- These waters signify the gospel of Christ, which went forth
from Jerusalem, and spread into the countries about; also the
gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it, by
virtue of which is spread far, and produced blessed effects.
Christ is the Temple; and he is the Door; from him the living
waters flow, out of his pierced side. They are increasing
waters. Observe the progress of the gospel in the world, and the
process of the work of grace in the heart; attend the motions of
the blessed Spirit under Divine guidance. If we search into the
things of God, we find some things plain and easy to be
understood, as the waters that were but to the ankles; others
more difficult, which require a deeper search, as the waters to
the knees, or the loins; and some quite beyond our reach, which
we cannot penetrate; but must, as St. Paul did, adore the depth,
(Ro 11). It is wisdom to begin with that which is most easy,
before we proceed to that which is dark and hard to be
understood. The promises of the sacred word, and the privileges
of believers, as shed abroad in their souls by the quickening
Spirit, abound where the gospel is preached; they nourish and
delight the souls of men; they never fade nor wither, nor are
exhausted. Even the leaves serve as medicines to the soul: the
warnings and reproofs of the word, though less pleasant than
Divine consolations, tend to heal the diseases of the soul. All
who believe in Christ, and are united to him by his sanctifying
Spirit, will share the privileges of Israelites. There is room
in the church, and in heaven, for all who seek the blessings of
that new covenant of which Christ is Mediator.
