The river of water of life allegorically represents the Spirit and grace of God.
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Only if thou wouldst drink it, drink it by itself, and that thou mayest not be deceived by that which is counterfeit, know it is as it comes from the hand of our Lord, without mixture, pure and clear as crystal.
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...that thing is the Spirit of grace, the Spirit and grace of God.
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What can here by water be intended, but the Spirit of grace that this poor harlot, the woman of Samaria, wanted, although she was ignorant of her want, as also of the excellency thereof?
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Again, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink." But of what? Why of his rivers of living waters. But what are they? Why he answers, "This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive." Jn. vii. 37-39.
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Sin is compared to water, to deadly waters, and man is said to drink it, as one that drinketh waters. "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?" Job xv. 16.
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Sin is of a fouling, defiling nature; and grace is of a washing, cleansing nature; therefore grace, and the Spirit of grace, is compared to water. "I will," saith God, "sprinkle clean water upon you, (my Spirit, ver. 27) and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Eze. xxxvi. 25.
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In that, therefore, there is added to this word water, that of life, it is, in the general, to show what excellent virtue and operation there is in this water. It is aquae vitae, water of life, or water that hath a health and life in it.
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Life is only im this water, death is in all other things.
