222 THE OLIVE LEAF. CHAP. 



ness and the dawn, and behind which the sun is 

 struggling to appear. As they open up, letting out 

 the imprisoned sunshine, they disclose in their inner 

 depths the radiant hues which glorify the sunrise; just 

 as through the gates .of pearl thrown wide open the 

 awe- struck apostle beholds in the innermost centre 

 of the sapphire light the unspeakable splendours of 

 the heavenly city. 



Not from his recollections of his own old home 

 could the unique feature of the gates of pearl have 

 been derived. It must have been suggested by the 

 circumstances of his island home, as Peter's vision 

 on the housetop at Joppa took shape from the hunger 

 of his body and the occupation of the tanner with 

 whom he lodged. There was nothing to remind him 

 of the gates of pearl in the earthly Jerusalem. That 

 city was perched on a far inland height. It was a 

 mountain city breathing mountain air. Unlike other 

 capitals, it had no connection or commerce with the 

 outlying nations. No murmur of foaming wave 

 mingled with the hum of its traffic ; no salt-breath 

 of ocean came with its crisp keenness and memories 

 of far-distant regions into the close air of its crowded 

 streets. The sleep that is among the lonely hills 

 was around it. Its gates were made of the stout 

 cedars of Lebanon or the oaks of Bashan, or the 

 brass of Hermon, the productions of the land itself, 

 and they opened and closed not for commercial 

 but for agricultural purposes. Why then should the 

 gates of the heavenly Jerusalem be so different? 



