A30152:289
The holy city, or, The new-Jerusalem wherein its goodly light walls, gates, angels, and…The holy citie, or, The new-Jerusalem wherein its goodly light walls, gates, angels, and…
The holy city, or, The new-Jerusalem wherein its goodly light walls, gates, angels, and the manner of their standing, are expounded : also, her length and breadth, together with the golden measuring-reed, explained, and the glory of all unfolded : as also, the numerousness of its inhabitants, and what the tree and water of life are, by which they are sustained / by John Bunyan ...The holy citie, or, The new-Jerusalem wherein its goodly light walls, gates, angels, and the manner of their standing, are expounded : also, her length and breadth, together with the golden measuring-reed, explained, and the glory of all unfolded : as also, the numerousness of its inhabitants, and what the tree and water of life are, by which they are sustained / by John Bunyan ...
London: printed for Francis Smith, 1669
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Lastly, When he saith this City is Gold, he also thereby insinuates how invincible and unconquerable a Spirit the People of God are possessed with: Gold is a Metal so invincible and unconquerable, that no fire can consume it; it may burn it indeed, and melt it; the Dross indeed doth consume, and give way to the power of the fire, but the Gold remains, and holds its ground; yea, it gets ground even of the Furnace and Fire it self; for the more it is burned and melted, the more it recovers its colour, and the more it shakes off its Dross and Dishonour: Just thus it is with the People of God, and hath been so even from the beginning; The more they oppressed them, the more they grew, Exod. 1. 12. the truth of which will be proved with a witness when God comes to set up this City Jerusalem: his Church hath been now for many hundred years in the King of Babylon's Furnace; all which time she hath most gloriously endured and withstood the heat; and at last, when the fire hath done its worst against her, Behold, there comes out a City of Gold: A Type of which, was the state of the three Children, who though they were cast into ⟨p. 158⟩the Fire, bound, and in disgrace; yet came out in the Liberty and Grace of the Son of God, Dan. 3. 23, 24, 25, 26. Wherefore let her be bold to say, even before she comes out of the Fire, When I am tried, I shall come forth as Gold, Job 23. 10.
And the City was [pure] Gold.
These words, PURE Gold, clear up what I said already: Pure Gold, or Gold upon which the fire hath done its work. The Church in the fire of Persecution is