Some men fly from the “river of the water of life,” as from a bear; arid some are afraid to drink of it, for fear it should he poison unto them.  Some again, dare not take it, because it is not mixed, and as they, poor souls, imagine, qualified and made toothsome by a little of that which is called the wisdom of this world.  Thus one shucks, another shrinks, and another will none of God.  Meanwhile, whoso shall please to look into this river, shall find it harmless and clear; yea, offering itself to the consciences of all men to make trial if it be not the only chief good, the only necessary waters, the only profitable for the health of the soul, of all the things that are in the world, and as clear of mischief as is the sun of spots.

In old times the ancients had their habitations by the rivers; yea, we read of Aroer, that stood upon the brink of the river Arnon.  Balaam also had his dwelling in his city Pethor, by the river of the land of the children of his people.  O, by the river side is the pleasantest dwelling in the world; and of all rivers, the river of the water of life is the best.  They that dwell there shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat or sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by springs of water shall he guide them.  Isa. 49:  10; Psal. 1:  3; Jer. 17:  8.

Trees planted by the rivers, and that spread out their roots by the rivers, they are the flourishing trees, they bring forth their fruit in their season.  And the promise is, that men that take up their dwellings by this river of water of life, shall be fruitful as such trees.

If thou be a Christian, thou hast more than an ordinary call and occasion to abide by these waters; thy things will not grow but by these waters.  Weeds, and the excellences of most men, we may find in the barren wilderness; they grow under every hedge, Jer. 31:  12; but thine are garden, and so choice, things, and will not thrive without much water; no, not without the water of God’s river.  Isa. 21:  1-3.  Dwell therefore here, that thy soul may be as a watered garden.

By the characters that are given of this water of life, thou art capacitated to judge, when a notion, a doctrine, an opinion comes to thy ears, whether it is right good and wholesome, or how.  This river is pure, is clear, is pure and clear as crystal.  Is the doctrine offered unto thee so? or is it muddy and mixed with the doctrines of men?  Look, man, and see if the foot of the worshippers of Bel [Footnote:  Story of Bel and the dragon in the Apychrypha.] be not there; and if the waters be not fouled thereby.  What water is fouled is not the water of life, or at least, not the water of life in its clearness.  Wherefore, if thou findest it not right, go up higher to the spring-head; for always the nearer to the spring, the more pure and clear is the water.  Fetch then thy doctrine from afar, if thou canst not have it good nearer hand.  Job 36:  3.  Thy life lies at stake; the counterfeit of things is dangerous; every body that is aware, is afraid thereof.  Now a counterfeit here is most dangerous, is most destructive; wherefore take heed how you hear what you hear; for, as men say of the fish, by your color it will be seen what waters you swim in.  Wherefore look you well to yourselves.