in movement. 2. It is a "pure" river. No Impurities have been drained into it. Ita channds are clean; it is fresh and pure from the holy hea>'ens. How pure is Chris- tianity I How holy its morals, how morally perfect its leading character, Christ I 3. It is 11 "pure" river of life. It not only diffuses life through all the regions throu«h which it rolls its waters, but goes up into the air, forms clouds, sails through tli.e heavens, and discharges itself upon the barren hills, thus giving life to the world. Christianity is a quickening system; it quickens intellect, conscience, heart. 4. It is a "pure" river of life that is transparent. "Clear as ·crystal" This river, like a perfect looking-glaBB, mirrors the bright heavens above, and all the objects around it. How transparent is Christianity.I It can be seen through and through. What character was ever so transparent as the character of Christ? You see with a glance the one ruling principle that worked all his faculties and explained his life-love. Here thero is a transcendental system that rolls in the moral domain of earth like some mighty Amazon in the materiat.· What would man's moral world be withoutit? Ab,·what-? II. IT I8 T&ANBCltNDENTAL m ITS ORIGIN. Whence does this river take its rile? Where is the fountain-head? Not·on earth, not from any particular province of the universe, but from the "throne of God and of the Lamb." 1:. It proceeds froin the "thr=." It comes from the centre of universal authority. Christianity is a system. of authority. It is a code 'tather than a creed;-' it is more regulative than speculative. 2. It proceeds fJ'oin tlie throne of" God." There are many thrones. We read of thrones and principalities,.etc. But this is the throne from which all othet throil.es derive' their authority, to which all are: amenablll-'-the throne of God. Christianity is 8' Divine system'; its congruity with all collateral history, with our motal intuitions, with all our a priori notion~ of a God, proves its Divi:Uity. 3. It proceeds from the throne of God and of tl.e Lamb. Christ has to do with it. It contains his life, it mirrors his character, it bears on its majestic bosom his provisioll'for the world; Such is the gospel Value this river. What are other books compared to the go.ipel? Mere puddled pools to the MississippL 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 1-D. T.:_}
Ver. 1.-Difline love a rilJflf'. "He showed me II river." "There is II river," says the psalmist, "the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God." Divine love is indeed a river. I. EXILAUSTLBSS. It rises from the infinitude of the Divine nature-a source unfathomed and unfathomable. Il. UNIVEBBA.t. This river rolls everywhere. It rolls under the universe, and all things float on its waves. It refreshes and beaatlfl.es all. The ancient sages considered water i l,.pxlJ. We scarcely wonlet' at this when they saw water everywhere io. the material world. But water is but tho symbol of lbve. Love is indeed Ii /,.px/1. III. EVER-FLOWING. The inexhaustible fountain is always acting-outpouring itseH. Creation is a work never finished, for the river of Divine love is overflowing. IV, RESTORATIVB. This river to humim souls is restorative. It at once re8118Citates and cleanses; it quenches thirst and removes defilement. Christ is the chaanel thrOU!Jh which flows this soul-restorative love.
"Flow down. thou stream of life DiYIDe, Thy quickening at.reams deliver: Oh, ftow throughout this eoul of mine For e?er ancf for ever! · " Flow down, and cause this heart to glow . With love to God the Giver-- That love in whioh all virtues grow For ever and fm el'er, " Flow down, as ftow the ray and In vital work t.ogether, ram. · Refreshing rooia anil quickening gram 1''or ever and for el'er. 6'U THE REVELATION 011' .ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. [ar. xxu. 1-21.
"Flow down, as l'!o..-s the living sun. Upon the sparkling river, Which, chanting to the boundless, l'llll For eve:r and for eve:r. • Flow down, revive thia famished soul, And boor away all error; And I will praiBe thee. God of aIJ, Fo:r eve:r o.ncl for ever." D. T. 1