both a bride and a city. And from the top of a high mountain John looks
out and sees a most wonderful city, coming down out of heaven from God,
filled and flooded with the glory of God.

And the best language that earth knows anything about is used in the
attempt to describe this city ideal. Its dimensions are perfect in
proportion and in their outer relations. Its foundations are adorned
with the costliest, most precious stones, the walls are built of jasper,
and each gate is one immense pearl; but the city itself is builded of a
gold as transparent as pure glass. Israel and the Church are as sweet
memories of past days, recalled now by gates and foundations.

But these are passed by in noting the outshining glory of the presence
of God. In the simple language which has become so imbedded in the heart
and imagination of the Church, "the city hath no need of the sun,
neither of the moon, to shine on it; for the glory of God did lighten
it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." And the winsome description goes
on. The nations walk in this wondrous light of God's presence, and the
kings of earth bring glad tribute of their glory into it. "And the gates
thereof shall in no wise be shut by day, for there shall be no night
there." "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or
he that doeth an abomination and a lie, but only they that are written
in the Lamb's book of life."

In the midst of the city is a river of water of life clear as sparkling
crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. On each
side of the river is the tree of life yielding continual fruitage. And
the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And the heart never fails to respond with a quickened beat to the lines:
"His servants shall serve Him; and _they shall see His face_; and His
name shall be in their foreheads;"--that is, His character shall shine
out of their faces. "And there shall be no night there; and they need no
candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light.
And they shall reign forever and ever."

Such is the heart-touching, heart-gripping tale of God's ideal for man,
His creature and companion and friend. All the best that the city
stands for of human life, and all the best that the country, typified in
the garden, stands for, are forever blessedly joined. And in the
midst--_Himself_, and gathered about Him His redeemed ones, as children
about a father, in a union and