James Allen - "As A Man Thinketh"

Rudyard Kipling - "The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Ghost Stories"

Geneve L.A. Shaffer - "The Log of the Empire State"

John Lothrop Motley - "The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1566"

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




[Water of lifer clear and PURE AS CRYSTAL.] 'And he showed me a
pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,' &c. Mark, it is
water, water of life, pure water of life, and clear as crystal.
These words, 'pure' and 'clear,' and that as 'crystal,' they are
added upon a double account. First, To show you that it is grace
alone that saveth the sinner; and, Second, To show you that at this
day the doctrine of this grace will be by itself alone without
the commixture of that dirt and trash that for a long time, even
to this day, hath been thrown into it.

First, It showeth us that it is grace alone that saveth the sinner,
pure grace, grace that admits of nothing of ours to be in the
least a helper in the matter of our happiness; we are 'justified
freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.' As he saith by the prophet, 'I will pour CLEAN water upon
you, and ye shall be clean, and from all your idols will I cleanse
you' (Eze 36:25).[22] 'Not for your sakes do I this, saith the
Lord. Be ye ashamed and confounded for all your own evil ways,
O house of Israel' (vv 32,33). It is clean water, indeed-it is
clear in the nature of it, clear in the gift of it, and clear in
the working of it. It washeth freely, thoroughly, and perfectly.
'From all your idols will I cleanse you' (v 25; 16:9; Rev 21:8).

Second, This word pure, and clear as crystal, it also showeth
us that at the day of New Jerusalem, the doctrine of grace shall
be cleansed from all those dirty and muddy inventions that sin,
Satan, and the wisdom of this world hath thrown into this river,
and into its goodly crystal streams; I say at this day they shall
not come near it, neither shall the rubbish they have already cast
into it any more be there for ever. 'I will destroy all the beasts
thereof [the beastly men he means] from beside the great waters,
neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs
of beasts trouble them. Then will I make their waters deep, and
cause the rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord God' (Eze 32:13,14).

'And he SHEWED me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,'
&c. In that he saith he saw this river, he giveth us in a mystery
also to understand how openly and plainly this river shall in
all its crystal streams and currents be apprehended and seen by
the children of this city; for in this vision he doth as it were
represent in his person the children of New Jerusalem; as God said
to Ezekiel in another case, 'Thou shalt be a sign,' 'and they shall
do as thou hast done' (24:22,27). So here, I saw, saith John, a
pure river of water of life. I am in this a sign to the house of
the Israel of God, and to the inhabitants of this city; they shall
do as I have done, and shall also see as I have seen. As saith
the church and people of this city, 'As we have heard, so have we
seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts' (Psa 48:8). And hence it
is called an open fountain, because it shall be no more shut up
or kept close for ever (Zech 13:1,2).

[Whither this water goes and its extension.]

'And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
PROCEEDING out of the throne of God.' This word, proceeding, hath
also in it two things: First, An implicit declaration whither it
goes; and, Second, A discovery of its gradual extension to those
to whom it goes.

First. Touching to whom, or whither it goes, it is let out both
to the Jews and Gentiles indifferently; and so it never yet was
since the foundations of the Jewish church; for in the time of the
Old Testament it did run to the Jews in special, and in the time
of the New Testament, hitherto, unto us the Gentiles in special.
O! but now it shall in this manner be extended to sinners no longer;
not now to the Jews without the Gentiles, nor again to them without
the Jews, but equally and alike to both, and on them both it
shall work alike effectually. 'It shall be in that day,' saith
the prophet, 'that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half
of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder
sea' (Zech 14:8). By 'living waters' here, you are to understand
the same with this in the text; by 'the former sea,' the people
of the Jews, for they were God's former people; and by 'hinder
sea,' the people of the Gentiles, for they are the younger son. And
because the whole world consisteth of these two people, therefore
Ezekiel in his vision puts them both together, calling them the
fish of one great sea, to which this water of life shall run, and
upon whose fish it shall have a like operation, even to heal them,
and make them live, without respect either to this or that party.
'It shall come to pass that the fishers,' that is, the gospel
ministers, 'shall stand upon it,' the rivers, 'from En-gedi even
to En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their
fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great
sea, exceeding many' (Eze 47:10). As another prophet saith, 'The
abundance of the sea shall be converted to thee' (Isa 60:5). Thus
much touching whither this water goes.

[Second.] And now to come to the manner of the extension of it, in
the way of its proceeding. A thing that proceeds, it doth what it
doth gradually, that is, by degrees. First, it comes or goes so
far, and then further, and afterwards further than that, till at
last it ascends to the height and uppermost degree that is allotted
for its perfection. All which the Holy Ghost would have us gather
out of this word, 'it proceedeth,' or that John saw this holy water
'proceeding.' The which the prophet Ezekiel in a mystery unfoldeth
to us, saying, the first time he passed over this water it was up
but to his ankles; the second time he passed through, it proceeded
to his knees; the third time, to his loins; and last of all, became
a river to swim in (Eze 47:1-3).

1. It is but up to the ankles, that is, but shallow; and signifies
that, first, the soul is but a little child in God's things, such
as the apostle calls babes, children, 'little children' (1 John
2:12).

2. Then from the ankles it proceeds to the knees, that is, somewhat
higher than the ankles; and signifieth that the Christian groweth
from a child to a young and strong man, one that is now gotten
deeper into the things of God, and that is able to tug with and
overcome the wicked ones (1 John 2:13).

3. After this it proceeds higher, even up to the loins; this
signifies that as grace makes men children of God, and his young
men, so also it maketh them fathers and ancients in his church;
it makes them grave, knowing, solid guides, and unfolders of the
mysteries of the kingdom; these are such as are instructed into
the kingdom of God, and that can bring out of their treasury things
new and old.

4. It yet proceeds higher, even to be above the head, a river to
swim in, and that such a river as can by no means be passed over.
This signifieth our launching into eternity; our being beyond
all heights, depths, lengths, and breadths in the open vision and
enjoyments of grace. 'For there the glorious Lord shall be unto
us a place of broad rivers and streams, wherein shall go no galley
with oars, neither shall gallant ships pass thereby' (Isa 33:21).
Thus we begin children, and wade up to the ankles in the things
of God; and being once in, it riseth and proceeds to come up to
our knees, then to our loins, and last of all to be a river to
swim in; a river so wide, so deep, and every way so large, that
it can in no wise be passed over.[23]

[Whence and from whom this water comes.]

'And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.' Having
thus spoken to the water what it is, as also to whom it extends
itself, and how it proceeds, he now comes to show us from whence
and from whom it doth come. It proceeds, saith he, 'from the throne
of God and of the Lamb.' Out of the throne of God; this throne of
God, it is, in another place, called the mercy-seat, and throne of
grace, from which, as always, so now in a special manner he will
issue forth of himself in the glory of the gospel of the grace of
the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the inhabitants of this city
(Exo 25:22; Heb 4:16). When he saith, therefore, that it doth
proceed out of the throne of God, it is as if he had said, I saw
that from the yearning bowels of the great God did flow continually
the living streams of the everlasting fountains of grace, and
that not only to, but in the midst of this city, wherewith her
inhabitants are continually watered, and their pastures kept always
green and flourishing. 'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to
the waters' (Isa 55:1).

'Proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.' In that
this water of life is said to proceed not only out of the throne
of God, but also of the Lamb, it signifieth and holdeth forth unto
us two special things:

First. That the throne of God is also made the throne of the Lord
Jesus Christ, upon which he, as a reward of his sufferings and
victory over sin, Satan, and all evils, is set down, and upon which
he sits and rules as Lord and Chief of all worlds. He is set down
on the right hand of power, on the right hand of the Majesty on
high; as he saith, 'To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne' (Rev 3:21). This being thus, it signifieth
that this city shall have her enjoyments of life, peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost, by virtue of the kingship of the Lord Jesus
Christ, as well as by the virtue of his priestly and prophetical
office. The church doth in our days know a little what joy, peace,
and life is to be enjoyed from Christ, even through that dark and
glimmering sight that she hath of the offices of Christ in a mist;
but she feels not yet what joy she shall have, and what peace she
shall enjoy when her Lord, in all his offices, is manifest before
her, and when he in the glory of them doth reign in the midst of
this Jerusalem. There are none of the offices of the Lord Jesus
yet upon the throne in his church on earth, though they be all upon
the throne in heaven. O! but the day is coming that they shall be
all upon the throne in the church on earth; when they shall, each
of them in its full length, breadth, height, and depth, bear sway
among his people, and before all men. 'Then the moon shall be
confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign
in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously'
(Isa 24:23).

'O that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come
down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence!' (Isa
64:1). O that the day were come that the smoke should go forth of
the temple of God, that men might enter into it, and there meet
with God upon the throne, and with Jesus in him upon the throne
in all his offices! It will be thus, thou Zion, shortly, 'and great
shall be the peace of thy children' (Isa 54:13).

[Second.] The second thing observable is, that as all grace comes
from out of the throne of God, so it also proceeds or comes out of
the throne of the Lamb; that is, no grace comes to any but through
the victory and conquest of the Lord Christ. We are 'justified
freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus' (Rom 3:24). And again, 'We have redemption through his blood,'
even 'the forgiveness of' our 'sins, according to the riches of his
grace' (Eph 1:7). By which we may gather that when these things
come to be in their own purity among us-that is, when grace runs
clear without the dirt and mud of the traditions of men commixed
therewith-then will all that hold up false and erroneous opinions
be washed away. For this river will not only wash away the sins
and filthiness of those that are truly gracious; but it will also
destroy the heretic and erroneous person;[24] it will be to them
at that day as the Red Sea was to the Egyptians of old; which sea,
though it was a wall on this hand and on that to the children of
Israel, yet it destroyed the Egyptians that assayed to go through
it as Israel did (Heb 11:29). The reason also why we are at this
day in such confusion in matters of religion, it is for want of the
clear and pure streams of this river of water of life; all which
will be mended when there is but one river to water this city, and
that too the pure river of the water of life, in all its streams
as clear as crystal; then shall all drink in all things into one
Spirit, and be watered with the same dews of heaven.

Thus much of the water of life that belongeth to this Jerusalem.

[Its food the tree of life.]

Ver. 2. And 'in the midst of the street of it, and on either side
of the river, was there the tree of life, which bear twelve manner
of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of
the tree were for the healing of the nations.' This tree of life is
the Lord Jesus Christ; and that he is here called a tree, rather
than by other of his names, it is to show us how fruitful and exceeding
advantageous he in all his benefits will be to the inhabitants of
this city. This is that tree under whose branches the fowls of
heaven shall now most safely lodge, and find relief from the hot
and fainting beams of the persecuting sun of this world, as the
Word doth there inform us (Matt 13:31,32).

[The situation of this tree in the midst of the city.] Now before
I come to speak to this tree, touching the manner of its fruit,
and its often bearing, with the efficaciousness of its leaves,
which here he saith doth heal the nations; I will take notice of
one or two general things that lie before me, from the standing
of the tree in the midst of the street of this city.

First then, In that he saith this city hath a tree of life in it,
he alludes to the garden of Eden, the pleasant paradise that God
began the world withal; whereby he signifieth that as the world
began with a paradise, so also it shall end with a paradise, when
sin and Satan have done their worst. This New Jerusalem shall be
the wind up of the world, and in it shall stand the tree of life,
as well as there stood one in the goodly garden, which was the
beginning thereof. In which paradise there shall be not tree of
knowledge, or the law of works, to bear sway, and to cause that
the sons of God shall be thrust out thence for their eating of
its forbidden fruits; no, the tree of life alone shall here bear
sway and rule, whose fruit is only healthful, and the leaves thereof
for medicine.

[1.] Now this tree of life being in the midst of this city, it
signifieth that the inhabitants of it shall be sweetly shadowed,
refreshed, and defended with its coolness, and also sweetly
nourished and comforted with its dainties. And hence it is that the
Scriptures do hold him forth in his benefits to his church under
these very notions. 'As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood,
so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with
great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste' (Cant 2:3).
Indeed the shadow of this tree of life, as always it is refreshing
to the tempted and weary, so now it will be far more. 'They that
dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the
corn, and grow as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine
of Lebanon' (Hab 14:7). Mark, (1.) His shadow will make us return,
that is, to our first love; to the days of our youth, to our young,
fresh, tender, and flourishing faith, love, and self-denial, that
we received in the days of our espousals. (2.) As it will make us
return to these, so it will make us revive in these; they shall
return and revive, they shall revive as the corn; as the corn doth
when, in the heat of summer, after long scorching, it is covered
with cool clouds, and watered with the bottles of heaven. (3.) As
it shall make them return and revive, so it shall make them grow;
they shall grow as the vine, that is, speedily, fruitfully, and
spreadingly. (4.) This is not all, but the smell of saints in
those days shall be excellent: 'They shall revive as the corn,'
they shall 'grow as the vine,' and shall send forth their scent 'as
the wine of Lebanon.' This tree is a perfuming tree, and makes them
also that abide under the shadow thereof to smell as sweet-smelling
myrrh; it makes them smell as the wine of thy grace, O Lord, and
as the fragrant ointments of heaven. When the spouse did but touch
where her Lord had touched afore her, it made her 'hands drop
with myrrh, and her fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh' (Cant 5:5).
O they will be green, savoury, reviving, flourishing, growing
Christians, that shall walk the street of New Jerusalem! 'I am,'
saith he, 'like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found'
(Hosea 14:8).

[2.] But again, As he shall be thus profitable to his people for
shadow and reviving, so he will be in the midst of the street of
it for food, for refreshing and replenishing that way. 'I sat down
under his shadow with great delight,' said she, 'and his fruit was
sweet to my taste.' Ezekiel tells us that this tree is all trees;
and on the bank of the river, on this side, and on that, were all
trees for meat (Eze 47:12). Indeed Christ is all trees; yea, there
is more to be found in him for the food of the soul, than there
can be on all trees for the food of the body. He is a fir-tree
for tallness, greenness and strength; he is an olive for fatness,
a vine for sweetness and goodness, for therewith is refreshed
the heart both of God and man (Hosea 14:8; Rom 11:17; John 15:1,2).
What shall I say, He is the almond-tree, the fig-tree, the apple-tree,
all trees; The tree of life also in the midst of the paradise of
God (Cant 2:13).

To conclude.-Seeing Christ is said to be in the midst of the street
of this city, it showeth unto us with what, at all occasions, the
actions of the saints of this city shall be seasoned. The street,
you know I told you, is the way of holiness in this city, the place
of spiritual recreation and solace. Now in the very midst of this
street there stands this tree, which being thus, it showeth us how
wonderfully Christ, as a tree of life, will be in all the words
and deeds of the inhabitants of this Jerusalem; they will walk
in Christ, they will talk in Christ, they will do all they do in
Christ, or rather Christ will be found in all their ways; even as
the tree of life is found in the midst of the street of this city:
'they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord' (Zech
10:12).

Again, In that this tree is said to stand in the midst of the
street, it showeth unto us how common and free his benefits will
now be also. The plumbs, and figs, and grapes, and apples of this
tree, will be open to every passenger: not a boy nor a girl, that
now shall play in thy street, O Jerusalem, but shall eat of the
fruits of the tree that stands in the mist of thee, as of common
things (Jer 31:4,5).

[Second.] 'And in the midst of the street of it, and ON EITHER
SIDE of the river was there the tree of life.' As this tree doth
stand in the midst of the street of this city, so it also standeth
on each side of the river of the water of life, of which you have
heard before. Now when he saith, the tree is on either side of
the river; whence by the way note yet again, that both the water
of life, and also the tree of life, they are both to be enjoyed
by the inhabitants of this city in the way of holiness; the tree
is in the midst of the street, and the river runs through or between
the very tables of the heart of this tree of life; on either side
of the river was there the tree of life.

Again, In that it is said that this tree of life is on either side
of the river; it argueth that they who come at any time at this
river for water to quench their thirst, and to make them live,
they must come to it by the tree of life, which is Christ. In more
easy terms, read it thus: There is none can partake of the grace
of God but by the man Christ Jesus, which is this tree of life (Col
2:3,9). For this tree, this Christ, doth stand on either side of the
river, to signify that all grace to us comes through his bloody
wounds, death and victory (John 1:16). 'I am the way,' saith Christ,
'and the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by
me' (John 14:6).

'And on either side of the river was there the tree of life.' Mark,
but one tree, and yet such a tree whose body reached as far as
the river reached: indeed Ezekiel saith this tree is all trees
for meat, yet not to show that there are more trees of life than
one, but to show that all that can be thought of that is good for
soul-nourishment, is to be found in this one, that is, in Christ
Jesus. And it is further evident that though he saith all trees,
as if he meant many, yet he spake but metaphorically, to show
thereby the fulness of Christ; because John doth understand him so,
calling it one tree, to wit, 'the tree of life.' But mark again,
so far as the river goes, so far the tree goes, so that where you
cannot find the tree of life, be sure there is none of the water
of life. No Christ, no grace. 'He that hath the Son hath life,
but he that hath not the Son of God, shall not see life, but the
wrath of God abideth on him' (John 3:36; 1 John 5:12). For 'on
either side of the river was there the tree of life.'

[The fruits of this tree.] 'Which bare twelve manner of FRUITS.'
This word fruits, it may be taken two ways-either as it relates
to God, or as it relates to man, for, as I said before, the fruit
of this tree refreshes the heart both of God and man (John 9:9,14).

[1.] Now if it be taken with reference to God, then it signifieth
the complete satisfaction that by the worthiness of the fruits of
the passion of Christ is given to God for the salvation of the
church; this city of God (Dan 9:24,26). He suffered to finish
transgression, to make an end of sin, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness; by this, I say, is the heart of God refreshed, and
in this doth it rest (Matt 3:17).

[2.] If fruit here be taken with reference to men, then it signifieth
the happiness and glory that those for whom he died and rose again
should receive by this means. His fruit, I have showed you, is
sweet to the taste of his church, which fruit is the effect of
his undertaking for sinners and the comfortable savour of it in
the soul.

[The variety of the fruits.] 'Which bare twelve manner of fruits.'
In that he saith the fruits are twelve, he herein alludeth,

1. To the twelve tribes of the Israel of God; for which twelve tribes
here will be found a suitable measure of food, healing food: 'I
will multiply the fruit of the tree,' saith God, and also 'the
increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of
famine among the heathen' (Eze 36:30).

Again, These that John calleth 'twelve manner of fruits,' the prophet
Ezekiel calleth 'all manner of fruit for meat.' For indeed, as
I showed before, there is that to be found in Christ, both for
fulness and variety, that is not to be found in heaven and earth
beside. Here is fruit for body, fruit for soul, fruit for babes,
fruit for strong men, fruit for fathers, yea, for glorified saints
and angels. Fruits, variety of fruits, even twelve manner of fruits.

2. By twelve manner of fruits, he doth also allude to the apostles,
who are called twelve, and are those who have made provision
for the house of God, according to the twelve-fold manner of the
dispensation of God unto them, and of the twelve-fold manner of
operation of that holy Spirit which wrought in every one of them
severally as he pleased. Which twelve were before figured unto us
by the twelve offices of king Solomon, the type of Christ, which
twelve were to make provision for the house of the king, according
to the season of the year, and each man his month in the year (1
Kings 4:7). Which very thing the Holy Ghost also doth here cast
his eye upon, and that makes him bring in the words of 'every
month,' saying, it yields its fruit 'every month.' For indeed,
whatever you read of concerning this city, in this description of
John, you find something or other in the writings of the prophets
that giveth ground for such expressions. Wherefore seeing the
officers of Solomon were twelve, and the apostles of Christ twelve
also; and seeing the officers of Solomon made provision for his
house, each man his month in a year, and the fruits of this tree
of life are called twelve manner of fruits, I do take the twelve
manner of fruits here to be signified by the provision of Solomon's
officers, according to the twelve seasons of the year, and they
a type of the twelve-fold doctrine of the twelve apostles of the
Lord Christ, for it is their doctrine that is the bread of the
church, yea, the milk for the babe, and the strong meat for men (1
Thess 2:7; 1 Cor 3:2; Heb 5:11-14).

[The abundance of the fruits.] 'And yielded her fruit every month.'
As this confirmeth what I have said before, so it further showeth
us these three things. First, That the effectual fruits of Christ
for the saving of the world, they are to be had especially at
certain seasons. It 'yielded her fruit every month.' Second, It
showeth also that at the building of this Jerusalem, these seasons
will be very thick and quick; she yielded her fruit 'every month.'
Third, It showeth us also the abundance of provision that this
holy city shall then enjoy from the tree of life, even all manner
of fruit every month.