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to be Fellow-Citizens with the Saints above..

For as to what we are told of the Tree of Life on either fide the River, and producing its Fruits every Month, Tis only a Metaphorical Reprefentation of things Spiritual, according to our Senfe of the Natu ral. Thus the Sacred. Writer would Decypher before our Eyes, a Tree of the utmost Goodness and Fruitfulness: Pursuant to which defign, he fets it on the bank of a River ; that through its own native Excellence, and that conftant Imigation, from the adjacent Moisture, it might Luxuriate in a Fertility quite beyond all that is ordinary; Not only to produce its Plenty, as other Trees do, Annually; but Repeat the Fruits Monthly. Twelve times every Year.

Nor is it a fingle Tree only here to be understood; but the facred Synechdoche fignifies many of the fame kind, on each fide of that River flowing through the midst of the City; Not far afunder one from another: That fo the whole City might equally enjoy both the River and the Fruit. Now, it fpeaks the Trees Goodnefs, That it is the Tree of Life; and its wonderful Fruitfulnefs, to bear fo oft: That the Citizens may ever have Fruits New and Ripe: New, of the prefent Month; and Ripe, of that which is paft: Never Putrid, Wither'd or Infipid. All denoting the Meat and Drink of the

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fed, (ie. the Wisdom, whereby they perfectly Know God, and the Charity where with they perfectly Love him,) to be of the very Beft, and never to Fail.

What's added, That the Leaves are for Healing of the Nations, ferves to inftruct us, That in this our Pilgrimage, the Fruits themselves of the Tree of Life do not here reach to us; Only fome of the Leaves drop down upon us; which though they bring not with 'em Eternal Life, yet are of fingular ufe, to heal the Maladies of our prefent Life, and thofe finful Ailments, of which now we all are fick, more or less. And what are thefe Leaves, but those of our Bibles, The Divine Words, by the Prophets and Apoftles, brought from Heaven? Which O how fweet and wholfome an Odour do they breath and fhed forth upon all that are influenced by the Spirit of God! Read the Prophets, Read the Pfalms, Read the Evangelifts, Read the Apostles: All thefe Sacred Leaves do favour fuch Humility, Charity, Purity, as are not taught by any Moral Difcipline or Philofophy. And no marvel; For thofe Leaves fall from the Trees of Paradife: But the humane Helps come no further than from fome Higher places of the Earth.

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Therefore, O Chriftian Soul, Be ftill gathering up and applying thefe healing Leaves, To make thee wholfome Remedies

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for all thy Maladies. And by the Leaves, raife thy Thoughts to fome Admiring apprehenfions of the Fruits. Leaving the Swines husks in the dirt, Look up with a Longing defire, and pant after the moft fatisfying Fruits of Eternal Life. Think frequently of 'em; and in thy Mind and Memory, be much Chewing upon 'em 'Till thou reach at laft indeed to fee 'em, and for ever Enjoy 'em.

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CHAP. IX.

Of the Mystical Foundation of the City of God.

WE

E have been Viewing one Structure of the Jerufalem above: But let us now take notice of another. For the City comprehends, not only Foundation, Gates, Walls, and Streets; But alfo a general Af fembly, who for the variety of their Functions, may likewife themselves be called Foundations, Gates, and Stones. Nay, peradventure, a City may more properly, go under the appellation of a Corporation, knit together by the fame Laws and Cuftoms; than fo many Piles of Building united within the fame Walls and Bounds.

Agreea

Agreeable to this Notion, we read, Rev. 21. 12. of Twelve Angels, feen in the Twelve Gates; and alfo the Names of the Twelve Tribes of Ifrael. And, I Pet. 2. 5. Ye, as lively Stones are built up a fpiritual Houfe. So, Eph. 2. 19, 20. Therefore, ye are no more Strangers, and Foreigners, but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God: And are built on the Foundation of the Prophets and Apoftles: Jefus Christ himself being the chief Corner-ftone, The Doctrine of the Prophets and Apoftles, that's the Foundation of the Fabrick: And upon that Revelation leans our Faith, which is the Beginning of our Salvation. But with the Bleffed, there's an End of the Faith. For having attain'd to the Salvation of their Souls, they no longer do Believe, what they are come actually to See and Enjoy.

Jefus Chrift is the only Foundation, in propriety of speaking, 1 Cor 3. 11. And where the Apoftles alfo are faid to be Twelve Foundations, 'Tis only in Him, and as he fpake by them. For all their Authority is from his Grant. And we build upon what they fay, only as it is his Word.

But then, How can he be the Foundation, and alfo the chief Corner-ftone? Muft we believe him to be the Highest, and alfo the Loweft? At the Top and the Bottom both? Why not; in different Refpects ? For Metaphors do give divers Names to the ES fame

fame Perfon, as he bears diftin& Offices. And fo our Lord, as the Foundation, bears all the weight of the Fabrick; To Support our Perfons, and alfo Tolerate our Infirmities. When, as the Head-ftone, he Rules over all who muft evermore fubmit unto ; him. And as the Head of the Corner, He joyns together the Walls of Jews and Gentiles; making 'em both one Church, and holy Temple to the Lord.

CHAP. X.

Of the Mystical Gate of the City of God.

S. Aug. will have the Gates of the Hea

venly City to fignify the Twelve Apofles. Though S. John Rev, 21. mentions only, the Twelve Tribes of Ifrael. And yet here's no Contradiction. For the Holy Land being a Type of the Heavenly City, 'Twas promifed to Abraham ; and divided among the twelve Tribes, as his Pofterity. Therefore, their Names were written in the Gates; To fhew, That the promise of Entrance, as right of Inheritance, belong'd only to the Children of Ifrael. But S. John, who fpeaks Myftically, underftands by the Tribes of Ifrael, true Ifraelites, that are fuch, not according to the Flesh, but Spirit. Whereby the Apoftles and their fpiritual Off-fpring

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