tical body, is twelve; which evidently shows the superiority of Christ's scheme of redemption and of his successful administration and management, against all the opposition of his enemies. For as the difference is between the roots of their numbers, such is their success or aug mentation and final result of measures- Thus we will at last rejoice for the glorious reward which our Lord shall receive for the travail of his soul. Here the 144000 chap. VII, 5, and chap. xiv, 1. will find their mansions, and enjoy citizenship.

It is most probable to my mind, that as the city of New Jerusalem is here termed the bride, the Lamb's wife, and the whole number of true believers his mystical body in o ther places, that the golden reed of the angel here, is the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ's spiritual body, or of the Lamb's wife, in regard to its various members, and the wonderful proportion of them to the whole. See Ephes. ch. IV, 13, and ch. 1, 18. According to this opinion, the measuring of the city would indicate, the distribution of the mansions in this city, according to the various qualifications and merits of the citizens; and the assigning to each his proper portion of felicity, which perhaps will depend on the various distances of their mansions from the centre of the city, and the throne of God and the Lamb. As the wall represents the Christian economy, and the city the saints, and the wall is of equal height with the city, this may indicate that the saints are completed under that economy.

Verse 18. The building of the wall was of Jasper. The original is avdoensis, which our version renders building, properly signifies a buttress, a pilaster set within a wall in order to strengthen it. This may refer to those eminent messengers of heaven, who have been of extraordinary service in the Church, as prophets, reformers of religion, and such as were the instruments of great revivals in the different ages of the world, by whom the Lord

has strengthenee the walls of Zion. Of the Jasper stone

see verse 19.

But

The city pure gold, like unto clear glass. These words refer to the buildings and mansions of the city itself, the internal parts of the city, which the apostle might see by means of the open gates. As the internal parts of New Jerusalem signify the saints and conquerors in Christ, who are here compared to gold, which is the most precious of all metals, except electrum; so the meaning may be, that the citizens of this blissful abode are the most precious, valuable and substantial part out of the whole mass of mankind-the chosen people of the Lord. they are not only compared to gold, St. John says, the city was pure gold, like purified electrum, [omos a vaza nadag". See ch. iv, 6.] in which there is nothing but gold, totally purified of all mixture or dross, and in its highest state of refinement. This gold signifies the pure and enlightened state of their minds, in regard to their knowledge of the truth and degree of sanctification, 1 Cor. 1, 12. For there, the saints possess an intuitive knowledge, and see face to face, even as they are known, 1 Cor. vi, 12 ; free from ignorance, or errour, in all things pertaining to their duty or felicity. Of this gold it is said, that it was like purified electrum ; which, as we have seen chap. iv, 6, signifies the divine revelation of God to man. The sense is, that their minds will then be improved to such an exalted degree of illumination, as to comprehend the whole height and depth of what God has revealed in his word. I Pet. 1, 7. Job xxi. 10.

Verse 19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was Jasper: the second, Sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl, the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

All these are precious stones of real excellence, and more or less of great value. The wall consists of twelve courses, in which these stones were not mixed, but every layer was built with one of these precious gems, in the following order.

1. The Jasper, is white, cerulean, with small red veins.

2. The Sapphire, is sky-blue. The ancients called our lapis lazuli sapphire, which is of a beautiful azure calour, but not transparent." 3. The chalcedony, is milkwhite, clouded with blue, and half trans. parent.

4. The emarald, is of a delightful green colour, bright and trans parent.

5. The sardonyx, is a most precious stone, which is composed of

deep blue, dark blue, milkwhite, and cornelian red layers or leaves.

6. The sardius, is the red stone, which is now termed the cornelian

stone.

7. The chrysolite, is of a dusky green, half transparent, and sparkling with gold points.

8. The beryl, is sea-green, and bluish-green.

9. The topaz, is citron, or gold-colour, and transparent.

10. The chrysoprasus, is bright-green, with gold points in it.

11. The jacinth, this is the modern sapphire, of a beautiful cerulean colour, and transparent.

12. The amethyst, is of a violet colour, bordering on purple, and transparent.

Authors have varied much in their opinions, concerning the signification of these precious stones. Some have considered them, as being characteristic of the twelve apostles, and others refer them to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and to his life and sufferings;

Sapphirus gemma est cæruleo colore, pellucida & diaphana, sunt aliqua colore cæruleo albida, alia cæruleo saturo: he mares, ille sæmellæ appellantur, alia omni colore carent, albaqua vocantur." Boet de Boot.

while a third class consider them merely as oriental fi gures of beauty, magnificence, brightness, purity and solidity. It would be a fruitless attempt to investigate all the particular virtues of these gems, or to point out their comparative value; as the learned are not fully agreed, what stones are indicated by some of these names, and describe them differently as to colour and virtue. They no doubt signify the precious doctrines and graces of Jesus Christ, by which the New Testament economy has been established, through the instrumentality of the twelve apostles, I Cor. in, 11. 12. 13. which, we all confess, are worthy of such a representation. To analyze them severally, for the purpose of comparing them with the different doctrines of revelation, or graces of the New Testament Church, might be ingenious and fanciful, but of little benefit. Here the twelve stones in the breast-plate of the high priest, Exod. xxviu, 15. will meet their full accomplishment.

Verse 21. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each gate was of one pearl, and these pearls were all alike, and of the same kind. These pearls signify the promises of the Messiah, which were the gates under the Old Testament dispensation, at which they entered into this heavenly Jerusalem by faith.

And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. The original is και η πλατεία της πολεως, Keverov xadagivas vados diapans, which should have been rendered, And the market-place (or centre) of the city was of pure gold, as effulgent electrum. The marketplace in ancient time, was the most important part of a city. It was the place where all private and public business of consequence was transacted, where heralds proclaimed public laws, and the will of the throne; and where all messengers from other cities and strangers from

ts. R. Griesb. pro diapang habet diavy:

other countries arrived, to accomplish their different objects and designs. And in New Jerusalem, where the throne of God and the Lamb is in the midst of the ci ty, this place is of momentous importance, to all the inhabitants of the new earth. As there is no temple there, this will be the place of public worship, where they adore the Lord face to face; where the Lamb shall feed his flock, and lead them unto living fonntains of water in joy and felicity for ever and ever. The city is said to be of pure gold like purified electrum, but the market-place is compared to effulgent electrum, which far surpasses the glory of the city. This market place represents the blissful manifestations of God in Christ to all the citizens of new Jerusalem; the effusions of divine illumination, love, joy and felicity; their unspeakably glorious harmony with the divine will and among themselves, in all their thoughts, words and actions; and their glowing zeal and delight in worshipping and serving the Lord with pure hearts and minds.

Verse 22. And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it ; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

In our present state, places of public worship are necessary to animate and excite us to our duty. This will be the case also during the Millennium, where temp tation, sin and death still continue; but in new Jerusa lem there will be no temple. The whole city is full of the presence of the Lord, and the hearts and minds of the saints are continually exalted to the enjoyment of God in Christ, more than ever they were, even in their most glorious moments on earth. The sanctity of New Jerusalem, far surpasses the holiest sanctuary which ever existed.