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…

Now before I come to speak to this Tree touching the manner of its Fruit, and its often bearing, with the efficaciousness of its Leaves, which here he saith doth heal the Nations; I will take notice of one or two general things that lie before me, from the standing of the Tree in the midst of the street of this City.

Now before I come to speak to this Tree touching the manner of its Fruit, and its often bearing, with the efficatiousness of its Leaves, which here he saith doth heal the Nations; I will take notice of one or two general things that lie before me, from the standing of the Tree in the midst of the street of this City.

First then, In that he saith this City hath a Tree of Life in it; He alludes to the Garden of Eden, the pleasant Paradise that God began the World withal; whereby he signifieth, that as the World began with a Paradise, so also it shall end with a Paradise, when Sin and Satan have done their worst: This New Jerusalem shall be the wind-up of the world, and in it shall stand the Tree of Life, as well as there stood one in the goodly Garden which was the beginning thereof. In which Paradise there shall be no Tree of Knowledge, or the Law of Works to bear sway, and to cause that the Sons of God shall be thrust out thence for their eating of its forbidden Fruits; no, the Tree of Life alone shall here bear sway, and rule; whose Fruit is only healthful, and the Leaves thereof for Medicine.

Now this Tree of Life being in the midst of this City, it signifieth that the Inhabitants of it shall be sweetly shadowed, refreshed and defended with its coolness, and also sweetly nourished and comforted with its dainties: And hence it is that the Scriptures do hold him forth in his benefits to his Church, under ⟨p. 267⟩