An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…

Yea, even in the Prophecies of the Destruction of Babylon it self, the depriving her of her Treasures, seems to be one Thing intended by the drying up of her Waters. This seems manifest by the Words of the Prophecy in Jer. l.37, 38. A Sword is upon her Treasures, and they shall be robbed; a Drought is upon her Waters, and they shall be dried up. Compared with Chap. li.15. O thou that dwellest upon many Waters, abundant in Treasures: with Ver. 36. I will dry up her Sea, and make her Springs dry. The Wealth, Revenues and vast Incomes of the Church of Rome, are the Waters by which that Babylon has been nourished and supported; these are the Waters which the Popish Clergy and Members of the Romish Hierarchy thirst after, and are continually drinking down, with insatiable Appetite; and they ⟨p. 158⟩are Waters that have been flowing into that spiritual City like a great River; ecclesiastical Persons possessing a very great Part of the Popish Dominions: As this Babylon is represented as vastly rich, in this Prophecy of the Apocalypse, especially in the 17th and 18th Chapters. These are especially the Waters that supply the Palace of the King of this new Babylon, viz. the Pope; as the River Euphrates ran through the Midst of the Palace of the King of old Babylon. The Revenues of the Pope have been like the Waters of a great River, coming into his Palace, from innumerable Fountains, and by innumerable Branches and lesser Streams, coming from many various and distant Countries.

This Prophecy represents to us two Cities very contrary the one to the other; viz. New-Babylon and the New-Jerusalem, and a River running through the Midst of each. The new Jerusalem, which signifies the Church of Christ, especially in her best Estate, is described as having a River running through the Midst of it, Rev. xxii.1, 2. This River, as might easily be made most evident, by comparing this with Abundance of other Scriptures, undoubtedly signifies the divine Supplies, and rich & abundant spiritual Incomes and Provision of that holy City. Mr. Lowman, in his late Exposition, says, It represents a constant Provision for the comfortable and happy Life of all the Inhabitants of this City of God. And in his Notes on the same Place, observes as follows; Water, (says he) as necessary to the Support of Life, and as it contributes in great Cities, especially in hot eastern Countries, to the Ornament of the Place, and Delight of the Inhabitants, is a very proper Representation of the Enjoyment of all Things, both for the Support and Pleasure of Life. As the