Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/171



IT is written in the Revelation, ''I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth were passed away. And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband'', chap. xxi. 1, 2. The like also is written in Isaiah, Behold I create a new heaven and a new earth, be ye glad and rejoice for ever, for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy, chap. lxv. 17, 18. That a new heaven is at this day forming by the Lord, of such Christians as have acknowledged him in the world, and were able to acknowledge him after their departure out of the world, to be the God of heaven and earth, according to his own words in Matt, xxviii. 18, was shewn above in this chapter.

The true ground and reason why the New Church is meant by the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, Rev. xxi. is, because Jerusalem was the metropolis of the land of Canaan, and therein was the temple, and the altar, and there also sacrifices were offered, consequently the essence of divine worship was there performed, which every male throughout the whole land was required to attend three times in a year; a further reason is,