A30152:479
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.
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⟩these very notions: As the Apple-tree is among the Trees of the Wood, so is my Beloved 1among the Sons. I sate down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Indeed the shadow of this Tree of Life, as always it is refreshing to the tempted and weary, so now it will be far more: They that dwell 2under his shadow, shall return; they shall revive as the Corn, and grow as the Vine, and the scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon. Mark, 1. His shadow will make us return, that is, to our first Love; to the days of our youth, to our young, fresh, tender, and flourishing Faith, Love and Self-denial, that we received in the days of our Espousals. 2. As it will make us return to these, so it will make us revive in these; they shall return, and revive; they shall revive as the Corn; as the Corn doth when in the heat of Summer after long scorching, it it covered with cool Clouds, and watered with the bottles of Heaven. 3. As is shall make them return and revive, so it shall make them grow; they shall grow as the Vine, that is, speedily, fruitfully, and spreadingly. 4. This is not all, but the smell of Saints in those days