The sealed book opened. Or, A cleer explication of the prophecies of the Revelation. Together with the lessons that are to be observed from every chapter thereof, being cleerly explained. Intended chiefly for the discovery to all of that Roman antichrist, and that Rome her final destruction is surely at hand, by that blessed work of reformation happily begun in the several churches and kingdoms of Europe. / By William Guild D.D. and preacher of Gods word.

Ver. 2. In the midst of the street of it, and of ei∣ther side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yeilded her fruit ever moneth: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Next to the water to drink, follows the wholesome and de∣lectable fruit to eat, alluding to mans estate in innocency, and in the earthly Paradise, to whom was allotted the fruit of the trees for food, and therefore sayes our Saviour, c. 2.7. of this food, To him that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God. In this City then, food which maybe intercepted or with-holden, is not brought unto it, that it should depend or be beholden to others for the same, as Tyre and Sidon were to Herods country, Acts 12.20. but grows within it, and so it has alsufficiency within it selfe, and upon one tree, in the midst of the street for ac∣cesse to all, and for expatiating it self likewise to the bene∣fit of all, it is said to grow on either side of the river, and yet, it is more extolled from the variety of the fruit thereof and greater delight, that it bares twelve manner of fruits. And next, it is commended from the admirable ferti∣lity and plenty thereof, that it yeilds her fruit every moneth. And from this last of all, that nothing in it is unpro∣fitable, as the leaves of other trees are when they fade or fall, but as the fruit of this tree is for meat, so her leaves are for medicine.

This tree of life then (typed by that which was in the earthly Paradise) is Christ J••sus, from whom we have our

natural, spiritual, and eternal life, as he testifies of himselfe, John 6.51, &c. Also, like this one tree, he alone is sufficient to all unto salvation, whose variety likewise and plenty of fruit, as the same is the variety of his graces and benefits here, so is it that fulnesse of joy and pleasures for evermore which his Saints enjoy in glory hereafter, he also is said to be unto us not only for meat but medcine, not that in the state of glory any sicknesse shall be, or need of medicinal things to cure, but to conserve eternal life and health, so that Christ Jesus shall not only give life to his Elect, but shall be the conserver thereof in them, without the least decay unto all eternity. The allusion also which these words have to Ezekiel 47.12. we may see in that place, and Cant. 7.13.