I answer, We find Mention made of this Tree of Life in two other places of this dark Prophecy; the one is in Ver. 2. of this Chapter; 1On either Side of the River was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of Fruits, and yielded her Fruit every Month; and the Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations. But this, very probably, may be only an Enigmatical Representation of the Doctrine of the Gospel; let us then consult the other place, where Mention is made of this Tree of Life, and that is in Rev. 2.7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, 2that is in the ⟨p. 55⟩midst of the Paradise of God. Now this carries a plain Allusion to that Description of the Earthly Paradise of which we read, Gen. 2.9. where it is said, 3God planted the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden. Now this Tree of Life was so called, not that it had any natural Virtue to perpetuate Man's Life to Immortality, but only from its typical and sacramental Use; God having appointed the Eating thereof as a Sign and Pledge of our Immortality, had we continued in our Innocency and Obedience. And therefore we find, that upon the Fall, God set a Guard upon this Tree, and as it were excommunicates sinful Adam from partaking of this Sacrament of the Covenant of Works, which was both a Sign and Seal of Immortality; signifying thereby, that Sinners ⟨p. 56⟩have no Right to Eternal Life, according to the Terms of the first Covenant: But this Right being again restored to us by Jesus Christ, therefore they are pronounced blessed that do God's Commandments, because they have a Right to the Tree of Life; that is, to that Eternal Life and Immortality which is brought to light by the Gospel, and to which the Tree of Life in Paradise was a Sacrament and Emblem.
I answer, We find Mention made of this Tree of Life in two other places of this dark Prophesie; the one is in Ver. 2. of this Chapter; 1On either Side of the River was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of Fruits, and yielded her Fruit every Month; and the Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations. But this, very probably, may be only an Enigmatical Representation of the Doctrine of the Gospel; let us then consult the other place, where Mention is made of this Tree of Life, and that is in Rev. 2.7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, 2that is in the ⟨p. 55⟩midst of the Paradise of God. Now this carries a plain Allusion to that Description of the Earthly Paradise of which we read, Gen. 2.9. where it is said, 3God planted the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden. Now this Tree of Life was so called, not that it had any natural Vertue to perpetuate Man's Life to Immortality, but only from its typical and sacramental Use; God having appointed the Eating thereof as a Sign and Pledge of our Immortality, had we continued in our Innocency and Obedience. And therefore we find, that upon the Fall, God set a Guard upon this Tree, and as it were excommunicates sinful Adam from partaking of this Sacrament of the Covenant of Works, which was both a Sign and Seal of Immortality; signifying thereby, that Sinners ⟨p. 56⟩have no Right to Eternal Life, according to the Terms of the first Covenant: But this Right being again restored to us by Jesus Christ, therefore they are pronounced blessed that do God's Commandments, because they have a Right to the Tree of Life; that is, to that Eternal Life and Immortality which is brought to light by the Gospel, and to which the Tree of Life in Paradise was a Sacrament and Emblem.
- 1Rev. 22.2.
- 2Rev. 2.7.
- 3Gen. 2.9.
