There is a river, clear and pleasant, the streams whereof make glad
the city of God.
These are the waters that the doves love to sit by, because by the
clearness of these streams they can see their pretty selves as in a
glass. Song 5: 12.
These he the streams where the doves wash their eyes, and by which
they solace themselves and take great content. These streams are
instead of a looking-glass; their clearness presents us with an
opportunity of seeing our own features.
As in fair waters a man may see the hody of the sun, and of the
moon, and of the stars, and the very body of heaven; so ho that
stands upon the bank of this river, and that washeth his eyes with
this water, may see the Son of God, the stars of God, the glory of
God, and the habitation that God has prepared for his people. And
are not these pleasant sights? Is not this excellent water? Has not
this river pleasant streams?
Some men fly from the "river of the water of life," as from a bear;
arid some are afraid to drink of it, for fear it should he poison
unto them. Some again, dare not take it, because it is not mixed,
and as they, poor souls, imagine, qualified and made toothsome by a
little of that which is called the wisdom of this world. Thus one
shucks, another shrinks, and another will none of God.
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