---

I. WHAT IS HERE MEANT BY THE CITY OF GOD. Two descriptive pictures are laid before us. One is a scene of wild commotion. The earth is removed from its place; the mountains are carried into the midst of the sea. The other scene stands out in marked contrast to this. A placid river runs through a sheltered valley; utterly unaffected by the elemental disturbances which surround it, and sending to every part of the city, through which it flows, its calm fertilizing streams of health and peace. The scene of tempest and commotion is the world. The scene of silent usefulness, and sheltered repose, and enjoyed and diffused blessing — the city watered by a river — is the Church of God. And how true is the picture as seen in the respective destinies of secular communities and the one spiritual community of God's Church I The spiritual Zion has always been able to hold her own. It has been God's stronghold, having "salvation for its walls and bulwarks," and girt round on every side by the everlasting hills.

II. THE SPIRITUAL HAPPINESS OF THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD.

1. It is implied that, in this city of God, there is much of inward tranquillity and peacefulness. A contrast is presented between the calm which reigns in the city, and the tempest which is raging outside. It is the calm of the Divine presence. "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved" — neither by weapons turned against her, nor dangers threatening her, nor calamities and fears casting her down. But let us not lose ourselves in generalities. The tranquillity of the Church is the tranquillity of every individual member of that Church. It is the calm repose of sonship — the sense of deliverance from a bondage state; the pleasant consciousness of pardon and acceptance — all the tumult of inward guilt subsiding into a great calm. Again, it is the tranquillity of men under absolute control and guidance in relation to everything that concerns them. They are not their own, being bought with a price. But they are bought only to be under a happier service — "being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ." Yet is this law not their yoke, but their relief. They are relieved from the embarrassment and tyranny of their own erring and mistaken choices.

2. Observe, as another feature of the spiritual happiness of the Church, the rich provision made for all her members, a provision both of grace and glory. A river is an emblem of copiousness and depth and vitality and continuance. But not by the parent river only is the city of God gladdened. It receives blessing through a multitude of tributary streams. "There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God." Thus there is the stream of revealed truth and knowledge; the pure deep living waters of inspiration; that word of the Gospel which, beginning with Moses and the prophets, and widening as time flowed on, at length emptied all its treasures of grace and truth into that crystal sea of light, which contains the full and perfect revelation of the mind of God. And then there is the stream of holy ordinances — the Sabbath with its tranquil devotions.

3. "Make glad," observe it is said; the expression intimating that among the inhabitants of this city of God there is true gladness and rejoicing. It is true gladness, the gladness of rational and responsible beings, the calm gladness of a relieved conscience, of an interest made sure in the great propitiation, of a conscious abiding under that light of God's countenance which makes over to us Heaven's best, and earth's best too — "Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased."

(D. Moore, M. A.)

---

---

KJV: There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

WEB: There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.