need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it" (21:23); and
from our eyes"—the heart's quick pulses soothed, life's contradictions reconciled, earth's wearinesses freshened, our brief day's sorrow over, this hot forehead cooled in that pure river, and the last remains of time's fever quenched in its freshness! Oh, who can tell, or think, how true will be our consolation, how perfect our joy!
6. Its light.—We are first told what is not its light,—"The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it" (21:23); and again, "They need no candle, neither light of the sun" (22:3). Yet though there is no candle, nor sun, nor moon, "there is no night there." It is the city of light, the city whose every part—wall, and street, and gate,—is made to receive and reflect light; light such as never was known on earth. And whence comes this light? "The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (21:23); and again, "The Lord God giveth them light" (22:5),—just as is said of the earthly Jerusalem, "The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory" (Is. 60:19). Directly from the glory of Jehovah, and from Him who is the brightness (the offshining, the irradiation) of that glory (Heb. 1:3), does the light come forth. It is with the fountain-head of light that the city is connected—the very centre of "the excellent glory." Jehovah and the Lamb: such is to be its twofold light—light infinite, and light finite—light uncreated, and light created—light from the eternal throne, and light from the cross of Calvary; light from the glory of Him who "dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto" (1 Tim. 6:16), and light from the face of the Incarnate Son.
For such a light the city is fitted in all its parts; and with such a light, in such a city, what will not the glory be! I know it is not the casement through which it passes, nor the gems which reflect it, that give beauty and value to the light; it is precious even here when breaking in, though faintly, upon such a dark soul as this, and upon an impure world like ours; but still, when all things around are suited to it, and made to set forth its excellency, how perfect will it be! Within the circle of that light, and in the city which that Sun of suns illumines, is to be our everlasting abode. What is there, then, on