The Holy Spirit Compared to a River

    THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPARED TO A RIVER

    "There is a River, the streams whereof make glad the city of God,'" Ps 46:4.

    "He that believeth, out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living water,"Joh 7:38

    "And he showed me a pure River of water of life, as clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and the Lamb." Re 22:1

    METAPHOR

    I. Every River hath a proper head or fountain, from whence it doth proceed.

    PARALLEL

    I. The Holy Spirit is said to proceed from the Father: "But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me," Joh 15:26. "It proceeds out of the throne of God, and the Lamb," Re 22:1.

    METAPHOR

    II. A river hath much water in it, a cistern or vessel will contain but small quantities; some Rivers contain abundance, and can never be emptied.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Holy Spirit is called a River, not a cistern, not a vessel, to denote that fulness of the water of life which is in it, the abundance of heavenly blessings that flow from it; all the godly in all ages, from the beginning of the world, have been supplied from this River: thousands, and tens of thousands, have drawn out of it, have been filled with it, have had their measures of it, as God in his wisdom saw good to communicate it to them; yea add, our blessed Saviour received it without measure: and yet the river is as full as ever in itself, where is no emptying of it.

    METAPHOR

    III. A River lieth open and free to all: every man that passeth by makes use of a River, if he need it. Fountains or conduits are many times sealed, or locked up, and it is hard to come at water out of them; but a River doth freely send forth, its streams, that run continually, never cease day nor night.

    PARALLEL

    III. The Holy Spirit is a River that lieth open to all poor sinners: whoever will, may come to these waters; none are forbidden, no restraint is laid on any soul that desires to have them: "I will give freely to him that is thirsty, even the waters of life," Re 22:17, "Ho every one that thirsteth, come, to the waters, &c., Isa 55:1.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Many Rivers are very deep, although in some places they may be so shallow, as that a man may wade in them; yet in some other places they are mighty, deep, and dangerous, so that none dare adventure into them: hence marks and bounds are many times set up to give notice.

    PARALLEL

    IV. This spiritual River is wonderfully deep, there is no searching out the depths thereof. "Who knows the mind of the Spirit, but he that searcheth all things," Ro 8:27. The purposes, decrees, and secret ways of the Spirit, are unknown to men in many respects, though some of his ways, influences, and operations are discernable. Believers may adventure a little way, as far as their bounds and limits permit them. We must not pry too curiously into the depths of God, he having set bounds by the word how far we should go, and let all take heed on their peril that they adventure no further.

    METAPHOR

    V. A River is the proper element of fishes, and many living creatures; they are produced by it, and live in it.

    PARALLEL

    V. The Holy Spirit is the proper element of all true believers; they are born by the Spirit, live by the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit. Ministers are fishers of men, Joh 3:5; Ga 5:26.

    See the parable of the Net.

    METAPHOR

    VI. A River is good to wash in, to cleanse, purge, and carry away filth, and noxious pollution.

    PARALLEL

    VI. This River is good to wash, purge, and carry away filth, and all abominable pollution of sin, both in souls, churches, and nations, where the water of this River runs: "Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God," 1Co 6:11.

    METAPHOR

    VII. A River hath its banks to keep it in its proper bounds, and make it run into its own channel, by which means people know whither to go, if they would partake of the benefit of its waters.

    PARALLEL

    VII. The Spirit hath its proper bounds, and always runs in its spiritual channel, viz., the word and ordinances, God's public and private worship: and thither all must have recourse, that would receive the precious and glorious blessings and benefits thereof; if you would have these sacred waters, you must observe the channel where this River runs: "Where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and will bless thee." Ac 2:1-5; when the disciples were assembled together, they met with the Spirit, that being their duty, and Christ's institution.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. Some rivers overflow their banks at some certain times, and greatly enrich the soil, and make it fruitful; as particularly, the River Nile in Egypt.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. This spiritual River hath several times overflowed, there being a redundancy of water in it. Great multitudes have been marvellously watered, and made fat and fruitful on a sudden, and shall again when the time is come. God sometimes extends mercies and Gospel blessings beyond his usual method; being a free agent, may if he please, anticipate his own order. He hath promised to open Rivers in the desert: "And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall bear off from the channel of the River, unto the stream of Egypt," Isa 27:12. God meets with some, as he met with Paul, who was running from him. The scripture speaks of a time, "When the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. In that day this River shall overflow, and cover the whole world. There shall be on every high mountain, and on every high hill, Rivers and streams of water. I will open Rivers upon high places, I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." "Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it: I will even make a way in the wilderness, and Rivers in the desert: the beasts of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen," Isa 30:25; 43:19-20.

    METAPHOR

    IX. A River is profitable for commerce, traffic, and navigation; it is the means of conveyance of the rich commodities of one kingdom to another, and one city to another: by which means, people, cities, and nations are greatly enriched. What a great convenience is the River Thames to the city of London! By this means also one friend can soon go to another, and often hear each from the other.

    PARALLEL

    IX. The Holy Spirit is gloriously advantageous for spiritual commerce and traffic. It is that which, by the use of ordinances, conveys the riches of heaven to dwellers here below: "He shall receive of mine, and show it unto you; he will bring all things to your remembrance." It is the Spirit that stores the city of God with all its divine riches. There is no trading to heaven, but by sailing in this River; faith can do nothing without it. If these waters do not run, our souls can make no good return from the celestial shore. The church, and every family of the godly, would soon be starved, were it not for this heavenly and spiritual River; hence it is said to rejoice the righteous: "There is a River, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High," Ps 46:4. By means of this River we often take a voyage to our Father, and come to Jesus Christ, and daily in the word hear from them: "For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."

    METAPHOR

    X. Some Rivers run very swiftly, bear down all before them, are so impetuous that they cannot be stopped in their course and channel. A swift stream best washes away all filth.

    PARALLEL

    X. This spiritual River, as it is deep, so it is very swift, though it be not always discerned to be so by us, nor doth the stream indeed seem to us to run always with a like motion. But when God doth, as it were, open the flood-gates, then it runs very swift, and is so. impetuous, that it drives all down before it: "Lord, said Saul, what wouldest thou have me to do?" Ac 9:6. When God causeth its passage to be clear, it bears down all opposition, carries away our slavish fears, our unbelief, our earthly-mindedness, and all consultings with flesh and blood, making thereby our souls very clean, washing us as in a stream which is very powerful, carrying away all our great defilements. It is not in the skill of men or devils to stop this River, even the strong operations of the Spirit, in a person, church, or nation, when God opens the sluices for it.

    METAPHOR

    XI. Some Rivers environ towns, and are instead of other fortifications to them, making them strong, and hard to be taken.

    PARALLEL

    XI. This River is a believer's strength; "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord," Ec 4:6. It is the church's sure fortification: "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him," Isa 59:19. Those that are environed by the Spirit, need not to fear the stormings of men or devils, even those churches or souls, who enjoy the smooth and sweet streams of this River.

    METAPHOR

    XII. A River causes those trees that are planted by the side of it, to thrive and grow exceedingly. The waters softening the ground, their roots spread forth, they flourish; when those that are planted on heaths, and barren mountains, wither and fade away in a time of drought.

    PARALLEL

    XII. Those churches or souls, who enjoy the blessed streams of this spiritual River, grow, flourish, and bring forth much fruit. "He shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in due season, his leaves shall not wither," Ps 1:1,3. "They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses," Isa 44:4. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, whose hope the Lord is: for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, which spreadeth forth his root by the River, and shall not know when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful when the year of the drought cometh, neither shall cease from yielding fruit," Jer 17:8.

    METAPHOR

    XIII. A River is very pleasant and delightful, as well as profitable to them that dwell by it; and they can take their walks by the sides thereof.

    PARALLEL

    XIII. This spiritual and heavenly River yields the church, and all true believers, much joy and sweet delight; no pleasures like those that flow from the Spirit: "The fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace," &c., Ga 5:22. And sometimes when they partake of these celestial streams, they are so delighted thereby, that they cannot forbear breaking forth into singing: "There is a River, the streams whereof make glad the city of God," &c.

    METAPHOR

    XIV. A River carries, or conveys, by the help of boats, and other vessels, many things and persons, (whose purposes and intentions are that way steered) into the ocean.

    PARALLEL

    XIV. This spiritual River, in the use of the ordinances and appointments of the Gospel will carry a soul, whose purpose and serious intention is bent that way, to God, the Ocean of all fulness, and into the great depths of everlasting bliss.

    METAPHOR

    XV. Sometimes a River is so still, calm, and quiet, that you cannot discern any motion; and then without mere human artificial means, no ship, boat, or vessel can sail or move along.

    PARALLEL

    XV. The Spirit of God sometimes seems not to strive or move at all upon the hearts of men and women, not only upon the wicked, of whom God hath said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man," Ge 6:3, but also, the godly themselves cannot sometimes perceive a visible or sensible operation thereof. And then their spirits seem like vessels becalmed; no duty or service performed hath any life or activity in it, being only performed by the strength of natural or acquired parts and abilities.

    METAPHOR

    XVI. Some Rivers divide one country or nation from another.

    PARALLEL

    XVI. This spiritual River divides the church from the world, believers from unbelievers: "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive?" 1Co 9:7.

    METAPHOR

    XVII. After a great rain, a River rises higher, runs more swift, by reason of the land-floods that come down and run into it.

    PARALLEL

    XVII. After brokenness of heart, or a multitude of unfeigned tears, and true contrition of soul, how high do the waters of the Spirit rise? how doth peace and joy abound in the inward man?

    METAPHOR

    XVIII. A River will carry and bear up a ship of a great burthen, and many other heavy things; and according as its waters run, either more slowly or swiftly, so do those things which sail or swim along in it.

    PARALLEL

    XVIII. This spiritual River carries and bears up the weight of the whole church, which sails like a ship along these waters; and every saint, notwithstanding all those heavy weights of sin, and other unprofitable burthens, that are in and about them, is sustained by these divine waters.

    METAPHOR

    XIX. The water of a River and running streams, is usually more clear and savoury, than pools of standing waters. A River purgeth itself: and if a branch or small stream run through a loathsome ditch, it carries away the pollution of it.

    PARALLEL

    XIX. The Spirit is a pure stream, as clear as crystal; its waters are sweet and savoury, and wheresoever they come, they cleanse and wash away all corruption, Re 22:1. No man's heart, though it be never so much polluted and foul, like a stinking ditch, yet if a small stream or branch of this River be let into it, and hath a free passage, but it will carry away all the filth and pollution thereof, 1Co 6:11.

    METAPHOR

    XX. The waters of a River are good to drink, and satisfy thirst.

    PARALLEL

    XX. The waters of this River are exceeding good for the soul to drink, and nothing else can allay or satisfy the inward thirst and desire thereof, Joh 4:13-14.

    METAPHOR

    I. All earthly and elementary Rivers have a beginning.

    DISPARITY

    I. This River, the Spirit, is from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning, and without ending

    METAPHOR

    II. Other Rivers are fed by springs or fountains, &c. They have not their waters from themselves; a River is not the same with the head or original from whence it proceeds.

    DISPARITY

    II. This River, the Spirit, is a fountain as well as a stream; though it is said to proceed from God, yet it is God himself. But Peter said to Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie to the Holy Ghost? Thou hast not lied to man, but to God," Ac 5:3-4. "There are three persons that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one," 1Jo 5:7. "The Spirit of the Lord hath made me," &c., Job 33:4. The Spirit knoweth all things, showeth us things to come, is the object of divine worship; the sin against the Spirit can never be forgiven. From all which instances, it is evident that the Spirit is God. See the metaphor Light, Book III.

    METAPHOR

    III. Other Rivers are subject to decay, do not always run with the same strength; a dry summer makes abatement of its waters; many Rivers have been quite dried up: God threatened the Egyptians, that he would deal so with the River Nile, Isa 11:15.

    DISPARITY

    III. This River, the Spirit, never decayeth: it hath as much water in it as ever it had; it is as broad, as deep, and as full now as it was at the beginning, though many thousands have taken plentifully of it. No draught can abate its crystal streams; it is infinite in itself. Though God hath provided a channel of ordinances, to convey some of its waters to his chosen, yet it cannot be circumscribed nor limited, as it is in itself.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The waters of natural Rivers only cleanse and wash the body from external filthiness.

    DISPARITY

    IV. The water of this River cleanseth the soul and conscience; it washeth away all spiritual or internal pollution and uncleanness.

    METAPHOR

    V. Other Rivers may grow muddy, foul, and unsavoury, the water not good, nor wholesome to drink of.

    DISPARITY

    V. This spiritual River can never be fouled, nor made muddy, nor be unsavoury; it is beyond the power of men or devils to corrupt the Spirit of God.

    METAPHOR

    VI. Other Rivers may be locked up, or turned another way; it is possible to turn the channel and course thereof. Many Rivers have been made to forsake their ancient currents. This goodly River, which feeds London, may be locked up, and turned another way by an enemy.

    DISPARITY

    VI. The River of the Spirit cannot be diverted, or forced to leave its channel. It is impossible to lock it up, or turn its course. How can men of finite beings, obstruct the infinite God in his way and manner of working? "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?" Ps 139:7. "I will work and who shall let it?"

    METAPHOR

    VII. Other Rivers may be frozen up; though running streams do not freeze so soon as standing waters, yet sometimes they freeze also.

    DISPARITY

    VII. This River can never be frozen. The bleakest wind, the sharpest air, the coldest season, cannot change it. The divine waters run as freely in the cold winter, as in the heat of summer; they are of a very warming and comforting quality.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. Other Rivers breed noxious creatures of strange and different qualities, creatures that will eat and devour one another.

    DISPARITY

    VIII. This spiritual River bringeth forth only creatures of a harmless quality. All believers, so far as they are regenerated, are the production or offspring of the Spirit, and are of the same holy, heavenly, merciful, and harmless disposition.

    METAPHOR

    IX. The length, breadth, and depth of other Rivers may be measured, and are of a small dimension comparatively.

    DISPARITY

    IX. This River is of great dimension: "Who by searching can find out God to perfection?" His length, breadth, and depth, are past finding out. The Spirit is incomprehensible, an immense and infinite Being. These waters are like those spoken of by the prophet. "Afterwards he measured a thousand cubits, and it was a River that I could not pass over, for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a River that no man could pass over," Eze 47:5.

    INFERENCES.

    I. We may perceive from hence the excellency and necessity of the Holy Spirit: He is much more useful and necessary to the Church, than Rivers of waters are to the world: for our hearts are naturally dry and parched, like the heath in the wilderness, and it is the Spirit that moisteneth them; our hearts are hard, and the Spirit mollifieth them; they are naturally filthy, and he washeth and cleanseth them; yea, our hearts are barren, and the waters of this River make them fruitful.

    II. It also showeth us the excellency of ordinances, which are as the channel in which the waters of this River run, or the pipes through which these streams are conveyed to the soul.

    III. Bless God for this River, for his opening a free passage through Jesus Christ, for its flowing forth unto us, and for casting us, the people of England, to live by the side of such a crystal stream. O what a happy land is that, which hath a River of water of life running through it!

    IV. When you see profitable and delightful streams, think seriously on this heavenly River.

    V. Let all he persuaded to come to this River: "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come to the waters," &c., Isa 55:1.

    FOUR MOTIVES CONSIDERABLE.

    1. Consider, have you not great need to have your hearts purged and softened by this spiritual River, &c.

    2. There is no other River, no other way, no other fountain, that can supply your wants. If you wash yourself with snow-water, it will not do away your filth; if you could bathe your souls in a River of tears, yet unless you be washed in Christ's blood through the Spirit, your sin will cleave to you.

    3. This River is large enough; and yet as it is large, it is free. All may come and partake of these waters; none are excepted: "Whoever will may come and take of the water of life freely," Re 22:17.

    4. This River is near, the streams thereof run by your doors.

    VI. Moreover, from hence let professors try themselves, whether they have been washed and bathed in this River, and have tasted of its water, yea, or no.

    Art thou mollified? Is thy heart made tender? Art thou cleansed? Is thy life and heart made holy? Art thou healed of the sores and wounds of sin? These waters have a healing virtue in them; they will heal a wounded spirit, a galled conscience; they are good to clear the sight, causing one to see far off. Are the eyes of thy understanding enlightened? Dost thou prize the ordinances of God, that convey these waters of life unto thy soul? Is the water of this River sweet to thy taste? Is this River thy chief element? Dost thou live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit? Eph 1:18.

    VII. When you remove from one place to another, from one country to another, from one land to another, be sure to plant yourselves near the channel of this River, go not from these waters: labour to live near the ordinances of God, and where the water of life is to be had.

    VIII. Pray fervently, that God would never turn the course of this River another way. What would become of God's Church in England, were it not for this crystal Stream?