Book IV. THE CHURCH CALLED THE CITY oF GOD. 653 METAPHOR. infinite Profit doth theRiver:l'hame; yield this famous City ! and what would its Trade be worth, were it not for it? PARALLEL. Godly deal in, brought home to their very Doors, viz. Gifts, Graces, Pardon, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Gholt, &c. which are very excellent Merchandize. And were it no( for this River, what would become of this City? we !IJo>!ld foon be impoverifhed and undone. It is the Holy Spirit that enriches and chears the H earts of all gracious Souls. :there is a River, the Streams whereof make glad the Ctty of God, the holy Place of the :tabernacle of the mofl High, Pfal. xlvi. 4. It may not be am ifs here to confider, 1. From whence this River comes. See River under the third Head of Metaphors. 2. The Nature of the Waters. 3· The divers Streams thereof. Firfl ; The River comes, I. From a Rock, Numb. xxviii. 8, I 1. This Rock was firlt fmitten, and then the Water came out abundantly. 2. It comes from an infinite inexhaufiible Fountain; it is faid to proued from the 'l'brone of God and the Lamb, Rev. xxii. I. Secondly; Touching the Nature of this River; though we have fpoken of it pnder the third H ead of Metaphors, yet we will couch a little upon it here. It hath befides other Properties of fpiritual Water, thefe divers Q:lalities, I. It will heal all the Difeafes of the inward Man; it will foften, and make very tender and pliable, and break in pieces a hard Heart. 2. It will cure the Soul of fpiritual Blindnefs; nay, it will open the Eyes of him that was born blind. 3· It will infallibly cure ail fpiritual Confumptions, that fpiritual Wafie or Decay of Faith, Love, Zeal, Hope, &c. which feizeth fometimes upon many Chriliians. 4· It will bring down the Swelling of Pride, and make a Man very humble, and little in his own Eyes; the more of the Spirit, the more humble. 5· It will cure all manner of fpiritual Deaclnefs or Deafnefs, making a Man very lively and diligent to hear good Counlel and JnfiruCl:ion, as Lydia experienced, A.?s xvi. 14. 6. It is good againfi the Tremblings of the Heart. and will make a Man bold and courageous in theCaufe of Chrifi, in evil Times. We cannot butfpeak the 'Ihings which we have both feen mzd heard, AflJ iv. 20. 7· It is an excellent Remedy to purge out all noxious and evil Humors of the Soul, from whence many Diliempers flow, making a Man found at Heart, and holy in Life. 8. It will effeCtually reftore a loft Appetite, and make a Man relifh we!I the Food of God's Word, cauGng it to be fweeter to him than Honey, or the Honey. comb, Pfal. CXJX, I03• 9· It will preferve from the Plague of ~in, of what fort foever it be, though a Chriliian be amongfi infeCted Perfons every Day. IO. It will revive a fainting and drooping Spirit. 11. It will fet and make whole ali broken Bones, as David and Thoufands other~ have found by experience, Pfal. xxvii. 13. 12. It will cure the Leprofy, and all old running Ulcers, and alfo all frefh Wounds of the Soul, though ever fo deep, fiinkina, and loathfome. rg. It is good againfi Weaknefs of the Hands, and Feeblenefs of the Knees, 1 'l'hejf. V. I4. 14. It is fovereign good againlt fpiritml Barrennefs, makino- the Godly to brinoforth much Fruit, 2 Pet. i. 9· 0 0 15. It will clear the Sight, and make a Man fee afar off. 16. It infallibly cures the !leepy Difeafe, or the fpiritual Lethargy of .the Soul, fo that they !11all not !leep as others do, 1 'J'hejf. v. 6. I7· It cures all Difeafes of the Tongue and Mouth, and an unfavoury Breath, that common S1gn of a foul St9mach, Jame; iii. 5, 6. x8. It cures all fpiritual Lamenefs; it caufeth a lame Man to leap as an Hart, and never halt any more between two Opinions, !fa. xxxv. 6. 8 D '9· It
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