Homilist Revelation 22:1 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.… I. It is transcendental in its VALUE. What on earth is of such worth as water? But what is the character of this water? 1. It is a "river" — not a stagnant pool, a sleeping lake, or a purling brook; but a river, profound in depth, majestic in volume, resistless in movement. 2. It is a "pure" river. How pure is Christianity! How holy its morals, how morally perfect its leading character — Christ! 3. It is a pure river of life. 4. It is a pure river of life that is transparent. "Clear as crystal." II. It is transcendental in its ORIGIN. 1. It proceeds from "the throne" — the centre of universal authority. Christianity is a code rather than a creed, more regulative than speculative. 2. It proceeds from the "throne of God." Christianity is a Divine system; its congruity with all collateral history, with our moral intuitions, with all our a priori notions of a God, proves its Divinity. 3. It proceeds from the "throne of God and of the Lamb." Christ has to do with it. Conclusion: Such is the gospel. Value river. Kind Heaven, speed the course of this river! May it penetrate every region of the world, and roll its waves of life through every heart! (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. |
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