Thomas Malthus - "Importation of Foreign Corn"

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW - "PREFACE TO MAJOR BARBARA: FIRST AID TO CRITICS"

Francois Coppee - "A Romance of Youth, v2"

W. D. Howells - "The Albany Depot"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: The Works of John Bunyan Volume 3

J >> John Bunyan >> The Works of John Bunyan Volume 3




But again, though I am certain that all the Gentiles that are at
any time converted, are reckoned within the compass of some of
the tribes of Israel, to which the gates of this city may truly be
said to answer; yet the gates are here in a special manner called
by the name of twelve, to answer to the happy return and restoration
of those poor distressed creatures the twelve tribes of the Jews that
are scattered abroad, and that are, and for a long time have been
to our astonishment and their shame, as vagabonds and stragglers
among the nations (Hosea 9:17), there to continue 'many days,
without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice,
and without an ephod' (Hosea 3:4). That is, without the true God,
the true Saviour, and the true word and ordinances; after which,
saith the same prophet, they shall even in the latter days, that
is, when this city is builded, return and seek the Lord their
God, and David their king, and shall then 'fear the Lord and his
goodness' (Hosea 3:5). This the apostle also affirmeth, when he
telleth the believing Gentiles that blindness in part is happened
to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in: which
Israel in this place cannot by any means be taken for the Gentiles
that are converted, for this Israel must be rejected until the
bulk of the elect Gentiles be converted; besides he calleth this
Israel by the name of Israel, even while unconverted; but the
converted Gentiles still Gentiles, even when converted: he calls
this Israel the natural branches, but the Gentiles wild branches;
and tells us further, that when they are converted, they shall
be grafted into their own olive tree; but when the Gentiles
are converted, they must be cut off of their own stock and tree:
read Romans 11 throughout. Wherefore, I say, the gates are called
twelve, to answer these poor creatures, who at this day shall be
awakened, and enlightened, and converted to the faith of Jesus.
These gates in another place are called a way, and these Jews,
the kings of the east; and it is there said also, that at present
this way doth want preparing; which is as much as to say this
city wants setting up, and the gates want setting in their proper
places. Wherefore, saith John, the sixth angel poured out his vial
upon the great river Euphrates, that is, destroyed the strength
and force of the Roman antichrist-for the river Euphrates was
the fence of literal Babylon, the type of our spiritual one-which
force and fence, when it is destroyed or dried up, then the way
of the kings of the east will be prepared, or made ready for their
journey to this Jerusalem (Rev 16:12). Of this the prophets are
full, crying, 'Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up
the stumbling block out of the way of my people' (Isa 57:14). And
again, 'Go through, go through the gates, prepare ye the way of
the people; cast up, cast up the high way; gather out the stones,
lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed
unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold
thy salvation cometh; behold his reward is with him, and his work
before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, the redeemed
of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out; A city not
forsaken' (Isa 62:10-12). All which doth most especially relate
to the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, who in great
abundance shall, when all things are made ready, come flocking in
to the Son of God, and find favour, as in the days of old.

[The angels at the gates, what they are.]

'And at the gates twelve angels.' By angels in this place, we are
to understand the messengers and ministers of the Lord Jesus, by
whom the mystery of eternal life and felicity is held forth and
discovered before the sons of men; and thus this word angel is
frequently taken in this prophecy (Rev 1:20; 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7;
14:6).

'And at the gates twelve angels'-

In these words, then, there are two things to be considered. First.
Why they should be called twelve. And, Second. Why they are said
to stand at the twelve gates of this new and holy city.

First. They are called twelve, to signify two things. 1. The truth
of their doctrine. And, 2. The sufficiency of their doctrine and
ministry for the converting of the twelve tribes to the faith of
Christ, and privileges of this city.

1. For the truth of their doctrine: for by twelve here he would have
us to understand that he hath his eye upon the twelve apostles,
or upon the doctrine of the twelve, the apostolical doctrine. As
if he should say, This city, the New Jerusalem, shall be every
way accomplished with beauty and glory; she shall have a wall for
her security, and twelve gates to answer the twelve tribes; yea,
and also at these gates the twelve apostles, in their own pure,
primitive, and unspotted doctrine. The Romish beasts have corrupted
this doctrine by treading it down with their feet, and have muddied
this water with their own dirt and filthiness (Eze 34:17,18).[6]
But at this day, this shall be recovered from under the feet of
these beasts, and cleansed also from their dirt, and be again in
the same glory, splendour, and purity, as in the primitive times.
It is said that when Israel was passed out of Egypt, beyond the
sea, they presently came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water,
&c., and that they encamped by the waters (Exo 15:27). Which twelve
wells did figure forth the doctrine of the twelve apostles, out
of which the church, at her return from captivity, shall draw and
drink, as out of the wells of salvation. Now shall the wells of
our father Abraham, which the Philistines have for a great while
stopped; now, I say, shall they again be opened by our Isaac, his
son; and shall be also called after their own names (Gen 26:18).
This is generally held forth by the prophets, that yet again the
church shall be fed upon the mountains of Israel, and that they
'shall lie down in a good fold, and a fat pasture'; yea, 'I will
feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord
God' (Eze 34:14,15).

2. As by these twelve we are to understand the truth and purity
of the doctrine of the twelve, so again, by this word twelve, we
are to understand the sufficiency of that doctrine and ministry to
bring in the twelve tribes to the privileges of this city. Mark,
for the twelve tribes there are twelve gates, for every tribe
a gate; and at the twelve gates, twelve angels, at every gate an
angel. 'O Judah,' saith God, 'he hath set an harvest for thee, when
I returned the captivity of thy people' (Hosea 6:11). And so for
the rest of the tribes; before Ephraim and Benjamin, and Manasseh,
he will stir up his strength to save them (Psa 80:2). 'I will
hiss for them,' saith God, 'and gather them, for I have redeemed
them; and they shall increase as they have increased: and I will
sow them among the people, and they shall remember me in far
countries, and they shall live with their children, and return
again; I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and
gather them out of Assyria, and I will bring them into the land of
Gilead and Lebanon, and place shall not be found for them' (Zech
10:8-10).

[Second.] But to come to the second question, that is, Why these
twelve angels are said to stand at the gate? which may be for
divers reasons.

1. To show us that the doctrine of the twelve is the doctrine
that letteth in at these gates, and that also that shutteth out.
'Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted,' saith Christ, 'and
whosesoever sins yet retain, they are retained' (John 20:23; Matt
18:18). And hence it is that the true ministers, in their right
administration, are called porters; because as porters stand at the
gate, and there open to, or shut upon, those that make an attempt
to enter in (Mark 13:34); so the ministers of Christ, by the
doctrine of the twelve, do both open to and shut the gates against
the person that will be attempting to enter in at the gates of
this city (2 Chron 23:19).

2. But again, they are said to stand at the gates for the
encouraging and persuading of the tempted and doubting Jews, who
at the beginning of their return will be much afflicted under the
sight and sense of their own wretchedness. Alas! were it not for
some to stand at the gates of this city for instruction, and the
encouragement of those that will at that day in earnest be looking
after life, they might labour as in other things for very, very
vanity; and might also be so grievously beat out of heart and
spirit, that they might die in despair. But now to prevent this
for those that are in the way to Zion with watery eyes, and wetted
cheeks, here stand the angels, continually sounding with their
golden gospel-trumpets, 'Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless
his name. For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting,
and his truth endureth' for ever, even 'to all generations' (Psa
100:4,5). As he saith again, 'And it shall come to pass in that
day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come
which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcast
in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount
at Jerusalem' (Isa 27:13).

[The names written on the gates.]

'And at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.' Thus
it was in the vision of the prophet, when he was taking a view of
the pattern of this city: 'And the gates of the city,' saith the
angel to him, 'shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel'
(Eze 48:31). Which saying John doth here expound, saying, the
names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel were writ or
set upon them.

This being thus, it cleareth to you what I said but now, to wit,
that the gates are called twelve, to answer the twelve tribes,
for their names are written thereon. This must therefore, without
all doubt, be a very great encouragement to this despised people;
I say great encouragement, that notwithstanding all their rebellion,
blasphemy, and contempt of the glorious gospel, their names should
be yet found recorded and engraved upon the very gates of New
Jerusalem. Thus then shall the Jews be comforted in the latter
days; and truly they will have but need hereof; for doubtless,
at their return, when they are thoroughly sensible of the murder
they have committed, not only upon the bodies of the prophets and
apostles, but of the Son of God himself, I say this must needs,
together with the remembrance of the rest of their villainous
actions, exceedingly afflict and distress their bleeding souls.
For 'the children of Israel shall come, they and the children
of Judah together, going and weeping; they shall go and seek the
Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces
thitherward' (Jer 50:4,5). Mark, 'going and weeping'; there will
not be a step that these poor people will take in the day of their
returning, but will be watered with the tears of repentance and
contrition, under the consideration of the wickedness that, in the
days of their rebellion, they have committed against the Lord of
glory. As he saith also by another prophet, 'I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit
of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom
they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth
for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that
is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a
great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in
the valley of Megiddon, and the land shall mourn' (Zech 12:10-12).

Wherefore, I say, they both have and also will have need of twelve
gates, and on them the names of their twelve tribes, with an angel
at each, to encourage them to enter this holy and goodly city; and
to tell them that yet he counts them his friends in whose house
he received the wounds in his hands (Zech 13:6).

But again, As by the names of the twelve tribes written on the
gates, we may see what encouragement the Jews will have, at their
return, to enter in at them; so we may also understand that by
the names of the twelve tribes here written, God would have us
to perceive how all must be qualified that from among the Gentiles
at this day do enter in at these gates; namely, those, and those
only, that be cut out of their own wild olive tree, and transplanted
among the children of Israel, into their good olive tree. Such
as are Jews inwardly, the Israel of God, according to the new
creature, they shall enter, for the holy Gentiles also, by virtue
of their conversion, are styled the children of Abraham, Jews,
the chosen generation, the peculiar people, the holy nation; and
so are spiritually, though not naturally by carnal generation, of
the twelve tribes whose names are written upon the gates of the
city (Gal 3:7; Rom 2:28; 1 Peter 2:9,10). 'And it shall come to
pass,' saith the prophet, 'that in what tribe the stranger,' that
is, the Gentile 'sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance,
saith the Lord God' (Eze 47:23). Thus the Jews and Gentiles shall
meet together in the spirit of the gospel, and so both become a
righteous nation; to both which the gates of this city shall stand
continually open; at which also they may with boldness demand, by
the faith of the Lord Jesus, their entrance, both for communion
with the God, grace, and privileges of this city, according to that
which is written, 'Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation
which keepeth the truth may enter in' (Isa 26:2). Thus much of the
number of the gates, and now to proceed to the order of them.

[The order of the gates.]

Ver. 13. 'On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on
the south three gates, and on the west three gates.' I shall not
speak anything to the manner of his repeating of the quarters
towards which the gates do look; why he should begin at the east,
then to the north, afterwards crossing to the south, and last to the
west; though I do verily think that the Holy Ghost hath something
to show us, wherefore he doth thus set them forth. And possibly he
may set them thus, and the west last, not only because the west
part of the world is that which always closeth the day, but to
signify that the west, when Jerusalem is rebuilded, will be the
last part of the world that will be converted, or the gate that
will be last, because longest, occupied with the travels of the
passengers and wayfaring men in their journey to this Jerusalem.
But I pass that.

From the order of their standing, I shall inquire into two things.
First. Why the gates should look in this manner every way, both
east, west, north, and south? Second. Why there should be three,
just three, on every side of this city? 'On the east three, on
the north three, on the south three, and on the west three.'

First. For the first, the gates by looking every way, into all
quarters, may signify to us thus much, that God hath a people in
every corner of the world. And also, that grace is to be carried
out of these gates by the angels in their ministry into every
place, to gather them home to him. As it is said of the living
creatures, 'Whither the head looked they followed it, they turned
not as they went' (Eze 10:11); so whithersoever the gates look,
thither the ministers go, and carry the Word, to gather together
the elect. He 'sent them two and two before his face, into every
city and place whither he himself would come' (Luke 10:1; Matt
28:19; John 11:52).

Again, the gates, by their thus looking every way, do signify to
us, that from what quarter or part of the world soever men come
for life, for those men there are the gates of life, even right
before their doors. Come they from the east, why thither look the
gates; and so if they come from north, or west, or south. No man
needs at all to go about to come at life, and peace, and rest. Let
him come directly from sin to grace, from Satan to Jesus Christ,
and from this world to New Jerusalem. The twelve brazen oxen that
Solomon made to bear the molten sea (1 Kings 7:23-25), they stood
just as these gates stand, and signify, as I said before, that
the doctrine of the twelve apostles should be carried into all the
world, to convert-as in the primitive times, so now at the building
of New Jerusalem-and to bring in God's sheep to the fold of
his church. Now, I say, as the Word is carried every way, so the
gates, the open gates, look also into all corners after them, to
signify that loving reception that shall be given to every soul
that from any corner of the whole world shall unfeignedly close in
with grace, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, therefore, men
'shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north,
and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God'
(Luke 13:29; Psa 107:1-3).

[Second.] 'On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on
the south three gates, and on the west three gates.' Having thus
showed you in a word, why they stand thus looking into every
corner or quarter of the world, I now come to show you why there
must be just three looking in this manner every way.

1. Then, there may be three looking every way, to signify that it
is both by the consent of the three persons in the Trinity, that
the gospel should thus every way go forth to call men, and also
to show you that both the Father, Son, and Spirit, are willing
to receive and embrace the sinner, from whatsoever part or corner
of the earth he cometh hither for life and safety. Come they from
whence they will, the Father is willing to give them the Son, and
so is the Son to give them himself, and so is the Spirit to give
them its help against whatever may labour to hinder them while
they are here (John 3:16; Rev 21:6; 22:17).

2. In that three of the gates look every way, it may be also to
show us that there is none can enter into this city, but by the
three offices of the Lord Jesus. Christ by his priestly office
must wash away their sins; and by his prophetical office he must
illuminate, teach, guide, and refresh them; and by his kingly
office, rule over them and govern them with his Word (Heb 7:5; John
13:8; Acts 3:22-24; Isa 40:10,11; 9:6,7; Psa 76:1-3; 110:3).

3. Or, by three gates, may be signified the three states of the
saints in this life; an entrance into childhood, an entrance into
a manly state, and an entrance into the state of a father of the
church (1 John 2:12-14). Or, lastly, the three gates may signify
the three-fold state we pass through from nature to glory; the
state of grace in this life, the state of felicity in paradise,
and our state in glory after the resurrection: or thus, the state
of grace that possesseth body and soul in this life, the state of
glory that possesseth the soul at death, and the state of glory
that both body and soul shall be possessed with at the coming of
the Lord and Saviour. This was figured forth by the order of the
stairs in the temple at Jerusalem, which was first, second, and
third, by which men ascended from the lowest to the uppermost room
in the house of God; as he tells us, 'They went up with winding
stairs' from the first into the second story, and from thence
by them into the third (1 Kings 6:8). Thus much for the wall and
gates of New Jerusalem.

[The foundations of the wall.]

Ver. 14. 'And the wall of this city had twelve foundations, and
in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.' In these
words we have two things considerable:-First. That the city-wall
hath twelve foundations. Second. That in these twelve are the
names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

First. It hath twelve foundations. This argueth invincible strength
and support. That wall that hath but one foundation, how strongly
doth it stand, if it be but safely laid upon a rock, even so strongly
that neither wind nor weather, in their greatest vehemency, are
able to shake or stir it to make it fall. But I say, how much more
when a city hath foundations, twelve foundations, and those also
laid by God himself; as it is said concerning the worthies of old,
they 'looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God' (Heb 11:10).

'And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the
names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.' The wall, you know, I
told you, is the wall of salvation, or the safety of the church
by Jesus Christ, to which is adjoined, as the effect of that, the
special providence and protection of God. Now this wall, saith
the Holy Ghost, hath twelve foundations, to wit, to bear it up for
the continuation of the safety and security of those that are the
inhabitants of this city; a foundation is that which beareth up
all, and that upon which the stress of all must lie and abide.
Now, to speak properly, the foundation of our happiness is but
one, and that one none but the Lord Jesus; 'For other foundation
can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Cor
3:11). So then, when he saith the wall of the city had twelve
foundations, and that in them also are written the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb, he doth not mean that this wall had
twelve Christs for its support, but that the doctrine of the twelve
apostles is that doctrine upon which both Christ, and grace, and
all happiness standeth firm and sure for ever. And to signify also,
that neither Christ nor any of his benefits can be profitable unto
thee, unless thou receive him alone upon the terms that they do
hold him forth and offer him to sinners in their word and doctrine.
If 'we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you,' saith Paul, 'than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man
preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let
him be accursed' (Gal 1:8,9).

[Second.] 'And in them the names of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb.' 'And in them their names.' This makes it manifest that by
the foundations of this wall, we are to understand the doctrine
of the twelve apostles of the Lord Christ, for their names are
to it, or found engraved in the foundations. Thus it was with the
doctrine which was the foundation of the Jewish church; the first
pattern being delivered by the man Moses, his name was always so
entailed to that doctrine, that at last it became common, and that
by Divine allowance, to call that doctrine by the name of Moses
himself. 'There is one that accuseth you,' saith Christ, 'even
Moses in whom ye trust' (John 5:45). And again, 'For Moses of old
hath in every city them that preach him' (Acts 15:21). The same
liberty of speech doth the Holy Ghost here use in speaking of the
foundations of this wall, which is the doctrine of the twelve. And
in that he calleth the doctrine by the name of foundations, and
leaveth it only with telling us the names of the twelve apostles
are engraven in it; he expects that men should be wise that read
him, and that they should be skillful in the word of righteousness,
if they come up clearly to the understanding of him.

'And in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.'

Thus you see that the twelve apostles, above all the servants of
Christ, are here owned to be the foundations of this wall; and
good reason, for they, above all other, are most clear and full
in the doctrine of grace, and all doctrines pertaining to life
and holiness. 'In other ages,' saith Paul, it 'was not made known
unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed to the holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit' (Eph 3:5). Moses was not fit for this,
for his was a more dark and veiled administration; while Moses
is read, the veil is over the heart, said Paul (2 Cor 3:13-15).
Neither was any of the prophets fit for this, for they were all
inferior to Moses, and were, as it were, his scholars (Num 12:6,7).
Nay, John the Baptists is here shut out;-for the 'least in the
kingdom of heaven is greater than he' (Matt 11:11).

The apostles, above all other, were the men that were with the Lord
Jesus all the time, from the baptism of John, even until the time
he was taken up into heaven; they saw him, heard him, and discoursed
with him, and were beholders of all the wondrous works that he
did; they did eat and drink with him after his passion, and saw,
after he was risen, the print of the nails, and the spear with
which he was pierced, when he died for our sins (Luke 24:39,40).
And because they had seen, felt, and at such a rate experienced all
things from the very first, both touching his doctrine, miracles,
and life, therefore he said unto them in chief, Ye shall be witnesses
unto me, both in Jerusalem and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto
the utmost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8,21; 13:31; 10:39; 51:32;
1 John 1:1-3).

Further, The apostles were in that marvellous manner endued with
the Holy Ghost, that they out-stript all the prophets that ever
went before them; neither can I believe that in the best of times
there should be any beyond them; yet if it should so fall out
that a dispensation should come in which they should have, as to
the pouring forth of the Spirit, their equals, yet it could not
follow, that therefore the gospel should be offered in other terms
than they at first have offered it, especially besides what hath
been said of them, if you consider to them it was said, 'Whatsoever
ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever
ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven' (Matt 18:18).
They, as to their doctrine, were infallible, it was impossible they
should err; he that despised their doctrine, despised God himself.
Besides, they have given in commandment that all should write
after their copy, and that we should judge both men and angels
that did, or would do otherwise (1 Thess 3:8; Gal 1:8).