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5. Having mentioned the foundation, we proceed to mention the gates which are twelve.

Vtrfe 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 tranfparant glafs." The gates of the new Jerufalem, are faid to be twelve in num. ber, three upon each fide; and each one is faid to be one pearl. How glorious! and how rich! The pearl which we are acquainted with, is a hard, white, fhining body, > ufually roundifh, found in a teftaceous fish, resembling an oyfter. The finest pearl is pure white, and not dead and lifelefs; but clear and brilliant, and is perfectly free from any spot or ftain, and their furface is fmooth and glaffy, and they bring their natural polish with them, which art is not able to improve.

"Pliny fays, that pearl are the most valuable and excellent of all precious ftones; and from our Saviour's comparing the kingdom of heaven to a Pearl, it would feem that they really were held in fuch high estimation at that time." We are told that Servila, the mother of Brutus, prefented one to Ceafar, of the value of 50,000%. fterling. Cleopatra, had one valued at 250,000l. ferling.

The foundations are faid to be garnished with all manner of precious stones; but the gates are compofed of the most precious of all. Thefe gates are defigned as an ornament to the city, for they are never to be fhut against any, fo that the kings of this new earth will ever be at liberty to bring their glory and honor to it, and to acknowledge the king of kings-verfe 25, "And the gates fhall not be fhut at all by day; for there fhall be no night there.

The city which shall be built in the thousand years will have gates, that the riches of the Gentiles may be brought into it, at that time there will be day and night; but in the new earth, there will be no night, but one eternal day.

As the twelve foundations of the wall had in them the names of the twelve apoftles of the lamb, fo the gates had in them the names of the twelve tribes of Ifrael.

It is likely the names of the twelve tribes were placed in the gate directly over the names of the apoftles, in the foundations.

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-NAPHTALI.--JOSEPH-BENJAMIN.-

This is mentioned in verfe 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." In addi tion to all this glory of the gates of pearl, it is faid that there were twelve angels placed at the gates of the city, that each one who enters the gates, may by them be welcomed into the city, wherever they come from the different parts of the new earth to bring the glory and honor. of the faved nations to it, and for the kings of the new earth to bring their glory and honor there.

We have now given a short sketch of the outward glory of the new Jerufalem, as seen by the beloved John on the Ifle of Patmos; which confifts in the name, the extent of the city-the measure of the Jafper wall-the garnishing of the twelve foundations; the names of the twelve apoftles-and the gates of pearl, with the names of the twelve tribes of Ifrael, and the twelve angels at the gates. This is the outward glory of the city, we will now “

ter in through the gates," and view the city within, and fee the greater glory there.

When we count over the glorious things within the city, we find twelve mentioned in the two laft chapters of Revelation.

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1. The pavement of the City, and the ftreet.

This is faid to be pure gold like tranfparant glafs, Chap. xxi. 18, 21, "And the city was pure gold, like unto clear giafs-And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were tranfparant glafs." There is but one ftreet mentioned in the whole city, for there are no public or private buildings, but the whole city is one public walk. What a glorious city is this, that even the street, or ground of the whole is of gold, which is in appearance like clear glafs! Pure gold indeed! as though it was defigned for the pure in heart.

2. Another part of the glory in this city is the river of water of life running from the throne of God& the lamb. Chap. xxii. 1, 14, "And he fhewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb." There is no doubt in my mind that this will be a real river as well as a real city, if we explain away one, we may the other. In the thousand years of Chrift's reign on the earth, waters are to iffue out from the fanctuary, from the house, and to run down into the dead fea, & there is to be trees on each fide of the river, for food and medicine; in this city, as there is no temple, the river is to proceed from the throne. It is certain that creatures will always need fupport from the creator, and this living water will be one part of it; It will benefit all the inhabitants of the new earth, as well as thofe of the new Jerufalem forever..

3. Befides the glory of the city on account of the river, we are told of a tree of life in the midft of the street. and on either fide of the river. Chap. xxii. 2, 14, "In the midst of the street of it, and on 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. Bleffed are they that do his commandments, that they

may have right to the tree of life,ct enter in through the gates into the city. Chap. ii. 7, "He that hath an ear let him hear what the fpirit faith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midft of the Paradife of God."

This tree of life is defcribed as very large, extending it's branches across the river and into the ftreet on either fide of the river, the whole ground of the city is street. This tree is faid to bear twelve manner of fruits, and to yield her fruit every month, and it is defigned for food and conftant health to the nations that are faved, who walk there.

Many are furprised at hearing that those who are immortal will eat and drink, in the new earth. Did not Christ who was raifed immortal, eat and drink with his difciples after his refurrection? Did he not promise his disciples that he would not drink of the fruit of the vine till he drank it new in his Father's kingdom? Did he not promise the apoftles that they should eat and drink with him in his kingdom? He certainly did. This will be

done when in the thousand years the apoftles fhall fet on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael; in the new Jerufalem how much more will they enjoy! We are told here why he promised them that they should eat and drink with him, because the tree of life and river of life, is prepared for that very purpose, " For the lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, fhall feed them, and fhall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

4. In addition to all this glory we are told that the throne of God and the Lamb are in the city. Chap. XX. I, 3, Proceeding from the throne of God and the

Lamb. But the throne of God and the Lamb fhall be in it."

In the temple Solomon built, the glory of God was feen when Solomon prayed. There was the prefence of God, and Solomon whom he had appointed to reign over Ifrael; but in this city behold a greater than Solomon! John faw the city, "having the glory of God." His prefence was feen by John in a more wonderful manner

than it was in the days of Solomon.

On this throne

where the glory of God is feen, Chrift the Lamb is to reign world without end. This throne he is on now in heaven, and when the new Jerufalem comes down from God out of heaven, this throne will be on the new earth in the new Jerufalem, then will the fhout be heard, out of heaven, which John mentions, Rev. xxi. 3, " And I heard a great voice out of heaven, faying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they fhall be his people, and God' himself fhall be with them, and be their God." O the glory of that city.

5. The light of the city is next mentioned. Chap. xxi. 11, 23, "And her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like jafper ftone, clear as cryftal. 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 of it.”

In the thousand years of Christ's reign I think from what Ifaiah fays, the light will be greater than it is now. Isaiah xxx. 26, "Moreover, the light of the moon fhall be as the light of the fun, and the light of the fun fhall be feven fold, as the light of feven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the ftroke of their wound." This evidently refers to the time when the Jews are restored, but the city in the new earth will have a light fuperior to the fun, moon,ftars or candles; the glory of God and the Lamb will be the light. When the angel came to the fhepherds,his light turned night into day. When Paul was on his way to Damafcus he faw a light above the brightness of the fun. When Christ was on the mount the apoftles faw fomething of that light which he will make in the new Jerufalem. John faw Chrift on the ifle of Patmos,he fays, "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and his countenance was as the fun fhining in his ftrength." Rev. i. 14, 16,-This light will not be like the fun, feen only part of the time, but the glory of God" and the Lamb will be a conftant light, caufing the inhabi tants to be ftrangers to night and darkness.

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