nor add thereto :—and the closing apostolical benediction of "grace from the Lord Jesus Christ."

In the whole, from first to last, appears the majesty of the Divine Revealer, the " Alpha and Omega,” the Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher of every good work. And "blessed shall he be that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein."

DISSERTATION XXVI.

RECAPITULATION of the Prophecies relating to
POPERY.

Ir appears, then, that the prophecies relating to Popery are the greatest, the most essential, and the most striking part of Revelation. Whatever difficulties there may be in others, here the application is obvious. Popery being the great corruption of Christianity, there are more prophecies relating to it than to almost any other event. It is the great object of Daniel's prophecies, and the principal one of St. Paul's and St. John's; and these being compared, mutually reflect light upon each other. It is clearly foretold, that such a power as that of the Pope should be exercised in the Christian Church; and should establish such doctrines and practices as are publicly taught and approved in the church of Rome.

The

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