The water of life, or, A discourse showing the richness and glory of the…The water of life, or, A discourse shewing the richness and glory of the…

These be the streams where the Doves wash their Eyes, and by which they solace themselves, and take great ⟨p. 92⟩content. These streams are instead (as I said) of a Looking-glass; their clearness presents us with an opportunity of seeing our own Features. As in fair Waters, a man may see the body of the Sun, and of the Moon, and of the Stars, and the very body of Heaven; so he that stands upon the Bank of this River, and that washeth his Eyes with this Water, may see the Son of God, the Stars of God, the Glory of God, and the habitation that God has prepared for his People. And are not these pleasant sights? is not this excellent Water? has not this River pleasant streams?

3. Clear] is set in opposition to dirty Water and muddiness. I read of some Waters that are fouled with the Feet of Beasts, and with the feet of Men, yea, and deep Waters too. Yea, saith God to some, ye have drunken of the deep Waters, And have fouled the residue with your feet, ⟨p. 93⟩and again, As for my Flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your ¹feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. These Waters are Doctrines contained in the Text, muddied and dirtied by the false glosses and sluttish opinions of erroneous Judgments; of which the poor Sheep, have been made to drink. And verily this is apparent enough, by the very colour and hue of those poor Souls: for tho the truth of God was in them, yet the very stain of Tradition and Superstition might be also seen in their Scales. For as the Fish of the River receive, by being there, the changeable colours of the Waters, so Professors, what Doctrine, they hear and drink, do look like that. If their Doctrines are muddy their Notions are muddy; if their Doctrines are bloody, their Notions and Tempers are bloody: but if their Doctrines are clear, so are their Notions, for their Doctrine has given ⟨p. 94⟩