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 signifies, 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 there stood
one in the goodly garden which was the beginning thereof.
Now this tree of life being in the midst of this city, it signifies
that the inhabitants of it shall be sweetly shadowed, refreshed, and
defended with its coolness, and also sweetly nourished and comforted
with its dainties. "As the apple-tree is among the trees of the
wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat under his shadow with
great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." 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, and the scent thereof shall be as the wine of
Lebanon." 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
day of our espousals.
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